| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07877152B2 |
Bipolar stimulation/recording device with widely spaced electrodes
A bipolar stimulator probe suitable for application of intramuscular stimulation provides an active stimulator electrode and a reference electrode as part of a single tool. The separation between the electrodes is significantly greater than the electrode separation of known bipolar stimulator probes and bipolar bar electrode configurations. The probe tool may be configured to permit adjustment of the fixed relative position of the electrodes within a given range. By providing a relatively wide spacing between the two electrodes, the tool can be used to approximate the effect of monopolar stimulation with a separate reference electrode, with the electrical stimulus producing less pain to the patient compared to bipolar stimulation where the two electrodes are spaced apart by only 2-4 cm or less. |
| US07877149B2 |
Electrical angle gauge
Methods of using electrodes to obtain physiological location motion data are provided. Embodiments of the methods include producing an electrode from a broadcasting electrode that is proximal to the physiological location of interest and detecting a change in an induced electric potential at a receiving electrode to obtain the motion data of interest. Also provided are systems and components thereof, e.g., programming, for practicing methods according to embodiments of the invention. |
| US07877147B2 |
Stimulation of the sphenopalatine ganglion for treating depression
Apparatus for modifying a property of a brain of a patient is provided, including one or more electrodes (7), adapted to be applied to a site selected from a group of sites consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) (6) of the patient and a neural tract originating in or leading to the SPG. A control unit (8) is adapted to drive the one or more electrodes to apply a current to the site capable of inducing (a) an increase in permeability of a blood-brain barrier (BBB) of the patient, (b) a change in cerebral blood flow of the patient, and/or (c) an inhibition of parasympathetic activity of the SPG. |
| US07877146B2 |
Methods of treating medical conditions by neuromodulation of the sympathetic nervous system
The present invention is directed to systems and methods for treating respiratory or pulmonary medical conditions by neuromodulation of a target site of the sympathetic nervous system and preferably a target site in communication with a sympathetic nerve chain. A system for treating a respiratory or pulmonary medical condition incorporating a closed-loop feedback system is also provided. |
| US07877142B2 |
Methods and systems for cardiac remodeling via resynchronization
Systems, methods and devices are provided for improving the hemodynamic efficiency of a patient's heart by implanting one or more reinforcement elements on or with the heart and providing electrical stimulation to the heart. The reinforcement elements may include magnetic and/or shape memory material and are configured to reshape the heart so as to boost the heart's mechanical energy during a response to the electrical stimulation. In some embodiments, at least one reinforcement element includes an electrode configured to sense electrocardiogram signals within the heart. An electrical stimulation device such as an implantable or external pacemaker/defibrillator may be configured to control delivery of electrical pulses to the heart based on the sensed electrocardiogram signals. In addition, or in other embodiments, at least one reinforcement element includes an electrode configured to deliver the electrical pulses to the heart. |
| US07877140B2 |
Pressure sensing for feedback control of post-MI remodeling control pacing
A method and device for delivering pre-excitation pacing to prevent or reduce cardiac remodeling following a myocardial infarction is described. The pre-excitation pacing is modulated in accordance with an intravascular pressure measurement in order to balance the beneficial effects of stress reduction with hemodynamic compromise. |
| US07877139B2 |
Method and device for implantable cardiac stimulus device lead impedance measurement
Methods and devices for testing lead impedance in an implantable cardiac stimulus device. A resistor is placed in series with the lead impedance, and a predetermined or known voltage is applied to the resistor and lead impedance. The voltage across the resistor is measured, and it is then determined whether the lead impedance falls within an acceptable range. |
| US07877137B2 |
Thrombolysis and chronic anticoagulation therapy
Method and systems of treating a patient with at least one of a myocardial infarction, a stroke, and a pulmonary embolism include providing a stimulator coupled to at least one electrode and a catheter, configuring one or more stimulation parameters to treat at least one of a myocardial infarction, a stroke, and a pulmonary embolism, programming the stimulator with the one or more stimulation parameters, delivering with the stimulator via the catheter at least one drug to at least one tissue in accordance with the one or more stimulation parameters, and limiting perfusion of the at least one tissue by delivering electrical stimulation with the stimulator via the at least one electrode to the at least one tissue. |
| US07877134B2 |
Apparatus and methods for in vivo imaging
An in vivo imaging device and method, the device including at least one illumination source; at least one image sensor; and at least two optical systems. The optical systems have different depths of focus. A first and second image are focused onto the image sensor. |
| US07877131B2 |
Method for providing pelvic orientation information in computer-assisted surgery
A computer-assisted surgery system for guiding an operator in altering a pelvis. A sensing apparatus is provided for tracking a reference tool and a bone altering tool. A position calculator calculates a position and orientation of a pelvic frame of reference as a function of the tracking of the reference tool, and for calculating a position and orientation of the bone altering tool with respect to the frame of reference. A source of posture data and a posture data correction calculator are provided and are operative to provide a display of information allowing an operator to take into consideration the posture data from the source of posture data when altering the pelvis. A display unit is connected to the position calculator and to the posture data correction calculator for displaying the display of information and the bone altering tool with respect to the pelvic frame of reference. |
| US07877130B2 |
System and method for using delayed enhancement magnetic resonance imaging and artificial intelligence to identify non-viable myocardial tissue
A system and method for imaging and identifying non-viable myocardial tissue in a patient's myocardium is disclosed. Images of a section of the myocardium are obtained. An endocardial border and epicardial border of the section of the myocardium is segmented. The section of the myocardium is divided into sectors. One or more selected features of the sectors of the myocardial wall are measured and applied to a decision surface. A determination is made as to whether each sector contains viable or non-viable myocardial tissue. An image that shows each sector of the myocardial wall and an indication of its viability is displayed. |
| US07877128B2 |
Simulation of invasive procedures
A method for pre-planning and performing a cardiac procedure on a heart includes acquiring an image or map of the heart; displaying the image or map of the heart; marking at least one feature on the image or map; calculating dimensions of the at least one feature; identifying one or more points on or within the heart for treatment; determining paths to the one or more points on or within the heart for treatment; simulating insertion of a sheath into the heart; simulating insertion of a medical device through the sheath and within the heart; verifying that the one or more points on or within the heart can be accessed for treatment; and performing a medical procedure on or within the heart. |
| US07877121B2 |
Modular wireless headset and/or headphones
The modular wireless headset includes at least one wearable earpiece and at least one wearable microphone, where the earpiece is physically separate from the microphone. The wearable earpiece is operably to render inbound radio frequencies received from a host device audible. To do this, the wearable earpiece includes, at least, a receiver module, a data recovery module, and a speaker module. The receiver module is operably coupled to convert the inbound RF signals. The data recovery module is operably coupled to recover audio signals from the RF signals. The speaker module is operably coupled to render the audio signals audible. The wearable microphone is operable to convert received audio signals into outbound RF signals, where the outbound RF signals are transmitted to the host device. The wearable microphone includes, at least, an audio input module and a transmitter module. The audio input module is operably coupled to convert received analog audio signals into digital audio signals. The transmitter module is operably coupled to convert the digital audio signals into the outbound RF signals. |
| US07877120B2 |
Battery-operated wireless-communication apparatus and method
A combined battery and wireless-communications apparatus and method. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a support, a first conductive layer deposited on a first surface area of the support, a thin-film battery including a cathode layer, a solid-state electrolyte layer, and an anode layer deposited such that either the anode layer or the cathode layer is in electrical contact with the first conductive layer, an antenna mounted to the support structure, and an electronic communications circuit mounted to the support and electrically coupled to the battery and the antenna to transceive radio communications. Other embodiments include an energy-receiving device mounted to the support structure, and an electronic communications circuit mounted to the support structure and including a recharging circuit, the recharging circuit electrically coupled to the battery and the energy-receiving device to recharge the battery using energy received by the energy-receiving device. |
| US07877118B2 |
Mobile communication terminal including an aromatic unit for emanating a fragrance
A mobile terminal includes a first body, a second body slidably mounted at the first body, and a fragrance emanating unit mounted at one of the first and second bodies and disposed at a portion close to a user's nose when the user performs call communication. A user can smell fragrance during call communication effectively. |
| US07877115B2 |
Battery management in a modular earpiece microphone combination
A modular wireless headset to support voice communications that includes a wireless microphone, a wireless earpiece, and a tether. Both the wireless microphone and wireless earpiece have receptacles operable to receive the tether and one or both of the wireless microphone and wireless earpiece have portable power supplies operable to power the containing module. The tether allows the wireless earpiece or wireless microphone to provide power to operate and/or recharge the microphone or wireless earpiece when the wireless microphone or wireless earpiece is coupled with the tether. |
| US07877114B2 |
Electronic device system, electronic device, display device, and communication control method of electronic device system
According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes: a detection unit which detects whether the display device is attached to the electronic device; a wireless communication unit capable of simultaneously advancing information communication via wireless communication channel with a plurality of parties containing transmission of video information to the display device; a wired communication unit which transmits video information to the display device via a wired communication channel when the detection unit detects that the display device is attached to the electronic device; a acquisition unit acquires the device information assigned to the display device via the wired communication channel from the display device when the detection unit detects that the display device is attached to the electronic device; and a communication control unit which controlling the wireless communication unit to preferentially conduct information communication addressed to the device information acquired by the acquisition unit. |
| US07877110B2 |
Cascaded 4G, 3G, 2G and other systems
A Global Positioning System (GPS), a touch screen generated signal, a first Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) signal, a first Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) signal and a first Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) signal is received by two or more antennas and is processed into processed GPS, touch screen, OFDM, CDMA and TDMA signal and is provided to a subscriber unit-interface circuitry. The processed CDMA signal is a cross-correlated in-phase and quadrature-phase baseband signal. One or more of the processed GPS, touch screen, first OFDM, first CDMA or first TDMA baseband signal is provided for cascade processing, modulation and transmission into a second OFDM, second CDMA or second TDMA signal, wherein the second signal is distinct from the first signal. The transmitter has two or more antennas for transmission and linearly and a non-linearly amplified amplifier for linear and for non-linear amplification of modulated signals. |
| US07877109B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling transmission power of cognitive radio environment
A method and apparatus of controlling a transmission power of a cognitive radio (CR) environment, the method including: sensing an incumbent user that uses a same channel as the CR environment; detecting signal quality information of the sensed incumbent user; calculating, using the detected signal quality information, a maximum transmission power value that corresponds to a maximum transmission power that may be transmitted by a CR base station in the CR environment; and controlling a communication of the CR environment to be performed within the calculated maximum transmission power value. |
| US07877108B2 |
Transmission power range setting during channel assignment for interference balancing in a cellular wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a method for balancing the distribution of interference between radio cells in a wireless communication system comprising cells in which subcarrier blocks are used for communication. A number of adjacent cells build a cell cluster. Moreover, the present invention relates to a corresponding method adapted for use in a system in which multi beam antennas or multiple antennas are used. Furthermore, the present invention relates to base stations performing the above method as well as a communication system comprising the base stations. To reduce the large average SIR variations without causing additional SIR estimation, measurement and calculation problem as introduced with power control the invention suggests to group subcarrier blocks into a plurality of subcarrier block sets in each cell of a cell cluster, to determine transmission power ranges for each of the cells of said cell cluster, and to assign transmission power ranges to the subcarrier block sets to perform TPC within the ranges. |
| US07877107B2 |
Method for transmitting message during PTT call service in mobile communication terminal
Disclosed is a method for transmitting a message during a PTT call service in a mobile communication terminal. The method includes checking whether a message transmission key is input during a PTT call service; when the message transmission key is input, displaying a screen containing a plurality of preset messages; when one message is selected, creating an SMS message using the selected message and transmitting the created SMS message to a pre-selected participant; and when a direct message creation is selected, receiving a selection of a participant to whom a message is to be transmitted, receiving an input message, creating an SMS message using the input message, and transmitting the created SMS message to the selected participant. Accordingly, even a participant having no right to speak can inform other participants of his or her own state. |
| US07877106B2 |
System and method for peer-to-peer communication in cellular systems
Systems and methods are provided for delivering both PMP communications, for example standard cellular communications via a base station, and also delivering P2P communications, for example, communications between two mobile stations, using the same spectral resources for both types of communication. |
| US07877104B2 |
Method for synchronizing a radio network using end user radio terminals
The present invention discloses a method and system for monitoring a wireless network clock compared to an absolute time scale using the user mobile stations themselves. The major advantage is the capability to transfer GPS time to a Mobile Station in a wireless network, and thus to decrease the time necessary for the mobile receiver to perform position calculations, with minimal additional hardware required by the network. |
| US07877103B2 |
Wireless mobile image messaging
Non-verbal communications between users of wireless mobile devices are facilitated using image messages. An image message may e.g. convey information about the sender user, in particular, current information about the sender user. In one aspect, a user may select an image message category, and select an image message among the image messages of the selected image message category for transmission, to quickly, efficiently and graphically convey (current) information about the user. The process may be performed to form a mixed media message. Received image message to convey current information may be aged via time and/or color displays. |
| US07877102B2 |
Periodic positioning method in mobile communications system
A positioning method in a SUPL based position information system, and more particularly, a method for performing periodic positioning capable of processing a periodic positioning request by a location server or a periodic positioning request by a mobile communications terminal when the location server and the terminal respectively manage a trigger generating the periodic positioning, are discussed. |
| US07877100B2 |
Position determination system that uses A cellular communication system
A position determination system and apparatus for utilizing a network of cellular base stations to determine position of a mobile station includes taking a plurality of statistically independent data measurements of the pilot signals from the base stations. Each of the data measurements includes an earliest time of arrival, providing multiple independent measurements for each of the pilot signals. For each cellular base station, a representative measurement is calculated responsive to the independent measurements, which is used to determine position of the mobile station using an AFLT algorithm and/or in conjunction with a GPS algorithm. In some embodiments, the data measurements for each pilot signal further include an RMSE estimate and time of measurement for each time of arrival, and an energy measurement for all resolvable paths. If the mobile station comprises a cell phone, a cell search list and a GPS search list may be provided by a cell base station. |
| US07877098B2 |
Method of determining cell reselection in mobile communication terminal and apparatus therefor
A method of determining cell reselection in a mobile communication terminal and an apparatus therefor are provided. The method includes receiving system information to calculate a threshold value in consideration of channel quality, a cell reselection weight value, and a cell reselection reference value; and determining whether to perform cell reselection using the threshold value in consideration of the channel quality, the cell reselection weight value, and the cell reselection reference value in a specific wireless environment. |
| US07877097B2 |
Reuse pattern network scheduling using interference levels
Interference levels occurring at one or more stations are mapped, and a reuse pattern is generated, based on the mapped interference levels, including one or more reuse sets of stations capable of sharing a transmission resource. The stations within each reuse set are listed in increasing order based on their respective interference levels, and an additional station is added to a reuse set, as long as the cumulative interference level within the reuse set is below a threshold interference level and the additional station is not already listed in another reuse set. A network schedule is updated based on the reuse pattern to increase bandwidth efficiency in the network. |
| US07877096B2 |
Systems and methods for determining a community of license
A computer-based program performs calculations to analyze, vary, test, manage, and/or improve the performance of channels and/or frequencies in the communication spectrum. The program varies parameters of a point of communication, such as the location, transmission power, channel frequency, antenna height, and the like, alone or in combination, to measure, test, and/or evaluate which parameter changes increase the market coverage of a target market or area. In some scenarios, changes to one point of communication cause the regulations governing the broadcast relationship between one or more nearby points of communication to be violated. When this occurs, the program determines which of the parameters, such as the location, transmission power, channel and/or frequency, antenna height, and the like, alone or in combination, of the point of communication interfering with the increased market coverage scenario to vary to overcome the conflict with communications and/or regulatory law. In addition, the program can determine simultaneously which of the parameters of multiple points of communication to vary to overcome the conflict with communications and/or regulatory law. The program outputs multiple solutions with varying degrees of difficulty and varying amounts of performance improvement. |
| US07877094B2 |
Location updating in communications networks
This disclosure concerns systems and methods for location updating in communications networks. In one example, when a device initiates a connection to an access network, by way of which a communications network is adapted to provide core network GSM functions to devices registered therewith over a non-GSM bearer, a core network interrogates the device to obtain, if available, data indicative of the cell occupied thereby, interrogates the core network to obtain, if available, an indicator of the identity of the cell occupied by the device, obtains, if available, data indicative of the location of the access point with which the device communicates, and, in dependence on that location, selects an access controller for communicating with the access point or instructs the device to attempt to connect to the GSM radio access network. |
| US07877093B2 |
Method for compulsorily performing handover in broadband wireless communication system
Disclosed is a method for enabling a mobile station existing in a serving cell area to perform a handover procedure in a broadband mobile communication system including the mobile station, a serving base station providing a service to the mobile station, and one or more target base stations containing at least one target cell area overlapping with the serving cell area occupied by the serving base station. The method includes transmitting a handover request message from the mobile station to the serving base station when it is detected that a performance of a handover is necessary; and transmitting a handover indication message containing handover cancel information to the serving base station when the mobile station determines a cancel of the handover while the mobile station is being handed over to one or more target base stations by the serving base station. |
| US07877090B2 |
Roaming across different access mechanisms and network technologies
In one embodiment, a method of allowing a user to roam from one wireless network and interact with an Internet-based application is disclosed. The method comprises establishing a connection between a wireless mobile device and a first wireless network, wherein the connection allows the wireless mobile device to interact with an Internet-based application; tracking a state of interaction between the wireless mobile device and the Internet-based application; terminating the connection between the wireless mobile device and the first wireless network; establishing a connection between the wireless mobile device and a second wireless network; and sending, to the Internet-based application, data representing a state of interaction of the wireless mobile device with the Internet-based application prior to terminating the connection between the wireless mobile device and the first wireless network. |
| US07877087B2 |
Methods of remotely updating lists in mobile terminals and related systems and computer program products
Operating a mobile terminal may include providing a list in memory of the mobile terminal with the list including at least one identification of a communications device remote from the mobile terminal. An update for the list may be received from outside the mobile terminal over a wireless link, and the list may be automatically updated in the memory of the mobile terminal after receiving the update from outside the mobile terminal. Communications may then be moderated based on the list in the memory. Related systems and computer program products are also discussed. |
| US07877082B2 |
Combined short range radio network and cellular telephone network for interpersonal communications
Portable communication devices, such as Bluetooth enabled cellular phones, communicate with and identify like devices that are nearby, and send notification messages to a remote server. When a notification message is received at the server identifying two devices that have come within range of one another, the server compares the profile data associated with each of the two identified devices and facilitates communications between the devices when appropriate. |
| US07877080B2 |
Public access point
The invention instantiates a Personal VLAN bridge, using IEEE Std. 802.11 elements. The result is a bridge, referred to as a public access point, that is better suited for implementing public wireless data networks than the IEEE Std. 802.11 architecture. The invention also provides a location-update protocol for updating the forwarding tables of bridges that connect public access points together. The invention further provides a method for more controlled bridging, which is referred to as fine bridging. |
| US07877079B2 |
Method of authorization for a cellular system
