US08069492B2
A spin-torque probe microscope and methods of using the same are described. The spin-torque probe microscope includes a cantilever probe body, a magnetic tip disposed at a distal end of the cantilever probe body, an electrically conductive sample disposed proximate to the magnetic tip, an electrical circuit providing a spin-polarized electron current to the electrically conductive sample, and a vibration detection element configured to sense vibration frequency of the cantilever probe body. The spin-polarized electron current is sufficient to alter a local electron spin or magnetic moment within the electrically conductive sample and be sensed by the magnetic tip.
US08069486B1
Capturing information associated with a document is disclosed. An indication that a request to print a document is being transmitted is observed in network traffic associated with a printer. At a node other than the printer, data associated with the observed network traffic is processed to determine information associated with the request to print the document.
US08069484B2
Systems and methods for performing malware detection for determining suspicious data based on data entropy are provided. The method includes acquiring a block of data, calculating an entropy value for the block of data, comparing the entropy value to a threshold value, and recording the block of data as suspicious when the entropy value exceeds the threshold value. An administrator may then investigate suspicious data.
US08069480B1
A method for defining an area to record changes made to a computer system is provided. A safe area is defined on a primary storage device of the computer system and information is stored on the location of the safe area on a secondary storage device. Further, the computer system is booted utilizing a backup device and data is changed on the primary storage device. The changes are recorded in the safe area of the primary storage device and are accessible when the computer system is booted from the backup device.
US08069478B2
A chip mountable on a replaceable unit used in an image forming job is disclosed. The chip includes a central processing unit (CPU) to perform at least one of authentication and cryptographic data communication with a main body of the image forming apparatus using an operating system (OS) of the CPU which operates separately from an OS of the image forming apparatus. With the use of such a configuration, security for a unit in which the chip is mounted can thereby be reinforced.
US08069473B2
A method to grant a supplicant access to a data communication network and related devices is claimed. The supplicant is associated to a Medium Access Control address and is coupled to a port of an authenticator of the data communication network. The method includes: transmitting an authentication request by the authenticator to an authentication server being coupled thereto; making by the authentication server an authentication decision based upon predefined rules and conditions; and transmitting by the authentication server to the authenticator an authentication reply that comprises a result of the authentication decision.
US08069467B1
Restrictions are placed on the content of usernames and other online identifiers to help maintain the privacy of offline identities of online users. A proposed username is tested by comparing at least a portion of its content to a set of personal identification information tokens that reflect aspects of an offline identity. The username is accepted if it satisfies a predetermined privacy criterion, which is defined in terms of matches to the personal identification information tokens. The user may receive questions regarding a proposed username and its relation, if any, to the online user's offline identity. Answers to the questions can be used to create personal identification information tokens which are compared to the proposed username.
US08069464B2
In one embodiment, a method comprises determining ad placement times for each of a plurality of associated streams. The method also comprises determining an ad selection request time for each of a plurality of ad selection requests based on a cumulative effect of any other ad selection requests occurring at substantially the same time as the determined ad selection time. Each of the plurality of ad selection requests corresponds to one of the plurality of ad placement times.
US08069463B2
A digital broadcasting system and a data processing method are disclosed. The digital broadcast receiving system includes a baseband processor, a management processor, and a presentation processor. The baseband processor receives a broadcast signal including mobile service data and main service data. Herein, the mobile service data configure a Reed-Solomon (RS) frame, and the RS frame includes mobile service data and at least one channel configuration information on the mobile service data. The management processor acquires simple guide information on at least one of a current program and a next program of a corresponding channel from the channel configuration information and stores the acquired simple guide information. The presentation processor receives simple guide information of any one of the current program and the next program, wherein the programs are provided as mobile service through a user-selected channel, from the management processor and displays the received simple guide information on a portion of a display screen of the corresponding channel.
US08069458B2
A broadcast receiving device includes a table storage component, a viewing control acquisition component, a first determination component and a table production component. The viewing control acquisition component acquires program viewing control information including a column number and a row number. The first determination component determines whether or not to satisfy one of a column determination condition that the column number is greater than a first specific number of a first viewing control table and a row determination condition that the row number is greater than a second specific number of the first viewing control table. The table production component produces a second viewing control table having a number of columns corresponding to the column number and a number of rows corresponding to the row number when the first determination component determines that one of the column determination condition and the row determination condition is satisfied.
US08069456B2
A guide mechanism is configured for guiding an optical pick-up head to move on a chassis. The guide mechanism includes a carriage, a first guide rail, a second guide rail, and a buffering device. The carriage includes a main body for receiving the optical pick-up head, and a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion formed on two opposite sides of the main body. The first guide rail is slidably received in a slot of the first engaging portion. The second guide rail is slidably engaging with the second engaging portion. The buffering device is clipped between the first guide rail and the first engaging portion. An optical disk drive using the guide mechanism is also provided.
US08069455B2
An optical disk apparatus is disclosed which includes a first printed circuit board, on which a first circuit pattern is formed; a rotor, on which an optical disk may be placed, and which is electrically connected with the first circuit pattern; a second printed circuit board, which is stacked adjacent to the rotor on a surface of the first printed circuit board, and on which a second circuit pattern is formed; a sensor unit, which is mounted on the second printed circuit board in electrical connection with the second circuit pattern, and which is configured to sense a rotation of the optical disk; and a support plate, which supports the first printed circuit board and the rotor. In this optical disk apparatus, a separate printed circuit board can be utilized to support the sensor unit, whereby manufacturing costs can be reduced and working efficiency can be improved.
US08069451B2
A method of compact messaging between a schema-based service and a device over a network, the device and the service having a predetermined knowledge of element descriptors shared between the device and the service based on a structured definition language. The method comprises the steps of: establishing communication between the service and the device; preparing a compact message including element data values by removing the element descriptors associated with the element data values; maintaining an order of the element data values based on a predetermined sequence of the element descriptors and the element data values; placing the element data values in respective delimiters for differentiating between adjacent ones of the element data values, the delimiters indicating a start and an end of a given sequence of the element data values; and sending the compact message over the network for subsequent interpretation upon reception using the shared predetermined knowledge of the element descriptors.
US08069444B2
In a computer system with a multi-core processor having a shared cache memory level, an operating system scheduler adjusts the CPU latency of a thread running on one of the cores to be equal to the fair CPU latency which that thread would experience when the cache memory was equally shared by adjusting the CPU time quantum of the thread. In particular, during a reconnaissance time period, the operating system scheduler gathers information regarding the threads via conventional hardware counters and uses an analytical model to estimate a fair cache miss rate that the thread would experience if the cache memory was equally shared. During a subsequent calibration period, the operating system scheduler computes the fair CPU latency using runtime statistics and the previously computed fair cache miss rate value to determine the fair CPI value.
US08069435B1
System and method for integrating Web Services using a Web Services Structured Methodology are described. Embodiments of a Web Services Structured Methodology may be used to integrate Web Services in Enterprise and Cross-Enterprise business systems, and to integrate legacy systems (e.g. legacy mainframe systems) with Web Services in Enterprise and Cross-Enterprise business systems. Embodiments may provide an integrated Web Services architecture design mechanism that may be used for Enterprise and Cross-Enterprise integration of Web Services. Embodiments may be used for Legacy Mainframe Integration and Interoperability with Web Services.
US08069431B1
Various techniques are provided for routing signals to pins of components of programmable logic devices (PLDs). In one example, a computer-implemented method of routing signals in a PLD includes routing a plurality of signals to pins of a component of the PLD. At least two of the signals are routed to a same pin. The method also includes, for each of the signals routed to the same pin, determining a cost value associated with each of two or more pins. the method also includes, for each of the signals routed to the same pin, rerouting the signal to one of the two or more pins having the lowest cost value. The method also includes repeating the determining a cost value and the rerouting until no more than one signal is routed to a pin.
US08069422B2
Contextual task recommendation system and method for determining user's context and suggesting tasks
A system and method in a network of devices, which ascertains the user's context to suggest the most preferred task for the user to perform. User's context includes his/her location, the content he/she is interested in, the devices which are being used by him/her, and the devices and content allowed to be used by the user. Using this context, the system suggests tasks to the user that are appropriate to that context. The determination of context and the suggestion of tasks are performed by keeping track of the content and the devices available to the user at any given time. The suggestion of tasks is performed in accordance with certain policies. For example, the user can control the behavior of the system by changing the rules in the policy. Tasks are in the form of simple sentences that can be easily understood by the user. If, based on certain context, more than one task is possible, the system suggests the task with the highest priority to the user.
US08069419B2
A computer-implemented method and system are provided for modifying a data list by a user within a graphical user interface. A first control is provided that operates within the graphical user interface. The first control is manipulated in order to access a second control. The second control includes the data list and allows modification of the data list after the second control is accessed.
US08069417B2
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates creating a calendar that enables optimized awareness of at least one event. An interface component can receive data related to an event. An enhanced scheduler component can create a calendar that enables a bifocal calendar view to display an event correlated to a first date with a first time-scale and an event correlated to a second date with a second time-scale.
US08069407B1
A software application for enabling automated notification of applied structural changes to electronic information pages hosted on a data packet network is provided. The software application comprises, a developer-interface module for enabling developers to build and modify navigation templates using functional logic blocks, a navigation system-interface module for integrating the software application to a proxy-navigation system for periodic execution of the templates, a change-notification module for indicating a point in process where a navigation routine has failed and for creating a data file containing parameters associated with the failed navigation routine and a database interface module for interfacing the software application to a data repository for storing the data file. The software application periodically submits test navigation and interaction routines to the navigation system for execution by virtue of the interface with the navigation system. Upon failure of a test routine, the software application creates the data file. The data file, comprises a point-of-failure indication within the failed navigation routine, an identifier of the associated electronic information page subjected to the navigation routine, and a brief description of the cause of failure. The software application stores the data file in the data repository sending notification of the action to the developer.
US08069405B1
A method and system for helping a user efficiently browse an electronic document using data-driven tabs. A datasheet providing technical details of a corresponding user module is scanned for indicators (e.g., embedded anchors), wherein a user module is a pre-configured circuit design operating on a microcontroller. The indicators are for indicating a predetermined location within the datasheet. The datasheet description is read and graphic elements (e.g., tabs) are automatically rendered for each corresponding indicator, wherein a graphic element is rendered according to information within the indicator. Interacting with one of the graphic elements allows a user to jump to a predetermined location within the datasheet. The graphic elements are operable for efficient navigation of the datasheet, allowing for a large datasheet to be easily viewed in a small area of a display.
US08069401B2
A system and method for channel equalization using a Viterbi algorithm. Information from an output of a matched filter and channel parameters from a channel estimation circuit are correlated and passed on to a reconfigurable data path. The reconfigurable data path includes a reconfigurable branch metric calculation block. The reconfigurable data path also includes a reconfigurable add-compare-select and path metric calculation block. The reconfigurable data path is controlled using a programmable finite state machine. The programmable finite state machine executes a plurality of context-related instructions associated with the Viterbi algorithm. The system and method for channel equalization supports multiple standards using Viterbi algorithms.
US08069398B2
A method for decoding multiword information comprises steps (a) to (e). In step (a), a multiword information cluster, e.g., ECC, including high protective codewords, e.g., BIS, and low protective codewords, e.g., LDC, is provided. In step (b), the high and low protective codewords are stored into a first memory, e.g., DRAM. In step (c), the high protective codewords are decoded to generate high protective word erasure indicators showing whether decoding errors occur. In step (d), the high protective word erasure indicators are stored into a second memory, e.g., SRAM. In step (e), the low protective codewords are decoded. In the meanwhile, an erasure bit for a low protective codeword is marked by finding high protective codewords close to the low protective codeword in the multiword information cluster and looking up the high protective word erasure indicators of the high protective codewords close to the low protective codeword.
US08069393B2
An approach is provided for generating Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) codes. An LDPC encoder generates a LDPC code with an outer Bose Chaudhuri Hocquenghem (BCH) code. For 1/3 rate, the relevant parameters are as follows: q=120, nldpc=64,800, kldpc=nBCH=21600, kBCH=21408 (12 bit error correcting BCH). For 1/4 rate, the LDPC code has the following relevant parameters: q=135, nldpc=64,800, kldpc=nBCH=16200, kBCH=16008 (12 bit error correcting BCH). For 2/5 rate, the following parameters exist: q=108, nldpc=64800, kldpc=nBCH=25920, kBCH=25728 (12 bit error correcting BCH). The above approach has particular application in digital video broadcast services over satellite.
US08069390B2
The universal forward error-correction coding system provides adjustable code rates and coding gains to greatly benefit the design of many modern digital communications (data storage) systems. The channel encoding and decoding methods are universal such that a single encoder and a single decoder can be used to implement all the forward error-correction codes of different code rates. This universal forward error-correction coding system also includes a novel systematic code generation procedure that has the capability of generating many classes of codes that provide the best balance between coding gain performance and implementation complexity.
US08069386B2
A semiconductor device includes a CPU, a memory, a memory BIST circuit, a first selector that selects and outputs an address and control signal from the memory BIST circuit, when performing a test using the memory BIST circuit, and selects and outputs an address and control signal of the CPU when not performing a test using the memory BIST circuit, a second selector that selects and outputs write data from the memory BIST circuit when performing a test using the memory BIST circuit, and selects and outputs write data of the CPU when not performing a test using the memory BIST circuit, a first flip-flop that samples an output of the first selector (11) and a second flip-flop that samples an output of the second selector. An address and control signal and write data output from the first and second flip-flops are supplied to an address and control terminal and a write data terminal of the memory.
US08069372B2
A system S is defined which is capable of simulating a computer (virtual computer, VC) for the purpose of software performance monitoring. The system is implemented as a set of software modules (SM) that can be exchanged to change the behavior of the VC. The VC is driven by a CPU emulator, and can run any operating system (virtual operating system, VOS) that is supported by the available SM's. The system is designed to log accesses to system resources and the nature of these accesses. The system is particularly useful for determining whether an executable or file contains an unknown virus, with a very low risk of false positives. Detected viruses include encrypted, polymorphic, metamorphic and other virus types.
US08069371B2
A method and system for debugging a computer upon a kernel hang and/or upon a software failure, the method comprising executing a debugger on a remote computer, connecting the hung or crashed computer to the remote computer with a communications link, and debugging the hung or crashed computer with the debugger without rebooting the system. The method may include deconfiguring any kernel driver of the computer attached to the communication card prior to connecting the remote debugger to the computer.
US08069369B2
The invention provides a system and method for remotely diagnosing and repairing a plurality of device platforms. A remote service technician utilizes a computing system having browsing software that communicates with a network of platform devices.
US08069367B2
An apparatus and method for train control utilizing virtual lock stepping are disclosed. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, an improved method of train control utilizes identical software applications executing on redundant processors. The redundant processors are maintained in virtual lock step to ensure the safety integrity of the overall system being controlled. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, one software process is a master and one software process is a slave. The master and the slave both independently execute application logic based upon detected events (e.g., input data, etc.). In order to ensure that any anomalies that might result in a hazard are detected in the timeliest manner, and that false anomalies are minimized, the redundant software processes must process the same event within a specified time frame.
US08069365B2
A method for realizing an Internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) disaster tolerance includes the steps as follows. An S-CSCF receives a user registration, and backs up necessary data which is required when a user service processing is restored on a storage entity in a network. An I-CSCF of user's home domain receives a service request of the user, and if it is found that the S-CSCF currently providing a service for the user fails, assigns a new S-CSCF to the user, and forwards the service request to the newly assigned S-CSCF. The newly assigned S-CSCF interrogates and acquires subscription data of the user and the necessary data backed up by the original S-CSCF from the storage entity, and then restores the user service processing according to the subscription data and the backup data. A device for realizing an IMS disaster tolerance is also provided.
US08069362B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for shutting down a host, such as a computer, server, and the like, to enable power savings. In one aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented method. The computer-implemented method includes determining whether to shutdown an application at a virtual machine. The determination is made using information from the application. The virtual machine and application operate on a host. A power management mechanism of the host may be initiated to enable a power savings when compared to not shutting down the host. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.
US08069361B2
A determining unit determines the state of the microprocessor. A setting unit sets a power supply voltage to be supplied to the microprocessor according to the state of the microprocessor determined by the determining unit. A power supply circuit supplies the power supply voltage set by the setting unit, to the microprocessor via a power supply line. The determining unit determines repeatedly the state of the microprocessor at preset timing, and the setting unit resets the power supply voltage every time the determination is performed by the determining unit.
US08069360B2
An information processing apparatus working in pause states containing at least both a suspension state and a hibernation state, may include a time counting unit for counting time elapsed in the suspension state from a transition to the suspension state, and a transitioning unit for transitioning to the hibernation state if the elapsed time has exceeded a predetermined period of time.
US08069350B2
In order to provide a communication protocol for cryptographic authentication on the basis of at least one cryptographic algorithm, in particular according to the A[dvanced]E[ncryption]S[tandard], by providing at least one random number (PRN′) for at least one first, in particular present, authentication sequence or authentication session (n), and providing at least one further random number (PRN2, PRN3) for at least one further, in particular second or next, authentication sequence or authentication session (n+1), wherein the relevant time for cryptographic authentication is shortened, it is proposed that providing the further random number (PRN2, PRN3) is initialized (p) when, in particular immediately after, successfully performing the authentication in the first authentication sequence or authentication session (n).
US08069337B2
A scalable reconfigurable register file (SRRF) containing multiple register files, read and write multiplexer complexes, and a control unit operating in response to instructions is described. Multiple address configurations of the register files are supported by each instruction and different configurations are operable simultaneously during a single instruction execution. For example, with separate files of the size 32×32 supported configurations of 128×32 bit s, 64×64 bit s and 32×128 bit s can be in operation each cycle. Single width, double width, quad width operands are optimally supported without increasing the register file size and without increasing the number of register file read or write ports.
US08069336B2
Various embodiments of methods and systems for implementing a microprocessor that includes a trace cache and attempts to transition fetching from instruction cache to trace cache only on label boundaries are disclosed. In one embodiment, a microprocessor may include an instruction cache, a branch prediction unit, and a trace cache. The prefetch unit may fetch instructions from the instruction cache until the branch prediction unit outputs a predicted target address for a branch instruction. When the branch prediction unit outputs a predicted target address, the prefetch unit may check for an entry matching the predicted target address in the trace cache. If a match is found, the prefetch unit may fetch one or more traces from the trace cache in lieu of fetching instructions from the instruction cache.
US08069316B2
A computer system and a method of controlling a computer system, the computer system including: a first memory corresponding to a first channel and a second memory corresponding to a second channel; a data processor to process the data of the first and second channels in a time division manner; and a controller to inactivate the second channel if an amount of the data processed by the data processor is less than or equal to a predetermined value.
US08069310B1
Data units are prefetched into a cache memory by executing a first prefetch task to prefetch a first prefetch series of data units from off-cache. A first prefetch operation is executed to prefetch and store a first selected set of data units. Decisions are made about the first prefetch task, subsequent prefetch operations and prefetch tasks based on in-cache data units associated with the first prefetch task and on other data units that are read from off-cache but that are not associated with the first prefetch task. A determination is made whether an additional data unit that is read from an off-cache logical location is a first prefetch series member. If so, it is associated with the first prefetch task, and, for decision making, is treated as having been prefetched into cache in accordance with the first prefetch task.
US08069308B2
In a computing system a method and apparatus for cache pooling is introduced. Threads are assigned priorities based on the criticality of their tasks. The most critical threads are assigned to main memory locations such that they are subject to limited or no cache contention. Less critical threads are assigned to main memory locations such that their cache contention with critical threads is minimized or eliminated. Thus, overall system performance is improved, as critical threads execute in a substantially predictable manner.
US08069302B2
A flash memory storage system includes a memory array containing a plurality of memory cells and a controller for controlling the flash memory array. The controller dedicates a first group of memory cells to operate with a first number of bits per cell and a second, separate group of memory cells to operate with a second number of bits per cell. A mechanism is provided to apply wear leveling techniques separately to the two groups of cells to evenly wear out the memory cells.
US08069300B2
Solid state storage device controllers, solid state storage devices, and methods for operation of solid state storage device controllers are disclosed. In one such solid state storage device, the controller can operate in either an expansion DRAM mode or a non-volatile memory mode. In the DRAM expansion mode, one or more of the memory communication channels normally used to communicate with non-volatile memory devices is used to communicate with an expansion DRAM device.
US08069299B2
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products that enable banded indirection for nonvolatile memory devices, such as flash memory devices, are disclosed. One or more embodiments comprise a method for performing banded indirection when accessing data of a nonvolatile device. The methods comprise tracking fragmentation of a band of physical addresses of the nonvolatile memory device, storing a physical address of the band, and accessing data of a logical address of the band via the stored physical address based on the fragmentation of the band. Some embodiments comprise apparatuses for accessing data of nonvolatile devices using banded indirection. The embodiments comprise a nonvolatile memory element to store data, wherein the nonvolatile memory element has bands of physical addresses, a fragmentation detector to detect fragmentation of a band of the nonvolatile memory, and a data access module to access data of the band via a physical address based on the fragmentation.
US08069293B1
In some embodiments, a system allowing a flexible upgrade of a computer system (e.g. server) to a high-speed network connection comprises base configuration motherboard or network card including a set of low-speed (e.g. 1 Gbps Ethernet) media access controllers (MACs) each connected to a low-speed physical controller (PHY), and a set of high-speed (e.g. 10 Gbps Ethernet) MACs. An expansion card including high-speed PHYs of choice can be connected by an end user to the base configuration motherboard or network card. A flow classifier classifies data sent/received over both high-speed and low-speed ports, and a single driver may control both high- and low-speed ports. One or both of the motherboard and/or expansion card are configured according to a detected type (e.g. physical layer standard, vendor) of expansion card connected to the motherboard and/or type of physical medium connected to the expansion card.
US08069287B2
An SE0 timer detects that an SE0 state of a universal serial bus continues for 3 ms or more, and asserts an SE03ms detected signal to a suspending/reset discriminating circuit. The suspending/reset discriminating circuit connects a pull-up resistor to a D+ data line, detects that the universal serial bus is in the SE0 state, and asserts a reset detected signal to a reset control circuit. The reset control circuit asserts a threshold level changing signal to a receiver for a high-speed mode. The receiver changes the threshold into 250 mV. When the reset control circuit detects a K state of the universal serial bus after chirp driving K is executed and ended, the reset control circuit negates the threshold level changing signal to the receiver. The receiver changes the threshold back to 125 mV.
US08069279B2
In one embodiment, a direct memory access (DMA) controller comprises a transmit circuit and a data flow control circuit coupled to the transmit circuit. The transmit circuit is configured to perform DMA transfers, each DMA transfer described by a DMA descriptor stored in a data structure in memory. There is a data structure for each DMA channel that is in use. The data flow control circuit is configured to control the transmit circuit's processing of DMA descriptors for each DMA channel responsive to data flow control data in the DMA descriptors in the corresponding data structure.
US08069272B2
Provided is a unit for protecting data with respect to data transfer between memories of a disk controller. The disk controller for controlling data transfer between a host computer and a disk drive includes: a channel unit having a channel memory; a cache unit having a cache memory, and a control unit for controlling the data transfer. The data transferred to/from the host computer is transferred in a packet between the channel memory and the cache memory, and The control unit for verifying consistency of information included in a header of the packet to be transferred to decide whether transfer can be permitted when the packet is transferred.
US08069263B2
A method of establishing communications with one or more devices located in an environment using a wireless communication device is disclosed. The wireless communication device comprises a short-range transceiver that is able to communicate with a short-range transceiver located in the environment. A communication is received from the short-range transceiver of the wireless communication device that includes a request to establish communications with one or more device located in the environment. A request is transmitted to an environment directory server to determine if a user associated with the wireless communication device has permission to access any of the devices in the environment. A response is received from the environment directory server in response to the request. A communication is made to the short-range transceiver of the wireless communication device indicating whether the device can communicate with any of the devices in the environment.
US08069258B1
A method for at least apparently reducing the effects of network lag is provided. For a networked interactive game system including at least one local game system and at least one remote game system, distributed game play of an interactive game with at least an apparent reduction of network lag at the local game system is allowed. An input command which was generated by a local user of the local game system that controls a local object is intercepted. Furthermore, at least state data of a remote object that was determined in a network simulation of a previous game frame is retrieved. Interaction data of the local object for a local simulation of an immediately previous game frame may also be retrieved. A local simulation of the first game frame is generated based on the input command, the state data, and the interaction data.
US08069252B2
A method and apparatus for handling subscriber services from different sources without requiring interaction with different devices. The present invention also provides a method and apparatus for receiving multimedia services using session initiation protocol (SIP) messages received from a source, such as a server on a network. In one embodiment, a set-top device is provided in which a SIP control is provided to register a subscriber with a server using SIP messages. A connection to a network, such as the Internet, is provided to communicate with the server. The set-top device is placed in line with the audio and video source to control audio and video streams presented to the subscriber. The set-top device is also configured to receive voice calls from a public switched telephone network (PSTN). Further, the set-top device includes a remote control mechanism, such as an infrared (IR) transmitter and receiver to receive input from the subscriber and to control other devices using IR signals. Also, subscriber services customized for a particular subscriber may be directed to the subscriber at a location when the subscriber registers with the server through a set-top device at that location using SIP. Services, such as, for example, call screening, channel guides, video on demand, and Web browsing are provided through the set-top device and messaging with a server using SIP messages.
US08069251B2
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to communication between a client and a server in a communications network. In one particular example, a server is selected from a plurality of servers to provide a resource and/or a service to a client.
US08069244B2
There are methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for defining a policy including a set of rules for a packet forwarding device by receiving information sufficient to enable a first rule related to one of security or traffic management to be defined, and based on the received information, enabling a corresponding second rule related to the other one of security or traffic management to be defined.
US08069239B2
A laboratory computer network is set forth. The laboratory computer network comprises a plurality of laboratory instrument workstations connected to respective laboratory instruments. Each laboratory instrument workstation is adapted to provide video screen data indicative of the operational status of the respective laboratory instrument. A transmission medium is provided to transmit video screen data from each of the plurality of laboratory instrument workstations. A central server is also provided. The central server is adapted to receive the video screen data from the transmission media. The central server monitors one or more screen sections of the video screen data received from each of the plurality of laboratory instrument workstations and provides an alert in response to a given visual state of the monitored screen sections of each laboratory instrument workstation.
US08069235B2
A technology is disclosed for efficiently managing the peer relationship, and in particular for allowing to discover which of one or more communication links of the network entity is connected to the same network entity. According to this technology, for example, the ID Controller (202) of the network entity (201) generates a unique identifier for the network entity from all the physical address on its multiple interfaces. The peer relationship controller (203) verifies if the generated unique identifier is overlapping with that of another network entity. The link control logic (205), upon sending a message to the network entity associated with the unique identifier, determines correspondence of the unique identifier with the peer network entity to interchangeably use the communication links (link 1 (211) to link n (213)).
US08069234B2
A web service execution apparatus that sequentially executes a plurality of web services develops a first information for invoking a first web service in a memory, and deletes the first information that is developed in the memory. The apparatus then develops a second information for invoking a second web service in the memory from which the first information is deleted, and executes a plurality of web services in accordance with the first or the second information that is developed in the memory.
US08069231B2
A computer program product is provided for optimizing network configuration settings for a user's client machine. A plurality of groups of network configuration settings are held in storage to be used by the user's client machine. A network connection is established between the user's client machine and a remote server. One of the groups of network configuration settings is selected to be used by the user's client machine from the provided groups of settings. One or more performance tests are conducted using the selected network configuration settings during the established network connection. The settings selection and the performance tests are repeated for one or more other groups of network configuration settings during the established network connection. The network configuration settings of the user's client machine provided in the groups are automatically adjusted based on the results of the performance tests. The adjusted network configuration settings are settings that optimize the performance of the user's client machine.
US08069225B2
In a network that conveys requests from clients to servers and responses from servers to clients, a network transaction accelerator for accelerating transactions involving data transfer between at least one client and at least one server over a network comprising a client-side engine, a server-side engine and a transaction predictor configured to predict, based on past transactions, which transactions are likely to occur in the future between the client and server. The transaction predictor might be in the server-side engine, the client-side engine, or both. The client-side engine receives indications of requests from the client, a transaction buffer for storing results of predicted transactions received from the server or the server-side engine ahead of receipt of a corresponding request, and a collator for collating the requests from the client with the stored results or received results, wherein a request and a response that are matched by the collator are identified and the matched response is provided to the client in response to the matched request. The server-side engine receives indications of transactions including requests and responses and conveys requests to the server in response to actual transactions or predicted transactions.
US08069221B2
A method to start enterprise applications on demand using naming references is described. The method matches Enterprise JavaBeans applications to respective naming references, checks if the matched application is running and starts it if it is not.
US08069218B1
A system, computer program product and method for a running process migration with planned minimized down-time. The method facilitates fast and efficient process migration by performing background data synchronization prior to actual process migration. The service slowdown is reduced by employing two-stage transfer method. During a first stage the service, being executed on the original machine, does not stop and all the available data required by this process is being copied. After the first stage is completed the service continues to be executed without an interruption, while the most of the data associated with the service process is already transferred to the new machine. During the second stage the execution of the service on the first machine is stopped. The files, which were not available during the first stage, are now copied. Then the execution of service is started on the second machine. The down-time is reduced to the duration of the second stage.
US08069217B2
Systems and methods for providing data integrity for stored data are disclosed. A method for providing access to a remote shared image may include receiving from a first provisioning server a request to create a write space for a client communicatively coupled to the first provisioning server. The message may further include creating a partition on a first logical unit disposed in a storage array, the first logical unit communicatively coupled to the first provisioning server and associated with the client. The method may additionally include storing a thin clone of a shared image on the partition, the shared image common to the client and at least one other client and stored on a second logical unit, the thin clone comprising a write space for data specific to the client.
US08069216B2
A method and apparatus for alerting nodes of a malicious node in a mobile ad-hoc communication system is provided herein. Particularly, a method and apparatus for distributing an alert message to nodes surrounding a recently discovered malicious node is provided. This alert technique further leverages mobility to distribute the alert message to a large majority of nodes in the ad hoc wireless network within a reasonable amount of time.
US08069214B1
A method and apparatus for use in a computer system comprising an email system that generates and receives email messages. The email system manages a first plurality of email messages comprising at least some of the email messages generated and received by the email system. The email system also has a global address catalog that comprises information and provides an index into the first plurality of email messages. The computer system further comprises an extension system that interfaces with the email system and manages a second plurality of email messages comprising at least some of the email messages generated and received by the email system. The method comprises creating an extender catalog, for indexing into the second plurality of email messages, that comprises at least some information that is different than the information in the global address catalog.
