| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07856664B2 |
Method, system and computer program for a secure backup license server in a license management system
A method and a corresponding apparatus for a high availability license management system. The system has a License Backup Server for ensuring uninterrupted service, while at the same time preventing any possible malicious use. According to the present invention, only two servers are required for realizing a secure system. The first server hosts a License Server A 303 and Agent C 305. License Server A 303 contains certificates for all available licenses. The second server hosts a Backup Server B 309 which contains the same licenses of License Server A. Agent C monitors the operation making sure that Backup Server B does not grant any license while License Server A is up and running. |
| US07856663B2 |
Security screening of electronic devices by device identifier
A method, system, and program for security screening of electronic devices by device identifier are provided. A security scanning system detects an identifier from an electronic device. The identifier may be a radio frequency identifier or other type of identifier which is preferably detectable by the security scanning system regardless of the operating status of the electronic device. The security scanning system queries a database with the identifier for information about the electronic device. Responsive to receiving the information about the electronic device from the central database, at least one real-time scanned characteristic of the electronic device is compared with this information. The information includes characteristics of the components of the electronic device and an x-ray overlay of the electronic device. If the real-time scanned characteristics and the information match, then electronic device is designated as secure. |
| US07856660B2 |
System for efficiently handling cryptographic messages containing nonce values
A system for determining the validity of a received cryptographic message while ensuring for out-of-order messages is utilized to provide for secure communications among peers in a network. In particular, a secure communication module may be configured to accept the cryptographic message in response to a received nonce value of the received message is greater than the largest nonce value yet seen. Otherwise, when the received nonce value is not the largest nonce value yet seen, the secure communication module may be configured to compare the received nonce value with a nonce acceptance window. If the received nonce value falls outside the nonce acceptance window, the secure communication module may be further configured to reject the received message and assume that a replay attack has been detected. If the received nonce value falls within the nonce acceptance window, the secure communication module may be further configured to determine if the received nonce value has been seen before by comparing the received nonce value with a replay window mask. If the received nonce has been seen before, the secure communication module may be further configured to reject the received message and assume a replay attack. Otherwise, the secure communication module may be further configured to accept the message and add the received nonce value to the replay window mask. |
| US07856653B2 |
Method and apparatus to protect policy state information during the life-time of virtual machines
A scheme for protecting policy state information during the lifetime of a virtual machine is presented. In order to protect and preserve the policy state information of the virtual machine, a process creates a source policy, a mapping policy, and a binary policy. These policies are all different representations of a security policy. The different policy representations are chained together via cryptographic hashes. |
| US07856651B2 |
VSB communication system
A VSB communication system comprises a VSB transmission system and a VSB reception system. The VSB transmission system multiplexes a coded MPEG data and a coded supplemental data having a null sequence inserted therein, with required multiplexing information included in a field synchronization signal or in a supplemental data according to a number of the supplemental data packets being transmitted. The VSB reception system detects the required multiplexing information from the field synchronization signal or the supplemental data and decodes the multiplexed data by using the null sequence and the detected multiplexing information, as well as demultiplexes the multiplexed data into the MPEG data and the supplemental data. |
| US07856650B1 |
Signal processing apparatus and methods
A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming. |
| US07856649B1 |
Signal processing apparatus and methods
A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming. |
| US07856648B2 |
Method for processing VOD data in mobile station
Disclosed is a method for processing VOD data in a mobile station including a multimedia processor and an MSM for controlling the mobile station. The method comprises the steps of negotiating PPP option information by performing PPP negotiation for making communication with a server when the mobile station accesses to a WAP through the MSM; transmitting the PPP option information negotiated through the MSM to the multimedia processor; setting a VOD data route using the transmitted PPP option information as PPP information of the multimedia processor; processing VOD data, which are received in the MSM according to the VOD data route, up to an RLP layer of the VOD data, and then transmitting the VOD data to the multimedia processor; and processing the VOD data, which are transmitted to the multimedia processor, from a PPP layer which is a lowest layer in the multimedia processor. |
| US07856645B2 |
Displaying programming and non-programming contents on user-display systems across computer networks
According to one embodiment, a system and method for displaying on a user-display system a program comprising a programming content including a plurality of programming content segments and a non-programming content including at least one non-programming content segment. The method includes receiving in the user-display system a first programming content segment of the programming content transmitted from a first source across a computer network, identifying at least one non-programming content segment associated with the first programming content, the identified non-programming content segment received in the user-display system from a second source across the computer network, and displaying the identified non-programming content segment by the user-display system. |
| US07856642B2 |
Chucking mechanism, brushless motor having the chucking mechanism, and disk driving apparatus having the brushless motor
A tip portion of a claw member is, when the same is at a lowest position, axially above a bottom surface of an upper disk base of a multi-layered disk. By virtue of such configuration, the tip portion will not be caught between the upper disk base and a lower disk base of the multi-layered disk. |
| US07856636B2 |
Systems and methods of sharing processing resources in a multi-threading environment
Systems and methods of sharing processing resources in a multi-threading environment are disclosed. An exemplary method may include allocating a lock value for a resource lock, the lock value corresponding to a state of the resource lock. A first thread may yield at least a portion of the processing resources for another thread. The resource lock may be acquired for the first thread if the lock value indicates the resource lock is available. |
| US07856634B2 |
Load distribution system, and event processing distribution control apparatus, and an event processing distribution control program
In a load distribution system, a plurality of processing servers are installed and a context-dependent distributor is arranged in a stage before the processing servers such that a distribution rule is set to the distributor to appropriately distribute an event to an associated processing server, the event being necessary for the server to execute a processing rule set thereto. To achieve the processing distribution in a system of this type, a plurality of processing servers are disposed and an event processing distribution control unit sets event processing rules to the respective processing servers for individual applications. The distribution controller sets a distribution rule associated with context of an event to a distributor so that the event is distributed to an associated server beforehand designated to process the event. This makes it possible to accomplish load distribution for the processing servers. |
| US07856633B1 |
LRU cache replacement for a partitioned set associative cache
A method of partitioning a memory resource, associated with a multi-threaded processor, includes defining the memory resource to include first and second portions that are dedicated to the first and second threads respectively. A third portion of the memory resource is then designated as being shared between the first and second threads. Upon receipt of an information item, (e.g., a microinstruction associated with the first thread and to be stored in the memory resource), a history of Least Recently Used (LRU) portions is examined to identify a location in either the first or the third portion, but not the second portion, as being a least recently used portion. The second portion is excluded from this examination on account of being dedicated to the second thread. The information item is then stored within a location, within either the first or the third portion, identified as having been least recently used. |
| US07856632B2 |
iMEM ASCII architecture for executing system operators and processing data operators
A computing system that includes a number of processing elements, a memory and a multi-task controller is disclosed. The computing system operates on ASCII instructions which includes a set of ASCII operators. The operators include both ASCII data operators and ASCII system operators. The system operators include characters for specifying a request to obtain resources, to perform a task switch, to perform a task suspension, to execute a branch, to transfer results of an operation into a task data register, to transfer data into a processing element, to record the current location of instruction execution in the task code space, to treat a sequence of symbols as a group, and to perform an output function. Data operators include characters for specifying a request to perform arithmetic and logical operations on data. |
| US07856627B2 |
Method of SIMD-ization through data reshaping, padding, and alignment
A method for handling Simple Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) architecture restrictions through data reshaping, padding, and alignment, including: building a global call graph; creating array descriptors for maintaining array attributes; gathering array affinity information; performing global pointer analysis and escape analysis; performing loop-based analysis to identify a SIMD opportunity; building an array affinity graph; performing graph partitioning on the array affinity graph to construct an array reshaping plan; performing data reshaping on the array affinity graph; and performing SIMDization on the array affinity graph wherein SIMDization comprises automatic generation of SIMD code. |
| US07856622B2 |
Computer program runtime bottleneck diagnostic method and system
A computer program runtime bottleneck diagnostic method and system is proposed, which is designed for use in conjunction with a computer platform for providing a BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) POST (Power On Self Test) runtime bottleneck diagnostic function, which is characterized by the capability of recording the runtime length of each of the constituent code modules of the BIOS POST routine during runtime such that a diagnostic report in electronic form can be generate to show which one of the constituent code modules of the BIOS POST routine is most time-consuming during runtime to allow BIOS POST program developers to make modifications to the code to make it more optimized and thus more efficient to run with a reduced runtime length. This feature allows the computer platforms with the optimized BIOS POST routine to have a faster startup time and thus more competitive on the market. |
| US07856615B2 |
Computer method and apparatus for managing software configurations using change flow hierarchies
Computer method and apparatus for managing configurations of programming models is disclosed. A software development workspace respective to a user holds a programming model configuration specified by the user. The configuration is formed of one or more model elements. For each user workspace, one or more change-flow hierarchies define flow of changes to model elements. |
| US07856609B2 |
Using constraints in design verification
A method for generating a constraint for generating a constraint for use in the verification of an integrated circuit design includes identifying a target in a netlist (N) of the design and creating an overapproximate abstraction (N′) of the netlist. A space state (S′) is created by enumerating the states of N′ from which the identified target may be asserted. A constraint space C′ is then derived from the state space S′, where C′ is the logical complement of S′. The process is repeated for multiple selected targets and the constraint spaces from each iteration are logically ANDed. Creating an overapproximate abstraction may include replacing a sequential gate with a random gate. Identifying a sequential gate may include selecting a target in the netlist, performing underapproximate verification of the target, and, if a spurious failure occurs, selecting a gate further down the fanin chain of the currently selected gate. |
| US07856608B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating current source noise model for creating semiconductor device model used in power supply noise analysis
A model generation method for generating a semiconductor device model used for power supply noise analysis, is performed by, calculating noise values for various circuit elements based on current source noise waveforms calculated in accordance with a current flowing from a power supply when a state of the elements changes, determining the time when the change of state of the elements causing the current source noise occurs in relation to successive timing windows each having a predetermined time width, and calculating noise by unit time and adding up for each divided unit time the noise value calculated for all elements whose timing window is present in the unit time, wherein a timing determination unit determines the worst case and other noise generation timing based on the noise generated in each unit time. |
| US07856604B2 |
Method and system for visualization and operation of multiple content filters
A system for operation and visualization of multiple content filters, including a plurality of filter interfaces for setting parameters of corresponding content filters that filter a catalog of assets, each content filter having a lock status being in a locked or an unlocked state, and each filter interface having a display generator for rendering a user interface display, wherein at least one such user interface display for a content filter is dependent upon the lock status of another content filter, and a lock processor for setting the lock status of at least one content filter. A method and a computer readable storage medium are also described and claimed. |
| US07856602B2 |
Updatable menu items
A menu is displayed within a graphical user interface. The menu of one exemplary embodiment includes a plurality of selectable menu items within the menu. One of the menu items includes a first region and a second region. The first region presents a static title for the menu item, and the second region includes text that is capable of scrolling. The text within the second region of the first menu item is scrolled in response to the first menu item being selected. For example, the selection may be made by hovering a pointer above the first menu item. The scrolling may then be paused when the pointer is moved away from above the first menu item. |
| US07856600B2 |
System and method for user driven interactive application integration
A system and method is provided for integrating portlets. When viewing portlets within a portal container, a user is presented with a choice of one or more sources of data and, for each source, one or more actions that the user can take regarding the source. When an action is selected, it causes the source data to be transferred to one or more “target” portlets that have also been activated by the user. The set of actions available from a given source is automatically provided given the available target portlets. As each portlet is initialized, it informs a “broker” of the actions that the portlet supports along with the type of data that is used by the action. When a portal page is being constructed, each portlet identifies to the broker the sources of data within the portlet along with the values and data types corresponding to the sources. |
| US07856598B2 |
Spelling correction with liaoalphagrams and inverted index
Systems, methods, media, and other embodiments associated with (non)contiguous n-gram based spell correction are described. One exemplary system embodiment includes logic for creating contiguous and non-contiguous trigrams, logic for creating an inverted index relating trigrams and the words from which they were generated, and logic for comparing trigrams associated with a word to spell check to trigrams associated with the words selected using the inverted index. |
| US07856596B2 |
Method and system for separation of content and layout definitions in a display description
A method and system for specifying alternate layouts of a user interface element of a display description is provided. In one embodiment, a display system provides a display description language that separates the definition of content of a user interface element from the layout of the user interface element. This separation allows alternate layouts to be specified that are conditionally applied to content of the user interface element without having to repeat the content. In another embodiment, the display system allows each element of a table to be positioned within a specific cell within the table. |
| US07856593B2 |
Low complexity decoding of low density parity check codes
An improved decoder and decoding method for low density parity check (LDPC) codes is provided. Decoding proceeds by repetitive message passing from a set of variable nodes to a set of check nodes, and from the check nodes back to the variable nodes. The variable node output messages include a “best guess” as to the relevant bit value, along with a weight giving the confidence in the guess. The check node output messages have magnitudes selected from a predetermined set including neutral, weak, medium and strong magnitudes. The check node output messages tend to reinforce the status quo of the input variable nodes if the check node parity check is satisfied, and tend to flip bits in the input variable nodes if the check node parity check is not satisfied. The variable node message weights are used to determine the check node message magnitudes. |
| US07856588B2 |
Data allocation in memory chips
In one embodiment, a memory device comprises a first partition to divide the memory device into a first segment to hold a first data block and a second segment to hold a second data block, and a codeword in a single internal word of the memory device. |
| US07856587B2 |
Memory reduction in DVB-H applications
A method of storing DVB-H data from a DVB-H data burst, the method comprising: identifying erasures in the data burst; and storing non-erasure data from the data burst in memory locations of a memory that would be used to store erasures. |
| US07856583B1 |
Techniques for enhanced reliability of data transfer with dynamic scaling
A recovery chunk is generated based on information found in each chunk in a group of chunks. For example, the group of chunks includes three chunks of which information in the three chunks is used to generate a recovery chunk. The recovery chunk is then used to recover a single lost chunk in the group of chunks. The three chunks and the recovery chunk are sent to a receiver over a network. If one of the three chunks is lost, the recovery chunk is used to generate the lost chunk. The recovery chunk is used to recover a single lost chunk, however, the recovery chunk is not used to recover more than one lost chunk in the group. The number of chunks is also dynamically adjusted based on chunk loss at a receiver. This adjustment is based on the bandwidth used and reliability desired. |
| US07856582B2 |
Techniques for logic built-in self-test diagnostics of integrated circuit devices
A method, system and computer program product for performing real-time LBIST diagnostics of IC devices. During LBIST, stump data and identifiers of test cycles are saved in the IC device-under-test (DUT). If compressed stump data does not match a pre-defined coded value (i.e., “signature” of the test cycle), the saved stump data and an identifier of the failed test cycle are preserved, otherwise the determination is made the DUT passed the test cycle. Identifiers and stump of the failed test cycles are used to analyze errors, including virtually non-reproducible errors. |
| US07856574B2 |
Internet connectivity evaluation
Internet connectivity evaluation provides for easy, efficient and effective testing of the Internet connectivity behavior between an operating system hosted on a computing device and an IGD (Internet Gateway Device) interacting with the computing device. With a user's computing device communicating with one or more servers, or server-type devices, interacting with, or otherwise communicating with, the Internet, Internet connectivity evaluation can quickly and cost-effectively be performed to identify known major issues in the interaction between the operating system hosted on the user's computing device and an IGD. |
| US07856569B2 |
Method and device for a switchover and for a data comparison in a computer system having at least two processing units
A method and a device are provided for performing switching and data comparison in a computer system having at least two processing units which each process data at a specified clock pulse, in which a switchover arrangement is provided and switching takes place between at least two operating modes, and a comparison unit is provided. A first operating mode corresponding to a compare mode is provided, and a second operating mode corresponding to a performance mode is provided. A synchronization arrangement is provided which assigns to the specifiable data a clock pulse information as a function of a processing unit, and at least the comparison unit takes into consideration this clock pulse information in the corresponding data. |
| US07856566B2 |
Standby arrangement for power supplies
An electronics product has a control unit responsive to a power-on remote control signal to enable DC power converters to supply power for normal operation of the product and to a microprocessor for responding to other remote control signals. The microprocessor controls the control unit to return to a standby mode of the product by disabling the DC power converters. The arrangement facilitates eliminating a conventional standby power supply and achieving a very low standby power consumption. |
| US07856563B1 |
Managing disk drive power states
Disk drive power states are managed. Information is received for use in determining a desired power state of a disk drive that is not currently being accessed. The disk drive is caused to have a spun up power state before the disk drive is next accessed. |
| US07856562B2 |
Selective deactivation of processor cores in multiple processor core systems
A method includes applying a voltage to a first processor core of a plurality of processor cores to deactivate the first processor core, the voltage less than a retention voltage of the first processor core. The application of the voltage can be in response to a software setting. The software setting can be configured via a user input, a software application, an operating system, or a BIOS setting. Alternately, the application of the voltage can be in response to a permanent hardware setting, such as the state of a fuse associated with the first processor core. |
| US07856560B2 |
Digital information recording apparatus and recording/reproducing apparatus
In a digital information recording/reproducing apparatus, information recorded on a hard disk with copy restriction thereof is protected from being copied onto other hard disks by means of a PC, etc., to be produced a large number of illegal copies, i.e., infringing a copyright.The information is recorded onto a hard disk drive through encryption thereof, with using an identification being number unique thereto, when it is recorded onto the hard disk. With this, normal reproduction is prevented, since the drive identification number necessary for decryption is different from, even if it is copied onto the other hard disk. Also, a version information of the hard disc is memorized in an information management circuit. When the information is illegally copied onto the other hard disc, the version information is changes; therefore it does not coincide with the version information memorized in the information management circuit. With this, illegal reproduction of the information copied can be prohibited in the reproducing operation. |
| US07856559B2 |
Packet communication node apparatus for authenticating extension module
A module type node apparatus for packet communication of this invention includes an extension module for executing predetermined processing and a node apparatus main body for forwarding packet data to the extension module, the extension module including a memory for storing connectivity authentication data, and a module controller for transmitting the connectivity authentication data stored in the memory to the node apparatus main body for packet communication when the connectivity authentication data is requested from the node apparatus main body for packet communication, the node apparatus main body for packet communication being characterized by further including a connectivity authentication unit for authenticating permission of connection of the extension module based on the connectivity authentication data received from the extension module, and a connection controller for receiving the packet data from the extension module when the connectivity authentication unit permits the connection. |
| US07856556B2 |
Codeword-enhanced peer-to-peer authentication
Peer-to-peer authentication may be accomplished by sending a digital certificate to a responder, receiving a randomized codeword in response to the sending, creating a secure fingerprint based at least in part on the digital certificate and randomized codeword, creating a first bit sequence based at least in part on a first portion of the secure fingerprint and a second portion of the randomized codeword and indicating the first digital certificate is authenticated based upon whether the first bit sequence matches a second bit sequence received from the responder via an out-of-band communication in response to the sending. The size of the first bit sequence is less than the size of the secure fingerprint. According to another aspect, the first bit sequence is compared with a rendering of the second bit sequence, using an out-of-band communication, by associating the first bit sequence with one or more indices into an array of representations. |
| US07856555B2 |
Write accessibility for electronic paper
A system and method to control the writing on electronic paper (e-paper). An e-paper device may incorporate authentication indicia as part of informational data written on e-paper material. The informational data is protected by a security methodology that is accessible to authorized entities. A reader device may be used to help make a verification determination of whether encrypted or encoded data has been altered. In some instances an output alert operably coupled to the reader device serves as a verification status indicator. |
| US07856549B2 |
Regulating power consumption
A system for dynamically regulating power consumption in an information technology (IT) infrastructure having a plurality of compute nodes interconnected over a network is provided. The system includes at least one virtual machine (VM) host deployed at each of the plurality of compute nodes, the at least one VM host is operable to host at least one VM guest, and the VM hosts on different ones of the plurality of compute nodes are version compatible to enable migration of the VM guests among the VM hosts. The system further includes a management module connected to the plurality of compute nodes over the network to receive a native measurement of a performance metric of a computing resource in each of the plurality of compute nodes, the management module is operable to dynamically regulate power consumption of the plurality of compute nodes by migrating the VM guests among the VM hosts based at least on the received performance metrics of the plurality of compute nodes. |
| US07856548B1 |
Prediction of data values read from memory by a microprocessor using a dynamic confidence threshold
Prediction of data values to be read from memory by a microprocessor for load operations. In one aspect, a method for predicting a data value that will result from a load operation to be executed by the microprocessor includes accessing an entry in a load value prediction table that stores a predicted data value corresponding to the load operation. The predicted data value is provided as a result of the load operation without waiting for execution of the load operation to complete based on a confidence parameter stored in the entry compared to a dynamic confidence threshold. |
| US07856540B2 |
System and article of manufacture for removing alias addresses from an alias address pool
Provided are a system and article of manufacture for removing alias addresses from an alias address pool. A plurality of alias addresses are assigned to an alias address pool, wherein the alias addresses in the alias address pool are capable of being dynamically assigned to a device to service I/O requests to the device. An operation is initiated by a process to remove a specified alias address from the alias address pool. An indicator is set to prevent additional processes from removing one alias address from the alias address pool in response to initiating the operation. The specified alias address is removed from the alias address pool. |
| US07856536B2 |
Providing a process exclusive access to a page including a memory address to which a lock is granted to the process
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for providing a process exclusive access to a page including a memory address to which a lock is granted to the process. A request is received for a memory address in a memory device from a requesting process. A lock is granted to the requested memory address to the requesting process. The requesting process is provided exclusive access to a page including the requested memory address for a page access time period. The exclusive access to the page provided to the requesting process is released in response to an expiration of the page access time period. |
| US07856534B2 |
Transaction references for requests in a multi-processor network
One disclosed embodiment may comprise a system that includes a home node that provides a transaction reference to a requester in response to a request from the requester. The requester provides an acknowledgement message to the home node in response to the transaction reference, the transaction reference enabling the requester to determine an order of requests at the home node relative to the request from the requester. |
| US07856529B2 |
Customizable memory indexing functions
Methods and apparatus related to memory indexing. Receiving indications of an indexing function for use with a memory. Performing indexing functions with a processor before addressing a memory location. Referencing a customizable lookup table to determine a memory location. Translating a computer program to control a computer system to use a desired indexing function. Determining desired indexing functions based on performance of a computer system. |
| US07856518B2 |
Information processing device
An information processing device comprising a data record medium access unit into which a data record medium, which has a first operation mode and a second operation mode as operation modes and has a first sub-operation mode and a second sub-operation mode as sub-operation modes of the second operation mode, is inserted and which gains access to the inserted data record medium, wherein it is necessary to stop power supply to the data record medium when the access to the data record medium is switched between the first operation mode and the second operation mode, but it is not necessary to stop the power supply to the data record medium when the access to the data record medium is switched between the first sub-operation mode and the second sub-operation mode and a selection unit which allows a user to select a type of access to the data record medium inserted into the data record medium access unit, wherein the information processing device is able to select an operation mode having a fastest data transmission rate among operation modes in which a newly detected data record medium is operable on the basis of a mode selection table. |
| US07856516B2 |
Interfacing incompatible signaling using generic I/O and interrupt routines
A method for interfacing single transfer and burst transfer components, comprising: processing transfer completion of a byte in burst transfer as an interrupt; maintaining the current state of signal lines to prevent occurrence of next interrupt; copying the transferred byte from buffer to memory; and allowing next interrupt; and enabling sending of next byte in burst transfer. This invention interfaces incompatible signaling of the components, and solves the handshake, communication and buffering problems involved. The methods also include polling simulating an interrupt, prevention of premature transfer and overwrite, interrupt on an edge of a busy signal, disabling and enabling clock to maintain current status, packet exchange protocol involving header, body and checksum, command and status packets, copying task waiting on a blocking semaphore which is signaled by interrupt handler task, and signals from a first component routed to a conversion component which generates new signals compatible with the second component. |
| US07856511B2 |
Processing of data to suspend operations in an input/output processing system
A computer program product, an apparatus, and a method for processing communications between a target and an initiator an input/output processing system are provided. The computer program product includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes: sending a message between the initiator and the target, the message requesting suspension of input/output operations between the initiator and the target for a period of time, the period of time being defined by the message; and responsive to the message, suspending input/output operation messages for the period of time. |
| US07856509B1 |
Transparently providing layer two (L2) services across intermediate computer networks
A device provides layer two (L2) services between customer networks that are coupled by one or more intermediate computer networks. The device comprises a routing process that receives label information for a label switched path (LSP) through the intermediate networks. The device further comprises a L2 service that receives L2 service information from a device associated with second customer networks. In accordance with the label information, the device transports L2 communications between the first and second customer networks through the one or more intermediate networks. By utilizing label information in this manner, the device may minimize the impact of providing L2 services through the intermediate networks. |
| US07856508B2 |
Accessing vended products or services using a wireless device
Methods, apparatus, and business techniques are disclosed for use in mobile network communication systems. A mobile unit such as a smart phone is preferably equipped with a wireless local area network connection and a wireless wide area network connection. The local area network connection is used to establish a position-dependent ecommerce network connection with a wireless product or service access device supplied by a vendor. A negotiation sequence is carried out to electronically contract the services of the negotiated wireless peripheral from the vendor using a prepaid ecommerce protocol. The negotiated wireless peripheral is a general product or service vending device and the mobile unit acts as a digital authentication and payment device with digital pre-paid payment capabilities. The techniques are useful in many applications to include ticketing and admission systems to events and other types of services that involve ticketing. |
| US07856505B2 |
Instantiating a communication pipeline between software
An embodiment not only instantiates a pipeline that allows communication between first and second executable nodes regardless of whether the nodes have compatible or incompatible interface views, but also structures the pipeline based on the relationship between the interface views so, for example, the pipeline does not consume unnecessary overhead or introduce unnecessary data-transfer delay. For example, an embodiment compares a first interface view of a first executable node to a second interface view of a second executable node. A first communication pipeline having a first structure is instantiated between the first and second nodes if the first view has a first pre-established relationship to the second view, and a second communication pipeline having a second structure is instantiated between the first and second nodes if the first view has a second pre-established relationship to the second view. |
| US07856504B2 |
Server device, inter-server device connection method, program, and recording medium
A procedure from when device registration is completed until an always-on connection session with a server apparatus is established is simplified. Upon receiving a start request for directly accessing a controlled device from a controlling device via a service server, a direct-access management server transmits a direct-access URI obtaining request to the controlled device. The controlled device transmits a direct-access-port NAT setting request to a router. Upon receiving a notification of a global-IP-address and port-number obtaining error from the router, the controlled device transmits, to the direct-access management server, an error code for giving an instruction for a new remote video-recording reservation using tunneling. Upon receiving the error code, the direct-access management server assigns a tunneling port in the server, creates a direct-access URI based on the information of the port and so on, and transmits the direct-access URI to the controlling device via the service server. |
| US07856502B2 |
Cheap paxos
A distributed computing system can be operated in a fault tolerant manner using a collection of auxiliary computing devices and more main computing devices than the number of faults the system can tolerate. A quorum of all of the main computing devices can be used. In the event of a failure, an alternative quorum from a selected set of quorums, comprising at least one main computing device and some or all of the auxiliary computing devices, can be used to complete pending operations and to select a new set of quorums. Alternatively, another state machine, comprising at least one main computing device and some or all of the auxiliary computing devices, can select a new quorum comprising the currently operating main computing devices, and the new quorum can then complete pending operations and can continue to select proposals using the proposal number assigned by the other state machine. |
| US07856500B2 |
Method for placing composite applications in a federated environment
Techniques for placing at least one composite application in a federated environment are provided. The techniques include analyzing a composite application to be deployed in a federated environment, obtaining one or more application artifacts, analyzing feasibility of placing one or more application components at one or more clusters in the federated environment without knowledge of resource availability at each of the one or more clusters, and generating a mapping of the one or more application components to the one or more clusters such that an application requirement is met, wherein the one or more application artifacts are distributed across a federated environment. |
| US07856496B2 |
Information gathering tool for systems administration
A method and program product for gathering information about a system. A user logs on to the system, and in response, computer programming automatically identifies application instances executing in the system, determines whether the system is configured for high availability, determines whether each of the identified application instances is configured for high availability, determines if the system is a node of a cluster of systems, and compiles and displays a unified report of the resulting information. The foregoing type of information is automatically compiled and displayed for other systems as well, in different respective sessions. |
| US07856489B2 |
Simplify server replacement
There is provided techniques for automating attachment of a server to a storage area network (SAN). In accordance with one embodiment, a method is provided which includes storing identifiers in a memory associated with an enclosure adapted to house one or more servers. The identifiers are correlated to a particular location of the enclosure. Additionally, the method includes providing the identifiers from the memory to host bus adapters (HBAs) associated with a particular location when a server is placed in the particular location. |
| US07856483B2 |
Information management systems with time zone information, including event scheduling processes
Information management systems with time zone information, including event scheduling processes are disclosed. One aspect of the invention is directed toward a computer-implemented scheduling method that can include identifying a difference between a participant time zone and a user time zone, reviewing availability information for the participant and/or one or more selected time preference periods for the participant, and selecting a time range for an event. The method can further include reviewing one or more selected time preference periods for the user. Another aspect of the invention is directed toward a computer-implemented method for associating time zone information with a contact in an information management program application that includes selecting a contact, analyzing contact information associated with the contact, and determining a time zone for the contact based on the analysis of the contact information. |
| US07856480B2 |
Method and apparatus for exchanging heartbeat messages and configuration information between nodes operating in a master-slave configuration
A node (101, FIG. 1), within a networked computer system (100), is capable of supporting communications with other nodes relating to operating multiple application instances in a master-slave configuration. Each node periodically generates and sends (520, 526, FIG. 5) a Heartbeat message (FIG. 8) that indicates the operational status for one or more application instances being managed by the node. When a node receives a Heartbeat message from a remote node, it evaluates (FIG. 10) the Heartbeat information for each application instance reported in the message, and takes any appropriate actions. The node also determines (1206, FIG. 12) whether new configuration information should be obtained for each of the application instances the node is managing, and requests (1210, FIG. 12) that new configuration information, when necessary. |
| US07856478B2 |
Presence system and method for providing access to web services
A presence system provides access to web services offered by presentities. The presence system includes a presence server for collecting and storing presence information on a presentity and providing the presence information to watchers of the presentity. The presence server further receives from the presentity web service invocation information providing access to one or more web services of the presentity. The presence server provides the web service invocation information of the presentity, along with the presence information of the presentity, to the watchers of the presentity for use by the watchers in invoking the web services of the presentity. |
| US07856476B2 |
E-mail proxy
A system and method for providing e-mail messages to a user in a more efficient manner. Specifically, the system and method of the present invention enable attachments to be downloaded separately from the text-part of the e-mail message, which requires less bandwidth to download. Instead, these attachments are represented by links in the message which is downloaded to the e-mail client of the user, such that the user can “click on” or otherwise select a link in order to retrieve the attachment. Preferably, the attachment is downloaded to the computational device of the user in a streamed manner. |
| US07856471B2 |
Method and apparatus for binding multiple profiles and applications to a single device through network control
A method and apparatus turns a typical home telephone system into a platform for delivery of web based content and services. The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a broadband enabled telephone system for the home and a series of web servers that collect, package, and deliver personalized content and services to all of the telephone handsets throughout the home. With this end-to-end solution, any information or services available via the web can be delivered through a broadband enabled telephone system. Through the web, each member of a family can build a profile which defines what information and services they want available through the handset. In addition, each handset can be dynamically personalized for any family member. The color screens on the handsets become windows through which an individual can view and interact with a broad range of content and services. The audio channels thus become an extension of the voice based services, such as messaging and voice chat. |
| US07856468B2 |
Server reservation method, reservation control apparatus and program storage medium
To allow many users to efficiently use the functions of a processing server that performs predetermined processing, via a network and also to prevent interference by illegal users. In a content supply system, in order to use a streaming server to perform a live distribution, a user PC to be used makes a reservation for a time zone, etc. to a server reservation control center. When the reservation is accepted, the user PC sends a reconfirmation (reconfirmation of the reservation) to the server reservation control center by six hours before the distribution start time according to the reservation. If the reconfirmation is not made by six hours before, the server reservation control center cancels the reservation. On the other hand, if the reconfirmation is made by six hours before, the server reservation control center confirms the reservation and carries out billing processing. |
| US07856463B2 |
Probability density function separating apparatus, probability density function separating method, testing apparatus, bit error rate measuring apparatus, electronic device, and program
There is provided a probability density function separating apparatus that separates a predetermined component from a given probability density function. The apparatus includes: a domain transforming section that is supplied with the probability density function and transforms the probability density function into a spectrum in a frequency domain; and a deterministic component computing section that multiplies a multiplier coefficient according to a type of distribution of a deterministic component included in the given probability density function by a first null frequency of the spectrum in the frequency domain and computes a peak to peak value of the probability density function with the deterministic component. |