A method and entity of authorising in a communication system are disclosed. The method includes using authorising data to reference other data to define an authorisation associated with the other data. The authorising data includes one of a data component, data group, or data element. Further, a user profile can be provided and includes a user profile data component and an authorisation data component. The authorisation data component or the user profile data component references another authorisation component. Access is authorised to data associated with the user profile data component in accordance with the authorisation data component. |
| US07877075B1 |
Signal mixer having a single-ended input and a differential output
A single-ended-to-differential mixer includes a differential input circuit having a single-ended input. The differential input circuit is responsive to a single-ended input signal to generate first and second signals. The single-ended-to-differential mixer includes a passive tank circuit in communication between a reference voltage and the differential input circuit. The single-ended-to-differential mixer includes a mixer circuit in communication with the differential input circuit and responsive to the first and second signals and a second input signal to generate a differential mixer output signal. |
| US07877070B2 |
Method and system for tuning an antenna using injection
Certain aspects of a method and system for tuning an antenna using injection may include mixing a received DVB-H signal with a reference oscillator signal to generate an added DVB-H signal. A mixed signal may be generated from the added DVB-H signal using the reference oscillator signal. A wireless antenna that receives the received DVB-H signal may be tuned based on a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) associated with the mixed signal. The reference oscillator signal may be generated and then may be amplified. The first mixed DVB-H signal may be amplified prior to the generating of the mixed signal. The RSSI associated with the mixed signal may be determined. The tuning may occur during receiving of a preamble of a packet for the received DVB-H signal and/or during receiving of a plurality of packets for the received DVB-H signal. |
| US07877069B2 |
Method and apparatus for masking program content
A system and a method for providing an additional audio content at the input of the car radio (or other radio receiver) by tracking the available channels. The invention provides an invasive and non-invasive way of adding dominant audio content source to the existing car audio systems. |
| US07877065B2 |
Signal processing circuit and communication device using the same
A signal processing circuit having a modulator having frequency conversion circuits, each having a local oscillator and a mixer. The circuit multiplies a signal having a first frequency and a local oscillation signal from the local oscillator at the mixer to convert the frequency of the first frequency signal to a second frequency, outputs a current format frequency converted signal and a first gain control circuit amplifying the current format frequency converted signals from the frequency conversion circuits by a first gain in accordance with a first control voltage. The circuit also outputs the current format amplified signals and a second gain control circuit connected after the first gain control circuit and having at least one gain control circuit which amplifies a current format amplified signal output from the first gain control circuit by a second gain. |
| US07877061B2 |
Method and system for reducing channel interference in a frame-synchronized wireless communication system
A method reduces channel interference in a communication system that includes base stations and terminal stations with each base station having a plurality of sectors, each sector having a channel, and with each terminal station associated with a sector of a base station. A first set of terminal stations associated with a first sector that may potentially interfere with a second set of terminal stations associated with a second sector is determined. A first frequency sub-channel for use by the first set of terminal stations is selected and a second frequency sub-channel for use by the second set of terminal stations is selected. Transmissions by the first set of terminal stations are coordinated with transmissions by the second set of terminal stations, thereby reducing channel interference between the terminal stations of the first set and the terminal stations of the second set, as seen by a base station in the first or second sector. |
| US07877056B2 |
Image forming system and control method for the same
An image forming system comprises a selection unit for selecting a post-processing apparatus that executes post-processing to a recording medium on which an image is formed from among a plurality of post-processing apparatuses, and a selection limitation unit for determining an insertion apparatus whose supply of the insertion medium to be limited for a selected post-processing apparatus and limiting selection of the insertion apparatus. |
| US07877054B1 |
Process for development of cleaning blade lubrication stripes
According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided an adaptive blade lubrication apparatus that includes a lubricant unit to place a lubrication stripe of lubricating material on a portion of a main surface; a cleaning blade that engages the main surface to remove excess toner thereon; and a controller configured to control the location of each lubrication stripe of lubricating material, wherein the controller places the lubricating material based on at least one of application frequency, blade lubrication state, blade engagement with the main surface. By varying the location of the lubrication stripe, the cleaning blade is better lubricated over the entire surface of the photoreceptor with the same or less lubricant than used in single location lubrication. Blade life and reliability are improved with more effective lubrication of the blade. |
| US07877053B2 |
Adjustable gloss control method with different substrates and 3-D image effect with adjustable gloss
By using a high or low viscosity transparent toner, with respect to the other color toners, and different amounts of transparent toner lay-down, the gloss of an image printed by an electrophotographic device may be adjusted. By also applying the transparent toner as a negative mask, the differential gloss of the image may be reduced while still adjusting the gloss of certain portions of the image. Further, because different gloss levels may appear different at different viewing angles, transparent toner may be laid down to encode a transparent image within the image being printed. Such a transparent image may be useful as, for example, an authentication means for a document. Additionally, by varying the gloss levels on particular aspects of a printed image, multiple images of different gloss levels, which are prominent at different viewing angles can be made, thereby, a three-dimensional image effect can be achieved on the printed page. |
| US07877052B2 |
Image forming apparatus including developer having two different kinds of resins
In the image forming apparatus, an image forming section forms an image onto medium by using developer; and a fixing section has a fixing member which fixes the image onto medium at a predetermined temperature and has a pressing member which is in contact with and presses the fixing member by a predetermined pressure amount, and fixes the image formed by the image forming section onto the medium while conveying the medium at a predetermined speed, wherein the developer contains binder including crystalline resin and amorphous resin, and the endothermic peak temperature difference between crystalline resin and amorphous resin is from 3° C. to 9° C. |
| US07877049B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a vibration detecting sensor. If the vibration detecting sensor detects a vibration at or above a defined level, a toner image for detection is formed, and image forming conditions are controlled based on detection results of the formed toner image. |
| US07877048B2 |
Image forming apparatus, transfer unit thereof, and method of shifting transfer rollers thereof
An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a first photoconductive member used during monochrome printing; a plurality of second photoconductive members used together with the first photoconductive member during full-color printing and arranged in parallel to the first photoconductive member; a transfer belt that forms a loop-like moving path; a first transfer roller and a plurality of second transfer rollers provided on an inner peripheral side of the transfer belt; and a link member that shifts, during the full-color printing, the second transfer rollers to positions where the second transfer rollers are brought into press contact with the respective second photoconductive members via the transfer belt and shifts, during the monochrome printing, the second transfer rollers to positions where respective separations between an inner peripheral surface of the transfer belt and the respective second transfer rollers are substantially identical. |
| US07877046B2 |
Hard imaging devices and hard imaging methods
Hard imaging devices and hard imaging methods are described. According to one embodiment, a hard imaging device includes a photoconductor, a developer member configured to move to provide a marking agent upon the photoconductor to develop a latent image upon the photoconductor, and a squeegee member configured to form a nip with the developer member and to move to provide the marking agent upon the developer member, wherein the squeegee member is configured to move at a speed slower than a speed of the developer member during the provision of the marking agent upon the developer member using a squeegee member. |
| US07877042B2 |
Heating roller with end covers in an image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit for fixing a toner image. The fixing unit includes a heating roller and a pressurizing roller opposed to the heating roller and urged toward the heating roller. A unit case rotatably supports both ends of the heating roller in a longitudinal direction of the heating roller. The unit case is open at one side of the heating roller opposed to the pressurizing roller and covers the other side of the heating roller opposite to the pressurizing roller. A pair of pressurizing roller supporting bodies are respectively provided at both ends in a longitudinal direction of the unit case and rotatably support both ends of the pressurizing roller. A pair of end covers cover both the ends of the heating roller in the longitudinal direction of the heating roller. |
| US07877041B2 |
Image forming apparatus with exposure support member
The image forming apparatus including an exposure unit that exposes an image bearing member by a laser beam, a first side plate and a second side plate facing with each other, and a first support member, a second support member, and a third support member connecting the first side plate and the second side plate to each other, wherein the first side plate and the second side plate and the first support member, the second support member, and the third support member form a substantially closed space, with said exposure unit being arranged in the closed space, and wherein a section of the closed space on a plane parallel to the first side plate and the second side plate has a substantially triangular shape. It achieves preventing the displacement of an optical component attributable to an increase in size of the image forming apparatus main body and twisting of side plates. |
| US07877039B2 |
Image forming apparatus and developing agent cartridge
An image forming apparatus may include a casing, and a plurality of image carriers parallelly arranged along one direction in the casing and formed with an electrostatic latent image. The apparatus can further include a plurality of developing agent carriers opposed to the image carriers, for visualizing the electrostatic latent image by feeding a developing agent to the image carriers, and a plurality of developing agent cartridges, parallelly arranged in the one direction to be opposed to the developing agent carriers in the longitudinal direction of the developing agent carriers, and configured to be together attachable/detachable to/from the casing along the one direction, for accommodating the developing agent fed to the developing agent carriers. |
| US07877038B2 |
Image forming apparatus capable of reducing temperature difference of a photosensitive body
An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive body; a driver to drive the photosensitive body; a supporting bracket to support the driver; and a heat insulator disposed between the supporting bracket and the driver to shield the photosensitive body from heat generated by the driver. |
| US07877037B2 |
Image forming device having duct for blowing air on charger
An image-forming device includes a main casing, a process casing, a photosensitive member, a charger, a first duct member, a fan, and a duct moving unit. The process casing is accommodated in the main casing and removably mounted thereon. The process casing has a casing inlet formed therein. The photosensitive member is disposed in the process casing. The charger is disposed in the process casing for charging a photosensitive member. The first duct member has a duct outlet. The fan blows air on the charger through the duct outlet of the first duct member and the casing inlet. The duct moving unit moves the first duct member between a first position in which the duct outlet of the first duct member is adjacent to the casing inlet formed in the process casing, and a second position in which the duct outlet is separated farther from the casing inlet than in the first position. |
| US07877036B2 |
Power supply device and image forming apparatus having the same
A power supply includes a transformer to transform an input voltage into an output driving voltage for one of a plurality of components of an image forming apparatus, and an output converter to detect the driving voltage being output from the transformer, to amplify the detected driving voltage according to a power control signal, and to output the amplified driving voltage to at least one remaining component in the plurality of components of the image forming apparatus. The power supply can not only control high voltage outputs individually, but also reduces the number of switching transformers being used, as it uses at least one shared switching transformer. |
| US07877020B1 |
Coherent RF-photonic link linearized via a negative feedback phase-tracking loop
In one of many possible implementations and embodiments, a method is provided for providing linearized phase modulation and demodulation in an RF-photonic link. This includes phase modulating a photonic carrier signal in a signal arm using the RF input and using the RF output in a negative feedback phase tracking loop to modulate either the RF input modulated carrier signal in the signal arm, or a signal in a local oscillator arm. Optical signals from the signal arm and the local oscillator arm are optically coupled. The optically coupled signals are photodetected and differentally combined. The differentially combined signals are amplified to provide the RF output signal. In some implementations, the photonic carrier signal is suppressed prior to photodetection. Further, in some implementations a small portion of the local oscillator signal may be coupled with the carrier suppressed optical signal. |
| US07877019B2 |
Optical receiver including a system and method of controlling gain of an optical amplifier
A receiver for a differentially phase shift keying formatted optical signal, such as an RZ-DPSK formatted optical signal. Dither control loops are provided for controlling path length in a demodulator and/or for controlling the center wavelength of an optical band pass filter. A feedback loop is provided for controlling the gain of a pre-amplifier, and a method of protecting against optical transients by disabling a pre-amplifier is also provided. A preset delay may be provided to compensate for the differential delay in paths associated with the demodulator arms. When the signal is an RZ-DPSK modulated signal, a clock for retiming data from the optical signal may be derived from a signal on the data path. |
| US07877017B2 |
Optical waveform measurement system and optical waveform measurement method
In an optical waveform measurement system, a phase comparator compares phases between an electric signal output from a PD and an electric signal output from a mixer, and outputs a signal having an amplitude proportional to the phase difference of the two electric signals to a VCO via an LPF, as an error signal. A BPF removes a jitter from the electric signal output from the VCO, and a sampling pulse light source outputs sampling light based on the electric signal with the jitter removed. An optical sampling gate samples signal light to be measured with sampling light output from a sampling pulse light source, and the sampled signal light to be measured is measured by an oscilloscope. |
| US07877015B2 |
Optical to radio frequency detector
An optical to radio frequency detector comprises an optical guide for receiving two optical signal components having frequencies that differ by an amount corresponding to a radio frequency, and a radio signal guide coupled with an interaction zone of the optical guide for propagating a radio signal from the interaction zone at the radio frequency. The material of the interaction zone presents a second-order non-linear optical polarization characteristic to the propagation of the optical signal components, and the radio signal guide is in travelling-wave coupling with the interaction zone. A radio signal output is coupled with the radio signal guide. |
| US07877012B2 |
Selecting optical waves
A control module is configured to receive one or more input signals. An optical selection network includes a plurality of optical input ports configured to receive respective optical waves at an operative wavelength, and at least one optical output port configured to provide an optical wave at the optical wavelength. The optical selection network is configured to receive one or more control signals from the control module, and in response to the control signals, provide a high transmission path for the operative wavelength from an optical input port, determined by the input signals, to the optical output port at a predetermined time with respect to a time reference in at least one of the input signals, and provide a low transmission path for the operative wavelength from each of a plurality of optical input ports, determined by the input signals, to the optical output port at the predetermined time. |
| US07877006B2 |
Focus information display system
A focus information display system is provided in which focus state detection that is performed during automatic focusing (AF) and the like is also performed during manual focusing (MF) and the like to display focus information indicating a focus state. By arranging a focus position range at which a correct focus state is determined when a correct focus display is being performed to be wider than a focus position range at which a correct focus state is determined when an out-of-focus display is being performed, stabilization of a state of correct focus display is achieved without jeopardizing correct focusing accuracy when performing focusing according to a focus information display. |
| US07877000B2 |
Multimedia optical disc storing both video titles provided with AV functions and video titles with no such functions which can instantly distinguish between such kinds of titles, and a reproduction apparatus and reproduction method for such disc
A multimedia optical disc on which a variety of types of video titles are recorded and which enables a reproduction apparatus to instantly distinguish whether emulated AV functions may be performed for any of the titles. The multimedia optical disc includes a manager area which stores playback type information corresponding to the management information for each video title, with the playback type information including a first flag showing whether the present video title is expressed using one or a plurality of sets of route information and a second flag showing whether a title is expressed using any branch information. |
| US07876997B2 |
Mobile telephone device
A user photographs an area including a desired portion of a television program schedule (with G-code numbers) in a newspaper, and the like, with a digital camera functional portion (219) of a mobile telephone device (2). A CPU (209) performs, for example, a data transmission/reception by a mobile telephone functional portion (231) (a communication process, an Internet connection process, electronic mail transmission and reception processes), and control of each of functional portions based on received data. Moreover, the CPU (209) performs a character recognition process on an image photographed with the digital camera functional portion (219) and on an image received by electronic mail by the mobile telephone functional portion (231), and executes a video recording reservation process based on the G-code number obtained by the recognition process. |
| US07876996B1 |
Method and system for time-shifting video
A method and system for time-shifting video. Specifically, in the method a digital input video signal is received at a processor unit, such as a video processor unit (VPU). A live feed of the digital input video signal is provided as a digital output video signal for display. In parallel, the digital input video signal is stored as video frames. Also, the digital input video signal is recorded for time-shifting. An instruction is received to display a previously seen frame of the digital output video signal. The previously seen frame is repeatedly accessed and provided from that the stored video frames. The previously seen frame that was recorded is accessed when available. Thereafter, the method switches from the previously seen frame stored as video frames to the previously seen frame that was recorded for providing as an output for display. |
| US07876995B2 |
Telecommunications patching systems with obliquely-angled patching modules
A telecommunications patching system includes: a carrier having a generally vertically disposed carrier panel, the carrier panel including a cutout area; and a plurality of patching modules. Each of the patching modules has a main panel and a plurality of telecommunications connectors mounted thereon. The patching modules are inserted into the cutout area so that the main panels thereof are substantially parallel to each other, and so that the main panels define an oblique angle relative to vertical. In such a configuration port density can be increased over typical systems. |
| US07876989B2 |
Active optical cable with integrated power
An active cable that is configured to communicate over much of its length using one or more optical fibers, and that includes an integrated electrical connector at at least one end. The active cable includes a power transmission spanning the length of the optical fiber(s). Thus, electrical power from one end of the optical cable may be provided to an opposite side of the optical cable. The cable may be an electrical to optical cable, and electrical to electrical cable, or one of many other potential configurations. |
| US07876987B2 |
Optical device and exposure apparatus
The present invention provides an optical device and an exposure apparatus capable of suppressing a reduction in light output. The optical device of the present invention includes a laser light source which emits laser light having a short wavelength (e.g., 160 to 500 nm), a lens, a transparent member and an optical fiber provided with a junction-inhibiting film. The optical device is configured such that light density of abutment faces between the transparent member and the optical fiber formed with the junction-inhibiting film is 4464 W/mm2 or less, thereby suppressing a reduction in light output which may be caused by fusion. |
| US07876984B2 |
Planar optical waveguide array module and method of fabricating the same
The optical element array and an optical waveguide array are optically connected on the substrate. The optical waveguide array includes optical waveguide channels which are the outermost optical waveguide channels on both sides of optical waveguide array channels and each of which is provided with a mirror structure for light redirection. With the optical element array driven by a bias applied thereto, the optical waveguide array is brought near the optical element array. The optical axes of the optical waveguide array channels and the optical element array are aligned while monitoring optical signals outputted from the outermost optical waveguide channels on both sides of the optical waveguide array channels via the mirror structures for light redirection. The optical waveguide array is fixed to the substrate in such a position that the optical signals have a desired output value. |
| US07876980B2 |
Imaging apparatus and imaging method for outputting a specified number of pixels in a specified area
The resolution, frame rate, or both can be improved when imaging moving subjects in an imaging apparatus using a CMOS image sensor. The imaging apparatus has an image sensor having a two-dimensional array of pixels. Each of the pixels includes an element operable to produce an electric charge by photoelectrically converting light from an imaged subject and a part operable to accumulate the produced charge and output an accumulated charge or a signal representing the accumulated charge. The imaging apparatus also has an area control unit operable to define a specified area of the image sensor containing a plurality of pixels and an area density control unit operable to specify a density of pixels read from the specified area defined by the area control unit. |
| US07876974B2 |
Method for improving digital images and an image sensor for sensing the same
The present invention provides an image processing method. In one embodiment, the method provides discontinuity-preserving image smoothing and segmentation, noise reduction, reduction of image variations particularly those variations caused by illumination conditions, exposure compensation, and dynamic range compression. The present invention also provides an electronic image sensor that is able to detect high dynamic range optical images and produce electronic images with reduced dynamic range. |
| US07876973B2 |
Edge ringing artifact suppression methods and apparatuses
In some embodiments, the present invention relates to methods or suppressing edge ringing in images. For example, in some embodiments a method of processing an image to suppress ringing and broadened edges induced by image correction processing, includes high-pass filtering a first image to obtain a second image, processing said second image including applying non-linear apodization to said second image to obtain a third image, low-pass filtering said first image to obtain a fourth image, and combining the third image and the fourth image to obtain an output image, wherein the output image is characterized by having reduced edge-response sidelobes as compared to the first images. In some embodiments, the present invention relates to devices comprising means and/or modules to suppress edge ringing in images. |