US08069213B2
A method and apparatus for controlling access to network resources referenced in electronic mail messages comprises the computer-implemented steps of receiving an electronic mail message that comprises one or more hyperlinks; determining sender information that identifies a sender of the electronic mail message; creating and storing a record that associates the sender information with each of the one or more hyperlinks; receiving a request to access a specified hyperlink among the one or more hyperlinks; retrieving, based on the specified hyperlink, the record; retrieving, based on the sender information associated with the specified hyperlink, sender reputation information associated with the sender; determining, based on the sender reputation information, a particular action among a plurality of allowed actions; and issuing a network request to access the specified hyperlink only when the particular action is allowing user access to the specified hyperlink.
US08069207B2
A communication apparatus according to the present invention includes: upper limit setting unit, adapted to set a transmission upper limit which defines an upper limit of data size of mail data to be transmitted in a single e-mail; image data acquiring unit, adapted to acquire image data to be attached to the e-mail; transmission upper limit updating unit, adapted to update the transmission upper limit by subtracting a predetermined margin from the transmission upper limit; data dividing unit, adapted to divide the image data acquired by said image data acquiring means into pieces of image data corresponding to the transmission upper limit updated by the transmission upper limit updating means; divided mail data generating unit, adapted to generate divided mail data containing each of the pieces of image data divided by said data dividing means; and transmission unit, adapted to repeatedly transmit the divided mail data so as to transmit the e-mail to which the image data is attached.
US08069201B2
Low complexity (16 bit arithmetic) video compression has 8×8 block with transforms using 8×8 integer matrices and quantization with look up table scalar plus constant right shift for all quantization steps. Inverse quantization also a look up table scalar plus right shift dependent upon the quantization step and inverse transform using the 8×8 integer matrices.
US08069200B2
A floating point (FP) shifter for use with FP adders providing a shifted FP operand as a power of the exponent base (usually two) multiplied by a FP operand. First arithmetic processor using at least one FP shifter with FP adder. FP adder for N FP operands creating FP result, where N is at least three. Second arithmetic processor including at least one FP adder for N operands. Descriptions of FP shifter and FP adder for implementing their operational methods. Implementations of FP shifter and FP adder.
US08069197B2
A system for cyclical noise removal from a transient signal is employed with a transient sensor for a signal. A signal conditioner is connected to the transient sensor for processing the signal. A transient digitizer captures the processed signal including capture of a sufficient period of time before the transient to accurately analyze the cyclic noise, capture of a period of time to be sure the transient is not effecting the ambient and capture of the period of the transient. A signal processor is employed for filtering of a non-cyclic transient signal. An embedded computer with associated software performs an analysis of the ambient background just prior to the time that the transient signal of interest is detected, performs an analysis of the signal of interest, extends the analyzed ambient background signal through the period of time during which the transient signal is occurring and subtracts the background from the transient signal.
US08069176B1
A set of reference videos is indexed to a reference index in order to facilitate matching of video content. An indexing module receives a set of reference fingerprints representing a set of reference videos and identifies keys contained in the reference fingerprints. Reference identifiers for the reference videos are stored in bins of the reference index associated with the identified keys. The bins in the reference index are sub-sampled to limit the number of reference identifiers stored in a given bin.
US08069175B2
The invention provides an evaluation system for reliably evaluating large amounts of content. The evaluation system is managed by a primary authority that designates one or more contributing authorities by delegating to each a specific quantity of authority. Each contributing authority may in turn designate and delegate authority to one or more additional contributing authorities, subject to the restriction that the total quantity of authority delegated does not exceed the quantity of authority the contributing authority was itself delegated. Each contributing authority, and optionally the primary authority itself, may evaluate one or more portions of content by associating a rating with each evaluated portion of content. A composite rating for a particular portion of content may then be determined based upon the ratings associated with the portion of content. Preferably, the ratings are combined in a manner that affords a higher priority to the ratings provided by contributing authorities to which a greater quantity of authority was delegated.
US08069174B2
A generic and expandable document aspect system and method for searching, browsing, presenting, and interacting with data assembled from document contents and related external data is provided. New varieties of document aspects are added to existing installations and can be accessed by users without requiring upgrades to server or clients, for example by using plug-in technology.
US08069169B2
The disclosure details the implementation of apparatuses, methods, and systems for information querying and serving on the internet based on profiles. Information and/or advertisement providers may use a code triggered information server to serve context, demographic, and behavior targeted information to users on the internet. Users, in turn, trigger the provision of information by scanning or observing codes or information, or by selecting web links. The triggers, together with geographic, temporal, and user-specific information, are obtained by the server that receives, processes, and records the message. Based on these messages and a user profile—which may include continuously updated user-specific behavior information, situational and ambient information, an accumulated history of trigger messages, and integration with outside database information—the server selects information to serve to a user on the internet from an information base. For example, a user with a recorded history of interest in coffee products may be served an advertisement for a nearby coffeeshop while browsing the web on his/her PDA. In one embodiment, information may also be served to users on the internet based solely on the user profiles, and without any initiating trigger. This is based on user trajectories or web-surfing habits deduced from the accumulated history of triggers. For example, a user known to routinely visit a music vendor website near the same time each day may be served an advertisement for the latest top-selling CD shortly before that time.
US08069166B2
Means for allowing users to manage and make productive use of PIM data are provided. User status is determined by certain contextual indicia whereby other parties may contact the user through the most appropriate means as reflected by that contextual indicia. Information concerning presence, status, location, availability and so forth are aggregated from various PIM sources and communicated to other parties who initiate contact with the user in light of the aggregated information. Various groups and permissions may be implemented with regard to the collection and sharing of information.
US08069164B2
A media validation system including a plurality of media storage devices which contain a quantity of content thereon, a user computer processor assembly structured to operatively access a select media storage device, a verification module, and a communicative link between the verification module and the user computer processor assembly. Each of the media storage devices includes a unique unit identifier, the verification module identifying the unique unit identifier of the select media storage device and receiving user information associated therewith. The verification module is also structured to apply a reward credit in association with only a first user whose user information is associated with the unique unit identifier for the select media storage device.
US08069162B1
In some embodiments, techniques for crawling comprise retrieving a first electronic document, determining that an explicit enumeration of local content is associated with the first document, detecting a specification associated with the enumeration of local content that a second document at a specified location is indexable, and indexing the second document for searching.
US08069156B2
A computer readable medium including executable instructions for resilvering a hierarchical block tree in a storage pool. Resilvering the hierarchical block tree involves determining that a birth time of a parent block of a branch is greater than or equal to a lowest birth time on a dirty time log (DTL) and selectively traversing child indirect blocks in the branch to obtain a child data block, where each of the child indirect blocks includes a block pointer, a data checksum, and a birth time for a referenced block, where the birth time of each of the child indirect blocks is no greater than the birth time of the parent block. Resilvering the hierarchical block tree further involves resilvering the child data block when the DTL includes a birth time of the child data block, where one of the child indirect blocks includes the birth time of the child data block.
US08069155B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a database server for securing database event notifications. The server includes a session key creation mechanism configured to create a session key when a client registers for an event, a storage mechanism configured to store the session key on the database server, a data accessing mechanism configured to access registration metadata to obtain the session key when the event occurs, a connection mechanism configured to establish a communication channel between the database server and the client, a mutual authenticating mechanism configured to using the session key to mutually authenticate the client and the database server during event notification, and an event notifying mechanism configured to send the event notification to the client.
US08069151B1
Disclosed are embodiments of a system and method for detecting wrong storage media in data recovery processes. One embodiment can detect incorrect media via environmental factors such as source data type and format. One embodiment can detect incongruous media by pool membership. One embodiment can detect inappropriate media by comparing fingerprints. As each item is read, its fingerprint is calculated and compared to the overall fingerprint of a job. If the new fingerprint is different by some preset margin, a human inspector may be asked to validate the newly inserted storage medium. If valid, the overall signature for the job is revised to integrate the new signature. If not, the wrong medium is ejected and incorrectly loaded data is removed. Embodiments disclosed herein can detect the presence of a wrong medium quickly and early in a data recovery process, avoiding mistakes and saving time and costs.
US08069150B2
A request is received at a resource server for a first resource, the request accompanied by a proxy filter. A second resource is identified based on the proxy filter and based on a relationship between the first resource and the second resource. The first resource and information regarding the second resource is provided to a network interface for communication to a proxy server.
US08069145B2
A method and apparatus for obtaining data of a cache node in a tree-structured cluster is described. In one embodiment, a query for data in the cache node of the tree-structured cluster is received. A determination of whether the data is stored in the queried cache node is made. An inquiry of other cache nodes in the cluster for the data is performed. An instance of the data from a cache node storing the data is replicated to the cache node receiving the query.
US08069144B2
Aspects of the invention provide for information to be synchronized in an asynchronous manner among two or more computing devices.
US08069138B2
In an automated financial instrument brokerage system, during a first interval, data relating to option trades is stored in an old customer account database and data relating to equity trades is stored in a new customer account database. Also, customer account data is retrieved from both the old and new databases in response to activity requests. During a second interval, data relating to option trades and equity trades is stored in the new database and customer account data is retrieved from both the old and new databases in response to activity requests. After the second interval expires, the content of the old database is copied into the new database, data relating to option trades and equity trades is stored in the new database, and customer account data is retrieved from the new database in response to activity requests. The first and second intervals define a settlement period for equity trades.
US08069131B1
An artificially intelligent or rule-based system to assist teams or groups become more effective by improving the communication process between members of the team or group. The system helps members share information, negotiate more effectively and make better group decisions. The system is designed to allow users to generate new interventions and rule sets which are then vetted by all users of the system.
US08069124B2
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for identifying a deformable object of a scene of a computer game that is visible by an artificial intelligence (AI) character of the game, requesting a speculative physics simulation associated with the deformable object to determine a result of an action to the deformable object by the AI character, and selecting an action to be performed by the AI character, where the selection is based at least in part on the speculative physics simulation. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08069110B2
A method and system for facilitating trading of financial instruments in a market are provided. The system comprises a server and an interface. The interface is configured to enable buy orders and sell orders to be entered. Each order has a price, a volume, and an entry time and relates to a respective futures contract. The server is configured to match received buy orders having a first price to received sell orders having the first price. The match is effected by ensuring that the prices match, and then using the volume and entry time for each buy order and each sell order to assign a weight of time relative to volume, and then using the weights to determine each match. The server uses the matches to complete respective trades. The weights may be adjusted based on market conditions.
US08069102B2
A method and apparatus use decision logic deployed on a reconfigurable logic device to process a stream of financial information at hardware speeds. The decision logic can be configured to perform data reduction operations on the financial information stream. Examples of such data reductions operations include data processing operations to compute a latest stock price, a minimum stock price, and a maximum stock price.
US08069101B1
A financial methodology for the analysis of events' impact on media coverage and business, and predictive indications of movements of stock prices (or other financial instruments) triggered by media and business impact is described. The methodology is based on a numerical approach suitable for processing by a computer. It takes into account data outside the traditional realm of finance, such as public sensitivity to certain classes of events, and the correlation between media coverage and stock price performance during the course of an event.
US08069098B2
An input device for allowing interface to a web site in association with a unique input code. A method for interconnecting a first location on a global communication network with a second location thereon is disclosed. An input device is provided at the first location on the global communication network having associated therewith a unique input device ID. A product code disposed on a product is scanned with the input device, which product code is representative of the product in commercial transactions, the operation of scanning operable to extract the information contained in the product code to provide a unique value as an output. The unique value is then associated with the unique input device ID. In response to the operation of scanning and associating, the first location is connected to the second location.
US08069089B2
Methods, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for conducting electronic commerce. A merchant participates in an online community of merchants. Sales information is shared with the online community such that each merchant is informed of each sale of each merchant participating in the online community.
US08069085B2
A prepaid card processor receives data for a line of credit for a prepaid card from a lending institution computer. The prepaid card processor makes available draws to the line of credit line on behalf of the lending institution computer in an authorization stream for a proposed purchase using the prepaid card as payment. When the line of credit is accessed, the processor loads the prepaid card with an additional value equal to one or more preselected loan increments so that the prepaid card then has a new amount totaling a previous amount plus the amount of value of the one or more preselected loan increments and so that the new amount exceeds or equals the value of a proposed purchase. Then the processor notifies the lending institution so that the line of credit balances on the lending institution computer and the prepaid card processor are kept in sync.
US08069076B2
The present invention is directed to generating audience analytics that includes providing a database containing a plurality of user input pattern profiles representing the group of users of terminal device, in which each user of the group is associated with one of the plurality of user input pattern profiles. A clickstream algorithm, tracking algorithm, neural network, Bayes classifier algorithm, or affinity-day part algorithm can be used to generate the user input pattern profiles. A user input pattern is detected based upon use of the terminal device by the current user and the user input pattern of the current user is dynamically matched with one of the user input pattern profiles contained in the database. The current user is identified based upon dynamic matching of the user input pattern generated by the current user with one of the user input pattern profiles. The present invention processes each user input pattern profile to identify a demographic type. A plurality of biometric behavior models are employed to identify a unique demographic type. Each user input pattern profile is compared against the plurality of biometric behavior models to match each user input pattern profile with one of the biometric behavior models such that each user input pattern profile is correlated with one demographic type. Audience analytics are then based upon the identified demographic types.
US08069073B2
Techniques for facilitating evaluation, in connection with the procurement or delivery of products or services, in a context of at least one of (i) a financial transaction and (ii) operation of an enterprise, are disclosed. The techniques involve retrieving party and counterparty preference data from digital storage media; performing multilateral analyses of the combined preference data by computing a closeness-of-fit value; and delivering a list matching the at least one party and the at least one counterparty using the computed closeness-of-fit values.
US08069051B2
Circuits and methods for providing zero-gap playback of consecutive data streams in portable electronic devices, such as media players, are described. In some embodiments, a circuit includes a decoder circuit configured to receive encoded audio data and to output decoded audio data including data streams associated with a data file and a subsequent data file. Moreover, a predictive circuit, which is electrically coupled to the decoder circuit, is configured to selectively generate additional samples based on samples in the data file, where the additional samples correspond to times after the end of a data stream associated with the data file. Additionally, a filter circuit, which is electrically coupled to the decoder circuit and selectively electrically coupled to the predictive circuit, is configured to selectively combine or blend samples at a beginning of the subsequent data file with the additional samples. Note that the circuit may be included in an integrated circuit.
US08069044B1
Content matching using phoneme comparison and scoring is described, including extracting phonemes from a file, comparing the phonemes to other phonemes, associating a first score with the phonemes based on a probability of the other phonemes matching the phonemes, and providing the file with another file when a request is received to access one or more files having a second score that is substantially similar to the first score.
US08069043B2
Disclosed are systems and methods for providing a spoken dialog system using meta-data to build language models to improve speech processing. Meta-data is generally defined as data outside received speech; for example, meta-data may be a customer profile having a name, address and purchase history of a caller to a spoken dialog system. The method comprises building tree clusters from meta-data and estimating a language model using the built tree clusters. The language model may be used by various modules in the spoken dialog system, such as the automatic speech recognition module and/or the dialog management module. Building the tree clusters from the meta-data may involve generating projections from the meta-data and further may comprise computing counts as a result of unigram tree clustering and then building both unigram trees and higher-order trees from the meta-data as well as computing node distances within the built trees that are used for estimating the language model.
US08069042B2
A method and system for obtaining a pool of speech syllable models. The model pool is generated by first detecting a training segment using unsupervised speech segmentation or speech unit spotting. If the model pool is empty, a first speech syllable model is trained and added to the model pool. If the model pool is not empty, an existing model is determined from the model pool that best matches the training segment. Then the existing module is scored for the training segment. If the score is less than a predefined threshold, a new model for the training segment is created and added to the pool. If the score equals the threshold or is larger than the threshold, the training segment is used to improve or to re-estimate the model.
US08069041B2
Candidates for channels of television programs to be displayed are determined in accordance with a result of voice recognition of a voice input by a user. The channel candidates are assigned to a limited number of tuners and television programs received by the tuners are displayed to allow the user to make a selection.
US08069038B2
A system and method are disclosed for extending the bandwidth of a narrowband signal such as a speech signal. The method applies a parametric approach to bandwidth extension but does not require training. The parametric representation relates to a discrete acoustic tube model (DATM). The method comprises computing narrowband linear predictive coefficients (LPCs) from a received narrowband speech signal, computing narrowband partial correlation coefficients (parcors) using recursion, computing Mnb area coefficients from the partial correlation coefficient, and extracting Mwb area coefficients using interpolation. Wideband parcors are computed from the Mwb area coefficients and wideband LPCs are computed from the wideband parcors. The method further comprises synthesizing a wideband signal using the wideband LPCs and a wideband excitation signal, highpass filtering the synthesized wideband signal to produce a highband signal, and combining the highband signal with the original narrowband signal to generate a wideband signal. In a preferred variation of the invention, the Mnb area coefficients are converted to log-area coefficients for the purpose of extracting, through shifted-interpolation, Mwb log-area coefficients. The Mwb log-area coefficients are then converted to Mwb area coefficients before generating the wideband parcors.
US08069035B2
A scalable encoding apparatus capable of suppressing the quality degradation of a decoded signal without increasing the bit rate. In this apparatus, a core layer encoding part (101) and an extended layer encoding part (102) encode an input signal for each of audio frames. When a replacement determining part (103) determines that a degree to which the input signal changes between a preceding frame and a current frame is equal to or greater than a predetermined value or that a degree, to which the quality of the decoded signal is improved by an extended layer encoding process in the preceding frame, is equal to less than a predetermined level, a replacing part (105) replaces a part of an extended layer encoded data of the preceding frame by a core layer encoded data of the current frame. That is, a transmitting part (108) transmits, as a backup, the core layer encoded data of the current frame to a decoding end in advance.
US08069034B2
Method and apparatus for encoding an audio signal using multiple coders with plural selection models
A method for supporting an encoding of an audio signal is shown, wherein at least a first and a second coder mode are available for encoding a section of the audio signal. The first coder mode enables a coding based on two different coding models. A selection of a coding model is enabled by a selection rule which is based on signal characteristics which have been determined for a certain analysis window. In order to avoid a misclassification of a section after a switch to the first coder mode, it is proposed that the selection rule is activated only when sufficient sections for the analysis window have been received. The invention relates equally to a module in which this method is implemented, to a device and a system comprising such a module and to a software program product including a software code for realizing the proposed method.
US08069026B2
Clock gating analysis of a target circuit having a plurality of clock gates, involves the calculation of a clock gate function for each of the clock gates. The clock gate functions indicate an activation state of the clock gates and a combination of output values from sequential circuit elements in the target circuit are substituted into each of the clock gate functions to obtained clock gate function values. Combinations of the clock gate function values form individual clock gating states. Each clock gating state indicates an activation state of each of the local clocks, collectively. A table indicating correlations between the combinations of output values and the clock gating states is generated and from the conversion table, a group that includes all of the clock gating states possible is output.
US08069020B2
A first wafer is fabricated using a first value for a process parameter specifying a process condition in fabricating the structure. A first value of a dispersion is measured from the first wafer. A second wafer is fabricated using a second value for the process parameter. A second value of the dispersion is measured from the second wafer. A third wafer is fabricated using a third value for the process parameter. The first, second, and third values for the process parameter are different from each other. A third value of the dispersion is measured from the third wafer. A dispersion function is defined to relate the process parameter to the dispersion using the first, second, and third values for the process parameter and the measured first, second, and third values of the dispersion. The simulated diffraction signal is generated using the defined dispersion function. The simulated diffraction signal is stored.
US08069014B2
Methods and systems for high-confidence utilization of datasets are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes selecting a metric for determining substantially optimal combination of true positives and false positives in a data set, applying an optimization technique, and obtaining, from the results of the optimization technique, a value for at least one optimization parameter, the value for at least one optimization parameter resulting in substantially optimal combination of true positives and false positives. A number of true positives and a number of false positives are a function of the one or more optimization parameters.
US08069010B2
A method and apparatus for predicting content preferences of an active user with reference to content preferences of other users that are similar to those of the active user, the method including: measuring similarity ratios of the active user and other users using an overlapping ratio of use of content items commonly used between the active user and the respective other users; generating a recommender list for the active user based on the measured similarity ratios; and predicting a preference rating of the first user with respect to an unused content item based on a preference rating of an other user included in the recommender list with respect to the unused content item. Accordingly, the similarity ratio between the users can be accurately measured so that reliability of a preference rating prediction system can be increased.
US08069009B2
A physical quantity detection circuit (12) is used for a physical quantity sensor (10) that outputs a sensor signal according to a physical quantity given externally. A sampling phase adjustment circuit (100) adjusts the phase of a sampling clock (CKa). An analog-to-digital converter circuit (104) converts the sensor signal (Ssnc) to a digital sensor signal (Dsnc) in synchronization with the sampling clock (CKsp) phase-adjusted by the sampling phase adjustment circuit. A detection circuit (107) detects the physical quantity based on the digital sensor signal (Dsnc) from the analog-to-digital converter circuit.
US08068999B2
A system and method of characterizing or controlling a flow of a fluid is provided that involves a sensor conduit and a bypass. A plurality of fluids may be utilized in the flow control device based on characteristic information of the device generated during calibration thereof. The characteristic information, in turn is based on a dimensionless parameters, such as adjusted dynamic pressure and adjusted Reynolds number.
US08068988B2
A method and system for automated quantitation of tissue micro-array image (TMA) digital analysis. The method and system automatically analyze a digital image of a TMA with plural TMA cores created using a needle to biopsy or other techniques to create standard histologic sections and placing the resulting needle cores into TMA. The automated analysis allows a medical conclusion such as a medical diagnosis or medical prognosis (e.g., for a human cancer) to be automatically determined. The method and system provides reliable automatic TMA core gridding and automated TMA core boundary detection including detection of overlapping or touching TMA cores on a grid.
US08068986B1
The disclosure relates to Sensor security and Business Intelligence and more particularly to detecting and capturing Sensor information of data in a network environment and extracting information from this un-structured data. Sensors can correspond to video cameras, microphones, access control readers, and various other kinds of sensors in physical security or surveillance systems. In embodiments, data packets having only security sensor data are obtained and reconstructed into their original sensor data stream or data formats. Frames may then be analyzed for points of interest and to derive statistical data. In embodiments, blind spot detection in a video stream using boundary detection and overlay is also disclosed.
US08068983B2
Representing vehicles in a customizable virtual environment is disclosed. One embodiment includes a controlled environment including prototype vehicles and a virtual environment including virtual representations of the prototype vehicles. The virtual environment is a display that includes an environment scenario, a number of virtual objects, and the various represented vehicles. The represented vehicles are linked to the prototype vehicles by communicating kinematic data from the prototype vehicles to the virtual vehicles real-time. The positions of the represented vehicles are updated based on the communicated kinematic data such that the virtual environment is a realistic visualization of the prototype vehicles. In addition, the virtual environment is highly customizable. In an embodiment, customizing the virtual environment includes generating reference views for the represented vehicles, editing the environment scenario, editing the virtual objects, editing the represented vehicles, and generating a mission scenario of the reference views.
US08068982B2
An on-vehicle navigation system reliably performs guidance of a necessary exiting authorized section while avoiding the guidance of a needless exiting authorized section on a plural-lane road having a normal lane and a special lane where advancing from the normal lane in a predetermined advancing authorized section and exiting to the normal lane in a predetermined exiting authorized section are authorized. After discriminating whether the vehicle is driving in the special lane of the plural-lane road based on whether a characteristic object has been detected by a characteristic object detecting section, the guidance of an exiting authorized section is avoided in the case where the vehicle deviated from a recommended route including a special lane, and the guidance of an exiting authorized section is performed in the case where the vehicle deviated from a recommended route not including a special lane and drives in a special lane.
US08068974B2
A method for determining driver efficiency in a hybrid vehicle includes the steps of measuring a hybrid vehicle parameter, and calculating driver efficiency based, at least in part, on the hybrid vehicle parameter. The hybrid vehicle parameter is influenced, at least in part, by an action taken by a driver.
US08068970B2
A method of operation for an internal combustion engine (1) whose output power can be controlled by means of a controlling parameter (T), in which an engine characteristic curve (11, 12) which, at a value of the controlling parameter (T) which corresponds to a maximum output power, specifies the output power (P) as a function of the engine's speed of revolution (ω), has an ascending part (12) at low speeds of revolution and a descending part (11) at high speeds of revolution, is characterized in that if, when the engine (1) is operating, the speed of revolution (ω) exceeds a first upper limiting value (ωmax,0) at the value of the controlling parameter which corresponds to the maximum output power, a first value (T1(ω)) of the controlling parameter (T) is set which corresponds to a reduced output power.
US08068963B2
A control device for an automatic transmission capable of operating in an automatic shift mode in which a gear ratio is automatically selected based on driving conditions of a vehicle, and also capable of operating in a manual shift mode in which the gear ratio is changed based on an upshift command or a downshift command by manual operation of a manual operation device, the control device includes a manual shift control unit that changes and sets the gear ratio after downshift depending on road conditions when the downshift command has been operated by the manual operation device in the manual shift mode, and performs the downshift to the gear ratio that has been changed and set.
US08068961B2
A headlight control system for use on a snow plow mounted on the front of a vehicle and a related method are disclosed that automatically, selectively illuminate the headlights of the vehicle in addition to the headlights of the snow plow only when the snow plow blade is in a down position such that it is not physically obstructing the headlights of the vehicle. The headlight control system and method only operate to turn on the vehicle headlights when the snow plow lights are turned on. The headlight control system and method are capable of operating both the low beam headlights and the high beam headlights of the vehicle in conjunction with the low beam headlights and the high beam headlights of the snow plow when the snow plow blade is lowered.
US08068954B2
There is provided a steering apparatus to ease an uncomfortable feeling given to an operator when a steering wheel is connected to a steering mechanism, on a fail. The apparatus includes a unit that varies an angular ratio of a steering angle of front wheels with respect to an operational angle of a steering wheel. The apparatus also includes a connection unit such as a electromagnetic clutch for connecting the steering wheel to the steering mechanism in order to fix the angular ratio, on a fail such as a failure of a steering motor. The apparatus also includes a rotational body which relatively rotates with respect to the steering wheel by an angular deviation upon this connection. Accordingly, since a real neutral position of the steering mechanism coincides with a neutral position recognized by a pattern on the rotational body being seen, it eases the uncomfortable feeling onto the operator.
US08068952B2
An interworking module and method are described herein which allows information to be exchanged between a user terminal (e.g., mobile phone) and a communication bus which is installed within a vehicle. The communication bus is connected to different components (e.g., engine sensors, on-board diagnostic systems, video-audio equipment, heating-cooling equipment, stereo system, and seats) which are installed within the vehicle.
US08068950B2
Unmanned aerial vehicle take-off and landing systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of landing an unmanned aerial vehicle includes programming a landing location for the unmanned aerial vehicle utilizing a user input device. The unmanned aerial vehicle is launched. Communications between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the user input device are interrupted, and the unmanned aerial vehicle is landed at the landing location based on the programmed landing location and not based on any real-time communication between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the user input device.
US08068949B2
An unmanned aerial vehicle variable autonomy control system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a control mode interface that provides a plurality of selectable control modes for an unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein one of the plurality of selectable control modes comprises an autonomous landing mode. Also included is a route editing interface that, following a selection of the autonomous landing mode, facilitates a receipt of an input indicative of a landing location. The system also includes a communications component that transmits a command to the unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein the command is based at least in part on the input indicative of the landing location.
US08068948B2
A method of performing shifts includes determining whether a multiple-shift maneuver is needed, whether a single-staged input profile is needed, and creating the single-staged input speed profile. The profile is matched to first or second multiple-shift patterns, neither of which utilizes fixed-gear propulsion. The patterns utilize a quasi-asynchronous transitional shift event and an electric torque converter transitional shift event. The quasi-asynchronous event induces controlled slip to an offgoing clutch while providing reaction torque from the electric machines, and offloads torque from the offgoing clutch proportionally to reaction torque. The oncoming clutch begins slipping-engagement prior to completing offloading of the offgoing clutch. At least one of the offgoing and oncoming clutches has non-zero slip speed throughout the quasi-asynchronous event. The electric torque converter event utilizes oncoming and offgoing clutches, completely offloads the offgoing clutch while controlling output torque with the electric machines, and synchronizes and engages the oncoming clutch.
US08068940B2
In a control stack included in a software, a control execution unit allows a receiving unit to receive the temperatures of a main processor and a graphic processor. When it determines based on these temperatures that a thermal error has occurred, the control execution unit allows a type acquisition unit to acquire the type of an application running currently. The control execution unit then performs hardware control processing for adjusting the operation of hardware, and software control processing for changing the operation of an application, so as to control the state of heat generation in the hardware. In the software control processing, the control execution unit acquires, from a reaction table, a control method corresponding to the combination of the part where a thermal error has occurred and the type of the running application, and provides control according to the acquired control method.
US08068935B2
A method of mapping an operation area by a team of a human and a mobile robot 200 includes the steps of defining a graph representing the area by a human 201, guiding the robot by human along an edge 203, stopping at a vertex in the graph by the team 203, creating a vertex record if stopped at a new vertex 205, localizing the robot and vertices if stopped at an existing vertex 206, creating an edge record if finished a new edge 208, and outputting an area's map including a set of vertex records and a set of edge record by the robot 210. The robot's human-tracking step 203 includes the steps of obtaining a 2-DOF motion command from sensors that detect the human's action and executing a 2-DOF motion based on the motion command.
US08068930B2
The present invention provides systems and methods for electronically-capturing a destination address of a package and for using the destination address to automate a package pre-load operation. An embodiment of the invention includes a compression system for compressing the destination address as a compressed MaxiCode symbol, a smart shipping label system for generating a shipping label with a compressed MaxiCode and a pre-load assist system for generating package handling instructions from the electronically-captured destination address.
US08068929B2
An automated system for producing custom layouts for storage or transport molds made of foam or any other malleable material used for storage or package items, which is capable of identifying the type of item depicted by each image file, automatically generating the shape of each receptacle; automatically distributing the identified items in one or more molds; and automatically generating the accommodation layout of each receptacle in the one or more molds.
US08068912B2
The present invention involves systems and methods for determining nerve proximity, nerve direction, and pathology relative to a surgical instrument based on an identified relationship between neuromuscular responses and the stimulation signal that caused the neuromuscular responses.