| US07856460B2 |
Device, method, and computer program product for structuring digital-content program
A program structuring device includes a play-list collecting unit that collects a play list for a content in which a time series is defined; a first storage unit that stores cutoff points that appear in the play list and are breakpoints of a program structure of the content, in correspondence with a frequency of appearance of each of the cutoff points; a calculating unit that calculates a level of relevance between scene segments defined by the cutoff points from the frequency of appearance of each of the cutoff points; an extracting unit that extracts multi-level chapter divisions based on the level of relevance; and a second storage unit that stores the extracted multi-level chapter divisions structured into a tree form. |
| US07856459B2 |
Recording apparatus, recording method, and disc shaped record medium
A digital recording apparatus using a disc shaped record medium is disclosed, that comprises a means for extracting outlined information of each of a plurality of files recorded on the disc shaped record medium, a means for correlating the extracted outlined information and the plurality of files and generating an index file, and a means for recording the index file to a predetermined position of the disc shaped record medium, wherein when a predetermined operation mode is performed, a plurality of types of data of the plurality of files are output in a predetermined format. |
| US07856458B2 |
Online analytical processing (OLAP)
A method and system for generating an n-dimensional matrix presentation of at least part of an m-dimensional database including data records and a least one key dimension. Each key dimension includes data value fields. Each data value field has real data therein. A sorting sequence of fact numbers is calculated. The fact numbers are integers that identify the data records. Entry points for each dimension of the n-dimensional matrix presentation are calculated. Each entry point is calculated to be linked with a corresponding fact number of the sorting sequence. A cardinality of the n-dimensional matrix presentation is calculated in dependence on the calculated sorting sequence and the calculated corresponding entry points. The n-dimensional matrix presentation is generated based on the calculated cardinality and the calculated entry points. |
| US07856456B2 |
System and method for electronically managing medical data files
A network server arrangement including a processor with a machine readable storage encoded with software for execution by the processor. The network server arrangement is responsive to requests to access a medical record of an individual and generates summary medical record data including summary information having a plurality of data elements associated with the individual, at least one of the data elements conveying medical information about the individual, and a pointers component including at least one pointer pointing to a network location containing importable medical information in connection with the individual that is not contained in the summary information component. The pointer includes a machine readable address part for processing by the client, allowing the client to import the medical information from the network location, and a label part for displaying to a user the nature of the medical information residing at the network location. |
| US07856454B2 |
Data model for business relationships
A data model that allows for relationships between entities, also referred to as parties, to be modeled as attributes of an entity and for customization of the data model in a manner that facilitates upgrading of the data model. The data model defines a party class that includes a party identifier and a list of relationships of that party with other parties. The relationships may include represented-by relationships, customer-of relationships, contact-of relationships, or employee-of relationships. The party class can be sub-classed (i.e., be a base class for a derived class) depending on the type of party that is being model. |
| US07856453B2 |
Method and apparatus for tracking functional states of a web-site and reporting results to web developers
A software tool for enabling automated tracking of activity related to the status and usage statistics of a plurality of Web sites on a data packet network is provided. The software tool comprises a network communication capability for establishing network communication between the software tool and the tracked Web sites; a plurality of data-reporting modules for obtaining and reporting data about tracked Web sites; a data input function for excepting data from the reporting modules and from external sources; a data recording function for recording and logging the data received from the reporting modules and from the external sources; and a data management function for organizing and storing the received data and rendering the data accessible for use in software development. A software engineer or developer accesses the site-tracking software and connected database through a Web browser from a network-connected workstation in order to utilize data mined from Web sites for the purpose of creating routines enabling automated navigation and site manipulation by proxy for subscribed users. |
| US07856452B2 |
Data processor
To provide a technique of writing data efficiently on a storage medium and thereby play back a content continuously. Specifically, the file allocation table (FAT) of a storage medium is supposed to be read on a partial FAT basis and data is written by a preferred method for that reading method.A data processor writes a content data stream on a storage medium, on which a data storage location is defined based on a file allocation table (FAT). The processor includes: a control section for determining the amount of data to be read continuously until a portion of the data stream, which should be played back during a data stream reading suspended period, is acquired, the suspended period including at least a time for reading a partial FAT forming a part of the FAT; an area detecting section for detecting an available area, in which that amount of data is storable, from a partial area managed by a single partial FAT; and a writing section for writing the content data stream on the available area, whereby the data stream is readable, and the content is playable, based on the partial FAT. |
| US07856438B2 |
Device and method for semantic analysis of documents by construction of n-ary semantic trees
A semantic analysis device includes a structural and semantic database and a document interpreter. The document interpreter includes an N-ary tree controller for constructing an N-ary tree from a decomposition of a document and an ordered sequence of verbal entities and structural and/or semantic constraints. The N-ary tree includes a root node formed by a primary verbal entity and structures formed from a subordinate verbal entity related directly or indirectly to the root node by a link having a connecting characteristic. The document interpreter also includes a semantic tree controller for determining object and activity types from the N-ary tree and database, activate by certain nodes of the N-ary tree, for constructing a semantic tree with principal nodes for objects and activities and connected by semantic relationships from connecting characteristics of the N-ary tree, and to which attributes are associated based on other nodes of the N-ary tree. |
| US07856437B2 |
Storing nodes representing respective chunks of files in a data store
To provide a data store, nodes representing respective chunks of files are stored in a predefined structure that defines relationships among the nodes, where the files are divided into the chunks. The nodes are collected into plural groups stored in persistent storage, where some of the nodes are collected into a particular one of the groups according to a locality relationship of the some of the nodes. |
| US07856436B2 |
Dynamic holds of record dispositions during record management
Dynamically withholding certain records from a disposition during record management. Search criterion that identifies records that should be withheld from the disposition may be received. The content of the records and/or information about that record content may be compared to the search criterion to determine which of the records should be withheld from the disposition. The comparison may take place in accordance with a pre-determined schedule, when hold status information for a record is accessed, or at any other time. |
| US07856434B2 |
System and method for filtering rules for manipulating search results in a hierarchical search and navigation system
A method is disclosed for modifying the results of a search performed in a collection of items by a search and navigation system. The method includes receiving a query from a user interface and determining a navigation state, defined by expressions of attribute-value pairs, based on the received query. The user interface accepts both selecting and deselecting of any of the attribute-value pairs in an expression corresponding to a navigation state to obtain an expression corresponding to a different navigation state, and each selection and deselection forms a new query. The method further includes retrieving, from the collection, items associated with the navigation state to form a set of unmodified search results, the set of unmodified search results having an arrangement for presentation to the user. A rule filter that includes a metadata expression is applied to a set of rules, each rule having a trigger, an action, and metadata. The application of the rule filter to the set of rules includes evaluating the metadata expression of the rule filter based on the metadata of each rule and passing rules for which the metadata expression of the rule filter evaluates as logical true. The trigger of each rule passed by the rule filter is evaluated, and the action of each rule for which the trigger of the rule evaluates as logical true is executed to modify the unmodified search results to form modified search results. |
| US07856432B2 |
Systems and methods for searching and displaying search hits in hierarchies
A method or system may search and display search hits as a hierarchy of objects in a computed-based environment. For example, the method may include performing a search on the objects based on search criteria entered by the user, and identifying search hits based on the search performed on the objects, each search hit corresponding to an object matching the search criteria. Further, the method may include providing a display including a hierarchy of objects and indicating the search hits identified from the search to the user, and providing a set of control buttons to permit the user to navigate the display and view the search hits. |
| US07856429B2 |
System and method for a digital representation of personal events enhanced with related global content
There is provided a system and method for creating a digital representation of personal events enhanced with related global content. Personal event frameworks are selectable by the user and are provided with insertion points to receive media items therein and are structured to complement type of personal event. Media items are automatically reformatted as necessary. The instant invention allows the user to enhance the event framework by inserting related global content, wherein global content stands for media items matching either the date, location or event type. The additional content is provided from local sources or over the Internet. |
| US07856427B2 |
System and method for suspending transactions being executed on databases
A database management system managing one or more databases to suspend access to at least one selected database by one or more processes or applications (e.g., message processing programs, batch messaging programs, etc.). In some instances, the one or more databases may include one or more IMS databases. Access to the at least one selected database may be suspended to enable one or more operations to be performed on the at least one selected database by the database management system and/or an outside entity (e.g., a user, an external application, etc.). For example, the one or more operations may include an imaging operation, a loading operation, an unloading operation, a start operation, a stop operation, and/or other operations. In some instances, access to the at least one selected database may be suspended without canceling transactions being executed by the one or more processes or applications on the selected at least one database. |
| US07856421B2 |
Maintaining memory checkpoints across a cluster of computing nodes
A method and system for increasing reliability and availability of a multi-processor network. A system includes a network with at least two nodes, with each node comprising a multi-processor unit (mpu) and memory. The mpu includes one or more processors and a wiretap unit. The wiretap unit and the memory included in the node are coupled to the processors in the node. The wiretap unit is configured to monitor memory accesses of the processors and convey data indicative of such accesses to a second node. The second node maintains a replica of memory in the first node, and is configured to undo modifications to the memory if needed. In the event of a hardware or software fault, the nodes are configured to restart the application on another node. |
| US07856420B2 |
Zero latency enterprise enriched publish/subscribe
Solutions for reducing latencies in enterprise operations and business processes adaptation particularly as related to enriched publish and subscribe are proposed by the present invention. These solutions are implemented in a zero latency enterprise (ZLE) framework that allows the enterprise to integrate its services, applications and data in real time. Namely, an enterprise equipped to run as a ZLE is capable of integrating, in real time, its enterprise-wide data, applications, business transactions, operations and values. An operational data store operates as an information broker between the applications such that applications publish messages to the central repository and subscribe to messages from the central, rather than exchange request-response messages directly with each other. Thus, enriched publish and subscribe improves information synchronization between applications and reduce the number of request-response messages the applications would otherwise exchange. Consequently, an enterprise conducting its business as a ZLE exhibits superior management of its resources, operations and customer care. |
| US07856418B2 |
Network-extensible reconfigurable media appliance
Extensible reconfigurable media appliance for security and entertainment captures images digitally for storage. Digital effects and filters are applied to incoming video stream on-the-fly or to video data stored in memory. Digital effects and filters are dynamically stored, modified, updated or deleted, providing extensible reconfigurable effects studio. Digital media appliance communicates wirelessly with other media appliances, computers, security systems, video storage, email, chat, cellular services or PDAs to provide seamless integration of captured video stream. |
| US07856413B2 |
Dynamic search criteria on a search graph
A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that, in an embodiment, display icons representing search terms on a search graph, having at least one axis. The axis represents a search criteria. The position of the icon specifies a value (such as an importance or weight) of the search criteria. A search engine uses the search terms, the search criteria, and the value to conduct the search. The results of the search are displayed in a results pane, and the search results are updated as the positions of the icons on the search graph change. The search criteria associated with the axes of the search graph may also change. In this way, the user interface for the search is made easier for the user to control. |
| US07856410B2 |
Simulation enabled retail management tutorial system
A system is disclosed that provides a goal based learning system utilizing a rule based expert training system to provide a cognitive educational experience. The system provides the user with a simulated environment that presents a business opportunity to understand and solve optimally. Mistakes are noted and remedial educational material presented dynamically to build the necessary skills that a user requires for success in the business endeavor. The system utilizes an artificial intelligence engine driving individualized and dynamic feedback with synchronized video and graphics used to simulate real-world environment and interactions. Multiple “correct” answers are integrated into the learning system to allow individualized learning experiences in which navigation through the system is at a pace controlled by the learner. A robust business model provides support for realistic activities and allows a user to experience real world consequences for their actions and decisions and entails realtime decision-making and synthesis of the educational material. A store management tutorial system is enabled for providing active coaching on aspects of inventory management, stocking, advertising, return on revenue, markdown, assortment strategy and other aspects of retail management. Techniques for process sensitive help are also integrated into the system to provide contextual examples to guide a user in performing a task. |
| US07856406B2 |
System and method for managing accounts payable and accounts receivable
A system and method for managing accounts payable that allocates at least a portion of an invoiced dollar amount to a virtual account associated with a vendor, allows the vendor to request that a dispersal dollar amount be transferred from the virtual account to a real account associated with the vendor, and initiates an electronic transfer of the dispersal dollar amount from a real account to the real account associated with the vendor. |
| US07856399B2 |
Linking a merchant account with a financial card
Systems and methods for linking a merchant card with a merchant account. A financial institution that issues the merchant card to a merchant acts as both issuer and acquirer for the merchant. The merchant uses the merchant card to accept other financial cards as payment. Funds due the merchant are added to an available balance of the merchant card rather than depositing the funds in a settlement account. The funds can be added to the available balance before the transactions settle and can be accessed by the merchant. The financial institution also authorizes transactions when the merchant uses the merchant card as a regular cardholder to make payment. The merchant name can be changed on a per transaction basis if desired. |
| US07856398B2 |
System and method for supporting a security-trade financing service
A computer implemented system and method for supporting or facilitating security trade financing by a trading company (TC) of a deficient-asset company seeking capital (CSC) with a limited number of deficient assets. |
| US07856397B2 |
System and method for creating financial assets
A method, the method comprising decomposing each of a plurality of home mortgage loans into a plurality of sub-loan level cash flows, repackaging the plurality of sub-loan level cash flows to form a plurality of financial assets backed by the plurality of sub-loan level cash flows, making a determination of accounting rules that apply to the plurality of financial assets, and storing and tracking accounting data for the plurality of financial assets based at least in part on the accounting rules. |
| US07856396B2 |
System and method for assigning responsibility for trade order execution
An embodiment of the present invention provides a system and method for a sponsoring organization to: (1) utilize a rules-based computer system to capture trade orders from sub-advisors (money management firms) in order to implement a pre trade compliance review process, thereby enabling the sponsoring organization to prevent the execution of trade orders by a sub advisor that violates securities laws and/or account restrictions; and (2) determine and assign, based on expected market impact of a trade order to buy or sell securities, whether responsibility (discretion over the decisions related to how, when and with whom a trade order is executed) for executing the trade order is assigned to the money management firm for an investment portfolio or to the sponsoring organization of that portfolio. Trade orders are categorized in real-time as “high touch” (significant effort and market impact) or “low touch” (insignificant effort and market impact). |
| US07856392B1 |
System and method for timed order entry and modification
A system and method for defining and processing timed orders are defined. According to one embodiment, a trader may define a timed order by defining an intra-day time trigger or a time period when the timed order should be automatically modified, such as deleted or cancelled/replaced with a new order. In one embodiment, the intra-day time trigger or time period may be dynamically changed to a later time, for example, upon receiving a predetermined user input. Also, the time trigger and time period may be configured to dynamically vary based on any user configurable formula. Also, the timed order may be associated with one or more actions to be taken once the order is deleted, such as sending a new order, for example. |
| US07856389B2 |
Dynamic book yield analysis
The present invention relates to systems, methods, data structures and user interfaces for generating and presenting information as to how and why the book yield of an investment portfolio changed over a time interval. Dynamic book yield analysis is particularly useful for bond portfolio analysis and management. Transactions and events that occur in a financial market during a pre-specified time period and relating to a portfolio of assets are identified by a computer server. Specifically, the book yields and book values for these transactions and events are accessed from the portfolio accounting system and the data for each transaction/event are categorized according to transaction/event type (though net cash equivalents are first separated out into their own category). The categorized information is then stored in a data structure residing on the system. Book yields and book values are identified for the portfolio of assets at the beginning and end of the pre-specified time period and book yields and book values are calculated for each category of transactions/events previously identified. The effect of each category of transactions/events on the book yield of the portfolio of assets is then quantified. The results of the analysis can then be displayed to investors and portfolio managers in dynamic book yield attribution reports generated by a reporting system. The reports can be used by these investors and portfolio managers to make and execute additional investment decisions based, at least in part, on the quantified impacts of each category of transactions/events on the portfolio book yield. |
| US07856383B2 |
Transaction allocation
Systems and methods of allocating transactions among business objects are described. Allocation is accomplished using a multi-phase process. In a first phase, allocation of the transactions among a set of business objects is attempted. In a subsequent phase, allocation of transactions that were either unallocated, under-allocated, or over-allocated in the first phase is determined. The second phase includes using a set of allocation rules to identify business objects configured to manually determine allocation of the unallocated, under-allocated, or over-allocated transactions. The invention is applicable to a variety of business objects including people, organizations, accounts, tasks, or the like. |
| US07856376B2 |
Internet-based frequency and award redemption system and method
An on-line frequency award program is disclosed. A user may access the program on-line and may browse a product catalog for shopping. The user may electronically place an order, upon which the program automatically checks the user's credit and electronically issues a purchase order to the supplying company. The program also calculates award points, updates the award account of enrolled users, and communicates that number of awarded points to the user. Enrolled users may browse through an award catalog and electronically redeem an amount of awarded points towards an award. The program then electronically places an award redeeming order with the fulfillment house and updates the user's award account. |
| US07856373B2 |
Targeting content to network-enabled devices based upon stored profiles
Methods and systems are disclosed herein for managing content, including advertising content, delivered to various network-connected devices, including screens, mobile devices, computers, televisions, radios, and the like, based on usage profiles associated with device-specific identifiers for mobile devices, short-distance wireless technologies for transmission of content and detection of proximity, and content targeting and management techniques. |
| US07856370B2 |
Method and system for displaying predictions on a spatial map
A method and system for displaying predictions on a spatial map includes using a data analyzer for analyzing heterogeneous data having a spatial component to find utilizable data and using machine learning to automatically extract relationships from the utilizable data. The extracted relationships are used to make a prediction about at least one location on the spatial map and present that prediction in an oblique or perspective view. An interface presents the prediction on the spatial map in the form of a heat map overlying a 3-D topographical map. Although the 3-D map can be shown as any form of graphical projection including an oblique projection or orthographic projection, preferably a perspective view is used. It is also preferred that the graphical projection be interactive. The heat map may be 2-D or 3-D and be selectively displayed depending on the preference of a user. |
| US07856368B2 |
Methods and systems for providing personalized information to users in a commercial establishment
The present invention provides systems for and methods providing a user in a commercial establishment with personalized information, which can include a personalized shopping list, targeted advertisements, health information, nutritional information, promotional offers, offers on sale items, offers on discounted items, manufacturer's coupons, storewide coupons, information on user specific favorite items, and information on user specific staple items. Also disclosed is a device for and method of providing the precise location of a user in a commercial facility comprising a signal receiver and position calculating system that uses one of biangulation and triangulation techniques. Also disclosed, is a system for and method of providing a user in a commercial establishment with personalized information, which can include targeted advertisements, health information, nutritional information, promotional offers, offers on sale items, offers on discounted items, manufacturer's coupons, storewide coupons, information on user specific favorite items, and information on user specific staple items using the user's precise location with respect to items for purchase in the user's immediate vicinity. |
| US07856366B2 |
Multiple accounts for health record bank
A health record databank configured to associate electronic health records with multiple-accounts is provided. A network-accessible storage repository is used to store a plurality of electronic medical records for a plurality of individuals. In turn, individuals are provided with an electronic health records account (EHR account), wherein the EHR account is available to store electronic health records associated with the individual, in the storage repository. The individual may authorize access to the electronic records in a given sub-accounts. Requests for access may include both requests to deposit records into the sub-account, and requests to retrieve and view the records in a given sub-account. |
| US07856364B1 |
Systems and methods for retaining or shifting prescription market share
Systems and methods are provided for retaining or shifting prescription market share. The systems and methods may include receiving a claim from a pharmacy computer, where the claim is associated with a drug requested by a customer, routing the claim to an adjudication engine for benefits processing, and receiving, from the adjudication engine, coverage information for the claim, where the coverage information indicates an amount payable by the customer. The systems and methods may further include determining whether a discount or payment is available to reduce the amount payable by the customer, where the discount or payment is associated with funding by a pharmaceutical manufacturer. If the discount or payment is available, the systems and methods may include transmitting at least a notice of availability of the discount or payment to the pharmacy computer, or automatically adjudicating the claim back to the pharmacy with the reduced amount payable by the customer. |
| US07856362B2 |
System and method for early identification of safety concerns of new drugs
A system and method for identifying safety concerns regarding a drug identify a first group of patients that have received the drug from a database of healthcare claims and extract one or more medical events that the first group of patients have experienced from the database. The system and method also identify a second group of patients that have received a comparator drug in the database and extract one or more medical events that the second group of patients have experienced. The medical events of the first group are compared to the medical events of the second group to determine at least one common occurrence therebetween. The common occurrence(s) is then filtered based upon one or more user defined outcomes, each including at least one diagnosis, procedure or therapeutic classification; non-medical criteria; and/or patient laboratory test data. |
| US07856361B1 |
Lifenet
A computer network system which links one or more life insurances, a selected funeral home, hospitals and the Social Security Administration to notify all concerned entities when a death has occurred. A hospital death notice is posted and automatically sent to a selected funeral home director who then notifies, the appropriate life insurance companies, Social Security Administration, pension providers and other concerned entities. |
| US07856358B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing search capability and targeted advertising for audio, image, and video content over the Internet
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for extracting the content of a video, image, and/or audio file or podcast, analyzing the content, and then providing a targeted advertisement, search capability and/or other functionality based on the content of the file or podcast. |
| US07856357B2 |
Speech synthesis method, speech synthesis system, and speech synthesis program
A speech synthesis system stores a group of speech units in a memory, selects a plurality of speech units from the group based on prosodic information of target speech, the speech units selected corresponding to each of segments which are obtained by segmenting a phoneme string of the target speech and minimizing distortion of synthetic speech generated from the speech units selected to the target speech, generates a new speech unit corresponding to the each of the segments, by fusing the speech units selected, to obtain a plurality of new speech units corresponding to the segments respectively, and generates synthetic speech by concatenating the new speech units. |
| US07856350B2 |
Reranking QA answers using language modeling
In a QA (Question/Answer) system, candidate answers in response to a question received are ranked by probabilities estimated by a language model. The language model is created based on an ordered centroid created from the question and information learned from an information source such as the Internet. |
| US07856347B2 |
Facilitating simulation of a model within a distributed environment
Simulation of models within a distributed environment is facilitated. A model is partitioned based on clock domains, and communication between partitions on different processors is performed on synchronous clock boundaries. Further, data is exchanged across the network on latch boundaries. Thus, management aspects of the simulation, such as management associated with the global simulation time, are simplified. |
| US07856343B2 |
System and method for design evaluation of mobile devices using virtual reality based prototypes
A design evaluation system of mobile devices using virtual reality based prototypes is proposed. The system includes: a storage unit for storing therein 3-dimensional computer-aided design data of a virtual mobile device; a component selection unit for performing a selection among the 3-dimensional computer-aided design data stored in the storage unit and fetching the selected data therefrom; a design parameter setting unit for setting design parameters of the virtual mobile device; a 3-dimensional model visualization unit for visualizing the virtual mobile device to a 3-dimensional model by using the design parameters and the fetched data; a product motion control unit for simulating motions and functions of the visualized virtual mobile device; and a design preference display unit for displaying user design preference for the visualized and simulated virtual mobile device. |
| US07856342B1 |
Automatic reinforcement modeling
Methods and program products for presenting a view of physical element, the physical element represented in a computer aided design (CAD) model, and integrating a presentation of structural reinforcement of the physical element into the view of the physical element. |
| US07856341B2 |
Heat sink
Sensors are located on first and second regions of a heat sink, with a portion of the heat sink interposed between the first and second region sensors. The heat sink is connected to a component by an attachment that conducts heat from the component to the heat sink, and a third sensor is located on the component or the attachment with a portion of the attachment disposed between the third sensor and the first and second heat sink region sensors. Temperature readings from the sensors are compared to identify a failing one of the heat sink, the attachment portion, and the component with respect to heat conduction, which includes identifying the interposed heat sink portion as failing in response to a divergence between temperature inputs from the first and second heat sink region sensors. Rate-of-rise temperature readings may also be observed and compared, including to historical values. |
| US07856340B2 |
Multi-functional sensor and method of sensing
A multi-functional sensor for deriving information on a recording sheet material comprising an impact-applying unit for applying an external mechanical force onto the recording sheet material, a signal-detecting unit for detecting a signal of response of the recording sheet material to the external mechanical force, a signal-processing unit for processing the signal, and a signal-judging unit for deriving a property of the recording sheet material by comparison of a signal from the signal-detecting unit or the signal processing unit with information memorized preliminarily, wherein the signal-processing unit comprises a separation section for separating the signal from the signal-detecting unit into output signals on the properties of the recording sheet material, and a processing section for deriving, by statistical treatment, a correlation equation showing a correlation between the separated output signal and the properties of the recording sheet material. |
| US07856335B2 |
Device, method, and system for calibration of a flow meter used in conjunction with a ventricular assist device
A blood flow calibration system 500 including a computer 400 operable to determine and store calibration data for a flow meter 124, a test system 530operable to simulate blood flow for the flow meter 124, thereby allowing the computer 400 to determine the calibration data, and a programmer 300 operable to transfer the calibration data from the computer 400 to the flow meter 124. The flow meter 124 preferably includes a power management circuit 348a,b operable to detect whether the flow meter 124 is powered. In the event that the flow meter 124 is unpowered, the power management circuit 348a,b is preferably able to supply power to a portion of the flow meter 124 in order to transfer the calibration data thereto. |
| US07856327B2 |
State and topology processor
A State and Topology Processor (STP) may be communicatively coupled to one or more intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) communicatively coupled to a electrical power system to obtain one or more current measurements, voltage measurements, and dynamic topology data therefrom. The STP may receive the measurement data and may determine a current topology and a voltage topology therefrom. A current processor may use the current topology and the current measurements to refine the measurements, perform KCL, unbalance, symmetrical component, and consistency checks on the electrical power system. The voltage processor may use the voltage topology and the voltage measurements to perform similar checks on the electrical power system. One or more alarms may be generated responsive to the checks. The data may be displayed to a user in a display of a human machine interface and/or may be transmitted to a user programmable task module, and/or an external control unit. |
| US07856324B2 |
Automatic threshold setting for quantitative polymerase chain reaction
Disclosed are systems and methods for identifying and quantitating the presence of one or more DNA species in a sample population through PCR amplification. DNA species quantitation includes a determination of a threshold fluorescence value used in the assessment of the PCR amplification reaction. Various embodiments of the present invention incorporate an enhancement function useful in selecting appropriate threshold fluorescence values and facilitate the determination of DNA concentrations by quantitative PCR based methodologies. |
| US07856320B2 |
Systems for gene expression array analysis
Disclosed are methods and systems for applying independent component analysis (ICA) and other advanced signal processing techniques to automatically identify an optimal number of independent gene clusters and to efficiently separate gene expression data into biologically relevant groups. Embodiments of the methods and systems of the present invention provide an interface that allows the user to review the results at various stages during the analysis, thereby optimizing the type of analysis performed for a specific experiment. Also disclosed are methods and systems to mathematically define the relationship for gene expression within a group of interrelated genes. |
| US07856306B2 |
Vehicle-mounted engine control apparatus
A vehicle-mounted engine control apparatus can accurately measure the resistance value of a label resistor arranged in an exhaust gas sensor for correcting characteristic variation thereof by using a reduced number of wires. An electric heater of the exhaust gas sensor, which is powered from a second power supply wire, as well as the label resistor and air fuel ratio measurement elements are connected to the apparatus which is powered from an on-vehicle battery through a first power supply wire. A power feed voltage of the apparatus is input to a multichannel AD converter through voltage dividing resistors, so that a positive end potential of the label resistor is measured alternatively. A negative end potential of the label resistor is input to the converter as a divided voltage thereof with a fixed resistor. The label resistance value is calculated from a fixed resistor current and a label resistor voltage. |
| US07856305B2 |
Control system and control method for internal combustion engine
A control system for an internal combustion engine calculates a provisional target value of the throttle opening in accordance with an accelerator pedal travel, upon detection of a sudden operation of the accelerator pedal. The system also calculates a target pressure change in the surge tank according to the provisional target value, on the basis of the actual surge tank pressure and the cylinder intake mass airflow, using a virtual intake system model. The control system sets a target throttle opening in accordance with the surge tank pressure and the cylinder intake mass airflow, so as to provide the target pressure change under a condition of the actual surge tank volume. |
| US07856302B2 |
Work machine with transition region control system
A transition region control system has one or more sensors configured to transmit a signal representative of a speed of a work machine moving over a first surface. The transition region control system also has one or more surfacing components configured to form a second surface generally coplanar to the first surface, wherein the second surface may include a transition region generally non-coplanar to the first surface. The transition region control system further has a data input system configured to transmit data representative of the transition region to a controller. The controller may be configured to determine the speed of the work machine based on the signal received from the one or more sensors and control the operation of at least one of the one or more surfacing components to at least partially form the transition region based on the speed of the work machine and the data representative of the transition region. |
| US07856301B2 |
Device and method for controlling a machine
Method and device for controlling a machine which is intended to be operated in several different operating states, the machine being intended to utilize different types of equipment in at least two of these operating states for different activities. The device includes a means (1) which is intended to be actuated and which can be set in a number of different positions (2-6), and each of these positions corresponds to one of the operating states. |
| US07856300B2 |
Seat with side support control for vehicle responsive to distance and position in curve roads
A seat apparatus for a vehicle including a motor for operating a side support portion, includes, a sensor for detecting that the vehicle is driven on a curve, a distance between curves calculating program for calculating a distance between curves, and a control state determining program for determining a control state of the vehicle, the control state being set to one of an unexecuted state, an executed state and a standby state, wherein the motor operates the side support portion so as to be retained to a supporting position when the control state of the vehicle is set to the executed state. |
| US07856298B2 |
Adaptive diagnostic cable
An apparatus and method are provided that allow a scan tool to communicate with a data link connector in a vehicle. A cable that can automatically multiplex its connections in order to make the appropriate connections between the scan tool and a data link connector based on a communication protocol of the vehicle under test. This allows the scan tool to communicate with the data link connector regardless of the pins being used by the communication protocol of the vehicle. |
| US07856297B2 |
Method and system for informing a vehicle telematics user of a connection status
A method for informing an in-vehicle telematics unit user of a connection status generally includes establishing a connection between the telematics unit and a call center, and initiating communication between the user and a call center service advisor. Next, the communication may be temporarily suspended while maintaining the connection. A connection status signal informing the user of the status of the connection is transmitted from the call center to the telematics unit during the temporary suspension in communication. After the signal is transmitted, the communication between the user and the call center service advisor is ultimately restored. |
| US07856292B2 |
System and method for lowering a temperature of liquid exiting a heat exchanger in a vapor compression system
A pull-down control process for a chiller system is provided. The pull-down control process can override the capacity control process for the chiller system to pull-down the leaving chilled liquid temperature faster than the capacity control process. The pull-down control process can maintain pre-rotation vanes in a fully open position to pull-down the leaving chilled liquid temperature as quickly as possible to a predetermined setpoint. |
| US07856287B2 |
Large scale supply planning
A production planning technique inputs demands for products. Each of the demands having multiple due dates, and the multiple due dates having different priorities. An explosion process utilizing linear programming and heuristics is performed to identify demands for components that are used to make the products (the explosion process maintains the multiple due dates and corresponding priorities for the components) and performs an implosion process utilizing linear programming and heuristics to assign resources to the components considering the multiple due dates and corresponding priorities. |
| US07856284B1 |
Incremental transformation and progressive rendering of multidimensional data
Audio data is processed and displayed in a series of spectral displays that progressively display the data at greater and greater resolution. Processing and displaying of the audio data is performed in a series of passes. For each pass, spectral data is generated from a portion of the audio data. The spectral data is cumulated and a display is rendered from the cumulated spectral data. This process is repeated until all of the passes have been completed. |
| US07856283B2 |
Digital microphone interface, audio codec and methods for use therewith
A digital microphone interface includes a phase generator for generating a phase signal. A clock generator produces a digital microphone clock at a selected frequency based on the frequency select signal, and supplying the digital microphone clock to a digital microphone. A first data latch, operably coupled to the phase generator, produces a stream of first data from a first channel of the digital microphone, based on a phase select signal and the phase signal. |
| US07856275B1 |
Vestibular system stimulation apparatus
Apparatus for the non-invasive and specific activation of the vestibular system in a patient. Preferred embodiments of the present invention allow for the placement of a stimulating electrode in the ear canal while providing a firm and comfortable coupling with the patient. The stimulating electrode is a deformable material that contacts the skin in the ear canal. A stimulating device operates in cooperation with the stimulating electrode to generate a stimulation waveform for the stimulation of the vestibular system. |
| US07856274B2 |
Vestibular stimulation system and method
An apparatus and method in which the portions of the labyrinth associated with the labyrinthine sense and/or the nerves associated therewith are stimulated to perform at least one of the following functions: augment or control a patient's respiratory function, open the patient's airway, induce sleep, and/or counteract vertigo. In one embodiment, the vestibular stimulating system of the present invention includes 1) a stimulation element that performs the actual stimulation of the tissue, 2) a sensor to detect a physiological condition of the patient, and 3) a power/control unit that receives the signals provided by the sensor and causes stimulation energy to be provided to the stimulation element at an appropriate timing, level, pattern, and/or frequency to achieve the desired function. However, the present invention also contemplates eliminating the sensor in favor of applying a predetermined pattern of stimulation to the patient. |