| US07876970B2 |
Method and apparatus for white balancing digital images
At least one illuminant white point estimate is determined in a color space having radially defined saturation based on a reference image. A chromatic adaptation correction vector (CACV) is determined based on the at least one illuminant white point estimate. Corrected pixels are obtained by applying the CACV (preferably in a cone response color space using a correction matrix based on the CACV) to uncorrected image pixels corresponding to a target image, which may comprise the reference image or another image. |
| US07876969B2 |
Video decoding with reduced IDCT calculations
Reduced complexity inverse discrete cosine transform (IDCT) masks and a method for reducing the number of IDCT calculations in video decoding are provided. The method comprises: accepting an n×m matrix of DCT coefficients; performing (n−y) horizontal IDCT operations, where y is greater than 0; performing y scaling operations; and, generating an n×m block of pixel information. Some aspects of the method further comprise: performing (m−z) vertical IDCT operations, where z is in the range between 0 and m/2. In some aspects, performing (n−y) horizontal ICDT operations includes performing IDCT operations for the first (n−y) horizontal rows. Then, performing y scaling operations includes: selecting the DC component from the first position of each horizontal row; scaling the selected DC component; and, copying the scaled DC component into the remaining positions of each of horizontal row. |
| US07876968B2 |
Apparatus of compressing image data and a method thereof
An apparatus for compressing an image data with an array of pixels comprising a data length is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a rearranging unit, a transformation operator, a quantizer and a coding operator. The rearranging unit is configured to transform the array to form a rearranged block with a mark value. The transformation operator is configured to obtain transform coefficients of the rearranged block according to a predetermined transformation. The quantizer is configured to quantize the transform coefficients. The coding operator is configured to generate a result data by coding the transform coefficients which is quantized and the mark value according to a predetermined coding method. |
| US07876965B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting a particular subject
An apparatus and a method for detecting from an image a particular subject corresponding to multiple views of the subject by dividing a particular subject space into a plurality of subject subspaces and further dividing a subject subspace into subject subspaces representing multiple views; configuring a tree-structured detector wherein the tree structure has a root node that covers all subject subspaces and has a plurality of branches, each branch corresponding to a child node that covers at least one subject subspace; training each node to determine which nodes in the adjacent lower layer the images of the subject in the corresponding nodes should be sent. |
| US07876964B2 |
Method for associating a digital image with a class of a classification system
Disclosed is a method for assigning the content of a digital image to a class of a classification system. Said method comprises the following steps: —a predetermined number of F numerical shape characteristics ψm are determined; —the value of each shape characteristic of the F numerical shape characteristics determined for the image is compared to the value filed in a table for the respective shape characteristic, values for the individual numerical shape characteristics being allocated to each class in the table; —the class in which the F numerical shape characteristics determined for said image correspond best to the values of the numerical shape characteristics indicated in the table for said class is output as the class into which the image that is to be recognized is classified. |
| US07876963B2 |
Symbol recognition method
A symbol recognition method for increasing the symbol recognition speed by the processor includes the steps of obtaining a pixel density value and an aspect ratio of the symbol image. Then, the center-point value and the corresponding radius value are obtained by a partitional clustering algorithm. In sequence, a pixel density value and the aspect ratio of the under recognized image are obtained, and compared with the values of the symbol image to determine whether the under recognized image is a single symbol image or not. |
| US07876952B2 |
Removal of relatively unimportant shapes from a set of shapes
A method for reducing a number of shapes, and a computer readable program code adapted to perform said method. The method forms first and second shape patterns. The second shape pattern includes the first shape pattern and error shapes. The error shapes are extracted from the second shape pattern. At least one environment shape corresponding to each error shape is derived from a subset of the error shapes. For example, each error shape in the subset may be expanded to form a corresponding expanded shape, and at least one environment shape corresponding to each expanded shape may be formed by removing all portions of the expanded shape common to the second shape pattern. The environment shape reflects a local geometric environment of its corresponding error shape. A subset of the environment shapes are deleted such that only unique environment shapes satisfying a selection criterion remain. |
| US07876949B1 |
Systems and methods for remote deposit of checks
Remote deposit of checks can be facilitated by a financial institution. A customer's general purpose computer and image capture device may be leveraged to capture an image of a check and deliver the image to financial institution electronics. Additional data for the transaction may be collected as necessary. The transaction can be automatically accomplished utilizing the images and data thus acquired. |
| US07876940B2 |
Universal image processing
The present invention provides a universal and centralized image (e.g., medical, bio-molecular, etc.) processing system platform. The invention permits sharing both computation and visualization across a single universal platform, thus allowing for sharing of computing resources and visualization of images on a variety of imaging (client) devices without high-performance graphical display cards. In a typical embodiment a (e.g., medical) image 2D linear registration algorithm is implemented on a Cell Broadband Engine processor, which has nine processor cores on a chip and has a 4-way SIMD unit for each core. |
| US07876935B2 |
Sample processing apparatus with a vision system
A sample processing apparatus has an associated machine vision system. The vision system may acquire an image of at least one fluidic chamber, which can be analyzed by the machine vision system and/or stored. The image and/or analysis of the image may provide a record of the actions of the sample processing apparatus, which permits a user to verify proper operation of the sample processing apparatus. |
| US07876927B2 |
Method and system for guiding a vehicle with vision-based adjustment
A preliminary guidance data is determined for the vehicle during an evaluation time window. A vision module collects vision data from a vision module during the evaluation time window. Vision guidance data is determined from the collected vision data. A vision quality estimator estimates vision quality data for at least one of the vision data and the vision guidance data during the evaluation time window. The vision quality data is based on a cross correlations and an r-squared value. An adjuster adjusts the preliminary guidance data to a revised guidance data based on the vision guidance data such that the revised guidance data is registered with or generally coextensive with the vision guidance data, if the vision quality data exceeds a minimum threshold. |
| US07876926B2 |
Lane marker detection and fitting methods
A method of lane marker detection and detection fitting is provided for lane tracking. A lane marker is modeled and split into left and right steps. A filter response is calculated from a cumulative row sum, and normalized for filter pixel size, lane marker brightness and road brightness. A lane marker response is peak detected for positive and negative peaks and checked for having a magnitude above a threshold and being a local peak in a five point neighborhood. A Hough transform is extended to multiple planes to use lane marker features to determine a best line. Lane marker features include a mean and variance of lane marker brightness, lane marker width, lane marker parallelism to a host vehicle direction of travel, and consistence with a predicted lane marker characteristic. A closest lane marker line to a host vehicle is identified, and refitted to account for any curvature. |
| US07876922B2 |
Speaker device for portable terminal
Provided is a speaker device for a portable terminal. The speaker device includes a speaker housing which provides a mounting space for accommodating a speaker unit and a resonating space connected to the mounting space and located around the mounting space. The speaker device solves the disadvantages of a small-size speaker unit, i.e., problems in producing a sound in a bass region, thereby producing a “live” sound. Moreover, the characteristics of a sound can be improved using the speaker housing, without addition of a separate speaker unit or addition or change of software or a circuit, thereby improving the performance of a speaker device of the portable terminal at low cost. |
| US07876921B2 |
Active crossover and wireless interface for use with multi-driver headphones
A headset with an active crossover network is provided. The headset is coupleable to a first audio source using a wired connection and to a second audio source using a wireless connection. A controller is used to determine whether the first, or second, audio source is coupled to the active crossover network which, utilizing either analog or digital filtering, divides each channel of the incoming audio signal into multiple frequency regions sufficient for the number of drivers contained within the headphones of the headset. The output from the network's filters is amplified using either single channel or multi-channel amplifies. Preferably, gain control circuitry is used to control the gain of the amplifier(s) and thus the volume produced by the drivers. More preferably, the gain of the gain control circuitry is adjustable. The headset includes a power source that is coupled to the amplifier(s) and, if necessary, the network's filters. The power source can be included within some portion of the headset or included within the wireless interface. Alternately, an external power source can be used, for example one associated with the audio source. |
| US07876920B2 |
Active crossover for use with multi-driver headphones
A headset with an active crossover network is provided. The headset is coupled to an audio source using either a wired connection or a wireless connection. The active crossover network, utilizing either analog or digital filtering, divides each channel of the incoming audio signal from the audio source into multiple frequency regions sufficient for the number of drivers contained within each headphone of the headset. The output from the network's filters is amplified using either single channel or multi-channel amplifies. Preferably, gain control circuitry is used to control the gain of the amplifier(s) and thus the volume produced by the drivers. More preferably, the gain of the gain control circuitry is adjustable. The headset includes a power source that is coupled to the amplifier(s) and, if necessary, the network's filters. The power source can be included within some portion of the headset or included within a wireless interface. Alternately, an external power source can be used, for example one associated with the audio source. |
| US07876917B2 |
Generic electromagnetically-countered systems and methods
The present invention relates to an electromagnetically-countered system including at least one wave source irradiating harmful electromagnetic waves and at least one counter unit emitting counter electromagnetic waves for countering the harmful waves by such counter waves. More particularly, the present invention relates to generic counter units of electromagnetically-countered systems and to various mechanisms for countering the harmful waves by the counter units such as, e.g., by matching configurations of the counter units with those of the wave sources, matching shapes of such counter waves with shapes of the harmful waves, and the like. The present invention also relates to various methods of countering the harmful waves with the counter waves by such source matching or wave matching and various methods of providing the counter units as well as counter waves. The present invention further relates to various processes for providing such systems, such counter units thereof, and the like. The present invention relates to various electric and/or magnetic shields which may be used alone or in conjunction with such counter units to minimize irradiation of the harmful waves from the system. |
| US07876914B2 |
Processing audio data
An exemplary embodiment is a method of processing audio data comprising: characterising an audio data representative of a recorded sound scene into a set of sound sources occupying positions within a time and space reference frame; analysing the sound sources; and generating a modified audio data representing sound captured from at least one virtual microphone configured for moving about the recorded sound scene, wherein the virtual microphone is controlled in accordance with a result of the analysis of said audio data, to conduct a virtual tour of the recorded sound scene. |
| US07876913B2 |
Apparatus for producing sound effect for mobile object
Gain characteristics depending on the frequency of a reference signal from speakers to a passenger position in a motor vehicle, i.e., gain characteristics which are an inversion of vehicle cabin sound field characteristics, are set in a first acoustic corrector. At the passenger position, a gain characteristic curve that is flat at various frequencies is achieved to prevent gain peaks and dips from occurring at the passenger position. A sound effect generated at the passenger position is made linear depending on the state of a noise source, or more specifically, a noise source caused by an accelerating action on the motor vehicle. |
| US07876910B2 |
Vehicular active noise/vibration/sound control system, and vehicle incorporating such system
An active noise/vibration/sound control system for a vehicle has an ANC (active noise control apparatus), an AVC (active vibration control apparatus), and an ASC (active sound control apparatus). To prevent the ANC, the AVC, and the ASC from interfering with each other and hence to prevent vehicle cabin environment of vibrations, noise, and sound from being impaired, activation and inactivation of the ANC, the AVC, and the ASC are controlled or their control characteristics are controlled in relation to each other by a weighting variable calculator as a coordination controller, depending on an engine rotation frequency and a frequency change which are representative of a running state of the vehicle as detected by an engine rotation frequency detector and a frequency change detector that serve as a running state detector. |
| US07876908B2 |
Process for the visualization of hearing ability
For the visualization of the hearing ability or hearing recognition respectively of a person with or without a hearing device at least one hearing dimension as for instance the loudness recognition is being made visible by means of a picture by varying at least one picture parameter such as for instance the brightness. The visualization can also be achieved by fade-in or fade-out of individual objects or a plurality of objects within a picture. |
| US07876907B2 |
Apparatus for fault detection for parallelly transmitted audio signals and apparatus for delay difference detection and adjustment for parallelly transmitted audio signals
Characteristic amounts in each small region of audio signals transmitted in the working system and the standby system are extracted by characteristic amount calculators 6-1, 6-2. A characteristic amount comparator 7 compares the characteristic amounts and judges occurrence of fault of a fault. Characteristic amount difference calculators 9-1, 9-2, ∥D∥ comparator 10, and faulty system judging unit 11 judges the system having a fault. Majority decision processor 12 and significance judging unit 13 enhance the reliability of the judgement. Delay difference of audio signals between systems is roughly detected by sub-sampling audio signals of two systems and comparing them, and then accurately detected without sub-sampling. Delay difference between audio signals is adjusted by the detected delay difference. |
| US07876906B2 |
Methods and apparatus for processing audio signals
Various methods and apparatus for processing audio signals are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such an oral appliance may be a custom-made device which can enhance and/or optimize received audio signals for vibrational conduction to the user. Received audio signals may be processed to cancel acoustic echo such that undesired sounds received by one or more intra-buccal and/or extra-buccal microphones are eliminated or mitigated. Additionally, a multiband actuation system may be used where two or more transducers each deliver sounds within certain frequencies. Also, the assembly may also utilize the sensation of directionality via the conducted vibrations to emulate directional perception of audio signals received by the user. Another feature may include the ability to vibrationally conduct ancillary audio signals to the user along with primary audio signals. |
| US07876904B2 |
Dynamic decoding of binaural audio signals
Inputting of a parametrically encoded audio signal comprising at least one combined signal of a plurality of audio channels and one or more corresponding sets of side information describing a multi-channel sound image and including channel configuration information is shown along with deriving, from the channel configuration information, audio source location data describing at least one of horizontal and vertical positions of audio sources in the binaural audio signal; selecting, from a predetermined set of head-related transfer function filters, a left-right pair of head-related transfer function filters matching closest to the audio source location data, wherein the left-right pair of head-related transfer function filters is searched in a stepwise motion in a horizontal plane; and synthesizing a binaural audio signal from the at least one processed signal according to side information and the channel configuration information. |
| US07876899B2 |
Recoverable digital content degradation: method and apparatus
The present disclosure relates generally to processing media signals such as audio and video. One claim recites a method comprising: obtaining a media signal, wherein the media signal comprises a plurality of samples; identifying characteristics of the media signal, said act of identifying utilizes a programmed electronic processor; utilizing a programmed electronic processor to change some of the plurality of samples at or near the characteristics to degrade the media signal, wherein the changing results in human perceptible degradation, but wherein the degradation is removable according to a process which uses at least some different characteristics of the media signal than were identified by said act of identifying; and communicating the degraded media signal. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided too. |
| US07876898B2 |
Block ciphering system, using permutations to hide the core ciphering function of each encryption round
In a system, a server provides a digital signal processing function ƒ to an executing device in an obfuscated form. The function ƒ includes a function cascade of signal processing functions ƒi, 1≦i≦N (e.g., FC1(x)≡ƒN∘ . . . ∘ƒ1(x)). The server includes a processor for selecting a set of 2N invertible permutations pi, 1≦i≦2N; calculating a set of N functions gi, where gi is functionally equivalent to p2i−1∘ƒi∘p2i−1, for 1≦i≦N; and calculating a set of N−1 functions hi, where hi is functionally equivalent to p2i−1−1∘p2i−2, for 2≦i≦N. The server equips the executing device with an execution device function cascade that includes yN∘hN∘yN−1∘hN−1∘ . . . ∘y1, where y1, . . . , yN are function parameters (e.g., ED1(y1, . . . , yN)≡yN∘hN∘yN−1∘hN−1∘ . . . ∘y1), and provides the functions g1, . . . gN to the executing device. The executing device obtains the functions g1, . . . , gN and a processor for loading the execution device function cascade and applying the loaded execution device function cascade to the functions g1, . . . , gN (e.g., ED1(g1, . . . , gN)). |
| US07876893B2 |
Logic circuit and method for calculating an encrypted result operand
A logic circuit for calculating an encrypted dual-rail result operand from encrypted dual-rail input operands according to a combination rule includes inputs for receiving the input operands and an output for outputting the encrypted result operand. Each operand may comprise a first logic state or a second logic state. The logic circuit comprises a first logic stage connected between the inputs and an intermediate node and a second logic stage connected between the intermediate node and the output. The logic stages are formed to calculate the first or second logic state of the encrypted result operand from the input operands according to the combination rule and to maintain or change exactly once the logic state of the encrypted result operand, independently of an order of arrival of the encrypted input operands, depending on the combination rule, in order to impress the calculated first logic state or second logic state on the output. |
| US07876891B2 |
Electronic communication distribution system
A computer system and associated method to distribute an electronic communication object. The electronic communication object comprises a main communication and a first sub-communication object. The first sub-communication object is embedded within a main communication object. The main communication object comprises a first set of attributes and a first addressee. The first sub-communication object comprises a second set of attributes and a second addressee. A hierarchal relationship exists between the main communication object and the first sub-communication object such that the first sub-communication object inherits one or more of the first set of attributes from the main communication object if said one or more of the second set of attributes is not specified in the first sub-communication object. The main communication object and a first outline of the first sub-communication object is sent to the first addressee. The first sub-communication object is sent to the second addressee. |
| US07876885B2 |
Method and system for establishing a communication system
A method for processing a request from a first terminal to establish a communication session between the first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal and the second terminal being operable to communicate via a telecommunication network, the method comprising: receiving at the telecommunication network a request from the first terminal to establish a communication session with the second terminal; determining whether the second terminal is available to support the communication session; and if the second terminal is determined not to be available to support the communication session, transmitting to the first terminal the address of a data set corresponding to the second terminal. |
| US07876879B2 |
X-ray tomography inspection systems
An X-ray imaging inspection system for inspecting items comprises an X-ray source (10) extending around an imaging volume (16), and defining a plurality of source points (14) from which X-rays can be directed through the imaging volume. An X-ray detector array (12) also extends around the imaging volume (16) and is arranged to detect X-rays from the source points which have passed through the imaging volume, and to produce output signals dependent on the detected X-rays. A conveyor (20) is arranged to convey the items through the imaging volume (16). |
| US07876878B2 |
Automatic spatial adjustment of a pan-oral x-ray source in response to the actual dentition of a patient
A system, method, and computer program product for performing pan-oral imaging. A plurality of data points are generated which are representative of spatial positions of an actual dentition of a patient with respect to a defined spatial coordinate system. A fitted curve through at least a portion of the spatial positions of the dentition is computed using the plurality of data points. A pan-oral image acquisition trajectory is then computed with respect to a defined spatial coordinate system using the fitted curve. A pan-oral image of the dentition is then acquired along the pan-oral image acquisition trajectory. |
| US07876877B2 |
Dental X-ray apparatus comprising a patient-positioning system arranged on a support and provided with a forehead rest
The invention proposes a dental X-ray apparatus comprising a patient-positioning system arranged on a support and having a forehead rest. A horizontally pivotable bearing arm is arranged on the support, and the forehead rest is in turn arranged thereon. |
| US07876873B2 |
Asynchronous ping-pong counter and thereof method
An asynchronous ping-pong counter is disclosed. The asynchronous ping-pong counter comprises a first asynchronous counter, a second synchronous counter, and a controller, the asynchronous ping-pong counter operates between a first state and a second state. In the first state, the first asynchronous counter counts a first number of clock edges of a fast clock signal, and the second asynchronous counter holds a first counter output value. In the second state, the second asynchronous counter counts a second number of clock edges of the fast clock signal, and the first asynchronous counter holds a second counter output value. The controller determines a state transition based on a sampling of a slow clock signal by the fast clock signal. |
| US07876867B2 |
Intermodulation distortion detection and mitigation
Techniques for detecting and mitigating intermodulation distortion (IMD) are described. A device (e.g., a cellular phone) obtains digital intermodulation distortion and digitally determines intermodulation distortion in an input signal based on the digital intermodulation distortion. The device may correlate the digital intermodulation distortion with the input signal and determine intermodulation distortion in the input signal based on correlation results. The device may adjust the operation of one or more circuit blocks (e.g., a mixer, an LNA, etc.) in a receiver based on the detected intermodulation distortion in the input signal. Alternatively or additionally, the device may condition the digital intermodulation distortion to obtain conditioned intermodulation distortion matching intermodulation distortion in the input signal and may then subtract the conditioned intermodulation distortion from the input signal. |