US08068910B2
The disclosure describes a therapeutic sphincter control system with a fluid tube pressure sensor. The system senses sphincter pressure and sends the information to a stimulator that is capable of stimulation therapy to control sphincter contractility, thus reducing unwanted urinary incontinence. Measuring sphincter pressure is accomplished through the use of a fluid-filled tube placed through the sphincter and attached to a module implanted within the bladder. Pressure within the tube is transduced to generate an electrical signal that is sent wirelessly to an implanted stimulator connected to a lead positioned near pelvic floor nerves. An external device may be used to wirelessly send information to the implanted stimulator and inhibit stimulation in order for the patient to empty the bladder. Pressure information and stimulation information may be recorded and reviewed for continued patient monitoring. In addition, the system may only include the pressure sensor to monitor patient pressure information.
US08068907B2
A method of monitoring pressure within a medical patient, includes measuring an actual pressure in a medical patient in a first time period; measuring an indicator of the actual pressure in the first time period, wherein the indicator is derived from an electrical signal of the patient's heart; determining a correlative relationship between the actual pressure and the indicator, wherein both the actual pressure and the indicator are obtained in the first time period; measuring the indicator in a second time period; and determining the actual pressure in the second time period based on the correlative relationship obtained in the first time period and the indicator obtained in the second time period.
US08068905B2
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a test signal generator capable of producing an impedance test signal comprising of a sine wave having a known frequency. The test signal generator may include a crystal oscillator, a counter, and a lookup table. The lookup table output is applied to a digital to analog converter and is then low pass filtered using a conventional analog filter to produce a sine wave of a known frequency and voltage amplitude. The test signal flows through the electrode and combines with an electrophysiological signal to form a combined signal. A signal processor is used to isolate the combined signal into the test signal component and the electrophysiological component. The signal processor digitally low pass filters the combined signal and the output of the low pass filter is the electrophysiological signal. The signal processor then digitally bandpass filters the combined signal using a filter with a center frequency which is the same as the test frequency. The output of this filter is then used to calculate the electrode impedance.
US08068901B2
A method and apparatus of updating a sensing parameter in a medical device that includes sensing cardiac signals, determining intervals in response to the sensed cardiac signals, determining interval patterns associated with the determined intervals, and updating the sensing parameter in response to the determined interval patterns.
US08068897B1
An improved endoscopic device which is introduced into the intestinal tract of a living organism and which operates autonomously therein, adapted to obtain and store or transmit one or more types of data such as visual image data, laser autofluorescence data, or ultrasonic waveform data. In another aspect of the invention, an improved endoscopic device useful for implanting the aforementioned endoscopic smart probe is disclosed. In another aspect of the invention, apparatus for delivering agents including nanostructures, radionuclides, medication, and ligands is disclosed. In another aspect of the invention, apparatus for obtaining a biopsy of intestinal tissue is disclosed. In another aspect of the invention, apparatus for detecting the presence of one or more molecular species within the intestine is disclosed. Methods for inspecting and/or treating the interior regions of the intestinal tract using the aforementioned apparatus are also disclosed.
US08068895B2
An instrument for deploying a marker at a site within a patient may include an elongate cannula, an elongate pusher, and a marker disposed within the cannula. The cannula may have a tip at its distal end and a transverse opening. The pusher may be disposed within the cannula, and may be moved longitudinally within the cannula. The pusher may have a ramped distal end. The marker may be configured to exit the transverse opening upon urging by the ramped distal end of the pusher. In some versions, the tip of the cannula has a flat proximal face, and the marker has a recessed region that is configured to buckle in response to longitudinal compression, such that the marker will pop out of the cannula upon buckling. In other versions, the cannula has an external sheath, an open and curved distal end, or a leaf spring.
US08068877B1
Systems and methods of controlling transmission of communications from a base station to a wireless communication station are provided. When the signal quality of communications between the base station and the wireless communication station are above a predetermined signal quality level, multiple antennas are employed for transmitting such communications. When the signal quality of transmissions by the base station to the wireless communication station are below a predetermined signal quality level, a single antenna is employed for transmitting such communications.
US08068875B2
A base station apparatus includes a measurement unit, a derivation unit and an allocation unit. A base station apparatus allocates at least one subcarrier block, in a frequency band containing a plurality of subcarrier blocks composed of a plurality of subcarriers, to a terminal apparatus. The measurement unit measures an interference power of at least part of subcarriers among a plurality of subcarriers in each of the plurality of subcarrier blocks. The derivation unit derives, from the interference power of subcarriers measured by the measurement unit, an average value of the interference power for each of the plurality of subcarrier blocks and a statistical value indicating a degree of variation in the interference power relative to the average value. The allocation unit allocates at least one subcarrier block to the terminal apparatus, based on the average value and the statistical value derived by the derivation unit.
US08068874B2
In a wireless base station comprising a center unit, and a remote unit provided with an array antenna and connected to the center unit through an optical fiber, the center unit outputs to the optical fiber a transmission signal in a base band state prior to array processing, the remote unit performs the array processing of transmission signals in accordance with array weights and converts the transmission signals into RF signals, thereby to localize the compensation for transmission signal deviations occurring among the antenna elements on the remote unit side.
US08068868B2
A method and apparatus for uplink power alignment estimation in a communication system includes a step 600 of defining an upper threshold and a lower threshold for a transmit power correction (TPC) level. A next step 602 includes keeping a total of accumulated TPC commands. A next step 604 includes determining that a power correction is needed. A next step 608 includes generating a TPC command to be sent to a user equipment per the needed power correction. A next step 610 includes adjusting the total according to one of the following conditions: if the total is between the upper and lower thresholds then the total is changed per the needed power correction, if the total is at either of the thresholds and the needed power correction would not exceed either of the thresholds then the total is changed per the needed power correction, and if the total is at either of the thresholds and the needed power correction would exceed either of the thresholds then total is kept the same.
US08068863B2
A message transmission method for a mobile communication terminal is includes the steps of: inputting a message including a plurality of unit messages; matching a unit message to a receiver address; and transmitting the matched unit message to a mobile communication terminal having the particular receiver address identified by an identification symbol. The method may transmit a message pre-stored in a mobile communication terminal. The method reduces the time required for group transmission because the mobile communication terminal transmits different messages individually to a plurality of receivers by using unit messages newly input or pre-stored in the mobile communication terminal.
US08068857B2
A system for providing wireless telecommunications services to mobile devices includes structure and functionality for location-based services, and includes both server and client/mobile device apparatuses. One apparatus includes a data store storing at least a first record associated with a first wireless device or a second record associated with a second wireless device. A computer is coupled to the data store and is configured to receive a request from the first wireless device to obtain location information associated with the second wireless device. The computer is configured to receive a change location privileges request, and to update the first or second records in the data store based on the received change request. Other apparatuses provide additional structures and functions.
US08068851B2
A method for proximity detection in a wireless communication network. A node attempts to determine the proximity of the closest neighboring node by transmitting a ranging request. Other nodes respond, and the first node to receive and respond to the request will have the shortest response time and thus will be the closest node. Exact ranges can be determined by applying Time-Of-Arrival (TOA) techniques to node response times. To further avoid collisions, one or more frames of the response messages can be same, making the multiple responses appear as multi-path. The group of responders can be narrowed and individual groups probed in a search pattern until the single nearest node is known or range of the nearest node is known. The ranging node may then use ordinary unicast mechanisms to probe this node, or begin scanning the groups again, or interleave the two mechanisms as desired.
US08068849B2
Embodiments of the present invention recite a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data collection network. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a mobile electronic device that was not originally intended for use as a GIS data collector. The present invention further comprises a data dictionary forwarding device communicatively coupled with the mobile electronic device and a GIS data management component communicatively coupled with the data dictionary forwarding device for receiving GIS data collected by the mobile electronic device.
US08068846B2
The present invention provides a method for assigning a mobile unit to a tracking area based upon a location update frequency. The method includes selecting one of a technology-specific tracking area and a shared tracking area based on a location update frequency associated with a mobile unit.
US08068839B2
In a mobile radio network in which synchronous base stations and asynchronous base stations coexist, according to handover destination base station candidate information transmitted from a base station to a mobile station, effective time information indicating either an effective time during which it is guaranteed that a signal from a base station candidate included in the handover destination base station candidate information can be detected when, after a lapse of an integral multiple of a fixed time interval from a time when the mobile station could detect a reference signal which were transmitted at the fixed time intervals from the base station candidate, the mobile station detects the same base station candidate again, the effective time depending on the base station candidate, or an index for enabling the mobile station to drive the effective time is provided to the mobile station, and the mobile station carries out the detection by setting up the detection time intervals at which the mobile station detects a signal from the base station candidate on the basis of the effective time information.
US08068838B1
A mobile communication device wirelessly transfers user communications to a first wireless base station. The mobile communication device determines a first metric based on a load indicator for the first base station. The mobile communication device identifies a second wireless base station and determines a second metric based on a load indicator for the second base station. If the second metric is superior to the first metric, the mobile communication device determines if the second base station has sufficient performance characteristics for communication with the device. If the performance is sufficient, the mobile communication device initiates a hand-off from the first base station to the second base station. The mobile communication device may use additional factors to determine the first and second metrics.
US08068835B2
Systems and methods are provided for processing wireless signal components for a mobile wireless access broadband service. This can include processes for measuring signal strength of an alternative frequency by tuning away from an existing frequency associated with an existing communications path. Such processes allow determining if the alternative frequency supports a subsequent communications path in a mobile broadband wireless application. Upon the determination, the process can automatically select the subsequent communications path based in part on the measured signal strength.
US08068828B2
A space-based component, such as a satellite, is configured to receive wireless communications from radiotelephones in a satellite footprint over an uplink satellite radiotelephone frequency, and to transmit wireless communications to the radiotelephones over a downlink radiotelephone frequency. An ancillary terrestrial network, that may include one or more ancillary terrestrial components, is configured to transmit wireless communications to, and receive wireless communications from, the radiotelephones over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode. By terrestrially transmitting and receiving wireless communications over the downlink satellite radiotelephone frequency in a time-division duplex mode, interference at the space-based component and/or at the gateway, by the ancillary terrestrial network and/or the radiotelephones due to terrestrial reuse of cellular satellite frequency spectrum, may be reduced or eliminated.
US08068822B2
An information exchange system includes a first mobile terminal device having publication notification request unit to request a publication notification, and information notification unit to transmit, upon receiving a publication request, the particular information to a mobile terminal device that sent the request; a second mobile terminal device having publication notification unit to send a publication notification to a mobile terminal device registered in a registration information storing unit; and a third mobile terminal device having information obtaining unit to send a publication request for the particular information to the first mobile terminal device to obtain the specific information from the first mobile terminal device.
US08068814B2
An information management system for operation over a network includes a first mobile device having a first application module, the first mobile device operating over the network and in communication with a second mobile device having a second application module, a first operating system residing on the first mobile device configured to detect a communication event between the first mobile device and the second mobile device, and an address book module residing on the second mobile device. The first application module is configured to send information associated with the first mobile device to the second mobile device in association with a detection of the communication event.
US08068803B2
An booster/amplifier receives a plurality of RF signals, including a subject RF signal. A location-based signal spectrum is determined by performing either a frequency scan or an information lookup operation. An initial filter bandwidth for the booster/amplifier is set based at least in part on the determined signal spectrum and a target time delay interference. In one embodiment, the initial filter bandwidth is set such that both the TDI and ACI are optimized/minimized. The initial filter bandwidth subsequently may be adjusted from its initial value based on actual measured ACI and/or TDI values.
US08068794B2
Aspects of a method and system for a Multisystem Polar Transmitter may include a single integrated circuit comprising one or more Direct Digital Frequency Synthesizer (DDFS). The single integrated circuit may generate a plurality of signals compliant with at least a first wireless protocol and a second wireless protocol. At least one of the plurality of signals is polar modulated using the DDFS. The single integrated circuit may comprise a plurality of wireless transmitters. In another embodiment of the invention, a plurality of baseband signals compliant with the first and second protocols may be combined. The first protocol may be Bluetooth® and the second protocol may be Wireless LAN. The combined plurality of baseband signals may be modulated via a single wireless transmitter on the integrated circuit. The phase and frequency for polar modulation may be adjusted using the DDFS, while the amplitude may be adjusted using an amplifier.
US08068789B2
A survey device, including: an antenna to receive at least one wireless signal; an interface to receive environmental data; one or more processors to determine spatial data using the at least one wireless signal, and to produce collocated data by combining the spatial data and the environmental data; and, an output device to output the collocated data.
US08068784B2
A communication apparatus includes a short-range communication unit and a long-range communication unit that communicates via electromagnetic waves in a range wider than a communication area of the short-range communication unit. The communication apparatus further includes a session key generating unit that generates a random number and uses the random number to generate a session key. In addition, the communication apparatus includes an encrypting unit that encrypts the session key. The communication apparatus uses an encryption key transmitted from an external communication apparatus to encrypt the session key into an encrypted session key, transmits the encrypted session key to the external communication apparatus, and receives from the external communication apparatus a communication switching request signal to request a switching from a short-range communication by the short-range communication unit to a long-range communication, with the session key, the long-range communication unit.
US08068783B2
A wireless repeater includes an input antenna for receiving an input signal, an output antenna for outputting an amplified signal, and an amplifier for amplifying the received input signal and providing the output amplified signal to the output antenna. Radiated coupling between the input and output antennas causes echoes to be transmitted by the repeater. A filter is used for applying a weighting function to a power spectrum of a measured signal in the wireless repeater thereby obtaining a weighted power spectrum of the measured signal. An internal feedback path is employed for adaptively canceling the echo by implementing an adaptive algorithm based on a autocorrelation of the input signal employing the weighted power spectrum of the measured signal.
US08068773B2
A development device includes a developer carrier and a developer supply belt. The developer carrier, disposed in contact with an image carrier carrying an electrostatic latent image, carries developer to be charged with a prescribed polarity and develops the electrostatic latent image by application of development voltage. The developer supply belt includes a first roller, a second roller, and a belt. The belt is tightly stretched by the first roller and the second roller, and is disposed in contact with the developer carrier from a contact beginning portion to a contact finishing portion. A potential difference between the development voltage and the voltage of the contact finishing portion is arranged to be zero (0) V or above and 600 V or below.
US08068771B2
A developing unit includes a developing hopper for storing a dual-component developer. In the developing hopper, an opening portion is formed at the position opposing the outer peripheral surface of a photoreceptor drum. A developing roller for supplying the developer to the photoreceptor drum to develop an electrostatic latent image is provided inside the developing hopper. The developing roller has a multi-pole magnetic member having a multiple magnetic poles and a non-magnetic sleeve. The multi-pole magnetic member has a multiple number of magnetic poles radially arranged apart from each other. The photoreceptor drum incorporates an opposing magnetic pole formed of a bar magnet having a rectangular section, disposed at a position opposing the magnetic pole across a photosensitive layer. The opposing magnetic pole has a polarity dissimilar to that of the main magnetic pole.
US08068754B2
An image forming apparatus including: an image forming portion for forming an image on a sheet; an image reading portion for reading an original, the image forming portion having a printed board having a projecting board surface projecting on an image reading portion side; a hinge portion having a pivot axis for pivotably supporting the image reading portion relative to the image forming portion; and a cable having a connector to be electrically connected with a connector receiving portion provided on the projecting board surface, wherein, within the image forming apparatus, the cable is folded back in a U-shape in a vicinity of the pivot axis from the image reading portion side to an image forming portion side, with the connector of the cable being connected to the connector receiving portion from a direction substantially perpendicular to the projecting board surface.
US08068743B2
An optoelectronic timing system includes an adaptive frequency generator system in which optical pulses are developed by a semiconductor laser. The pulses are directed into a number of time-quantifiable optical paths. Time quantification for a pulse is based upon the time required for a pulse to travel a particular length at the speed of light. Pulses are recombined at a nodal point and exhibit a numerical relationship with the periodicity of the issued pulse train equal to the numerical relationship between the lengths of the number of optical waveguides. A pulse detector and a regenerator are coupled to the semiconductor laser. A regeneration waveguide having a length equal to the longest of the optical paths is coupled to receive pulses from the laser. A pulse traveling the regeneration waveguide and directed to the pulse detector and regenerator triggers the laser to issue a next pulse, the physical length of the regeneration waveguide defining a fundamental frequency of the system and the number and lengths of the optical paths defining multiples of the fundamental frequency.
US08068713B2
A hybrid optical fiber connector tool is capable of cleaving an optical fiber inserted into the connector tool. The connector tool includes an inner housing, an outer housing that is rotatable with respect to the inner housing, and an optical fiber cutting component. The connector tool is useful for connecting and cutting optical fiber in the field.
US08068710B2
In various embodiments described herein, a display device includes a front illumination device that comprises a light guide disposed forward of an array of display elements, such as an array of interferometric modulators, to distribute light across the array of display elements. The light guide may include a turning film to deliver uniform illumination from a light source to the array of display elements. For many portable display applications, the light guide comprises the substrate used in fabricating the display elements. The display device may include additional films as well. The light guide, for example, may include a diffuser and/or an optical isolation layer to further enhance the optical characteristics of the display.
US08068709B2
A method comprises computing an interference pattern between a simulated design input optical signal and a simulated design output optical signal, and computationally deriving an arrangement of at least one diffractive element set from the computed interference pattern. The interference pattern is computed in a transmission grating region, with the input and output optical signals each propagating through the transmission grating region as substantially unconfined optical beams. The arrangement of diffractive element set is computationally derived so that when the diffractive element set thus arranged is formed in or on a transmission grating, each diffractive element set would route, between corresponding input and output optical ports, a corresponding diffracted portion of an input optical signal incident on and transmitted by the transmission grating. The method can further comprise forming the set of diffractive elements in or on the transmission grating according to the derived arrangement.
US08068704B2
An optical waveguide circuit includes: a lower cladding layer formed on a substrate; a first optical waveguide formed on the lower cladding layer so as to partition the lower cladding layer into a first portion and a second portion; a second optical waveguide formed on the first portion, the second optical waveguide including a tip end portion directed toward a side face of the first optical waveguide, the tip end portion being narrowed in a tapered manner; and a third optical waveguide formed on the second portion, the third optical waveguide including a tip end portion directed toward the tip end portion of the second optical waveguide, a tip end portion of the third optical waveguide being narrowed in a tapered manner.
US08068702B2
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method and computer instructions for aiding analysis of an image used in a medical examination. For example, in an embodiment, an image analysis system used in a medical examination comprises: an input module configured to input an image; a search module configured to locate information regarding an image that is similar to the input image; and an output module configured to output a link to the located information, wherein the located information is displayed when the link is used. For example, in an embodiment, an image analysis system used in a medical examination further comprises a communication module, wherein the communication module is configured to output the input image and the located information, and wherein the communication module is configured to receive a responsive communication.
US08068695B2
A de-warp map is generated by applying principal component analysis (PCA) to vectors describing aspects of identified features of an object in an image. PCA provides vectors and coefficients describing curvature or image warping at selected points in the image. Estimates of the warping of the image generally are generated by interpolation and/or extrapolation from the vectors and coefficients provided by PCA. In some applications only two features need be identified. For example, the complicated curvature of the facing pages of an open book can be characterized by two vectors describing positions of top and bottom edges of the book. In such applications PCA can reduce to vector subtraction to determine a basis vector, vector addition and scaling to determine an average vector and simple assignment of known coefficient values. The de-warping map can be used to generate a de-warped version of the image.
US08068687B2
An object is identified by detecting an object area image of an object to be recognized from a degraded image, converting the object area image to a frequency area, extracting a feature vector which indicates the amount of blur, comparing the feature vector and a classified plurality of blurred images, obtaining a cluster which is the most similar to the feature vector, selecting one point spread function corresponding to the similar cluster, restoring the object area image to the image before being blurred using the point spread function, and comparing the restored image and a target image.
US08068683B2
The invention presents new methods of compression, transmission, and decompression of video signals providing increased speed and image quality and for protecting against camcorder piracy. Methods based on selecting an anchor frame, wavelet transformation with decimation and time stamping can provide one-pass encoding of signals in which the amount of bits of information needed to be transmitted can be substantially reduced, thereby increasing the speed of transmission of digital signals over networks. Decompressing signals, along with interpolation methods to re-create portions of images of lesser importance in visual perception, can provide coordinated video and audio presentations of high quality in real-time over all kinds of networks and frame interpolation resulting in a displayed frame rate significantly higher than 30 fps. The use of randomly selected anchor frames can render reconstructed transmitted images of poor quality for pirates who do not have access to identities of anchor frames.
US08068678B2
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a grouping module, an attribute determination module, a grouping attribute setting module, a group selection module, and a video generating module. The grouping module classifies contents, to which time information is added, into groups based on the time information. The attribute determination module determines attributes of each of the contents by analyzing features of the contents. The grouping attribute setting module sets, with respect to each of the groups, selected attributes as grouping attributes for the group, the selected attributes being selected from the attributes of the contents in the group under a predetermined condition. The group selection module selects, from the groups, at least one group for which the grouping attribute agreeing with or relating to an input search key are set. The video generating module generates video data by using the contents in the selected groups.
US08068676B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for recognizing and classifying clothes. During operation, the system captures at least one image of a clothing item. The system further determines a region on the captured image which corresponds to a torso and/or limbs. The system also determines at least one color composition, texture composition, collar configuration, and sleeve configuration of the clothing item. Additionally, the system classifies the clothing item into at least one category based on the determined color composition, texture composition, collar configuration, and sleeve configuration. The system then produces a result which indicates the classification.
US08068673B2
The disclosure relates to a rapid and high precision centroiding method for spots image comprising the following steps. First, the method requires convoluting the gray value of a pixel with a Gaussian filter and judging whether the result thereof exceeds a predetermined threshold. If the value exceeds the predetermined threshold, the method requires marking the current pixel with a flag to identify which spot it belongs to, and then accumulating the product of the gray value and a coordinate value of the same spot; and at the same time, accumulating the gray value of the same spot; and saving the results of the accumulation respectively. If the gray value of the pixel does not exceed the predetermined threshold, the method requires marking the current pixel as a background flag. After all pixels of the image has been disposed of completely, the method includes calculating a quotient of the accumulations of the product of the gray value and the coordinate value and the accumulations of the gray value, and outputting the quotients. At the same time, a centroiding system for spots image is also presented.
US08068669B2
The present invention provides a text and graphic separation method and a text enhancement method. The text and graphic separation method is used for separating texts and graphics of an image and comprises coarse classification and advanced classification. The method of the present invention also adjusts the luminance of the text to enhance the text image according to the separation result.
US08068653B2
A method and system for detecting the second bend plane of an ear canal surface is disclosed. A region of interest of the ear canal is defined between the first bend plane and the ear canal tip. A set of curves is defined in the region of interest and a set of high curvature points is detected from the set of curves. The second bend plane is detected using the set of high curvature points.
US08068650B2
A method for lesion detection includes acquiring pre-therapy medical image data from a first modality. Post-therapy medical image data is acquired from a second modality. A transformation matrix for transforming from an image space of the first modality to an image space of the second modality is calculated. A volume of interest is defined from the medical image data of the first modality. The volume of interest includes one or more lesions. The volume of interest is automatically copied to the medical image data of the second modality using the calculated transformation matrix. Treatment is directed to the lesion using the medical image data of the second modality including the copied volume of interest data.
US08068640B2
Video surveillance systems are used for monitoring such areas as streets, railroad stations, industrial plants, buildings, or squares with video cameras, and on the basis of the sequences of images recorded with the video cameras, discovering anomalies in the monitored areas. A method for detecting image regions that are conspicuous in terms of the movement in them in a sequence of images of a scene and a corresponding apparatus and computer program are proposed, in which a current optical flow field in the sequence of images is calculated that includes motion vectors of image regions of the scene; an optical main flow field is determined that includes main flow directions of image regions of the scene; and a counterflow field with motion vectors of image regions that are conspicuous in terms of the movement in them is formed from image regions of the scene whose motion vectors are oriented differently from the main flow directions.
US08068633B2
A flat, ribbon-like headphone cable having a unitary cable section, a splitter, and two split cable sections for connection to earpieces. The unitary and split cable sections each have substantially flat cross-sections wherein the width is substantially greater than the thickness. The split cable sections are oriented such that their widths are substantially perpendicular to the width of the unitary cable section.
US08068628B2
Data is exchanged between a hearing device and a connectable unit. The data, such as an identification code, may be read from the unit. Data may also be output to the connectable unit. The connectable unit may include a random access memory. Furthermore, the connectable unit may include a sequence control element.
US08068625B2
A sound wave generator includes a carbon nanotube structure. At least part of the carbon nanotube structure is supported by a supporting element. The sound wave generator produces sound by means of the thermoacoustic effect.
US08068623B2
A capacitive transducer circuit includes a capacitive transducer having first and second electrodes. The first and second electrodes are biased by respective first and second bias voltages. An amplifier is connected to receive a first analog signal on an input terminal, the first analog signal being generated by the capacitive transducer, and to generate a second analog signal on an output terminal. A digital feedback circuit is connected between the output terminal of the amplifier and the input terminal of the amplifier. The digital feedback circuit is configured to provide one of said first or second bias voltages. A switched capacitor filter circuit may be arranged between the voltage source and the transducer and may be arranged to filter the output of the voltage source.
US08068617B2
Provided is an audio playback system, which reduces a restriction on a place of installation and which reduces the dispersion of characteristics of sound pressures in a low frequency range due to the seats in a passenger interior of a vehicle so that a comfortable bass sound can be enjoyed at any seat. The audio playback system comprises a first filter (108), to which an audio signal outputted from a playback apparatus (107) is inputted, configured to pass a frequency band lower than a first-order resonance frequency of the passenger interior of the vehicle, a first sub-woofer (104) configured to receive an output signal of the first filter (108), a second filter (109), to which the audio signal from the playback device (107) is inputted, configured to pass a frequency band including the first-order resonance frequency of the interior, and a second sub-woofer (105), to which an output signal of the second filter (109) is inputted, configured to be installed near a node of a first-order resonance mode of the interior.
US08068616B2
A method for detecting failure in a noise cancellation system is provided. The noise cancellation system is operable to at least partially cancel an unwanted noise produced by a noise source. The method includes receiving a cancellation noise signal from the noise cancellation system. The cancellation noise signal represents a cancellation noise that, when combined with a target noise, is operable to at least partially cancel the target noise. The method also includes receiving an error signal approximately representing a portion of the target noise that remains after the cancellation noise and the target noise are combined. The method also includes determining whether the signal level changed or remains unchanged for each of the received cancellation noise signal and the error signal. The method also includes assigning a failure state of the noise cancellation system based on the determination and initiating a remedial measure that corresponds with the assigned failure state.
US08068615B2
A transformer saturation compensation circuit for loudspeakers in embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features: (a) a transformer with a primary winding and a secondary winding electrically coupled to an output, (b) a high pass filter, (c) a current dependent resistive load electrically coupled in parallel with the capacitor and electrically coupled to an input, (d) a switch located at the primary winding electrically coupled to the capacitor and the resistive load, the switch being rotatable to each of the taps, where the current dependent resistive load provides saturation compensation for different loudspeaker configurations without requiring changes to a highpass filter cutoff frequency, and (e) a resistive load electrically coupled in parallel with the current dependent resistive load and the capacitor.
US08068612B2
Cryptographic systems and methods are provided in which authentication operations, digital signature operations, and encryption operations may be performed. Authentication operations may be performed using authentication information. The authentication information may be constructed using a symmetric authentication key or a public/private pair of authentication keys. Users may digitally sign data using private signing keys. Corresponding public signing keys may be used to verify user signatures. Identity-based-encryption (IBE) arrangements may be used for encrypting messages using the identity of a recipient. IBE-encrypted messages may be decrypted using appropriate IBE private keys. A smart card, universal serial bus key, or other security device having a tamper-proof enclosure may use the authentication information to obtain secret key information. Information such as IBE private key information, private signature key information, and authentication information may be stored in the tamper-proof enclosure.
US08068609B2
The device tracking location adherence and route adherence technology, according to an exemplary embodiment of this invention, at least provides for secure message reception from a remote device. The present invention allows for secure data transmission between a remote device and while employing a small amount of bandwidth thereby providing a cost-effective data transmission system. This is especially advantageous where a fleet of remote devices is employed within a network.
US08068608B2
A video processing system includes a video encoder that encodes a video signal into a contiguous video stream having an independent portion and a dependent portion that requires the independent portion for decoding. A scrambling module scrambles the contiguous video stream to produce a scrambled video stream by scrambling the independent video portion and leaving the dependent portion unscrambled.
US08068603B2
A method, program product and system for retrieving customer data in a call center environment, includes completing a connection between a customer and a call agent. It also includes searching a database for a customer account or a business agreement based on information provided by the customer to the call agent. It further includes searching the database optionally for a premises that is either dependent of the customer account or business agreement or that is independent of the customer account or business agreement. It still further includes determining a contract corresponding to the premises and the customer account or business agreement. It also includes a search process that is completely flexible regarding search criteria and sequence. It finally includes dealing with the customer to resolve an issue related to the contract.
US08068602B1
A recording system that includes software configured to enable a first guest operating system to function in a virtual machine operating environment, a first recording software enabled to function by the first guest operating system, at least one processor, and at least one communication interface configured to receive first data corresponding to a first contact corresponding to a first contact center agent. The at least one processor is instructed by the first recording software to cause the first data to be stored in memory.
US08068601B2
A method and system to process communications in an automatic communication distributor is described. The method may comprise receiving a communication and identifying an originating location from which the communication originates. Thereafter, a determination is made when the originating location corresponds to a predefined high priority geographical area and a priority to the communication is assigned based on the originating location. The call may be assigned a higher priority when the originating location corresponds to the high priority geographical area than when the originating location does not correspond with the high priority geographical area. The communication is queued based on the assigned priority. A method is also provided to assign an agent using an automated call distributor based on a distance between the originating location of the communication and the determined geographical locations of the potential respondents.
US08068599B2
A call center application data and interoperation architecture provides a centralized design for managing applications providing call center functionality. The architecture integrates information flow using a mater data repository for all applications for all aspects of a call center operation. The architecture provides employee information at defined levels through the complete employment life cycle, including the initial hiring and termination. The architecture provides the employee information by integrating human resources information with call center applications such as Employee attendance and Leave management, ID management, Transport management, Commitment logs, and Movement management, or any other application.
US08068593B2
The invention comprises a method and apparatus for providing multimedia content to a calling party device. Specifically, the method comprises receiving a multimedia ringback service request in response to a connection request for establishing a connection between the calling party device and a called party device, determining an address associated with the calling party device in response to the multimedia ringback service request, identifying the multimedia content associated with the multimedia ringback service request, and establishing at least one multimedia session with the calling party device using the address where the at least one multimedia session is operable for providing the multimedia content towards the calling party device contemporaneously with establishing the connection.