| US07856273B2 |
Autonomic nerve stimulation to treat a gastrointestinal disorder
A method and apparatus for stimulating a portion of a vagus nerve of a patient to treat a gastrointestinal disorder is provided. At least one electrode is coupled to at least one portion of a vagus nerve of the patient. The portion of the a vagus nerve may include an esophageal plexus, a myenteric plexus of aurbach, a submucous plexus of the meissner, a principal nerve of the lesser curvature of the stomach, and a gastric branch of said vagus nerve. An electrical signal is applied to the portion of the vagus nerve using the electrode to treat the gastrointestinal disorder. |
| US07856272B2 |
Implantable interface for a medical device system
An implantable interface system for a medical device system providing selective interconnectivity between conduits and therapy elements. The interface system contains connecting elements that each provide a robust connection between a selected conduit and a selected therapy element. The interface system enables the use of a surplus of therapy elements so that treatment to the same site (in the case of electrode migration or failure), or to different sites but within the spatial domain of the interface's elements may be delivered through the spare/excess therapy elements without the need for additional major surgical procedures. |
| US07856270B2 |
Cardiac pacing using adjustable atrio-ventricular delays
A pacing system for providing optimal hemodynamic cardiac function for parameters such as contractility (peak left ventricle pressure change during systole or LV+dp/dt), or stroke volume (aortic pulse pressure) using system for calculating atrio-ventricular delays for optimal timing of a ventricular pacing pulse. The system providing an option for near optimal pacing of multiple hemodynamic parameters. The system deriving the proper timing using electrical or mechanical events having a predictable relationship with an optimal ventricular pacing timing signal. |
| US07856266B1 |
Implantable cardiac stimulation device providing reduced defibrillation thresholds and method
An implantable cardiac defibrillation device provides pre-shock stimuli to reduce the defibrillation threshold (DFT). The device includes an arrhythmia detector that detects fibrillation of a fibrillating chamber of a heart and a pulse generator that provides a fibrillation therapy output responsive to the arrhythmia detector detecting fibrillation of the fibrillating chamber of the heart. The therapy output includes a defibrillating shock having an output magnitude exceeding a temporary defibrillation threshold of the fibrillating chamber and at least one pre-defibrillating shock output pulse that reduces an initial defibrillation threshold of the fibrillating chamber to the temporary defibrillation threshold. An electrode system having at least two defibrillation electrodes delivers both the at least one pre-defibrillating shock output pulse to the heart and the defibrillating shock to the fibrillating chamber of the heart. |
| US07856264B2 |
Systems and methods for patient interactive neural stimulation and/or chemical substance delivery
Systems and methods for patient interactive neural stimulation and/or chemical substance delivery are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes affecting a target neural population of the patient by providing to the patient at least one of an electromagnetic signal and a chemical substance. The method can further include detecting at least one characteristic of the patient, with the characteristic at least correlated with the patient's performance of an adjunctive therapy task that is performed in association with affecting the target neural population. The method can still further include controlling at least one parameter in accordance with which the target neural population is affected, based at least in part on the detected characteristic. |
| US07856263B2 |
Transdermal systems for the delivery of therapeutic agents including granisetron using iontophoresis
A disposable skin-worn device for the transdermal delivery at least one dose of charged therapeutic substances, including granisetron, by iontophoresis, the device comprising a donor reservoir containing an amount of a therapeutic substance to be delivered transdermally by iontophoresis, a counter reservoir, a source of electric power connected in a circuit between the donor reservoir and the counter reservoir and a control system for controlling current flow in the circuit to enable at least one dose of the therapeutic substance to be delivered transdermally by iontophoresis and wherein the control system includes a control element selected from the group consisting of a sensor activated by an external signal and a switch. |
| US07856262B2 |
Volume specific characterization of human skin by electrical immitance
This invention relates to a sensor assembly and a method for measuring characteristics of a surface, preferably skin, comprising a first pair of current supply electrodes coupled to a current source, providing an electrical current to the skin, at least one pickup electrodes at chosen positions relative to the current supply electrodes, at least a first of said pickup electrodes being coupled to an instrument for measuring the voltage between said first pickup electrode and at least one of the pickup or current supply electrodes. |
| US07856261B2 |
Cable with spacer for positioning multiple medical sensors
A subject monitoring apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a drive unit (10); a sensor unit (50); and a plurality of cable end units (500) for providing electrical connection between electrodes disposed on a subject and cables passing from the cable end units to the drive and sensor units. Each cable end unit includes first and second connectors (340, 380), and a spacer (400) which substantially maintains a pre-determined distance (L) between the first and second connectors. |
| US07856260B1 |
Implantable cardiac patch for measuring physiologic information
An implantable cardiac patch is configured to be joined to a surface of a heart and includes a body portion having an inner surface configured to be joined to the surface of the heart. The body portion also has a plurality of pores extending into the body portion from the inner surface. A plurality of electrodes are attached to the body portion such that the electrodes are positioned proximate the surface of the heart, and a lead is electrically connected to the electrodes at a connecting portion of the lead. The lead has a proximal end configured for joining to an implantable device. |
| US07856255B2 |
Electronic apparatus
Provided is an electronic apparatus including a casing, a first jog dial, and a pressing operation detection unit. The casing includes a first surface and a second surface. The first jog dial is exposed from the first surface and the second surface, is capable of rotating around a first axis substantially parallel to the first surface and the second surface as a center, and is capable of being pressed from a first direction substantially perpendicular to the first surface and a second direction substantially perpendicular to the second surface. The pressing operation detection unit detects a first pressing operation from the first direction and a second pressing operation from the second direction. |
| US07856254B2 |
Mobile communication terminal and method of controlling the same
A mobile communication terminal including a first rotary key configured to generate a first signal when the first rotary key is rotated, in which the first signal indicates a direction and an amount the first rotary key is rotated, a second rotary key configured to generate a second signal when the second rotary key is rotated, in which the second signal indicates a direction and an amount the first rotary key is rotated, a display unit configured to display a screen thereon, and a controller configured to control a specific operation on the displayed screen based on the first and second signals. |
| US07856251B2 |
Device and method for using a rotating key and controlling a display in a mobile terminal
A device and method for using a rotating key on a mobile terminal is provided. The mobile terminal includes a plurality of dome switches which can detect a contact signal when pressed and a plurality of contact surfaces which can detect the position of the rotating key in each direction of rotation. The device and method comprises a folder opening/closing sensor for detecting whether a folder of the mobile terminal is opened or closed; first and second display sections for displaying menus or data according to the operation of the rotating key; and a control section for controlling the mobile terminal to display a menu or data selected by the operation of the rotating key on the first display section or the second display section according to an output from the folder opening/closing sensor. |
| US07856250B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing SOHO BTS interference using antenna beam coverage based on pilot strength measurement messages
A small office/home office base transceiver station (SOHO BTS) server capable of managing interference by correlating pilot strength measurements sent by mobile devices and directing the attenuation settings for each transmit path. An array of antennas coupled to an array of transmit paths are selectively activated one at a time. When a transmit path is activated, the SOHO BTS server sets the associated variable attenuator to its maximum level. The SOHO BTS server detects whether a radio environment report or and a pilot strength measurement message (PSMM) containing information about a mobile station's pilot strength is present. When the pilot strength is greater than a predetermined value, the SOHO BTS server increases the setting on the attenuator. Otherwise, the SOHO BTS server decreases the attenuator setting until such pilot strength information is available or if the lowest attenuator setting has been set. The other transmit paths are also tested accordingly. |
| US07856249B2 |
Combined mass storage and subscriber identity module providing information security and apparatus for use therewith
A mass storage and subscriber identity module includes a frame and a mass storage device supported by the frame. The module also include a first connector supported by the frame and configured to be removably connected to a smart card and a second connector supported by the frame, electrically coupled to the mass storage device and the first connector, and configured to be removably connected to an electronic device. The module further includes an interface circuit configured to control access via the second connector to information stored in the mass storage device based on information in a smart card, e.g., a SIM card, connected to the first connector. |
| US07856248B1 |
Communication device
A communication device which includes a voice communicating means, an automobile controlling means, and an OCR means, which further includes a caller ID means, a call blocking means, an auto time adjusting means, a calculating means, a word processing means, a startup software means, a stereo audio data output means, a digital camera means, a multiple language displaying means, a caller's information displaying means, a communication device remote controlling means, and a shortcut icon displaying means. |
| US07856246B2 |
Multi-cell data processor
The exemplary embodiments of this invention provide a data processor having a processor engine composed of a plurality of processor cells, each cell including a local instruction memory and an instruction sequencer and being configured for selective connection with at least one adjacent cell enabling communication between cells. The processor engine is configured to be interposed between a radio frequency section and a baseband section to process data output from the baseband section prior to inputting the processed data to the radio frequency section, and to process signals output from the radio frequency section prior to inputting processed data to the baseband section. A plurality of communication-related functions are mapped into a corresponding plurality of regions of cells, and local instruction memory is configured to store program instructions for implementing all or a part of the associated function. As examples, one function may be a CORDIC function and another function may be a FIR filter function. |
| US07856244B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling vector graphic in mobile phone
Provided is a mobile phone including: a transceiver for receiving voice and data signals from outside; a voice processing part for demodulating the voice signal input from the transceiver and outputting the voice signal as a voice, and modulating a voice received from outside and converting the voice into a voice signal; a control part for processing the voice signal and the data signal received from the transceiver; a display part controlled by the control part to display a vector graphic; a memory for storing an operating program of the control part and a system program; a vector graphic processing part for producing and modulating a vector graphic in response to control of the control part and outputting the vector graphic to the display part; and a button including an input part for transmitting an input from outside to the control part, the input part performing the function of connecting to a wireless Internet service when pressed and controlling the size of the vector graphic when rolled. |
| US07856231B2 |
Mobile communication terminal having a radio frequency calibration data recovering function and a method of backing up and restoring calibration data
A mobile communication terminal, and a method of backing up and restoring calibration data thereof disclosed, thereby enabling a terminal to repair damage to radio frequency calibration data. The present invention includes a radio frequency calibration data checking unit comparing a checksum value of radio frequency calibration data stored in an internal terminal memory to a checksum of backup data value stored in a SIM card according when the terminal is turned on, the radio frequency calibration data checking unit determining whether the radio frequency calibration data stored in memory is the same as the data stored on the SIM radio frequency calibration data recovering unit for restoring the radio frequency calibration data from the SIM card. |
| US07856226B2 |
Systems and methods for IMS user sessions with dynamic service selection
Under one aspect, a system generates dynamic call models within an IMS network, allowing different user entities (UEs) to have different service experiences. The IMS network includes application servers (ASs) and a serving call state control function (S-CSCF) that receives and then forwards UE service requests. The system includes storage media storing a service tree, which defines potential call models that map potential UE service requests onto ASs. At least two potential call models map a specified potential UE service request onto different ASs that can provide different service experiences. The system includes control logic for providing session control, which receives UE service requests from the S-CSCF, receives the service tree from the storage media, generates a call model for each UE based on potential call models defined by the service tree and on the requested service, and invokes a specified AS based on the generated call model. |
| US07856218B2 |
Direct conversion receiver
In a direct conversion receiver, to cancel a DC offset generated in the baseband processing block, negative feedback arrangements comprising a gain control amplifier and a low-pass filter are respectively attached to the I and Q signal branches of the baseband block following mixer outputs. The gain control amplifier in each negative feedback circuit is gain adjusted so that the product G·B of the gain G of a primary gain control amplifier and its own gain B will be constant and thereby the DC offset is cancelled. This DC offset cancellation can be applied in a continuous receiving system with no intermittent time during a receiving operation. Capacitance elements located off-chip can be reduced to those to be used only in the low-pass filters in the negative feedback circuits, whereas many off-chip capacitance elements have been required to be inserted between each stage of gain control amplifiers in conventional baseband chains. |
| US07856213B2 |
Method, system, and device for specifying selective override of do-not-disturb functionality
The present invention provides methods, systems, and devices for selective override of do-not-disturb in a wireless communications network, in which a user is provided with the option to query and modify the ignoring of do-not-disturb (DnD) for certain reasons. In some embodiments, DnD is ignored when an incoming call is an urgent call. In other embodiments DnD is ignored when an incoming call is an emergency call. In some embodiments a call processing server manages and performs selective override of do-not-disturb in an OMA compatible system. In yet other embodiments, a mobile device is adapted to send to a dispatch network a request to query or set an ignoreDnD flag, along with associated ignoreDnD reasons. |
| US07856211B2 |
Broadband wireless communications systems and methods using multiple non-contiguous frequency bands/segments
Wireless communications transceivers include a transmitter that is configured to selectively frequency shift and transmit portions of broadband information over multiple non-contiguous narrowband frequency bands/segments, each of which is too narrow to carry the broadband information. A receiver also is configured to receive and selectively frequency shift portions of broadband information from multiple non-contiguous narrowband frequency bands/segments, each of which is too narrow to carry the second broadband information. Broadband information thereby may be transmitted and received in a regulated communications environment, even though a given provider may only be assigned discontinuous frequency bands/segments, none of which is wide enough to carry the entire broadband information. |
| US07856210B2 |
Power step control for high-speed downlink shared channel packet access
A radio access network node comprises a transport format selector (44) which uses plural input parameters for determining a transport format for a high-speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH). The transport format selector is arranged to protect radio quality (e.g., the signal to noise ratio (SIR)) of the high-speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH) against a radio quality fluctuation due to one or more of fast fading, power variations, or interference variations. The radio quality fluctuation may be a downlink power variation caused by or accompanying transmission on the high-speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH) itself (or any other channel such as a DPCH). The radio quality fluctuation may jeopardize reliability of or render inaccurate (e.g., stale) a reported value for a first input parameter ascribed to a radio condition and utilized to determine the transport format. The transport format selector promotes radio quality of the high-speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH) by compensating, in the determining of the transport format, for any inaccurate representation by the reported input value of a radio condition which may have changed at the time of transmission of the high-speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH). The first input parameter (for which the transport format selector anticipates a difference) can be, for example, a channel quality indicator (CQI) which represents the radio condition of radio channel quality. |
| US07856209B1 |
Method and system for location estimation in wireless networks
A method of estimating a location of a wireless device providing a wireless attack. The method includes disposing a number of sniffers in a geographic region and receiving a number of wireless signals at one or more of the number of sniffers. The method also includes processing the number of wireless signals to identify a subset of the number of wireless signals that are associated with the wireless device and determining a number of received signal strengths associated with the subset of the number of wireless signals. The method further includes providing an estimation of the location of the wireless device utilizing the determined received signal strengths associated with the subset of the number of wireless signals. |
| US07856203B2 |
System for inhibiting texting and similar distractions while driving moving vehicles
A system is disclosed for preventing moving vehicle drivers from cell phone texting while that vehicle is moving. This system comprises a motion detector and a moving vehicle's contiguous interior compartment containing at least four courtesy signal transmitters and at least one conventional cell phone having a text keyboard, a microphone, and a courtesy signal receiver disposed in the microphone which is in the keyboard. This compartment may also have devices in it which control the speed and direction the moving vehicle will go, and if so, it may have a moving vehicle driver, who may also be the aforementioned cell phone user, located to operate these devices. The cell phone may enable or disable the keyboard based on courtesy signal transit times and the motion indicator, but this determination may be overridden by the cell phone service provider, or person of authority located in the vehicle's contiguous interior compartment. |
| US07856200B2 |
Semiconductive belt, semiconductive roll and image forming apparatus using these members
A semiconductive belt includes: at least one different resistance portion that is configured to partly differ in surface resistance from surroundings, wherein the at least one different resistance portion is at an angle with respect to a direction perpendicular to a belt end portion. |
| US07856195B2 |
Image forming apparatus whose image bearing member is rotated by a pulley
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material is constituted by an image bearing member, a driving source, a first pulley rotatable by actuation of the driving source, a second pulley, connected to a rotatable member, for transmitting rotation of the driving source to the image bearing member, a belt supported by the first pulley and the second pulley, a first pressing member which is disposed upstream from the first pulley with respect to a rotational direction of the drum and located closer to the second pulley than a rotation axis of the first pulley so as to press the first pulley through the belt, and a second pressing member disposed at a position substantially symmetrically opposite from the first pressing member with respect to a line connecting the rotation axis of the first pulley and a rotation axis of the second pulley so as to press the first pulley through the belt. |
| US07856194B2 |
Intermediate transfer unit-mounting and dismounting mechanism and intermediate transfer unit-mounting and dismounting method
An intermediate transfer unit mounting and dismounting mechanism for an image forming apparatus including a transfer belt unit that is provided as a separate structure from the apparatus body and can be mounted to and dismounted from the apparatus body, includes: a coupling/decoupling manipulator disposed at the coupling portion between the intermediate transfer unit and the apparatus body for coupling/decoupling. The coupling/decoupling manipulator includes a threaded portion to fasten the intermediate transfer unit and the apparatus body and a drive gear for transferring driving force for conveying the intermediate transfer belt. While the threaded portion is rotated to release the fastening between the transfer belt unit and the housing, the transfer belt is conveyed by the drive gear that rotates in linkage with the rotation of the threaded portion. |
| US07856183B2 |
Circuit for transmitting signals in a network node, particularly for a channel card for an optical wavelength division multiplex (WDM) signal trasmitting device
A circuit for transmitting signals in a network node, particularly for a channel card for an optical WDM signal transmission device, with a first holding device assigned to the local side of the network node, which can be freely equipped by means of a local-side transceiver unit and which has an internal transmitting port connection and an internal receiving port connection which, in case first holding device is equipped with local-side transceiver unit, are connected to the respective transmitting or receiving ports of local-side transceiver unit, with two additional holding devices assigned to the remote side of the network node having similar ports. A controllable signal switching unit is provided with novel construction to configure connections between the respective internal ports. |
| US07856171B2 |
Method and apparatus for expressing amount of camera motion
A method and apparatus for preventing image blur due to camera motion, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for sensing a camera motion, calculating an amount of the camera motion based on the sensed camera motion, and expressing the calculated amount of the camera motion to a user so that the user can prevent image blur. The method includes: sensing the camera motion; calculating an amount of the camera motion based on the sensed camera motion; and expressing the calculated amount of the camera motion. |
| US07856170B2 |
Device for producing steam and cooking appliance
A heatable housing and a device such as a cooking appliance including a heatable housing for producing steam includes at least one wall that delimits an interior space, which is enclosed by the housing at least in areas and which serves to hold a liquid to be vaporized. The wall has at least one hollow for accommodating at least one heating device. |
| US07856169B2 |
Reproduction device, program, and reproduction method
A BD-ROM playback apparatus for selecting and playing back one among text subtitle streams together with a moving picture. PSR 48-61 store Decode Capability flags whose set values indicate, for each language, whether or not a decode capability is present. Procedure executing unit 20 judges whether each text subtitle stream can be displayed, by referring to each set value of flags. Stream selection unit 17 selects a text subtitle stream judged as being able to be decoded. Here, the decode capability for a language being present indicates presence of rendering capability for converting character codes of the language into bitmaps, and support capability for supporting properties of the language. The b16 to b23 in PSR 30 includes a permission flag indicating whether stream selection unit 17 is permitted to select an unsupported language for which rendering capability is present but not support capability. |
| US07856168B2 |
Recorder/reproducer and content data protection system for preventing unauthorized use of content
The recorder/reproducer, when moving a first content data, writes a second content data, which is obtained by re-coding the first content data recorded in a first recording medium, into a second recording medium instead of the first content data, writes one or more first partial information extracted from the first content data into the second recording medium, and makes the first content data irreproducible, using one or more first invalidated partial information having one-to-one correspondence with the extracted one or more first partial information. When restoring the first content data, it makes the irreproducible first content data reproducible, using the one or more first partial information recorded in the second recording medium. |
| US07856163B2 |
Planar lightwave circuit, design method for wave propagation circuit, and computer program
A planar lightwave circuit is provided which can be easily fabricated by an existing planar-lightwave-circuit fabrication process, which can lower the propagation loss of signal light and which can convert inputted signal light so as to derive desired signal light. A planar lightwave circuit having a core and a clad which are formed on a substrate, has input optical waveguide(s) (111) which inputs signal light, mode coupling part (112) for coupling a fundamental mode of the inputted signal light to a higher-order mode and/or a radiation mode, or mode re-coupling part (113) for re-coupling the higher-order mode and/or the radiation mode to the fundamental mode, and output optical waveguide(s) (114) which outputs signal light. The mode coupling part or the mode re-coupling part is an optical waveguide which has core width and/or height varied continuously. |
| US07856152B2 |
Light condition recorder system and method
A light condition recorder system and method including a light condition recorder (104) responsive to a lighting environment (102) and generating an environment signal (112), a light simulator (106) responsive to the environment signal (112) and generating a lamp control signal (114), and a lamp system (108) responsive to the lamp control signal (114) and generating a simulated lighting environment (110). |
| US07856147B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing a compressed image in an order other than the order of which it was compressed
An image processing system that can receive compressed image data corresponding to a representation of an image and process that image data in an order that is independent of the order in which that image data was compressed. A first pass decoding identifies certain information pertaining to the coded units within the compressed image data. Based upon that information, the coded units in the compressed image data may be decoded in an order that is different than the order in which they were encoded, and portions of the image may be rotated by a multiple of 90° independently of other portions of the image, thereby reducing the amount of memory needed to decompress and rotate the compressed image data. |
| US07856141B2 |
Method for adjusting saturation and contrast of an area of an image and apparatus thereof
A method for adjusting saturation of an area of an image is disclosed. The method includes calculating a deviation level of a pixel in the area of the image by a processor and calculating a modified saturation value of the pixel in the area of the image according to the deviation level of the pixel in the area of the image and an original saturation value of the pixel in the area of the image by the processor. The deviation level indicates brightness differences of the brightness values among the pixel and a pixel set in a vicinity of the pixel in the area of the image. The pixel set includes pixels in the vicinity of the pixel of the area of the image. |
| US07856138B2 |
System, method and computer software product for inspecting charged particle responsive resist
A system software product and a method for evaluating a mask, the method including the stages of: defining multiple CD measurement target windows; defining multiple pattern recognition windows such that the multiple CD measurements windows do not overlap the multiple pattern recognition windows, wherein each CD measurement target window and an associated pattern recognition window are positioned within a measurement area that is scannable without introducing a substantial mechanical movement; performing multiple critical dimension measurements of multiple patterns of an object being manufactured by exposing the mask to radiation, wherein the performing comprises using at least one CD measurement target window and at least one pattern recognition window; and evaluating the mask. |
| US07856124B2 |
Image evaluation device, method and program
More accurate image evaluation is achieved by using information about faces contained in images. An information acquiring unit acquires, from an image containing at least one face, information about the size and the position of the at least one face. An evaluation value calculating unit calculates an evaluation value representing a result of evaluation of the image based on the information about the size and position of the at least one face acquired by the information acquiring unit. |
| US07856122B2 |
Method and device for collating biometric information
A feature amount obtained from an image group for registration is stored as dictionary data in a memory. When an input image group constituted of a plurality of images is supplied to be collated with the dictionary data, the images constituting the input image group are classified based on a specific classification standard, a feature amount obtained from each of the classified image groups is collated with the feature amount stored as the dictionary data in the memory, and a result of the collation of all the input image groups with the dictionary data is determined based on a result of integrating a plurality of collection results of the classified image groups with the dictionary data. |
| US07856119B2 |
Embedding data in material
An apparatus including a transformer for transforming transform domain data into time domain data and a combiner for receiving material and combining said time domain data with said material to form data embedded material. Hence, the material is not subject any transformation at all. |
| US07856116B2 |
Authenticating identification and security documents
The application discloses identification and security documents and methods and systems for authenticating such identification and security documents. In one implementation, a document includes a first surface; and a second surface. The first surface comprises a first set of print structures and a second set of print structures. The first set of print structures and the second set of print structures cooperate to obscure the location on the first surface of the second set of print structures. The second set of print structures is arranged on the first surface so as to provide a reflection pattern. In one example, the reflection pattern includes a diffraction grating. The second set of print structures is preferably provided on the first surface with metallic ink. In other implementations a financial instrument or identification document is provided with an organic light emitting diode (OLED) array. The OLED array displays information thereon. The information is preferably correlated to the information on or in the financial instrument or identification document. |
| US07856114B2 |
Magnetic speaker grill
A speaker assembly having a removable grill. The grill includes a perforated portion circumscribed by a flange. The flange has one or magnets disposed around an outer periphery of the flange. The speaker body has corresponding slugs disposed so as to align with the magnets of the grill upon assembly. The magnetic bond formed between the slugs and magnets keeps the grill attached to the speaker body during operation of the speaker assembly. |
| US07856113B2 |
Multi-microphone capsule
A multi-microphone capsule includes a housing, a plurality of microphones disposed in the housing, and an acoustic seal also disposed in the housing, wherein the microphones include an omni-directional microphone, a uni-directional microphone, or combinations thereof. The microphones are placed front-and-back or side-by-side, or a part of the microphones are placed side-by-side and the other microphones are placed front-and-back with the part of the microphones. |
| US07856112B2 |
Desktop terminal foot and desktop system
The present invention discloses an inventive microphone assembly for desktop communication systems. It utilises the advantages of placing the microphone in a desktop conferencing system as close as possible to the tabletop surface, without exposing the microphone for unfavourable mechanical or acoustic influence. This is achieved by building it into the footing in front of system, in a mechanically controlled and robust way. In this way, the high frequency response can be controlled to optimise sound quality, and at the same time the microphone assembly can be configured as a flexible unit that easily can be re-used in other systems. |
| US07856111B2 |
Hearing aid with sound tube serving for retention in concha
A hearing aid device has a custom-fit shell that fits into the helix lock area of the outer ear of a hearing-impaired person, and an RIC tube that is held in the concha of the outer ear and terminates in the ear canal. The combination of the custom-fit shell and the RIC tube in the concha retain the hearing aid in the outer ear. |
| US07856108B2 |
Method for preventing an output device from being damaged
The present invention relates to a method for preventing an output device from being damaged, which comprises the steps of: dividing the output value of an output device into a plurality of areas, defining a ratio value to every area, receiving a desired output value, determining the current area where the desired output value device is located, and calculating the desired output value with the ratio value to obtain an actual output volume and output the actual output volume. |
| US07856106B2 |
System and method for determining a representation of an acoustic field
This system for determining a representation of an acoustic field (P) includes: acoustic wave acquisition elements (1) including a plurality of elemental sensors (21 to 2Q) which are distributed in space and which each deliver a measurement signal (c1 to cQ); and elements (8) for processing by the application, to the measurement signals (c1 to cQ), of filtering combinations representative of structural characteristics of the acquisition elements (1) in order to deliver a plurality of acoustic signals (sc1 to scN) which are each associated with a predetermined general reproduction direction defined relative to a given point in space (14), the set of acoustic signals (sc1 to scN) forming a representation of the acoustic field (P). The system is characterized in that the elemental sensors (21 to 2Q) are distributed in space in a substantially non-regular manner and in that the filtering combinations are representative of that distribution. |
| US07856105B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing of amplifier linearization signals
A feed-forward amplifier includes a main amplifier having input signals and amplified output signals and an error amplifier for amplifying distortion signals to be added to the amplified output signals of the main amplifier to produce an amplifier output. A pilot tone modulation and recovery circuit modulates a pilot tone to be coupled to the input signals of the main amplifier and recovers the pilot tone from the amplifier output. The pilot tone modulation and recovery circuit includes a digital filter and a signal source. The signal source is used to both modulate the pilot tone and control the digital filter for recovering the pilot tone. |
| US07856102B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing a message authentication code using a pipeline
Methods and apparatus provide for: dividing a quantity of data values into a plurality of blocks; dividing the plurality of blocks into respective sub-sets of blocks; computing an intermediate message authentication code block for each sub-set of blocks by performing a first cipher block chaining algorithm on the blocks of each sub-set of blocks; and computing a message authentication code block for the plurality of blocks by performing a second cipher block chaining algorithm on the intermediate message authentication code blocks. |
| US07856101B2 |
Method for elliptic curve scalar multiplication
The method for elliptic curve scalar multiplication is a method for fast, efficient multiplication of a point on an elliptic curve by a scalar. Two different parameters are used to assign separate projective coordinates to the x-coordinate and the y-coordinate. The x- and y-coordinates are projected by ZLx and ZLy, where Lx and Ly are exponential functions having a common base, i.e., Lx=gnx and Ly=gny, respectively. The use of projective coordinates reduces the number of inversions in scalar multiplication, thereby speeding processing time. Furthermore, since the parameters Lx and Ly are exponential functions, and since the base g is invariant, g−1 can be precomputed and stored. This practically eliminates any further inversions, since Lx−1=(g−1)nx and Ly−1=(g−1)ny so that inversions are simplified to exponentiation by substitution, further speeding processing time and reducing storage requirements. |
| US07856099B2 |
Secure data transmission between two modules
The invention relates to a method for secure data transmission in connections between two functional modules of an electronic unit. A first module of a message of k bits in a word code of n bits is injection coded with a constant Hamming weight of w. The word of code is transmitted to a second module. An error signal is generated when the Hamming weight of the word of code of n bits, received by the second module, is different from w. In the absence of error, the code word is decoded, where k, w and n are whole numbers. The invention further relates to a corresponding electronic circuit. |
| US07856096B2 |
Erasure of DTMF signal transmitted as speech data
A DTMF signal processing apparatus of the present invention comprises a data divider unit, a DTMF signal component analyzer unit, a weighting processing unit, a buffer, a DTMF signal erasure determination unit, and a DTMF signal erasure processing unit. The data divider unit divides speech data into a plurality of divided speech data, and the DTMF signal component analyzer unit analyzes whether or not the divided speech data has a DTMF signal component. The weighting processing unit applies a weighting value to divided speech data analyzed at this time and stores the resultant speech data in the buffer, and also applies a weighting value to past divided speech data previously stored in the buffer when the result of the analysis indicates that the analyzed divided speech data has the DTMF signal component. The DTMF signal erasure determination unit determines based on the weighting value whether or not to erase the divided speech data stored in the buffer. The DTMF signal erasure processing unit replaces the divided speech data with either mute data or noise data, and delivers the replaced data when the result of the determination indicates an erasure. |
| US07856093B2 |
Interactive communication apparatus and connecting method
An interactive communication apparatus has a video signal, obtained by an image pickup device performing an image pickup activity, and which has the obtained video signal sent to another apparatus through a communication device while causing a display device to display an image based on a video signal received from the other apparatus through the communication device. The apparatus includes a storage device storing communicating party information about a communicating party at the other apparatus, the communicating party information including geographical location information and access point information about the communicating party. The apparatus also includes a graphic user interface generating a graphic user interface screen in order to have the display device display the generated screen by mapping an identification image identifying the communicating party onto a map based on the communicating party information in such a manner as to indicate a local time applicable to the communicating party. |
| US07856092B2 |
Method and apparatus for handling disconnected call
A method of handling an interrupted call on a communication terminal, which includes updating a task model table including a plurality of informational fields related to a task performed during a call placed on the terminal, and restarting the task at a location corresponding to where the task stopped executing when the call was interrupted using the informational fields in the task model table. |
| US07856085B2 |
X-ray imaging apparatus
First, a connection state is detected. Next, a determination is made as to whether a connection is made via a dedicated line. If it is determined that the connection is not made via a dedicated line, image accumulation time is calculated. Then, after drive timing is changed, an imaging operation is started. |
| US07856084B2 |
Method for activation of an emitter of a computed tomography scanner
In a computed tomography scanner having an emitter for emitting a beam of given radiation through an object to be analysed, a detector for receiving said beam after the beam itself has traversed the object, and a rotating arm, which supports the emitter and the detector and rotates the emitter and the detector about the object along a series of angular positions, there is generated a succession of first pulses, each of which activates the detector in one respective angular position, and a succession of second pulses for activating the emitter so that it will emit a dose of radiation in each angular position, associated to which is a respective dose of radiation in such a way as to pre-define a distribution of doses of radiation along the series of angular positions. |
| US07856082B2 |
System and method for optimization of a radiation therapy plan in the presence of motion
A computer-implemented method for optimizing a radiation treatment plan for a radiotherapy machine providing independently controlled radiation along a plurality of rays j directed toward a patient and configured to account for the effects of patient motion. The method includes generating a probability distribution function quantitatively expressing patient motion, identifying a prescribed total dose Dip at the voxels i in a treatment area, assigning a fluence value wj for each ray j based on an iterative function, calculating an actual total dose Did produced each voxel i within the assigned fluence values and calculating an expectation value of the dose per energy fluence, dij based on the actual total dose Did and the probability distribution function. |
| US07856078B2 |
Method and X-ray CT system for generating computed tomography displays
A method is disclosed for generating computed tomography displays, in which with the aid of at least one X-ray source, an examination object is scanned in a rotationally circulating fashion with a measured dose rate dependent on the circulation angle, projection data are collected from a multiplicity of viewing angles, and at least similarly redundant projection data from angularly identical or angularly complementary projection angles with a different measured dose are interpolated with distance weighted relative to a projection value and are used for reconstruction. According to at least one embodiment of the invention, during the distance weighted interpolation of the at least similarly redundant projection data an additional noise optimizing weighting is carried out as a function of the noise present per projection value. Furthermore, an X-ray computed tomography system is disclosed for generating tomographic displays of an examination object with the aid of an arithmetic logic unit, including computer program code for evaluating detector data and carrying out a reconstruction, the arithmetic logic unit including program code that during operation executes at least one embodiment of the method. |
| US07856072B2 |
Semiconductor device, memory device and memory module having digital interface
An object of the present invention is to reduce jitter dependent on data patterns by an interface receiver. Another object of the present invention is to provide an LSI capable of automatically adjusting a delay time for jitter reduction so as to be able to control its setting for each device. Since the jitter dependent on the data patterns can be expected according to how the previous state is being placed, the state of data received by the receiver is held, and the timing provided to fetch input data is adjusted according to the held state and the input data. As a control mechanism lying in the receiver, for determining a delay time dependent on the form of mounting, a driver transmits and receives pulse data set at one-cycle intervals and pulse data set at two-cycle intervals as test patterns. The receiver has an automatic control mechanism for determining a delay time optimal to a system from the difference between a rising time of each of pulses different in pulse width and its falling time. |
| US07856068B1 |
Nested preamble for multi input multi output orthogonal frequency division multiplexing