| US07876865B2 |
System and method for decoding automatic identification system signals
Various embodiments are described herein for a system and method of detecting Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals in space and decoding these signals. In one aspect, a system for performing this function is described which includes a receiver configured to receive the plurality of AIS signals and pre-process the plurality of AIS signals to produce digital input data, and a processing unit configured to process the digital input data to identify one or more candidate AIS message signals based on Doppler offsets associated with the digital input data, determine corresponding Doppler offset estimates and time estimates of the one or more candidate AIS message signals, decode the one or more candidate AIS message signals to obtain corresponding message segments and validate the decoded message segments for proper AIS formatting. |
| US07876864B2 |
Method and device for enhancing signal detection in a frequency selective fading channel
A method and system are provided for enhanced signal detection in a frequency selective fading channel. Improved signal detection is realized by replacing single matched filters with multiple matched filters. The single matched filter spectrum is partitioned by frequency into M matched filter groups, where M is a positive integer greater than one. The filter bandwidth of each of the M matched filters is less than the bandwidth of the single matched filter from which they are derived. The M matched filters are provided to filter in parallel fashion the input signal into M sub-spectrums of the signal. The input signal is filtered through the M matched filters and also sent to the energy detector. The matched filter outputs are combined and the received signal is detected using the combined output and the energy in the received signal. |
| US07876863B2 |
Method and system for improving timing position estimation in wireless communications networks
A method for determining timing positions in a wireless communications system comprises creating a time-domain timing detection window from a preamble of a receiving signal, generating a first vector of correlations between sampling points in the time-domain timing detection window and sampling points of a known preamble, identifying a pivot position from the largest correlation value of the first vector and generating second vectors based on the pivot position, generating a third vector comprising the largest elements of the second vectors; generating a fourth vector comprising sums of elements in the second vectors, generating fifth and sixth vectors comprising a sum of subsets of the third and fourth vectors, respectively, calculating a seventh vector using the fifth and sixth vectors according to a predetermined equation, and selecting an index of one element from the fifth and seventh vectors to be the timing position according to a predetermined rule. |
| US07876859B2 |
Semiconductor device and driving method thereof
The invention provides a semiconductor device with high yield by reducing an effect of variations in characteristics of a semiconductor element. Further, by reducing an effect of variations in characteristics of a semiconductor element to improve productivity, an inexpensive semiconductor device can be provided. Further, an inexpensive semiconductor device can be provided by forming a semiconductor device in a large amount over a large substrate such as a glass substrate and a flexible substrate. A semiconductor device of the invention includes a demodulation signal generating circuit and an antenna or a wire for connecting the antenna. The demodulation signal generating circuit includes a demodulation circuit and a correction circuit. The correction circuit corrects a first demodulation signal generated from the demodulation circuit and generates a second demodulation signal. |
| US07876856B2 |
Quadrature receiver with correction engine, coefficient controller and adaptation engine
Methods and apparatus to compensate for I/Q mismatch in quadrature receivers are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein comprises a correction engine using first filter coefficients to compensate for I/Q mismatch present in a received quadrature signal; an adaptation engine to adapt second filter coefficients based on I/Q mismatch present in the received quadrature signal; and coefficient controller to occasionally adjust the first filter coefficients based on the second filter coefficients. |
| US07876846B2 |
Method of QAM soft demapping
A method of demapping in a receiver including deriving M intermediate soft bit values yj for the I and Q data of the input signal as a function of the spacing in the constellation; and limiting the range of the M values yj. A look-up table index is derived for each of the limited M values yj. A look-up table, having 2N+1 entries for supporting up to N soft bit outputs, is indexed using the derived indices; and K soft bits for each of the M values yj of the I and Q data are outputted. |
| US07876845B2 |
Wireless communications systems and/or methods providing low interference, high privacy and/or cognitive flexibility
Communications systems and/or methods are disclosed that can provide extreme privacy, cognitive radio capability, robustness to fading and interference, communications performance associated with M-ary orthonormal signaling and/or high multiple-access capacity. Embodiments can use spread-spectrum waveforms that are featureless, devoid of chipping and devoid of cyclostationary signatures, statistically indistinguishable from thermal noise and able to cognitively fit within any available frequency space (narrow-band, broad-band, contiguous, non-contiguous). Some embodiments maintain all desirable features of classical direct-sequence spread-spectrum communications while providing new dimensions that are important to communications systems. Embodiments of the invention can provide M-ary orthonormal signaling with chipless spread-spectrum waveforms to provide extreme covertness and privacy. Moreover, embodiments of the invention may be used to cognitively and covertly utilize spectrum resources at minimal impact to incumbent users. Further embodiments may be used to provide minimum interference, opportunistic, “white space spectrum” communications. |
| US07876844B2 |
Apparatus and method for determining positions of pilot sub-carriers in an OFDM symbol
Techniques for determining positions of pilot sub-carriers in a received OFDM symbol are described. Components of pilot sub-carriers from a theoretical OFDM symbol are extracted to form M theoretical pilot sequences according to M possible distributions in frequency domain of the pilot sub-carriers in the theoretical OFDM symbol. Components of pilot sub-carriers from the received OFDM symbol are also extracted to form K hypothetical pilot sequences according to K possible distributions in frequency domain of pilot sub-carriers in the received OFDM symbol. The correlations of every two adjacent elements of the theoretical pilot sequences are calculated to get M corresponding theoretical correlation sequences, and the correlations of every two adjacent elements of the hypothetical pilot sequence are also calculated to get K corresponding hypothetical correlation sequences. Sequence correlations between the hypothetical correlation sequences and the theoretical correlation sequences are then calculated. The positions of pilot sub-carriers in the received OFDM symbol can be determined from the one that has the maximum modulus value. |
| US07876843B2 |
Method for data transmission and communication system
In one embodiment, a method for data transmission is provided comprising determining a set of frequency bands available for data transmission from a plurality of frequency bands; determining whether there is a frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands that lies between two frequency bands of the set of frequency bands and is not in the set of frequency bands; selecting, in case that there is a frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands that lies between two frequency bands of the set of frequency bands and is not in the set of frequency bands, another set of frequency bands from the plurality of frequency bands such that there is no frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands that lies between two frequency bands of the other set and is not in the other set; and transmitting the data using the other set of frequency bands. |
| US07876841B2 |
Method for scheduling of user terminals to subcarriers in a multi-cell or multi-sector network using FDM transmission, a base station, a user terminal and a network therefor
The invention concerns method for scheduling of user terminals (T) to subcarriers in a multi-cell or multi-sector network using FDM transmission with interference coordination and with the frequency band used for FDM transmission being subdivided into at least two frequency subsets (F1, F2 . . . FR), whereby the data throughput of user terminals (T) is measured or modeled by means of the signal to interference ratio measured by said user terminals (T) dependent on the frequency subset (F1, F2 . . . FR), subcarriers are allocated preferably to user terminals (T) with a high signal to interference ratio on said subcarriers, and subcarriers are allocated in clusters to the user terminals (T), whereby all clusters offer the same data throughput for the respective user terminal (T), a base station (BS), a user terminal (T) and a network therefor. |
| US07876839B2 |
Receiver and method for channel estimation for multicarrier communication systems
Embodiments of system and method for generating channel estimates in a wireless network are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. In some embodiments, a linear interpolator uses refined cross-correlation and autocorrelation estimates and pilot subcarrier estimates to generate channel estimates for the current OFDM data symbol. |
| US07876838B2 |
Low complexity multi-channel modulation method and apparatus
A digital communications apparatus for processing a data vector includes a transmitter for communicating with a receiver across a channel having channel characteristics. A transmit vector is computed from the data vector and from values defining a basis for a transmit lattice. The transmit lattice defines a set of transmit symbols of length N and is related to an orthogonal receive lattice by the channel characteristics. The computation is performed according to an algorithm of order N complexity. |
| US07876837B2 |
Method for reducing access noise in a spread spectrum communication system
Access noise in a spread spectrum communication system (100) is reduced by broadcasting a resource indicator message (116) from a base station (102) and is received by mobile stations (104) in the serving area (103) of the base station. The resource indicator message indicates which resources are supported (202) by the base station, as well as their present availability (204, 206, 208, 210). If a desired resource is not presently available (408), mobile stations will avoid requesting access to that resource (410). When the resource becomes available, access noise can be controlled by having mobile stations wait a randomly selected period of time (414). |
| US07876834B2 |
Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus for motion compensation prediction
A video encoding method and apparatus 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. |
| US07876831B2 |
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. |
| US07876828B2 |
Method, medium, and apparatus predicting direct mode motion of a multi-angle moving picture
A method, medium, and apparatus predicting direct mode motion of a multi-angle moving picture on a temporal and spatial basis. The method may include locating a block to which a co-located block of a block for which coding is sought makes reference with a motion vector, calculating a forward motion vector and a backward motion vector by making reference to pictures of an adjacent camera that exists in a direction parallel to a direction corresponding to the motion vector when a reference picture is not taken by the same camera as the picture to which the block for which coding is sought belongs, and calculating forward and backward reference blocks of the block for which coding is sought by applying weights to the calculated motion vectors. Therefore, the moving picture can be coded/decoded by locating motion vectors of previous and subsequent pictures without predicting motion, reducing calculation and performance time. |
| US07876826B2 |
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. |
| US07876816B2 |
Moving picture coding program, program storage medium, and coding apparatus
A moving picture coding program directs a computer to perform the procedure of detecting a scene change between images depending on, for example, whether or not summation of absolute values of inter-frame differences has exceeded a threshold, and the procedure of coding image data before a scene change by rough quantization when the scene change is detected. |
| US07876815B2 |
Methods and apparatus to qualify a wire-pair for a digital subscriber line (DSL) service
Methods and apparatus to qualify a wire-pair for a digital subscriber line (DSL) service are disclosed. An example method comprises modifying a digital subscriber line (DSL) signal received on a wire-pair at a DSL modem to emulate an environmental condition, and qualifying the wire-pair for a DSL service based on a DSL connection rate achieved by the DSL modem during the emulated environmental condition. |
| US07876811B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting spreading-code synchronization for spectrum spreading signals
A spreading-code synchronization detection method for a spectrum spreading signal that increases the sensitivity of spreading-code synchronization detection and in which a spreading-code synchronization detection is applied to a spectrum spreading signal obtained by spectrum-spreading data, having a bit transition period equal to a multiple of one period of a spreading code, with the spreading code. A process for obtaining a linear-addition correlation-calculation result equal to a value obtained by linear additions of the results of correlation calculations between the spectrum spreading signal and the spreading code is performed every unit period, which is a multiple of one period of the spreading code and shorter than the bit transition-period. The absolute value of the linear-addition correlation-calculation result obtained every unit period is calculated. The absolute value of the linear-addition correlation-calculation result obtained every unit period is added for a plurality of unit periods. A correlation point is detected from a value obtained by adding the absolute values. |
| US07876810B2 |
Soft weighted interference cancellation for CDMA systems
Interference is cancelled from a baseband signal by synthesizing interference from estimated symbols in interfering subchannels. The estimated symbols are hard-coded, soft weighted, or zeroed, depending on the value of an estimated pre-processed signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio (SINR) in each subchannel in order to maximize a post-processed SINR. The estimated pre-processed SINR is obtained from averages of estimated symbol energies and estimated noise variances, or from related statistical procedures. |
| US07876804B2 |
Laser oscillator
A first optical base having a high-reflection mirror and a second optical base having a partial-reflection mirror are arranged in parallel to each other on both sides of an oscillator housing. A guide light source emits a guide light for aligning optical components in an optical path of a laser light emitted from an optical resonator and adjusting a processing point on a target object. An optical-component supporting unit includes optical components that guide the laser light in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the optical resonator. The guide light source is arranged on the second optical base. |
| US07876803B1 |
High-power, pulsed ring fiber oscillator and method
A ring laser includes a large-core rare-earth-doped fiber ring-connected with a free-space path having an electro-optic switch, output coupler, and intracavity band-pass filter to enforce lasing operation in narrow wavelength range. In some cavity-dumped modes, the laser is configured in a similar manner, except that an output coupler is omitted since the optical power is extracted from the laser cavity by the electro-optic switch itself. The same laser can be configured to operate in Q-switched and/or cavity-dumping modes as well as in hybrid modes (e.g., partial Q-switch, followed by cavity dumping, or even CW). In some embodiments, the laser can be used as, or inject laser light into, a regenerative solid-state amplifier, or a Raman laser, or can be also used to generate visible, ultra-violet, mid-infrared, and far-infrared (THz) radiation via nonlinear wavelength conversion processes. The various embodiments can use a power oscillator or seed-plus-amplifier MOPA configuration. |
| US07876796B2 |
Method and apparatus for coherently combining laser emission
A laser system comprises first and second laser sub-cavities each including a gain medium arranged to produce volume gain gratings. The laser system further includes a beam combiner arranged to combine emission from each cavity and direct emission from one cavity to the other. As a result a stale, phase-locked coherently combined emission system is provided. |
| US07876792B2 |
Network element clocking accuracy and stability monitoring over a packet-switched network
Various exemplary embodiments include a method and related system and monitoring entity including one or more of the following: generating timing information at a master node in a packet-switched network, the timing information specifying a value of a master clock; communicating the timing information from the master node to a plurality of slave nodes over a first plurality of time-division multiplexing (TDM) pseudowires; running a digital phase-locked loop on each slave node to synchronize each slave node to the master clock, wherein each digital phase-locked loop outputs a frequency at which the respective slave node is operating; sending the frequency outputted by each digital phase-locked loop to a monitoring entity over a second plurality of TDM pseudowires; utilizing the outputted frequencies at the monitoring entity to identify all slave nodes that are experiencing timing problems; and implementing a remedial measure for all slave nodes that are experiencing timing problems. |
| US07876791B2 |
Synchronizing apparatus and method in packet network
Provided are a synchronizing apparatus and method for performing synchronization in a packet network. The synchronizing apparatus includes a sampling unit to measure a time difference using a plurality of time stamps included in a plurality of two-way message packets, an estimating unit to estimate a frequency offset by applying a baseline algorithm to the time difference, a verifying unit to verify the frequency offset to remove an error caused by network delay variation, and a synchronizing unit to remove the frequency offset from a local slave clock signal and generate a slave clock signal synchronized to a clock signal of a master device. |
| US07876790B2 |
Apparatus and method for performing time synchronization using GPS information in communication system
Disclosed is an apparatus and a method for performing time synchronization by using Global Positioning System (GPS) information in a communication system. The apparatus comprises a grand-master node having a GPS receiver, for generating a synchronizing message required to synchronize time on slave nodes by using Time Of Day (TOD) information received from the GPS receiver and at least one slave node for receiving the synchronizing message required to synchronize time from the grand-master node or from another slave node, for carrying out time synchronization operation by using an Offset and Frequency Compensation Clock (OFCC) synchronization process supporting time offset and frequency separation compensation, and for generating a synchronizing message required to synchronize time on other slave nodes. |
| US07876788B2 |
Network time transfer
The invention comprises a method and apparatus for reducing uncertainty in timing on the network. The uncertainty in receive buffers is removed by time stamping the arriving packets before sending the packets to the receive buffer. The uncertainty in the transmission buffer is removed by giving the packets a timestamp in the future, and holding the packets until precisely that time. Time precision is ensured by only releasing time packets at the host physical layer to network boundary at the time specified within the packet. |
| US07876787B2 |
Method for monitoring the state of a device in a network and device for carrying out said monitoring
The invention relates to a method for monitoring the state of a device within a communication network comprising at least two devices, the network comprising isochronous communication channels transmitting data packets synchronized by a signal emitted by the network emitted in regular time intervals. The method comprises at the level of a first device desiring to be monitored a step of emission by the device being monitored of data packets on a specified isochronous channel in response to the signal emitted regularly by the network. The method also comprises at the level of a second device a step of monitoring the emissions of data packets emitted on the isochronous channel and a step of executing a specified task, consequent upon the absence of data packets on the isochronous channel between at least two emissions of synchronization signals.The invention also relates to a device for the implementation of the method. |
| US07876781B2 |
Method and system for processing a data unit
A method of processing a data unit of a first protocol layer for transmission in a data unit based communication system is described, comprising the steps of passing to a second protocol layer a given data unit of said first protocol layer that is to be transmitted, determining a numeric value of a numerically quantifiable parameter associated with said given data unit of said first protocol layer, embedding said given data unit of said first protocol layer into one or more data units of said second protocol layer, performing transmission control for said one or more data units of said second protocol layer in accordance with said numeric value of said numerically quantifiable parameter. |
| US07876777B2 |
Multiple protocol decoder
A generic protocol decoder is described for deciphering multiple protocols without requiring unique decoders for each protocol. Object patterns are created for each protocol, each pattern containing state and algorithm objects. These state and algorithm objects perform a portion of the deciphering of each packet and may be reused in multiple patterns. Thus, new protocols may deciphered using existing state and algorithm objects arranged in a new pattern. If new state and algorithm objects are required to decode a new protocol, only the portions not handled by existing objects need be inserted into the system. |
| US07876775B2 |
Connection management for data networks
In a particular embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a method of making a digital subscriber line (DSL) connection to a remote network. The method includes detecting the presence of a powered-on network capable device that is connected to a DSL modem; establishing a network connection over a DSL line to the remote network after detecting the presence of the powered on network capable device; terminating the network connection over the DSL line after detecting an absence of network capable devices connected to the DSL modem; and releasing network resources supported by the remote network after the network connection is terminated. |
| US07876773B2 |
Method, apparatus and program for transferring data
A method, apparatus, and program for allowing a first transmitting apparatus among a plurality of transmitting apparatuses connected to a network to transmit data packets to the network. The method includes: receiving a control packet transmitted from a second transmitting apparatus among the plurality of transmitting apparatuses, judging whether the received control packet indicates permission for the first transmitting apparatus to transmit data packets, and also, transmitting data packets in response to the judgment that the permission is indicated, or receiving an additional control packet in response to the judgment that the permission is not indicated; and, transmitting a new control packet indicating, as a transmitting apparatus permitted to transmit data packets subsequently, one transmitting apparatus selected by a predetermined rule from the plurality of transmitting apparatuses, on condition that the transmission of the data packet is completed. |
| US07876771B2 |
MBMS acknowledgements on RACH
The present invention relates to multicast communication systems and in particular to the implementation of a random access uplink channel, which can be used, e.g., for transmission of acknowledgement messages for received data. In order to prevent frequent collisions on said channel, the transmission of acknowledgement messages is spread at least over time or, additionally, with regard to another distinguishing channel property, e.g. a RACH sub-channel or RACH-signature. |
| US07876770B1 |
Clear channel assessment in wireless communications
Techniques for and apparatus capable of implementing packet detection and signal recognition in wireless communications systems are disclosed. In particular, the disclosed techniques and apparatus incorporate at least one of relative energy detection operable on assessment of a relative energy threshold for an inbound signal borne across an RF channel, carrier sense operable upon on assessment of at least one of a peak-to-sidelobe ratio and peak-to-peak distance defined by the inbound signal, and comparison operable upon demodulated data corresponding to the inbound signal as compared to predetermined preamble data. Clear channel assessment is performed based on determinations undertaken by one or more of the aforementioned relative energy detection, carrier sense and comparison operations. |
| US07876769B2 |
Self-cleaning mechanism for error recovery