US08068592B2
A teleconferencing system for voice and data provides interconnections among user sites via a central station. User stations at user sites each alternate operation between a data mode connecting a user computer and modem to a user telephone communication path and a voice mode connecting a telephony circuit to the communication path. The teleconferencing system is adapted for conducting a voice conference over standard telephone lines while allowing simultaneous viewing of data objects such as slides, graphs, or text. A host computer connected to the central station serves as a central repository for storage and retrieval of data objects for use in teleconferences.
US08068588B2
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates managing an incoming data communication in connection with unified communications. A unified communications component can employ unified communications for a data communication with at least the following data communication modes: an email data communication mode, a voice data communication mode, and a voicemail data communication mode. A unified rules component can automatically redirect the data communication to a delegate for receipt based upon a universal rule, the universal rule is uniformly applicable to at least two of the email data communication mode, the voice data communication mode, or the voicemail data communication mode.
US08068587B2
The present invention is used in an emergency network to identify and provide the correct public safety access point (PSAP) to service an emergency call originating from a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) subscriber. Data stores in an emergency services network associate PSAPs to an input ZIP code obtained from a street address returned from an MSAG relating to a VoIP call, and PSAPs to an input ESN. An emergency caller's civic street address is matched against a nationwide MSAG data store to result in a MSAG ESN. From the street address, the emergency caller's ZIP code is matched to a PSAP in an appropriate ZIP/PSAP data store. A matching PSAP from both the ZIP/PSAP and PSAP/ESN data stores determines with great reliability the identity of the proper PSAP for that emergency caller.
US08068586B2
Determining a local emergency dial-string includes determining location information of an endpoint in a network. The location information indicates a current location of the endpoint. An emergency dial-string is received. The emergency dial-string is determined according to the location information, and the emergency dial-string operates to contact an emergency service associated with the current location of the endpoint.
US08068582B2
Systems and methods are disclosed herein for lenses based on crystal X-ray diffraction and reflection to be used to direct and energy filter X-ray beams.
US08068581B2
The invention relates to a method for presenting interventional instruments in a 3D data set of an anatomy to be treated. A 3D data set of the anatomy is recorded before introduction of an interventional instrument. Once the interventional instrument has been applied, the spatial position of the instrument is determined by x-ray fluoroscopy from images created at two different angulations. A 3D model of the instrument is formed from the x-ray images. The 3D model of the instrument is fused with the 3D data set of the anatomy. A 3D hologram is reproduced from the fused 3D data set. The 3D hologram is repeatedly reproduced in real time to follow the application of the instrument in the presentation.
US08068577B2
The present invention relates to a pull-down control circuit and a shift register of using same. In one embodiment, the pull-down control circuit includes a release circuit and four transistors T4, T5, T6 and T7 electrically coupled to each other. The release circuit is adapted for causing the transistor T5 to be turned on and off alternately, thereby substantially reducing the stress thereon, improving the reliability and prolonging the lifetime of the shift register.
US08068574B2
In an embodiment, a digital pre-distortion apparatus processes an input signal to produce a pre-distorted signal, and processes the pre-distorted signal to produce a feedback signal. The apparatus also rotates an adjustment gain by a gain rotation angle to produce a rotated adjustment gain, where the gain rotation angle is based on a phase difference between the input signal and the feedback signal. The apparatus also applies the rotated adjustment gain to the feedback signal, which may result in rotation of the feedback signal into a target phase region.
US08068569B2
Data coding and entropy coding are performed with interconnection, and grouping is used to enhance coding efficiency. The present invention includes the steps of obtaining difference information and entropy-decoding the difference information according to an entropy coding scheme including time grouping and frequency grouping and data-decoding the difference information according to a data decoding scheme including a pilot difference, a time difference and a frequency difference.
US08068564B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting temporary high level impairments, such as noise or interference, for example, in a communications channel, and subsequently, mitigating the deleterious effects of the dynamic impairments. In one embodiment, the method not only performs dynamic characterization of channel fidelity against impairments, but also uses this dynamic characterization of the channel fidelity to adapt the receiver processing and to affect an improvement in the performance of the receiver. For example, in this embodiment, the method increases the accuracy of the estimation of the transmitted information, or similarly, increases the probability of making the correct estimates of the transmitted information, even in the presence of temporary severe levels of impairment. The channel fidelity history may also be stored and catalogued for use in, for example, future optimization of the transmit waveform.
US08068560B2
Provided is a QR decomposition apparatus and method that can reduce the number of computers by sharing hardware in an MIMO system employing OFDM technology to simplify a structure of hardware. The QR decomposition apparatus includes a norm multiplier for calculating a norm; a Q column multiplier for calculating a column value of a unitary Q matrix to thereby produce a Q matrix vector; a first storage for storing the Q matrix vector calculated in the Q column multiplier; an R row multiplier for calculating a value of an upper triangular R matrix by multiplying the Q matrix vector by a reception signal vector; and a Q update multiplier for receiving the reception signal vector and an output of the R row multiplier, calculating an Q update value through an accumulation operation, and providing the Q update value to the Q column multiplier to calculate a next Q matrix vector.
US08068558B2
The present invention provides a technique for reducing the peak power of a combined signal that has a first signal of a first modulation type and a second signal of a second modulation type. Based on the combined signal, peak reduction distortion is determined. The peak reduction distortion is configured such that, if applied to the entirety of the combined signal, excessive peaks throughout the combined signal would be reduced. However, instead of applying the entirety of the peak reduction distortion, a selected portion of the peak reduction distortion is applied to a corresponding portion of the combined signal to reduce the peak power of the combined signal.
US08068540B2
A system and method for Cartesian modulation achieved via generation of a three-level pulse width modulated signal. The system in overview comprises two binary pulse width modulated signal generators receiving signals related to the in-phase and quadrature components of a base-band signal and a combination and amplification stage that combines the signals provided by the two binary pulse width modulated signal generators. The binary pulse width modulated signal generators contain at least one signal comparator and at least one base-band pre-distortion element. The signals related to the in-phase and quadrature components of the base-band signal may be; the positive or negative parts of the in-phase component, the positive or negative parts of the quadrature component, the absolute value or sign of the in-phase component, or the absolute value or sign of the quadrature component. These signals may be distorted by a base-band pre-distortion element before being coupled to the comparators.
US08068539B2
Adaptive interference cancellation algorithm using speech mode dependent thresholds. A method of processing radio frequency (RF) bursts dependent on a speech mode associated with data contained within the RF burst is presented. Different voice modes, full rate, half rate, and adaptive multi-channel rates each may require different signal to noise ratio (SNR) conditions in order to be successfully processed. To improve the equalization, the SNR associated with the burst is estimated. Based on the SNR or other related conditions, a decision can be made as to whether or not an interference cancellation burst process should be implemented. For example, any one or more of SNR of the signal, a measure of colored noise within the signal, an indication whether the signal being noise limited or interference limited, and a channel profile of the signal may indicate the presence of interference requiring the cancellation of such interference.
US08068532B2
Coded digital data symbols sent through a transmission channel of a communications network are received in a receiver. Estimates (y) represented by a first number (a+b) of bits are calculated, and modified estimates (y′) represented by a second number (c) of bits provided therefrom, the second number being lower than the first number. An amplitude value is calculated for each estimate (y), and an averaged amplitude value calculated for a number of amplitude values. A scaling factor (s) is calculated form the averaged amplitude value, and scaled estimates generated in dependence of die scaling factor. The scaling factor is used for a number of scaled estimates corresponding to the number of amplitude values for which the averaged amplitude value was calculated. Thus a better scaling factor is provided for most channel cases, which can still be calculated with the limited computational resources of a terminal for such networks.
US08068531B2
A device and method for eliminating narrow-band interference by windowing in a spread spectrum system are disclosed. The method comprises extracting N sampling points of data to perform frequency spectrum transform each time and obtaining N points of data; updating control information, comparing the energy values of the N points with the threshold within the set time period to determine the number of narrow-band interference as well as the width and location of the interference; determining the corresponding frequency domain adjusting window based on the width and location of the narrow band interference, obtaining the points within the window and the adjusted values of those points; with regard to the transformed N points during interference elimination process, setting the energy values of the points within the window during the current time period and the last period as the corresponding adjusted values, outputting the points after frequency spectrum inverse transform.
US08068527B2
A semiconductor optical element has an active layer including quantum dots. The density of quantum dots in the resonator direction in a portion of the active layer in which the density of photons is relatively high is increased relative to the density of quantum dots in a portion of the active layer in which the density of photons is relatively low.
US08068519B2
The invention shows a method for connecting and sharing content over a plurality of devices, and over a plurality of networks public and private while respecting the content's Digital Rights by implementing a software layer (software alternately integrated into hardware component) that will assign a mac address and an ip address to each device and peripherals and where content can be assign to specific devices inside a network, and can be accessed directly, shared remotely, wireless, or physically connected. The software layer also integrates drivers, players, codec's that can be updated dynamically in order to keep them updated. This software layer can also “virtualizes” peripherals, devices or group of peripherals and devices into single addressable group of components that will act like one.
US08068506B2
A signaling apparatus is applied to a node constituting a network including internal network to network interface (INNI) domains having INNI interfaces between a plurality of networks in an area and external network to network interface (ENNI) domains having ENNI interfaces that connect the INNI domains. The apparatus includes a processing unit that processes a signaling message for setting a path when an end-to-end path that passes through the INNI domains and the ENNI domains that connect the INNI domains is set in response to the signaling message, a storing unit that holds information on types of links between an own node and adjacent nodes, and a judging unit that judges whether the own node is a connection end point of the INNI domains or the ENNI domains with reference to route information in the message and the information on the types of the links held in the storing unit.
US08068503B2
Methods and systems are provided for steering network packets. According to one embodiment, a mapping associates a processing resource with a network interface module (netmod) and/or a number of line interface ports included within the netmod. In one embodiment, the mapping is configurable within the processing resource and pushed to the netmod. The netmod uses the mapping to steer network packets to the processing resource when the packets conform to the mapping. The mapping may be additionally used to identify a specific process that is to be performed against the packets once the processing resource receives the steered packets from the netmod.
US08068496B2
A radio communication apparatus add an information element (ACK/NACK information element) indicating a reception result of a received signal of a transmission sequence number to the another information element (Other ACK/NACK information element) indicating a reception result of a received signal of another transmission sequence number, which information elements are transmitted to the another radio communication apparatus; and the another radio communication apparatus judges a reception result of the transmitted signal on the basis of the information element and the another information element received from the radio communication apparatus.
US08068490B1
Methods and systems for multicast group address translation are disclosed. A method includes receiving a request for data source content from a multicast group data source content requester and retrieving the data source content from the data source, where the data source content that is retrieved has associated destination addresses. Moreover, the method includes providing access to the data source content for translation of the destination addresses associated with the data source content, where the destination addresses fall within a first range of multicast group addresses. The method further includes receiving packets that have translated destination addresses that prior to translation fall within the first range of multicast addresses. The translated destination addresses fall within a second range of multicast group addresses. The packets are forwarded for forwarding to the multicast group data source content requester using the destination addresses that fall within the second range of multicast group addresses.
US08068489B2
A network (100) includes a hub device (110) and at least one unattached peripheral device (120). The unattached peripheral device (120) transmits an attach request to the hub device (110) with a selected address, receives a new address from the hub device to identify the unattached peripheral device (120), and communicates with the hub device (110) using the new address.
US08068484B2
A method for enhancing transmission efficiency of burst data by estimating a void between burst data and filling the void with new burst data in an optical burst switching (OBS) network. To this end, a node in the OBS network receives burst data (BD) aggregated from data packets, and a burst control packet (BCP) that is received prior to the BD by an offset time. The BCP contains information relating to the offset time and the BD. To predict the void between the BDs, a void filling time is defined within the offset time using the BCP. The present invention provides the method for determining whether to fill the void and filling the void by directly monitoring the BD over a preset time.
US08068479B2
Aspects of the invention may be found in a system and method for hardware acceleration in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network. In according with various embodiments of the invention, hardware acceleration may comprise creating at least one policy to be distributed among one or more of a plurality of access point groups. At least one policy may be associated with a particular one of the access point groups. The associated policy may be identified and distributed to one or more access points in an access point group. The distribution of the policy may be conditioned on the occurrence of an event. An identified policy may be distributed to a particular access point group upon occurrence of the event.
US08068472B2
An earth station interface architecture provides full mesh connectivity for a relatively small number of network stations. A component of the architecture is a switch, which employs' a network interface standard to ‘define the multiplexing of multiple virtual ports across single physical communications port. Through address and control fields of its connectivity control software, the switch can be dynamically configured to provide multilayer addressing, and device selectivity, thereby enabling point-to-point connectivity of multiple terminal devices, such as a plurality of audio circuits, to be effected via a single port. Dial codes on the station side of an audio signal multiplexer link are translated into frame relay addresses (data link connection identifiers) that are added to each frame of data for routing through the network. With this additional layer of routing information, audio (voice) connectivity is now available between any two audio circuits (e.g. trunks) in the network.
US08068470B2
An access point transmits a preemptive peg packet when it has no data to transmit in order to maintain the contiguity of its transmission timing position with respect to the timing position of other contention-free sessions (CFS) transmitted by other access points in an existing, periodic sequence. The cyclic prioritized multiple access (CPMA) method establishes the transmission timing position of contention-free sessions (CFS) between overlapping first and second wireless LAN cells contending for the same medium. Each cell includes a respective plurality of member stations. If an access point has no traffic, it will transmit a short, preemptive pegging packet and reset its backoff timer. In this manner, no gaps longer than the distributed coordination function (DCF) Interframe Space (DIFS) are left idle. This prevents other stations from using DCF contention to seize the channel, until all access points have completed one contention-free session (CFS) per periodic cycle.
US08068469B2
An exemplary method implemented by nodes in a telecommunication network includes associating a plurality of public user identities (PUIDs) into groups where each PUID represents a user served by a group of related endpoints, such as a private branch exchange (PBX). The groups are stored at the first node. Each group contains a group address that uniquely identifies the group and the PBX associated the users with PUIDs that are associated with the group. A first registration request is transmitted from the first node to an internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) where the first registration request includes the group address and the PUIDs that are associated with the group. The first registration request seeks to establish implicit registration in the IMS of the PUIDs associated with the group with the group address. A reply from the IMS is received at the first node in response to the first registration request where the reply seeks authentication for the requested implicit registration of the PUIDs. In response to receipt of the reply, authentication information is calculated and transmitted as a second registration request that contains the authentication information and the group address and the PUIDs that are associated with the group. The PUIDs in association with the group address are implicitly registered in the IMS upon a determination that the authentication information is acceptable.
US08068462B2
Provided is a method for retransmitting data based on antenna scheduling in a MIMO system to which a spatial multiplexing technique is applied. The method includes the steps of: (a) at a transmitter side, modulating an input packet into transmittable data to transmit to a receiver side; (b) at the receiver side, estimating channel values from the packet transmitted from the transmitter side, and selecting transmitting and receiving antennas for transmitting the next packet from the estimated channel values; (c) detecting whether an error is present in the packet or not, and transmitting a feedback signal to the transmitter side, the feedback signal including information on whether or not to transmit the packet and a list of the selected transmitting antennas; and (d) at the transmitter side, retransmitting the transmitted packet or transmitting the next packet through the transmitting antennas designated by the receiver side depending on the feedback signal.
US08068460B2
The present invention relates to the use of buffering packets for the mobile node at an access router or network node near the edge of the network that the mobile is moving away from or towards. The buffered packets are then forwarded to the mobile node once the handoff process is completed. This invention also relates to the use of buffering packets originating from the mobile node during the handoff process. The buffered packets are then forwarded to their intended destinations once the handoff process is completed. The buffering system is used in conjunction with existing mobility protocols, access protocols, or as an independent network or link layer mechanism.
US08068458B2
The present invention relates to methods for establishing a connection between a user equipment and a wireless network. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods for selecting a preamble based on its power back-off metric in order to randomly access a wireless network while avoiding collisions with other user equipments attempting to access the network at the same time.
US08068445B2
A method and apparatus are provided for scheduling a transmission of uplink sounding signals for a mobile station (MS). The method comprises receiving a request to send the MS downlink signals associated with a service flow at a first frame, searching a scheduling database for pending uplink bandwidth requests from the MS, scheduling uplink transmission slots for the MS to transmit uplink signals in a second frame without scheduling a sounding signal when a uplink bandwidth request associated with the MS is present in the scheduling database, computing beamforming weighting vectors for the MS using the uplink signals, and transmitting the downlink signals using the beamforming weighting vectors at a third frame subsequent the first frame.
US08068433B2
Methods of reducing power consumption of networked devices are described. When a main processor and associated hardware in a computing device is powered down, a processing element, with lower power consumption than the main processor, performs networking functions on behalf of the main processor. The processing element monitors events and wakes the main processor when defined criteria are satisfied. In an embodiment, these network functions may be to maintain existing network connections and/or establish new network connections and the defined criteria may relate to messages received by the device which are analyzed by the processing element running the application layer code and these criteria may be configurable by a user of the device.
US08068431B2
IP networks carry packets that consist of headers and payloads. Typical traffic analysis systems at layer 3 process packet headers in order to obtain as much information about the traffic as possible. However, performing of deep packet analysis requires the processing of packet payloads as well. Another important requirement of layer 3 processing is the need to process the payloads at wire speeds. A system and method for deep packet inspection at layer 3 involves (a) an approach for packet payload processing; (b) accounting for out of order arrival of packets; (c) an approach for partial match analysis so as to be able to analyze the traffic flows when only partial information is available; and (d) an approach for effective payload processing for attempting to achieve wire speed processing.
US08068427B2
Techniques for reporting channel quality indicators (CQIs) are described. Data activity at a receiver may be determined, and CQI reporting by the receiver may be adjusted based on the determined data activity. In one design, CQI reporting may be enabled for a time window around each expected packet arrival for a periodic or quasi-periodic transmission and may be suspended outside of the time window. In another design, CQI reporting may be varied based on ACK/NACK feedback. In yet another design, CQIs may be sent at a first rate when data activity is not detected and at a second rate faster than the first rate when data activity is detected. In yet another design, CQIs may be sent only during discontinuous transmission (DTX) ON periods when data activity is not detected and may be sent during both DTX ON and OFF periods when data activity is detected.
US08068414B2
Link layer authentication information is supplied by a link layer authentication device to an access router for tracking IP address usage by a client device. The authentication information supplied to the access router includes an authenticated client identifier and a corresponding authenticated link identifier for the client device that attached to the network based on the authenticated link identifier. The access router, in response to receiving a message that specifies the authenticated link identifier and a source IP address, adds the source IP address to a cache entry that specifies the authenticated client identifier and the corresponding authenticated link identifier, and outputs to an audit resource a record that specifies the source IP address and the authenticated link identifier.
US08068412B1
A connection in an optical communication system is routed over a sequence of cross-connects and aggregated links comprising multiple links. A different link selection algorithm is used for service provisioning than is used for restoration, i.e., after a cable cut or other failure or incident has made one or paths in the network suddenly unavailable. In particular, a special link selection algorithm called the Interleave algorithm is used for restoration different from the well known Best-Fit algorithm used for provisioning. The Interleave algorithm substantially reduces the probability of glare while maintaining near-optimum capacity utilization.
US08068409B2
A fast OSPF inactive router detection technique is provided that detects the failure of a router and switches routing to an alternate router. The alternate router provides a message to the other routers in the Wide Area Network (LAN) that informs of the router failure.
US08068406B2
Signals propagating in one communication channel can generate crosstalk interference in another communication channel. A crosstalk cancellation device can process the signals causing the crosstalk interference and generate a crosstalk cancellation signal that can compensate for the crosstalk when applied to the channel receiving crosstalk interference. The crosstalk cancellation device can include a model of the crosstalk effect that generates a signal emulating the actual crosstalk both in form an in timing. The crosstalk cancellation device can include a controller that monitors crosstalk-compensated communication signals and adjusts the model to enhance crosstalk cancellation performance. The crosstalk cancellation device can have a mode of self configuration or calibration in which defined test signals can be transmitted on the crosstalk-generating channel and the crosstalk-receiving channel.
US08068404B2
A signal apparatus is provided. The signal value holding apparatus including a determining section to determine a magnitude relationship between a signal value of an input signal and a signal value of a prescribed feedback signal, a first holding section to hold the signal value determined to be larger by the determining section, a subtracting section to subtract a prescribed value from the signal value held by the first holding section and output a result as the feedback signal, and a second holding section to receive the signal value held by the first holding section and hold the signal value supplied from the first holding section when the signal value of the input signal becomes smaller than the signal value of the feedback signal based on a determination result of the magnitude relationship between the signal values by the determining section.
US08068395B2
A recording device including: an optical head section for irradiating a recording medium with laser to record and reproduce information; a laser driving section for driving the optical head section to output laser; and a control section for, in a process of adjusting recording laser power output from the optical head section, obtaining an evaluation value of a recorded area after a predetermined period of time elapsed since data was recorded as an evaluation value about a reproduction signal during reproduction of the recorded data, and adjusting recording laser power on the basis of the evaluation value after the predetermined period of time elapsed since data was recorded.
US08068394B2
The invention is to provide a recording method of an optical disc drive, which first calibrates the write power with minimum recording speed, adjusts write powers for higher speeds, searches a blank area in a lead-out area of a disc to record with write powers for all speeds, read signals, deletes the speeds with bad recording quality, reserves the speeds with good recording quality as recordable speed, checks the required recording speed for the address of the recording data, searches the recordable speed equal to or smaller than the required recording speed, replaces the required recording speed with the searched recordable speed, records data with the searched recordable speed and corresponding write power to ensure quality.
US08068389B2
A tracking error signal detection device employing a differential phase detection method includes first and second differentiators which remove direct current components in first and second signal groups in which a phase difference between the first and second signal groups changes in accordance with a tracking error signal, and which differentiate the first and second signal groups, first and second analog/digital converters which sample and quantize signals output from the first and second differentiators, respectively, a Hilbert transformer performing a 90-degree phase shift on one of signals output from the first and second analog/digital converters, a delay circuit delaying one of the signals output from the second and first analog/digital converters by an amount of delay equal to that caused by the Hilbert transformer, and a phase comparator calculating a phase difference between a signal output from the Hilbert transformer and a signal output from the delay circuit.
US08068388B2
An optical pickup according to the present invention includes: a light source 1d for irradiating an optical disk 4 with light; a lens 3 for converging the light onto the optical disk 4; a photodetector 1c having a plurality of detection regions 1cf, 1ct for detecting light which is reflected from a signal surface of the optical disk 4 and converting the light into an electrical signal; a hologram element 1a having a hologram region 1b for guiding the reflected light to the photodetector 1c; and a light-shielding plate 2 for blocking at least a portion of light transmitted through a region of the hologram element 1a other than the hologram region 1b. The light-shielding plate 2 includes a light shielding portion 2b for blocking light, and an aperture 2a for allowing the light to be transmitted therethrough. The aperture 2b is present, above an upper face of the hologram element 1a, in a region including the hologram region 1b, and a center position of the aperture 2b is shifted from a center position of the hologram region 1b.
US08068385B2
A system and a corresponding method used with a sensor array selects candidate weak target signals from within one or more received signals and enhances those candidate weak target signals relative to a noise background.
US08068382B2
A semiconductor memory circuit, comprising: a memory array, the memory array including a plurality of wordlines each connected to a respective row of cells and a plurality of bitlines each connected to a respective column of cells. The semiconductor memory circuit also comprises at least one row decoder for selecting a group of wordlines within the plurality of wordlines; and a plurality of driver circuits for driving the plurality of bitlines respectively and setting the cells connected to the group of wordlines to a predetermined logic state. Also, a method for presetting at least part of a memory array, the memory array comprising a plurality of wordlines each connected to a respective row of cells. The method comprises selecting a group of wordlines within the plurality of wordlines; and simultaneously setting memory cells connected to the group of wordlines to a predetermined logic state.
US08068374B2
Some embodiments include a first circuit to drive signals at first circuit output nodes, and a second circuit to generate output signals at second circuit output nodes. The second circuit includes a first transistor coupled between a supply node and a first node of the second circuit output nodes and a second transistor coupled between the supply node and a second node of the second circuit output nodes. Each of the first and second transistors includes a gate coupled to one of the first and second nodes. Other embodiments including additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08068373B1
A method of managing power states of memory modules while performing memory access operations is disclosed. Memory modules are in a power saving state until an access operation involving the module is to be performed. The module is placed in an operational mode, then the access operation is performed, then the module is returned to the power saving state. Apparatus and systems using the method are also disclosed and claimed.
US08068371B2
Methods and systems to dynamically control state-retention strengths of a plurality of memory cells during a write operation to a subset of the memory cells. Dynamic control may include weakening state-retention strengths of the plurality of memory cells during a write operation to a subset of the memory cells, while preserving state-retention abilities of remaining ones of the plurality of memory cells. Weakening may include adjusting one or more resistances between one or more power supplies and the plurality of memory cells. Dynamic control may be selectively performed on portions of each of the memory cells in response to an input data logic state. Dynamic control may reduce a write contention within the subset of memory cells without disabling state-retention abilities of remaining ones of the plurality of memory cells, and may improve write response times of the memory cells.
US08068370B2
A charge trapping floating gate is described with asymmetric tunneling barriers. The memory cell includes a source region and a drain region separated by a channel region. A first tunneling barrier structure is disposed above the channel region. A floating gate is disposed above the first tunneling barrier structure covering the channel region. A second tunneling barrier is disposed above the floating gate. A dielectric charge trapping structure disposed above the second tunneling barrier and a blocking dielectric structure is disposed above the charge trapping structure. A top conductive layer disposed above the top dielectric structure acts as a gate. The second tunneling barrier is a more efficient conductor of tunneling current, under bias conditions applied for programming and erasing the memory cell, than the first tunneling barrier structure.
US08068351B2
A cable management system provides cable management for a switch chassis configured to receive a plurality of line card units. The cable management system comprises a cable guide arrangement configured to guide each of a plurality of cables from a line card such that the cables extend out from the line card unit and lie substantially within a plane.
US08068350B2
A sheet metal member has a first through hole formed at such a position as to be in communication with a screw hole formed in a side surface of a panel, and is fixed to the panel by being screwed using the first through hole and the screw hole. The sheet metal member further has hole a bending piece in which a second penetration is formed and on which a bending processing is performed at such an overlapping position that the second through hole overlaps with the first through hole, and is screwed to the panel in either of, according to a type of the panel, an open state in which the bending processing has not yet been performed on the bending piece or a bent state in which the bending processing has been performed on the bending piece at the overlapping position.
US08068349B2
A power supply architecture for a structural application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is provided. The power supply architecture includes a first conductor and a second conductor. The first conductor is coupled to a fixed voltage. The first conductor at least passes through two edges of a cell. The first conductor and the second conductor are connected through a contact. The second conductor at most passes through one edge of the cell. The structural ASIC includes a first metal layer and a second metal layer. The first metal layer includes the first conductor. The second metal layer includes the second conductor.
US08068338B1
A network device includes an airflow baffle. The baffle redirects cooling air toward a transceiver cage to increase a rate of heat transfer from electronic devices on the transceiver. The baffle is bi-directional, so that cooling air is redirected regardless of whether it flows in a front-to-back or back-to-front direction.
US08068337B2
A portable apparatus includes an electronic device defining a locking slot and a positioning device for detachably attached to the electronic device. The positioning device includes a cover defining an opening and a through hole; a supporting member comprising a hook protruding from the through hole to insert in the locking slot to lock in the electronic device and a supporting portion protruding from the opening of the cover to support the electronic device; and a dampening member fixed to the supporting member in the cover.
US08068336B2
A docking system is disclosed. The docking system includes a single docking station and a plurality of inserts that are placed in the docking station so that the docking station can accommodate hand held devices with differing sizes and shapes. The docking system is configured with a docking station and insert that matingly engage with one another via a rotating action. The docking system is also configured with a latching retention mechanism that secures the insert to the docking station when the insert is rotated into engagement with the docking station.
US08068322B2
Electronic circuit breakers and systems for isolating a load from a power-supply unit are provided. One electronic circuit breaker includes a current sensor, a switching element coupled to the current sensor, and a switch controller coupled to the current sensor and the switching element. The switch controller is powered by the power-supply unit and is configured to switch OFF the switching element when the current sensor detects an amount of current from the power-supply unit greater than a predetermined amount. An electronic system includes a power-supply unit, a load, and the above-referenced electronic circuit breaker coupled to the power-supply unit and the load.
US08068319B1
Circuits, systems, and methods for protecting an integrated circuit having independently-powered circuit sections from electrostatic discharge events. The integrated circuit generally comprises an ESD control line, a first circuit having a first electrostatic discharge (ESD) device coupled to a first positive voltage rail, a first negative voltage rail, and the ESD control line, the first ESD device configured to activate an ESD control signal on the ESD control line when an electrostatic discharge occurs, and a second circuit having a second positive voltage rail, a second negative voltage rail, and a second ESD device, coupled to the second positive voltage rail, the second negative voltage rail, and the ESD control line, the second ESD device configured to shunt current between the second positive voltage rail and the second negative voltage rail when the ESD control signal is activated. The present invention advantageously protects integrated circuits having independently-powered circuit sections from electrostatic discharge events without adding redundant power and/or ground pads by sharing ESD shunting capacity between circuit sections during an ESD event.
US08068313B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to approaches to effectively let noise on a head slider bonded to a silicon substrate of a microactuator, escape to the ground. A head gimbal assembly (HGA) according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a microactuator bonded to a gimbal tongue. The microactuator comprises a piezoelectric element and a movable part for moving in response to expansion or contraction of the piezoelectric element. The motion of the movable part causes a head slider to slightly move. The microactuator further comprises a conductive path including an impurity-containing silicon layer formed on the silicon substrate. The conductive path transmits electric charge of the head slider to a suspension. The conductivity of the impurity-containing silicon layer is lower than the one of the silicon substrate so that the noise charge of the head slider may escape to the suspension.
US08068309B2
The present disclosure provides a vibration damper for an actuator assembly. One exemplary embodiment relates to an actuator assembly including a magnetic assembly configured to produce a magnetic field and an actuator movable relative to the magnetic assembly in response to the magnetic field, wherein the actuator includes a vibration damper which interacts with the magnetic field.