A multi input multi output (MIMO) system for transmitting and receiving packets having a nested preamble format included in said packets and having poly-carrier long training sequence (LTS) and signal field (SIG) for training receivers, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Said packets being transmitted using the modulation scheme of a wireless local area network (WLAN) standard, said nested preamble format for allowing said receivers to use one or more receiver antennas to interpret said LTS and said SIG to increase the efficiency of said MIMO system. |
| US07856067B2 |
Unequal hierarchical communications modulation method
Hierarchical modulation preferably uses a 16-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) modulator with a convolutional encoder that combine to effectively provide unequal protection to two different segments of streaming input data, with improved power efficiency with the same bandwidth efficiency, by encoding the first segment as coded data as LSBs as the second segment remains uncoded as uncoded MSBs, with the MSBs used for QAM constellation modest reliability interquadrant demodulation and detection, and with the LSBs used for low reliability intraquadrant detection, but with the LSBs subject to convolutional encoding and decoding rendering the LSBs with high reliability detection, such that, the two segments have unequal coding and modulation for providing unequal levels of reliability detection. |
| US07856063B2 |
Narrowband interference suppression for OFDM systems
A method for suppressing narrowband interference in OFDM receivers is provided including the steps of acquiring a sample of received data, estimating parameters of each of a number of narrowband interferers from the acquired sample of data, forming an excision filter using the estimated parameters and inserting the excision filter into an OFDM receiver. |
| US07856061B2 |
Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus for motion compensation prediction
A video encoding method includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations. Each combination includes a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture. A prediction picture signal is generated in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination. A predictive error signal is generated representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal. Encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination is included. |
| US07856060B2 |
Moving picture coding method and moving picture decoding method for performing inter picture prediction coding and inter picture prediction decoding using previously processed pictures as reference pictures
A coding control unit (110) and a mode selection unit (109) are included. The coding control unit (110) determines the coding order for a plurality of consecutive B-pictures located between I-pictures and P-pictures so that the B-picture whose temporal distance from two previously coded pictures is farthest in display order is coded by priority, so as to reorder the B-pictures in coding order. When a current block is coded in direct mode, the mode selection unit 109 scales a forward motion vector of a block which is included in a backward reference picture of a current picture and co-located with the current block, so as to generate motion vectors of the current block, if the forward motion vector has been used for coding the co-located block. |
| US07856058B2 |
Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus for motion compensation prediction
A video encoding method includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations. Each combination includes a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture. A prediction picture signal is generated in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination. A predictive error signal is generated representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal. Encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination is included. |
| US07856052B2 |
Method and system for low complexity conjugate gradient based equalization in a wireless system
Methods and systems for processing signals in a receiver are disclosed herein and may include updating a plurality of filter taps utilizing at least one channel response vector and at least one correlation vector, for a plurality of received clusters, based on initialized values related to the at least one channel response vector and the at least one correlation vector. At least a portion of the received signal clusters may be filtered utilizing at least a portion of the updated plurality of filter taps. The update may be repeated whenever a specified signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for the received signal clusters is reached. The initialized values may be updated during a plurality of iterations, and the update may be repeated whenever a specified number of the plurality of iterations is reached. |
| US07856047B2 |
System and method for concurrent frequency hopping of radio communications
A method and system for selecting frequency channels for a concurrent dual transceiver system are provided. In one aspect, a single hop table for at least two transceivers is used. The single hop table tracks information associated with a plurality of frequency channels that the transceivers can use. An available frequency channel is randomly selected using the single hop table and a transceiver is allowed to communicate via the selected frequency channel for allowed time duration. If communication has not completed for the current communication request, another frequency channel that is available is selected randomly and used. Multiple transceivers may communicate concurrently using this frequency channel selection and hopping method. |
| US07856042B2 |
High efficiency intersubband semiconductor lasers
An intersubband quantum cascade laser structure includes multiple coupled laser stages, wherein each stage has a multilayer structure including an electron injector, an active region with at least one quantum well, and an electron reflector. Electrons injected from the injector into the active region at a high energy level relax to a lower energy level with the emission of a photon at, for example, mid-infrared wavelengths. The reflector reflects electrons at the higher energy level at which they were injected and transmits electrons from the lower energy level after emission of a photon. Multiple layers of semiconductor are formed on each side of the multistage structure to provide conduction across the device and to provide optical confinement of the photons emitted. |
| US07856040B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting devices with non-epitaxial upper cladding
The AlGaN upper cladding layer of a nitride laser diode is replaced by a non-epitaxial layer, such as metallic silver. If chosen to have a relatively low refractive index value, the mode loss from absorption in the non-epitaxial cladding layer is acceptably small. If also chosen to have a relatively high work-function, the non-epitaxial layer forms an electrical contact to the nitride semiconductors. An indium-tin-oxide layer may also be employed with the non-epitaxial cladding layer. |
| US07856038B2 |
Light-emitting module installing thermo-electric controller
There is provided a light-emitting module which suppresses wavelength drift. A light-emitting module according to the invention includes a stem and a cap fixed to the upper surface of the stem. A thermo-electric cooler is mounted on the stem and a base is mounted on the thermo-electric cooler. A laser diode is mounted on one side of the base. A thermistor that measures the temperature of the laser diode is mounted on another side. The other side includes an overhung portion that blocks radiant heat transmitting from the cap toward the thermistor. |
| US07856027B2 |
Inbound blocking of data received from a LAN in a multi-processor virtualization environment
An incoming LAN traffic management system comprising: an I/O adapter configured to receive incoming packets from an Ethernet; a plurality of hosts coupled to the I/O adapter and each having a host buffer; a data router configured to block information received by the I/O adapter into memory locations from an SBAL associated with at least one of the plurality of hosts and in accordance with blocking parameters for the at least one of the plurality of hosts, the data router including an expiration engine configured to expire the SBAL before it is full if at least one predetermined threshold is exceeded. |
| US07856024B1 |
Method and apparatus for integrating routing and bridging functions
An apparatus and method for routing data packets between a routed network and a local bridged network using integrated routing and bridging (“IRB”) functions are disclosed. In one embodiment a bridge interface between a host in the local bridge network and a bridging engine is IRB enabled. An unnumbered Internet Protocol (“IP”) interface is then added between the host and a routing engine in accordance with the IRB enabled bridge interface. Subsequently packets received from the routed network are forwarded directly by the routing engine to the host in the local bridge network via the unnumbered IP interface, thereby bypassing the bridging engine. Through use of an embodiment of the present invention, packet processing delay in each network device is reduced (because of bypassing the bridging engine), thereby decreasing packet latency in an ever growing network. |
| US07856018B2 |
Provisioning point-to-multipoint paths
Establishing a point-to-multipoint path includes establishing a first label switched path from a source to a first destination, where the first label switched path is represented by a first label set comprising first node-label pairs. A second label switched path is established from the source to a second destination, where the second label switched path is represented by a second label set comprising second node-label pairs. One or more of the second node-label pairs are equivalent to one or more of the first node-label pairs. The first label set and the second label set are combined to establish the point-to-multicast path. |
| US07856017B2 |
Traffic diversion in an ethernet-based access network
An arrangement and method for relieving the traffic load on an edge node in a broadband Ethernet-based access network, which normally employs traffic separation such that all traffic is routed via the edge node. Peer-to-peer traffic between end users places a large burden on the capacity of the edge node. The edge node identifies peer-to-peer traffic and generates address conversion information for access nodes connected to the end users concerned. The access nodes identify packets forming part of the peer-to-peer connection, modify address information to conceal the address of the source end user from the destination end user, and vice versa, and reroute the packets through the access network to the destination end user without passing through the edge node. |
| US07856013B2 |
Switch assisted frame aliasing for storage virtualization
An apparatus and process for relabelling and redirecting at least some of the read transaction data frames and the write transaction write data and transfer ready frames in a network so as to bypass a storage manager and pass directly between the client and a storage device via a switch. This eliminates the storage manager as a bottleneck. Some embodiments redirect every read and write transaction, and others redirect only large transactions, or only ones not stored in cache or when latency gets too high. Redirection is accomplished by transmission from the storage manager to a switch redirection commands that contain old and new address data. When a frame to be redirected comes in, its address is compared to the old address data. If there is a match, the new address data is substituted and the frame is passed to a conventional routing process to be routed so as to bypass the storage manager. |
| US07856009B2 |
VoIP gateway apparatus
To allow a call received from an accommodated device to arrive at the other party by diverting the call from an IP network to a detour network even with different numbering systems between communications over the IP network and over the detour network. A VoIP gateway apparatus 1 includes an ISDN terminal side IF portion 101, an IP network side IF portion 102, an ISDN network side IF portion 103, a condition storage portion 109, a detour determining portion 108, and a number editing portion 106. The detour determining portion 108 determines whether a call arriving at the ISDN terminal side IF portion 101 satisfies a detour condition stored in the condition storage portion 109 or not. If so, the number editing portion 106 edits the called party number of the call under a number editing condition stored in the condition storage portion 109 and then transmits it from the ISDN network side IF portion 103. If not, the call is transmitted from the IP network side IF portion 102 without editing the called party number. |
| US07856007B2 |
Power line communication voice over IP system and method
A power line communication system communicating over a medium voltage power line including a VoIP endpoint that transmits voice data and requests to establish a voice connection to a medium voltage (MV) access device is provided. The medium voltage access device may determine a response to the request, allocate voice data packets a higher priority than general data packets, and transmit the data packets over the MV power line according to their priority. The MV access device may provide one or more voice over internet protocol (VoIP) switch functions and, in response to the requests, grant or deny the requests based, for example, on the number of established voice connections. |
| US07856001B2 |
Wireless mesh routing protocol utilizing hybrid link state algorithms
Systems and methods are described for exchanging and determining routes in packet-switched mesh networks. Nodes in the mesh networks may be coupled via wireless and fixed-wire links. Routing protocols used to determine routes include link state protocols and hybrids of link state and path vector protocols. Type-Length-Value formats are provided to facilitate state information for nodes in the packet switched network, allowing paths to be re-routed through the mesh networks in real-time. |
| US07855997B2 |
Long range scheduling for directional antenna manet networks
Method and apparatus for scheduling time division multiple access (TDMA) communications among a plurality of peer nodes arranged to form a wireless ad hoc mobile network. The peer nodes communicate with each other using directional antennas and a TDMA process. The method includes a scheduling process for scheduling at least one transmit time slot during which a first one of the plurality of peer nodes transmits wireless data to a second one of the plurality of peer nodes. |
| US07855995B1 |
QLM maximum likelihood demodulation
The invention provides a method for implementing demodulation of quadrature layered modulation (QLM) communications using maximum likelihood (ML) demodulation algorithms which limit the demodulation loss. QLM layers communications channels over the same bsndwidth and with a differentiating parameter for each layer which enables a demodulation algorithm to recover the data symbols in each layer. QLM supports higher data rates than allowed by the Shannon bound. QLM demodulation algorithms are trellis symbol algorithms, trellis bit algorithms, ML algorithms, and other equivalent algorithms. Trellis algorithms rapidly increase in complexity with the number of layers of communications and with the order of the modulation. ML algorithms are less complex but have demodulation losses which rapidly increase with the number of data symbols. ML demodulation architectures disclosed in this invention limit these losses and are suitable to implement QLM for higher order modulations and for more layers of communications. |
| US07855992B2 |
Multi-antenna solution for mobile handset
A mobile terminal with multi-antenna (200) based on CDMA, comprises a plurality of groups of radio frequency signal processing modules (202), for transforming received multi-channel radio frequency signals based on CDMA to multi-channel baseband signals; a multi-antenna module (206), for combining said multi-channel baseband signals output from the plurality of groups of radio frequency signal processing modules into single-channel baseband signals according to control information received one-off when said multi-antenna module enables a multi-antenna baseband processing; and a baseband processing module (203), for providing said control information to said multi-antenna module and baseband processing said single-channel baseband signals outputted from said multi-antenna module. |
| US07855988B2 |
System, method, and device for routing calls using a distributed mobile architecture
Methods and devices for routing communications between distributed mobile architecture (DMA) servers using DMA gateways are disclosed. Communications information is received at a first DMA gateway for a communications network accessible by a second DMA gateway. The communications information indicates one or more devices that are accessible by one of a DMA server and a legacy communications network. The first DMA gateway and the second DMA gateway participate in a DMA gateway communications network. The communications information is stored in a home DMA register of the first DMA gateway. A communication is received at the first DMA gateway for a target device indicated by the communications information to be served by the second DMA gateway. The communication is routed from the first DMA gateway to the target device by relaying the communication from the first DMA gateway to the second DMA gateway via the DMA gateway communications network. |
| US07855987B2 |
Packet communication system and packet communication method
User communication apparatus 110 in packet communication system 100 has internal network 111, base station apparatus 112, internal server 113, radio network control apparatus 114 and mobile communication terminal apparatus 151. Radio network control apparatus 114 receives an IP packet from mobile communication terminal apparatus 115 via base station apparatus 112 and internal network 111, and directly transfers the IP packet to internal server 113 via internal network 111. |
| US07855984B2 |
Wireless communication device
A wireless communication device includes a transceiving module, an antenna module, and a switch module. The transceiving module includes a first transceiver and a second transceiver. The antenna module includes at least a first antenna for transmitting electromagnetic signals in a first frequency range. The switch module switches different connections between the antenna module and the transceiving module, and includes a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, a fourth switch, and a first duplexer. |
| US07855982B2 |
Providing services to packet flows in a network
A system and method for providing services to packet flows in a communication network. The services include enhanced charging, stateful firewalls, traffic performance optimization (TPO) and advanced services such as content differentiated charging, per-subscriber stateful firewalls, and VPNs, for example. A gateway can be used to route each packet flow through the services on a per-subscriber basis by inspecting accounting messages and checking subscriber profiles prior to setting up a new packet flow session. By directing the packet flow through the services requested latency can be reduced as well as the need to have equipment for each session regardless of whether the service is provided to the packet flow. The services can be provided in-line as well. |
| US07855981B2 |
Network system, spanning tree configuration method, spanning tree configuration node, and spanning tree configuration program
A node that configures a spanning tree over a network to which a plurality of nodes are connected generates a tree after a cost change using another LAN while continuing to operate the tree that existed before the change, and switches the tree that is used for forwarding after the new tree has been stable. |
| US07855980B2 |
Identification of the configuration topology, existing switches, and miswires in a switched network
An exemplary method of identifying configuration topology, existing switches, and miswires in a given network is provided. Given a number of switches, which may be less than the maximum possible for the actual configuration and some ports of which may be miswired, generate a hypothesis for the supported topology of which the existing configuration is a subset. A best fit of the existing switches to the supported number switches of the maximal topology is performed, using formulae for the connections of the maximal supported topology. If supported switches are found missing in the assumed topology, the switch count is increased accordingly, and started over with a new hypothesis. When satisfied with identification, all switch ports are revisited and the connection formulae is used to identify all miswires. |
| US07855978B2 |
Method of displaying nodes and links
The present invention relates to an improved method of displaying nodes, and links between nodes. Instead of the conventional method of displaying nodes and links as points and lines respectively, in accordance with the present invention, the nodes are each represented by parallel node lines. The links are then represented by link lines drawn perpendicular to the node lines, each of said link lines terminating at the node lines representing the nodes connected by the link represented by the link line. A graphical user interface incorporating this improved method of displaying nodes and links is also contemplated. |
| US07855977B2 |
Alarming in a femto cell network
System(s) and method(s) are provided to monitor operation quality of a femto cell network. Operational data received from deployed femto cell access points are aggregated and monitored. Performance rules and associated operational quality indicators (OQIs) facilitate establishing a standard or desired quality of operation. Performance rule(s) comprises weight(s), sampling test(s), and alarm threshold(s) which can be established by a network operator. Collected data on telecommunication performance metrics can be analyzed to identify or calibrate a standard of operation, which facilitates generating performance rule(s). Weight(s) facilitates reducing the scope of operation data that is effectively monitored. OQIs can assess at least one of service quality, capacity, mobility, or provisioning in a femto cell network. Monitoring operational data generates actionable information for the femto cell network. Alarm(s) are generated when one or more OQIs adopt values below associated alarm thresholds. Alarm(s) facilitate prevention of service degradation of the femto cell network. |
| US07855973B2 |
Apparatus, methods and computer program products for transmission of data over an adjustable synchronous radio channel
A data link, e.g., an audio and/or video data link, is established from a data source, such as an audio and/or video encoder, to a data recipient via an adjustable synchronous radio channel, such as an extended Synchronous Connection-Oriented (eSCO) channel between first and second Bluetooth™ devices. A quality of the data link is determined. A transmission interval and a retransmission criterion of the adjustable synchronous radio channel and an error correction coding of the data link are adjusted responsive to the determined quality of the data link to, for example, maintain a fixed information transfer rate over the data link. The transmission interval and retransmission criterion of the adjustable synchronous radio channel and an error correction coding of the data link may be adjusted by communicating channel parameters between the first and second devices over the radio channel to adjust the transmission interval and the retransmission criterion of the adjustable synchronous radio channel. |
| US07855971B2 |
Interface device and topology formation method
When a loop connection associated with a port is detected while the port is in an Untested state ST3, a state machine corresponding to the port shifts from the state ST3 to a Loop_disabled state ST4. The state machine then shifts from state ST4 to a Sleep1 state ST5 while maintaining a Loop_disabled value set at 1. When the state machine in state ST5 detects a bus reset, the state machine shifts from state ST5 to state ST4. Subsequently, the bus reset detection further shifts the state machine from state ST4 to state ST3. |
| US07855970B2 |
Method for retransmission in mobile communication system
Provided is a method for retransmission in a mobile communication system; and, more particularly, to an integrated operation method of Automatic Retransmission Request (ARQ) and Hybrid Automatic Retransmission Request (HARQ) in a mobile communication system. The method includes the steps of: a) shifting to a 2nd layer waiting status upon receipt of 1st layer reception failure information in a sending status that a fragment block of 2nd layer transmission data is transmitted to the a receiver according to the predetermined retransmission number; b) shifting to a 1st layer receiving status upon receipt of 1st layer reception success information in the sending status; and c) shifting to the transmission completion status upon receipt of the 2nd layer reception success information in the sending status. |
| US07855954B2 |
Speculative credit data flow control
A method of speculative credit data flow control includes defining a low watermark value as a function of a number of open buffers in a receiving unit; receiving a data packet from a sending unit; determining whether the data packet includes a packet delay indicator; defining a first speculative credit value responsive to receiving the packet delay indicator; defining a second speculative credit value as a function of the first speculative credit value added to a regular credit value; generating a flow control packet including the second speculative credit value; and sending the flow control packet to the sending unit. |
| US07855953B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing forwarding of data in an autonomous system
A method of managing forwarding of data in a first autonomous system (AS) is described. The first AS includes a plurality of border routers having inter-domain links to one or more remote AS's and an associated exterior communications protocol. The border routers use an interior communications protocol with other border routers in the first AS using primary tunnels. The method comprises the steps, performed at a first border router having a primary route via an inter-domain link to a remote AS, of constructing an alternate route to the remote AS via second border router in the first AS, instigating a backup tunnel to the second border router upon failure of the primary route and sending a failure message to the other border routers. |
| US07855947B2 |
Method for transmitting pilot for multiple carrier system
A method of transmitting pilot signals in a system which performs communication using two or more earners comprises transmitting first pilots and second pilots from at least one user equipment to a base station, the first and second pilots, which are transmitted from the at least one user equipment, being multiplexed by code division multiplexing, and the first and second pilots, which are transmitted from a specific user equipment, having different transmission powers, and transmitting data from the at least one user equipment to the base station depending on the first pilots and the second pilots. Since many UEs can transmit CQ pilots, exact channel estimation can be performed and thus communication efficiency can be improved. |
| US07855945B2 |
Optical pickup apparatus and optical element
An optical pickup apparatus comprises first, second and third light sources to emit light fluxes of wavelength λ1, λ2 and λ3 for conducting recording and/or reproducing information for first, second and third optical information recording mediums having respective protective substrates of thickness t1, t2 and t3 and a diffractive optical element located on a common optical path for the first, second and third light sources. A converged-light spot is formed on the first optical information recording medium with m-th order diffracted-light ray of the wavelength λ1, on the second optical information recording medium with n-th order diffracted-light ray of the wavelength λ2, and on the third optical information recording medium with k-th order diffracted-light ray of the wavelength λ3 generated by the diffractive optical element respectively, wherein one of m, n and k is different from one of other two numbers. |
| US07855944B2 |
Optical element, optical pickup device and optical information recording and reproducing apparatus
An optical element for use in an optical pickup device to conduct reproducing and/or recording information for a first disk including a protective substrate by the use of a first light flux emitted from a first light source and to conduct reproducing and/or recording information for a second disk including a protective substrate by the use of a second light flux emitted from a first light source, the optical element includes: an optical surface on which a first phase structure is formed to have a function to correct a spherical aberration; an optical surface on which a second phase structure is formed such that when the wavelength of the first light flux changes, the second phase structure generates a spherical aberration in a direction reverse to the direction of a spherical aberration generated by the first phase structure. |
| US07855942B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining a recordable position of a writable disk
According to an embodiment, an apparatus for recording data in a recording medium, includes a reading/recording unit recording or reading data on or from the recording medium, the read data including a position information, the position information indicating a last recorded position and a recordable position for new data to be recorded; and a controller examining whether or not an area corresponding to the recordable position has an already recorded data, and determining whether to change the recordable position to another position for recording the new data based on the examination result, the another position being physically separated from the recordable position indicated by the read data recording information, wherein the controller identifies another position for recording the new data if the area has the already recorded data. |
| US07855941B2 |
Optical disk device
An optical disk as disclosed herein includes, among other things, a summing module that sums a compensation signal to a predetermined signal in a servo loop. The compensation signal compensates for a periodical disturbance input into a servo system of the optical disk device in units of a rotation angle of the disk rotating module. A phase lead imparting module imparts a predetermined amount of phase lead to an output signal from an optical detector module and outputs the predetermined amount of phase lead as the compensation signal. The predetermined amount of phase lead is determined in accordance with the rotation period information. The optical disk device performs an accurate iterative learning control to provide stable servo performance. The iterative learning control is performed such that the signal having imparted an optimal amount of phase lead in accordance with the rotation period information is added to the servo loop. |
| US07855934B2 |
Vertical line hydrophone array
A hydrophone deployment system including a hydrophone assembly, a container for enclosing the hydrophone assembly body in a coiled configuration, means for ejecting the hydrophone assembly from the container, a signal processing module for processing the electrical signals from the hydrophone units, and a transmitter module for converting said processed electrical signals and transmitting said converted signals to a remote receiver. |
| US07855932B2 |
Low power word line control circuits with boosted voltage output for semiconductor memory
A word line control device has a word line driver for deactivating and activating a word line to control access to a memory cell, and a voltage coupling device for coupling voltages to the word line driver. The word line control device maintains boosted voltages and has significantly reduced leakage currents and power consumption in the active and standby modes. |
| US07855927B2 |
NAND system with a data write frequency greater than a command-and-address-load frequency
The invention provides methods and apparatus. A NAND flash memory device receives command and address signals at a first frequency and a data signal at a second frequency that is greater than the first frequency. |
| US07855924B2 |
Data processing memory circuit having pull-down circuit with on/off configuration
A memory circuit includes a memory cell, a pair of conducting lines operable to signal the logic state of the memory cell and read circuitry operable to perform a read operation by detecting a voltage level of at least one of the pair of conducting lines. The memory circuit includes a pull-down circuit having an on configuration in which it is operable to pull-down a voltage level of at least one of the pair of conducting lines so as to affect the read operation and an off-configuration in which the pull-down circuit cannot affect the read operation. Control circuitry is configured to control whether the pull-down circuit is in the on configuration or the off configuration. The memory circuit can be incorporated in a data processing apparatus and a method of operating a memory circuit is provided in which a pull-down circuit is controlled to be in an on configuration or in an off configuration. |
| US07855923B2 |
Write current compensation using word line boosting circuitry
Apparatus and method for write current compensation in a non-volatile memory cell, such as but not limited to spin-torque transfer random access memory (STRAM) or resistive random access memory (RRAM). In accordance with some embodiments, a non-volatile memory cell has a resistive sense element (RSE) coupled to a switching device, the RSE having a hard programming direction and an easy programming direction opposite the hard programming direction. A voltage boosting circuit includes a capacitor which adds charge to a nominal non-zero voltage supplied by a voltage source to a node to generate a temporarily boosted voltage. The boosted voltage is applied to the switching device when the RSE is programmed in the hard programming direction. |
| US07855920B2 |
Semiconductor memory device having a floating storage bulk region capable of holding/emitting excessive majority carriers
A semiconductor memory device includes: a semiconductor layer formed on an insulating layer; a plurality of transistors formed on the semiconductor layer and arranged in a matrix form, each of the transistors having a gate electrode, a source region and a drain region, the electrodes in one direction constituting word lines; source contact plugs connected to the source regions of the transistors; drain contact plugs connected to the drain regions of the transistors; source wirings each of which commonly connects the source contact plugs, the source wirings being parallel to the word lines; and bit lines formed so as to cross the word lines and connected to the drain regions of the transistors via the drain contact plugs. Each of the transistors has a first data state having a first threshold voltage and a second data state having a second threshold voltage. |
| US07855919B2 |
Non-volatile memory and semiconductor device
There is provided a non-volatile memory which enables high accuracy threshold control in a writing operation. In the present invention, a drain voltage and a drain current of a memory transistor are controlled to carry out a writing operation of a hot electron injection system, which is wherein a charge injection speed does not depend on a threshold voltage. FIGS. 1A and 1B are views of a circuit structure for controlling the writing. In FIGS. 1A and 1B, an output of an operational amplifier 103 is connected to a control gate of a memory transistor 101, a constant current source 102 is connected to a drain electrode, and a source electrode is grounded. The constant current source 102 and a voltage Vpgm are respectively connected to two input terminals of the operational amplifier 103. |
| US07855918B2 |
Method for programming a memory structure
A memory structure includes a first memory cell and a second memory cell located at an identical bit line and adjacent to the first memory cell. Each memory cell includes a substrate, a source, a drain, a charge storage device, and a gate. A method for programming the memory structure includes respectively providing a first gate biasing voltage and a second gate biasing voltage to the first memory cell and the second memory cell, boosting the absolute value of a channel voltage of the first memory cell to generate electron and hole pairs at the drain of the second memory cell through gate-induced drain leakage or band-to-band tunneling, and injecting the electron of the generated electron and hole pairs into the charge storage device of the first memory cell to program the first memory cell. |
| US07855910B2 |
Electric element, memory device, and semiconductor integrated circuit
A memory device including a plurality of electric elements corresponding to a plurality of transistors on a one-to-one basis; a word line driver for driving a plurality of word lines; and a bit line/plate line driver for driving a plurality of bit lines and a plurality of plate lines. Each of the plurality of electric elements includes a first electrode connected to one of the transistors corresponding to the electric element, a second electrode connected to one of the plate lines corresponding to the electric element, and a variable-resistance film connected between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the variable-resistance film includes Fe3O4 as a constituent element and has a crystal grain size of 5 nm to 150 nm. |
| US07855908B2 |
Information storage devices using magnetic domain wall motion and methods of operating the same
An information storage device using magnetic domain wall motion and a method of operating the same are provided. The information storage device includes a magnetic track having a plurality of magnetic domains and magnetic domain walls arranged alternately. A current supply unit is configured to apply current to the magnetic track, and a plurality of reading/writing units are arranged on the magnetic track. The information storage device further includes a plurality of storage units. Each of the plurality of storage units is connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of reading/writing units for storing data temporarily. |
| US07855899B2 |
Controller with loop impedance modulation for power converter
A control circuit is provided to generate a mode signal at light load of the power converter. The mode signal is coupled to disable the switching signal for saving power. The impedance of an input circuit is increased in response to the mode signal. Furthermore, a soft start circuit is initiated by the mode signal when switching signal is enabled. An external capacitor associates with the impedance of the input circuit determine the off period of the switching signal. |
| US07855893B2 |
Methods and apparatus for an improved PCB assembly
In general, an improved handle assembly in accordance with the present invention is configured to be removably attached to a printed circuit board (PCB), such as a vehicle detector PCB. The handle assembly includes a faceplate, a handle extending outward from the front surface of the faceplate, and an enclosure extending from the back surface of the faceplate, wherein the enclosure has an open side configured to interface with the printed circuit board, and an external surface configured to accept printed indicia (e.g., operating instructions relating to functionality of the printed circuit board). In a preferred embodiment, the handle assembly is an integral, plastic (e.g., polycarbonate) structure, and is configured to cover one or more temperature-sensitive components attached to the board. |
| US07855892B2 |
Protective jacket of electrical device
A protective jacket for covering an electrical device is provided. The protective jacket includes a first shell and a second shell. The first shell includes a front cover, a rear cover, and an elastic strip. The front and the rear covers are formed apart from each other and have an individual hollow for receiving the insertion of the device. The elastic strip is formed between these covers. A space is defined on the first shell by theses covers, and the elastic strip together. The second shell is configured to be disposed within the space of the first shell, and has a slot for receiving the insertion of the device. Therefore, the protective jacket conforms to the shape of the device and is capable of covering the device compactly for preventing damages due to collision and avoiding dust and mist pollution so as to increase the life of the device substantially. |
| US07855888B2 |
Cooling manifold assembly
A cooling apparatus comprising a cooling manifold assembly is disclosed. The cooling manifold assembly comprises a manifold inlet end cap, a manifold outlet end cap and at least one cooling manifold. Cooling fluid flows into the manifold inlet end cap, through the cooling manifold, and the exits from the manifold outlet end cap. The cooling manifold is configured to rotate from a closed position into an open position without breaking a fluid seal between the manifold inlet end cap, the cooling manifold, and the manifold outlet end cap. |
| US07855884B2 |
Cover latch mechanism, latch, and portable electronic device using same
A latch mechanism used in a portable electronic device includes a housing member, a cover member, and a latching assembly. The cover member forms a claw, and the housing member defines a positioning hole. The latching assembly can be slidably mounted in the housing member and slides between a latched position and a released position. In the latched position, the cover member latches to the housing member. The latched position is maintained by entry of the claw into the positioning hole. In the released position, the cover member releases from the housing member, and the claw is released out of the positioning hole. During the sliding process, the latching assembly abuts and directly raises the cover member relative to the housing member from the latched position to the released position. |
| US07855882B2 |
Fan unit and methods of forming same
The described embodiments relate to fan units. One exemplary fan unit includes a housing supporting a motor. The fan unit also includes an impeller coupled to the motor and configured to be rotated by the motor. The impeller comprises at least a first structure configured to move air past the housing and at least one second different structure configured to force air into the housing. |
| US07855876B2 |
Portable computer
A portable computer includes a main body including a bottom sheet and a panel which cooperatively form a receiving cavity, a display, a pivot shaft connecting the main body to the display, a keyboard, a pushing member including a pushing body, two connecting rods, and two restricting members. The panel includes a first surface facing the bottom sheet. The keyboard includes a first side, a second side, a flexible blocking member, and at least one auto-flick pivot on the second side. The restricting members are received in the receiving cavity corresponding to the connecting rods. Each restricting member includes a liftable restricting portion positioned on the bottom sheet. The auto-flick pivot connects the keyboard to the main body. Each connecting rod movably connects the keyboard to the main body. The pushing body is movably connected to the first surface and moves from a first position to a second position. |
| US07855873B2 |
Panelboard for fusible switching disconnect devices
A panelboard for fusible switching disconnect devices. The panelboard includes a chassis coupled to a mounting enclosure, The mounting enclosure can be used indoors or outdoors. The chassis is configured to receive one or more fusible switching disconnect devices. Each of the fusible switching disconnect devices includes both a fuse and a circuit breaker-like disconnect in a single, relatively compact housing. The compactness of the housing allows the panelboard to provide a higher level of overcurrent interruption in a smaller sized mounting enclosure than conventional panelboards. For example, the panelboard can have an interruption per volume rating of at least about 33 amps per cubic inch, as compared to about 2 amps per cubic inch for most conventional panelboards. |
| US07855871B2 |
Generator ready load center
The present invention relates generally to a load center. More particularly, the invention encompasses a generator ready load center (GRLC). The present invention is also directed to a novel generator ready load center (GRLC) that operates as a standard load center but is ready to accommodate an automatic transfer switch (ATS) for a standby generator, or a manual transfer switch (MTS) for a portable generator. Further the generator ready load center provides an automatic and manual transfer between primary and secondary power sources. The generator ready load center solves the problem of dangerous back-feeding between the primary power source and the secondary power source. |
| US07855868B2 |
Aerosol charge neutralizing device
An aerosol charge neutralizing device simple in structure and easy to maintain, comprising an aerosol passing container that has a conductive material-made tube body constituting an aerosol passing path permitting aerosol to flow therethrough and has an opening pair consisting of openings in pair disposed oppositely across the center line of the tube body and penetrating through the wall surface of the tube body, and insulation tube that has an insulation material-made tube, has a window pair consisting of windows in pair disposed oppositely across the center line of the tube and penetrating through the wall surface of the tube, and is fitted concentrically over the outer surface of the aerosol passing container with the windows coinciding with the openings, a bipolar ionizing element that has a discharge electrode on a dielectric film and is attached to the insulation tube with the windows closed and the discharge electrode exposed to the aerosol passing path, and an outer tube that includes air-tightly the insulation tube and the bipolar ionizing element between it and the aerosol passing container. |
| US07855858B2 |
Microactuator with self-assembled monolayer encapsulant
A microactuator comprises a mounting block, a head suspension, a compliant joint for connecting the mounting block to the head suspension, and a piezoelectric element for deforming the compliant joint in order to rotate the head suspension with respect to the mounting block. An encapsulant covers an exposed surface of the microactuator. The encapsulant comprises a self-assembled monolayer formed of an organosilicone or organosilane, where the self-assembled monolayer has a self-limiting thickness of one layer of a molecule. |
| US07855853B2 |
Magnetic write device with a cladded write assist element
A magnetic device includes a write element having a write element tip and a conductor adjacent an edge of the write element tip for carrying current to generate an assist field that augments a write field generated by the write element. A cladding material is disposed on at least one surface of the conductor. |
| US07855852B2 |
Clamping system for a data storage device
A clamping system includes a stack of storage media discs that includes an annular outer disc surface. A clamp includes a clamp surface that faces the outer disc surface. A ring is disposed between the clamp surface and the outer disc surface. The ring has a crested ring face with a circular crest line that contacts the clamp surface. |
| US07855844B2 |
Objective lens and optical measuring device