A system manages a buffer having a group of entries. The system receives information relating to a read request for a memory. The system determines whether an entry in the buffer contains valid information. If the entry is determined to contain valid information, the system transmits the information in the entry in an error message. The system may then store the received information in the entry. In another implementation, the system stores data in one of the entries of the buffer, removes an address corresponding to the one entry from an address list, and starts a timer associated with the one entry. The system also determines whether the timer has exceeded a predetermined value, transferring the data from the one entry when the timer has exceeded the predetermined value, and adds the address back to the address list. |
| US07876766B1 |
Method and apparatus to enable interoperation between multi-media messaging service centers
A method and apparatus for providing an exchange server to couple multiple MMSCs, the exchange server including a queue to receive the MMS message if the recipient MMSC does not have bandwidth available. |
| US07876764B2 |
Multiple aggregation protocol sessions in a daisy chain network
Various systems and methods that allow multiple aggregation protocol sessions to be established in a daisy chain network are disclosed. One method involves sending a first aggregation protocol packet and a first session identifier associated therewith to a first network device via a first interface and sending a second aggregation protocol packet and a second session identifier associated therewith to a second network device via the first interface. |
| US07876760B2 |
Rate adaptation
A method and system for providing single stage pointer and overhead processing is disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, data including bytes of each of multiple types of overhead data is received at a logical element of a communications network. The logical element includes a labeler to label the bytes of each of the multiple types of overhead data and a pointer processor to read the labeled bytes and perform specific operations corresponding to the label, wherein the bytes of at least one type of overhead data are labeled based on feedback provided by the pointer processor to the labeler. |
| US07876751B2 |
Reliable link layer packet retry
Communication over a computer network with a node having a first port with a point-to-point link connection to a second node having a second port. The first port transmits to the second port a reliable link layer (RLL) packet over the link. The RLL packet comprises a first RLL header and a first data packet, the first RLL header preceding the first data packet, the first RLL header comprising an RLL start-of-frame (SOF) character and an RLL packet sequence number (PSN). If the first port receives an RLL acknowledgment control packet from the link, it acknowledges receipt of the first data packet, and the first port does not retain the first data packet in the buffer. If the first port does not receive the RLL acknowledgment packet from the link, acknowledging receipt of the first data packet, the first port re-transmits from the buffer the first data packet. |
| US07876750B2 |
Digital broadcasting system and data processing method thereof
A digital broadcasting system and a data processing method thereof are provided. An apparatus for generating a transport stream includes a packet generator for generating a plurality of packets by compressing video and audio signals; a counter for counting the number of the generated packets and outputting the count result; and an information controller for determining whether the count result of counting reaches a predetermined number of packets, inserting packet start information into the packets according to the count result, and transmitting the packets with the packet start information inserted therein. The packet start information is added to a packet to be transmitted in a transmitter, and the packet start information is extracted from the received packet in a receiver, so that the waste of frequency resources can be reduced. |
| US07876747B2 |
Method and apparatus for efficient load distribution on link aggregations
A system for providing a substantially balanced distribution of traffic over an aggregation of output lines carrying digital information makes use of m random or pseudo-random bits substantially greater in number than the number of bits (n) used for selection of individual lines. The m bits address a table populated with n-bit entries whose bit combinations correspond with the respective output lines, with the relative numbers of the bit combinations being such as to provide substantially equal loads on the individual lines. |
| US07876746B1 |
Remote management for network switches
An apparatus includes at least one input circuit to receive frames of data, the frames of data comprising first frames each having first data, and a second frame having second data. The apparatus includes at least one output circuit to transmit the first frames; a forwarding engine to transfer the first frames from the at least one input circuit to the at least one output circuit; and a first memory to store switch information. The apparatus operates according to the switch information. The at least one input circuit includes a remote management unit comprising a first memory controller to modify the switch information stored in the first memory according to the second data in the second frame, and a second memory; a second memory controller to write each of the frames of data to the second memory; and a remote management enable circuit to enable the remote management unit when the second frame is a remote management frame. The first memory controller writes the second data from the second memory to the first memory when the remote management unit is enabled by the remote management enable circuit and the remote management frame includes a valid write command. |
| US07876745B1 |
Tandem free operation over packet networks
A packet-based network carries a stream of voice band data, such as PCM voice data, which can include tandem free operation (TFO) information. Voice data is usually subject to processing, such as compression, at an ingress entity. The ingress entity determines whether the stream of voice data contain tandem free operation (TFO) information and, if TFO information is present, sends the TFO information across the packet network without subjecting it to processing. This preserves the integrity of the TFO information. TFO information can be carried by an unprocessed channel having a bandwidth of less than 64 kbit/s. TFO information is reinserted at an egress entity of the packet network. |
| US07876742B2 |
Mobility signaling using direct or indirect signaling based on cell residency heuristics
A mobility signaling method and apparatus are disclosed. Mobility signaling is performed by, first, generating a mobility signaling message (300, 302) at a mobile node (100) to be sent to a correspondent node (112). Next, either direct signaling or indirect signaling is selected as a signaling mechanism for the mobility signaling message (300, 302) based on a cell residence heuristic. The mobility signaling message (300, 302) is then sent to the correspondent node using the selected signaling mechanism for the mobility signaling message (300, 302). |
| US07876734B2 |
System and method for transmitting/receiving signal in a communication system
A system and method for transmitting/receiving a signal in a communication system are provided, in which a transmitter determines to change a transmission time of a superframe header, when a structure of a superframe is changed, determines the transmission time of the superframe header according to a result of the determination to change the transmission time of the superframe header, transmits information about the determined transmission time to a receiver, and transmits the superframe header at the determined transmission time. |
| US07876733B2 |
Method and apparatus for communicating by use of relaying system in a cognitive radio technique
A communication method and apparatus of a cognitive radio (CR) environment using a relaying system while not interfering with a communication system having a priority right to use a frequency band, the communication method including: listening to fundamental channel (FCH) information and/or downlink/uplink (DL/UL) map information of a frame transmitted in the relaying system; obtaining a transmission signal of the relaying system using the FCH information and/or the DL/UL map information; orthogonally encoding data to be transmitted in the CR environment based on the obtained transmission signal; and transmitting the orthogonally encoded data via a determined channel that is used in the relaying system. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention can retrieve radio resources unused in the CR environment more easily. |
| US07876729B1 |
Intersystem base station handover
A mobile wireless telecommunications system includes base stations of a first type operating according to a first air interface, and base stations of a second type operating according to a second air interface. Methods and apparatus are provided for handing over a mobile station in the system from a first base station, which is of the first type, to a second base station, which is of the second type. A communications link is established over the first air interface between the mobile station and the first base station. Data are received from the mobile station responsive to a signal received by the mobile station over the second air interface from the second base station, substantially without breaking the communications link with the first base station. The mobile station is handed over from the first to the second base station responsive to the data received therefrom. In particular, a method of conducting intersystem handover from a multicarrier system to a direct spread system is provided. Timing synchronization is also advantageously made available through the mobile station. |
| US07876727B2 |
HSDPA CQI, ACK, NACK power offset known in Node B and SRNC
High speed data packet access (HSDPA) is facilitated by ensuring that power offsets are delivered to the base station (Node B) so that the new functions envisioned therefor having to do with scheduling and retransmission handling can be carried out effectively. A signal primitive having one or more information elements indicative of corresponding power offsets are received by the Node B, saved for future use and then signalled back to the serving radio network controller so that the user equipment can be informed with a proper RRC message containing the appropriate power offsets. |
| US07876724B2 |
Performing presence service in a wireless communication system
The present invention relates to perform presence service in a wireless communication system that is available to a mobile device. |
| US07876717B2 |
System and method for providing access in powerline communications (PLC) network
To facilitate simultaneous PLC communication using first and second PLC protocols that are different from each other, frequency bands are dynamically assigned on demand to first and second PLC home networks that use the respective first and second PLC protocols. |
| US07876705B2 |
Method and apparatus and program storage device for generating a workflow in response to a user objective and generating software modules in response to the workflow and executing the software modules to produce a product
A Single Well Predictive Model (SWPM) software based computer system stores a Single Well Predictive Model (SWPM) software therein. When the SWPM software is executed, the SWPM computer system will: (1) automatically produce a first specific workflow comprised of a first plurality of software modules in response to a first set of user objectives and automatically execute the first specific workflow in response to a first set of input data to produce a first desired product, and (2) automatically produce a second specific workflow comprised of a second plurality of software modules in response to a second set of user objectives and automatically execute the second specific workflow in response to a second set of input data to produce a second desired product. There is no longer any need to separately and independently execute the first plurality of software modules of the first workflow in order to produce the first desired product, and there is no longer any need to separately and independently execute the second plurality of software modules of the second workflow in order to produce the second desired product. A considerable amount of time and labor is saved. |
| US07876703B2 |
System and method for enabling connection among devices in a network
Provided are a method, system, and program for adding a fourth device to a network including a first, second, and third devices, wherein the first and second devices are directly connected to the third device. The fourth device is directly connected to the third device while the first and second devices remain connected to the third device, and wherein the first and second devices continue to have access to the third device while the fourth device is connected to the third device. |
| US07876702B2 |
Computer program product, apparatus and method for monitoring network and regulating packets on a network path
A network monitoring apparatus retrieves packets flowing on a path to be monitored on a network using a packet capturing unit. A packet analyzing unit analyzes the retrieved packets. Although the network monitoring apparatus discards some of the packets using a sampling unit, a sampling rate is determined by a sampling-rate regulating unit. A resource-usage-amount measuring unit measures how many resources are actually used inside the network monitoring apparatus and the sampling rate determined by the sampling-rate regulating unit is based on a resource usage amount. |
| US07876698B2 |
Distributed presence management in peer-to-peer networks
The invention concerns a computer software product comprising a plurality of peers (2′, 4, 5) adapted to participate in a peer-to-peer network where the computer software product comprises detection means for detecting actual presence information of a peer and where the computer software product comprises retrieval means for retrieving actual information about the peer, where the detection means is located on neighbor partner peer (4) of the peer (5) for detecting continuously whether the peer provides still actual information and the computer software product comprises propagation means for outdating the information about this peer in case of detecting that the peer is not alive.The invention further concerns a network device and a method therefore. |
| US07876697B2 |
Method and apparatus for characterizing modulation schemes in an HFC network
The available modulation schemes of a network are analyzed to determine which ones contain excessive phase noise or narrowband interference. A network element is selected and assigned to a test channel at a first modulation scheme at a predetermined power level to achieve a predetermined PER. The network element transmits a test signal and the network controller measures the signal to noise ratio (SNR) in the received test signal. If the SNR is not within a predetermined tolerance range of an estimated SNR for the modulation scheme at the predetermined PER, the modulation scheme is determined to have excessive phase noise or narrowband interference. Each available modulation scheme is tested by instructing the network element to transmit the test signal using each modulation scheme and assigning the power level of each modulation scheme. The suitable modulation schemes may be determined. |
| US07876695B2 |
Communication station and method providing flexible compression of data packets
A method and a communication station for determining a packet format of a data packet based on at least one compressed header information field. A header packet format of a data packet is determined based on the determined packet format of a partially or completely compressed header information part. The station may also determine a codec rate based on the result of a previously performed compression of at least one header information field. In one embodiment, internal cross-layer signaling from a header generator module to a payload generator module in the communication station is used for signaling information associated with determining the header packet format of the data packet. The method reduces bandwidth fluctuations associated with services such as text messaging audio, or audiovisual services; lowers the delay variations and the erasure rates for application media streams; and provides for faster set-up of sessions. |
| US07876693B2 |
Testing and error recovery across multiple switching fabrics
A packet-based traffic switching system with error detection and correction without taking the system offline. The system tests offline paths without interfering with other online paths. Also, the system tests online paths even while no data cell traffic is sent over the paths. The system responds to the addition or removal of paths or path components without interrupting cell traffic. The system detects and selectively flushes defective paths without impacting paths that are working properly. The system initializes new switching fabrics automatically without using software to set values. Thus, the system tests online paths and corrects errors without going offline. |
| US07876689B2 |
Method and apparatus for load balancing network interface adapters based on network information
A method and system for load balancing transmission allocations from a computer system based on network conditions. The system includes at least two network interface adapters that couple to a network and receive network information packets. The system also includes a teaming driver that monitors network information packets for each of the network interface adapters, calculates weights for each of the network interface adapters based on the network information packets and generates a transmission allocation for distributing outgoing packets between the network interface adapters based on the calculated weights. |
| US07876688B2 |
Traffic protection in a communication network
A loop protection mechanism including dynamically determining a link connecting two adjacent nodes of a loop in a communication network in accordance with a predefined criterion, and reconfiguring the loop so that the loop is broken at the determined link which is an optimal link in terms of the predefined criterion. The breaking of the loop enables for example to utilize loop-free technologies (e.g. Ethernet) in a physical loop architecture. |
| US07876687B2 |
Method for measuring the available bandwidths of a link and a network
The present invention provides a method for measuring the available bandwidth of a link and a method for measuring the available bandwidth of a network. By sending quartets in pair and measuring intervals of probe packets at the probe receiving end, the available bandwidth of any link in a network can be measured and the characteristics of load changes in a given link can be tracked and analyzed. Or, the available bandwidths of a network within given sources and destinations can be measured and the input/output bandwidth of the network or the changes in cross traffic can be found out. The present invention can be applied to trouble shooting in links and networks, capacity planning, QoS (Quality of Service) control or QoS service level agreement verification, load balancing, re-route and detection and mitigation of network attacks and in many other fields. It can also be used for measuring the available bandwidth of a path even if there is more than one link of the minimum capacity on the path or when the link of the minimum capacity is not the link of the minimum available bandwidth. |
| US07876678B2 |
Congestion control for signalling transport protocols
A transport layer protocol such as the Stream Control Transmission Protocol uses a new traffic control technique instead of the TCP slow start algorithm. The procedure assumes that the network on which it is implemented has a fixed bandwidth assigned for the connection, and that the allotted bandwidth roughly matches the traffic load. Based on this, under message loss conditions it is only necessary to ensure that signaling traffic emitted into the network by the sender is no greater than the fixed bandwidth that has been allocated to the connection. That is, retransmissions take bandwidth away from a fixed allocation that has been made for the connection, but do not cause the connection itself to reduce the overall traffic it generates into the network; rather, it maintains the same traffic level. This technique prevents congestion in the network from increasing when message loss occurs; at the same time it does not reduce bandwidth for the association as rapidly as the slow start procedure. |
| US07876671B2 |
Electronics apparatus, a management device for an electronics apparatus and a method of managing an electronics apparatus
An electronics apparatus comprises an electronic device having at least first and second ports in communication with respective first and second communication paths by each of which communications can be made with the electronic device. The electronics apparatus comprises a management device arranged to collect information concerning the performance of the first and second ports and to apply a decision threshold to said information to decide whether or not each port has failed. If said decision is that the first port has failed, the management device is arranged to disable communication over the first communication path and to adjust the decision threshold for the second port. |
| US07876665B2 |
Optical recording medium and method for reproducing information from optical recording medium
An optical recording medium includes a substrate, a first dielectric layer, a recording layer, a second dielectric layer, a super-resolution layer, and a third dielectric layer, which are provided in that order. The super-resolution layer is formed of a material configured such that voids are generated when the material is irradiated with DC light at a predetermined irradiation power for 1 to 300 seconds. Therefore, super-resolution reproduction can be made such that the irradiation power of a readout laser beam does not depend on the size of a recording mark. |
| US07876664B2 |
Optical recording medium
An optical recording medium including three or more recording layers is provided. The optical recording medium includes an L0 layer, an L1 layer, an L2 layer, and an L3 layer as the recording layers and first to third light transmitting spacer layers respectively arranged between the recording layers. A refractive index n3 of the third light transmitting spacer layer is set to satisfy n3 |
| US07876662B2 |
Recording in probe-based data storage devices
Methods and apparatus are provided for recording/reproduction of data in a probe-based data storage device (1) in which application of a write signal causes formation of an indentation in a storage surface (5) by a probe of the device (1). Instead of storing information in the presence or absence of indentations on the storage surface as is conventionally done in such devices, information is stored in the form of grooves of variable length separated by lands of variable length. More particularly, a sequence of n>1 successive bits of a first value (typically “1's”) in a recording signal is recorded by applying a series of write signals at respective probe-positions on the storage surface (5). These probe-positions are spaced at w≦M, where M is the indentation merging distance, so that the resulting indentations merge to form a groove in the storage surface (5) spanning n readback sample positions. The readback signal corresponding to the recording signal is sampled at timings corresponding to the readback sample positions to recover the original bit sequence. High density recording is provided because the readback sample position spacing s here satisfies s |
| US07876659B2 |
Optical pickup and optical drive
An optical pickup including a two-wavelength multilaser for generating a tracking error signal and a focusing error signal with high accuracy without light quantity variations which otherwise might be caused by the interference. An optical beam of first wavelength is emitted from first laser light source, and an optical beam of second wavelength longer than the first wavelength is emitted from second laser light source. The optical beams of the first and second wavelength are each split into at least one main optical beam and two sub-optical beams by a grating having, in a single plane, a first grating pattern area for splitting the optical beam of the first wavelength and a second grating pattern area for splitting the optical beam of the second wavelength. The area of the first grating pattern area is larger than the area of the second grating pattern area. |
| US07876655B2 |
Optical recording medium and recording device for this optical recording medium and recording method
In the present invention, in order to permit recording operation of data by optimum recording power even at any recording position of inner circumference and outer circumference of an optical disc (1), PCAs (Power Calibration Areas) serving as a trial write area for adjusting recording power of laser beams are respectively provided at the inner circumferential side and the outer circumferential side of the optical disc (1) in the state where program area is put therebetween. In recording data into the program area of the optical disc (1), one PCA near from the recording position of data is selected to perform trial write operation to set write power of laser beams on the basis of trial write data to thereby permit recording operation of data at optimum laser power. |
| US07876650B2 |
Apparatus comprising a pickup providing three beams for reading data from or writing data to an optical storage medium, and respective optical storage medium
The apparatus comprises a pickup with a laser, a detector unit and an objective lens for reading data from or writing data to a Super-RENS optical storage medium having a track pitch below the optical resolution limit, the pickup generating a main beam for reading and/or writing of data and generating two satellite beams for providing a tracking error signal, the three beams being focused by the objective lens onto the optical storage medium, and the reflected light from the optical storage medium being guided onto the detector unit. The main beam and the two satellite beams have a light intensity on the optical storage medium being sufficient for providing a super-resolution effect for the main beam as well as for each satellite beam. The light intensity of the two satellite beams is each in the order of 50 to 100% of the intensity of the main beam, if the apparatus is used for reading of data. The detector unit comprises in particular a main detector for detecting reflected light from the main beam, and two satellite detectors for detecting reflected light from the satellite beams reflected from the optical storage medium, and wherein the detector unit provides 3-beam tracking error signal for a tracking regulation. |
| US07876648B2 |
Optical pick-up capable of eliminating stray beams