US08068308B2
In the apparatus and method of the invention, a servo signal reproduction unit generates a PES from a servo signal reproduced from a magnetic tape, and a frequency conversion unit performs FFT processing of the PES to generate frequency component information. Then, a filter value generation unit generates filter values based on the frequency component information and writes these to a memory. When recording various data signals to the magnetic tape, the filter values are read from the memory and a control filter serving as a notch filter is incorporated into a feedback control for a tracking servo. This enables periodic and narrow-band noise to be removed from a PES, consequently reducing PESs. Accordingly, learning-type optimum notch filter control that allows a magnetic head to follow recording tracks at high speed and with high precision is possible even when the recording track width is reduced and the tape speed is increased.
US08068295B2
Disclosed is a motor for driving lenses. The motor includes a case, a yoke fixed in the case, a magnet fixed in the yoke, a carrier equipped with lenses and installed in the magnet such that the carrier moves up and down within the magnet, a coil coupled with the carrier, in which the coil cooperates with the magnet to move up and down the carrier, a spring unit including first and second springs having arc shapes and being separated from each other while forming a ring shape as a whole, a spacer supporting the outer peripheral surface of the spring unit, and a terminal provided on the spacer, in which one side of the terminal protrudes downward by passing through a bottom of the case to make connection with the spring unit and a main PCB of a product.
US08068293B2
A projection lens unit includes: a projection lens having a first optical system for focusing incident image light and also having a second optical system for magnifying and projecting the image light focused by the first optical system; a lens barrel member for accommodating the projection lens and having a small diameter portion in which a joining portion of the first and the second optical system is formed to be the thinnest; a holding member having a first holding face on which the small diameter portion is mounted; and a presser member having a second holding face which holds the small diameter portion together with the first holding face. The holding member is fixed to a housing on which the projection lens unit is mounted. The presser member does not protrude upward from the lens barrel member arranged in a dead space of the small diameter portion.
US08068290B1
This invention provides an image pick-up optical lens assembly comprising, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface and a convex image-side surface; a second lens element with negative refractive power having a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface; a third lens element with positive refractive power having an object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, at least one of the surfaces thereof being aspheric; and a fourth lens element with negative refractive power having a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface, at least one of the surfaces thereof being aspheric. The image pick-up optical lens assembly further comprises an aperture stop disposed between an object and the first lens element. Such arrangement facilitates a significant reduction in size and sensitivity of the lens assembly while providing superb image quality with higher resolution.
US08068287B2
A lens barrel includes a lens holding frame configured to hold a lens and being provided with a cam follower, a guide tube engaging with the lens holding frame and being configured to rectilinearly guide the lens holding frame in an optical axis direction, and a cam tube engaging with the cam follower and being provided with a cam slot which engages with the cam follower, the cam tube being configured to rotate about the optical axis thereby to move the lens holding member in the optical axis direction, wherein the cam slot has a locus including a flat portion orthogonal to the optical axis and a lift portion not orthogonal to the optical axis, wherein the flat portion has a surface perpendicular to the optical axis, and wherein the cam follower has a surface parallel to the perpendicular surface.
US08068286B2
A variable focal lens which does not require a reduction of a zoom factor and eliminates an origin sensor is provided. A microcomputer 15 functions as a focus adjustment section which controls a stepper motor 13 to move a focusing ring 5 for a focus adjustment. The microcomputer 15 causes the focusing ring 5 to move by a first moving distance in a first moving direction toward one of a FAR side and a NEAR side, and then to move the focusing ring 5 by a second moving distance in a second moving direction opposite to the first moving direction, and set the point where the focusing ring reaches after the movement in the second moving direction as a reference point for adjustment, and the microcomputer 15 causes the focusing ring 5 to move from the reference point for adjustment in the first moving direction within a range equal to or less than the second moving distance to carry out the focus adjustment. This configuration eliminates margins provided by software at ends of the movement range of the focusing ring 5.
US08068284B2
A method for aligning a microlens array in a sensor die to resolve non-symmetric brightness distribution and color balance of the image captured by the sensor die. The method includes performing a pre-simulation to simulate a microlens array alignment in a silicon die and to determine a shrink-factor and de-centering values, calculating the error in a real product's alignment in process and image offset, performing a post simulation based on offset calculation on the real product and re-design of the microlens alignment, and repeating the steps of calculating the error and performing the post-simulation until a satisfactory brightness distribution is obtained. The sensor die has sensor pixels, each pixel comprising a photodiode and a microlens for directing incoming light rays to the photodiode, wherein optical axis of the microlens is shifted with respect to optical axis of the photodiode by a preset amount determined by at least one iteration of alignment process.
US08068280B2
A zoom lens system is provided that includes a compactly constructed focusing lens unit and that has a suppressed change in the image magnification at the time of movement of a focusing lens unit. The zoom lens system according to the present invention, in order from an object side to an image side, comprises: a first lens unit having positive optical power; a second lens unit having negative optical power; and at least two subsequent lens units, wherein the two lens units includes a lens unit A having positive optical power and a lens unit B arranged on the image side relative to the lens unit A, at the time of zooming, all lens units move in a direction along the optical axis so that intervals between the lens units vary, at the time of focusing, the lens unit B moves in a direction along the optical axis, and at the time of compensating image blur caused by vibration in the zoom lens system, either the entirety of a lens unit arranged on the object side relative to the lens unit A or a sub lens unit which is a part of a lens unit arranged on the object side relative to the lens unit A and is arranged on the image side therein moves in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis.
US08068279B2
The disclosure relates to an optical system of an illumination device of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus, including at least one first light-conductance-increasing element having a plurality of diffractively or refractively beam-deflecting structures extending in a common first preferred direction the light-conductance-increasing element having an optically uniaxial crystal material in such a way that the optical crystal axis of the crystal material is substantially parallel or substantially perpendicular to the first preferred direction.
US08068259B2
A color image forming apparatus of a so-called tandem type which has image forming units in correspondence with colors is provided. In the color image forming apparatus, a color discrepancy amount storage unit stores information of a color discrepancy amount of each of the image forming units, which is measured in advance. A first color discrepancy correcting unit performs color discrepancy correction in a pixel unit by performing coordinate conversion of bitmap data to be printed based on the information of the color discrepancy amount stored in the color discrepancy amount storage unit. A second color discrepancy correcting unit performs color discrepancy correction in less than a pixel unit by performing tone correction of the bitmap data corrected by the first color discrepancy correcting unit based on the information of the color discrepancy amount stored in the color discrepancy amount storage unit.
US08068256B2
Color management constraints on the use of selected hypocolorant(s) and a black colorant in the rendering of a given pixel reduce ink or toner usage and/or reduce pressure on an ink limit. Additionally, the enforcement of this mutual exclusivity between the black and the selected hypocolorant(s) allows screen frequencies and angles to be shared between halftone screens used for the black colorant and a selected hypocolorant. This reduces the likelihood of objectionable moiré associated with the use of hypocolorant colorants in addition to the conventional CMY(K) colorants. In some embodiments, color management constraints prevent the use of black colorant for pixels beyond a threshold lightness or luminance. This constraint allows the use of the selected hypocolorants in the region of color space beyond the threshold. The threshold can be a function of hue and/or chroma. In some embodiments the threshold is a constant.
US08068251B2
A finished-image generating unit generates a finished image showing a result of a process performed on a target image according to various function setting items. A finished-image display unit, when the target image extends to a plurality of pages, forms the finished image in a stack, and displays the stacked finished image on a display unit with a page structure image that shows an overall page structure of the stacked finished image. A page moving unit, when one of the pages constituting the page structure image is specified via an operating unit, executes a page moving from a page currently displayed on the display unit to the specified page.
US08068249B2
The present invention provides an image forming apparatus that includes a first system and a second system, wherein the permission/prohibition of access to a storage unit provided in the first system is controlled appropriately based on a signal transmitted from the second system, and a control method thereof. To accomplish this, the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes the first system and the second system, and permits access to the storage unit only when executing a program that includes a predetermined process to activate the apparatus using an external storage apparatus.
US08068241B2
In order to process data by a plurality of processing methods defined for each of a plurality of users with a simple operation, MFP includes a HDD having a group BOX for storing data, related with at least two users, and creates a group table which associates at least two data processing methods respectively corresponding to at least two users with the group BOX. When data is stored into the group BOX, the stored data is processed according to each of at least two data processing methods associated with the group BOX.
US08068239B2
It is determined whether each of objects separated from a plurality of objects arranged in a single page is character object or not, and with respect to an object determined as a character object, a ratio of pixels configuring a character in the determined object to all pixels in said determined object is calculated. A character object in which the ratio crosses a predetermined reference value, when the plurality of objects in the single page are scaled and arranged in accordance with a size of a sheet set by a user, is arranged in a different page.
US08068231B2
An optical sensor includes an optical coupler configured to receive a first optical signal and to split the first optical signal into a second optical signal and a third optical signal. The optical sensor further includes a Bragg fiber in optical communication with the optical coupler. The second optical signal and the third optical signal counterpropagate through the Bragg fiber and return to the third port and the second port, respectively.
US08068221B2
A frictional pivot 100 for use in a device measuring gravitational alignment is provided. The frictional pivot 100 comprises a gravity-responsive directional means 200 for indicating a datum direction of alignment with gravity; frictional pivoting means 300, 400 for allowing the gravity-responsive means coarsely to align with gravity; vibration means 303, 403 for vibrating one or more elements of the pivoting means; and portable power means 303a for powering the vibration means 303, 403.
US08068220B2
A laser-assisted material-machining device comprises a laser (14) for providing a pulsed laser beam (16), a measuring arrangement (30, 32, 34, 36, 38) in order to obtain measured values of a fundamental-wave power of the laser beam and also of a power of at least one higher harmonic generated from the laser beam by frequency multiplication, and an evaluating unit (22) connected to the measuring arrangement, which has been set up to examine the quality of the laser beam (16) in a manner depending on the measured fundamental-wave power, on the measured power of the higher harmonic, and on a set radiant power of the laser (14). By formation of the quotient of the measured fundamental-wave power and of the measured power of the higher harmonic, the current conversion efficiency of the frequency multiplication can be ascertained. Said conversion efficiency is a measure of the quality of the wavefront and of the pulse duration of the laser beam (16).
US08068214B1
A centroiding method is provided for an optical tracking system including a laser used for countermeasuring purposes in which a pencil thin laser beam is accurately positioned onto a target through the use of centroiding techniques for ascertaining the position not only of the target but also the laser beam, with the centroiding techniques resulting in a sub-pixel level resolution. The sub-pixel resolution permits utilization of smaller cost-effective focal plane arrays by giving the small focal plane array a resolution associated with much larger focal plane arrays.
US08068213B2
A photomask has a monitoring pattern configured to obtain information required for adjusting optical system of a projection lithography tool. The monitoring pattern encompasses a mask substrate and an asymmetrical diffraction grating delineated on the mask substrate, configured to generate a positive first order diffracted light and a negative first order diffracted light in different diffraction efficiencies. The asymmetrical diffraction grating includes a plurality of probing-phase shifters, disposed periodically on the mask substrate in parallel, and a plurality of opaque strips disposed on light-shielding faces of the probing-phase shifters. An asymmetrically recessed ridge implements each of the probing-phase shifters.
US08068204B2
A height difference under a sealant is reduced in a case where lines are present under the sealant. There is provided a substrate having an active matrix display circuit and peripheral driving circuits, a counter substrate having a counter electrode provided on the substrate in a face-to-face relationship therewith, a sealant provided between the substrate and the counter substrate such that it surrounds the active matrix display circuit and peripheral driving circuits, a liquid crystal material provided inside the sealant, a plurality of external connection lines provided on the substrate under the sealant with a resin inter-layer film interposed therebetween for electrically connecting the active matrix display circuit and peripheral driving circuits to circuits present outside the sealant and an adjustment layer provided in the same layer as the plurality of external connection lines.
US08068199B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a thin phase difference film of a liquid crystal display easily so as not to prevent a liquid crystal from being driven so that cost for manufacturing a liquid crystal display is more reduced than conventionally. A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention has a structure in which phase difference films that have the same function as a conventional phase difference film are formed by using a liquid crystal stabilized with a polymer over a first substrate and a second substrate that have electrodes formed thereover, and a liquid crystal material is interposed between these substrates. In addition to the structure as described above, it is also a feature that the phase difference film formed over the substrate is formed by using a liquid crystal that is stabilized with a polymer including a conductive material.
US08068190B2
In a photosensor in the pixel region of an active matrix substrate, the potential of a storage node is read out to output wiring as sensor circuit output, the potential of the storage node having changed in accordance with the amount of light received by a photodetection element in a sensing period, the sensing period being from when a reset signal (RS) is supplied until when a readout signal (RW) is supplied. A sensor startup period whose length is greater than or equal to the length of the sensing period is provided after a sensor data unnecessary period in which the sensor circuit output is not necessary, and furthermore before a valid sensor data period in which the sensor circuit output is necessary, and the sensor circuit output is read out in the valid sensor data period from the photosensor to which the reset signal was applied in the sensor startup period.
US08068187B2
A stereoscopic 3D liquid crystal display module includes a liquid crystal display panel and a directional backlight positioned to provide light to the liquid crystal display panel. A double sided prism film is disposed between the liquid crystal display panel and the directional backlight. The prism film includes a first surface having a series of cylindrical lenses adjacent the liquid crystal display panel and a second surface, opposite the first surface, having a series of non-contiguous prisms adjacent the directional backlight. Each of the non-contiguous prisms is separated from adjacent prisms by a transmissive flat portion or an opaque portion.
US08068186B2
The present invention provides a touch screen that includes a pattern of transparent conductors as touch sensing elements, and that has a layered construction configured to reduce the visibility of the transparent conductor pattern. The construction includes a coating covering a substrate, the transparent conductor pattern disposed on the coating, and a filler material covering and contacting the transparent conductor pattern and the areas of the coating not covered by the transparent conductor pattern, where the index of refraction of the filler material is less than the index of refraction of the substrate and less than the index of refraction of the transparent conductor pattern.
US08068181B1
Field-based detection of 3:2 pulldown in a sequence of digital video fields using a programmable graphics processor is described. The detection is performed using a threshold value to determine equivalence between a pair of fields of digital video data. Furthermore, additional threshold values may be used to control switching into a mode where duplicated fields of digital video data are identified and not displayed and out of the mode where duplicated fields of digital video data are identified and not displayed. Look ahead can be used to detect when to switch into or out of the mode where duplicated fields of digital video data are identified and not displayed, reducing the occurrence of visual artifacts.
US08068162B2
A system and method of processing a digital image for user assessment of an output image product intended to be generated using the digital image. The method comprises the steps of: (a) accessing the digital image using an imaging device having a viewing member; (b) selecting the output image product intended to include the digital image; (c) digitally modifying at least a portion of the digital image using the imaging device to produce a substantially accurate representation of at least a portion of the output image product; and (d) displaying, using the viewing member, for assessment by the user, the substantially accurate representation of the at least a portion of the output image product.
US08068157B2
An image sensor includes a photoelectric converter, a source-follower transistor, and a selection transistor. The photoelectric converter generates electric charge in response to received light, and the electric charge varies a voltage of a detection node. The source-follower transistor is coupled between the detection node and an output node and has a first threshold voltage. The selection transistor is coupled between the source-follower transistor and a voltage node with a power supply voltage or a boosted voltage applied thereon, and has a second threshold voltage with a magnitude that is less than a magnitude of the first threshold voltage such that the source-follower transistor operates in saturation.
US08068140B2
Still image apparatus and methods that are suitable for compact camera environments are described. In another aspect, image segments are captured during corresponding exposure intervals of a frame exposure period. Respective motion sensor signals are generated during the respective exposure intervals of the image segments. One or more corresponding movement measures are determined from the respective motion sensor signals for each of the exposure intervals. The image segments are combined into an output image based on the one or more corresponding movement measures.
US08068134B2
The present invention is a collision prediction apparatus that comprises a plurality of sensors for detecting an object in front of a vehicle by different mechanism and a control unit for selecting a sensor adequate for an input condition and predicting a collision between the vehicle and the object, based on information obtained from the selected sensor, wherein the plurality of the sensors comprise a radar for scanning front of the vehicle and a camera for taking an image of the front of the vehicle, and when a condition that it is lighter outside the vehicle than a predetermined value is input, it is enabled to configure a control unit so as to predict a collision between the vehicle and the object.
US08068131B2
Described is a device and method that makes it possible to acquire image information required for displaying a three-dimensional image of an object in a space with a simple configuration and to achieve display of a stereoscopic dynamic image in a true sense with a simple configuration. Light from an object (10) impinges upon a deflecting plate (11). Among the incident beams of light, the deflecting plate (11) allows beams of light at a predetermined angle to the plane of the deflecting plate (11) to pass, the beams exiting as parallel beams of light perpendicular to the plane of the deflecting plate (11). The light passes through a converging lens (12), a pinhole member (13), and a converging lens (14) to impinge upon a CCD (15). An angle of incident light selected by the deflecting plate (11) is sequentially changed as time passes. Therefore, image information output by the CCD (15) becomes plural pieces of two-dimensional image information for which the photographing direction changes as time passes and which serve as image information required for displaying a three-dimensional image of the object in a space.
US08068130B2
An active matrix type display panel, used as a display-use panel, has pixel patterns each having aperture sections. The aperture sections are set to have a width satisfying the following inequality, 0<(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)/(maximum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)≦0.037, or 0.130≦(minimum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)/(maximum width of the aperture sections in the pixel)<1.
US08068128B2
According to one embodiment, a server includes a control unit which instructs establishment and end of connection for the video data communications between the client computers corresponding to the telephone terminals, in accordance with the call information event received by the call information event receiving unit, and a connection information transmitting unit which transmits connection information between the plurality of client computers for which one of the establishment and the end of connection is executed by the control unit, wherein even if the connection information transmitting unit receives a notification of completion or end of the connection from the client computers, when the connection information transmitting unit receives a notification which accompanies change of connection states of the client computers, the connection information transmitting unit transmits the connection information after waiting for the change of the connection states.
US08068124B2
A computing device entertainment mode system comprises a computing device comprising at least one indicator element disposed thereon, the computing device configured to be placed into an entertainment mode of operation such that, in response to being placed in the entertainment mode of operation, an illumination intensity level associated with the at least one indicator element is automatically decreased.
US08068119B2
A method and system for performing multi-sample, antialiased rendering of images by performing multi-sample antialiasing at the primitive level. Geometric primitives used to represent a graphics environment are set-up, and then shifted by a sub-pixel offset and rendered to generate values for pixels of an intermediate image. The shifting and rendering is repeated for the geometric primitive, each time generating values for pixels of another intermediate image. The values for the pixels of the intermediate images are combined to produce values for the respective pixels of the resulting image.
US08068118B1
Systems and methods for modifying the number of texture samples used to produce an anisotropically filtered texture mapped pixel may improve texture mapping performance. When the number of texture samples is reduced, fewer texels are read and fewer filtering computations are needed to produce a texture value for an anisotropic footprint. The number of texture samples is reduced based on the mip map level weight. The number of texture samples may also be modified using specific parameters for the coarse and/or fine mip map levels. The spacing between the texture samples along the major axis of anisotropy may be modified to improve image quality or texture cache performance.
US08068117B2
A method and system for synthesizing texture using upsampled pixel coordinates and a multi-resolution approach. The parallel texture synthesis technique, while based on a neighborhood matching technique having order-independent texture synthesis, extends that approach in at least two areas, including efficient parallel synthesis and intuitive user control. Pixel coordinates are upsampled instead of pixel colors, thereby reducing computational complexity and expense. These upsampled pixel coordinates then are jittered to provide texture variation. The jitter is controllable, such that a user has control over several aspects of the jitter. In addition, each neighborhood-matching pass is split into several sub-passes to improve correction. Using sub-passes improves correction speed and quality. The parallel texture synthesis system and method disclosed herein is designed for implementation on a parallel processor, such as a graphics processing unit.
US08068116B2
Methods, systems and data structures produce a rasterizer. A graphical state is detected on a machine architecture. The graphical state is used for assembling a shell rasterizer. The machine architecture is used for selecting replacement logic that replaces portions of shell logic in the shell rasterizer. The machine architecture is used for selectively inserting memory management logic into portions of the shell logic to produce.
US08068115B2
An image generation apparatus provides interpolation and distortion correction. The interpolation and distortion correction may be provided in one or two dimensions. Nonlinear image scan trajectories, such as sinusoidal and bi-sinusoidal trajectories are accommodated. Horizontal and vertical scan positions are determined using a linear pixel clock, and displayed pixel intensities are determined using interpolation techniques.
US08068111B2
A method for increasing speed in virtual 3D application is applied to a game console, which includes a processor and is used for outputting scan lines of a frame. The method includes the steps of: providing registers corresponding to the scan lines; and interrupting the processor in a vertical blank period. The step of interrupting includes: calculating 3D operating parameters corresponding to the scan lines according to an operation provided to the game console by a user; storing the 3D operating parameters into the registers; and calculating outputted scan lines according to the scan lines and the corresponding 3D operating parameters. Since the registers respectively corresponding to the scan lines are provided, the number of times of interrupting the processor can be decreased and the efficiency can be greatly increased.
US08068107B2
In a multimedia presentation, having speech and graphic contributions, a list of graphic objects is provided. Each graphic is associated to a graphic file capable of being executed by a computer to display a corresponding graphic contribution on a screen. A speech file comprising a sequence of phrases is also created, each phrase comprising a speech contribution explaining at least one graphic contribution associated to a respective graphic object. Then, an arrangement string is created obtained as a sequence of a first graphic object and a respective first phrase, and then a second graphic object and a respective second phrase, and so on up to completion of all graphic objects and phrases of said list and of said speech file respectively. A processing speed for displaying the graphic objects is chosen.
US08068091B2
An electrophoretic display device includes a pair of substrates, a pixel, a first electrode being formed on one of the substrates for the pixel, a second electrode being formed on the other of the substrates, and an electrophoretic element which is held between the first electrode and the second electrode. The pixel includes a pixel switching element which is connected to a scan line and a data line, a memory circuit which is connected to the pixel switching element, and a switch circuit which is interposed between the memory circuit and the first electrode. The memory circuit is connected with a first power source line and a second power source line, and the switch circuit is connected with a first control line and a second control line. The first power source line and the second power source line cross each other at a first position of the pixel, and the first control line and the second control line cross each other at a second position of the pixel.
US08068083B2
A display apparatus includes a display panel; and a data driver configured to output drive voltages from a plurality of output nodes to drive the display panel. The data driver includes a plurality of output amplifiers, each of which is configured to receive a gradation voltage corresponding to a pixel data and to output the drive voltage in response to the gradation voltage; and a driver-side demultiplexer configured to connect the plurality of output amplifiers to selection output nodes selected from among the plurality of output nodes. The display panel includes a plurality of data lines; and a panel-side demultiplexer configured to connect selection data lines selected from among the plurality of data lines with the plurality of output nodes.
US08068078B2
The present invention relates to an electro-luminescence display and a driving method thereof wherein a thin film transistor is prevented from the deterioration, to thereby improve a picture quality. An electro-luminescence (EL) display, including: a plurality of drive voltage supply lines; N compensation voltage supply lines; EL cells at each crossing of a plurality of data lines and a plurality of gate lines in a matrix, wherein the EL cells emit light in response to currents applied from the drive voltage supply lines; driving thin film transistors (TFT) connected between the EL cells and compensation voltage supply lines that control the current applied to the EL cells; and a bias switch, connected between the N−1th compensation voltage supply line and a control terminal of the driving TFT connected to the Nth compensation voltage supply line that applies a bias voltage to the driving TFT when a scan pulse is supplied to the N−1th gate line.
US08068076B2
A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a liquid crystal modulation element having a liquid crystal layer and first and second electrodes, and a controller performs control for an electric potential difference applied between the electrodes such that an electric field applied to the liquid crystal layer is inverted between positive and negative. The controller switches the control between first control and second control. The first control controls the electric potential difference such that one of an absolute value of a time-integrated value of the positive electric field applied to the liquid crystal layer and an absolute value of a time-integrated value of the negative electric field applied thereto is larger than the other, and the second control controls the electric potential difference such that the other absolute value of the time-integrated value is larger than the one absolute value of the time-integrated value.
US08068073B2
A circuit and method for driving pixels in an organic electroluminescent display that reduces the number of wirings of a compensation circuit for addressing brightness non-uniformity. The pixel driving circuit includes an organic electroluminescent device that emits light corresponding to an amount of a current being applied. A first transistor is connected to a power supply voltage and applies the current corresponding to a data voltage to the organic electroluminescent device. A first capacitor stores the data voltage, and a threshold voltage compensation unit stores a threshold voltage of the first transistor. A second transistor transmits the data voltage from a data line in response to a selection signal from an nth scan line. A switching unit electrically disconnects a second primary electrode of the first transistor from the organic electroluminescent device while the threshold voltage is stored in the threshold voltage compensation unit in response to a control signal.
US08068072B2
A data driver includes a shift register circuit configured to receive a first clock signal, a second clock signal, and a start signal, and to sequentially provide a sampling signal, a conversion circuit configured to receive the first clock signal, the second clock signal, and the sampling signal, and to sequentially provide a conversion signal, a sampling latch circuit configured to store data according to the sampling signal and the conversion signal, and a holding latch circuit configured to receive the data from the sampling latch circuit in response to first and second enable signals, and to provide a first data signal or a second data signal to data lines corresponding to the received data.
US08068058B2
The present invention provides an antenna with an integral electrical connection to a printed circuit board. The electrical connection is accomplished by providing a connection beam from a conductive layer to the circuit board. The connection beam is provided with a channel extending through the connection beam, such as a channel through the geometric center of the beam, and the channel is plated. The connection beam terminates with a contact point. The beam is deflectable to provide contact force.
US08068051B1
A radar system for monitoring a premises in a home or building. The radar system includes transmitter and receiver antennae and a signal processor that processes a reflected signal. Doppler analysis of the reflected signal determines the activity and location of a subject's upper torso, and the subject's presence within the monitored premises.
US08068046B2
Methods for reading a data location coupled to an electrical conductor. A counter receives a signal from an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the electrical conductor. The counter produces two or more counts, and in some embodiments, the counts are based in part on a variable reference voltage. An interfuser may be coupled to an output of the counter. The interfuser receives the two or more counts from the counter and reads data conveyed by the data location based on the two or more counts.
US08068044B2
There is provided a correction circuit for a D/A converter, comprising: a constant current source to be connected between high- and low-potential power source lines for supplying a power source voltage to the D/A converter; and a current controller which is adapted to control a current flowing to the constant current source in accordance with an input digital signal to the D/A converter, so as to reduce a variation of a sum of currents which, when the input digital signal to the D/A converter is changed, flows to the low-potential power source line from the high-potential power source line through the D/A converter and the constant current source, respectively.
US08068032B2
An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag that can improve versatility of the apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag, and further simplify equipment configuration and reduce costs of users by enabling information transmission/reception with a RFID circuit element in and outside the apparatus is provided. The apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag is provided with a housing constituting an outer profile of an apparatus main body and communicable regions both inside and outside the housing and has a loop antenna LC that can transmit/receive information with a RFID circuit element for a label production and a RFID circuit element for an information reading provided with an IC circuit part storing information and a loop antenna that transmits/receives information and a driving roller provided in the housing and configured to feed a tag label tape with print.
US08068031B2
Readability of overlapping radio frequency identification (RFID) devices on overlapping objects, such as RFID labels on stacked garments, is improved by having different antenna configurations for the overlapped RFID devices. Each pair of closest overlapped RFID devices may have different respective antenna configurations. The different respective antenna configurations may be mirror images of one another, or may have the same shape, with a relative rotation between the two. The different antenna configurations may substantially fill an antenna-receiving portion that is located in the same relative location in each of the RFID devices, with the antenna-receiving portion covering most of an area of the RFID devices. Feedpoints of the different antenna configurations, for receiving a strap or interposer for coupling to the antenna configurations, may be in the same relative location.
US08068028B2
An encapsulated device and method for fabricating a radio frequency identification (RFID) device is disclosed herein. The method includes providing a first substrate layer, the first substrate layer including at least one cavity; placing a RFID tag into the cavity; placing a second substrate layer over the first substrate layer, the at least one cavity of the first substrate layer being covered by the second substrate layer; and attaching the second substrate layer to the first substrate layer, the second substrate layer forming a pocket with the first substrate layer.
US08068027B2
A key-operated remotely monitorable locking assembly including a key-operated lock including a lock body including a key operated locking assembly and a tamper monitorable lockable assembly which is selectably locked to the lock body by operation of the mechanical key operated locking assembly and a wireless communication circuit located in a least one of the lock body and the lockable assembly for providing a remotely monitorable indication of tampering with the lockable assembly.
US08068024B1
In some embodiments, techniques for processing an alert may include receiving a message, wherein the message includes a specification of a first location, creating an alert, associating the specification of the first location with the alert, determining a first current location as a second location, wherein determining the second location follows receiving the specification of the first location and precedes determining a third location, determining that the second location does not match the specification of the first location, determining a second current location as the third location, determining that the third location matches the specification of the first location and presenting information relating to the alert.
US08068023B2
An evidence chain of custody system that is application-specific auditable and trackable secure smart mobile containers (SMC) for securely storing evidence items that are collected at crime scenes and search locations pursuant to subpoenas or warrants. Each SMC includes a electronics package that can read RF tags applied to evidence bags or totes placed in the SMC or for oversized items, associated with the event or scene, that are tagged with active RF tags. The electronics package also includes condition sensors and an RF transmitter module to permit remote reporting and monitoring of GPS/RSSI location and condition. The SMC includes an electronic lock that provides access security and an audit trail of all opening, closing, and other events.
US08068021B1
A room monitor having a second display includes a controller, a first display and a second display. The first display is preferably a touch screen monitor, which allows the entry of data into the controller without the need for a keyboard. However, the controller may be programmed through a keyboard. The controller includes a plurality of inputs and outputs for monitoring and/or controlling such room environmental factors as pressure, temperature, humidity and lighting. The inputs are used to read sensors. The outputs are used to actuate control devices. The first display includes a plurality of menus for controlling at least one environmental factor. The second display shows information the condition of a critical environment room. There is at least one message displayed on the second display. A second embodiment of the room monitor includes a controller and the first display. The first display must be a touch screen monitor.
US08068017B2
A vehicle is provided with an identification information memory in which identification information of the vehicle is memorized, and a transmitter for transmitting the identification information. A portable terminal is provided with a receiver for receiving the identification information transmitted from the transmitter, a registration information memory in which identification information of a ridable vehicle is memorized as registration information in advance, and a controller for executing authentication between the identification information and the registration information and executing a warning processing when a result of authentication shows inconsistency.