An objective lens used for a microscope includes a lens(es), an iris diaphragm and a tubular body. The lens(es),which is provided in a manner facing an object, transmits light reflected from a measuring surface of the object. The iris diaphragm, which is provided behind the lens(es), changes an aperture diameter of a light-transmissive aperture of a light-transmissive surface that is substantially orthogonal to a main optical axis of the light transmitted through the lens(es). The tubular body, which is detachably mounted on a revolving nosepiece of a trunk that includes a zoom imaging lens(es) for forming an image from the light transmitted through the light-transmissive aperture, holds the lens(es) and the iris diaphragm. |
| US07855842B2 |
Zoom lens unit, imaging apparatus and portable information terminal device
A zoom lens unit including, in order from an object side to an image surface side: a first lens group having a positive refracting power; a second lens group having a negative refracting power; a third lens group having a positive refracting power; and a fourth lens group having a positive refracting power, wherein when changing magnification from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, an interval between the first lens group and the second lens group increases, an interval between the second lens group and the third lens group decreases, and an interval between the third lens group and the fourth lens group increases, wherein when performing focusing on a close range object at least at the telephoto end, with reference to a focused state on an infinite object, the first lens group and the second lens group are fixed, the third lens group is capable of being moved to the image surface side, and the fourth lens group is capable of being moved to the object side. |
| US07855840B2 |
Projection zoom lens and projection type image display device
A projection zoom lens includes in order from an enlargement side: a first lens group with negative power; a second lens group with positive power; a third lens group with positive power; a fourth lens group with positive power; and a fifth lens group with positive power, wherein the first and fifth lens groups are fixed and the second, third, and fourth lens groups move when zooming from a wide angle side to a telescopic side, the second lens group includes only a positive lens which is convex toward the enlargement side, and assuming that the focal length at a wide angle end of a whole system including the first to fifth lens groups is F and the focal length of the second lens group is F2, the following conditional expression (1) is satisfied: 0.05 |
| US07855838B2 |
Liquid optics zoom lens and imaging apparatus
A high performance zoom lens system suitable for use with a camera is disclosed. The zoom lens systems employs liquid optics and a movable lens group to provide optical performance over the zoom focal length range at focus distances from close to infinity. The system also provides compensation for undesirable thermally induced effects by adjustments of the zoom group and the variably shaped optical surface in the liquid lens cell. |
| US07855835B2 |
Light diffusive sheet for backlight unit and preparation thereof
A light diffusive sheet for a backlight unit, comprising a transparent substrate-photocured resin layer laminate having a plurality of hemispherical-shaped protrusions of varying sizes, has excellent luminance, and a wide screen view angle. |
| US07855829B2 |
Particles for display, particle dispersion for display, display medium and display device
Particles for display including color particles and a silicone polymer attached to a surface of the color particles, the silicone polymer including, as copolymerization components, a first silicone chain component, a second silicone component including a silicone chain that is shorter than a silicone chain of the first silicone component, and a component including a charging group. |
| US07855828B2 |
Electrophoretic display device and method of manufacturing the same
An electrophoretic display device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The manufacturing method includes forming a first mother substrate that has a first thin structure, and forming a second mother substrate that has a second thin structure. The second mother substrate faces the first mother substrate. The manufacturing method also includes disposing an electrophoretic material on one of the first mother substrate and the second mother substrate, and enclosing a region on which the electrophoretic material is disposed with a sealant. The manufacturing method further includes combining the first mother substrate and the second mother substrate using pressure applied thereto to form an electrophoretic layer between the first mother substrate and the second mother substrate. |
| US07855827B2 |
Internal optical isolation structure for integrated front or back lighting
An optical isolation structure is incorporated into a display between the display elements and the transparent substrate for the display elements. The optical isolation structure reflects light rays within the substrate that impact the structure at high angles relative to normal to the structure, thereby permitting the substrate to be used as an integrated light guide for distributing light over the display from a light source on the edge of the substrate. The optical isolation structure may include a single layer having an index of refraction less than the substrate or a plurality of thin-film interference layers. |
| US07855825B2 |
Micromachine structure system and method for manufacturing same
A micro-mechanical structure system according to the present invention includes: a movable structure 5, at least a portion of the movable structure 5 being formed of a single-crystalline material; an elastic supporting member 10 for supporting the movable structure 5; a stationary electrode section 13, 25 at least partially opposing the movable structure 5; and a base 22 which has a circuit section and to which the stationary electrode 13, 25 is affixed. The stationary electrode section 13, 25 includes a first electrode layer (upper stationary electrode layer) 13 positioned relative to the movable structure 5 and a second electrode layer (lower stationary electrode layer) 25 positioned relative to the base 22, the first electrode layer 13 and the second electrode layer 25 being bonded to each other via adhesion layers 15 and 16. |
| US07855822B2 |
Photosensitive electrochromic device
A photosensitive electrochromic device includes a transparent non-conductive substrate, a thin-film solar cell module and an electrochromic solution. The thin-film solar cell module is a monolithic series-connected module and includes a transparent substrate and a plurality of thin-film solar cells located on the transparent substrate, wherein all the thin-film solar cells in the thin-film solar cell module are connected in series, and the above-mentioned electrochromic solution is located between the transparent non-conductive substrate and the thin-film solar cell module. |
| US07855821B2 |
Electrochromic compounds and associated media and devices
An electrochromic device having an electrochromic medium which includes a compound represented by the following formula: wherein R1-R10 are the same or different and comprise H, an alkyl, cycloalkyl, polycycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, and/or alkynyl group containing approximately 1 to approximately 50 carbon atom(s), wherein the carbon atom(s) may be a linking group to, or part of, a halogen, a N, O, and/or S containing moiety, and/or one or more functional groups comprising alcohols, esters, ammonium salts, phosphonium salts, and combinations thereof; with the proviso that R2 and R7 each comprise at least two carbon atoms, at least one of R2 and R7 comprises less than 2 β hydrogen atoms and is void of a benzyl group. |
| US07855820B2 |
Oscillator device, optical deflector and optical instrument using the same
An oscillator device includes a supporting base plate, a torsion spring, and a movable member, wherein the movable member is supported by the torsion spring, for torsional oscillation relative to the supporting base plate about a torsional axis, wherein the torsion spring has an X-shaped section being perpendicular to the torsional axis and a top surface and a bottom surface each being defined by a (100)-equivalent surface of monocrystal silicon, and wherein a distance L1 connecting bottoms of concavities formed at the top surface and bottom surface, respectively, and a distance L2 connecting bottoms of concavities defined at side surfaces of the X-shaped torsion spring as well as a rate of change αi of inertia moment of the movable member around the torsion axis, with a change of a thickness t of the supporting base plate, satisfy the following relation: L1/L2=C1−Exp{C2−(αi+C3)}+C4−αi+C5 where C1=5.0*10^=−1, C2=−4.4, C3=4.6*10^−2, C4=−6.0*10^−1 and 1.5 |
| US07855816B2 |
Movable part locking jig and image forming apparatus incorporating such movable part locking jig
A movable part locking jig is loaded into a cassette loader in a radiation image forming apparatus, and a lever is moved to project casing locking members from opposite side walls of a casing, thereby locking the movable part locking jig in the radiation image forming apparatus. Movable part locking members also projects to be brought into abutment against suction cups disposed near the cassette loader, thereby locking the suction cups. Then, the radiation image forming apparatus is moved to a desired location. |
| US07855812B2 |
Cellular phone with scanning capability
A cellular phone is provided with a media scanning capability. Scanner optics, an optional light source and related scanning circuitry is integrated within a cellular phone to enable image or text scanning, facsimile, text-to-speech conversion, and language translation. Position sensors provide position data as the scanner is manually moved, in one or more passes across the scanned media, to enable a bit-mapped image of the strip to be created in a data buffer. Image data from the strips is processed to remove redundant overlap data and skew position errors, to give a bit-mapped final image of the entire scanned item. Image compression is provided to compress the image into standard JPEG format for storage or transmission, or into facsimile format for transmission of the document to any fax machine. Optical character recognition (OCR) is provided to convert image data to text which may be sent as email, locally displayed, stored for later use, or further processed. Further processing of text data includes language translation and text to speech conversion of either the original or translated text. The resulting speech audio can be heard locally or transmitted over the cellular network. |
| US07855808B2 |
Printing system and printing apparatus
A printing system includes a processing device, a printing device and a display device. The processing device processes image data in accordance with a set image quality parameter. The printing device performs a printing process of an image represented by the image data processed by the processing device. The display device displays an adjustment screen for adjusting the image quality parameter after the printing process of the image by the printing device is started. |
| US07855805B2 |
Printing a competition entry form using a mobile device
A system for printing a competition entry form on a print medium, the system comprising: a mobile telecommunications device which comprises: a printer module to print the competition entry form on the print medium; and, a sensor module to sense a print media identifier of the print medium. |
| US07855804B2 |
Tape creating apparatus
A tape creating apparatus, including a printing device that prints characters on label tape that includes a winding margin portion that is wound around a periphery of a cylindrical member and a flag portion that is uniformly formed with the winding margin portion, wherein the characters are printed on the flag portion, a first input device for inputting a diameter of the cylindrical member, and a first setting device for setting a length of the flag portion and a length of the winding margin portion on the basis of the diameter of the cylindrical member as input by the first input device. |
| US07855802B2 |
Time-efficient generation of color look-up table
Color management which uses a color conversion LUT for transformation from an N-dimensional source device color space (N≧4) to a destination device color space, in which the color conversion LUT is constructed in a two-step process. In the first step, an intermediate color conversion LUT is constructed that converts colors in a three-dimensional device-independent color space through a gamut mapping step and through an inverse destination device transform so as to obtain colors in the destination device color space. In the second step, the overall color conversion LUT is obtained by applying a source device transform to color combinations in the source device color space so as to obtain color values in the three-dimensional device-independent color space, and thereafter performing three-dimensional color look-ups in the intermediate color conversion table. |
| US07855795B2 |
Transmission apparatus and transmission method
The present invention provides a transmission apparatus and method which realize a redial function and prevents the leakage of transmission information to the outside by inhibiting the display of the information including a destination to which retransmission is made, when it is determined that a predetermined condition is satisfied, whereby security can be enhanced.When the transmission of image data is not completed, a control section performs a retransmission process for transmitting again the image data to the same destination with the use of the redial function, and counts the number of times of the transmission. The control section determines whether the number of times of the transmission is greater than a predetermined value or not. When the number of times of the transmission is greater than the predetermined value, the control section reports a transmission error and deletes the information including the destination. |
| US07855792B2 |
Printing system, job processing method, printing device, and storage medium
A printing system adapted to be able to perform a processing concerning a job to be processed by a post-processing device, the post-processing device having a movable component openable by an operator, the system comprising: a controller that enables the printing device to execute the print process of a job to be processed even while the movable component remains open in a case that the job does not require the post-process by the post-processing device having the open movable component, the controller inhibiting the printing device from executing the print process of a job to be processed without notifying an operator via a user interface unit of information on the open movable component in a case that the job requires the post-process by the post-processing device having the open movable component. |
| US07855790B2 |
Dimension measuring apparatus
A dimension measuring apparatus includes a light beam splitting element for splitting light emitted from a white light source into measuring light flux and reference light flux, a reference light scanning optics for varying optical path length of the reference light flux, a detector for detecting interference signal produced by the light fluxes, and a controller for determining the surface height of the object from the optical path length of the reference light flux corresponding to maximum value of the interference signal. The reference light scanning optics includes a rotary member, first and second reflective elements disposed to be symmetrical with respect to the rotation axis of the rotary member, and light beam deflecting members that direct the reference light flux to be incident on the first reflective element along the direction parallel and opposite to the incident direction of the reference light flux on the second reflective element. |
| US07855786B2 |
Single camera multi-spectral imager
An imaging system has a single focal plane array that does not require the precise alignment of multiple cameras relative to one another. It incorporates a multi-band, band pass filter that includes filter elements corresponding to pixel regions of a detector within a camera. The imaging system may further incorporate a detector that vertically discriminates among radiation in different spectral bands incident on an image plane of the detector. In this manner, spectral content may be determined in each spatial region without the need for beam splitting or multiple cameras. The filter itself may further comprise different filter elements, for example, filter elements A and B arranged in a checkerboard pattern, where filter element A passes different spectral bands than filter element B. In this manner, multi-spectral, high resolution images may be generated using a single camera that significantly improves upon image discrimination as compared to, for example, the Bayer color filter array pattern. The single camera implementation is well suited for incorporation into marine, land and air vehicles. |
| US07855784B2 |
Substrate processing method, substrate processing system, program, and recording medium
A wafer measurement/inspection instrument receives information on at least one of a processing result and an operating state of at least one of a coater/developer that performs film forming/resist processing to a wafer and an exposure apparatus that performs liquid immersion exposure to the wafer, and optimizes inspection conditions of the wafer based on the received information (steps 501 and 517). With this operation, quality inspection of the wafer can be efficiently performed, and as a consequence, it becomes possible to efficiently perform processing to the wafer. |
| US07855783B2 |
Integrated circuit image sensor for wheel alignment systems
An integrated circuit (IC), for use in an imaging module of a wheel alignment system, incorporates an image sensor as well as a number of other features. Some of the added features are implemented within the integrated circuit. The IC also incorporates interfacing for signaling or communication with other devices in the imaging module or elsewhere in the wheel alignment system. Some examples of added internal features include a temperature sensor, unique chip ID, and chip power control. The addition of analog and/or digital I/O to the integrated circuit enables control of an image module illumination function, control of an imaging module positioning function, various cooling functions, and operator interface control. A communications hub may be added to the IC, to enable operation in a networked system environment. |
| US07855778B2 |
Method and apparatus for locating and measuring the distance to a target
Embodiments of the invention comprise an apparatus for use with a laser range finder configured to direct a laser beam toward a scene to measure the distance to a target in the scene and having a range finder display for displaying data, including data that is indicative of the distance to a target, wherein the apparatus comprises a protective housing, a camera module in the housing, the camera module including a lens mounted in a front end portion of the housing, and a light path through the lens to image sensor, an image sensor operatively connected to the camera module for receiving images acquired by the camera module, electronic memory for selectively storing data of images from the image sensor, circuitry for controlling the operation of the image sensor and the memory, a camera display in the housing operatively connected to the image sensor for receiving the image data and providing a visual display of the image, and a switch for storing image data in the memory. Other embodiments include a projector in the housing for projecting the data displayed by the second display onto the image sensor to thereby capture the image data of the scene and displayed distance data together. |
| US07855776B2 |
Methods of compensating lens heating, lithographic projection system and photo mask
Embodiments relate to compensating for lens heating, lithographic projection system and photo mask. Accordingly, lens heating is compensated by providing a layout pattern including a regular pattern being arranged substantially symmetrical in a first region and a sub-resolution pattern including a plurality of sub-resolution structural elements, wherein the sub-resolution pattern in a second region, so as to minimize non-homogenous lens heating of a projection apparatus in case of a lithographic projection. |
| US07855775B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
In a semi-transmissive liquid crystal display device provided with a liquid crystal panel DP and a backlight BL, black spacers and transparent spacers are mixed and provided in a space between two opposing transparent substrates 4a and 4b, and let r be a radius of the spacers and S be a dimension of a light transmissive region T in a single pixel, then a value of πr2/S is set in a range from 0.001 to 0.01. A stable display is thus enabled by eliminating display irregularities. |
| US07855771B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and active matrix substrate thereof
An active matrix substrate is provided. The active matrix substrate includes a substrate, scan lines, data lines, pixel units, and connecting lines. The scan lines, data lines, pixel units, and connecting lines are all disposed over the substrate. The pixel unit includes an active component, a first pixel electrode, a second pixel electrode, and a third pixel electrode. The active components are electrically connected with the scan lines and data lines. The first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode are disposed at the two opposite sides of the scan line, and electrically connected with the active component. The third pixel electrode is electrically insulated from the active component. In the pixel units arranged in a same column, each of the third pixel electrodes is electrically connected with the second pixel electrode controlled by a previous scan line through the corresponding connecting line. |
| US07855769B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel having particular sub-pixels
A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel is provided, which comprises a plurality of array units. Each array unit comprises a first pixel and a second pixel which are equal in number; sub-pixels in the first pixel and the second pixel have respective single domain inclination directions; and the domain inclination directions of the sub-pixels in the first pixel are different from those of the corresponding sub-pixels in the second pixel. A better effect on color bias and viewing angle can be achieved with the LCD panel of the present invention. |
| US07855760B2 |
Liquid crystal display apparatus
In a liquid crystal apparatus in which a white light of a fluorescent tube corresponding to a linear light source repeats plural times of diffusions and reflections between a reflection sheet and a diffusion plate, and is thereafter input as a back light to a liquid crystal panel corresponding to a display screen, an object of the invention is to make it possible to secure a brightness uniformity even if the liquid crystal apparatus is thinned. It is possible to prevent a brightness unevenness caused by a short distance from the reflection sheet to the diffusion plate, by preventing a deformation (a deformation which is convex toward the fluorescent tube) of the diffusion plate due to a thermal expansion of the diffusion plate caused by a heat generation of the fluorescent tube, by arranging at least one pin mold hold so as to support a portion near an approximately center of the diffusion plate. |
| US07855756B2 |
Stereoscopic display device using electrically-driven liquid crystal lens
A stereoscopic display device using an electrically-driven liquid crystal lens is disclosed. The stereoscopic display device includes a display panel, a light source to emit light, and an electrically-driven liquid crystal lens provided between the display panel and the light source and having a reflective electrode to intercept a part of the light emitted from the light source, the electrically-driven liquid crystal lens enabling a wide viewing angle or narrow viewing angle display according to whether or not voltages are applied thereto. |
| US07855752B2 |
Method and system for producing seamless composite images having non-uniform resolution from a multi-imager system
A method and system for producing seamless composite images having non-uniform resolution from a multi-imager system is disclosed. A plurality of lower resolution source images is acquired. In addition, a plurality of higher resolution source images is acquired. The plurality of the lower resolution images and the higher resolution images are then layered to produce a composite image, wherein the layering of the plurality of the lower resolution images and the higher resolution images to produce a composite image having a plurality of resolutions therein. |
| US07855751B2 |
Data transmission device and data reception device
As shown in FIG. 7, a data receiver receives video data and audio data together with a frequency division parameter N that depends on the pixel clock of the video data and the sampling frequency of the audio data, and a count value CTS that is obtained by counting the period of the audio clock that has been subjected to frequency division by the frequency division parameter N, with the pixel clock, which are transmitted from a data transmitter, and subjects the pixel clock to frequency division by the count value CTS, phase-control the divided clock (s501) in accordance with a phase comparison clock (s505) that is obtained by dividing an audio clock (s403) oscillated from a VCO (504) by the frequency division parameter N, thereby generating an audio clock (s403).Accordingly, the data transmitter and the data receiver can satisfactorily implement multiplexing of audio data and video data, and transmission of the multiplexed data using an existing DVI cable, with a simple structure. |
| US07855750B2 |
Optical filter and optical device with filter holding member for an image capturing device
An optical filter that is provided at an optical path between a photoelectric conversion device which converts a subject image formed at a light-receiving surface thereof to an electrical signal and an optical system which forms the subject image with a light flux from the subject at the photoelectric conversion device, to filter the light flux, includes a stage formed at, at least, a portion of an external circumference of the optical filter. |
| US07855747B2 |
Portable integrated device and a method of controlling power thereof
A portable integrated device and a method of controlling power thereof. The method of controlling power to a digital integrated device which includes a first body and a second body slidingly attached to each other and a first mode and a second mode including sliding the first body relative to the second body from an open position to a closed position, turning off power of the digital integrated device in the first mode, and maintaining the power of the digital integrated device in the second mode. Accordingly, power control may be performed differently according to whether the sliding part is open or closed and whether the preset function mode of the portable integrated device is a camera mode or a non-camera mode, so that functions of the non-camera modes can be maintained even when the sliding part is closed. |
| US07855743B2 |
Image capturing and displaying apparatus and image capturing and displaying method
An image capturing and displaying apparatus is disclosed. The image capturing and displaying apparatus includes an image capturing section, a display section, a user's information obtaining section, and a control section. The image capturing section captures an image such that a direction in which a user sees a subject is a direction of the subject. The display section is disposed in front of eyes of the user and displays the image captured by the image capturing section. The user's information obtaining section obtains information about a motion and a physical situation of the user. The control section controls an operation of the image capturing section or an operation of the display section corresponding to information obtained by the user's information obtaining section. |
| US07855740B2 |
Multiple component readout of image sensor
A method for obtaining image data from an image sensor array including the steps of: providing an image sensor array having a first component subset of panchromatic pixels for integrating charge and a second component subset of color pixels for integrating charge; reading pixel charge to produce pixel signals from the first component subset of the panchromatic pixels while exposing the second component subset of color pixels and digitizing and storing the first component subset signals; and reading pixel charge to produce pixel signals from the second component subset of color pixels that were exposed for at least a portion of time during the reading of pixel signals from the first component subset of the panchromatic pixels and digitizing and storing the second component subset signals. |
| US07855734B2 |
Image processing apparatus, control method thereof, program, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus for recording and reproducing an image, comprises: a recording unit that records the image; a search unit that searches file data recorded in the recording unit when the apparatus is started; an operation unit that designates a predetermined operation to the apparatus; and a control unit that enables acceptance of an operation upon designation of the operation by said operation unit during a search of said search unit, even before the search is completed. |
| US07855733B2 |
Electronic camera and recording medium for images and image information and recording image reproduction program
An electronic camera that generates a still image by photographing a subject, generates image information related to the still image having a data volume smaller than a data volume of the still image and records the still image and the image information, includes: a frame feed reproduction device that sequentially reproduces a plurality of still images recorded in advance; a high-speed frame feed reproduction device that sequentially displays a plurality of sets of image information recorded in advance; and a switching device that selects either the frame feed reproduction device or the high-speed frame feed reproduction device to switch between the frame feed reproduction device and the high-speed frame feed reproduction device. |
| US07855732B2 |
Hand producer for background separated images
An image formation and production system provides improved capabilities for producing background separated product images for print and on-line display. The image formation system provides lighting of a product to facilitate acquiring images that can be automatically processed to generate high resolution item-only images free of quality defects and imaging artifacts. Image processing programs accurately detect an outline of an item in a set of digital images taken using the image formation system and automatically store processed images in an image library. The images in the library may be repurposed for print, sales display, transmission to a user, on-line customer support, and the like. A user display configured with an adaptable user interface facilitates user interaction with images in the library. An interactive user interface and image library facilitates automatically producing sets of background separated images. |
| US07855730B2 |
Printed photograph with high capacity encoded audio
A data structure is printed on a photograph using infra-red ink. The data structure includes a two dimensional array of data blocks. Each adjacent pair of data blocks is separated by a gap and each of the data blocks has a data region holding encoded data. Each data region is confined by clock-marks and borders to facilitate location of the data region and recovery of data from within the data region. |
| US07855728B2 |
Imaging apparatus, and casing of an imaging apparatus
A stationary type imaging apparatus reduced in size and in weight. The imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit for imaging an object and a casing carrying the imaging unit and also carrying a component mounting unit on its bottom for mounting component parts of the imaging apparatus. On the component mounting unit, a first wiring board is provided for extending along a bottom plate of the casing, and a second wiring board is provided for extending towards the imaging unit in a state separated from the first wiring board. |
| US07855725B2 |
Method of controlling backlight module, backlight controller and display device using the same
A method of controlling a backlight module, a backlight controller and a display device using the same are provided herein. The method includes receiving an image having a plurality of regions, wherein the image is displayed by a plurality of color backlights. Next, a feature in a first region of the image and the feature in a second region of the image are analyzed to obtain a spatial weight, wherein the first region and the second region of the image is one of the regions and the second region is neighboring to the first region. Next, the feature in the first region of the image and the feature in the corresponding first region of the preciously received image are analyzed to obtain a temporal weight. One of the color backlights provided to the first region of the image is adjusted according to the spatial weight and the temporal weight. |
| US07855724B2 |
Transitioning between two high resolution images in a slideshow
A method of transitioning between two high resolution images in a slideshow includes replacing a first image with a lower resolution copy of that first image and fading out the lower resolution copy of the first image to reveal a second image. A system for transitioning between two high resolution images in a slideshow includes a video chip having a first video buffer for containing a first image, a second video buffer for containing a second image, and a graphic buffer for containing a lower resolution copy of the first image. The chip is configured to replace the first image with the lower resolution copy of the first image and fade out the lower resolution copy of the first image to reveal the second image. |
| US07855723B2 |
Image registration using locally-weighted fitting
A computer-implemented method for image registration includes accepting a three-dimensional (3-D) image of an organ. The image includes a first plurality of image points with respective image coordinates. A map defining a distribution of values of a physiological parameter over the organ is accepted. The map includes a second plurality of map points with respective map coordinates. Confidence levels are associated with one or more of the map coordinates and image coordinates. Weights are assigned to at least some of the map points and image points responsively to the confidence levels of the respective map coordinates and image coordinates. The 3-D image is fitted with the map by calculating a geometrical transformation between the map coordinates and the image coordinates based on the weights. |
| US07855721B2 |
Power saving control method and apparatus employing the same
An apparatus and method for saving power in an office machine having a display panel are provided. The method comprises setting the apparatus in an operation standby mode, detecting whether an error exists in the apparatus and turning on the display panel to display the error thereon when the error is detected. Furthermore, the apparatus keeps the display panel in an off state when the error is not detected. Thus, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a power saving method of an office machine which prevents unnecessary power consumption during an operation of an office machine having a display panel. |
| US07855714B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling a display in an electronic device
A novel method and apparatus for controlling a display of an electronic device is provided. In an embodiment, the device is a portable electronic device with the combined features of wireless email and telephony. The portable electronic device also includes a camera. The device includes a trackball which can be used to control the image shown in the viewfinder when the device is being used as a camera. |
| US07855712B2 |
Replaceable instrument mechanism for haptic devices
A replaceable instrument mechanism for a haptic device comprises a coupler having a coupler body adapted to be connected to an output end of the haptic device. A force transmission mechanism is connected to the coupler body, has a movable connector displaceable along one degree-of-freedom with respect to the coupler body, and is connected to a force feedback system of the haptic device so as to receive force feedback from the haptic device and impart the force feedback to the movable connector. An instrument has an instrument body having a connector end releasably secured to the second end of the coupler body so as to be displaceable with the coupler. A handle portion is manually actuatable in one degree-of-freedom with respect to the instrument body to simulate an operation performed with the instrument. A member is associated with the handle portion so as to move by actuation of the handle portion, and releasably connected to the movable connector of the force transmission mechanism so as to transmit force feedback from the movable connector to the handle portion in response to actuation of the handle portion as detected by the haptic device. |
| US07855710B2 |
Electro-optical device, circuit for driving electro-optical device, method of driving electro-optical device, and electronic apparatus
A circuit for driving an electro-optical device, the electro-optical device having a plurality of scanning lines, a plurality of data lines divided into groups, each group having a predetermined number of data lines, and a plurality of pixels disposed to correspond to intersections of the plurality of scanning lines and the plurality of data lines, includes a scanning line driving circuit that selects each of the plurality of scanning lines for each selection period, the selection period including a plurality of data output periods, a plurality of image signal lines that correspond to the groups, a plurality of switching elements that switch between conductive states and non-conductive states of the data lines belonging to each group and the image signal lines corresponding to each group, a control circuit that sequentially switches the switching elements corresponding to each group to the conductive states for each data output period in the selection period, and a voltage output circuit that applies a voltage according to a gray-scale level of each pixel to each image signal line in each data output period of the selection period, and applies a predetermined voltage to each image signal line in a period after the last data output period of the selection period has lapsed. |
| US07855709B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
In a liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight, the present invention provides a detection-use pixel having the same constitution as respective pixels constituting a liquid crystal display part in the liquid crystal display panel and being formed on a region other than the liquid crystal display part, a light detector detecting light from the backlight through the detection-use pixel, and a controller adjusting the intensity of the light from the backlight in response to a signal from the light detector to adjust the change of the characteristics and chromaticity in the liquid crystal display panel properly. |
| US07855707B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and driving method thereof
A liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal panel; a horizontal sync signal having a horizontal period; a gate driver that supplies a plurality of gate signals sequentially to a plurality of gate lines, wherein a first gate line provides a gate signal with a gate pulsewidth equal to the horizontal period +α and a second gate line provides a gate signal with a gate pulsewidth equal to the horizontal period +α so that gates signals on the first and second gate lines overlay by 2α and wherein the first and second gate lines are adjacent to one another; and a data driver that supplies pixel data signals to a plurality of data lines on the liquid crystal panel during every period of the horizontal sync signals. |
| US07855704B2 |
Liquid crystal device, control circuit therefor, and electronic apparatus
A liquid-crystal-device control circuit includes pixels corresponding to intersections between scanning lines in rows and data lines in columns, a counter that counts the number of horizontal lines included in a video signal supplied correspondingly to a region broader than pixels corresponding to the scanning lines in the rows, a determination circuit that determines which is greater between the number of horizontal lines counted by the counter and a value stored in a predetermined register, an addition/subtraction circuit that, depending on a result of determination by the determination circuit, adds a predetermined number to or subtracts the predetermined number from the value stored in the register, and a scanning control circuit which stores the value obtained by the addition/subtraction circuit in the register, and which defines start timing of the second field on the basis of the value stored in the register. |
| US07855703B1 |
Liquid crystal display and an information processing apparatus having the same
A liquid crystal display capable of being minimized, in which a backlight assembly has a light source portion for generating light, a liquid crystal display panel receives the light from the backlight assembly to display images. A mold frame for sequentially accepting the backlight assembly and liquid crystal display panel is formed to be gradually thinner as further advancing from a first side of accepting to place the light source portion toward a second side opposing to the first side. Also, a chassis coupled to be opposite to the mold frame for closely fixing the backlight assembly and liquid crystal display panel to the mold frame is formed to be gradually thinner as further advancing from the first side of accepting to place the light source portion toward the second side opposing to the first side. Thus, the liquid crystal display can be slimmed. |
| US07855701B2 |
Organic electro-luminescence device and method for driving the same
An organic electro-luminescence device according to an embodiment includes a light-emitting device in a pixel for emitting light; a data line for providing a data voltage; and a driving transistor connected to the light emitting device, wherein when the driving transistor is turned on to drive the light-emitting device, a driving voltage applied to the light emitting device reaches a value of a difference between a supply voltage and the data voltage. |
| US07855696B2 |
Metamaterial antenna arrays with radiation pattern shaping and beam switching
Apparatus, systems and techniques for using composite left and right handed (CRLH) metamaterial (MTM) structure antenna elements and arrays to provide radiation pattern shaping and beam switching. |
| US07855693B2 |
Wide band biconical antenna with a helical feed system
A wide band biconical antenna with a helical feed system comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) that maintains a plurality of antenna elements having an entry conic and a termination conic arranged about a common axis. Each of the antenna elements receive a signal from a signal splitter via respective feed lines that each have the same physical length. In addition, the antenna system includes a matching system disposed within the ground plane formed by the entry conic of each of the antenna elements. The antenna elements are retained within retention sections that maintain helical support channels that allow the feed lines to be arranged in a helical manner about the antenna elements. |
| US07855690B2 |
Array antenna with enhanced scanning
The invention provides an improved array antenna, an array antenna system and an improved method for utilizing the improved array antenna and array antenna system. This is accomplished by an array antenna comprising a region of reference potential, e.g. a ground plane, and a spatially extended collection of at least two antenna elements capable of being at least partly balanced driven and at least partly unbalanced driven. The antenna elements have a first radiating element connected to a first port and a second radiating element connected to a second port. In other words, the antenna element has at least two ports. The radiating elements are arranged substantially adjacent and parallel to each other so as to extend at least a first distance approximately perpendicularly from said region of reference potential. The antenna element is further comprising a radiating arrangement connected to said first and said second radiating elements so as to extend at least a second distance above and approximately parallel to said region of ground reference. |
| US07855686B2 |
Compact antennas for ultra-wideband applications
The antenna (100) has a radiating element (104) for transmitting and receiving signals. The radiating element (104) comprises a first portion (110), a second portion (112) and a notch (114). The notch (114) extends from a portion o the periphery of the radiating element into the radiating element and is for substantially segregating the radiating element into the first portion (110) and the second portion (112). The radiating element (104) also has an interconnecting portion (108) for structurally interconnecting the first portion and the second portion. The interconnecting portion is formed substantially distal to the portion of the periphery of the radiating element. In addition, the antenna (100) has a first arm (116) that extends from the first portion of the radiating element for modifying the operating frequency range of the antenna. |
| US07855682B2 |
Time synchronization
A transmitter of a platform is arranged to generate a transmission pulse, which is transmitted to a receiver of another platform and is also arranged to couple its transmission pulse to a digital receiver associated with its platform via an attenuator and a coupler. Another platform performs a similar task. Each digital receiver determines the time separation between its transmission pulse and a received pulse from the other platform. The determined time separation information is shared with the other platform, and each digital receiver then determines a time offset between the time at its platform and the other platform. |
| US07855679B1 |
GPS system for tracking an object of interest and method for using the same
An assisted global positioning system (AGPS) for tracking a movable object of interest is disclosed. The system comprises a service center for calculating a tag location, a plurality of ground base stations, a plurality of beacons adapted to transmit individual ID data, and at least one GPS-based smart tag releasably affixed to the movable object. The system components are interconnected by means of one or more communication links. The service center is adapted for inquiring the tag and receiving a response from the tag constituting pseudo-ranges according to a predetermined protocol. |
| US07855678B2 |
Post-mission high accuracy position and orientation system
A method of generating post-mission position and orientation data comprises generating position and orientation data representing positions and orientations of a mobile platform, based on global navigation satellite system (GNSS) data and inertial navigation system (INS) data acquired during a data acquisition period by the mobile platform, using a network real-time kinematic (RTK) subsystem to generate correction data associated with the data acquisition period, and correcting the position and orientation data based on the correction data. The RTK subsystem may implement a virtual reference station (VRS) technique to generate the correction data. |
| US07855675B2 |
Method and device for detecting an environning aircraft