An optical element is disposed on an optical path between a beam branching element and a photodetector. The optical element is disposed at a focal position of a stray light beam reflected by a recording layer except a target recording layer, and shields or attenuates the light beam in a region where the stray light beam converges. |
| US07876646B2 |
Thermally assisted magnetic head, head gimbal assembly, and hard disk drive
A thermally assisted magnetic head comprises: a slider substrate, a first surface located opposite to a medium-facing surface, and side surfaces located between the medium-facing surface and the first surface; a magnetic head portion having a near-field light generator on the medium-facing surface side, and a magnetic recording element, the magnetic head portion being fixed to one of the side surfaces; and a laser diode element a relative position of which to the slider substrate is fixed so that emitted light thereof can reach the near-field light generator; a relation of λin<λmax is satisfied, where λin is a wavelength of the emitted light from the laser diode element immediately before the emitted light reaches the near-field light generator, and λmax is a wavelength of irradiating light at which an efficiency of generation of near-field light generated from the near-field light generator is maximum. |
| US07876645B2 |
System and method for detecting obstacles for vehicles
The present invention refers to a system for detecting obstacles for vehicles, comprising at least one sensor able to transmit a detection signal and to receive an echo signal reflected off at least one obstacle, means of parametric evaluation of said received echo signal which comprise means of comparison between at least two successive echo signals for the determination of a reference echo signal able to define the position of at least one fixed obstacle with respect to said at least one sensor. |
| US07876643B2 |
Methods of hydrocarbon detection using wavelet dominant frequency and a measure of energy loss on the high-frequency side of wavelet dominant frequency
A method in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes obtaining seismic trace data for a region of interest; processing the seismic trace data to calculate at least one spectrum for at least one sample from the seismic data; calculating at least one dominant frequency (ωD) for the at least one spectrum; calculating at least one measure of energy loss at frequencies above the at least one dominant frequency (ωD) on the at least one spectrum; and locating a hydrocarbon reservoir in the region of interest using the at least one dominant frequency (ωD) and the at least one measure of energy loss. |
| US07876641B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
A clock signal generation circuit into which a first clock signal and a control signal based on an address are inputted, and a second clock signal based on said first clock signal is generated after a lapse of predetermined time from said input of the control signal. |
| US07876639B2 |
Memory devices having redundant arrays for repair
Apparatus and methods are disclosed, such as those involving a memory device. One such memory device includes a memory array including a sub-array that includes a first number of columns of memory cells, and one or more global input/output (I/O) lines shared by the first number of columns for data transmission. The memory device also includes one or more multiplexers/demultiplexers, wherein each of the multiplexers/demultiplexers is electrically coupled to one or more, but not all, of the global I/O lines. The memory device further includes a plurality of local I/O lines, each configured to provide a data path between one of the multiplexers/demultiplexers and one or more, but less than the first number, of the columns in the sub-array. This configuration allows local I/O line repairability with fewer redundant elements, and shorter physical local I/O lines, which translate to improved speed and die size reduction. |
| US07876636B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method for driving the same
A semiconductor memory device performs a refresh operation stably even while a temperature continuously changes at near a specific temperature. The semiconductor memory device includes an on die thermal sensor (ODTS) and a control signal generator. The on die thermal sensor (ODTS) outputs a thermal code corresponding to a temperature of the semiconductor memory device. The control signal generator generates a self refresh control signal in response to the thermal code, wherein a state of the self refresh control signal does not change when the temperature variation is less than a predetermined value. |
| US07876634B2 |
Apparatus and method for adjusting a supply voltage based on a read result
A data processing system comprising a memory array having a plurality of memory cells and read circuitry for reading a logic value stored in one of the plurality of memory cells. The read circuitry is operable perform two substantially simultaneous reads of the stored logic value. A voltage controller is provided and is operable to selectively vary a level of a supply voltage to the memory array. Detection circuitry is provided for detecting, in dependence upon the two substantially simultaneous reads, when the supply voltage level causes the read result to be unreliable. |
| US07876633B2 |
Integrated circuit including built-in self test circuit to test memory and memory test method
An integrated circuit includes multiple memory circuits including memory cell arrays different in size, a BIST circuit which has a cell sequential transition test processor and which outputs a test cell address, a transition direction specification signal and an active signal. The integrated circuit has adjustment circuits which are provided respectively for the memory circuits and which replace the test cell address with the test cell address in a memory cell array area, or which convert the active signal into a signal indicating non-execution when the test cell address outputted from the BIST circuit corresponds to a cell in a virtual cell array being in an area outside the memory cell array. |
| US07876632B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method for repairing the same
A semiconductor memory device includes a main cell array region, a first redundancy cell array region and a first dummy cell array region that are formed at one side of the main cell array region, and a second redundancy cell array region and a second dummy cell array region that are formed at the other side of the main cell array region. The first redundancy cell array region includes a first redundancy bitline, and the first dummy cell array region includes first dummy bitlines. The second redundancy cell array region includes a second redundancy bitline, and the second dummy cell array region includes second dummy bitlines. The first and second redundancy cell array regions are disposed closer to the main cell array region than the first and second dummy cell array regions. |
| US07876616B2 |
System and method for wear leveling utilizing a relative wear counter
An invention is provided for wear leveling in a non-volatile memory system utilizing relative wear counters to indicate relative levels of wear for each memory block in a non-volatile memory system. Whenever a memory block is erased, the associated relative wear counter is incremented. Then, when any relative wear counter reaches a predetermined limit, the value of the lowest relative wear counter is subtracted from each relative wear counter. Thus, each relative wear counter indicates a relative wear level of the associated memory block relative to other memory blocks. In this manner, the relative wear levels are maintained while reducing the amount of memory needed to for each relative wear counter. |
| US07876615B2 |
Method of operating integrated circuit embedded with non-volatile programmable memory having variable coupling related application data
A programmable non-volatile device is operated with a floating gate that functions as a FET gate that overlaps a portion of a source/drain region and allows for variable coupling through geometry and/or biasing conditions. This allows a programming voltage for the device to be imparted to the floating gate through variable capacitive coupling, thus changing the state of the device. Multi-state embodiments are also possible. The invention can be used in environments such as data encryption, reference trimming, manufacturing ID, security ID, and many other applications. |
| US07876607B2 |
Reading threshold switching memory cells
Using the voltage across a threshold switching cell to sense the state of the cell, rather than sensing current through the cell, may result in a faster read. In some embodiments, current consumption during reading of conductive states may be reduced by using a capacitor coupled across the cell. |
| US07876604B2 |
Stram with self-reference read scheme
Self-reference reading a magnetic tunnel junction data cell methods are disclosed. An illustrative method includes applying a read voltage across a magnetic tunnel junction data cell and forming a read current. The magnetic tunnel junction data cell has a first resistance state. The read voltage is sufficient to switch the magnetic tunnel junction data cell resistance. The method includes detecting the read current and determining if the read current remains constant during the applying step. If the read current remains constant during the applying step, then the first resistance state of the magnetic tunnel junction data cell is the resistance state that the read voltage was sufficient to switch the magnetic tunnel junction data cell to. |
| US07876599B2 |
Spatial correlation of reference cells in resistive memory array
The present disclosure relates to methods of selectively placing a reference column or reference row in a memory array. The method includes measuring a resistance state resistance value for a plurality of variable resistive memory cells within a memory array and mapping a location of each measured variable resistive memory cell to form a map of the resistance state resistance values for a plurality of variable resistive memory cells within a memory array. Then a column or row is selected to be a reference column or reference row based on the map of the resistance state resistance value for a plurality of variable resistive memory cells within a memory array, to minimize read operation errors, and forming a variable resistive memory cell memory array. |
| US07876598B2 |
Apparatus and method for determining a memory state of a resistive n-level memory cell and memory device
A determination of the memory state of a resistive n-level memory cell is described. The determination includes charging or discharging a read capacity of the memory cell by applying a voltage between a first electrode and a second electrode of the resistive memory cell. A voltage at the second electrode is compared to a reference voltage to obtain a comparison signal. The comparison signal is sampled at, at least, (n−1) time instants during the charge or discharge of the read capacity to obtain sampling values. The memory state of the memory cell can be determined based upon the sampling values. |
| US07876595B2 |
Magnetic shift register as counter and data storage device
A register having a track with a first electrode is at the first end to supply a current to the track in a first direction and a second electrode at the second end to supply a current to the track in a second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction. A first domain wall anchor and a second domain wall anchor are positioned proximate the track between the first electrode and the second electrode. Each of the domain wall anchors has a ferromagnetic pinned layer and a barrier layer proximate the track, with the barrier layer between the track and the ferromagnetic pinned layer. The ferromagnetic layer has a magnetization orientation pinned perpendicular to the magnetization orientation of the track. |
| US07876591B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of forming a layout of the same
A semiconductor memory device having a double-patterned memory cell array that includes a plurality of first bit lines spaced apart from each other and having a first pattern, a plurality of second bit lines spaced apart from each other and having a second pattern, the second bit lines being between the first bit lines to define an alternating array of first and second bit lines, the first and second patterns being different from each other, a first main memory cell array defined by a first portion of the alternating array, a second main memory cell array defined by a second portion of the alternating array, bit lines in the first main memory cell array having a substantially same regularity as bit lines in the second main memory cell array, and a dummy array between the first main memory cell array and the second main memory cell array. |
| US07876590B2 |
Content addressable memory having selectively interconnected rows of counter circuits
A content addressable memory (CAM) device includes a plurality of CAM rows, a number of sequencing logic circuits, and a programmable interconnect structure. Each CAM row includes a number of CAM cells to generate a match signal on a match line and includes an enable input. Each sequencing logic circuit includes an input and an output, and is configured to count sequences of match signals from the CAM rows. The programmable interconnect structure selectively connects the match line of any CAM row to the input of any sequencing logic circuit, and selectively connects the output of any sequencing logic circuit to the enable input of any CAM row. |
| US07876588B2 |
Device for controlling an electromechanical power converter, particularly of an electric motor
In a device and a method for controlling an electromechanical power converter (10), particularly of an electric motor and/or generator, comparatively cost-effective switches (14, 18) can be used without drastically decreasing the serviceable life of the entire system. A number of controllable switches (14, 18) can be used for controlling the converter (10), and dividing up a switching load, which is caused when connecting e.g. short-circuiting converter connections (21, 22), to a number of switches (14, 18) over the serviceable life. |
| US07876587B2 |
Method and apparatus providing a multi-function terminal for a power supply controller
A method for controlling a power supply is disclosed. An example method includes deactivating the power supply in response to a first current through a first terminal of a power supply controller falling below a first threshold value. The power supply is activated in response to the first current through the first terminal rising above a second threshold value. Deactivating the power comprises causing a power switch coupled to a primary winding of the power supply not to receive a switching waveform for more than one cycle until the power supply is activated. |
| US07876586B2 |
Multi-pulse rectifier for AC drive systems having separate DC bus per output phase and multiple isolation transformers
An 18n-pulse rectifier for AC drive systems having a separate DC bus for each output phase is provided, where n=any positive integer. The rectifier uses three separate phase rectifiers, one for each output phase of a transformer, each comprised of 2n six-pulse diode bridges connected in series or parallel. Each phase rectifier may be supplied with n unique sets of phase inputs from a transformer secondary winding. In some configurations, the n sets of inputs provided to each rectifier are separated by 60/n degrees of phase (when n is greater than 1), while the corresponding inputs to neighboring rectifiers are separated by 20/n degrees of phase. In a 36-pulse example, the phase offsets for the inputs provided to the rectifiers may be −25° and +5° from the transformer primary winding (for the first rectifier), −15° and +15° from the primary winding (for the second rectifier) and −5° and +25° from the primary winding (for the third rectifier). Each set of inputs may include three lines of in-phase current, and may be coupled to one of the six-pulse diode bridges. In some configurations, two identically-wound transformers may be used to supply output voltages to the rectifiers. The transformers may each supply the same phase offsets to each rectifier, in accordance with the methodology above, which may support higher-capacity applications. |
| US07876576B2 |
Interface retention and support apparatus and method of use
An interface retention and support apparatus and method of use is disclosed. In one form, an extension apparatus can include a first coupling interface operable to be coupled to an first expansion terminal of a printed circuit board. The apparatus can also include a retention mechanism aligned to a surface of the first coupling interface. The retention mechanism can be used to engage a first exterior surface of the first expansion terminal upon coupling the first coupling interface to the first expansion terminal. The apparatus can further include an access terminal operably coupled to the first coupling interface and an expansion circuit coupled between the first coupling interface and the access terminal. The expansion circuit can electrically couple the first expansion terminal to access terminal. |
| US07876574B2 |
Electric equipment assembly and outdoor unit of air conditioner provided with the same
An electric equipment assembly is sized and configured to be disposed in a machine chamber of an outdoor unit. Reduction in size of the electric equipment assembly is achieved and simultaneously visibility and serviceability of a highly frequently accessed element are ensured, while employing a structure in which a control circuit board is covered by a protection cover. The electric equipment assembly includes a frame having a substrate attachment plate to which a control circuit board mounted with various electric components is attached and a substrate protection plate which covers the control circuit board. The outer surface of the substrate protection plate has a first auxiliary attachment portion formed thereon, to which a first auxiliary circuit board different from the control circuit board and mounted with a highly frequently accessed control element is attached. |
| US07876569B2 |
Mounting apparatus for motherboard
A mounting apparatus for a motherboard includes a chassis and a mounting assembly for securing the motherboard in the chassis. The mounting assembly includes a pivot member pivotally attached to the chassis and a limiting member securely attached to the chassis. The pivot member is rotatable from a released position disengaging from the motherboard to a final position resisting against the motherboard for preventing the motherboard sliding from a secured position to a detachable position. The limiting member includes a resilient arm. A resisting piece extends from the resilient arm and engages with the pivot member to prevent the pivot member rotating from the final position to the released position. |
| US07876567B2 |
Foldable electronic device and latch mechanism applied in the foldable electronic device
A foldable electronic device includes a first cover, a second cover rotatably connected to the first cover, and a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism includes a latching portion formed on the first cover and a catching unit positioned in the second cover. The catching cover includes a pivoted button. The pivoted button defines a catching structure to engage with the latching portion. The pivoted button is rotatably attached to the second cover. The pivoted button causes the catching structure of the pivoted button to engage with or disengage from the latching portion. A latch mechanism applied in the foldable electronic device is also provided. |
| US07876566B1 |
Tooless heatsink retention
For retaining a heatsink in contact with a processor on a board, a plurality of spaced apart mounting studs are mounted on the board. Each mounting stud includes a pivotally mounted resilient arm and a catch. A pair of the studs are positioned such that the resilient arm of one of the studs pivots to extend to engage the resilient arm catch of an adjacent one of the studs. |
| US07876565B2 |
Method of obtaining enhanced localized thermal interface regions by particle stacking
Integrated circuit-chip hot spot temperatures are reduced by providing localized regions of higher thermal conductivity in the conductive material interface at pre-designed locations by controlling how particles in the thermal paste stack- or pile-up during the pressing or squeezing of excess material from the interface. Nested channels are used to efficiently decrease the thermal resistance in the interface, by both allowing for the thermally conductive material with a higher particle volumetric fill to be used and by creating localized regions of densely packed particles between two surfaces. |
| US07876563B2 |
Cooling structure of power semiconductor device and inverter
A cooling structure of a power semiconductor device includes a cooling water passage and a plurality of fins. The cooling water for cooling the power semiconductor device flows through the cooling water passage. The plurality of fins are provided on a path of the cooling water passage and set up with a spacing therebetween in a direction orthogonal to a flow direction of the cooling water. The plurality of fins promote heat exchange between the power semiconductor device and the cooling water. The plurality of fins have ends facing the upstream side of a cooling water flow. The end of at least one fin among the plurality of fins is arranged so as to be displaced to a more upstream side of the cooling water flow than the ends of the fins adjacent to both sides of the at least one fin. By such a configuration, there is provided a cooling structure of a power semiconductor device and an inverter with excellent cooling efficiency. |
| US07876562B2 |
Electronic module having thermal cooling insert
An electronic module is provided having enhanced thermal cooling of electronics. The module includes a housing, electronic circuitry contained within the housing, and a fluid cooling chamber extending through the housing. The chamber has generally conical shaped portions at opposite ends. At least one thermal cooling insert extends into the chamber. The insert comprises a plurality of projections for forming fluid flow passages between adjacent projections, wherein the projections engage the generally conical shape portion of the chamber. |
| US07876559B2 |
Universal blank for air flow management
A system for managing air flow through a body of an information handling system is disclosed. The disclosure provides a blank including a blank base plate and a blank ridge extending from the blank base plate. The blank base plate may be configured to match an architecture of both a processor socket and a bank of memory chip sockets. The blank may be configured to provide an impedance to air flow substantially similar to a total impedance provided by a processor and associated heat sink disposed in the processor socket and a bank of memory chips disposed in the bank of memory chip sockets. |
| US07876555B2 |
Portable storage device
A portable storage device comprises a protecting housing, a casing, a keystroke, a circuit board, and an electrical plug. There is an orientating hole which comprises the first fixing portion formed on the protecting housing. The casing slides in the interior of the protecting housing, and comprises a flexible arm which corresponds in position to the orientating hole. The keystroke is positioned between the flexible arm and the orientating hole, and fixed with the orientating hole when the second fixing portion formed on the keystroke is latched with the first fixing portion. Such that the electrical plug connected with the circuit board mounted in the casing can be moved selectively in or out of the protecting housing through the keystroke. Thereby, it is convenient for a user to protect the electrical plug of the portable storage device, and the reliability of the device can be improved automatically. |
| US07876553B2 |
Flat-panel display apparatus
According to the present invention, the amount of usage of a heat conductive member for fixing a self-luminous flat display panel to a metallic chassis member disposed at the back of the display panel is reduced in the thickness direction as well as in the surface direction. The invention further provides a technique for efficiently radiating heat from the display panel, suppressing cost increase. To this end, in the invention, the heat conductive member is a hot-melt adhesive having adhesion at room temperature and filled with a heat conduction imparting agent, and the display panel is fixed to the chassis member by a plurality of heat conducting sections of the heat conductive member formed discretely ranging from 0.3 to 0.8 mm in thickness. |
| US07876545B2 |
Protection arrangement for protecting a power semiconductor component against overcurrent and overtemperature
A protection arrangement for a power semiconductor component made of a plurality of cells, in which a current sensor made of a current sense transistor and current sense resistors and also a temperature sensor, is disclosed. The current sense transistor and the temperature sensor are provided in a gap or in different gaps between the cells, while the current sense resistor is fitted directly on at least one cell. The temperature sensor may, include a plurality of stages which are located from the center of the power semiconductor component to an edge of the latter in the gap between two cells. |
| US07876544B2 |
Electrical circuit with incendive arc prevention means
An electrical circuit comprising a power supply, a load and an incendive arc prevention means comprising a monitoring means and an isolation means, in which the monitoring means monitors the electrical circuit by means of a reactor means, in which if a short circuit with the potential to cause an incendive arc occurs in the electrical circuit the reaction of the reactor means is detected by the monitoring means and the isolation means fully or partially isolates the power supply from said short circuit, such that an incendive arc cannot occur, in which if an event with a current and/or voltage pattern which is characteristic of a propagating non-incendive arc occurs in the electrical circuit between the power supply and the load, the reaction of the reactor means is detected by the monitoring means, and the isolation means fully or partially isolates the power supply from said event, such that an incendive arc cannot occur. |
| US07876540B2 |
Adaptive electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection of device interface for local interconnect network (LIN) bus and the like