US08068014B2
A system for independent control of electric motors and electric lights includes a plurality of two-wire wallstations coupled in series via power wires between an alternating-current (AC) source and a light/motor control unit. The light/motor control unit is preferably located in the same enclosure as an electric motor and an electric light and has two outputs for independent control of the motor and the light. The light/motor control unit and the wallstations each include a controller and a communication circuit that is coupled to the power wiring via a communication transformer and communicate with each other using a loop current carrier technique. The light/motor control unit and the wallstations utilize pseudo random orthogonal codes and a median filter in the communication process.
US08068007B2
A system for collecting, verifying, and managing identity data, skill data, qualification data, certification data, and licensure data of emergency responders. The system trusted verification of identity, skills, qualifications, certifications, and licensure, and disseminates information specific or related to identity, skills, qualifications, certifications, and licensure at the scene of an emergency. The system includes information collection devices, data storage media, information retrieval devices, and information management devices. The information collected, managed, and disseminated may include identity information, medical information, skills information, qualification information, certification information, licensure information. Data in the system is stored in multiple formats, allowing for the retrieval of trusted information in an environment that is part of a network or devoid of network connectivity.
US08068001B2
A surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter includes at least one first electroacoustic transducer, and at least one second electroacoustic transducer. The at least one first electroacoustic transducer and the at least one second electroacoustic transducer are side-by-side inside an acoustic path having an aperture A0. The at least one first electroacoustic transducer is connected to an electrical output of the SAW filter, and the at least one second electroacoustic transducer is connected to an electrical input of the SAW filter. At least one first electroacoustic transducer comprises a series circuit of a number of partial transducers, wherein each partial transducer has an individual aperture that is reduced in relation to the overall aperture A0, and wherein the individual apertures add up to the overall aperture.
US08067995B2
Voltage controlled oscillator, and PLL circuit and wireless communication device each using the same
A voltage controlled oscillator includes first and second variable capacitance circuits 120 and 130, and first and second capacitance switch circuits 140 and 150. A control voltage Vt is fixedly applied to the first variable capacitance circuit 120, and control signals Fsel2 and Fsel3 are fixedly applied to the first and second capacitance switch circuits 140 and 150, respectively. When both of the control signals Fsel2 and Fsel3 are at a low level, the control signal Fsel1 is applied to the second variable capacitance circuit 130. When the control signals Fsel2 and Fsel3 are both not at the low level, the control voltage Vt is applied to the second variable capacitance circuit 130. As a result of this control, a high-frequency variable range is divided into two variable ranges, one based on upper frequencies and the other based on lower frequencies. This enables suppression of a frequency sensitivity without narrowing the high-frequency variable range.
US08067993B2
There is provided a constant current driven oscillating circuit including: an oscillator with first and second ends; a first field effect transistor that turns ON when a signal of a lower level than a first threshold voltage is input to a first gate terminal, and outputs, from a second terminal, current that has been input from a first terminal; a second field effect transistor turning ON when a signal output from the oscillator and is at a higher level than a second threshold voltage is input to a second gate terminal connected to the second end of the oscillator, and outputs, from a fourth terminal, current that has been input from a third terminal connected to the second terminal and to the first end of the oscillator; and an adjusting section that adjusts the first threshold voltage according to the level of the signal output from the oscillator.
US08067988B2
A low jitter and wide-range frequency synthesizer for low voltage operation includes a detector to generate a detection signal based on a logic level difference between an input signal and a feedback signal, a charge pump to generate a control signal based on the detection signal, a filter to generate a tuning signal based on the control signal, a bias circuit to generate a first bias signal and a second bias signal based on the tuning signal, a controllable oscillator to generate a differential output signal based on the first and the second bias signals, a differential to single ended converter to convert the differential output signal into an output signal, and a programmable frequency divider to generate the feedback signal based on the output signal.
US08067987B2
A voltage controlled oscillator-phase lock loop (VCO-PLL) system includes a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) system implementing four-channel architecture, such that two bands support two channels; a phase-locked-loop (PLL) system; and a mixer system. The VCO system further includes a control circuit; a first cross-coupled oscillator system adapted to receive a source voltage; a second cross-coupled oscillator system adapted to receive the source voltage; and a plurality of isolation buffer systems adapted to protect the first and second cross-coupled oscillator systems.
US08067986B2
A differential amplifier with surge protection is described. The differential amplifier includes a first output driver device, a second output driver device, a first replica device, a second replica device, a current comparator, and a clamp circuit. The first replica device is configured to be a replica of the first output driver device. The second replica device is configured to be a replica of the second output driver device. The current comparator is configured to generate a threshold current, and to compare the threshold current to a first current through the first replica device and a second current through the second replica device. The clamp circuit is configured to limit a third current through the first output driver device and a fourth current through the second output driver device if the current comparator determines that the threshold current is greater than the first current or the second current.
US08067984B2
There is provided a variable gain circuit system which is inductorless and capable of achieving a high gain and a wide band by elements for achieving variable gain to prevent decreasing a gain or deteriorating the band. The variable gain circuit includes: transistors; a resistor connected as a load of each transistor; a voltage source applying a bias voltage to each gate of the transistors; a switch selectively connecting the voltage source or a ground potential to each gate of the transistors in accordance with gain setting; and a current source connected to a common input. A drain of each transistor is connected to an input of a circuit in a subsequent stage.
US08067972B2
A filter circuit includes a voltage-current conversion portion that converts a voltage signal input to an input terminal to a current signal, a first capacitor unit formed by a plurality of capacitors, and in which a current signal output from the voltage-current conversion portion is sequentially input to the capacitors, the unit adding and outputting electric charges of a group of capacitors to which the current signal is input, a second capacitor unit formed by a plurality of capacitors, and in which a current signal output from the first capacitor unit is sequentially input to the capacitors, the unit adding and outputting electric charges of a group of capacitors to which the current signal is input, and a plurality of connection nodes that respectively connect a given capacitor in the first capacitor unit and a capacitor in the second capacitor unit.
US08067966B2
A voltage controlled delay loop and method are disclosed for clock and data recovery applications. The voltage controlled delay loop generates clock signals having similar frequency and different phases. The voltage controlled delay loop comprises a plurality of delay elements; and an input that selectively injects a reference clock into any one of the plurality of delay elements. The plurality of delay elements are connected in series, such as in a loop. In one exemplary implementation, each delay element has an associated multiplexer that selects one of the reference clock and a signal from a previous delay element.
US08067957B2
A high-speed universal serial bus (USB) transceiver includes a voltage-mode architecture for generating a USB signal. The voltage mode architecture reduces power consumption by reducing the current requirements for high-speed USB communications. The USB transceiver can include a reference voltage generator, a resistive element, and a switching element for completing and breaking a circuit including the reference voltage generator, the resistive element, and a data pin of a USB port to generate half of the differential USB signal (e.g., the D+ signal). A similar circuit can be used to generate the other half of the differential USB signal (i.e., the D− signal). The resistive element can be a set of parallel resistors in the transceiver, with the set of parallel resistors being specifically selected from a larger population of resistors to provide the specified resistance (45Ω±10%) in the USB transceiver.
US08067956B2
An on-die termination circuit in a semiconductor memory apparatus can comprise a comparing block for comparing a reference voltage with a code voltage corresponding to a code and outputting a comparison signal, a counting block for changing the code based on the comparison signal, and controlling block for controlling the counting block based on a match result of previous and current values of the comparison signal.
US08067952B2
An ESD detection circuit for detecting a level of an ESD voltage on a power rail is provided. The ESD detection circuit includes a resistive component, a diode unit, and a controller. The resistive component is coupled between a detection node and a ground node corresponding to the power rail. The diode unit is coupled between the power rail and the detection node in a forward direction toward the power rail. The controller, coupled to the detection node, is used for determining the level of the ESD voltage based on the voltage of the detection node and the breakdown voltage of the diode unit.
US08067946B2
The invention provides a faulted circuit indicator apparatus with transmission line state display, as well as methods for using the apparatus. The faulted circuit indicator has a sensor that can be electrically coupled to an electrical conductor for collecting data relating to a state of the electrical conductor. The faulted circuit indicator also has a controller that is logically coupled to the sensor for receiving data and determining whether a fault condition has occurred on the electrical conductor. The faulted circuit indicator also has one or more indicators that are logically coupled to the controller for indicating whether a fault condition has occurred as well as the state of the electrical conductor. The state of the conductor may be the voltage, the temperature, or the vibration present on the conductor.
US08067938B2
The present invention provides resonance circuits, detection devices incorporating such circuits, and methods for their design, construction, and use.
US08067935B2
Multiple embodiments of mechanisms for sensing the opening and closing of pharmaceutical containers are disclosed. In particular, the example sensing mechanisms of the invention trigger an automatic, built-in, electronic dosage reminder and open/close event logging operation while requiring no additional actions or otherwise changed behavior by the patient, in order to increase patient compliance with dosing regimens. Furthermore, certain embodiments of the sensing mechanisms are reliable and sufficiently low cost to be practical for use in commercial product applications. In one embodiment, the sensing mechanism includes two electrical conductors that have no electrical connection therebetween when the closure is not present on the container and a bridge conductor in the closure that provides an electrical connection therebetween when the closure is tightened onto the container. In this example embodiment, the state of the two electrical conductors may be monitored in order to sense a container opening and closing event.
US08067926B2
A power supply for a load control device generates a DC voltage and provides an asymmetrical output current, while drawing a substantially symmetrical input current. The power supply comprises a controllably conductive switching circuit for controllably charging an energy storage capacitor across which the DC voltage is produced. The energy storage capacitor begins charging at the beginning of a half-cycle and stops charging after a charging time in response to the magnitude of the DC voltage and the amount of time that the energy storage capacitor has been charging during the present half-cycle. The charging time is maintained substantially constant from one half-cycle to the next. The power supply is particularly beneficial for preventing asymmetrical current from flowing in a multiple location load control system having a master load control device supplying power to a plurality of remote load control devices all located on either the line-side or the load-side of the system.
US08067921B2
A recharging system for wireless charging comprising an electronic device and a recharging device. The electronic device comprises a first electromagnetic induction device and a rechargeable battery. The recharging device comprises a detection layer, a second electromagnetic induction device, and a driving device. The detection layer is configured for detecting the position of the electronic device. The driving device drives the second electromagnetic induction device to align with the first electromagnetic induction device. The second electromagnetic induction device is configured for inducing a current in the first electromagnetic induction device.
US08067918B2
A servomotor controller capable of properly generating reference positions, by which learning control of angle based method may be applied to the periodically reciprocating motion of an object. The learning controller obtains a first positional deviation of a driven object at every predetermined sampling period of time, and the first positional deviation is converted, by a first converting part, to a second positional deviation associated with each reference position in one periodic reciprocating motion of the driven object. After a first correction amount of an immediately previous reciprocating motion of the driven object, stored in a memory, is added to the second positional deviation, the second positional deviation is stored in the memory as a renewed first correction amount. The first correction amount is converted to a second correction amount associated with the sampling period, by a second converting part.
US08067906B2
A system for controlling a load circuit is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of multi-way sensor switches for mounting in an electrical boxes and coupling to the load circuit. Preferably, each of the multi-way sensor switches includes a tactile switch for manually opening and closing the load circuit load circuit, a built-in sensor for automatically opening and closing the load circuit in response to a level of detected motion and a micro-processor for generating status signals. The status signals are transmitted between each of the multi-way sensor switches over a traveler wire that is electrically coupled to each of the multi-way sensor switches. The micro-processor then uses the status signals to synchronize the operation of each of the multi-way sensor switches to allowing the multi-way sensor switches to operate in a true three-way fashion.
US08067904B2
The present invention discloses an electronic ballast with dimming control from power line sensing for a fluorescent lamp, comprising: a control voltage generator, used to generate a control voltage according to a switching count of a power line; an oscillator, used to generate an oscillating signal, wherein the oscillating signal is of a fixed frequency and has a rising voltage portion and a falling voltage portion; and a comparator, used to generate a high side gating signal according to voltage comparison of the oscillating signal and the control voltage.
US08067898B2
Disclosed is a power supply device for light elements, including a first light element having a first color, a second light element having a second color, and a third light element having a third color. The power supply includes a power supply unit, a controllable switch coupled in series to the third light element in parallel to the second light element. The power supply unit has a first and a second output such that the first light element is coupled to the first output and the second and third light elements are coupled to the second output. The power supply unit provides adjustable output signals at the first and said second output such that the third light element radiates light when the switch is closed.
US08067896B2
An exemplary apparatus embodiment provides for controlling current supplied to solid state lighting, such as light emitting diodes. An exemplary apparatus comprises a memory adapted to store a plurality of current parameters; and a control circuit adapted to modulate an energizing cycle time period for providing a substantially constant DC average current to the solid state lighting in response to a selected current parameter of the plurality of current parameters. In an exemplary embodiment, the control circuit modulates a current provided to the solid state lighting in response to a predetermined minimum current level (IMIN) parameter and a predetermined peak current level (IP) parameter, such that the DC average current level (IO) is substantially proportional to one-half of a sum of a predetermined peak current level (“IP”) and a predetermined minimum current level I M ( I O ∝ I P + I MIN 2 ) .
US08067893B2
An intelligent light fixture facilitates the use of a ‘universal’ light bulb having a wattage rating. A lamp dimmer circuit disposed within the fixture is in electrical communication between the AC line and a socket. A bulb test circuit within the fixture is operative to determine the maximum wattage of the bulb. A controller, also within the fixture includes a wattage select input. The controller is operative to determine the maximum wattage of the bulb using the bulb test circuit, compare the maximum wattage to the wattage select input and, if the maximum wattage is greater than the wattage select input, control the dimmer circuit to ensure that the power delivered to the bulb does not exceed the wattage select input. The bulb test circuit may determine the maximum wattage of the bulb by measuring the resistance of the bulb's filament or alternatively, by temporarily impressing line voltage across the bulb and measuring the current drawn by the bulb's filament. Alternative embodiments provide a wattage dial disposed on an adapter unit or directly on the threaded base of a bulb.
US08067883B2
A hermetically sealed device comprising a spacing unit and a resistive heating element desirably having a closed-loop structure and process for hermetically sealing a device by using such heating element and spacing unit. The frit can form multiple closed-loops to prevent crack propagation. The heating element can be advantageously made of a metal such as Invar® and/or Kovar®. The invention enables hermetic frit sealing with low residual stress in the seal for large-area displays. The invention is particularly advantageous for hermetic sealing of OLED display devices having a large area, such as those above 10 inches (25 cm).
US08067881B2
A light emitting device comprises: a concave mirror having one focal point; a plurality of main light sources each of which is arranged between the focal point and a light reflection surface of the concave mirror, and emits light toward the light reflection surface; and a plurality of main lenses each of which is arranged between a corresponding one of the main light sources and the light reflection surface, refracts the light emitted from the corresponding main light source toward the light reflection surface, and produces a virtual image of the main light source on the focal point situated at a backside of the main light source.
US08067878B1
In a first embodiment, a wind to energy conversion system is constructed out of a number of modular power units (110), each modular power unit (110) comprised of 36 air jet tunnels (106). Each air jet tunnel (106) is constructed using a cantilever array mounted in a cascaded frame (104) with each cantilever (102) attached on one edge to a window edge of the frame (104). The cantilever (102) is constructed of a brass (130) layer sandwiched between two layers, each layer composed of an electrode (126) attached to a Poly Vinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) (128) layer. Each modular power unit (110) is mounted in a case (108), and a set of cases are mounted in a panel (114) attached to a pedestal (116). The cantilever arrays (117) are wired together into electrical regulating circuits that generate power with a high wind to power conversion efficiency. Other embodiments are presented.
US08067874B2
A Lundell motor apparatus controls a field current passed to a rotor field coil and an armature stator coil current to generate a required torque. When the field current is If, the armature current is Ia, a d-axis inductance is Ld, a q-axis inductance is Lq, a q-axis current as a q-axis component of the armature current is Iq, a d-axis current as a d-axis component of the armature current is Id, a field torque is Tf, a field flux is φf, a reluctance torque is Tr, and a combined torque of the field torque and the reluctance torque is ΣT, the d-axis current Id is passed to the stator coil within a phase angle range where the combined torque ΣT becomes larger than the field torque Tf to generate reluctance torque Tr which is equal to (Ld−Lq)Id·Iq in addition to the field torque Tf.
US08067858B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising a first half cell comprising a circuit with two or more voltage variable capacitors (VVCs) configured in anti-series in which one or more of the two or more VVCs with the same bias voltage orientation as a signal voltage associated with the apparatus assume one capacitance and one or more of the two or more VVCs with the opposite bias voltage orientation as the signal voltage assume another capacitance, and a second half cell connected in parallel to the first half cell, comprising a circuit with two or more VVCs configured in anti series in which one or more of the two or more VVCs with the same bias voltage orientation as a signal voltage associated with the apparatus assume the same values as the anti-oriented VVCs in the first half cell and a one or more VVCs with the opposite bias voltage orientation as a signal voltage assume the same values as the like oriented VVCs in the first half cell.
US08067855B2
This invention is generally concerned with power supply circuits, and more particularly, with circuits to supply power to a mains supply, such as domestic grid mains, from a photovoltaic device. A photovoltaic power conditioning circuit for providing power from a photovoltaic device to an alternating current mains power supply line, the circuit comprising: a DC input to receive DC power from said photovoltaic device; an AC output configured for direct connection to said AC mains power supply line; a DC-to-AC converter coupled to said DC input and to said AC output to convert DC power from said photovoltaic device to AC power for output onto said power supply line; and an electronic controller directly coupled to said power supply line to measure a voltage of said power supply line and a current in said supply line and to control said DC-to-AC converter responsive to said measuring.
US08067854B2
A buffer driving capability control device is provided which can suppress occurrence of radiated noise due to a load driven by large driving power in the case where loads differing in driving power are connected to one terminal. The device includes an output buffer which can switch between the driving capability for driving a load requiring large driving power and the driving capability for driving a load requiring small driving power, and also includes a control period for driving the load requiring the large driving power and a control period for driving the load requiring the small driving power, and during the respective control periods, switches the driving capability of the output buffer to the ones suitable for the corresponding loads.
US08067853B2
The power supply system includes a generator, a transformer circuit, and a battery. The generator generates electric power of a first voltage. The transformer circuit boosts the electric power of the first voltage to a second voltage. The battery is connected, via the transformer circuit, to the generator and stores electric power of the second voltage obtained by the boosting by the transformer circuit. At least one of actuators is connected on the generator side of the transformer circuit, so as to be supplied with the electric power of the first voltage.
US08067848B1
A bicycle-based mobile telephone charging apparatus is herein disclosed comprising a frame-mounted electrical generator utilizing contact with a tire portion in a conventional manner to produce power to be supplied to a voltage regulator and charging circuit located in a frame-mounted pouch near a front of the bicycle. Interconnecting cabling is routed along the bicycle frame between the generator and the pouch. It is envisioned that a specialized cable commonly provided with a cellular phone or other electronic devices, connects the apparatus to a charging jack portion of the mobile telephone. The mobile phone is then placed in the pouch allowing the batteries to be charged while the user rides the bicycle.
US08067847B1
A variable speed machine assembly includes an input shaft, a variable speed magnetically geared generator coupled to the input shaft, an electrical machine coupled to the input shaft, and a power converter coupled to the variable speed magnetically geared generator and the electrical machine. The power converter is configured to use electrical power output by the electrical machine to control a frequency of power output by the variable speed magnetically geared generator.
US08067837B2
A semiconductor chip suited for being electrically connected to a circuit element includes a line and a bump. The bump is connected to the line and is adapted to be electrically connected to the line. A plane that is horizontal to an active surface of the semiconductor chip is defined. The area that the connection region of the line and the bump is projected on the plane is larger than 30,000 square microns or has an extension distance larger than 500 microns.
US08067831B2
An integrated circuit package system is provided including forming a first substrate, mounting a first integrated circuit to the first substrate, and forming first planar interconnects in contact with the first integrated circuit and electrically connecting the first integrated circuit to the first substrate.
US08067822B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit package having a leadframe (108) that includes a leadframe pad (103a) disposed under a die (100) and a bonding metal area (101a) that is disposed over at least two adjacent sides of the die. The increase in the bonding metal area (101a) increases the number of interconnections between the metal area (101a) and the die (100) to reduce the electric resistance and inductance. Furthermore, the surface area of the external terminals radiating from the package's plastic body (106) is increased if not maximized so that heat can be dissipated quicker and external terminal resistances reduced. The integrated circuit is applicable for MOSFET devices and the bonding metal area (101a) is used for the source terminal (101). The bonding metal area may have a “L” shape, a “C” shape, a “J” shape, an “I” shape or any combination thereof.
US08067820B2
Provided is a method applicable to the production of silicon wafers having crystal orientation <100> or <110> and consisting in specifying wafer-supporting positions on the occasion of heat treatment in a vertical heat treatment furnace as well as a heat treatment jig for use in carrying out that method. It becomes possible to suppress the shear stress which contributes to the extension of the slip generated at each wafer-supporting element contact point as an initiation, suppress slip growth and thus markedly improve the yield of heat-treated silicon wafers. The heat-treated wafer obtained by using the supporting method and the heat treatment jig has few slip, in particular has no long and large slip, and is high in quality.
US08067819B2
The present invention discloses a semiconductor wafer having a scribe line dividing the semiconductor wafer into a matrix of plural semiconductor chips. The semiconductor wafer includes a polysilicon layer, a poly-metal interlayer insulation film formed on the polysilicon layer, and a first metal wiring layer formed on the poly-metal interlayer insulation film. The semiconductor wafer includes a process-monitor electrode pad formed on a dicing area of the scribe line. The process-monitor electrode pad has a width greater than the width of the dicing area. The process-monitor electrode pad includes a contact hole formed in the poly-metal insulation film for connecting the first metal wiring layer to the polysilicon layer.
US08067816B2
A semiconductor die includes a semiconductive substrate layer with first and second sides, a metal layer adjacent the second side of the semiconductive substrate layer, one or more active devices in an active layer on the first side of the semiconductive substrate layer; and a passive device in the metal layer in electrical communication with the active layer. The passive device can electrically couple to the active layer with through silicon vias (TSVs).
US08067811B2
A MEMS device includes a first insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate, a vibrating film formed on the first insulating film, and a fixed film above the vibrating film with an air gap being interposed therebetween. The semiconductor substrate has a region containing N-type majority carriers. A concentration of N-type majority carriers in a portion of the semiconductor substrate where the semiconductor substrate contacts the first insulating film, is higher than a concentration of N-type majority carriers in the other portion of the semiconductor substrate.
US08067806B2
Gate structures of CMOS device and the method for manufacturing the same are provided. A substrate having an NMOS region, a PMOS region, and a work function modulation layer disposed on the NMOS region and the PMOS region is provided. A nitrogen doping process is performed to dope nitrogen into a portion of the work function modulation layer disposed on the PMOS region so as to form an N-rich work function modulation layer disposed on the PMOS region. A nonmetallic conductive layer is formed blanketly covering the work function modulation layer and the N-rich work function modulation layer. A portion of the nonmetallic conductive layer, the work function modulation layer, and the N-rich work function modulation layer is removed to form a first gate in the NMOS region and a second gate in the PMOS region.
US08067802B2
The rollable device of the invention comprises a substrate of an insulating material (12) with apertures (15) extending from a first to a second side. On the first side switching elements (13) are present, as well as interconnect lines and the like, covered by a coating of organic material (3). On the second side a functional layer is present. Examples of such functional layers include capacitors, antennas and particularly electro-optical layers. Thus, with a rollable display that may include an antenna and a driver circuit is obtained.
US08067798B2
The semiconductor device of the present invention includes a first conductive type semiconductor layer; a second conductive type source region formed in a surface layer portion of the semiconductor layer; a groove formed by digging in the source region from a surface thereof; an insulating film laminated on the semiconductor layer to cover a surface of the semiconductor layer; a contact hole penetrating through the insulating film in a layer thickness direction at least at a position facing the groove; a wiring formed on the insulating film; and a contact plug embedded in the contact hole so that a bottom portion thereof enters the groove to electrically connect the wiring and the source.
US08067790B2
A semiconductor device includes a first power supply line; a second power supply line; a first cell arrangement area in which a first cell is arranged; and a switch area in which a switching transistor and a decoupling capacitance are arranged. The first cell is provided in a first well of a first conductive type, the switching transistor is provided in a second well of the first conductive type, and the decoupling capacitance is provided in a separation area of a second conductive type to separate the first well and the second well from each other. The switching transistor connects the first power supply line and the second power supply line in response to a control signal, the first cell operates with power supplied from the second power supply line, and the decoupling capacitance is connected with the first power supply line.
US08067788B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate common to a first field effect transistor and a second field effect transistor, a channel layer of a first conductivity type formed on the substrate and common to the first and second field effect transistors, a an upper compound semiconductor layer formed on the channel layer and common to the first and second field effect transistors, a compound semiconductor region of a second conductivity type formed in the same layer as the upper compound semiconductor layer, a gate electrode of the first field effect transistor in ohmic contact with the compound semiconductor region, and a gate electrode of the second field effect transistor in Schottky contact with the upper compound semiconductor layer.
US08067785B2
Provided are an organic light emitting apparatus for use in, for example, a flat device display, and a method of producing the apparatus. The organic light emitting apparatus has sides formed by division at ends of its substrate. Three-dimensional portions are formed on the surface of the substrate along the sides. An inorganic sealing layer is formed to extend toward the three-dimensional portions.
US08067781B2
The light emitting structure disclosed includes a light emitting device, a metal frame, and a repressing fastener. The light emitting device has a plurality of first coupling terminals, and the metal frame has a plurality of second coupling portions. The light emitting device is disposed in the metal frame, and the first coupling terminals touch the second coupling portions to electrically connect the light emitting device and the metal frame. The repressing fastener is disposed on the light emitting device and fastened to the metal frame to secure the light emitting device in the metal frame. An LED securing device is also disclosed.
US08067775B2
As a display device has a higher definition, the number of pixels, gate lines, and signal lines are increased. When the number of the gate lines and the signal lines are increased, a problem of higher manufacturing cost, because it is difficult to mount an IC chip including a driver circuit for driving of the gate and signal lines by bonding or the like. A pixel portion and a driver circuit for driving the pixel portion are provided over the same substrate, and at least part of the driver circuit includes a thin film transistor using an oxide semiconductor interposed between gate electrodes provided above and below the oxide semiconductor. Therefore, when the pixel portion and the driver portion are provided over the same substrate, manufacturing cost can be reduced.
US08067770B2
A thin film transistor includes a channel layer including an amorphous 12CaO.7Al2O3 (C12A7) and a flat panel display device including the same. According to the present invention, the amorphous channel layer can be formed at a low temperature using C12A7. The thin film transistor including the amorphous channel layer has excellent electron mobility.
US08067767B2
A display substrate according to the present invention comprises a gate line formed on a substrate, a data line, a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line respectively and pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor, wherein a channel of the thin film transistor is formed in a direction perpendicular to the substrate and, a layer where the channel is formed includes an oxide semiconductor pattern. ON current of thin film transistor of the display substrate can be increased without loss of aperture ratio.
US08067765B2
An organic light emitting element and an organic light emitting device including the same is provided. At least one p-type or n-type overdoping layer is formed between two light emitting members forming a p-n junction in the organic light emitting element.
US08067759B1
A radiation protective vest includes a back panel with flaps at opposite lower sides and a pair of front panels, each panel containing radiation shielding material. Each front panel has an inner straight edge and a flap at a lower outer side. The front and back panels are connected to form the vest. A first strap is attached to one front panel and a second strap is attached to the other front panel. The second strap is threaded in a first sleeve attached to the inside of the back panel and the first strap is threaded in a second sleeve attached to the inside of the back panel. A fastener is provided on the free ends straps. When the vest is worn, the flaps of the front panels press against a user's waist and the back panel flaps overlap the front panels.
US08067757B2
An extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus includes a main body including a supply section to which an extreme ultraviolet radiation seed is supplied, and an emission part configured to emit extreme ultraviolet, an excitation unit provided in the main body and configured to generate a plasma by exciting the extreme ultraviolet radiation seed, an optical condensing unit provided in the main body and configured to converge extreme ultraviolet, which is radiated from the plasma, at the emission part, a trap provided between the excitation unit and the optical condensing unit, a first positioning mechanism connected to the trap and configured to adjust at least one of a position and an angle of the trap, and a measuring unit configured to measure a far field distribution image of the plasma on the basis of the extreme ultraviolet which is emitted from the emission part, thereby to operate the first positioning mechanism.
US08067738B1
A Space-based Calibration Transfer Spectroradiometer (SCATS) instrument that establishes a maintainable SI traceable radiometric calibration on-orbit with long-term stability accuracy, such as is required for long term climate monitoring missions, is provided. The SCATS instrument includes sensors that directly measure the highly stable solar irradiance and/or the lunar irradiance, and the Earth radiance through an invariant instrumental optical path. This common path measurement concept eliminates uncertainties associated with the calibration and degradation of intervening solar attenuation elements that represent the current state of the art. The SCATS instrument can be used to calibration of hyperspectral and multi-spectral sensors operating from the ultra-violet to long wave infrared. A suitable selection of detectors and filters enables this wide wavelength application.
US08067729B2
In a mass analysis data analyzing apparatus, centroid data is used as mass spectrum data to be analyzed. First, peaks on the centroid data are specified in order of intensity as a standard peak for identifying an isotopic cluster. The isotopic cluster is detected by comparing an emerging pattern of peaks near the standard peak and an emerging pattern of peaks of an expected isotopic cluster in the case where each valence is assumed. The valence of the determined isotopic cluster is set as the valence of the peaks belonging to the isotopic cluster, and the peak at the forefront of cluster is selected as a monoisotopic peak. With such a mass analysis data analyzing apparatus, it is possible to determine the valence of each peak and identify the monoisotopic peak in a mass spectrum.
US08067726B2
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for electromagnetic calibration of an instrument. Certain embodiments provide an electromagnetic instrument calibration system including electromagnetic receiver electronics for receiving electromagnetic field information from an electromagnetic transmitter. The system also includes a calibration mount configured to position the electromagnetic receiver electronics stationary with respect to the calibration mount for calibrating an instrument having an electromagnetic transmitter using the calibration mount and the electromagnetic receiver electronics. Certain embodiments provide a method for calibration of an instrument based on electromagnetic field information including providing a calibration mount accommodating a plurality of instruments in a known position and orientation and having electromagnetic calibration electronics positioned with respect to the calibration mount; receiving electromagnetic field information for an instrument with respect to a known position of the calibration mount and electromagnetic calibration electronics; and calibrating at least a portion of the instrument.