A radar unit on board an aircraft scans a scan area of surrounding space relative to a runway to detect any nearby aircraft and a unit presents to a pilot an indication of such detection of the presence of at least one nearby aircraft. The technique involves determining: a heading of the aircraft, positions of thresholds of the runway, an orientation of the runway, a maximum relative bearing, a minimum relative bearing, a maximum elevation, a minimum elevation, a slant range for scanning the scan area from the heading, thresholds and orientation, predetermined vertical and horizontal angles of an approach center line of the runway, a predetermined length of edges of the scan area, and the scan commands enabling the radar to scan said scan area using the maximum relative bearing, the minimum relative bearing, the maximum elevation, the minimum elevation and the slant range. The radar unit is an air-air mode radar configured to detect a nearby aircraft that is in flight; and the scan area has at least one vertical area of space which is situated to one side of the runway and defined relative to a center line of the runway. |
| US07855670B2 |
A-to-D converter
A successive approximation type A-to-D converter includes a cyclic D-to-A converter (11), a comparator (12) for comparing an analog value with an output value of the D-to-A converter (11), and memory means (13) for sequentially storing an output value of the comparator (12) and supplying the stored value to the D-to-A converter (11) in a reverse order. |
| US07855666B1 |
Transmitter I/Q mismatch calibration for low if design systems
A calibration module includes an absolute value module that generates first and second magnitude signals based on a first signal and a second signal, respectively. A first module generates an amplitude correction signal for a quadrature-amplitude modulated (QAM) signal based on the first and second magnitude signals. A second module generates a phase correction signal for the QAM signal based on the first signal and the second signal. |
| US07855663B2 |
System for utilizing RFID tags to manage automotive parts
A system for utilizing RFID tags to manage automotive parts. A system is provided that includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader configured to read data from RFID tags affixed to parts located throughout a vehicle, wherein each RFID tag uniquely identifies a part; a data processing system configured to process the data obtained by the RFID reader; and a service application that provides service related information to an end user based on an installation or removal of a part from the vehicle. |
| US07855659B2 |
Providing sponsorship information alongside traffic messages
A method and system for providing sponsorship information to a user of a traffic message receiver is disclosed. Sponsorship messages are sent to the traffic message receiver and include data to be stored in the memory of the receiver. The transmission of the sponsorship messages is performed as a background routine to the regular transmission of traffic messages. The sponsorship data stored in the traffic message receiver is provided to the user of the traffic message receiver based on a triggering event, such as the end-user entering a point of interest string into the user interface of his navigation system or receipt of a message that includes an activated trigger flag. |
| US07855658B2 |
Method for controlling light
Provided is a method for controlling light, including retrieving accelerations along an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis with a 3-axis accelerometer sensor; matching the retrieved accelerations with RGB values; and transforming the RGB values and displaying a color of the transformed RGB values. The 3-axis accelerometer sensor retrieves the accelerations Ax, Ay, and Az along the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis and calculates a velocity Vi along the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis using the accelerations Ax, Ay, and Az, with i denoting directions x, y, and z, Vi=Vio+Ait expressing a terminal velocity in the direction i, Vio denoting an initial velocity in the direction i, Ai denoting the acceleration in the direction i, and t denoting time, thereby allowing variation of brightness to be controlled in eight modes. |
| US07855656B2 |
Method for monitoring movement with a medical installation and associated medical installation
The invention relates to a method for monitoring the movement of at least one mobile object with a medical installation. A current three-dimensional position of the at least one mobile object is detected by at least one position sensor that is arranged on the at least one mobile object. The invention also relates to the associated medical installation. |
| US07855654B2 |
Location recording system
The present invention discloses a communication system and method for determining and recording the geographical location of an object attached with a short range wireless device, over a wide area, in a vicinity of a radio beacon that can be located by a remote control station, upon establishing or interrupting a wireless connection between said wireless device and said radio beacon. One embodiment of the invention relates to a system for search and rescue of a man overboard (person overboard), a quite frequent and fatal accident at sea. |
| US07855653B2 |
External voiding sensor system
The disclosure describes an absorbent pad worn by a patient that measures one or more urinary voiding parameters. One or more sensors that measure voiding parameters are integrally formed with the pad, e.g., interwoven with the absorbent pad material or positioned to form one or more sensor layers between layers of absorbent material. The sensors store measured parameters as information in a memory, e.g., as a log, locally or in a separate device. In some embodiments, the pad includes an electrical stimulator that provides stimulation therapy for urinary incontinence based on measured parameters. |
| US07855651B2 |
System for monitoring and recording hand hygiene performance
A hand hygiene behavior management system capable of monitoring and recording information generated by the operation of dispensers as a method of assessing behavior of a group as an indication of overall hygiene performance. The system generally includes a plurality of wireless communication devices with a first number of the wireless communication devices being disposed within or adjacent dispensers and operatively configured for sensing, monitoring and reporting information about the status and operation of the dispensers. A hierarchal communication network for access to a central host database; a data processor and hygiene management application software operatively configured to create hygiene management reports based upon the monitored dispenser data and a method to provide user interface. |
| US07855650B2 |
System and method for monitoring the cognitive ability of a person
A system and method for monitoring the health of a remotely located person is disclosed herein. The system includes at least one electronic device. The electronic device includes a first sensor a processor and a transmitter. The system also includes a remote monitoring station that receives data from at least one electronic device and produces an evaluation of the person's health. |
| US07855649B2 |
Tamper resistant RFID tags and associated methods
Systems and methods are disclosed for a tamper resistant RFID (radio frequency identification) tags that overcome the problems existing with previous RFID tags. The tamper resistant RFID tags described herein are particularly useful for tracking of liquid propane gas (LPG) containers and/or other types of containers or objects. Removal of the RFID tag, after it is attached, will destroy and/or render inoperable the RFID transponder within the tag so that removal and re-use is not practical or possible. One key feature of this tamper resistant RFID tag is the use of adhesive materials with differing adhesion characteristics with respect to the container material (e.g., metal) and the housing for the RFID tag (e.g., plastic) so that the RFID tag will tend to be destroyed when removal is attempted. |
| US07855648B2 |
RFID tag
A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is disclosed. The RFID tag can include a blank onto which indicia is printed. The blank may further have an RFID chip and antenna disposed thereon. The blank may further be mounted on a carrier web and may also be laminated. The laminated RFID tag may then be disposed into a container and may be used for storing and transmitting information regarding the container or its contents. |
| US07855647B2 |
Flame resistant RFID tag and method of making the same
A flame resistant RFID tag comprises: a first flame resistant polymer film having a major surface; an RFID device secured to the major surface of the first flame resistant polymer film, the RFID device having proximal and distal surfaces and comprising an antenna electrically connected to an integrated circuit; and a first flame resistant pressure sensitive adhesive layer covering the distal surface of the RFID device. Methods of making the flame resistant RFID tags are also disclosed. |
| US07855644B2 |
Method and apparatus for disabling an active data tag device
The present invention discloses a data tag device (100) which initially operates in an active mode (304). The data tag device includes tag circuitry including a interface element (104), a controller element (102), and a memory (106) in which tag data (116) is stored. A battery (110) is provided which is initially coupled to the tag circuitry by a connector means (130) which allows non-destructive removal and replacement of the battery. The data tag device is configured to detect the removal of the battery (306, 308), and disable the data tag in response (310). |
| US07855643B2 |
Tracking systems, passive RFIDs, methods of locating and identifying RFIDs, and methods of tracking items
Some embodiments include observable properties triggered upon interrogation of RFIDs. The RFIDs can be passive RFIDs, and the observable properties can be visible changes that require little power to generate, and little or no power to maintain. The visible information can include information about items tracked with the RFIDs, such as shipping information. Some embodiments include passive RFIDs utilizing a single antenna to power an integrated-circuit chip and a visual identifier. Some embodiments include methods of locating interrogated RFIDs. Some embodiments include methods of tracking items. |
| US07855641B1 |
Window fan security system
A window fan security system comprises a window fan housing, fan assembly, motion detector, audible alarm, light, and control panel, whereby the system is placed in a window, and when motion is detected proximate to the exterior of the window an alarm and/or light is triggered, whereby a would-be intruder is detected and deterred. |
| US07855640B2 |
Method and system of determining alarm conditions
A method and system for determining alarm conditions of a slope under inspection whereby one or more dimensionless threat estimate values are calculated for one or more time periods. The maximum dimensionless threat estimate value calculated is selected and compared with a threshold alarm value. If the maximum dimensionless threat estimate value exceeds the threshold alarm value alarm conditions are set to indicate that the slope under inspection is exhibiting unsafe movement. |
| US07855639B2 |
Dynamic resource assignment and exit information for emergency responders
A method of providing situational awareness at an incident scene. Sensor data can be received from at least one sensor (104, 106, 108) located at the incident scene and position data can be received for at least one resource (306, 308, 310, 312). Based on the received data, at least one optimal exit route (318) at the incident scene can be calculated. The present invention also relates to a system (118) that provides situational awareness at an incident scene. The system can include a communications adapter (204) that receives sensor data from at least one sensor located at the incident scene and position data for at least one resource located at the incident scene, and a processor (202) that calculates at least one optimal exit route for the resource to exit a location at the incident scene based on the received sensor data and position data. |
| US07855637B2 |
Device and method for identifying a container
The present invention relates to a wireless communication device and a method for identifying a container for containing contents such as solid, liquid, or gaseous materials. The device includes a wireless communication device for transmitting information regarding the container. A valve assembly is positioned over an opening in the container for controlling the flow of contents from the container. The wireless communication device is mounted within the valve assembly, and preferably within the ball. The wireless communication device communicates information to an interrogation reader. The temperature associated with the container and/or its contents may be determined by various techniques including thermal contact between the temperature sensor and the container, measuring the discharge rate in a discharge capacitor associated with the wireless communication device, and determining the maximum energy absorption frequency of the wireless communication device. The liquid level of the container may be determined by employing liquid level sensor techniques. |
| US07855632B1 |
Temperature sensor and method of manufacturing
A temperature sensor includes an autonomous sensing element and a plurality of conductive wires connected to the sensing element. An electrical insulator surrounds the sensing element and the conductive wires for firmly holding the sensing element and conductive wires. The insulator includes substantially crushed and compacted powder insulation. A tube encases the insulator in a compressed manner and has a first end, a second end, a first portion having a first inside diameter located in the proximity of the first end and a second portion having a second inside diameter. The second inside diameter being greater than the first inside diameter. The sensing element is positioned within the second portion of the tube. Methods of manufacturing a temperature sensor are also included. |
| US07855629B2 |
Methods and apparatus for electromagnetic components
Methods and apparatus for electromagnetic components comprise a core and a winding. The core and winding are configured to provide smaller and more effective electromagnetic components. |
| US07855627B2 |
Common-mode choke coil
A common-mode choke coil has induction immunity characteristics that are improved by a coil structure preventing a transmitter IC and a receiver IC from malfunctioning during an induction immunity test and which controls a decrease in ESD resistance and a decrease in self-resonance frequency. The common-mode choke coil includes a core, external electrodes, a pair of coils, and a top plate. The core includes a core section and a pair of flange sections. The pair of coils are wound around the core section of the core, and the ends of the coils are connected to the external electrodes, respectively. An underside and a side surface of the top plate are plated with a metal film, and bonded to the top surfaces of the flange sections preferably by an adhesive agent. The metal film is segmented into two separate portions so as to define two separate metal sections with a gap therebetween so that the metal sections are electrically disconnected. |
| US07855620B2 |
Filter circuit device having parallel connected resonator groups with cascade connected delay circuits and radio communication device formed therefrom
A filter circuit device includes a resonator unit configured with six or more resonators, the resonators being divided into a first resonator group including resonators connected in parallel and having odd-numbered resonance frequencies and a second resonator group connected to the first resonator group in parallel and including resonators connected in parallel and having even-numbered resonance frequencies, a delay unit connected between the first and second resonator groups to make a phase difference in a range of (180±30)+360×j degrees (j is a natural number) between the first and second resonator groups, a power dividing unit configured to divide a power to the resonators, and a power combining unit configured to combine outputs of the resonators of the first and second resonator groups between which the phase difference is made. |
| US07855617B2 |
Quadrature-directed quasi circulator
A circulator capable of simultaneous transmit and receive operations, high frequency, high isolation and noise figure suppression comprising: an antenna port; a transmission port; a receiving port; three quadrature hybrids, two directional couplers; wherein transmit signal entering the transmit port are split into quadrature components and coupled separately and directionally by the two directional couplers to the antenna port where the coupled quadrature components of the transmit signal are recombined in phase, while the transmit leakage to the receive port are recombined destructively in phase; said arrangement simultaneously allows the receive signal entering the antenna port to be split into quadrature components by the antenna quadrature hybrid and transmitted through the directional couplers separately and entering the receive quadrature hybrid where the quadrature components of the receive signal are recombined in phase at the receive port; said arrangement reduces the insertion loss from the antenna port to the receive port. |
| US07855616B2 |
Radio frequency switch
An RF switch includes first, second and third transmission lines for forming ports, respectively, and first, second and third slot line pattern portions connected to one another, for transferring signals to the first, second and third transmission lines, respectively. The first slot line pattern portion has a slot line pattern for transferring a signal received from the first transmission line to a connection point with the other slot line pattern portions, and a switching circuit for shorting the gap of a corresponding slot line and thus blocking the signal transfer. The second slot line pattern portion includes a loop slot line formed by a first and a second half loop slot line, a second sub-slot line for transferring a signal received from the connection point to the second transmission line through the loop slot line, and a switching circuit for shorting the gap of a corresponding slot line. |
| US07855613B2 |
Communication transceiver having a three-line balun with power amplifier bias
A balun that includes a first conductor, a second conductor, and a third conductor. The first conductor has a first length. The first conductor also has a first end connected to a first balanced power amplifier output port. The second conductor has substantially the same first length. The second conductor also includes a first end connected to a second balanced power amplifier output port and a second end connected to a second end of the first conductor. The third conductor has substantially the same first length. The third conductor has a first end connected to an antenna port and a second end connected to a ground potential. |
| US07855611B2 |
Delay line calibration
A tunable delay line is calibrated to maintain the delay of the delay line at a desired value or within a desired range of values. In some aspects a signal is passed through a delay line multiple times so that the cumulative delay of the signal through the delay line (e.g., as indicated by a count) may be calculated over a period of time. The count is compared with an expected count and, based on this comparison, the delay of the delay line is adjusted as necessary. In some aspects the signal may comprise a digital signal. In some aspects a delay through a delay line may be calculated based on analysis of amplitude changes in a signal caused by a phase shift imparted on the signal by the delay line. In some aspects a delay line is incorporated into a transmitted reference system to generate and/or process transmitted reference signals. |
| US07855610B2 |
VCO capacitor bank trimming and calibration
Techniques are disclosed for trimming a capacitance associated with a capacitor bank for use in a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). In an embodiment, each capacitance is sub-divided into a plurality of constituent capacitances. The constituent capacitances may be selectively enabled or disabled to trim the step sizes of the capacitor bank. Further techniques are disclosed for calibrating the trimmable capacitance to minimize step size error for the capacitor bank. |
| US07855607B2 |
Ring oscillation circuit, delay time measuring circuit, testing circuit, clock generating circuit, image sensor, pulse generating circuit, semiconductor integrated circuit, and testing method thereof
A ring oscillation circuit, which can operate the ring oscillation due to a positive feedback stably and continuously, is provided and it is applied to an accurate measurement of delay time and a measurement of timing accuracy in a jitter of a clock signal or the like with a high accuracy. A ring oscillation circuit comprises a delay circuit and a monostable multivibrator. An output of the delay circuit is connected to an input of the monostable multivibrator, an output of the monostable multivibrator is connected to an input of the delay circuit, and the delay circuit and the monostable multivibrator configure a positive feedback loop. An oscillation starting circuit for starting oscillation upon receipt of an input of a trigger pulse for triggering oscillation is provided on the positive feedback loop, or in the inside of the delay circuit or the monostable multivibrator. |
| US07855606B2 |
Oscillator device
An oscillator device having an oscillation system including an oscillator and a resilient supporting member, a driving member configured to supply a driving force to the oscillation system based on a driving signal, a detecting member configured to detect at least an oscillation amplitude of the oscillator, a driving amplitude control unit configured to control at least a driving amplitude of the driving signal, and a driving frequency control unit configured to control a driving frequency of the driving signal to be supplied to the driving member, wherein, in a state in which the driving amplitude control unit controls the driving amplitude of a driving signal so that the oscillation amplitude to be detected becomes equal to a target value, and on the basis of information including driving frequencies in different driving states being driven with driving signals of these driving frequencies as well as the controlled driving amplitude, the driving frequency control unit acquires, as a resonance frequency of the oscillation system, a driving frequency with which the driving amplitude of the driving signal becomes minimal. |
| US07855603B1 |
Temperature compensated self-bias darlington pair amplifier
A Darlington pair amplifier includes a temperature compensation device. In one case, the device is a resistor connected in series between: (a) an intermediate node of two bias resistors for the Darlington pair, and (b) the control terminal of the Darlington pair. In another case, the device is a second, smaller, Darlington pair connected in series with the two bias resistors for the first Darlington pair. In still another case, the device is a combination of: (1) a resistor connected in series between: (a) an intermediate node of the two bias resistors for the Darlington pair, and (b) the control terminal of the Darlington pair; and (2) a second, smaller, Darlington pair connected in series with the two bias resistors for the first Darlington pair. |
| US07855600B2 |
Two-stage operational amplifier with class AB output stage
An operational amplifier includes a differential amplifier including an active load, a current mirror including a first branch and a second branch, a first switch connected between a first power source and an output node and switched in response to a voltage of a first output terminal of the differential amplifier, a first bias circuit to control an amount of a reference current flowing in the first branch in response to a voltage of a second output terminal of the differential amplifier, a second bias circuit to control a voltage of the second branch in which a mirror current flows, in response to a voltage of the first output terminal, a second switch connected between the output node and a second power source and switched in response to a voltage of the second branch, and a capacitor connected between the output node and the first output terminal. |
| US07855599B2 |
Power amplifier
A power amplifier is provided with a signal generating circuit, a plurality of control signal amplifiers and an RF amplifier. The signal generating circuit outputs the amplitude modulation components of an input signal by dividing the components into a plurality of control signals, and outputs a modulation wave signal or the phase modulation components of the modulation wave signal. The control signal amplifier is provided with a pulse modulator, which performs pulse modulation of a control signal; a switching amplifier, which performs current amplification of a rectangular wave signal outputted from the pulse modulator; and a low-pass filter, which removes spurious components from the signal outputted from the switching amplifier. The RF amplifier amplifies the inputted signal, performs amplitude modulation with the signal outputted from the low-pass filter and outputs the amplitude-modulated signal. |
| US07855598B2 |
Electronic signal processor
An electronic signal processor for processing signals includes a complex first filter, one or more gain stages and a second filter. The first filter is characterized by a frequency response curve that includes multiple corner frequencies, with some corner frequencies being user selectable. The first filter also has at least two user-preset gain levels which may be alternately selected by a switch. Lower frequency signals are processed by the first filter with at least 12 db/octave slope, and preferably with 18 db/octave slope to minimize intermodulation distortion products by subsequent amplification in the gain stages. A second filter provides further filtering and amplitude control. The signal processor is particularly suited for processing audio frequency signals. Related methods include filtering the input signal with an input filter of the second or third order high pass type, amplifying the filtered signal and further filtering the amplified signal with a low pass filter, which may be of the second order type. |
| US07855597B2 |
Class-D amplifier
The invention discloses a class-D amplifier, which is used for driving a two-terminal load according to a set of analog signals. The D-class amplifier includes a pulse-width modulation (PWM) circuit, a signal processing circuit and a driving amplifier circuit. The PWM circuit receives the set of analog signals and converts them into a set of PWM signals with identical phase. The signal processing circuit generates a set of pulse signals which are attached to the set of PWM signals respectively. The driving amplifier circuit is coupled between the signal processing circuit and the two-terminal load. The driving amplifier circuit receives and amplifies the set of PWM signals. According to the set of PWM signals, the driving amplification circuit drives the two-terminal in a filterless way. |
| US07855595B2 |
High dynamic range ASK demodulator for use in an RFID transponder
An ASK demodulator for use in an RFID transponder having a limiter circuit associated with the antenna circuit and converting the ASK antenna field strength modulation into an ASK limiter current modulation by limiting the antenna voltage to a fixed value and thereby causing the limiter current to be substantially proportional to the ASK antenna field strength, and a current discriminator circuit that discriminates the ASK limiter current modulation. By converting the field strength modulation into a proportional limiter current and discriminating that limiter current, a linear relationship and a stable demodulator sensitivity are achieved. The current discrimination can be made accurately under low-voltage conditions. |
| US07855590B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device
A semiconductor integrated circuit device including an I/O circuitry capable of low-voltage high-speed operation at low cost is provided. In the I/O circuitry, when an I/O voltage (for example, 3.3 V) is lowered to a predetermined voltage (for example, 1.8 V), portions causing a speed deterioration are a level conversion unit and a pre-buffer unit for driving a main large-sized buffer. In view of this, a high voltage is applied to a level up converter and a pre-buffer circuit. By doing so, it is possible to achieve an I/O circuitry capable of low-voltage high-speed operation at low cost. |
| US07855589B2 |
Pulse generator circuit and communication apparatus
A pulse generator circuit that outputs pulses having a predetermined shape from an output terminal based on a start signal includes a timing generator circuit that generates (n+1) signals (n is an integer greater than or equal to 2), the phases of which sequentially change at predetermined time intervals from the point when the phase of the start signal changes, first and second power supplies that supply predetermined potentials, n impedance devices, and a switching circuit that connects the output terminal to the first or second power supply in a predetermined order according to the value of a logic function based on the (n+1) signals via the corresponding impedance device. |
| US07855587B1 |
Asymmetric sense-amp flip-flop
An Asymmetric Sense-Amp Flip-Flop (ASAFF) is disclosed that may achieve zero setup time and short clock-to-Q delays. The ASAFF captures input data at a clock transition by setting values of a first node and a second node in a manner that is input data value dependent. If the input data is at the first input data value, the first node is set and held at a first storage value after a first delay, and the second node is set and held at a second storage value after a second delay, and if the input data is at a second input data value, the first node is set and held at a third storage value after a third delay, and the second node is set and held at a fourth storage value, after a fourth delay. This internal-path dependent difference in delay enables ASAFF to achieve zero setup time. |
| US07855583B2 |
Sense amplifier for low voltage high speed sensing
A memory system includes a sense amplifier for detecting content of data memory cells by comparison with a voltage stored in a reference cell. The sense amplifier may comprise a comparator, first and second load circuits, and a low impedance circuit. A first input of the comparator is coupled to the low impedance circuit and a reference voltage node. A second input of the comparator is coupled to a data voltage node. The first load circuit loads a reference cell coupled to the reference voltage node. The second load circuit loads a data cell coupled to the data voltage node. |
| US07855582B2 |
Device and method for detecting a timing of an edge of a signal with respect to a predefined edge of a periodic signal
A device and method for detecting timing of an edge of a signal with respect to a timing of a predefined edge of a periodic signal is provided, wherein the edge defines a state change between a first state and a second state of the signal, and wherein the device can include: a phase-shift element to shift the phase of the signal relative to the phase of the periodic signal by a phase shift value at which the state change can be sensed at a point in time determined by the timing of the predefined edge; and a detection element to detect the timing of the edge relative to the timing of the predefined edge on the basis of the phase shift value. The phase-shift element can be an adjustable delay element for delaying the signal by an adjustable delay value as a phase shift value. |
| US07855581B2 |
Real time clock monitoring method and system
Method for monitoring a real time clock and a device having real time clock monitoring capabilities, the device includes: (i) a real time clock tree, (ii) a clock frequency monitor that is adapted to determine a frequency of a real time clock signal, during a short monitoring period; (iii) a monitoring enable module, adapted to activate the clock frequency monitor during short motoring periods and to deactivate the clock frequency monitor during other periods, wherein the monitoring enable module is adapted to determine a timing of the short monitoring periods in a non-deterministic manner; and (iv) a real time clock violation indication generator adapted to indicate that a real time clock violation occurred, in response to an error signal provided from the clock frequency monitor. |
| US07855579B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and design method thereof
In a layout process of a semiconductor integrated circuit, a power supply is initially formed in an arrangement in which the current threshold value is not exceeded. In a case where the excess over the current threshold value occurs after the power supply is formed, the power supply arrangement is changed according to the current threshold value, design rule data base, and power supply wiring density so as not to exceed the current threshold value. |
| US07855576B1 |
Versatile common-mode driver methods and apparatus
Methods and apparatus are provided for selectively setting a CM voltage for a transceiver, reducing the effect of current mismatch, and generating a voltage step that can be used for receiver detection. A circuit of the invention can include voltage generator circuitry operable to generate a plurality of voltage signals of substantially different voltages. The circuit can also include multiplexer circuitry with voltage inputs coupled to the voltage signals. The multiplexer circuitry can be operable to select a reference signal from among the voltage inputs. In addition, the circuit can include operational amplifier (“op-amp”) circuitry with a first input coupled to the reference signal and a second input coupled to an output signal of the op-amp circuitry. |
| US07855571B2 |
Testing circuit board for preventing tested chip positions from being wrongly positioned
A testing circuit board used in a testing system with a tester and a handler is disclosed. The testing circuit board is used for transmitting a plurality of testing signals provided by the tester to test at least two devices under test located on the handler. The testing circuit board includes a connecting board, a load board and at least two connecting interfaces. The connecting board coupled to the handler has at least two connecting sockets for respectively connecting to the devices under testing. The load board coupled to the tester has two joining sockets located corresponding to the connecting sockets. The at least two connecting interfaces are coupled between the connecting sockets and the joining sockets for transmitting the testing signals for testing the devices under testing. |
| US07855567B2 |
Electronic device testing system and method
The invention provides a testing system and method suitable for determining whether the pins of the socket are properly connected to a printed circuit board. The testing system includes a testing signal source, a socket, a signal sensing unit, a fixing element, and an analysis unit. The signal sensing unit comprises a sensor board, a probe, and an operation amplifier. The sensor board is electrically coupled to the socket, and the sensor board has a probing point. The probe is selectively contacted with the probing point of the sensor board for receiving and outputting a sensing signal. The operation amplifier is electrically connected to the probe for receiving, amplifying and outputting the sensing signal. The fixing element is used for fixing the sensor board between the socket and the fixing element. |
| US07855566B2 |
Sensor device
A sensor system has a support that extends along an observation zone, a row of detection subassemblies arranged one after another on the support and having subcircuits for capturing detection events within respective observation subzones defined by the respective detection subassemblies, and a base circuit on the support. The detection subassemblies are controlled with an alternating voltage having a frequency that forms a carrier frequency based on which a signal dialog occurs between the subcircuits and the base circuit. |
| US07855564B2 |
Acoustic wave device physical parameter sensor
An acoustic wave sensor employs an electromagnetic device (EMD) to transduce and amplify the response of an impedance element to a physical measurand. A measurand is defined as a physical parameter being quantified by measurement. One embodiment uses a magnetic field sensor employing a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) capacitor to affect a change in the response of a SAW filter. |
| US07855563B2 |
Robust cable connectivity test receiver for high-speed data receiver
A system is provided for detecting a fault in a signal transmission path. In one embodiment, the system can include a variable amplitude signal attenuator which is operable to modify an input signal by variably attenuating a signal voltage swing of the input signal. Desirably, the input signal is attenuated only when transitioning from a high signal voltage level towards a low signal voltage level d variably, such that a larger high-to-low signal voltage swing is attenuated more than a smaller high-to-low signal voltage swing. Desirably, a comparator, which may apply hysteresis to the output signals, may detect a crossing of a reference voltage level by the modified input signal. In this way, when the comparator does not detect an expected crossing of the reference voltage level by the modified input signal, a determination can be made that a fault exists in the signal transmission path. |
| US07855558B2 |
Magnetic resonance device and method
MRI device arranged to a) generate a series of MR echo signals from a nuclear spin series having two or more spectral lines by subjecting at least part of a body (7) to an MR imaging pulse sequence using multiple time-encoding echo time values, b) acquire the MR echo signals for reconstructing a series of time-encoded MR images therefrom, each time-encoded MR image being associated with one of the time-encoding echo time values, c) transform the series of time-encoded MR images into a series of spectral domain MR images on a pixel-by-pixel or voxel-by-voxel basis, d) and superimpose the MR images for obtaining a final image the device being further arranged to apply a time-encoding scheme in step a) such that each spectral line of the nuclear spin species is uniquely mapped to one MR image from the series of spectral domain MR images. |
| US07855552B2 |
Rotation angle sensor
A rotation angle sensor is provided for determining mechanical angular positions and transposing them into signals transferable through electricity. The sensor includes a housing (2), a rotation indicator (4) located outside of the sensor housing (2a) so that it can rotate and coupled with the sensor element (3) so it operates in a non-contracting manner through the wall of the housing (2). A sensor element (3) is located in the interior of the housing (2). An intermediary element (5) is rotationally supported in the interior of the housing (2) between the sensor element (3) and the rotation indicator (4) and coupled to the rotation indicator (4) in a rotationally fixed, but non-contacting manner. |
| US07855547B2 |
Drawing waveforms in no dead time acquisition system
A method of drawing a waveform image in a no dead time acquisition system, where consecutive drawing frames overlap, uses a master/slave relationship between two fast rasterizers. The master rasterizer draws a first display frame in response to a first trigger event in a trigger signal derived from an input signal. The slave rasterizer draws a second display frame in response to a subsequent trigger event in the trigger signal. The portion of the second display frame that duplicates data contained in the first display frame is either (a) suppressed when the first and second display frames are combined to form the waveform image or (b) displayed in a different shade/color. Alternatively the first display frame may be compressed by 50% to form a first portion of the waveform image and the non-duplicative portion of the second display frame is compressed by 50% to form a second portion of the waveform image, the first and second portions being drawn contiguously when the first and second display frames are combined to form the waveform image. |
| US07855537B2 |
Voltage supply circuit
A voltage supply circuit includes an output transistor causing a first current to flow to an output terminal of the voltage supply circuit based on a control voltage applied from an error amplifier to a control terminal of the output transistor; and an overcurrent protection circuit including a reference transistor causing a second current to flow to the output terminal, the second current having an amount corresponding to an amount of the first current, the overcurrent protection circuit regulating a level of the control voltage based on comparison between a detection voltage caused based on the second current and a reference voltage. |
| US07855535B2 |
Inrush current control
One embodiment of the present invention includes a power supply system. The power supply system comprises a variable voltage source configured to provide and incrementally increase a control voltage associated with a pass-transistor. The power supply system also comprises an inrush current monitor configured to monitor a current-flow through the pass-transistor. The power supply system further comprises a voltage control circuit configured to halt the incremental increase of the control voltage in response to the current-flow exceeding a predetermined current limit. |
| US07855529B2 |
Inductively powered sleeve for mobile electronic device
There is disclosed a sleeve for holding a portable electronic device such as an MP3 player, mobile telephone, PDA and the like. The sleeve is provided with an integrally formed secondary winding that enables the sleeve to pick up magnetic flux from an inductive charging platform and associated circuitry for generating a DC charging voltage that can be used to charge a battery in the device while the device is received within the sleeve. The sleeve is formed with a connector designed to fit a power/data connection socket in the device, and may also be provided with a connection port enabling the device to be connected to a computer while it is received within the sleeve. |
| US07855525B2 |
Method for controlling a holding force against, and limiting impact with travel limit positions
An actuator includes a motor operated by a controller through a pulse width modulation drive signal applied to a drive circuit that drives the motor. The actuator has an output shaft connected to a coupling structure for manipulating a device such as a variable geometry turbine (VGT) or an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve. The device has a range of motion limited by first and second mechanical stops located at opposing low and high ends of the range. The controller learns the location of the mechanical stops during calibration. An external control unit transmits a desired position to the actuator. A protocol allows the external control unit to implicitly request a positioning mode by virtue of what value range the desired position falls into. The controller is configured to limit the drive signal to a non-harmful level when one of the positioning modes calls for pushing the device against one of the stops. |
| US07855524B2 |
Voltage control and power factor correction in AC induction motors
A voltage control circuit is disclosed. A power factor corrector may utilize the control circuit to provide power factor correction for an AC induction motor. An AC induction motor system may combine the power factor correct with an AC induction motor. |
| US07855523B2 |
Motor driving circuit and disc apparatus using the same
A back electromotive detection comparator compares back electromotive voltages Vu to Vw with a common voltage Vn of coils, and generates first rectangular wave signals Pu to Pw. A masking circuit performs masking of the first rectangular wave signals Pu to Pw, and outputs the resultant signals as second rectangular wave signals Mu to Mw. An output circuit supplies a drive current to coils on the basis of the second rectangular wave signals Mu to Mw. A frequency generating circuit generates a frequency generation signal SigFG whose level switches at every edge of the second rectangular wave signals Mu to Mw. A mask signal generating circuit generates a mask signal MSK which is at a high level during an interval multiplied by a coefficient to a pulse width Tp of the frequency generation signal SigFG after level transition of the frequency generation signal SigFG. The masking circuit nullifies level fluctuation of the first rectangular wave signals Pu to Pw during an interval when a mask signal MSK is at the high level. |
| US07855522B2 |
Motor control method and motor control apparatus
A motor control method includes the steps of: measuring a time period from an output of a drive detection signal to a next output of a drive detection signal; storing the measurement result at each time of output of a drive detection signal as a measured cycle; calculating a driven velocity of the driven object based on the stored measured cycle; calculating an operation amount of the motor such that the calculated driven velocity is equal to a predetermined target velocity. In the motor control method, it is determined, at each calculation timing, whether or not the driven object is in a low velocity state where an actual velocity is lower than the target velocity. When determined affirmative, calculation of the driven velocity of the driven object is performed based on a measured value being currently measured at the calculation timing in place of the stored measured cycle. |
| US07855520B2 |
Light-emitting diode driving circuit and secondary side controller for controlling the same
A light-emitting diode (LED) driving circuit and a secondary side controller for controlling the same control an output voltage of the LED driving circuit at a first driving voltage or a second driving voltage. When the output voltage is controlled at the first driving voltage, an LED module driven by the LED driving circuit is in a stably lighting state; and when the output voltage is controlled at the second driving voltage, the output voltage is approximately a threshold voltage of the LED module but higher than zero volt, so that the LED module is close to not emitting light. Therefore, in a dimming operation, the variation of voltage applied across the LED module is smaller than that in the conventional LED driving circuits to thereby protect the LED module against an excessive voltage stress and avoid the problem of inaccurate dimming. |
| US07855518B2 |
Dimming algorithms based upon light bulb type
A lighting control circuit for dimming a light is provided with different algorithms that are utilized to dim fluorescent and incandescent lights. Some method of identifying the type of light which is to be dimmed, reports to a control for the lighting control circuit, and the appropriate algorithm is then selected and utilized. |
| US07855517B2 |
Current driver circuit and method of operation therefor
A current driver circuit comprises a digital circuitry having a current adjustment function and operably coupled to a current driver for providing a current to a current consuming device. The digital circuitry comprises, or is operably coupled to, a function arranged to determine a load impedance associated with the current consuming device. The current adjustment function varies a current limit applied to the current driver in response to a variation in the load impedance.In this manner, the load impedance (or temperature) of a current consuming device, such as a light bulb, is used to continuously or intermittently adjusting the current limit of a current driver circuit, such as a lamp driver, to minimize the energy dissipated in case of an overload condition. |
| US07855515B2 |
High-voltage high-power constant current LED driver device