Adaptive electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection of a device interface has very good ESD robustness when it is handled or when installed into or removed from a system. And has robust immunity to DPI, electromagnetic interference (EMI) and the like, when it is operational in a system. There is a significant capacitive coupling between the drain and gate of a ESD protection metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) device to enhance ESD protection and lower snap back voltage thereof whenever there is no (or a low level) DPI on the external connection to be protected. Whereupon when a significant DPI/EMI signal is detected on the external connection, the capacitive coupling between the drain and gate of the MOS ESD protection device is disconnected, bypassed or attenuated so that DPI/EMI immunity of the device is enhanced. |
| US07876538B2 |
Micro-electromechanical system based arc-less switching with circuitry for absorbing electrical energy during a fault condition
A system is presented. The system includes a micro-electromechanical system switch. Further, the system includes a balanced diode bridge configured to suppress arc formation between contacts of the micro-electromechanical system switch. A pulse circuit is coupled to the balanced diode bridge to form a pulse signal in response to a fault condition. An energy-absorbing circuitry is coupled in a parallel circuit with the pulse circuit and is adapted to absorb electrical energy resulting from the fault condition without affecting a pulse signal formation by the pulse circuit. |
| US07876531B2 |
Virtual front shield writer
A magnetic writer includes a first write element and a second write element. The first write element produces a first field when a first current is passed through a first coil. The second write element, which is disposed relative to the first write element, produces a second field when a second current is passed through a second coil such that the second field at least partially opposes the first field. |
| US07876530B2 |
Magnetic recording medium having a cobalt-based alloy film for high density recording and magnetic storage device using same
In one embodiment, a magnetic recording medium comprises an underlying film, a magnetic film and a protective film formed in this order on a substrate. The magnetic film is a cobalt-base alloy film containing chromium and has a plurality of magnetic layers stacked without interposition of any non-magnetic layer. The plural magnetic layers comprise first, second and third magnetic layers. The first magnetic layer is disposed between the underlying film and the second magnetic layer. The second magnetic layer is disposed between the first magnetic layer and the third magnetic layer. The third magnetic layer is disposed between the second magnetic layer and the protective film. The concentration of chromium contained in the first magnetic layer is lower than that of chromium contained in the second magnetic layer. The thickness of the first magnetic layer is smaller than that of the second magnetic layer. The magnetic layers which overlie the first magnetic layer further contain platinum and boron. The concentration of chromium contained in the third magnetic layer is lower than that of chromium contained in the second magnetic layer. |
| US07876529B1 |
Recording disk with antiferromagnetically coupled multilayer ferromagnetic island disposed in trench between discrete tracks
An apparatus having a write head for writing data on to a recording medium comprises a recording disk medium and one or more ferromagnetic islands. The recording disk medium has a data layer in discrete tracks with trenches between the discrete tracks, and a soft underlayer beneath the data layer and the trenches. The one or more ferromagnetic islands are disposed in the trenches between the discrete tracks in the recording disk medium and over the soft underlayer. The one or more ferromagnetic islands comprise a first layer having a first magnetization direction and a second layer having a second magnetization direction that is different than the first magnetization direction. |
| US07876528B2 |
Disk drive device and manufacturing method thereof
In a disk drive device having a double cover structure with low-density gas enclosed therein, embodiments of the present invention allow a more reliable leak inspection to be performed on the second cover and to prevent defects caused by joining the secondary cover. An HDD according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a ventilation path from a ventilation hole on an inner cover to a space between the inner cover and an outer cover. An outer peripheral end of an adhesive layer is apart from a joining section, which is exposed in the space. Helium gas flowing out of the ventilation hole flows to the space via the ventilation path and remains within the space. This enables detection of leakage of the helium gas from the joining section to be performed more easily. |
| US07876518B2 |
Certify testing apparatus and certify testing method
An apparatus is provided that can detect error locations in certify testing of a magnetic recording medium without influence from undulation of the substrate or irregularities in film thickness distribution of magnetic film of the magnetic recording medium. Such an apparatus tests playback signals of a magnetic recording medium, the magnetic head 53 conducts playback of signals which are recorded in the magnetic recording medium. The AGC unit 34 amplifies the played back signals at a gain rate controlled according to elapsed time after input of a signal originating in an error area of the magnetic recording medium among the played back signals. The CMP unit 38 compares the slice level and the level of the amplified signals, and discriminates the existence or non-existence of error. |
| US07876515B2 |
Camera module
A camera module includes a barrel unit, an image sensing unit, and a voice coil motor. The image sensing unit has an image sensing surface. The barrel unit defines an optical axis. A first projection boundary is formed on the projection plane by projecting a boundary of the image sensing surface along the optical axis. A second projection boundary is formed on the projection plane by projecting a boundary of the receiving space of the movable part along the optical axis. The voice coil motor includes a hollow fixed part, a movable part, and a base. The base includes a shielding part and a through hole defined in the shielding part. A third projection boundary is formed on the projection plane by projecting a boundary of the through hole of the shielding part. The third projection boundary lies between the first and the second boundaries. |
| US07876509B2 |
Platform transport systems
A transport system for moving and positioning an object comprising: a tube (24) having an axis of rotation and formed with threads (36) on at least a portion of its surface; at least one platform (126) to which the object (116) is mountable having threads that mesh with the threads of the tube; at least one linear guide (130) along which the at least one platform moves freely that prevents rotation of the at least one platform when the tube rotates about its axis of rotation; and a piezoelectric motor controllable to rotate the tube and thereby selectively translate the at least one platform in either direction along the tube's axis of rotation. |
| US07876497B2 |
Multi-stage long-band optical amplifier with ASE re-use
There is provided a long-band rare-earth-doped optical amplifier and method for amplifying an optical signal. The optical amplifier has a pre-, a mid- and a post-amplification stage. Only the mid-amplification stage is pumped with a pump light source. The other two are pumped using Amplified Spontaneous Emission (ASE) generated in the mid-amplification stage. An optical coupling device is used to couple the three amplification stages together and to split the ASE generated in the mid-amplification stage and available at one end of the mid-amplification stage. One part of the split ASE is used to pump the pre-amplification stage while the other part is used to pump the post-amplification stage. |
| US07876496B2 |
Free-space optical module for optical amplification
An integrated optical-amplification module includes a housing member, a first input optical terminal configured to receive an optical signal, a second input, optical terminal that can receive a pump light, and an output optical terminal that can output a combined optical signal comprising at least a portion of the optical signal and a portion of the pump light. The integrated optical-amplification module also includes an optical combiner fixedly installed relative to the housing member. The optical combiner can receive the pump light and the optical signal and an optical prism fixedly installed relative to the housing member. The optical combiner can merge the pump light and the optical signal to form the combined optical signal. The optical prism can direct at least a portion of the optical signal through free space to the optical combiner. |
| US07876495B1 |
Apparatus and method for compensating for and using mode-profile distortions caused by bending optical fibers
An apparatus and method for compensating for mode-profile distortions caused by bending optical fibers having large mode areas. In various embodiments, the invention micro-structures the index of refraction in the core and surrounding areas of the inner cladding from the inner bend radius to the outer bend radius in a manner that compensates for the index changes that are otherwise induced in the index profile by the geometry and/or stresses to the fiber caused by the bending. Some embodiments of an apparatus and method include a fiber having a plurality of substantially parallel cores, the fiber including a straight section and a curved section; guiding signal light primarily in a second core in the straight section; guiding the signal light from the second core into a first core between the straight section and the curved section; and guiding the signal light primarily in the first core in the curved section. |
| US07876494B1 |
Electronic paper display device and method of manufacturing the same
There is provided an electronic paper display device and a method of manufacturing the same. The electronic paper display device includes first and second electrodes opposing each other, a plurality of rotary bodies disposed between the first and second electrodes and having electrical and optical anisotropy, elastomer matrix blocks each surrounding at least one of the plurality of rotary bodies and spaced apart from each other, and an optical adhesive formed between the elastomer matrix blocks. The electronic paper display device achieves a high contrast ratio and a relative low driving voltage. Also, the use of the optical adhesive facilitates the adhesion of the first and second electrodes, and blocks the vaporization of dielectric liquid filing a cavity, thereby ensuring high reliability. |
| US07876491B2 |
Multilevel optical phase modulator
To take out monitor light unaffected by a multilevel optical phase-modulated component. For the purpose, a phase-shift unit that controls phases of plural (n, n is an integral number equal to or greater than 2) input lights, plural (n, n is an integral number equal to or greater than 2) phase modulating units that respectively phase-modulate the input lights from the phase-shift units, a first coupling unit that couples and outputs the phase-modulated lights from the plural phase modulating units as multilevel optical phase-modulated signal light, and a second coupling unit that couples and outputs non-phase-modulated lights from the plural phase modulating units as coupled light are provided. |
| US07876489B2 |
Display apparatus with optical cavities
A display includes an array of light modulators that define a display plane, a light guide and front- and rear-facing reflective surfaces. The light guide includes a plurality of geometric light redirectors, and at least 50% of the light guide's rear surface is parallel to the display plane. The rear-facing reflective surface is parallel to the display plane and includes a plurality of apertures. |
| US07876485B2 |
Light scanning unit and image forming apparatus using the same
A light scanning unit by which misalignment in imaging caused by a scanning angle can be reduced. The light scanning unit includes a light source array device having a plurality of light sources, an imaging optics, and an optical deflection module. The plurality of light sources are used selectively in accordance with positions of light beams in a scanning direction on a to-be-scanned surface. |
| US07876483B2 |
Optically reconfigurable logic circuit
To provide an optically reconfigurable logic circuit in which a mount area of an optical circuit is reduced as much as possible and a high gate density is realized.In an optically reconfigurable logic circuit 1 provided with a plurality of configuration information input circuits 6 for converting an optical signal including logic circuit configuration information into an electric signal and holding and outputting this electric signal and a logic configuration variable circuit 7 for performing logic configuration on the basis of the logic circuit configuration information, the configuration information input circuits 6 holds the logic circuit configuration information as electric charge with use of a junction capacitance and a floating capacitance of a photoconductive device P. An inter-terminal voltage of the photoconductive device P is converted into binary data by a binary circuit and output as a circuit configuration signal. Then, the logic configuration variable circuit 7 is configured to execute a logic arithmetic processing before the inter-terminal voltage of the photoconductive device P drops to be equal to or lower than a logic threshold of the binary circuit due to a leak current. |
| US07876478B1 |
Convertible back counter / teller station document processor
A compact, desktop document processor for capturing data and images from checks and other financial and payment-related documents includes a modular base unit. The modular base unit performs processing actions on financial and payment-related documents. The modular base unit is configured to operate in a teller station apparatus and is configured to operate in a back counter apparatus. The base unit includes an interface for connecting to an add-on component to match the base unit to workflow requirements. The base unit operates as the teller station apparatus when a hand feeder component is connected to the base unit at the add-on component interface. The base unit operates as the back counter apparatus when an automatic feeder component is connected to the base unit at the add-on component interface. |
| US07876471B2 |
Image processing apparatus, control method and program thereof which searches for corresponding original electronic data based on a paper document
Printed material is electronically read, and electronic data of that printed material is input as a comparison source image. From the comparison source image, a plurality of partial regions are extracted. Layout comparison between partial regions of the comparison source image and a comparison destination image stored in a storage unit is executed under a condition in which the positional deviation amount in the center of gravity direction of an image is looser than those in other directions. |
| US07876469B2 |
Image forming apparatus and updating method
An image forming apparatus comprises an interface which can communicate with the information processing apparatus that serves as the source of updating firmware. The image forming apparatus further comprises a memory which stores a plurality of firmware programs and a controller which performs firmware updates by sequentially storing the updating firmware transferred from the information processing apparatus. When a plurality of firmware programs are transferred from the information processing apparatus, the controller performs a reboot operation to activate the updated firmware upon completing the storage and the rewriting of the updating firmware in the memory. |
| US07876466B2 |
Printer controller having JPEG and EDRL circuitry
A printer controller is provided having page data input circuitry for receiving compressed and encoded page data for expansion processing, JPEG decoding circuitry for decompressing contone data in the received page data, EDRL expansion circuitry for decompressing EDRL-compressed bi-level image data in the received page data, halftoning and compositing circuitry for halftoning and compositing the decompressed contone and bi-level data, and a printhead interface for receiving the compositing data and for writing corresponding print data to a printhead of the printer. |
| US07876465B2 |
Information processing apparatus and workflow generation method
According to the claimed invention, an information processing apparatus generating a workflow that defines a processing order of a plurality of processes, and having a storage that stores workflow information used to define processing in the respective processes included in the workflow, comprises a reception unit adapted to receive a processing status of a processing step of interest of the plurality of processes defined in the workflow from a device executing the processing step of interest, a checking unit adapted to check if the processing status of the processing step of interest matches a workflow generation condition, and a first generation unit adapted to generate, when the checking unit determines that the processing status of the processing step of interest matches the workflow generation condition, a workflow based on the workflow information stored in the storage unit and the processing status of the processing step of interest. |
| US07876462B2 |
Image reading apparatus, personalizing method, program, and storage medium
An image reading apparatus which can improve the operability in making various settings required for direct transmission of read image data to services on the Internet. The image reading apparatus is connected to at least one external service, which provides at least one service for image data output from the image reading apparatus via a network. Personalized service list information for personalizing the service is acquired so that the operator can use the service. A setting screen, a setting procedure, and contents of setting for the operator are personalized according to the acquired service list information. Various settings based on the setting screen, setting procedure, and contents of setting personalized for the operator are transmitted via the network to the external service, together with the image data. |
| US07876455B2 |
Three-dimensional shape measuring method and apparatus for the same
A three-dimensional shape measuring apparatus includes a line laser light source (1) and an image capturing device (2). A three-dimensional shape measuring method and apparatus is characterized by irradiating a line laser beam to an object (3) to be measured from a laser projecting device, imaging points (6) irradiated with the laser beam by the image capturing device (2, detecting points on taken images as intersections (8), each of the points being detected from the taken images and being detected as a common point where line laser beams pass, deriving equations including the positions of the laser planes and the three-dimensional positions of the intersections as unknowns based on the detected intersections, determining the three-dimensional positions of the intersections and the positions of the laser planes by solving the derived equations as simultaneous equations, calculating by triangulation the three-dimensional positions of the points irradiated with the laser beams other than the intersections by using the positions of laser planes, and obtaining the three-dimensional shape of the object by repeating the series of processes. |
| US07876451B2 |
Position-measuring device with movable deflection device and grating and with stationary grating, light source, and detector
A position-measuring device includes a light source, a first grating, a second grating and photodetectors, light from the light source, which is split into partial beams of different directions at the first and second grating, being directed via a deflecting element to the detector. The deflecting element for incident partial beams having different directions has different regions, so that all partial beams directed from the deflecting element to the detector are approximately parallel. |
| US07876450B2 |
Common-path interferometer rendering amplitude and phase of scattered light
A beam of coherent laser light with linear polarization oriented at 45 degrees to vertical is expanded, and passes through a quarter-wave plate with the fast axis oriented vertically, creating circularly polarized light. The light then passes through a non-polarizing 50/50 beamsplitter. A partial reflector then collinearly reflects a portion of the beam, which is used as the reference beam. The transmitted light passes through a linear polarizer oriented at 45 degrees to vertical, and is focused via a lens onto the sample of interest. Light scattered from this region is re-collimated by the lens and the directed through the linear 45 degree polarizer and through the partial reflector, where it recombines with the reference beam. One use of the invention is to detect microparticles in water. |
| US07876446B2 |
Method and assembly for confocal, chromatic, interferometric and spectroscopic scanning of optical, multi-layer data memories
An interferometric confocal method and assembly for terabyte volume optical data memories couples two-beam spectral interferometry to chromatic confocal technology and permits a longitudinal splitting of foci in the memory volume, with the foci having limited diffraction. A spectrometer is located downstream of the interferometer with confocal discrimination in the beam path. A diffractive optical zone lens (DOZE) with a usage of the first diffraction order is introduced into the interferometric beam path to achieve longitudinal chromatic splitting. The interferometer can be a fiber-coupled interferometer with a retroreflector in the fiber-coupled reference arm and with wavelength-dependent optical path difference modification by dispersion or diffraction. The optical path difference in the interferometer is set so that easily detectable wavelets are formed from detectable interferograms by spectral analysis. |
| US07876442B2 |
Analyzer
An analyzer is provided with a light irradiation device. The light irradiation device includes a light source, and a rotatable filter section, which has a plurality of optical filters having different light transmission characteristics, and irradiates an analyzing object with light that passed through the optical filters arranged in a path of the light from the light source while the filter section is rotating, by successively switching the optical filters by rotating the filter section. The analyzer is also provided with an analyzing means for analyzing characteristics of the analyzing object, based on optical information obtained from the analyzing object irradiated with the light by the light irradiation device while the filter section is rotating. |
| US07876441B2 |
Control station for a printing press
A control station for a printing press, includes at least one true color monitor for displaying at least one soft proof serving as a color reference for printed copies printed during the printing process, and at least one standard light source for at least partial illuminating the control station to allow visual comparison, independent of room lighting, of a printed copy with the soft proof serving as the color reference. The luminosity produced by the at least one standard light source is variable, so that the luminosity produced by the at least one standard light source can be adjusted to match a brightness achievable on the true color monitor to match a contrast achievable on the true color monitor during the display of the soft proof. |
| US07876438B2 |
Apparatus and methods for determining overlay and uses of same
Disclosed are techniques and apparatus are provided for determining overlay error or pattern placement error (PPE) across the field of a scanner which is used to pattern a sample, such as a semiconductor wafer or device. This determination is performed in-line on the product wafer or device. That is, the targets on which overlay or PPE measurements are performed are provided on the product wafer or device itself. The targets are either distributed across the field by placing the targets within the active area or by distributing the targets along the streets (the strips or scribe areas) which are between the dies of a field. The resulting overlay or PPE that is obtained from targets distributed across the field may then be used in a number of ways to improve the fabrication process for producing the sample. For instance, the resulting overlay or PPE may be used to more accurately predict device performance and yield, more accurately correct a deviating photolithography scanning tool, or determine wafer lot disposition. |
| US07876434B2 |
Color camera computed tomography imaging spectrometer for improved spatial-spectral image accuracy
Computed tomography imaging spectrometers (“CTIS”s) having color focal plane array detectors are provided. The color FPA detector may comprise a digital color camera including a digital image sensor, such as a Foveon X3® digital image sensor or a Bayer color filter mosaic. In another embodiment, the CTIS includes a pattern imposed either directly on the object scene being imaged or at the field stop aperture. The use of a color FPA detector and the pattern improves the accuracy of the captured spatial and spectral information. |
| US07876433B2 |
Spectrometer optics comprising positionable slots and method for the fully automatic transmission of calibrating adjustments between spectrometers equipped with optics of this type
The invention relates to spectrometer optics with a beam path from a beam source to a number of electro-optical sensors without spatial resolution, the beam path comprising an entry slot, a dispersive element, and a number of exit slots arranged on a focal curve, wherein furthermore: a first actuator for changing the angle of incidence ε between the beam from the entry slot to the dispersive element and from the normal to the dispersive element; a number of second actuators for moving the exit slots tangentially with respect to the focal curve or in a peripheral direction along the focal curve and a controller which is adapted to control the first actuator and the second actuators to carry out a calibration is provided. |
| US07876428B2 |
Method and a device for measuring the power of an ophthalmic lens by combined feeling and contactless overall measurement
A method includes a step of contactless optical measurement of the local value of at least one refringence optical characteristic of the lens over defined local zone around the measurement point of the lens, and at least one step of determining the axial position of the measurement point on one of the faces of the lens; the axial position of the measurement point obtained is compared with the local value of the optical characteristic of the lens at the measurement point as determined from the contactless optical measurement, in order to deduce therefrom at least one vertex optical power of the lens at the measurement point. |