US08067722B2
The present invention relates to a method for inspecting packagings for a liquid product, such as drinks, including: setting a packaging into rotation, irradiating the packaging during the rotation with a radiation of a predetermined wavelength, making at least one series of at least two recordings of at least a part of the content of the packaging during the rotation, with an image recording device suitable for making recordings at the predetermined wavelength.
US08067718B2
A probe comprises a small “consumable” probe substrate permanently mounted to a circuit-under-test. The probe substrate includes a high-fidelity signal pathway, which is inserted into a conductor of the circuit-under-test, and a high-bandwidth sensing circuit which senses the signal-under-test as it propagates along the signal pathway. The probe substrate further includes a probe socket for receiving a detachable interconnect to a measurement instrument. Power is alternatively supplied to the probe by the circuit-under-test or the interconnect. When the interconnect is attached, control signals from the measurement instrument are supplied to the sensing circuit and the output of the sensing circuit is supplied to the measurement instrument. In one embodiment, the sensing circuit uses high-breakdown transistors in order to avoid the use of passive attenuation. In a further embodiment, the sensing circuit includes broadband directional sensing circuitry.
US08067717B2
A cooking facilitator which is preferably portable and well suited for use as both a timer and cooking process facilitator having particular usefulness with cooking objects which have a characteristic associated with establishing a cooking time such as the weight of a turkey in the case of deep frying a turkey or the thickness of a steak in deep frying the same. A gas flow timer for shutting off an overheated or unattended cooking system is also featured.
US08067716B1
A cooking apparatus includes an outer pot that has a bottom wall and a peripheral wall that is attached to and extends upwardly from the bottom wall. A heating assembly is attached to the outer pot and is adapted for selectively heating the outer pot. An actuator is operationally coupled to the heating assembly for selectively turning the heating assembly on or off. The actuator includes a timer for turning off the heating assembly after a selectable amount of time has expired. An inner pot has a lower wall and a perimeter wall that is attached to and extends upwardly from the lower wall. The inner pot has a size adapted for being removably positionable in the outer pot. The perimeter wall has a plurality of apertures extending therethrough.
US08067715B2
A heated construction box includes a heater constructed for generating heat within the construction box when connected to a power source. The construction box may include a dehumidifier, extendable supports and/or a retractable power cord assembly, as well as a cooled compartment, a hot plate and/or a microwave oven for heating or cooling solvent, paint, lacquer, epoxy, sealant, caulk, tar and the like, or food and beverage.
US08067704B2
A system and method for weighing varying throughput of conveyed particulate material. The system has a weighing unit for measuring weight of material conveyed on a span of the conveyor and a speed monitoring unit to monitor the speed of the conveyor. A control module is programmed to calculate the instant value of material conveyed per unit length of the conveyor. An output from the control module reduces conveyor speed in response to a reduction in measured weight of material conveyed and increases conveyor speed in response to an increase in measured weight of material conveyed. High accuracy of measurement of the weight of particulate material being conveyed even when the conveyor is lightly loaded.
US08067703B1
A protective cable frame for providing a portal for routing low voltage cables through a wall. The protective cable frame includes a substantially rectangular frame portion with an inner periphery having a rounded surface, two ends, and arms extending from each end. The arms include an outer bore and an inner slot therein. The inner slots enable insertion of fasteners for direct mounting of the cable frame to a low voltage bracket or an electrical box and permit squaring of the cable frame with respect to the wall. The outer bores in the arms of the protective cable frame enable receipt of fasteners for mounting a cover plate thereto. The protective cable frame is capable of receiving low voltage cables for routing them through a wall to an adjacent room. The rounded surface on the inner periphery provides a gentle bend radius to cables routed there through.
US08067697B2
A flexible printed circuit board (PCB) for a light emitting diode backlight unit includes a flexible base film; a plurality of metal lines on a first surface of the flexible base film; a cover layer on the metal lines and covering a center portion of the first surface of the flexible base film; a first gold-plating pattern on the metal lines and at both ends of the first surface of the flexible base film; a metal pattern on a second surface of the flexible base film and including a first sub-pattern at one end of the second surface, a second sub-pattern at the other end of the second surface and a plurality of third-sub patterns between the first and second sub-patterns of the metal pattern; and a second gold-plating pattern on the metal pattern and including a fourth sub-pattern on the first sub-pattern, a fifth sub-pattern on the second sub-pattern, and a plurality of sixth-sub patterns each on the third sub-patterns, wherein a first groove between a first double-layered pattern of the first sub-pattern and the fourth sub-pattern and a second double-layered pattern of the third sub-pattern and the sixth sub-pattern, a second groove between a third double-layered pattern of the second sub-pattern and the fifth sub-pattern and a second double-layered pattern of the third sub-pattern and the sixth sub-pattern, and a third groove between adjacent second double-layered patterns respectively expose a portion of the second surface of the flexible base film.
US08067692B2
A twist-on wire connector having a finger friendly cushion cover that covers not only the normal hand gripping region but at least part or all of the normal non-hand gripping region of the twist-on wire connector so that regardless of the way the twist-on wire connector is grasped the user fingers engage the cushion cover to inhibit finger and hand injury and fatigue from repeated securement of twist-on wire connectors as well as twist-on wire connector with enhanced gripping.
US08067687B2
A monolithic, multi-bandgap, tandem solar photovoltaic converter has at least one, and preferably at least two, subcells grown lattice-matched on a substrate with a bandgap in medium to high energy portions of the solar spectrum and at least one subcell grown lattice-mismatched to the substrate with a bandgap in the low energy portion of the solar spectrum, for example, about 1 eV.
US08067686B2
Disclosed is a thermoelectric material which is represented by the following composition formula (1) or (2) and comprises as a major phase an MgAgAs type crystal structure: (Tia1Zrb1Hfc1)xNiySn100-x-y composition formula (1); (Lnd(Tia2Zrb2Hfc2)1-d)xNiySn100-x-y composition formula (2); (wherein a1, b1, c1, x and y satisfy the conditions of: 0
US08067685B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a musical instrument having a plurality of strings, wherein a global fundamental tone produces a sympathetic resonance in one or more of the plurality of strings. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a stringed musical instrument comprises a plurality of strings, and a vibration inducing device configured to create a global fundamental tone upon demand by a user, wherein at least a first string of the plurality of strings controllably produces a sympathetic resonance in response to the global fundamental tone.
US08067681B2
Hybrid pepper cultivar designated ‘E 499524’ which is a Sweetbite type and suitable for covered cultivation and open field, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of hybrid pepper cultivar ‘E 499524’ and to the plants of hybrid pepper cultivar ‘E 499524’. The invention also relates to methods for producing a pepper plant, either inbred or hybrid, by crossing the hybrid cultivar ‘E 499524’ with itself or another pepper cultivar. The invention further relates to methods for producing other pepper cultivars derived from the hybrid ‘E 499524’.
US08067675B1
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated XB32E09. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety XB32E09, to the plants of soybean XB32E09 to plant parts of soybean variety XB32E09 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety XB32E09 with another soybean plant, using XB32E09 as either the male or the female parent.
US08067673B2
The present description concerns methods for regeneration of whole plant from the explants obtained from the Abelmoschus species preferably A. esculentus. In addition the present description also concerns methods for transforming okra plant, plant cells and tissues either with the use of recombinant Agrobacterium strain or by bombarding the explants with tungsten or gold particles coated with DNA sequences of interest. An efficient method to isolate embryos from imbibed seeds of okra is also described which enables the use of young meristematic cells of plumule tip for efficient regeneration and transformation of okra plants. Further, transformed okra plants, plant cells and tissues for improved agronomic/non agronomic traits and insect resistance are produced either by using marker based or marker free systems.
US08067672B2
A flower tissue-specific promoter, and uses thereof, is the promoter for Phalaenopsis 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase, ACC synthase gene PtACS2, and has a sequence as shown in SEQ ID No: 2. The invention further provides a gene expression cassette, which is composed of a promoter having a DNA sequence as SEQ ID No: 2, and a polynucleotide with an open reading frame linked to the 3′ end of said promoter, wherein said promoter can activate transcription of said polynucleotide in an organism containing said gene expression cassette. The invention provides furthermore a gene expression vector, which is composed of a promoter having a DNA sequence as SEQ ID No: 2. The invention provides further a method for producing a transgenic plant or parts of organ, tissue or cell of the transgenic plant that contain a gene expression cassette described above.
US08067664B2
The present invention relates to transgenic animals, as well as compositions and methods relating to the characterization of gene function. Specifically, the present invention provides transgenic mice comprising disruptions in PRO224, PRO9783, PRO1108, PRO34000, PRO240, PRO943, hu A33, PRO230, PRO178, PRO1199, PRO4333, PRO1336, PRO19598, PRO1083, hu TRPM2 or PRO1801 genes. Such in vivo studies and characterizations may provide valuable identification and discovery of therapeutics and/or treatments useful in the prevention, amelioration or correction of diseases or dysfunctions associated with gene disruptions such as neurological disorders; cardiovascular, endothelial or angiogenic disorders; eye abnormalities; immunological disorders; oncological disorders; bone metabolic abnormalities or disorders; lipid metabolic disorders; or developmental abnormalities.
US08067659B2
A system, apparatus and method of processing and/or removing radioactive materials from a body of water that utilizes the buoyancy of the water itself to minimize the load experienced by a crane and/or other lifting equipment. In one aspect, the invention is a method comprising: a) submerging a container having a top, a bottom, and a cavity in a body of water having a surface level, the cavity filling with water; b) positioning radioactive material within the cavity of the submerged container; c) raising the submerged container until the top of the containment apparatus is above the surface level of the body of water while a major portion of the container remains below the surface level of the body of water; and d) removing bulk water from the cavity while the top of the container remains above the surface level of the body of water and a portion of the container remains submerged. The bulk water can be added back into the cavity to add neutron shielding after the container is placed in a staging area and prior to personnel performing the desired operations to the container. As a result, gamma radiation and neutron shielding of the container can be maximized for any crane capacity.
US08067646B2
Systems and processes for dehydration of a process stream in the production of motor fuel grade ethanol (MFGE) can include temperature controlled adsorption of water in the process stream, and heat pumping of the associated heat of adsorption. The process can include providing a process stream (110) including ethanol and water to a first temperature controlled adsorber (102) where water is removed by adsorption to produce an MFGE product stream (114) and an associated heat of adsorption. A cooling fluid can be provided to the first temperature controlled adsorber (102) to remove heat of adsorption and produce a heated cooling fluid (120). Heat from the heated cooling fluid can be provided to a heat sink.
US08067644B2
The present disclosure describes processes for producing cyclohexenes using Lewis acidic ionic liquids comprising the steps of providing to a reactor an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl dienophile, providing to the reactor a 1,3-diene, providing a Lewis acidic ionic liquid to the reactor; and reacting the α,β-unsaturated carbonyl dienophile with 1,3-diene to form a substituted cyclohexene product. The α,β-unsaturated carbonyl dienophile can be mesityl oxide, the 1,3-diene can be piperylene; and the Lewis acidic ionic liquid can be AlCl3:[C2mim]Cl; AlCl3:[C8mim]Cl; or mixtures thereof.
US08067641B2
Methods and intermediates for synthesizing triethylenetetramine and salts thereof, as well as novel triethylenetetramine salts and their crystal structure, and triethylenetetramine salts of high purity.
US08067637B2
The present invention relates to a class of compounds and to diagnostic compositions containing such compounds where the compounds are iodine containing compounds. More specifically the iodine containing compounds are chemical compounds containing a hydrophilic aliphatic central moiety allowing for the arrangement of three iodinated phenyl groups bound thereto. The invention also relates to the use of such diagnostic compositions as contrast agents in diagnostic imaging and in particular in X-ray imaging and to contrast media containing such compounds.
US08067631B2
To provide a method of rapid methylation of alkenes, which is applicable to the preparation of a PET tracer and which enables alkenes to be methylated through cross coupling between SP2 (alkenyl) and SP3 (alkyl) carbon atoms rapidly and in a high yield. Methyl iodide and an alkenyltrialkylstannane are subjected to cross coupling in an aprotic polar solvent in the presence of a palladium complex having a valence of 0, a phosphine ligand, a cuprous halide, and a carbonate and/or alkali metal fluoride.
US08067630B1
A method for forming cascade polymers specifically utilizing the amine monomer of the formula The monomer is made by initially reacting nitromethane and CH2═CHCO2—TBu by nucleophilic addition to form the triester nitrotrialkanoate of the formula and then reducing the nitrosubstituent to afford the said amine monomer.
US08067629B2
A styrene sulfonate polymer which is highly effective at preventing fouling of equipment used in the manufacturing process of acrylonitrile. The styrene sulfonate polymer is particularly effective when introduced into the quench column, the recovery stage and the wastewater processing section of the acrylonitrile manufacturing process.
US08067628B2
The present invention relates to water-soluble binuclear cationic nitrosyl iron complexes with natural aliphatic thiolyls of general formula [Fe2(SR)2(NO)4]SO4, wherein R is sulfur-containing aliphatic ligands of natural origin, preferably, cystamine or penicillamine, to a method for the preparation thereof, to use thereof as an anticancer agent, to an apoptosis inducer, to a pharmaceutical composition comprising said complexes in an effective amount, and to a kit useful for the treatment of cancer diseases.
US08067627B2
A method of providing zinc to a subject in need of treatment includes administering to the subject an effective amount of a zinc-cysteine complex. The zinc-cysteine complex is preferably a zinc-monocysteine complex. The complexes of zinc-cysteine of the present invention increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes catalase and glutathione peroxidase, and the antioxidant protein metallothionein. The complexes of zinc-cysteine of the present invention protect retinal pigment epithelial cells from increasing hydrogen peroxide concentrations.
US08067626B2
This invention relates to processes for compounds, polymeric compounds, and compositions used to prepare semiconductor and optoelectronic materials and devices including thin film and band gap materials. This invention provides a range of compounds, polymeric compounds, compositions, materials and methods directed ultimately toward photovoltaic applications, transparent conductive materials, as well as devices and systems for energy conversion, including solar cells. In particular, this invention relates to polymeric precursor compounds and precursor materials for preparing photovoltaic layers. A compound may contain repeating units {MB(ER)(ER)} and {MA(ER)(ER)}, wherein MA is a combination of Cu and Ag, each MB is In or Ga, each E is S, Se, or Te, and each R is independently selected, for each occurrence, from alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, alkenyl, amido, silyl, and inorganic and organic ligands.
US08067622B2
The present invention relates to an efficient method for producing naringenin derivatives from xanthohumol or derivatives thereof. In particular, the method according to the present invention provides the production of isoxanthohumol, for example also in enantiomer-enriched form, from xanthohumol and subsequent demethylation of isoxanthohumol according to specific procedures obtaining corresponding naringenin derivatives, such as, in particular, 8-prenylnaringenin.
US08067616B2
The present invention relates to certain compounds and to methods for the preparation of certain compounds that can be used in the fields of chemistry and medicine. Specifically, described herein are methods for the preparation of various compounds and intermediates, and the compounds and intermediates themselves. More specifically, described herein are methods for synthesizing Salinosporamide A and its analogs from a compound of formula (V).
US08067610B2
This invention relates generally to olefin metathesis, and more particularly relates to the synthesis of terminal alkenes from internal alkenes using a cross-metathesis reaction catalyzed by a selected olefin metathesis catalyst. In one embodiment of the invention, for example, a method is provided for synthesizing a terminal olefin, the method comprising contacting an olefinic substrate comprised of at least one internal olefin with ethylene, in the presence of a metathesis catalyst, wherein the catalyst is present in an amount that is less than about 1000 ppm relative to the olefinic substrate, and wherein the metathesis catalyst has the structure of formula (II) wherein the various substituents are as defined herein. The invention has utility, for example, in the fields of catalysis, organic synthesis, and industrial chemistry.
US08067608B2
Aromatic compounds for treating various diseases and pathologies are disclosed. The methods use of such compounds are also provided. Accordingly, the present invention makes available methods and compositions for inhibiting aberrant growth states resulting from hedgehog gain-of-function, ptc loss-of-function or smoothened gain-of-function.
US08067606B2
The present invention relates to methods of treating, preventing, or lessening the severity of resistant bacterial infections in mammals, utilizing compounds of formula I or formula VII or pharmaceutically salts thereof. The present invention also relates to methods of using compounds of formula I or formula VII in combination with one or more additional antibacterial agents and/or one or more additional therapeutic agents that increase the susceptibility of bacterial organisms to antibiotics.
US08067604B2
Processes are disclosed for preparing piperidine derivative compounds of the formulae I, II or III:
US08067600B2
One aspect of the invention relates to HDAC inhibitors. Methods of sensitizing a cancer cell to the cytotoxic effects of radiotherapy are also provided. The invention also provides methods for treating cancer and methods for treating neurological diseases. Additionally, the invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising an HDAC inhibitor of the invention, and kits comprising a container containing an HDAC inhibitor of the invention.
US08067599B2
Objects of the present invention are the compounds of formula I their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, enantiomeric forms, diastereoisomers and racemates, the preparation of the above-mentioned compounds, medicaments containing them and their manufacture, as well as the use of the above-mentioned compounds in the control or prevention of illnesses such as cancer.
US08067598B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are as defined herein and hetaryl is a one or two ring-membered heteroaromatic ring system, connected to the carbon atoms of the piperidine group selected from the group consisting of or to pharmaceutically suitable acid addition salts, optically pure enantiomers, racemates or diastereomeric mixtures thereof. These compounds are orexin receptor antagonists and may be useful in the treatment of disorders in which orexin pathways are involved, like sleep disorders.
US08067594B2
The invention provides a process for producing a compound of formula (I), wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of CH3, CH2OH, CH2CH2OH, CH2Br and Br; comprising the steps of: (i) reacting a compound of formula (II), wherein OX represents hydroxy or O−M+, in which M+ is a cation selected from Li+, Na+ and K+, and Y is as defined above; with trans-cinnamaldehyde (III), in the presence of a secondary amine compound; then (ii) treating the product of the preceding step with acid to afford the compound of formula (I). The above process may also be used in the production of tolterodine and fesoterodine, which are useful in the treatment of overactive bladder.
US08067593B2
The invention relates to an improved process for preparing aminocrotonylamino-substituted quinazoline derivatives of general formula (I) wherein the groups Ra, Rb, Rc and Rd have the meanings given in the claims, as well as sulphonyl derivatives of formula and the use thereof as synthesis components for preparing quinazolines of formula (I). The quinazoline derivatives of formula (I) are inhibitors of signal transduction mediated by tyrosinekinases and by the Epidermal Growth Factor-Receptor (EGF-R) and are therefore particularly suitable for the treatment of tumoral diseases.
US08067589B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates thereof, wherein the substituents are as defined herein, compositions containing such compounds and the uses of such compounds for the treatment of various diseases and conditions such as asthma.
US08067577B2
Methods and compositions for the treatment of intestinal disorders, such as IBD and Crohn's disease, are disclosed. Preferred compositions include siNA. Also disclosed is a method of specifically targeting siNA to treat intestinal disorders by intrarectal administration of siNA compounds.
US08067574B2
Isolated oligonucleotides capable of down-regulating H19 mRNA in cancer cells are disclosed, as well as pharmaceutical compositions that include the oligonucleotides and methods of treatment of cancer using them. Methods of treating cancer comprising administering agents capable of downregulating H19 mRNA in combination with an additional anti-cancer treatment are further disclosed.
US08067572B2
The invention relates to a hybrid interfering RNA molecule comprising a duplex RNA and a single stranded DNA molecule and its use in the ablation of mRNA and in polymerase chain reactions.
US08067564B2
Specific binding members directed to eotaxin-1, in particular human antibodies and antibody fragments against human eotaxin-1 and especially those which neutralize eotaxin-1 activity. The antibodies VH and/or VL domain of the scFv fragment herein termed CAT-212 and of the IgG4 antibody herein termed CAT 213. One or more complementary determining regions (CDRs) of the CAT-212/-213 VH and/or VL domains, especially VH CRD3 in other antibody framework regions. Compositions containing specific binding members, and their use in methods of inhibiting or neutralizing eotaxin, including methods of treatment of the human or animal body by therapy.
US08067557B2
This invention relates to osteoclast-specific genes and proteins. Specifically, the invention relates to OCL-2A3 or Atp6v0d2, the gene encoding it and uses thereof in methods and treatment of bone disorders.
US08067555B2
Partially desulphated glycosaminoglycan derivatives are described, particularly heparin, and more particularly a compound of formula (I) where the U, R and R1 groups have the meanings indicated in the description. These glycosaminoglycan derivatives have antiangiogenic and heparanase-inhibiting activity and are devoid of anticoagulant activity.
US08067551B2
The present invention relates to eukaryotic host cells having modified oligosaccharides which may be modified further by heterologous expression of a set of glycosyltransferases, sugar transporters and mannosidases to become host-strains for the production of mammalian, e.g., human therapeutic glycoproteins. The invention provides nucleic acid molecules and combinatorial libraries which can be used to successfully target and express mammalian enzymatic activities such as those involved in glycosylation to intracellular compartments in a eukaryotic host cell. The process provides an engineered host cell which can be used to express and target any desirable gene(s) involved in glycosylation. Host cells with modified oligosaccharides are created or selected. N-glycans made in the engineered host cells have a Man5GlcNAc2 core structure which may then be modified further by heterologous expression of one or more enzymes, e.g., glycosyltransferases, sugar transporters and mannosidases, to yield human-like glycoproteins. For the production of therapeutic proteins, this method may be adapted to engineer cell lines in which any desired glycosylation structure may be obtained.
US08067542B1
The present invention relates to an antifungal protein, AlfAFP1, which is a modified form of an antifungal protein isolated from Medicago plants, the modified form exhibiting enhanced anti-fungal activity for controlling fungal pathogenesis in plants. A method for inhibiting fungal colonization of plants is described which includes preparation of nucleotide sequences encoding the modified antifungal protein, preparation of vectors containing the nucleotide coding sequence, and methods for transforming plants with the nucleotide sequences. The polypeptide can be formulated into compositions useful in controlling plant pathogenic fungi.
US08067538B2
The present invention is to obtain a novel gene that encodes a protein having a function of promoting acetic acid bacterial growth in the presence of a high concentration of acetic acid; to enhance acetic acid bacteria's function of promoting growth and thereby to develop acetic acid bacteria with an improved fermentation ability in the presence of a high concentration of acetic acid; and to provide a method for efficiently producing vinegar that contains a high concentration of acetic acid in a short time using the acetic acid bacterium. A novel gene having a function of improving the function of promoting growth at a practical level was cloned from acetic acid bacteria for practical use, belonging to the genus Gluconacetobacter, by a method comprising exposing acetic acid bacterial lysate to the presence of a high concentration of acetic acid; obtaining a gene of a protein that was not insolubilized but remained soluble; and thereby obtaining a gene having a function of promoting acetic acid bacterial growth in the presence of acetic acid. When cultured in the presence of acetic acid and ethanol, a transformant of acetic acid bacteria transformed with the gene was confirmed to have a significant effect of promoting growth.
US08067536B2
Compositions, methods, and kits for detecting and monitoring kinase, phosphatase and protein post-translational modification activity are described. The compositions typically include a peptide, a detectable moiety, and a protease cleavage site. Modification of a peptide by a kinase, phosphatase or other protein post-translational modification alters the proteolytic sensitivity of the peptide, resulting in a change of a detectable property of the composition. Panel assays for determining substrates or modulators of kinase, phosphatase or other protein post-translational modification activity are also described.
US08067529B2
The present invention relates to immunotherapeutic methods, and molecules and cells for use in immunotherapeutic methods. In particular, the present invention relates to the immunotherapy of cancer, in particular renal cancer. The present invention furthermore relates to tumour-associated T-helper cell peptide epitopes, alone or in combination with other tumour-associated peptides, that serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccine compositions which stimulate anti-tumour immune responses. In particular, the present invention relates to 338 novel peptide sequences derived from HLA class II molecules of human tumour cell lines which can be used in vaccine compositions for eliciting anti-tumour immune responses.
US08067526B2
A method for producing a polyoxyalkylene derivative including: step (A) in which a polyoxyalkylene derivative having hydroxyl group(s) is reacted with a phthalimide derivative in the presence of an azo reagent and a phosphine reagent; step (B) in which the phthalimide groups of the compound obtained in step (A) are deprotected using a compound having a primary amino group; and step (C) in which impurities derived from the phthalimide derivative and the deprotection reagent are removed by adsorption or extraction.
US08067525B2
Described are film(s) and/or sheet(s) comprising polyesters comprising (a) a dicarboxylic acid component having terephthalic acid residues; optionally, aromatic dicarboxylic acid or aliphatic dicarboxylic acid residues; 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol residues; and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol residues.
US08067523B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermosetting resin composition having satisfactory adhesiveness, good processability, high heat resistance, and excellent dielectric characteristics in the GHz band; and a laminate and a circuit board including the thermosetting resin composition.The present invention provides a thermosetting resin composition including an imide oligomer component (A) containing at least one imide oligomer having a specific structure and an epoxy resin component (B) containing at least one epoxy resin. Furthermore, the present invention provides the thermosetting resin composition further including a polyimide resin component (C).
US08067518B2
Ethylene alpha-olefin copolymers formed by contacting at least one supported metallocene catalyst, ethylene, and an alpha-olefin in a gas phase reactor are disclosed. In some embodiments, the polymer may have: a density of between 0.890 and 0.970 g/cc; a melt index of between 0.7 and 200 dg/min; a melt index ratio of less than 30; an ESCR value of greater than 1000 hours; and a 1% secant modulus of greater than 75,000 psi. In other embodiments, the polymer may have: a density of between 0.930 g/cc and 0.970 g/cc; a melt index of between 10 dg/min and 200 dg/min; a melt index ratio of between 10 and 25; a part weight of greater than 3 g and a part length of greater than 38 cm in a spiral flow test, and; a zero shear viscosity of less than 150 Pa·s. Processes to produce these polymers are also disclosed.
US08067515B2
Disclosed is a method for producing a polymer through living polymerization, comprising forming an oligomer having a polymerization active end, which is an oligomer higher than an average 1.0-mer and lower than an average 4.0-mer or an average 4.0-mer, and polymerizing using the oligomer having a polymerization active end as an initiating species, wherein the acrylic acid-based polymer comprising a repeating unit derived from a poly(α-lower alkyl)acrylate, and a repeating unit derived from an (α-lower alkyl)acrylic ester represented by formula (I) wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group, and R2 represents an organic group having a polar group in an arm portion.
US08067503B2
Blends of syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene and rubbery elastomers are prepared by a process that comprises polymerizing 1,3-butadiene monomer into syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene within a rubber cement of an elastomeric terpolymer by using a chromium-based, molybdenum-based, or iron-based catalyst composition. Polymer composition comprising the blend with improved properties is also provided.
US08067501B2
A thermoplastic composition for cast and blown films and the resulting films thereof are provided. The film can include about 10 wt % to 80 wt % propylene-based copolymer having at least 50 wt % propylene-derived units and 5 wt % to 30 wt % alpha-olefin comonomer, based on the total weight of the polymer that exhibits a melting point of about 100° C. to 170° C., and a MFR of about 200 dg/min or less. The film can include about 20 wt % to 90 wt % polypropylene homopolymer having a melting point of about 140° C. to 190° C. The film can have a thickness of about 10 μm to 100 μm, a haze of 13% or less, a 1% MD Secant tensile modulus of 55,000 to 150,000 psi, a machine direction Elmendorf tear of at least 5 g/mil and a transverse direction Elemdorf tear of at least 300 g/mil, and a 45 degree gloss of at least 70.
US08067498B2
The present invention has its object to provide a transparent curable composition which may be prepared as a one package formulation, and which is excellent in strength, elongation at break, weather resistance, and adhesiveness of the resultant cured product.In addition, the present invention provides a curable composition which comprises 100 parts by weight of a vinyl polymer (I) the main chain of which is the product of living radical polymerization and which contains a crosslinkable silyl group, and 1 to 200 parts by weight of a micronized hydrophobic silica (II). Furthermore, the present invention also provides a curable composition which comprises 100 parts by weight of a vinyl polymer (I) the main chain of which is the product of living radical polymerization and which contains at least one crosslinkable silyl group, and 1 to 200 parts by weight of a graft copolymer (III) obtained by graft polymerization of a crosslinkable rubber-like acrylic ester polymer and a vinyl monomer.
US08067489B2
The invention for the nanocompatibilizer composed of a nanoclay and a compatibilizer prepared through a melt blending process is disclosed. The enhanced mechanical properties stemming from the increased compatibility for metallocene polyethylene/starch blends are attained with the addition of the nanocompatibilizer, in comparison with neat compatibilizer, which signified the role of nanocompatibilizer in the derived nanocomposites.
US08067479B2
A microcellular polyurethane obtainable by reacting a polyisocyanate, a polyester formed from a dimer fatty acid and/or dimer fatty diol, and a chain extender. The foam is particularly suitable for use as a component of shoe soles.
US08067476B2
Process for the preparation of foamed thermoplastic polyurethanes characterised in that the foaming of the thermoplastic polyurethane is carried out in the presence of thermally expandable microspheres.
US08067472B2
The present invention provides methods of selectively inducing terminal differentiation, cell growth arrest and/or apoptosis of neoplastic cells, and/or inhibiting histone deacetylase (HDAC) by administration of pharmaceutical compositions comprising potent HDAC inhibitors. The oral bioavailability of the active compounds in the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention is surprisingly high. Moreover, the pharmaceutical compositions unexpectedly give rise to high, therapeutically effective blood levels of the active compounds over an extended period of time. The present invention further provides a safe, daily dosing regimen of these pharmaceutical compositions, which is easy to follow, and which results in a therapeutically effective amount of the HDAC inhibitors in vivo.
US08067471B2
A composition is described that can be used in prevention or treatment of patients having impaired gastro-intestinal tract function. The composition comprises free amino acids including about 9.0% to about 17.0% glutamic acid. Methods of treatment of impaired gastro-intestinal tract function are described.
US08067462B2
A compound having the structure of the formula (genus of compound 1 excluding Tashironin or Debenzoyltashironin) and methods of the same.