A high-voltage high-power constant current LED driver device, can drive LED cluster, comprises switch tube, current sensing resistor Rcs and inductor L, particularly, comprises a low voltage control circuit that detects the voltage drop on the said current sensing resistor Rcs to produce a control signal transmitting to the control terminal of the switch tube; the said current sensing resistor Rcs connects with inductor L in series and is positioned between the output terminal of switch tube and the current output terminal of the current driving device in series connection; the input terminal of the said switch tube is connected to a DC voltage source; and also comprises a diode D3 which the cathode is connected to the output terminal of the said switch tube and anti cathode is grounding. The device of the invention has the advantages of constant current, simple driving circuit and low cost under the high-voltage high-power application. |
| US07855514B2 |
LED indicator device for AC power plug or socket
An LED indicator device is mounted in an AC power plug or socket and electrically connected in parallel with an AC power source. The LED indicator device includes a driving/current-limiting circuit to which an LED lighting circuit is coupled. The driving/current-limiting circuit includes a driving/current-limiting capacitor and a discharge resistor connected in parallel with the driving/current-limiting capacitor. The LED lighting circuit includes an LED, a protective instantaneous current-limiting resistor coupled to the LED, a rectifying diode connected in parallel with the LED, and a protective instantaneous voltage-limiting capacitor connected in parallel with the LED. The LED is lit to show the position and on/off state of the AC power plug or socket. Three LEDs emitting different colors and associated driving/current-limiting circuits and associated LED lighting circuits can be utilized to indicate incorrect power connection or short circuit of the AC power plug or socket. |
| US07855513B2 |
Device and method for gas treatment using pulsed corona discharges
A plasma reactor is provided, which includes a discharge chamber with dimensional characteristics and configuration of dielectric and electrodes so as to enhance efficiency based on the characteristics of the corona discharge streamers generated. Upon application of a pulsed high voltage potential, the discharge chamber enables formation of plasma where surface streamers play a greater role in the overall energy density of the discharge chamber than gas streamers. The formation of gas streamers is constrained. Because surface streamers have a higher energy density, the present invention is able to achieve improved energy efficiency while preserving effectiveness for gas treatment. |
| US07855510B2 |
Photomultiplier tube
A photomultiplier tube includes: a cathode, a plurality of dynodes, and an electron lens forming electrode. The cathode emits electrons in response to incident light. The plurality of dynodes multiplies electrons emitted from the cathode. The electron lens forming the electrode is disposed in a prescribed position in relation to an edge of a first dynode positioned in a first stage from the cathode and an edge of a second dynode positioned in a second stage from the cathode, and smoothes an equipotential surface in a space between the first dynode and the second dynode along a longitudinal direction of the first dynode. This structure improves time resolution in response to incident light. |
| US07855503B2 |
Flat panel display and method of manufacturing the same
A flat panel display capable of preventing a pixel circuit from electrically short-circuiting, and a method of manufacturing the flat panel display are disclosed. In one embodiment, the flat panel display includes an insulating film having an aperture, a pixel electrode having a portion exposed by the aperture of the insulating film, a conductor formed on the insulating film, and a capping layer covering the conductor. According to embodiments of the present invention, the conductor is formed from a conductive paste and the rough surface of the conductive paste is passivated by a capping layer formed on the conductor, and thus, a short circuit between the conductor and an opposing pixel electrode can be prevented. |
| US07855500B2 |
Electron emission device having a sealing member in contact with electrodes
An electron emission display that can mitigate or prevent problems of an arc discharge and a wire disconnection due to increases in resistance at portions where a sealing member contacts electrodes includes: an electron emission device on which upper surfaces of electrodes are exposed, a front panel that is disposed in front of the electron emission device, the front panel being of a phosphor material, and a sealing member that seals a space formed by the electron emission device and the front panel by being disposed on the edges of the space in contact with the electrodes. The electrodes are formed on an entire surface of the electron emission device with a narrow width at an end portion of the electron emission device where the electrodes are connected to an external power source, and the sealing member contacts the electrodes closer to the space than end portions of the electrodes where the width of the electrodes is narrowed. |
| US07855497B2 |
Dielectric barrier discharge lamp comprising an UV-B phosphor
A dielectric barrier Xe discharge lamp include discharge vessel with a gas filling containing Xe or a Xe/Ne mixture and a luminescent layer of a UV-B phosphor emitting in the UV-B range 280 to 320 nm. The luminescent layer includes a Gd3+ activated phosphor according to at least one the formulas of (Y1-x-yGdxSy)Al3(BO3)4, (La1-x-yGdxSy)Al3(BO3)4, (La1-x-yGdxSy)B3O6, (Y1-x-y-zGdxSyLuz)PO4, (Y1-x-y-zGdxSyLuz)BO3, (Y1-x-y-zGdxSyLuz)3Al5O12, Me(Y1-x-yGdxSy)F4 (Me=Li, Na, K; S═Bi, Nd, Pr; 0.0 |
| US07855495B2 |
Magnetron with relatively fixed yoke and cooling block by means of a cushioning material and fixing member
A gap is provided between a cooling block 22 and a magnetic yoke 20. A cushioning material 25 is interposed in the gap to fix the cooling block 22 relatively to the magnetic yoke 20 by screws. Thus, even when metals having a large difference in tendency of ionization are used in the cooling block 22 and the magnetic yoke 20, the corrosion of the metals hardly arises. Further, the cushioning material 25 is provided in the gap between the cooling block 22 and the magnetic yoke 20, so that an impact or vibration to an anode tubular member 10 can be mitigated and the disconnection and deficiency of the filament of a cathode structural member can be reduced. Further, since a dimensional unevenness of the cooling block 22 or the magnetic yoke 20 can be absorbed by the cushioning material 25, the dimensional accuracy of parts does not need to be improved to make an assembly easy. |
| US07855491B2 |
Prestress-adjustable piezoelectric gripping device
A prestress-adjustable piezoelectric gripping device is provided, in which a prestressing device adjusts a prestressing force applied to a piezoelectric element of a piezoelectric unit on the basis of a feedback signal from a force-sensing unit, so as to adjust the friction between the piezoelectric unit and a gripping unit. By utilizing the deformation of the piezoelectric element to drive the gripping unit many times, the gripping velocity and gripping force of the gripping unit can be controlled, and the prestress-adjustable piezoelectric gripping device of the invention can achieve a long driving displacement while maintaining high precision. |
| US07855482B2 |
Rectifier with improved resistance against vibration
In a rectifier, a high-side heatsink in which high-side rectifying elements are mounted provides a common positive terminal attached to the high-side heatsink. A low-side heatsink in which the low-side rectifying elements are mounted provides a common negative terminal. A terminal block assembly includes a plurality of terminal blocks integrated with each other. The plurality of terminal blocks hold the conductive members. A fixing mechanism directly fixes one of the plurality of terminal blocks to the high-side heatsink. The one of the plurality of terminal blocks holds at least one of the conductive members. The at least one of the conductive members is connected to one of the high-side rectifying elements. The one of the high-side rectifying elements is located closest to the output terminal in all of the high-side rectifying elements. |
| US07855479B2 |
Noise suppression structure of blower motor
In a noise suppression structure of a blower motor according to the present invention, a noise reduction member is disposed inside of a peripheral wall part of an end bracket member in such a manner that the noise reduction member is located in a position opposite side of the peripheral wall part to which a connector part is provided, a metal terminal member extended from the connector part has an extension part extendedly provided along a bottom surface part of the end bracket member in a circumferential direction thereof, and the extension part of the metal terminal member has a connection part to which the noise reduction member is connected. |
| US07855478B2 |
Machine for generating reciprocal motion and related method
A machine for generating reciprocal motion includes a first magnet rotatable about a first magnet axis, a second magnet spaced apart from the first magnet and rotatable about a second magnet axis, and a third magnet arranged between the first and second magnets and reciprocatable therebetween. A switching mechanism is associated with the first and second magnets to rotate the first and second magnets between a first position, in which the first and second magnets respectively attract and repel the third magnet, and a second position, in which the first and second magnets respectively repel and attract the third magnet. The third magnet can be reciprocatable along a reciprocation axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first and second magnet axes. The switching mechanism can include a first suspended weight that is selectively releasable to impel rotation of at least one of the first and second magnets. |
| US07855470B2 |
Immobilizer device and motorcycle including same
An immobilizer device for a vehicle includes a key which has a transponder, an engine ECU, and an immobilizer ECU which receives a first identification information transmitted from the key and inputs the identification information to the engine ECU via a first identification information transmitting device. The immobilizer ECU includes a second identification information transmitting device which inputs second, different identification information to the engine ECU. The engine ECU includes a first and second identification information authentication devices which respectively authenticate the first identification information and the second identification information based on first and second comparison data set in the engine ECU. The engine ECU allows an engine to start when the first and second identification information are appropriately authenticated. The first identification information is based on random numbers generated by the engine ECU. |
| US07855467B2 |
Hybrid power generation of wind-power generator and battery energy storage system
A hybrid system using a wind-power generator and a battery energy storage system includes a unit to set a system constant output value, a unit to control power generated from the wind-power generator, a unit to gradually change an output target value between an output constant operation and a regulation control operation, and a control unit to secure a charged ampere-hour of a battery in the output constant operation. |
| US07855464B2 |
Semiconductor device having a semiconductor chip and resin sealing portion
A semiconductor chip has a main surface. A conductive portion is provided on the main surface and made from a material having conductivity and malleability. A sealing resin portion has a surface facing the main surface. An electrode is provided on the conductive portion and passes through the sealing resin portion between the conductive portion and the surface. As a result, there is provided a semiconductor device that can be downsized. |
| US07855452B2 |
Semiconductor module, method of manufacturing semiconductor module, and mobile device
An electrode for a semiconductor device is formed on the mounting surface (particularly, the outer periphery thereof) of a semiconductor substrate in a semiconductor module. In order to secure a large gap between the electrodes, an insulating layer is formed on the electrode. Also formed are a plurality of bumps penetrating the insulating layer and connected to the electrode, and a rewiring pattern integrally formed with the bumps. The rewiring pattern includes a bump area and a wiring area extending contiguously with the bump area.The insulating layer is formed to have a concave upper surface in an interval between the bumps, and the wiring area of the rewiring pattern is formed to fit that upper surface. The wiring area of the rewiring pattern is formed to be depressed toward the semiconductor substrate in relation to the bump area of the rewiring pattern. |
| US07855451B2 |
Device having a contacting structure
A layer of electrically insulating material is applied to a substrate and a component located thereon, in such a way that said layer follows the surface contours. |
| US07855450B2 |
Circuit module
In a circuit module for a high frequency, a resistance film is formed on a side of a semiconductor circuit chip, mounted above a dielectric substrate through ground metal layers, opposite to the dielectric substrate. A distance from the ground metal layer to the resistance film is a ¼ wavelength at a predetermined frequency, and the resistance film has a sheet resistance equal to a characteristic impedance of air. A second dielectric substrate with the metal layer formed on a side opposite to the resistance film can be mounted. When being adhered to the second dielectric substrate, the resistance film has a characteristic impedance determined by a permittivity of a material of the semiconductor circuit chip. When being formed in space from the semiconductor circuit chip, the resistance film has a sheet resistance equal to a characteristic impedance of air. The thickness of the second dielectric substrate is a ¼ wavelength in a desired frequency. |
| US07855447B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device, PDP driver, and plasma display panel
In a semiconductor integrated circuit device of the present invention, temperature increase of a bonding wire can be suppressed even when conductive leads are short-circuited with each other, and reliability of the semiconductor integrated circuit device is improved. The conductive leads of a resin package for supplying a power supply section of a semiconductor integrated circuit chip with power from an external power supply are connected with bonding pads of the semiconductor integrated circuit chip by a plurality of bonding wires. Furthermore, the conductive leads connected to a GND for supplying the power supply section of the semiconductor integrated circuit chip with a grounding potential are connected with the bonding pads of the semiconductor integrated circuit chip by a plurality of bonding wires. |
| US07855441B2 |
Semiconductor card package and method of forming the same
A semiconductor card package and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor cared package are provided. The package may include a housing having a cavity. The cavity may have a size corresponding to at least one standard semiconductor package. External terminals may be exposed on the outside of the housing. Internal terminals may be disposed in the cavity. At least one internal semiconductor package may be inserted into the cavity. The internal semiconductor package includes I/O terminals. Each of the I/O terminals is connected to a corresponding one of the internal terminals. |
| US07855439B2 |
Molded ultra thin semiconductor die packages, systems using the same, and methods of making the same
Disclosed are molded ultra-thin semiconductor die packages, systems that incorporate such packages, and methods of making such packages. An exemplary package comprises a leadframe having an aperture formed between the leadframe's first and second surfaces, and a plurality of leads disposed adjacent to the aperture. The package further comprises a semiconductor disposed in the aperture of the leadframe with its top surface substantially flush with the leadframe's first surface, and at least one gap between at least one side surface of the semiconductor die and at least one lead of the leadframe. A body of electrically insulating material is disposed in the at least one gap. A plurality of conductive members interconnect leads of the leadframe with conductive regions on the die's top surface, with at least one conductive member having a portion disposed over at least a portion of the body of insulating material. |
| US07855436B2 |
Semiconductor wafer
A semiconductor wafer includes an insulation substrate with transparency; a silicon semiconductor layer formed on the insulation substrate; a chip forming area defined on the silicon semiconductor layer; a scribe line area defined on the silicon semiconductor layer for dividing the chip forming area; and an opaque pattern layer formed in the scribe line area. A plurality of opaque pattern portions is arranged apart from each other in the opaque pattern layer. |
| US07855433B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type and a resistor having a substantially U-shaped contour and being formed from an epitaxial layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate and having a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type. A first trench is formed around an exterior of the resistor to a depth sufficient enough to reach the semiconductor substrate. A second trench is formed in an interior of the resistor to provide the resistor with the U-shaped contour. First and second insulating films are disposed in the first and second trenches, respectively. A heavily-doped region of the second conductivity type having an impurity concentration sufficient to obtain a contact with a metal wire is arranged at both ends of the resistor. |
| US07855432B2 |
Integrated thermal characterization and trim of polysilicon resistive elements
Devices, systems, and methods for providing an on-chip, temperature-stable resistance network for generating a precision current or precision resistance are disclosed. The resistance network includes a first resistance material having a linear, negative temperature coefficient of resistance and a second resistance material having a linear, positive temperature resistance. The first and second resistance materials are arrayed in segments proximate to a local, pulsed thermal gradient and are combined or mixed, i.e., trimmed, to provide a zero or near zero thermal coefficient. |
| US07855430B2 |
Electronic components on trenched substrates and method of forming same
A method of mounting an electronic component on a substrate includes forming at least one trench in a surface of the substrate. The trenches formed in the substrate reduce a stiffness of the substrate, which provides less resistance to shear. Accordingly, the trenches reduce the amount of strain on the joints, which mount the electronic component to the substrate, which enhances the life of the joints. |
| US07855422B2 |
Formation of high sheet resistance resistors and high capacitance capacitors by a single polysilicon process
A semiconductor device includes a transistor, a capacitor and a resistor wherein the capacitor includes a doped polysilicon layer to function as a bottom conductive layer with a salicide block (SAB) layer as a dielectric layer covered by a Ti/TiN layer as a top conductive layer thus constituting a single polysilicon layer metal-insulator-polysilicon (MIP) structure. While the high sheet rho resistor is also formed on the same single polysilicon layer with differential doping of the polysilicon layer. |
| US07855420B2 |
Structure for a latchup robust array I/O using through wafer via
A design structure including: an I/O cell and an ESD protection circuit in a region of an integrated circuit chip containing logic circuits; an electrically conductive through via extending from a bottom surface of the substrate toward a top surface of the substrate between the I/O cell and an ESD protection circuit and at least one of the logic circuits. |
| US07855410B2 |
Semiconductor memory devices having a floating gate with a projecting portion and methods of forming semiconductor memory devices having a floating gate with a projecting portion
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device can be generally characterized as including a gate insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate, a floating gate on the gate insulating layer and a word line disposed on one side of the floating gate. A first side of the floating gate facing the word line may include a projecting portion projecting toward the word line. A tip of the projecting portion may include a corner that extends substantially perpendicularly with respect to a top surface of the semiconductor substrate. |
| US07855409B2 |
Flash memory device and method of fabricating the same
The present invention relates to flash memory devices and a method of fabricating the same. In an aspect of the present invention, the flash memory device includes trenches formed in a semiconductor substrate and having a step at their lower portion, a tunnel insulating layer formed in an active region of the semiconductor substrate, first conductive layers formed on the tunnel insulating layer, an isolation layer gap-filling between the trenches and the first conductive layers, and a second conductive layer formed on the first conductive layer and having one side partially overlapping with the isolation layers. |
| US07855407B2 |
CMOS image sensor and method for manufacturing the same
Embodiments relate to a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor, and to a method for manufacturing the same, that improves the low-light level characteristics of the CMOS image sensor. The CMOS image sensor has a photosensor unit and a signal processing unit, and may include a semiconductor substrate having a device isolating implant area provided with a first ion implant area and a complementary second ion implant area within the first ion implant area; a device isolating layer in the signal processing unit; a photodiode in the photosensor unit; and transistors in the signal processing unit. A crystal defect zone neighboring the photodiode may be minimized using the device isolating implant area between adjacent photodiodes so that a source of dark current can be reduced and the occurrence of interface traps can be prevented, making it possible to improve the low-light level characteristics of the image sensor. |
| US07855406B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and method of manufacturing the same
An n/p−/p+ substrate where a p−-type epitaxial layer and an n-type epitaxial layer have been deposited on a p+-type substrate is provided. In the surface region of the n-type epitaxial layer, the n-type region of a photoelectric conversion part has been formed. Furthermore, a barrier layer composed of a p-type semiconductor region has been formed so as to enclose the n-type region of the photoelectric conversion part in a plane and reach the p−-type epitaxial layer from the substrate surface. A p-type semiconductor region has also been formed at a chip cutting part for dividing the substrate into individual devices so as to reach the p−-type epitaxial layer from the substrate surface. |
| US07855399B2 |
Protection device of programmable semiconductor surge suppressor having deep-well structure
A protection device of programmable semiconductor surge suppressor having deep-well structure is provided comprising one, two or four protection units, each of which is composed of a PN-junction diode, a PNPN-type thyristor and a NPN-type triode connected with each other. It is characterized in that in the diode area on the frontal side of the N-type semiconductor base is formed a PN junction with impurity concentration changed gradiently from top to bottom according to the order of P+, P, N and N+; and a group of deep-wells with P-type impurities are positioned at the interface of the PN junction, making the PN junction form a concave-convex type interface. The present invention can be used in the program-controlled switchboard to protect the Subscriber Line Interface Circuit (SLIC) board. The above improvement can further improve the anti-lightning and anti-surge performance and the energy discharge capability of the whole device. The device of the present invention can reach a level of 3000˜3500 V according to the anti-lightning performance test. |
| US07855396B2 |
Light emitting diode package structure
A light emitting diode (LED) package structure including a first substrate, one or more LED chips, a second substrate, and a thermoelectric cooling device is provided. The first substrate has a first surface and a corresponding second surface. The LED chip suitable for emitting a light is arranged on the first surface of the first substrate, and is electrically connected to the first substrate. The second substrate is below the first substrate, and has a third surface and a corresponding fourth surface. The third surface faces the second surface. The thermoelectric cooling device is arranged between the second surface of the first substrate and the third surface of the second substrate for conducting heat generated by the LED chip during operation. |
| US07855392B2 |
Optoelectronic semiconductor component capable of centralizing emitted light
An optoelectronic semiconductor component includes a light-emitting chip for emitting light, and a reflective substrate. A plurality of linear indent structures is formed on the reflective substrate. The light-emitting chip is installed on the reflective substrate and located on a side of the plurality of linear indent structures. The plurality of linear indent structures is capable of reflecting the light emitted from the light-emitting chip. |
| US07855389B2 |
Semiconductor light-emitting device
A semiconductor light-emitting device includes a first LED chip whose emitted light is wavelength-converted by a fluorescent substance layer formed by applying and curing a fluorescent substance material, and a second LED chip whose emitted light is not wavelength-converted by the fluorescent substance layer, wherein the first LED chip and the second LED chip are arranged on a substrate in such a way that a level of an emission layer of the second LED chip is higher than that of a top face of the first LED chip above the substrate. |
| US07855384B2 |
SIC semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A SiC semiconductor device includes: a SiC substrate having a drain layer, a drift layer and a source layer stacked in this order; multiple trenches penetrating the source layer and reaching the drift layer; a gate layer on a sidewall of each trench; an insulation film on the sidewall of each trench covering the gate layer; a source electrode on the source layer; and a diode portion in or under the trench contacting the drift layer to provide a diode. The drift layer between the gate layer on the sidewalls of adjacent two trenches provides a channel region. The diode portion is coupled with the source electrode, and insulated from the gate layer with the insulation film. |
| US07855381B2 |
Device including resin film
A resin material having a small relative dielectric constant is used as a layer insulation film 114. The resin material has a flat surface. A black matrix or masking film for thin film transistors is formed thereon using a metal material. Such a configuration prevents the problem of a capacity generated between the masking film and a thin film transistor. |
| US07855380B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
The invention primarily provides gate electrodes and gate wirings permitting large-sized screens for active matrix-type display devices, wherein, in order to achieve this object, the construction of the invention is a semiconductor device having, on the same substrate, a pixel TFT provided in a display region and a driver circuit TFT provided around the display region, wherein the gate electrodes of the pixel TFT and the driver circuit TFT are formed from a first conductive layer, the gate electrodes are in electrical contact through connectors with gate wirings formed from a second conductive layer, and the connectors are provided outside the channel-forming regions of the pixel TFT and the driver circuit TFT. |
| US07855376B2 |
Lighting system and method for illuminating and detecting object
An object-detecting lighting system comprises a light source emitting visible light. A source controller is connected to the light source to drive the light source into emitting the visible light in a predetermined mode. An optical detector is positioned with respect to the light source and is adapted to detect the visible light as reflected/backscattered by an object. A data/signal processor is connected to the source controller and the optical detector to receive detection data from the optical detector. The data/signal processor produces a data output associated to the object as a function of the predetermined mode and the detection data. |
| US07855375B2 |
Integrative and real-time radiation measurement methods and systems
A method of determining the radiation type and energy distribution of a radiation source that outputs radiation. The method including providing a plurality of detector materials and exposing the plurality of detector materials to the radiation. Each of the plurality of detector materials stores a signal in response to being exposed to the radiation. The signals are representative of the radiation. The plurality of detector materials is stimulated to output the signals as measured signals. These measured signals are used to determine the radiation type and energy distribution of the radiation. |
| US07855374B2 |
Gas cluster ion beam emitting apparatus and method for ionization of gas cluster
An emitting apparatus 50 has a gas cluster generation chamber 2 and a nozzle 3 as means for generating a gas cluster and emitting the gas cluster to a processing object 10. A group of gas clusters jetted from the nozzle 3 is shaped into a gas cluster stream 8 in a beam form when passing through a skimmer 4. Electrons are emitted from an electron gun 12 to the gas cluster stream 8, whereby the gas cluster in the gas cluster stream is ionized. |
| US07855373B2 |
Charged particle gun
An electron gun (1) includes an emitter (2), a tubular support (3) and an adaptor (4) for receiving the emitter. The adaptor includes a tapered plugging surface (7) and the tubular support includes a correspondingly tapered seating surface (9) for receiving the plugging surface. The plugging surface and seating surface have conical profiles which help to position the adaptor concentrically with the support. |
| US07855371B2 |
Image detection apparatus and method for producing the apparatus
An image detection apparatus includes a substrate, a middle layer formed on the substrate, the middle layer having a quadrilateral hole, and a photoelectric conversion layer deposited on the middle layer. The curvature radius of each of the corner portions of the quadrilateral hole is greater than or equal to 2 μm. Further, the photoelectric conversion layer is made of an amorphous material. |
| US07855370B2 |
Pileup rejection in an energy-dispersive radiation spectrometry system
A method of detecting edges of a preamplifier signal including identifying a first portion of the signal wherein each part thereof has an instantaneous slope having a first polarity, identifying a second portion immediately following the first portion wherein each part thereof has an instantaneous slope having a second opposite polarity, and identifying a third portion immediately following the second portion wherein each part thereof has an instantaneous slope having the first polarity. The method further includes determining a first difference between the magnitudes associated with an end point and a beginning point of the second segment, determining a second difference between the magnitude associated with an end point of the third segment and the magnitude associated with a beginning point of the first segment, and detecting an edge if: (i) the first difference exceeds a threshold, and (ii) the second difference exceeds a fraction of the threshold. |
| US07855369B2 |
Radiation imaging element
A radiation imaging element that includes radiation sensors disposed in a matrix so as to output signal charges corresponding to radiation transmitted through a subject, and TFTs for readout of signals from the radiation sensors, wherein the TFT has at least a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer, an active layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode, the active layer has at least a first region and a second region which has an electric conductivity larger than an electric conductivity of the first region, the second region is in contact with the gate insulating layer, and the first region is disposed so as to be electrically connected between the second region and at least one of the source electrode or the drain electrode. A radiation imaging element that effectively suppresses noise and also achieves a high quality image is provided. |
| US07855368B2 |
Air-coupled acoustic thermography for in-situ evaluation
Acoustic thermography uses a housing configured for thermal, acoustic and infrared radiation shielding. For in-situ applications, the housing has an open side adapted to be sealingly coupled to a surface region of a structure such that an enclosed chamber filled with air is defined. One or more acoustic sources are positioned to direct acoustic waves through the air in the enclosed chamber and towards the surface region. To activate and control each acoustic source, a pulsed signal is applied thereto. An infrared imager focused on the surface region detects a thermal image of the surface region. A data capture device records the thermal image in synchronicity with each pulse of the pulsed signal such that a time series of thermal images is generated. For enhanced sensitivity and/or repeatability, sound and/or vibrations at the surface region can be used in feedback control of the pulsed signal applied to the acoustic sources. |
| US07855363B2 |
Inspection method and apparatus using an electron beam
An inspection method and apparatus irradiates a sample on which a pattern is formed with an electron beam, so that an inspection image and a reference image can be generated on the basis of a secondary electron or a reflected electron emitted by the sample. An abnormal pattern is determined based on a difference in halftone values of each pixel between the inspection image and the reference image. A plurality of feature quantities of the abnormal pattern are obtained from an image of the abnormal pattern, and, based on the distribution of the plurality of feature quantities of the abnormal pattern, a range for classifying the type of the abnormal pattern is designated. Thus, a desired defect can be extracted from many defects extracted by inspection. |
| US07855359B2 |
Mass spectrometer equipped with MALDI ion source and sample plate for MALDI ion source
A mass spectrometer is equipped with a MAILDI ion source facilitating both individual management of sample plates and mass calibration based on information about distortion in the sample plates. Also, sample plates adapted to be used in the MALDI ion source are provided. Identification information about each sample plate and information about distortion, i.e., topography, in the surface of the sample plate are engraved on the surface of the sample plate. These sets of information are also registered as an electronic file. During measurement, these sets of information are read by observation means and used for individual management of sample plates and mass calibration of mass spectra. |
| US07855358B2 |
Method and an ion source for obtaining ions of an analyte
A method of obtaining ions of an analyte is disclosed. The method includes aerosolizing a sample using a thermal liquid jetting device or a piezoelectric liquid jetting device to obtain an aerosol without ionizing the sample. The sample includes the analyte in a solvent. The method further includes drying the aerosol to obtain gas phase solvent and gas phase analyte, and ionizing the gas phase analyte to obtain ions thereof. An ion source using the method for obtaining ions of an analyte is also disclosed. |
| US07855357B2 |
Apparatus and method for ion calibrant introduction
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for introducing calibrant ions into a conduit, ion source and/or mass spectrometry system. |
| US07855349B2 |
Process and device for sorting of goods
A sorting installation uses predetermined separating elements which may be differentiated from the articles. The sorting installation ejects the articles as well as the separating elements into the dispensing containers such that after ejection the articles and separating elements are arranged in each dispensing container in one respective sequence. In this connection, the sorting installation ejects each article depending on the respectively measured feature value into one of the dispensing containers. The sorting installation establishes which possible feature values the measuring device has actually measured at least once. For each such actually measured feature value, the sorting installation inscribes a separating element with an identification mark for this value. The sorting installation ejects the separating elements and articles such that in front of a separating element with an identification mark for a feature value, all articles with this feature value are located first in the sequence in each dispensing container. |
| US07855347B2 |
Member for push button switch and method of manufacturing the same
To obtain a member for a push button switch having a natural metallic impression and an upscale impression; enabling a precise arrangement of the push buttons; being capable of being made thinner; and being difficult to get stained, there is provided a member for a push button switch having a configuration in which a gap between adjacent metal push buttons is filled with a transparent organic polymer material, the transparent organic polymer material including a transparent resin sheet extending from an interior surface of the gap to a ceiling surface side of the push button, and a transparent rubber-like elastic material disposed inside the transparent resin sheet. |
| US07855345B2 |
Differential pressure switch
The invention relates to a field adjustable pressure switch that incorporates a manually adjustable differential to set the pressure level for the trip point for the pressure switch used in conjunction with a submersible sump pump system requiring trip levels corresponding to the desired water level in the sump well for operation of the pump motor. |
| US07855343B2 |
Measuring device having hopper with adjustable shape and adjustable opening degrees
A measuring device is arranged to store a block or group of a plurality of objects in a state where the objects are congested in the block, to suppress the scattering magnification of the objects when the objects are dropped off to prevent failures such as seal bite in a filling device disposed below the measuring device, to shorten the dropping length of the objects, and to reduce the contact resistance of the objects to a receiving opening of the filling device during the objects are dropped off to attain the discharging speed of the objects. The shapes and opening degrees of a gate unit can be changed so that a lower opening of a hopper is disposed inside the receiving opening of the filling device in a top plan view. |
| US07855342B2 |
Semiconductor element, method of manufacturing semiconductor element, multi-layer printed circuit board, and method of manufacturing multi-layer printed circuit board
A transition layer 38 is provided on a die pad 22 of an IC chip 20 and integrated into a multilayer printed circuit board 10. Due to this, it is possible to electrically connect the IC chip 20 to the multilayer printed circuit board 10 without using lead members and a sealing resin. Also, by providing the transition layer 38 made of copper on an aluminum pad 24, it is possible to prevent a resin residue on the pad 24 and to improve connection characteristics between the die pad 24 and a via hole 60 and reliability. |
| US07855341B2 |
Methods and apparatus for a flexible circuit interposer
A substrate having a bending region and conductive paths formed therethrough is provided. In one embodiment, conductive paths are formed from a first region on the bottom surface of the substrate, through the bending region and to a second region on the top surface of the substrate. Methods of using the flexible substrate are also provided. |
| US07855339B2 |
Electrical junction box cover system for use near water
An electrical junction box cover system includes a waterproof dome-like covering lid allowing the system to be installed near water. The system also includes a manual power switch with a manual actuator installed on the outside of the covering lid and accessible to the user. The switch actuator has three positions, wherein the actuator in the first position turns an external load circuit on, in the second position it turns the external circuit off, and in the third position it enables the remotely controlled operation of the external circuit. A remote control receiver with an electronic control module and an electric power switch are included in the system as an assembly in order to allow a remotely controlled operation of the system. |
| US07855335B2 |
Beam integration for concentrating solar collector
A concentrating solar collector that utilizes a solar collector optical system to concentrate solar light onto a PV cell (image plane), wherein the solar collector optical system includes an array of first optical elements that divide the solar light into separate beams, and a secondary optical system that integrates (superimposes) the separate beams in a defocused state at the image plane, thereby forming a uniform light distribution pattern on the PV cell. The secondary optical system is positioned at a distance from the aperture plane, whereby the rays of each separate beam leaving the secondary optical element are parallel. The image plane (PV cell) is located at the back focal point of the second image element, whereby all of the separate beams are superimposed on the PV cell in a defocused state. Optional intervening third optical elements are used to increase the acceptance angle. |
| US07855332B1 |
Drumstick system
The specification and drawing figures describe and show a drumstick system that includes a percussion member from which a tubular body extends. The percussion member includes a plug connectable to a drumhead contact tip is attached. One end of a hollow cylindrical tube having a sleeve or color coating is connected to the percussion member. The other end of the hollow cylindrical tube is attached to a neck. Metal spacers are mountable on the tubular body and neck. Mufflers are inserted into the tubular body and neck. A plurality of sleeves is provided for replaceably mounting on the drumstick system or on any drumstick made of any materials. |
| US07855329B1 |
Maize variety PHGMT
A novel maize variety designated PHGMT and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHGMT with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHGMT through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHGMT or a trait conversion of PHGMT with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHGMT, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHGMT and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods. |
| US07855326B2 |
Methods for weed control using plants having dicamba-degrading enzymatic activity
The invention provides methods for weed control with dicamba and related herbicides. It was found that pre-emergent applications of dicamba at or near planting could be made without significant crop damage or yield loss. The techniques can be combined with the herbicide glyphosate to improve the degree of weed control and permit control of herbicide tolerant weeds. |
| US07855324B2 |
Protein kinase stress-related proteins and methods of use in plants
A transgenic plant transformed by a Protein Kinase Stress-Related Protein (PKSRP) coding nucleic acid, wherein expression of the nucleic acid sequence in the plant results in increased tolerance to environmental stress as compared to a wild type variety of the plant. Also provided are agricultural products, including seeds, produced by the transgenic plants. Also provided are isolated PKSRPs, and isolated nucleic acid coding PKSRPs, and vectors and host cells containing the latter. |
| US07855323B2 |
Recombinant DNA for gene suppression
Anti-sense-oriented RNA gene suppression agents in the form of a loop of anti-sense-oriented RNA is produced in cells of transgenic organisms, e.g. plants, by transcription from a recombinant DNA construct which comprises in 5′ to 3′ order a promoter element operably linked to an anti-sense-oriented DNA element and a complementary DNA element. |
| US07855319B2 |
High level antioxidant-containing foods
The present invention relates to increasing at least one antioxidant level in a plant or plant product by expressing a polynucleotide that encodes a transcription factor, which is active in a flavonoid pathway. Overexpression of, for instance, a novel and newly-identified gene, the mCai gene, in a plant, results in increased accumulation of chlorogenic acid and other related phenolics, which, in turn, increases the levels of beneficial antioxidant in the plant. |
| US07855313B2 |
Low-temperature solidification of radioactive and hazardous wastes
Treatment of a radioactive waste stream is provided by adding sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and/or potassium hydroxide (KOH) together with a rapidly dissolving form of silica, e.g., fumed silica or fly ash. Alternatively, the fumed silica can be first dissolved in a NaOH/KOH solution, which is then combined with the waste solution. Adding a binder that can be a mixture of metakaolin (Al2O3.2SiO2), ground blast furnace slag, fly ash, or other additives. Adding an “enhancer” that can be composed of a group of additives that are used to further enhance the immobilization of heavy metals and key radionuclides such as 99Tc and 129I. An additional step can involve simple mixing of the binder with the activator and enhancer, which can occur in the final waste form container, or in a mixing vessel prior to pumping into the final waste form container, depending on the particular application. |
| US07855308B2 |
Inhibitors of the 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase Type 1 enzyme
The present invention relates to compounds which are inhibitors of the 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase Type 1 enzyme. The present invention further relates to the use of inhibitors of 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase Type 1 enzyme for the treatment of non-insulin dependent type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity, lipid disorders, metabolic syndrome and other diseases and conditions that are mediated by excessive glucocorticoid action. |
| US07855305B2 |
Process to produce an enriched composition
A process is provided for producing an enriched carboxylic acid compositions produced by contacting composition comprising a carboxylic acid with an enrichment feed in an enrichment zone to form an enriched carboxylic acid composition. This invention also relates to a process and the resulting compositions for removing catalyst from a carboxylic acid composition to produce a post catalyst removal composition. |
| US07855303B2 |
Integrated process for the production of vinyl acetate from acetic acid via ethylene
This invention provides an integrated two stage economical process for the production of vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) from acetic acid in the vapor phase. First, acetic acid is selectively hydrogenated over a hydrogenating catalyst composition to form ethylene either in a single reactor zone or in a dual rector zone wherein the intermediate hydrogenated products are either dehydrated and/or cracked to form ethylene. In a subsequent second stage so formed ethylene is reacted with molecular oxygen and acetic acid over a suitable catalyst to form VAM. In an embodiment of this invention reaction of acetic acid and hydrogen over a hydrogenation catalyst and subsequent reaction over a dehydration catalyst selectively produces ethylene, which is further mixed with acetic acid and molecular oxygen and reacted over a supported palladium/gold/potassium catalyst. |
| US07855302B2 |
Process for the preparation of intermediates useful in the synthesis of statin derivatives especially 7-amino-3.5-dihydroxyhepanoic acid derivatives and intermediates thereof
The invention relates to novel synthesis methods for the preparation of statin derivatives, which methods proceed by way of a key intermediate of formula I wherein X is halogen, acyloxy, activated hydrocarbyloxy, activated hydrocarbylthio or —N(CH3)OCH3, Ra is a hydroxy-protecting group and Rb is a carboxy-protecting group, and, as well as to the compound of formula I, to further new intermediates and methods for their preparation by Friedel-Crafts acylation. |
| US07855301B2 |
Silane and silicic acid polycondensates with radicals containing branched-chain urethane, acid amide and/or carboxylic acid ester groups
The invention relates to silane of formula (Ia), wherein the radicals and indices have the following meaning: R is an alkylene, arylene or alkylenearylene group that can be interrupted by one or more oxygen or sulfur atoms or carboxyl or amino groups or can carry said atoms/groups on their ends opposite the silicon atom; R1 is a Z′-substituted alkylene, arylene or alkylenearylene group, which can be interrupted by one or more oxygen or sulfur atoms or carboxyl or amino groups or can carry said atoms/groups on one of their ends; R′ is an alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, alkylaryl or arylalkyl group; B and B′ can be identical or different, both radicals can have the meaning of a straight-chained or branched organic group with at least one C═C double bond and at least 2 carbon atoms; B′ can mean instead thereof but also —R2aSi(OR3)4-a or —R2aR′bSi(OR3)4-a-b, wherein R2 is an alkylene group and R′ has the meaning defined above; X represents a group that can enter into a hydrolytic while forming Si—O—Si bridges; Z′ means —NH—C(O)O—, —NH—C(O)— or —CO(O)—, wherein the first two radicals are bonded to radical B′ by means of the NH group, whereas the carboxylate group can point in both directions except for a minor exception; a represents 1 or 2, and b is 0 or 1. The invention also relates to silicic acid poly (partial) condensates which can be produced by hydrolysis and condensation of said silane, and to the polymer materials with or without filling materials produced therefrom. The invention further relates to a method for the production of the inventive silane. |
| US07855299B2 |
Preparation method of porous organic inorganic hybrid materials
The present invention relates to a synthesis method of porous hybrid inorganic-organic materials that can be applied for adsorbents, gas storages, sensors, membranes, functional thin films, catalysts, catalyst supports, encapsulating guest molecules and separation of molecules by the pore structures. More specifically, the present invention relates to the synthesis method of nanocrystalline porous hybrid inorganic-organic materials. |
| US07855298B2 |
Azabicyclo (3.1.0.) hexane derivatives useful as modulators of dopamine D3 receptors
The present invention relates to novel compounds of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: 1. wherein G is selected from a group consisting of: phenyl, pyridyl, benzothiazolyl, indazolyl; p is an integer ranging from 0 to 5; R1 is independently selected from a group consisting of: halogen, hydroxy, cyano, C1-4alkyl, haloC1-4alkyl, C1-4alkoxy, haloC1-4alkoxy, C1-4alkanoyl; or corresponds to a group R5; R2 is hydrogen or C1-4alkyl; R3 is C1-4alkyl; R4 is hydrogen, or a phenyl group, a heterocyclyl group, a 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic group, or a 8- to 11-membered bicyclic group, any of which groups is optionally substituted by 1, 2, 3 or 4 substituents selected from the group consisting of: halogen, cyano, C1-4alkyl, haloC1-4alkyl, C1-4alkoxy, C1-4alkanoyl; R5 is a moiety selected from the group consisting of: isoxazolyl, —CH2—N -pyrrolyl, 1,1-dioxido-2-isothiazolidinyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, pyridyl, 2 -pyrrolidinonyl, and such a group is optionally substituted by one or two substituents selected from: halogen, cyano, C1-4alkyl, haloC1-4alkyl, C1-4alkoxy, C1-4alkanoyl; and when R1 is chlorine and p is 1, such R1 is not present in the ortho position with respect to the linking bond to the rest of the molecule; and when R1 corresponds to R5, p is 1; or a salt thereof which are useful as modulators of dopamine D3 receptors, e.g. to treat drug dependency or as antipsychotic agents. |
| US07855296B1 |
Method for synthesizing 2-carbomethoxytropinone
Disclosed is a method of making (−)-cocaine efficient for use on a large scale. The cocaine is created by reacting an aqueous solution of (+)-2-carbomethoxytropinone (2-CMT) bitartrate, sodium amalgam and an acid that forms a highly soluble sodium salt to form (−)-methylecgonine. (−)-Methylecgonine is converted into (−)-cocaine. Sodium amalgam is continuously supplied from an electrolyzing unit to a reactor containing the aqueous solution of (+)-2-carbomethoxytropinone bitartrate and spent amalgam is continuously removed and regenerated. The aqueous solution is prepared by adding (rac)-2-CMT in chloroform to a solution of (+)-tartaric acid in water to create an aqueous phase having diastereomeric salts of 2-CMT with (+)-tartaric acid. An organic solvent is added to the aqueous phase and the crystals obtained from the combined aqueous phase and organic solvent are dried to obtain substantially pure crystalline (+)-2-carbomethoxytropinone bitartrate. The (rac)-2-CMT in chloroform is prepared by extracting 2-CMT from a citric acid solution. |
| US07855294B2 |
Cycloalkanopyridine derivative
Provided are cycloalkanopyridine derivatives of formula [I]: [wherein the symbols are the same as those stated in the description]. The compounds act as a nociceptin receptor antagonist, and are useful as medicines for diseases associated with a nociceptin receptor, for example, as a reliever against tolerance to a narcotic analgesic; a reliever against dependence on or addiction to a narcotic analgesic; an analgesic enhancer; an antiobesitic or appetite suppressor; a treating or prophylactic agent for cognitive impairment and dementia/amnesia; an agent for treating developmental cognitive abnormality; a remedy for schizophrenia; an agent for treating neurodegenerative diseases; an anti-depressant or treating agent for affective disorder; a treating or prophylactic agent for diabetes insipidus; a treating or prophylactic agent for polyuria; or a remedy for hypotension. |
| US07855293B2 |
3-spiro-cyanin fluorochromes and their use in bioassays
The invention concerns sterically shielded, stabilized fluorescent dyes based on symmetrical or unsymmetrical 3-spirocyanines and their utilization as marker-molecules in analytical procedures. The fluorescent dyes according to the invention are characterized by a strongly reduced proneness towards aggregation due to the insertion of bulky spiro-substituents and thus enable to reach a high degree of coupling to the target molecule without a significant loss of fluorescence due to self quenching effects. They therefor exhibit a high quantum yield and are thus excellently suitable as fluorescent dyes, especially as NIR-fluorescent dyes, for the coupling or binding to biological and non-biological target molecules used in analytical methods. The analytical methods comprise all methods in which fluorescence-optical methods are used to detect biological and non-biological molecules. |
| US07855292B2 |
Sulfonamide compounds
Certain sulfonamide compounds are dual CCK1/CCK2 inhibitors useful in the treatment of CCK1/CCK2 mediated diseases. |
| US07855290B2 |
Pyridine derivatives and pyrimidine derivatives (3)
A compound represented by the following formula, a salt thereof or a hydrate of the foregoing has an excellent hepatocyte growth factor receptor (HGFR) inhibitory activity, and exhibits anti-tumor activity, angiogenesis inhibitory activity and cancer metastasis inhibitory activity. [R1 represents a 3- to 10-membered non-aromatic heterocyclic group or the like; R2 and R3 represent hydrogen; R4, R5, R6, and R7 may be the same or different and each represents hydrogen, halogen, C1-6 alkyl or the like; R8 represents hydrogen or the like; R9 represents a 3- to 10-membered non-aromatic heterocyclic group or the like; n represents an integer of 1 or 2; X represents —CH═, nitrogen or the like.] |
| US07855287B2 |
Preparation of high purity phenothiazine N-alkylsulfonates and their use in chemiluminescent assays for the measurement of peroxidase activity
A process is described for preparing, efficiently and with a high degree of purity N-alkylsulfonates of phenothiazine. The process consists in (a) the preparation of the phenothiazine anion, and (b) the reaction of said anion with cyclic alkyl sulfonates, such as 1,3-propane sultone and 1,4-butane sultone. This process is simpler, more direct, and more efficient than the procedures currently used for the synthesis of N-alkylsulfonates derivatives of phenothiazine. In addition, the products obtained with this process are far more pure than those obtained through current procedures and therefore ideal for bioanalytical applications that require high sensitivity, such as assays based on the measurement of peroxidase activity using chemiluminescence. |
| US07855286B2 |
Titanyl phthalocyanin crystal, method for preparing the same and electrophotographic photoconductor
According to the present invention, a titanyl phthalocyanin crystal excellent in storage stability in organic solvents, a method for preparing the same and an electrophotographic photoconductor using the same are provided. In the titanyl phthalocyanin crystal, the method for preparing such a titanyl phthalocyanin crystal and the electrophotographic photoconductor using the same, the titanyl phthalocyanin crystal is characterized by having the maximum peak at a Bragg angle 2θ±0.2°=27.2° in a CuKα characteristic X-ray diffraction spectrum and one peak within the range of 270 to 400° C. other than a peak accompanied by the vaporization of adsorbed water in a differential scanning calorimetric analysis. |
| US07855281B2 |
Cleavable thiocarbonate linkers for polynucleotide synthesis
In various embodiments of the invention, novel compositions having a polynucleotide bound to a substrate via a cleavable linker are provided, and methods of cleaving a polynucleotide from a substrate are provided. |
| US07855279B2 |
Unstructured recombinant polymers and uses thereof
The present invention provides unstructured recombinant polymers (URPs) and proteins containing one or more of the URPs. The present invention also provides microproteins, toxins and other related proteinaceous entities, as well as genetic packages displaying these entities. The present invention also provides recombinant polypeptides including vectors encoding the subject proteinaceous entities, as well as host cells comprising the vectors. The subject compositions have a variety of utilities including a range of pharmaceutical applications. |
| US07855277B2 |
Picornaviruses, vaccines and diagnostic kits
A new group of picornaviruses is disclosed. The picornaviruses of the invention comprise in the non-coding region of their viral genome a nucleotide sequence which corresponds to cDNA sequence (I) or homologous sequences having at least 75% homology to the SEQ ID NO:1, and they cause mammalian disease. Further aspects of the invention comprise a protein corresponding to a protein of the picornaviruses, antiserum or antibody directed against a protein of the picornaviruses, antigen comprising a protein of the picornaviruses, diagnostic kits, vaccines, use of the picornaviruses in medicaments, particularly for the treatment or prevention of Myocarditis, Cardiomyopathia, Guillain Barré Syndrome, and Diabetes Mellitus, Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Myasthenia Gravis, Amyothrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Dermatomyositis, Polymyositis, Spontaneous Abortion, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and methods of treatment of diseases caused by the picornaviruses. SEQ ID NO: 1 (Ljungan 87-012)(I) AGTCTAGTCT TATCTTGTAT GTGTCCTGCA CTGAACTTGT TTCTGTCTCT 50 GGAGTGCTCT ACACTTCAGT AGGGGCTGTA CCCGGGCGGT CCCACTCTTC 100 ACAGGAATCT GCACAGGTGG CTTTCACCTC TGGACAGTGC ATTCCACACC 150 CGCTCCACGG TAGAAGATGA TGTGTGTCTT TGCTTOTGAA AAGCTTGTGA 200 AAATCGTGTG TAGGCGTAGC GGCTACTTGA GTGCCAGCGO ATTACCCCTA 250 GTGGTAACAC TAGC |
| US07855275B2 |
Cysteine engineered antibodies and conjugates
Antibodies are engineered by replacing one or more amino acids of a parent antibody with non cross-linked, highly reactive cysteine amino acids. Antibody fragments may also be engineered with one or more cysteine amino acids to form cysteine engineered antibody fragments (ThioFab). Methods of design, preparation, screening, and selection of the cysteine engineered antibodies are provided. Cysteine engineered antibodies (Ab), optionally with an albumin-binding peptide (ABP) sequence, are conjugated with one or more drug moieties (D) through a linker (L) to form cysteine engineered antibody-drug conjugates having Formula I: Ab-(L-D)p I where p is 1 to 4. Diagnostic and therapeutic uses for cysteine engineered antibody drug compounds and compositions are disclosed. |
| US07855270B2 |
Receptor-based interaction trap
The present invention discloses a recombinant receptor comprising an extracellular ligand-binding domain and a cytoplasmic domain that comprises a heterologous bait polypeptide. The recombinant receptor is activated by binding of a ligand to the ligand binding domain and by binding of a prey polypeptide to the heterologous bait peptide. The present invention also discloses a method for detecting compound-compound binding using the recombinant receptor. |
| US07855267B2 |
Film(s) and/or sheet(s) comprising polyester compositions which comprise cyclobutanediol and have a certain combination of inherent viscosity and moderate glass transition temperature
Described are film(s) and/or sheet(s) comprising polyesters comprising (a) a dicarboxylic acid component having terephthalic acid residues; optionally, aromatic dicarboxylic acid residues or aliphatic dicarboxylic residues; 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol residues; and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol residues. |
| US07855266B2 |
Method for multilayer coatings with self-crosslinking graft polyurethane copolymers, self-crosslinking polyurethanes and graft copolymers thereof
The invention relates to a method for producing chromophore and/or effect giving multilayer lacquers according to the wet-on-wet method. A water base lacquer is applied which contains at least one graft copolymer containing (A) at least one (meth)acrylate copolymer and (B) at least one polyurethane. The graft copolymer can be produced by (1) dispersing at least one hydrophilic or hydrophobic self cross-linking polyurethane (B) with a statistical average of at least one terminal and/or at least one lateral olefinically unsaturated group and at least one blocked isocyanate group per molecule in an aqueous medium. (2) A mixture of a at least one monomer (a1) with at least one isocyanate reactive functional group at last one monomer (a2) that can be copolymerised therewith is subsequently radically copolymerised in an emulsion in the presence of the polyurethane (B) or the polyurethanes (B). A powder slurry transparent lacquer layer is added to the resulting base lacquer layer. The base lacquer layer and the transparent lacquer layer are hardened together. The invention also relates to novel hydrophilic or hydrophobic self cross-linking polyurethanes (B) with at least one lateral and/or at least one terminal olefinically unsaturated group and at least one lateral blocked isocyanate group per molecule and graft copolymers on the basis of said polyurethanes (B) as well as the use thereof. |
| US07855262B2 |
Size selective catalysis with ion exchange resins
A method of preparing oligomeric compounds from polyfunctional reactants in the presence of heterogeneous catalysts that exhibit size selective characteristics, such that further reaction between first generation products or first generation products and reactants is less favored than between the starting reactants is disclosed. Preparation of oligomeric polyacrylate compounds in a liquid solution using these catalysts is also disclosed comprising reacting X—H acidic Michael donor compounds with unsaturated Michael acceptor compounds containing more than one unsaturated group. |
| US07855253B2 |
High density polyethylene and articles made therefrom
Articles such as, for example, pipes or bottles, prepared from multimodal polyethylenes possessing a density from 0.940 to 0.965 g/cm3, and an I21 from 4 to 20 dg/min, and comprising a low molecular weight ethylene copolymer having a weight average molecular weight from 5,000 amu to 50,000 amu; and a high molecular weight ethylene copolymer having a weight average molecular weight from 60,000 amu to 800,000 amu, both components having a desirable balance of short chain branching making the multimodal polyethylene suitable for films, pipes, rotomolding applications and blow molding applications. |
| US07855250B2 |
Filling foam composition, foam filling member, and filling foam
A filling foam composition contains a polymer, 4,4′-oxybis(benzenesulfonylhydrazide), an amine compound (except urea compound) having a melting point of 40° C. or more, and an organic peroxide, and the amine compound is mixed in an amount of 5 parts by weight or more per 100 parts by weight of the 4,4′-oxybis(benzenesulfonylhydrazide). |
| US07855249B2 |
Carbon black pigment for electronic paper, dispersion of the pigment, and process for production of the pigment
A surface-modified carbon black pigment suitable as electronic paper black particles, a silicone oil dispersion of the carbon black pigment, and a process for producing the carbon black pigment are disclosed. The carbon black pigment includes surface-modified carbon black, a diphenylmethane group that is bonded to the carbon black via a urethane bond through a functional group on the surface of the carbon black being bonded to a polysiloxane group. The carbon black dispersion includes a silicone oil and the carbon black pigment, the carbon black pigment being dispersed in the silicone oil at a concentration of 1 to 20 wt %. The process for producing a carbon black pigment for electronic paper includes reacting a functional group on the surface of carbon black with a diphenyl compound having isocyanate groups on both ends in a non-reactive organic solvent so that a diphenylmethane group is bonded to the surface of the carbon black via a urethane bond, and causing the diphenylmethane group to be bonded to a polysiloxane in a silicone oil. |
| US07855242B2 |
Dental resin composition, method of manufacture, and method of use thereof
A curable restorative composition is disclosed, comprising a polymerizable mono(meth)acrylate resin having a vapor pressure of 1 mm Hg or less at 20° C., a plasticizer; and a curing system for the mono(meth)acrylate resin. The composition is particularly useful for making temporary restorations. Methods of used and kits comprising the composition are also disclosed. |
| US07855240B2 |
Formulated resin component for use in spray-in-place foam system to produce a low density polyurethane foam
The subject invention provides an open-celled polyurethane foam formed from a polyurethane spray foam system that mixes a formulated resin component with an isocyanate component. The resultant open-celled polyurethane spray foam has a density of about ½ pound per cubic foot. The resin component includes water as a blowing agent, a first aliphatic, amine-initiated polyol having a number-average molecular weight of from 150 to 500 and having tetra-functionality, and a second polyol having terminal hydroxyl groups and having a number-average molecular weight of from 3500 to 8000. A curing component having at least one primary amine group and having a number-average molecular weight of from 150 to 5000 is also included in the resin component. The spray foam system reacts a) the resin component and b) the isocyanate component in a volumetric ratio of a) to b) of from 1:1.2 to 1:5 and having an isocyanate index of from 15 to 70. |
| US07855239B2 |
Extruded propylene resin foam
An object of the present invention is to provide an extruded propylene-based resin foam in which a average diameter of cells therein can be reduced while a high expansion ratio remains high, thereby providing an excellent insulation efficiency. The extruded propylene-based resin foam according to the present invention is extruded propylene-based resin foam that is formed by extrusion-foaming a propylene-based resin, and the extruded propylene-based resin foam has the expansion ratio of 10 or more and the average cell diameter of less than 400 μm. With this configuration, the extruded foam can have a plurality of air bubble walls therein. Thus, the extruded propylene-based resin foam can efficiently block external radiant heat, thereby realizing excellent insulation efficiency. |
| US07855237B2 |
Plant for the manufacture of polymer particles
The method for the manufacture of foamed or foamable polymer particles employs a mixture of a polymer melt and a recycled polymer melt produced from recycled, propellant-containing polymer particles. The associated plant for the manufacture of the foamed or foamable polymer particles is provided with an apparatus for the processing of recycled, propellant-containing polymer particles. |
| US07855234B2 |
Fischer-tropsch process and reactor assembly
A method of accommodating a reduction in production capacity of one or more reactors in a multi-reactor assembly adapted for the production of hydrocarbon products from syngas, the syngas being provided by a syngas manufacturing facility and provided to an entry stream system providing syngas to each of the reactors, and having an exit stream system taking at least hydrocarbon products from the reactors, wherein the method comprises the steps of: redistributing the syngas from the one or more said reactors to one or more other reactors, and increasing the temperature in the said one or more other reactors to at least partially take over the reduction in production capacity of the one or more reactors. |
| US07855231B2 |
High concentration topical insecticide containing insect growth regulator
A topical insecticide is provided which can be safe to use and avoids many common deleterious side effects of conventional topical insecticides. The insecticide contains an insecticide and an insect growth regulator effective for killing fleas, flea larvae and flea eggs. The insecticide is formulated by dissolving an insecticidal (tetrahydro-3-furanyl) methylamine derivative and an insect growth regulator (IGR) in a solvent containing N-octyl pyrrolidone and/or N-methyl pyrrolidone to increase the solvency of the IGR component, thereby providing an insecticide having high insecticidal activity. |
| US07855230B2 |
Derivatives of 3,3-diphenylpropylamines
The invention concerns novel derivatives of 3,3-diphenylpropylamines, methods for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing the novel compounds, and the use of the compounds for preparing drugs. More particularly, the invention relates to novel prodrugs of antimuscarinic agents with superior pharmacokinetic properties compared to existing drugs such as oxybutynin and tolterodine, methods for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, a method of using said compounds and compositions for the treatment of urinary incontinence, gastrointestinal hyperactivity (irritable bowel syndrome) and other smooth muscle contractile conditions. |
| US07855229B2 |
Treating wasting disorders with selective androgen receptor modulators
This invention provides: 1) a method of treating a subject suffering from a muscle wasting disorder; 2) a method of preventing a muscle wasting disorder in a subject; 3) a method of treating, preventing, suppressing, inhibiting or reducing muscle loss in a subject suffering from a muscle wasting disorder; 4) a method of treating, preventing, inhibiting, reducing or suppressing muscle wasting in a subject suffering from a muscle wasting disorder; and/or 5) a method of treating, preventing, inhibiting, reducing or suppressing muscle protein catabolism in a subject suffering from a muscle wasting disorder, by administering to the subject a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) and/or an analog, derivative, isomer, metabolite, pharmaceutically acceptable salt, pharmaceutical product, hydrate, N-oxide, prodrug, polymorph, impurity or crystal of said SARM compound, or any combination thereof. |
| US07855223B2 |
Method of treating inflammatory arthritis
The present invention is directed to a method for treating inflammatory arthritis in a mammal. The method typically comprises administering to an animal a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound selected from indigo, isoindigo, indirubin or derivatives thereof, such as NATURA-α or NATURA. The present invention is further directed to pharmaceutical compositions that include a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of the invention, an anti-inflammatory arthritis agent and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. |
| US07855216B2 |
Aza-indolyl compounds and methods of use
The invention relates to azaindolyl compounds of Formula I with anti-cancer and/or anti-inflammatory activity and more specifically to azaindolyl compounds which inhibit MEK kinase activity. The invention provides compositions and methods useful for inhibiting abnormal cell growth or treating a hyperproliferative disorder, or treating an inflammatory disease in a mammal. The invention also relates to methods of using the compounds for in vitro, in situ, and in vivo diagnosis or treatment of mammalian cells, or associated pathological conditions. |
| US07855214B2 |
Fused cyclic systems useful as inhibitors of TEC family protein kinases
The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of Tec family protein kinases. These compounds have the general formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, G, Cy1, and X are as defined herein. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising said compounds and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various disease, conditions, or disorders. |
| US07855212B2 |
Pyridinyl acetonitriles
The present invention is related to pyridinyl acetonitriles as well as to pharmaceutical formulations containing such pyridinyl acetonitriles. Said pyridinyl acetonitriles are modulators of the protein kinase signalling pathways, particularly the one involving Glycogen Kinase Synthase 3 or JNK. The present invention is furthermore related to methods of preparing pyridinyl acetonitriles. X is a substituted or unsubstituted pyridinyl. G is an unsubstituted or substituted pyrimidinyl or triazinyl. |
| US07855210B2 |
Therapeutic agents useful for treating pain
A compound of formula: wherein Ar, Ar1, Ar2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R13, m, t, and x are disclosed herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof (a “Hydroxyiminopiperazine Compound”); compositions comprising an effective amount of a Hydroxyiminopiperazine Compound; and methods for treating or preventing pain and other conditions in an animal comprising administering to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of a Hydroxyiminopiperazine Compound are disclosed. |
| US07855202B2 |
Imidazopyridine derivatives as A2B adenosine receptor antagonists
The present disclosure relates to imidazopyridine derivatives of formula (I): The present disclosure also relates to a method for treating a subject afflicted with a pathological condition or disease susceptible to amelioration by antagonism of the A2B adenosine receptor. |
| US07855196B2 |
Composition comprising a benzodiazepine agonist and a benzodiazepine antagonist
A composition comprising a benzodiazepine agonist, a benzodiazepine antagonist, and a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier in an effective ratio so as to preserve the therapeutic effects of the benzodiazepine agonist while modulating the side effects of the benzodiazepine agonist. |
| US07855193B2 |
S1P receptor modulating compounds and use thereof
The present invention relates to compounds of the general formula (I) that have activity as S1P receptor modulating agents and the use of such compounds to treat diseases associated with inappropriate S1P receptor activity. The compounds may be used as immunomodulators, e.g., for treating or preventing diseases such as autoimmune and related immune disorders including systemic lupus erythematosus, inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, type I diabetes, uveitis, psoriasis, myasthenia gravis, rheumatoid arthritis, non-glomerular nephrosis, hepatitis, Behçet's disease, glomerulonephritis, chronic thrombocytopenic purpura, hemolytic anemia, hepatitis and Wegner's granuloma; and for treating other conditions. |
| US07855191B2 |
Agent having a destructive effect on malignant tumors and method for the production thereof
Disclosed is an agent which has a destructive effect on malignant tumors and contains alpha-ketoglutaric acid, N-acetyl-seleno-L-methionine, N-acetyl-L-methionine, and a compound that is capable of forming azomethine and is selected among the group 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, dehydroascorbic acid, maltol, and vanillin as an active substance, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural being preferred. The inventive agent can be used in the form of an infusion, in an oral or rectal form of administration, or as an irrigation in cancer therapy. |
| US07855186B2 |
siRNA targeting TIE-2
Efficient sequence specific gene silencing is possible through the use of siRNA technology. By selecting particular siRNAs by rational design, one can maximize the generation of an effective gene silencing reagent, as well as methods for silencing genes. Methods, compositions, and kits generated through rational design of siRNAs are disclosed. |
| US07855185B2 |
MN gene and protein
Identified herein is the location of the MN protein binding site, and MN proteins/polypeptides that compete for attachment to vertebrate cells with immobilized MN protein. Such MN proteins/polypeptides prevent cell-cell adhesion and the formation of intercellular contacts. The MN protein binding site is a therapeutic target that can be blocked by organic or inorganic molecules, preferably organic molecules, more preferably proteins/polypeptides that specifically bind to that site. Therapeutic methods for inhibiting the growth of preneoplastic/neoplastic vertebrate cells that abnormally express MN protein are disclosed. Vectors are provided that encode the variable domains of MN-specific antibodies and a flexible linker polypeptide separating those domains. Further vectors are disclosed that encode a cytotoxic protein/polypeptide operatively linked to the MN gene promoter or a MN gene promoter fragment comprising the HIF-1 consensus binding sequence, and which vectors preferably further encode a cytokine. The MN gene promoter is characterized, and the binding site for a repressor of MN transcription is disclosed. Further, the hypoxia inducibility of the MN gene and the uses of such inducibility are disclosed. |
| US07855182B2 |
Materials and methods for treatment of cancer
Glypican 5 is shown for the first time to have a role in proliferation of cancer cells, including tumors which do not show chromosomal amplification at 13q31. The use of glypican 5 (GPC5) antagonists and binding agents for the treatment of cancer, particularly rhabdomyosarcoma and breast cancer, is disclosed. |
| US07855181B2 |
Dipeptides for prevention of muscle breakdown and microbial infection
The subject invention provides dipeptides useful in promoting healthy muscle tissues as well as effective immune responses. The dipeptides of the subject invention are particularly advantageous because they are stable, bioavailable, and can be formulated in an aqueous solution. |
| US07855177B1 |
Methods and kits for preventing hypoglycemia
Improved methods and kits for treating the long-term complication of diabetes that reduce the risk of the patient developing hypoglycemia during C-peptide therapy. The use of such methods and kits, can also maintain good glycemic control, and avoid excessive weight gain that may otherwise be associated with excessive insulin administration or caloric intake during C-peptide therapy. |
| US07855170B2 |
Homogenous synthetic mud-to-cement cementing glasses
A synthetic glass family in the quaternary phase field of CaO—SiO2-Al2O3-MgO (CSAM) with hydraulic and pozzolanic properties for use in differing applications in the gas and oil well cementing area. A method of making a mud-to-cement (MTC) slurry and a method for treating oil and gas wells with the MTC slurry containing a homogenous amorphous synthetic glass made from a mixture of inorganic materials selected from the group consisting of CSAM, wherein the cementing glasses with the mixture of inorganic materials are in a 100% amorphous phase with a degree of crystallization of zero. |
| US07855155B2 |
Process for producing semiconductor device using optical absorption layer
An optical absorption layer comprised of a substance having a band gap energy smaller than that of GaN is formed on an implanted region formed in a pGaN layer as a ground layer. There is performed an annealing step from an upper surface of a substrate with predetermined light such as infrared light, a red light, or the like, which has energy smaller than the band gap energy of the pGaN layer. The optical absorption layer has an absorption coefficient of the light in the annealing step larger than that of the pGaN layer. Accordingly, it is possible to selectively perform a heat treatment on a region directly under the optical absorption layer or a region in a vicinity thereof (the implanted region). |
| US07855150B2 |
Plasma system and method for anisotropically etching structures into a substrate
A method and a plasma system are provided for anisotropically etching structures into a substrate positioned in an etching chamber, e.g., structures defined using an etching mask in a silicon substrate, using a plasma. For this purpose, the etching chamber is supplied at least intermittently with an etching gas and at least intermittently with a passivation gas, the passivation gas being supplied to the etching chamber in cycles having a time period between 0.05 second and 1 second. In the plasma system, in addition to a plasma source, via which the plasma acting on the substrate may be produced, an arrangement is provided for at least temporary supply of the etching gas and at least temporary supply of the passivation gas to the etching chamber, which arrangement is designed in such a way that the passivation gas may be supplied to the etching chamber in cycles having a time period between 0.05 second and 1 second. |
| US07855149B2 |
Treatment method for surface of substrate, method of fabricating image sensor by using the treatment method, and image sensor fabricated by the same
Provided may be a treatment method to remove defects created on the surface of a substrate, a method of fabricating an image sensor by using the treatment method, and an image sensor fabricated by the same. The treatment method may include providing a semiconductor substrate including a surface defect, providing a chemical solution to a surface of the semiconductor substrate, and removing the surface defect by consuming the surface of the semiconductor substrate and forming a chemical oxide layer on the semiconductor substrate. |
| US07855148B2 |
Methods of isolating array features during pitch doubling processes and semiconductor device structures having isolated array features
Methods of isolating spaces formed between features in an array during a pitch reduction process and semiconductor device structures having the same. In one embodiment, ends of the features are wider than middle regions of the features. During the pitch reduction process, spacer sidewalls formed between adjacent ends of the features come into substantial contact with one another, isolating the spaces between the features. In another embodiment, the features have a single width and an additional feature is located near ends of the features. Spacer sidewalls formed between adjacent features and the additional feature come into substantial contact with one another, isolating the spaces between the features. |
| US07855147B1 |
Methods and apparatus for engineering an interface between a diffusion barrier layer and a seed layer
Copper seed layers are formed on diffusion barrier layers (e.g., on Ta, and TaNx layers) without significant agglomeration of copper, with the use of an engineered barrier layer/seed layer interface. The engineered interface includes an adhesion layer, in which copper atoms are physically trapped and are prevented from migrating and agglomerating. The adhesion layer can include between about 20-80% atomic of copper. The copper atoms of the adhesion layer are exposed during deposition of a copper seed layer and serve as the nucleation sites for the deposited copper. Thin, continuous, and conformal seed layers can be deposited on top of the adhesion layer. The trapping of copper within the adhesion layer is achieved by intermixing diffusion barrier and seed layer materials using PVD and/or ALD. |
| US07855146B1 |
Photo-focus modulation method for forming transistor gates and related transistor devices
A method for forming a transistor gate includes performing a first exposure of a photo-resist material on a semiconductor device. The first exposure defines a line pattern in the photo-resist material. The method also includes performing a second exposure of the photo-resist material, where the second exposure trims a resist profile of the line pattern. The method further includes etching a conductive material on the semiconductor device to form a transistor gate based on the line pattern. The first exposure could represent a best focus exposure of the photo-resist material, and the second exposure could represent a positive focus exposure of the photo-resist material. The trimming of the line pattern's resist profile may cause the transistor gate to have at least one of a rounded edge and a rounded corner. This may allow a thicker insulating material, such as tetraethylorthosilicate, to be deposited around portions of the transistor gate. |
| US07855142B2 |
Methods of forming dual-damascene metal interconnect structures using multi-layer hard masks
Methods of forming dual-damascene metal interconnect structures include forming an electrically insulating layer on an integrated circuit substrate and then forming a hard mask layer on the electrically insulating layer. The hard mask layer may include a stacked composite of at least four electrically insulating material layers therein. The hard mask layer may also have separate trench and via patterns therein that are respectively defined by at least first and second ones of the electrically insulating material layers and at least third and fourth ones of the electrically insulating material layers. |
| US07855141B2 |
Semiconductor device having multiple wiring layers and method of producing the same
A method of producing a semiconductor device having a plurality of wiring layers forms a first interlayer-insulating film, forms a plurality of grooves for wiring in the first interlayer-insulating film, fills metallic films in the grooves to form wirings, etches the first interlayer-insulating film with the wirings as a mask and removes the interlayer-insulating film between the wirings to provide grooves to be filled, and fills a second interlayer-insulating film made of a material of low dielectric constant in the grooves to be filled. |
| US07855140B2 |
Method of forming vias in semiconductor substrates and resulting structures
Methods for forming through vias in a semiconductor substrate and resulting structures are disclosed. In one embodiment, a through via may be formed by forming a partial via from an active surface through a conductive element thereon and a portion of the substrate underlying the conductive element. The through via may then be completed by laser ablation or drilling from a back surface. In another embodiment, a partial via may be formed by laser ablation or drilling from the back surface of a substrate to a predetermined distance therein. The through via may be completed from the active surface by forming a partial via extending through the conductive element and the underlying substrate to intersect the laser-drilled partial via. In another embodiment, a partial via may first be formed by laser ablation or drilling from the back surface of the substrate followed by dry etching to complete the through via. |
| US07855136B2 |
Method of mounting semiconductor chip to circuit substrate using solder bumps and dummy bumps
A semiconductor chip comprises a silicon substrate on which semiconductor elements are formed, pads, each of which is formed on the silicon substrate and electrically connected to at least one of the semiconductor elements, a first insulating layer having an opening over each one of the pads, a first wiring layer formed on the first insulating layer, electrically connected to the pads and having connecting parts, a second insulating layer formed on the first wiring layer and having openings over the connecting parts of the first wiring layer, electrically functioning solder bumps, each of which is formed on one of the openings of the second insulating layer with electrically connecting to one of the pads via the first wiring layer, and dummy bumps for self adjustment, each of which is formed on one of the openings of the second insulating layer without electrically connecting to the pad. |
| US07855134B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the same
Provided is a highly reliable semiconductor device equipped with a plurality of semiconductor elements having desired properties, respectively; and a manufacturing method facilitating the manufacture of the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device is manufactured by forming a gate-electrode metal film having a thickness of from 3 to 30 nm over the entire upper surface of a gate insulating film; forming an n-side cap layer having a thickness of 10 nm or less over the entire upper surface of a portion of the gate-electrode metal film belonging to an nFET region by using a material different from that of the gate-electrode metal film; and carrying out heat treatment over the n-side cap layer to diffuse the material of the n-side cap layer into the gate-electrode metal film immediately below the n-side cap layer and react them to form an n-side gate-electrode metal film in a nFET region. A poly-Si layer is then deposited, followed by gate electrode processing. |
| US07855131B2 |
Manufacturing method of a semiconductor device
A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device comprises a process of doping conductive impurities in a silicon carbide substrate, a process of forming a cap layer on a surface of the silicon carbide substrate, a process of activating the conductive impurities doped in the silicon carbide substrate, a process of oxidizing the cap layer after a first annealing process, and a process of removing the oxidized cap layer. It is preferred that the cap layer is formed from material that includes metal carbide. Since the oxidation onset temperature of metal carbide is comparatively low, the oxidization of the cap layer becomes easy if metal carbide is included in the cap layer. Specifically, it is preferred that the cap layer is formed from metal carbide that has an oxidation onset temperature of 1000 degrees Celsius or below, such as tantalum carbide. |
| US07855130B2 |
Corrosion inhibitor additives to prevent semiconductor device bond-pad corrosion during wafer dicing operations
An improved method of dicing a semiconductor wafer which substantially reduces or eliminates corrosion of copper-containing, aluminum bonding pads. The method involves continuously contacting the bonding pads with deionized water and an effective amount of a copper corrosion inhibiting agent, most preferably benzotriazole. Also disclosed, is an improved apparatus for dicing a wafer, in which a copper corrosion inhibiting agent is included in the cooling system for cooling the dicing blade. |
| US07855129B2 |
Method for manufacturing direct bonded SOI wafer and direct bonded SOI wafer manufactured by the method
A direct bonded SOI wafer having an entire buried oxide film layer covered and not exposed is manufactured by: (A) forming a laminated body by laminating a semiconductor wafer and a support wafer via an oxide film; and (B) forming a thin-film single crystal silicon layer on the support wafer using a buried oxide film layer by film-thinning the semiconductor wafer to a predetermined thickness. In a process (C) the entire buried oxide film layer is covered by a main surface on the laminating side of the support wafer and the single crystal silicon layer. The covering of the entire buried film layer is carried out by, between process (A) and (B), removing the oxide film formed on the circumferential end edge of the main surface on the laminating side and the chamfered portion to leave the oxide film only on the laminated surface except the circumferential end edge. |
| US07855118B2 |
Drive current increase in transistors by asymmetric amorphization implantation
By providing a substantially non-damaged semiconductor region between a pre-amorphization region and the gate electrode structure, an increase of series resistance at the drain side during the re-crystallization may be reduced, thereby contributing to overall transistor performance, in particular in the linear operating mode. Thus, symmetric and asymmetric transistor architectures may be achieved with enhanced performance without unduly adding to overall process complexity. |
| US07855114B2 |
High K stack for non-volatile memory
A memory device may include a source region and a drain region formed in a substrate and a channel region formed in the substrate between the source and drain regions. The memory device may further include a first oxide layer formed over the channel region, the first oxide layer having a first dielectric constant, and a charge storage layer formed upon the first oxide layer. The memory device may further include a second oxide layer formed upon the charge storage layer, a layer of dielectric material formed upon the second oxide layer, the dielectric material having a second dielectric constant that is greater than the first dielectric constant, and a gate electrode formed upon the layer of dielectric material. |
| US07855113B2 |
Method for fabricating semiconductor memory device
A method for fabricating a semiconductor memory device includes: forming a lower conductive layer over a semiconductor substrate; forming an insulation layer over the lower conductive layer; etching the insulation layer to form a contact hole that exposes a portion of the lower conductive layer; forming a contact plug in the contact hole; doping the contact plug by performing a plasma doping process while varying a temperature of regions the semiconductor substrate; and forming an upper conductive layer connected with the lower conductive layer through the contact plug. |
| US07855112B2 |
Fabrication method of pixel structure
A fabrication method of a pixel structure includes providing a substrate. A semiconductor layer and a first conductive layer are formed on the substrate in sequence and patterned to form a semiconductor pattern and a data line pattern. A gate insulation layer and a second conductive layer are formed on the substrate in sequence and patterned to form a gate pattern and a scan line pattern connected to each other. A source region, a drain region, a channel region, and a lightly doped region are formed in the semiconductor pattern. A third conductive layer formed on the substrate is patterned to form a source pattern and a drain pattern. A protective layer is formed on the substrate and patterned to form a contact window to expose the drain pattern. A pixel electrode electrically connected to the drain pattern through the contact window is formed on the protective layer. |