US08067455B2
The present invention provides a prodrug of propofol and crystalline forms thereof, methods of making the propofol prodrug and crystalline forms thereof, pharmaceutical compositions of the propofol prodrug and crystalline forms thereof, methods of using the propofol prodrug and crystalline forms thereof and pharmaceutical compositions thereof to treat diseases or disorders such as headache pain, post-chemotherapy or post-operative surgery nausea and vomiting, neurodegenerative disorders, and mood disorders.
US08067452B2
This invention provides compounds of Formula I which are inhibitors of Chk2 and are useful as a radiation protection agents in anticancer radiotherapy. A method of modulating Chk2 in vitro includes treating a substrate with Chk2 in the presence of compounds of formula I. A method of making a compound of formula I includes: a) forming a biaryl amine having an amino (NH2) group; b) converting the amino group to an isothiocyanate group; c) adding a cyanoacetamide to the isothiocyanate group to form a thioamide adduct; d) cyclizing the thioamide adduct to form an isothiazole having a cyano group; and e) adding an amine to the cyano group to form a carboxamidine group.
US08067451B2
A method for administration of ibuprofen to a subject in need of ibuprofen treatment is provided, in which an oral dosage form comprising a therapeutically effective amount of ibuprofen and a therapeutically effective amount of famotidine is administered three times per day.
US08067439B2
This invention provides compounds of formula I: wherein a, b, c, d, m, n, p, r, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and W are as defined in the specification. The compounds of formula I are muscarinic receptor antagonists. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, processes and intermediates for preparing such compounds and methods of using such compounds to treat pulmonary disorders.
US08067434B2
Compounds active on Ret are described, as well as methods of using such compounds. Also described are crystal structures of Ret surrogates that were determined using X-ray crystallography. The use of such Ret surrogate crystals and structural information can, for example, be used for identifying molecular scaffolds and for developing ligands that bind to and modulate Ret and for identifying improved ligands based on known ligands.
US08067431B2
Methods of modifying the rate of systemic absorption of a drug administered to a subject by a pulmonary route, the method comprising covalently conjugating a hydrophilic polymer to a drug, wherein the drug has a half-life of elimination from the lung of less than about 180 minutes, to form a drug-polymer conjugate, wherein the drug-polymer conjugate has a net hydrophilic character and a weight average molecular weight of from about 50 to about 20,000 Daltons, and wherein the half-life of elimination from the lung of the drug-polymer conjugate is at least about 1.5-fold greater than the half-life of elimination from the lung of the drug, wherein the half-life of elimination from the lung is measured by bronchoalveolar lavage followed by assaying residual lung material.
US08067430B1
A method of treating HIV infection by using the novel anti-HIV activity of the opioid antagonist naloxone.
US08067425B2
Embodiments of this invention provide novel cyclic compounds structurally related to diketopiperazines and methods for their therapeutic use. Such compounds are neuroprotective and have utility as therapeutic agents for treatment of diseases, injuries and other conditions characterized by neuronal degeneration and/or death. Compounds are also useful for manufacture of medicaments useful for treatment of such conditions.
US08067422B2
The present invention relates to a particular form of the (3,5-bis trifluoromethyl)-N-[4-methyl-3-(4-pyridin-3yl-pyrimidin-2ylamino)-phenyl]-benzamide (formula I), processes for the preparation thereof, pharmaceutical compositions containing this crystal form, and their use as anti tumor agent in humans. The compound of formula I, also known as AN-019, is:
US08067420B2
The present application provides compounds, including all stereoisomers, solvates, prodrugs and pharmaceutically acceptable forms thereof according to Formula I wherein R1, R2, R3, R8, and R9 are defined herein. Additionally, the present application provides pharmaceutical compositions containing at least one compound according to Formula I and optionally at least one additional therapeutic agent. Finally, the present application provides methods for treating a patient suffering from an MCHR-1 modulated disease or disorder such as, for example, obesity, diabetes, depression or anxiety by administration of a therapeutically effective dose of a compound according to Formula I.
US08067410B2
The present invention relates to novel phenolic and catecholic amines of Formula I, to processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, to their use in therapy and to their use in radiolabeled form as PET- or SPECT ligands.
US08067405B2
The use of SOD mimics, particularly Mn(III) salen SOD mimics, for the treatment of AMD, DR, and retinal edema is disclosed.
US08067401B2
Compounds from 14 Kenyan plants, including from the root of Dovyalis abyssinica and Clutia robusta have been characterized and isolated, and their uses are disclosed.
US08067398B2
Optically active polymers that are composed of monomer residues derived from chiral pre-polymerized monomers, which maintain the chirality of the pre-polymerized monomers upon polymerization are disclosed. These polymers can be composed of monomer residues that are derived from readily available chiral monomers and can be designed to have pre-determined characteristics such as chirality, biodegradability and functionality. Uses of these polymers as therapeutically active agents, and/or as carriers of therapeutically active agents, for delivering the active agents to a targeted bodily site and/or for a sustained release of the active agent, are further disclosed. Also disclosed are processed of preparing the polymers, compositions and medical devices containing the polymers, and conjugates of these polymers and various agents.
US08067397B2
The present invention relates to administering a doxycycline compound into a diseased intervertebral disc.
US08067393B2
It is intended to provide a stable novel sugar-immobilized metal nanoparticle capable of easily immobilizing a sugar chain, a method for measuring sugar-protein interaction easily and at a low cost using the same without labeling, and a method for simply recovering a protein from a sugar-protein interactant. A maltose-immobilized gold nanoparticle was obtained by binding a ligand complex, in which maltose and a linker compound had been bound to each other, to a gold nanoparticle. By adding this maltose-immobilized gold nanoparticle to a dilution series of concanavalin A, a sugar-protein interactant of maltose and ConA was formed, and red-purple color derived from a colloidal solution of maltose-immobilized gold nanoparticle disappeared. That is, sugar-protein interaction could be confirmed by visual observation without labeling.
US08067392B2
Compounds, compositions, and methods are provided for treatment of disorders related to mitochondrial dysfunction. The methods comprise administering to a mammal a composition containing pyrimidien nucleotide precursors in amounts sufficient to treat symptoms resulting from mitochondrial respiratory chain deficiencies.
US08067380B2
A delivery system is provided. The delivery system includes a carrier or an active compound and a glutathione or a glutathione derivative grafted thereon. The invention also provides a compound including a moiety comprising a vitamin E derivative or a phospholipid derivative, a polyethylene glycol (PEG) or a polyethylene glycol derivative bonded thereto, and a glutathione (GSH) or a glutathione derivative bonded to the polyethylene glycol or the polyethylene glycol derivative.
US08067373B2
The invention relates to peptides having the general formula (I), or a salt or amide thereof, wherein R1 and R2 are either the same or different, wherein R1 and R2 are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon residue, said residue having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, wherein Z1 is selected from the group consisting of histidine and proline, wherein Z2 is selected from the group consisting of an arginine and a peptide comprising an initial arginine and having from 2 to 30 amino acids. The invention also relates to methods using the peptides of the present invention in the treatment of inflammation.
US08067372B2
Provided are Aβ peptide fragments that are useful in inhibiting angiogenesis. Also provided are methods for the treatment of pathological or unwanted angiogenesis and conditions and diseases associated therewith by administering an effective amount of an Aβ fragment. In a particular embodiment, the peptide fragment includes the sequence HHQKLVFF.
US08067369B2
This invention relates to the use of ADNF polypeptides in the treatment of laser-induced retinal damage and related conditions.
US08067359B2
Disclosed is a method and composition for nutritionally improving glucose and insulin balance in an individual. The invention further provides a method for treating a comorbidity of diabetes. In one embodiment, the invention provides a nutritional formulation comprising: a protein source; a fat source; and a carbohydrate source, wherein the protein source, the fat source, and the carbohydrate source are in a ratio of about 1:1:1, each comprising about one third of the total calories of the composition.
US08067356B2
The present invention relates to a nutritional composition which is liquid and shelf-stable or powdered and reconstitutable. The composition has a fiber content of more than 2.5 g/fibber per 100 ml of the composition. Furthermore, it has an energy content of 1.3-1.8 kcal/ml. The composition is useful to improve and maintain gut comfort, restoring a well-balanced gut flora, especially in an elderly patient prone to malnutrition. The invention further relates to a process for preparing the nutritional composition.
US08067349B2
The invention relates to comb polymers which comprise, in the main chain, repeating units which are derived from polyolefin-based macromonomers, and repeating units which are derived from low molecular monomers which are selected from the group consisting of styrene monomers having 8-17 carbon atoms, alkyl(meth)acrylates having 1-10 carbon atoms in the alcohol group, vinyl esters having 1-11 carbon atoms in the acyl group, vinyl ethers having 1-10 carbon atoms in the alcohol group, (Di)alkylfumarates having 1-10 carbon atoms in the alcohol group, (Di)alkylmaleates having 1-10 carbon atoms in the alcohol group and mixtures of said monomers. The molar branching degree lies in the region between 0.1-10 mol. % and the comb polymer represents the sum of at least 80 wt. %, in relation to the weight of the repeating units, on repeating units which are derived from polyolefin-based macromonomers, and repeating units which are selected from low molecular monomers which are selected from the group consisting of styrene monomers having 8-17 carbon atoms, alkyl(meth)acrylates having 1-10 carbon atoms in the alcohol group, vinyl esters having 1-11 carbon atoms in the acyl group, vinyl ethers having 1-10 carbon atoms in the alcohol group, (Di)alkylfumarates having 1-10 carbon atoms in the alcohol group, (Di)alkylmaleates having 1-10 carbon atoms in the alcohol group, and mixtures of said monomers.
US08067348B2
A trunk piston marine engine lubricating oil composition for a medium-speed compression-ignited marine engine comprises, in a major amount, an oil of lubricating viscosity containing 50 mass % or more of a Group II basestock, and, in respective minor amounts, (A) an overbased metal hydrocarbyl-substituted hydroxybenzoate detergent having a basicity index of 5.5 or greater, and (B) an overbased metal hydrocarbyl-substituted hydroxybenzoate detergent having a basicity index in the range of 2.1 to 5.4. The ratio of the mass of metal in detergent (A) to the mass of metal in detergent (B) is 1 or less. The trunk piston marine engine lubricating oil composition has a TBN (using ASTM D2896) of 20 to 60.
US08067332B2
A methanation catalyst, a carbon monoxide removing system, a fuel processor, and a fuel cell including the same, and more particularly a non-supported methanation catalyst including the catalytically active non-precious metal particles and the metal oxide particles, and a carbon monoxide removing system, a fuel processor, and a fuel cell including the same. The methanation catalyst has high selectivity for the methanation of carbon monoxide instead of the methanation of carbon dioxide and the reverse water gas shift reaction of carbon dioxide, which are side reactions of the methanation of carbon monoxide, maintains high concentration of generated hydrogen as small amounts of hydrogen and carbon dioxide are consumed, and effectively removes carbon monoxide at low operating temperatures of 200° C. or less.
US08067331B2
The invention relates to a nickel tungsten bulk catalyst, to a process for the manufacture of said catalyst and to the use of said catalyst for the hydrotreatment, in particular the hydrodesulphurisation and hydrodenitrogenation of hydrocarbon feedstock. The catalyst comprises nickel tungsten metal oxidic particles obtainable by a process comprising forming a slurry of a first solid metal compound comprising Group VNI metal nickel and a second solid metal compound comprising Group VIB metal tungsten in a protic liquid, reacting the first and second solid metal compounds at elevated temperature whereby the first and second solid metal compounds remain at least partly in the solid state during the entire reaction to form the nickel tungsten oxidic bulk catalyst.
US08067329B2
Boron based catalysts and processes for preparing the catalysts are provided. The catalysts are suitable for the alkoxylation of alcohols using alkylene epoxides.
US08067327B2
The present invention provides modified molecular sieve membranes with improved CO2/CH4 separation selectivity and methods for making such membranes. The molecular sieve membranes are modified by adsorption of a modifying agent, such as ammonia, within and/or on the membrane.
US08067323B2
A sintered cubic boron nitride (cBN) compact for use in a tool is obtained by sintering a mixture of (i) cubic boron nitride, (ii) aluminum oxide, (iii) one or more refractory metal compounds, and (iv) aluminum and/or one or more non-oxide aluminum compounds. The sintered bodies may have sufficient strength and toughness to be used as a tool material in solid, i.e. not carbide supported, form, and may be useful in heavy machining of cast irons.
US08067307B2
An integrated circuit package system comprising: providing a package die; and connecting a connector lead having a first connector end with a protruded connection surface and a lowered structure over the package die.
US08067303B1
A solid state energy conversion device and method of making is disclosed for converting energy between electromagnetic and electrical energy. The solid state energy conversion device comprises a wide bandgap semiconductor material having a first doped region. A thermal energy beam is directed onto the first doped region of the wide bandgap semiconductor material in the presence of a doping gas for converting a portion of the first doped region into a second doped region in the wide bandgap semiconductor material. A first and a second Ohmic contact are applied to the first and the second doped regions of the wide bandgap semiconductor material. In one embodiment, the solid state energy conversion device operates as a light emitting device to produce electromagnetic radiation upon the application of electrical power to the first and second Ohmic contacts. In another embodiment, the solid state energy conversion device operates as a photovoltaic device to produce electrical power between the first and second Ohmic contacts upon the application of electromagnetic radiation.
US08067301B2
A reliable image sensor and a method for forming the same are provided. The image sensor includes a photo-detective device. At least one transistor is electrically connected to the photo-detective device for outputting charges stored in the photo-detective device. A transistor directly connected to the photo-detective device includes a gate electrode pattern and an ion-implantation interrupting pattern arranged on the gate electrode pattern. Since the ion-implantation interrupting pattern is located on an upper portion of the gate electrode pattern of the transistor in the vicinity of the photo-detective device, a threshold voltage of the gate electrode pattern of the transistor in the vicinity of the photo-detective device is adjusted to a desired value.
US08067298B2
The invention relates to methods of fabricating a layer of at least partially relaxed material, such as for electronics, optoelectronics or photovoltaics. An exemplary method includes supplying a structure that includes a layer of strained material situated between a reflow layer and a stiffener layer. The method further includes applying a heat treatment that brings the reflow layer to a temperature equal to or greater than the glass transition temperature of the reflow layer, and the thickness of the stiffener layer is progressively reduced during heat treatment. The invention also relates to an exemplary method of fabricating semiconductor devices on a layer of at least partially relaxed material. Specifically, at least one active layer may be formed on the at least partially relaxed material layer. The active layer may include laser components, photovoltaic components and/or electroluminescent diodes.
US08067294B2
It is an object of the invention to provide a lightweight semiconductor device having a highly reliable sealing structure which can prevent ingress of impurities such as moisture that deteriorate element characteristics, and a method of manufacturing thereof. A protective film having superior gas barrier properties (which is a protective film that is likely to damage an element if the protective film is formed on the element directly) is previously formed on a heat-resistant substrate other than a substrate with the element formed thereon. The protective film is peeled off from the heat-resistant substrate, and transferred over the substrate with the element formed thereon so as to seal the element.
US08067291B2
To provide a manufacturing method of a MOS field-effect transistor in which such a structure is adopted that SiGe having a large lattice constant is embedded immediately below a channel and distortion is effectively introduced in a channel Si layer so that mobility of electrons or holes are drastically improved, thereby realizing high-speed operation and low power consumption. A stressor 2 composed of silicon germanium is formed in a portion in an active region that is separated by an insulating film formed on a silicon substrate, a silicon channel layer 1 composed of silicon is formed above the stressor, and a tensile stress layer 10 is formed so as to surround a gate electrode and a sidewall formed on the gate electrode.
US08067287B2
Structures, layouts and methods of forming integrated circuits are described. In various embodiments, the current invention includes an asymmetric segmented transistor. The asymmetric segmented transistor includes a source region and a drain region disposed within an active region, a floating source/drain region disposed within the active region, a first channel region disposed in the active region between the source region and the floating source/drain region, the first channel having a first length and a first width. A second channel region is disposed in the active region between the drain region and the floating source/drain region, the second channel having a second length and a second width. A first gate dielectric overlies the first channel region and a second gate dielectric overlies the second channel region. A gate line overlies the first gate dielectric and the second gate dielectric.
US08067286B2
The invention includes methods of forming recessed access devices. A substrate is provided to have recessed access device trenches therein. A pair of the recessed access device trenches are adjacent one another. Electrically conductive material is formed within the recessed access device trenches, and source/drain regions are formed proximate the electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material and source/drain regions together are incorporated into a pair of adjacent recessed access devices. After the recessed access device trenches are formed within the substrate, an isolation region trench is formed between the adjacent recessed access devices and filled with electrically insulative material to form a trenched isolation region.
US08067260B1
A small critical dimension element, such as a heater for an ovonic unified memory, may be formed within a pore by using successive sidewall spacers. The use of at least two successive spacers enables the limitations imposed by lithography and the limitations imposed by bread loafing be overcome to provide reduced critical dimension elements.
US08067259B2
Embodiments of the invention provide methods of forming photovoltaic or thermoelectric materials, including photovoltaic or thermoelectric films. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of forming a photovoltaic material, the method comprising: depositing an inorganic capped nanoparticle solution onto a substrate; and heating the substrate.
US08067257B2
In the nitride based semiconductor optical device LE1, the strained well layers 21 extend along a reference plane SR1 tilting at a tilt angle α from the plane that is orthogonal to a reference axis extending in the direction of the c-axis. The tilt angle α is in the range of greater than 59 degrees to less than 80 degrees or greater than 150 degrees to less than 180 degrees. A gallium nitride based semiconductor layer P is adjacent to a light-emitting layer SP− with a negative piezoelectric field and has a band gap larger than that of a barrier layer. The direction of the piezoelectric field in the well layer W3 is directed in a direction from the n-type layer to the p-type layer, and the piezoelectric field in the gallium nitride based semiconductor layer P is directed in a direction from the p-type layer to the n-type layer. Consequently, the valence band, not the conduction band, has a dip at the interface between the light-emitting layer SP− and the gallium nitride based semiconductor layer P.
US08067254B2
A device is provided with an array of a plurality of phosphor converted light emitting devices (LEDs) that produce broad spectrum light. The phosphor converted LEDs may produce light with different correlated color temperature (CCT) and are covered with an optical element that assists in mixing the light from the LEDs to produce a desired correlated color temperature. The optical element may be bonded to the phosphor converted light emitting devices. The optical element may be a dome mounted over the phosphor converted light emitting devices and filled with an encapsulant.
US08067251B2
A method including forming an intermediate product, the intermediate product being configured to include a wiring substrate including a plurality of first electrodes, a plurality of second electrodes and a plurality of test electrodes, a first semiconductor chip mounted over the wiring substrate and including a plurality of first pads electrically connected respectively to the first electrodes, and a second semiconductor chip stacked over the first semiconductor chip and including a plurality of second pads electrically connected respectively to the second electrodes; encapsulating the first and second semiconductor chips; and performing electrical tests on the first and second semiconductor chips by use of the test electrodes, after the encapsulating of the first and second semiconductor chips.
US08067240B2
The present invention provides methods for aiding in the diagnoses of the neoplastic condition of a lung cell and methods of screening for a potential therapeutic agent for the reversal of the neoplastic condition.
US08067237B2
A device that includes a scaffold composition and a bioactive composition with the bioactive composition being incorporated into or coated onto the scaffold composition such that the scaffold composition and/or a bioactive composition controls egress of a resident cell or progeny thereof. The devices mediate active recruitment, modification, and release of host cells from the material.
US08067229B2
The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides having homology to certain human uncoupling proteins (“UCPs”) and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention, and methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.
US08067219B2
The invention features ABC1 nucleic acids and polypeptides for the diagnosis and treatment of abnormal cholesterol regulation. The invention also features methods for identifying compounds for modulating cholesterol levels in an animal (e.g., a human).
US08067218B2
The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having lipase activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides.
US08067215B2
A process for preparing a polymer of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, in which the monomer is obtainable from a biocatalysed reaction or a fermentation process, and wherein the monomer contains cellular material and/or components of a fermentation broth, forming the polymer by polymerizing the ethylenically unsaturated monomer or a monomer mixture comprising the ethylenically unsaturated monomer, wherein there is substantially no removal of the cellular material and/or components of the fermentation broth from the ethylenically unsaturated monomer.
US08067212B2
This invention provides a high-yield bacterial strain for producing tetramethylpyrazine named Bacillus pumilus RX3-17. The strain has been deposited in China Center for Type Culture Collection on Apr. 19, 2006. The deposit number is CCTCC M 206043. The bacterial strain, isolated from soil, is rod-shaped, 1.5 μm to 3.0 μm in length and 0.6 μm to 0.7 μm in diameter. The colony color of the strain is milky-white. The strain has typical physiological and biochemical characteristics of Bacillus pumilus. The 16s rDNA sequence of this strain shares a similarity of 99% with other Bacillus pumilus strains. This invention belongs to the domain of biotechnology. The strain can be applied to the production of tetramethylpyrazine with glucose as the substrate, solving the bottleneck of low yield in bacterial tetramethylpyrazine fermentation.
US08067207B2
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and compositions for species-specific detection of bacterial and fungal nucleic acids and nucleic acids of antibiotic resistance genes.
US08067206B2
The present invention relates generally to the field of nucleic acid chemistry. More specifically, it relates to a method for enhancing the performance of coamplification reactions, e.g., multiplex PCR reactions.
US08067193B2
A process of separating suspended solids from a fermentation liquor by subjecting the liquor to a solids-liquid separation stage, wherein the fermentation liquor is produced in a fermentation process for the production of a fermentation product, in which the liquor has been subjected to a temperature of at least 50° C., wherein the solids-liquid separation stage is assisted by a treatment system, characterised in that the treatment system comprises an anionic polymer selected from natural polymers and modified natural polymers having a high anionic charge such that the equivalent weight is below 300, and synthetic polymers formed from at least 50% by weight anionic monomer units.
US08067182B2
This invention relates to methods of using weak partitioning chromatography for the purification of a product from a load fluid containing one or more impurities. Further, the invention relates to methods of weak partitioning chromatography defined by operating conditions which cause a medium to bind least 1 mg of product per mL of medium, or alternatively, defined by a partition coefficient of at least 0.1.
US08067181B2
Human MELK genes are identified as modulators of the RAC pathway, and thus are therapeutic targets for disorders associated with defective RAC function. Methods for identifying modulators of RAC, comprising screening for agents that modulate the activity of MELK are provided.
US08067179B2
Methods and compositions for the screening and isolation of ligand-binding polypeptides, such as antibodies. In some aspects, methods of the invention enable the isolation of intact soluble antibodies comprising a constant domain. Screening methods that employ genetic packages such as bacteria and bacteriophages enable high through-put identification of ligand binding molecules.
US08067178B2
The present invention relates to gene sets useful in assessing prognosis and/or predicting the response of cancer, e.g. colorectal cancer to chemotherapy. In addition, the invention relates to a clinically validated cancer test, e.g. colorectal test, for assessment of prognosis and/or prediction of patient response to chemotherapy, using expression analysis. The present invention accommodates the use of archived paraffin embedded biopsy material for assay of all markers in the relevant gene sets and therefore is compatible with the most widely available type of biopsy material.
US08067171B2
Single nucleotide polymorphic site at position 11646 of the bovine FGF2 gene is associated with improved fertilization rate and/or improved embryo survival rate, as well as improved milk production. Also disclosed are nucleic acid molecules, kits, methods of genotyping and marker assisted bovine breeding methods.
US08067159B2
A microfluidic device comprising a first surface portion and a first sample retaining element, which have differing affinities to a fluid, and a method comprising supplying a sample to such a device. In some embodiments, the differing affinity is a result of plasma, ion embedding, surface charging, chemical, optical, electronic and/or electromagnetic treatment. Also, a microfluidic device comprising at least one microcapillary device having a sample retaining element, at least one surface of which exhibits hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, electromagnetic force exertion and electrostatic force exertion. Also, a microfluidic device comprising a first element having a hydrophilic pattern comprising at least a first sample retaining element. Also, a method comprising supplying a sample to a channel between a first element and a second element, and inducing in the first element at least one hydrophilic pattern by electrets or by internal or external electrodes to provide a charged surface.
US08067153B2
The present application provides novel human gene ELOVL7 whose expression is markedly elevated in prostate cancers. The gene and polypeptide encoded by the gene can be used, for example, in the diagnosis of prostate cancers, as target molecules for developing drugs against the disease, and for attenuating cell growth of prostate cancer.
US08067146B2
A method for forming a fine pattern a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a first photoresist pattern over a semiconductor substrate having an underlying layer; coating a pattern hardening coating agent over the first photoresist pattern, thereby forming a pattern hardening film; forming a second photoresist film over the resulting structure; and selectively exposing and developing the second photoresist film, thereby forming a second photoresist pattern to be defined between neighboring first photoresist pattern.
US08067143B2
A functional particle is manufactured by a method including an aggregating step, a depressurizing step, and a cooling step. In the aggregating step, the functional particle is obtained by flowing a mixed slurry containing a core particle and a shell particle through a coiled pipeline while heating the mixed slurry to a glass transition temperature or higher of the core particle, to deposit the shell particles on the surface of the core particle. In the depressurizing step, the grain size of the functional particle is controlled and the coarse particle is pulverized to make the grain size of the functional particles uniform. In the cooling step, re-aggregation of the functional particles with unified grain size is prevented.
US08067138B2
A photoconductor that includes, for example, a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and a charge transport layer, and wherein at least one of the charge transport layer and the photogenerating layer contains a pyrrole.
US08067133B2
Systems and methods are provided for use in photolithography. In one embodiment, a reticle is provided that comprises a phase shift and transmission control layer, wherein a gap in the phase shift and transmission control layer defines a line. Adjacent to the phase shift and transmission control layer is an optically transparent material, comprising a groove located within the line, wherein the groove comprises a region of reduced thickness in the optically transparent material. The region of reduced thickness serves to shift the phase of light passing through the groove, as compared to light passing through other regions of the optically transparent material. Thus, the reticle has a clear feature comprising light of two different phases.
US08067131B2
The invention relates to a contact device which is arranged in a terminal compartment of a fuel cell stack and is used to electrically contact the fuel cell stack. According to the invention, the surface of said contact device is at least partially provided with a hydrophobic surface layer, facilitating the removal of water, e.g., condensation water, from the terminal compartment and thus from the fuel cell stack.
US08067122B2
A fuel cell system is provided, the system comprising: a fuel cell (1) configured to generate electric power by use of a fuel gas; a reformer (2) configured to generate the fuel gas by reforming a raw material; a combustion burner (2a) configured to supply heat for reforming; a raw material feeder (10) configured to control the feed rate of combustion fuel to the combustion burner; a combustion fan (2b) configured to supply air to the combustion burner; a fuel gas passage (R1, R4); an off gas passage (R3, R5); a bypass passage (R2); a switching valve (8); and a controller (101), wherein the inside of the fuel cell is filled with the raw material before the fuel gas is supplied, and wherein the controller controls the raw material feeder so as to reduce the feed rate of the combustion fuel to the combustion burner when controlling the switching valve so as to shut off the bypass passage to supply the fuel gas generated in the reformer to the fuel cell. This fuel cell system is environmentally-friendly and capable of suppressing the emission of carbon monoxide at the start of a power generating operation to mitigate the adverse effect upon the ecosystem.
US08067119B2
A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of the present invention includes a positive electrode including an active material absorbing and desorbing lithium ions, a negative electrode including an active material absorbing and desorbing lithium ions, a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The separator includes a material containing a substituent group with electron-withdrawing property. The non-aqueous electrolyte includes a non-aqueous solvent and a solute dissolved therein, and the non-aqueous solvent includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a fluorine-containing aromatic solvent, a fluorine-containing cyclic carbonic acid ester, and a fluorine-containing cyclic carboxylic acid ester.The combination of the foregoing separator and the foregoing non-aqueous electrolyte makes it possible to suppress the deterioration in the rate performance of the battery even when the battery is stored under high voltage and high temperature.
US08067109B2
A battery holder for a button-type battery (1) includes a holder body having a base wall (100) thereof for receiving the battery, and positive and negative terminals (20, 30) assembled to the holder body. The negative terminal has short and long spring elements (311, 315) defining first and second supporting point (311A, 315B) respectively, such that in an initial released position, the button-type battery is lifted up by the first and second supporting points bearing against the base wall, and in a fully released position, that battery is lifted by the second supporting point against the base wall with the first supporting point leaving away from the base wall. The above spring elements provides two-stage elastic forces, for ease of the user to release the battery from the battery holder.
US08067108B1
A hybrid battery comprising at least two nonaqueous electrochemical systems is described. The first cell comprises an anode of an alkaline earth metal or alloy thereof, and the second cell comprises an anode of an alkali metal or alloy thereof. The first cell is preferably an alkaline earth metal/oxyhalide cell, more preferably a calcium/oxyhalide cell or cells. The second cell is preferably an alkali metal alloy/oxyhalide cell, more preferably a lithium alloy/oxyhalide cell or cells. Such a cell combination is particularly useful for power a down-hole well tool. The down-hole tool is powered by the first cell during a surface test and as the tool descends into the well until all of the calcium is discharged. Then, the second cell powers the down-hole tool for the remainder of the down-hole procedure.
US08067104B2
A magnetic recording medium includes a substrate; and a recording film formed on the substrate and including a main magnetic film, the main magnetic film where a recording area and a guard area are formed by local ion doping, the guard area having saturation magnetization smaller than saturation magnetization of the recording area. A primary layer is provided at a substrate side of the main magnetic film. A main ingredient of the primary layer is at least one kind of atom selected from a group consisting of Cr, B, Mo, Al, Si, and C.
US08067103B2
Optical articles such as ophthalmic lenses containing a thin hydrophobic surface layer of a fluorinated material adsorbed thereon are disclosed.
US08067099B2
Provided is an organic electroluminescent device which has a high efficiency and high durability. The organic electroluminescent device includes an anode and a cathode; and a layer including an organic compound interposed between the anode and the cathode, in which the layer includes a phosphorescent material including an Ir complex or Pt complex having at least one ligand represented by any one of the following general formulae (1) to (4):
US08067094B2
A composite film includes a first film and a second film contiguous to the first film. The first film includes a light transmissive material. In one embodiment, the second film includes a polydiorganosiloxane polyamide block copolymer. In another embodiment, the second film includes a polydiorganosiloxane polyoxamide block copolymer.
US08067090B2
The invention relates to a platelike color effect pigment having the following structure: a) a metallic reflective core; b) a spacer layer made of a dielectric material, and; c) an, all in all, semitransparent absorber layer comprising, in essence, discrete metal particles that have an average diameter of 1 to 100 nm and optionally at least one other protective layer.