| US07876427B1 |
Headlamp alignment detection using a network of independent sensor units
Headlamp alignment is detected using a collection of intelligent, independent sensor units, each of which incorporates a vertical array of sensing elements capable of detecting headlamp illumination. The sensor units are networked together and can be coupled to a host controller. The host controller can provide a user interface via a touch screen and a Web server, and can further communicate with a plant network for interfacing with manufacturing databases. The network of sensor units can accommodate four or more sensors, which allows multiple vehicles and multiple headlamp types to be audited without physical movement of the sensor units. The sensor units are low in power consumption and can receive power over the same cable providing network communication. Incorporation of non-volatile memory within the sensor units allows factory data to be recorded within each sensor unit and permits convenient replacement of units in the field. |
| US07876417B2 |
Lithographic systems and methods with extended depth of focus
An optical lithography system that has extended depth of focus exposes a photoresist coating on a wafer, and includes an illumination sub-system, a reticle, and an imaging lens that has a pupil plane function to form an aerial image of the reticle proximate to the photoresist. The pupil plane function provides the extended depth of focus such that the system may be manufactured or used with relaxed tolerance, reduced cost and/or increased throughput. The system may be used to form precise vias within integrated circuits even in the presence of misfocus or misalignment. |
| US07876415B2 |
Display substrate having a TFT liquid crystal display region surrounded by a seal region having a cell-gap compensating part with a dummy pattern formed from the same layer as a pixel electrode of the TFT
A display substrate includes a base substrate, a thin-film transistor (TFT), a pixel electrode, a pad part, and a cell-gap compensating part. The base substrate has a display region, a seal region surrounding the display region, and a peripheral region surrounding the seal region. The TFT is in the display region. The pixel electrode is connected to a drain electrode of the TFT and contacts the base substrate. The pad part is interposed between a first side of the base substrate and the seal region and is connected to the TFT through a first transmission line. The cell-gap compensating part is in the seal region and includes a compensating pattern adjacent to a second side of the base substrate and an insulating pattern on the compensating pattern. |
| US07876412B2 |
Thin film transistor array panel and method for manufacturing the same
A method for manufacturing a TFT array panel including forming a gate line having a gate electrode on a insulating layer, a gate insulating layer on the gate line, a semiconductor on the gate insulating layer, an ohmic contact on the semiconductor, a data line having a source electrode and a drain electrode apart form the source electrode on the ohmic contact, a passivation layer having a contact hole to expose the drain electrode, and a pixel electrode connected to the drain electrode through the contact hole. The drain electrode and the source electrode are formed by a photolithography using a negative photoresist pattern. The negative photoresist pattern includes a first portion having a first thickness corresponding to a channel area, a second portion having a second thickness corresponding to a data line area, and a third portion having a third thickness corresponding to another area. |
| US07876407B2 |
Transflective liquid crystal display device and color liquid crystal display device
A vertical alignment liquid crystal layer is sealed between a first substrate having a first electrode and a second substrate having a second electrode, each pixel region has a reflective region and a transmissive region, and a gap adjusting section is provided on one of sides of the first substrate and the second substrate which sets a thickness (gap) d of the liquid crystal layer which controls a phase difference of incident light to the liquid crystal layer so that a gap dr in the reflective region is smaller than a gap dt in the transmissive region. An alignment controller which divides alignment of the liquid crystal within a pixel region is provided in the pixel region on at least one of the sides of the first substrate and the second substrate. It is also possible to optimize by changing the gap in red, green, and blue. |
| US07876401B2 |
Method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display using a polymer stability alignment process with a sealant pre-curing process
A method for manufacturing LCD includes providing a bottom substrate, applying a sealant on its top surface, providing a liquid crystal mixture including a vertical alignment liquid crystal material and at least one reactive monomer which are surrounded by the sealant, providing a top substrate so that its bottom surface covers the sealant and the bottom substrate, performing a pre-curing process to pre-cure the sealant under a first temperature, and performing an active curing process under a second temperature, wherein the second temperature is higher than the first temperature. |
| US07876398B2 |
Liquid crystal display apparatus
A liquid crystal display apparatus is configured such that protrusions penetrate through the through holes of the fitting portions of a reflection sheet, and such that each short side of a diffusion plate and a diffusion sheet stacked on the diffusion plate fits with the step portion of a light frame, and each long side thereof is in contact with the protrusion. |
| US07876395B2 |
Backlight module having photo sensor device and liquid crystal display having the same
A backlight module is provided. The backlight module includes a frame, a plurality of light emitting elements, at least one photo sensor device and a diffusing plate. The frame has a bottom plate on which the plurality of light emitting elements are disposed. The photo sensor device is distributed on the bottom plate and among the plurality of light emitting elements. It is to be noted that the photo sensor device includes a light mixing component having a receiving space configured at a bottom thereof, and a photo sensor chip received in the receiving space. The diffusing plate is disposed in the frame and above the light emitting elements and the photo sensor device. The backlight module has an excellent light outputting performance and an LCD using the same has better displaying performance. |
| US07876394B2 |
Positioning apparatus for preventing deformation of diffuser plate of the backlight assembly
A positioning apparatus, used in the backlight assembly of display panel for preventing deformation of the diffuser plate, at least comprises a supporting object and an adhesive. The supporting object has a pillar, a sustaining portion and a fixing portion, wherein the sustaining portion and the fixing portion are respectively connected to the ends of the pillar. The adhesive is glued to the top of the sustaining portion of the supporting object. The diffuser plate, positioned at the top of the sustaining portion, is pulled by the adhesive, so that deformation of diffuser plate caused by the thermal and moisture shock can be effectively prevented. |
| US07876393B2 |
Surface-area light source and LCD device having light guide plate with a side surface having a staircase shape in which a plurality of light emitting devices are fixed to respective steps thereof
In a surface-area light source device, a light entrance side surface of a light guide plate of a surface-area light source device has a staircase shape having steps in the vertical direction, and light emission diodes are provided at each step. The structure enables the distance between a light emission diode provided at one step and light emission diodes provided at an adjacent step to be maintained greater even if the thickness of the light guide plate is reduced so as to decrease intervals of the light emission diodes in the direction of the thickness of the light guide plate. As a consequence, the amount of transmission and reception of heat produced by the light emission diodes is reduced to prevent an increase in the temperature of the diodes. This allows a reduction in the thickness of the light guide plate with the brightness of light emitted from the light guide plate maintained, enabling the surface-area light source device to be thinned. As a result, a large number of light emitting diodes are provided, so that the brightness of the surface light source device is increased. |
| US07876391B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight. The liquid crystal display device has a hole in the screen. The hole of the liquid crystal display panel has a first protecting member; and the hole of the backlight has a second protecting member. The liquid crystal display panel hole and the backlight hole form a common hole. The common hole has a third protecting member. With this structure, the viewer can see another display in the liquid crystal display screen without feeling a noticeable difference. |
| US07876387B2 |
Lateral electric field type liquid crystal display device
A lateral electric field type LCD device makes it possible to increase the degree of freedom in designing the constituent elements thereof and to improve the aperture ratio easily compared with the related-art LCD structure. The drain bus lines are entirely covered with the at least one first liquid crystal driving electrode (e.g., the common electrode). The gate bus line corresponding to each pixel region is covered with the at least one first liquid crystal driving electrode except for a predetermined non-overlapped area existing in a part that does not overlap with the corresponding TFT. The predetermined non-overlapped area of the gate bus line corresponding to each pixel region is covered with the storage capacitor electrode corresponding to the adjacent pixel region. Preferably, the at least one first liquid crystal driving electrode comprises openings that expose the channel regions of the TFTs, respectively. |
| US07876386B2 |
Liquid crystal display device with gate lines overlapping pixel electrodes
In a liquid crystal display device of the present invention, when a display voltage is applied to picture element electrodes, each picture element electrode forms a plurality of domains in which liquid crystal molecules align themselves in different directions. The picture element electrodes are formed such that their edge portions on the opposite sides of a picture-element-electrode aperture portion formed between the picture element electrodes face parallel to each other with a certain interval. A source bus line is provided along the picture-element-electrode aperture portion formed between the picture element electrodes. The source bus line is disposed beneath the picture element electrodes and at the edge portions of the picture element electrodes by overlapping therewith in a direction of thickness. |
| US07876385B2 |
Liquid crystal device
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal device driven by a linear coupling, such as ferroelectric and/or flexoelectric coupling, between an inhomogenous in-plane electric field generated by an electrode pattern over a first sub-volume of the bulk layer adjacent to said electrode pattern and liquid crystals in a polarized state comprised in said first sub-volume and/or in an optional alignment layer applied on said electrode pattern said polarization being stronger than any possible similar liquid crystal polarization of the bulk layer outside said first sub-volume, said alignment layer, and/or a second sub-volume of the bulk layer adjacent the inner surface of the other substrate, or an optional second alignment layer or an optional electrode pattern applied thereon. |
| US07876384B2 |
Rear projection imaging system with image warping distortion correction system and associated method
A rear projection imaging system with an image warping distortion correction system using a camera and processing unit to generate a warping map that corrects for image distortion. The warping map is generated in an iterative process by displaying a known pattern on a viewing screen and, through the use of a camera, having a microprocessor determine the location and shape of the pattern on the screen. The microprocessor then compares the displayed image to the original reference image, calculates the distortion effects present in the projection optics, and generates a warping map. |
| US07876381B2 |
Telop collecting apparatus and telop collecting method
According to one embodiment, a telop display system includes an extracting module which extracts a telop region identified as an image of a telop from video image information of a television program, an image analyzing module which performs image analysis related to coordinates, a size, and a color scheme of the telop region extracted by the extracting module, a semantic analyzing module which performs text analysis related to a word class and a meaning of the obtained character string, and a classifying module which classifies the telop on the basis of an analysis result of at least one of the image analysis and the text analysis to accumulate character strings of the telops as items of text information classified in units of categories. |
| US07876379B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for facilitating processing of interlaced video images for progressive video displays
Methods and apparatuses are provided for facilitating processing of interlaced video images for progressive video displays. In accordance with certain exemplary implementations, a method includes receiving from a renderer a query for a graphics device driver as to at least one graphics processing capability that can be performed by an associated graphics device in de-interlacing video data, communicating the query to the graphics device driver, receiving from the graphics device driver a response to the query that identifies the graphics processing capability/capabilities to the renderer, and communicating the response to the renderer. The method further includes receiving from the renderer a further query for the graphics device driver as to at least one input requirement associated with the identified graphics processing capability, communicating the further query to the graphics device driver, receiving from the graphics device driver a further response to the further query that identifies the input requirement(s) associated with the graphics processing capability, and communicating the further response to the renderer. |
| US07876370B2 |
Image capture apparatus with noise removal using high frequency signal extraction
An image capture apparatus includes a high frequency signal extraction unit, a first filter unit, a second filter unit and a level setting unit. The high frequency signal extraction unit extracts a high frequency signal from an input signal. The first filter unit applies a horizontal band-pass filter to the input signal. The second filter unit applies a vertical band-pass filter to the input signal. The level setting unit sets a level, which is used to remove a noise component from the high frequency signal, to one of a first level and a second level lower than the first level. The level is set to the first level, if the input signal is obtained from a first area including low contrast. The level is set to the second level, if the input signal is obtained from a second area including small pattern. |
| US07876369B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
In an image processing apparatus, a defect detection unit detects a defective pixel and a defect level thereof by comparing a maximum pixel value detected at each pixel position of a plurality of images captured via an image taking operation performed a plurality of times by an image sensor with a threshold value for detecting white defective pixels, and/or by comparing a minimum pixel value detected at each pixel position of the plurality of images with a threshold value for detecting black defective pixels. A defective pixel selection unit selects a predetermined plurality of defective pixels with high defect degrees, and registers defect data associated with the predetermined plurality of selected defective pixels in the defect data table. A defect correction unit corrects pixel values of pixels of the image output from the image sensor, in accordance with the defect data registered in the defect data table. |
| US07876363B2 |
Methods, systems and apparatuses for high-quality green imbalance compensation in images
Methods, systems and apparatuses for determining and compensating for green imbalance in imagers. An estimated local green balance correction term is limited, e.g., between an upper and lower limit. The upper and lower limits are determined from a set of parameters. The parameters are determined during a calibration procedure. The parameters may be stored for a subset of possible pixel locations and parameters for each pixel not at a location corresponding to stored data may be determined by interpolation. |
| US07876360B2 |
Image data transfer processor and surveillance camera system
An image data processor converts an image signal into an image data. The multi-codec unit converts the image data into a transfer data. A communication unit receives a transfer request from an outside terminal device and transmits the transfer data to the outside terminal device. A time-sharing control unit controls to drive the image data processor and the multi-codec unit in a time-sharing manner in accordance with the transfer request. A transfer data selecting unit for selecting the transfer data corresponding to the transfer request from a group of the transfer data generated by the image data processing unit and the multi-codec unit which are controlled to drive in the time-sharing manner by the time-sharing management unit, and transmitting the selected transfer data to the communication unit. |
| US07876358B2 |
Print apparatus and printer control method
A printing apparatus 1000 records an image on a recording medium. The printing apparatus is provided with communication means for communicating with a digital camera 3012, digital camera recognizing means for recognizing the digital camera 3012, and status display means for displaying the operation status of the printing apparatus 1000. In a status where the status display means is displaying a status wherein a power supply is turned off, the communicating means communicates with the digital camera 3012. When the digital camera is recognized by the digital camera recognizing means, a display by the status display means can be changed from the printing apparatus side. |
| US07876357B2 |
Estimating shared image device operational capabilities or resources
This disclosure describes a number of devices or techniques that can be capable of obtaining an operational capacity for a shared image device; estimating at least one operational resource to perform a transformation of one or more images based at least in part on the obtaining the operational capacity; and sharing the one or more images with at least one other shared image device in a manner that performs the transformation of the one or more images. |
| US07876354B1 |
System, method and article of manufacture for executing a video setup protocol
A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for executing a setup protocol. A camera and a visual display device are coupled to a computer. Images are generated by the camera upon activation of the camera. A series of setup tests are then conducted on the images generated by the camera to determine whether the camera and surrounding environmental elements satisfy predetermined criteria of an intended computer vision application for optimal running of the intended computer vision application on the computer. The series of setup tests comprises at least one setup test selected from a library of setup tests. |
| US07876353B2 |
Video production with selectable camera angles
An apparatus for viewing an event at an event site includes a plurality of cameras disposed about an event site, the cameras providing views of the event site from at least two different camera angles, and a viewer in communication with the plurality of cameras, the viewer enabling a user to selectively view the event by means of at least two of the plurality of cameras. |
| US07876351B2 |
Methods and systems for alerting by weighing data based on the source, time received, and frequency received
Methods, systems, and apparatus for monitoring, alerting, and acting, including the following steps. Input data is received from one or more sensory devices. One or more data weights are determined for the input data based on a weight corresponding to a source of the input data, a weight corresponding to a time the input data was received, and a weight corresponding to a frequency that the input data was received. A set of rules is evaluated based on the input data and the data weights. One or more actions, including a heirarchy of one or more alerts, are activated based on the results of the evaluation of the rules. |
| US07876348B2 |
Laser scanning unit for a laser printer
A laser scanning unit for a laser printer includes a frame connected to a casing, an optical system module installed on the frame directly for generating laser beams according to print data, an optical scanning module fixed on the frame for reflecting the laser beams generated by the optical system module, a curved lens for reflecting the laser beams reflected from the optical scanning module, and a reflector module installed on the frame directly for reflecting the laser beams reflected from the curved lens to an organic photo conductor. |
| US07876341B2 |
Subpixel layouts for high brightness displays and systems
A display device comprises a display panel comprising high brightness subpixel repeating groups—for example, RGBW display panels. Displays comprise subpixel repeating groups that in some embodiments are part-striped colored subpixels and part-checkerboard pattern colored subpixels. |
| US07876340B2 |
Pulse width modulation algorithm
In display systems employing spatial light modulators, the OFF-state light from OFF-state pixels of the spatial light modulator can be captured and directed back to the pixels of the spatial light modulator so as to recycle the OFF-state light in the display system. Bitplanes derived from the desired image to be produced are calibrated to include the recycled off-state light to properly produce the desired image using the display system. |
| US07876337B2 |
Display processing method and display processing apparatus
According to the present invention, when video resolution is changed, the TV receiver selects resolution having a priority to the graphics resolution requested by the application depending on the application types, or the TV receiver selects graphics resolution appropriate for video format resolution, thereby the TV receiver enables the clear display of graphics without causing any distortion. |
| US07876336B2 |
Scale-dependent rendering of natural media styles
A method for generating a scale-dependent rendering of natural media styles in a vector-based graphics application is disclosed. A vector-based graphics drawing may be resized such that certain scale-dependent parameters are scaled proportionately, while other scale-independent parameters are not scaled. The result of such resizing is a scaled rendering of the vector-based graphics drawing that closely resemble hand drawn images created using natural media materials. |
| US07876335B1 |
Methods and apparatus for redacting content in a document
A system redacts content in a multi-layered document by executing a content modifier process that redacts a first portion of content in a source layer and then automatically redacts related content in at least one target layer. The content modifier process overlays the source redaction region on corresponding areas of other layers in the document to identify target redaction regions in those other layers that contain target content. In turn, the content modifier process automatically identifies and redacts the target content within target redaction regions. |
| US07876330B2 |
Color conversion apparatus, filter processing apparatus and color conversion method
A technique that can contribute to improvement of processing efficiency in performing image processing employing an SIMD command is provided. |
| US07876328B2 |
Managing multiple contexts in a decentralized graphics processing unit
Provided is a system for managing multiple contexts in a decentralized graphics processing unit. The system includes multiple control units that can include a context buffer, a context processor, and a context scheduler. Also included is logic to receive multiple contexts, logic to identify at least one of the contexts, and logic to facilitate communication among the control units. |
| US07876324B2 |
Method and system for developing a strategy for use in a controller and storage medium for storing instructions which effectuate the method
A method and system for developing a strategy for use in a controller and storage medium for storing instructions which effectuate the method are provided. A computer graphical approach of at least one embodiment of the invention eliminates computer programming by presenting a user with a blank 2-dimensional graph on a computer screen along with X and Y axes. Using available toolbars and palettes, the user drags appropriate graphical objects into the graph. Each object represents an operation to perform data analysis or monitoring such as: data acquisition, data transformation or operating limits. |
| US07876323B2 |
Display apparatus and display method, learning apparatus and learning method, and programs therefor
A display apparatus that displays an image includes: an image converting unit converting a photographed image signal, which is an image signal from a photographing unit that photographs an object, into a high-quality image signal of an image higher in quality than an image corresponding to the photographed image signal according to an arithmetic operation between the photographed image signal and a tap coefficient obtained by learning performed in advance; and a display control unit causing a display to display the image corresponding to the high-quality image signal in a display format determined by learning performed using an image higher in quality than the image corresponding to the high-quality image signal. |
| US07876321B2 |
Method capable of automatically transforming 2D image into 3D image
The invention discloses a method for the transforming of a 2D image into a 3D image. The method comprises the steps of: (a) selecting an object of 2D image; (b) setting a base line in the 2D image; (c) base on the base line, judging whether the object is located on the foreground or background of the 2D image; (d) offering a displacement to the object; (e) moving the object with the displacement to generate a plurality of continuous images; and (f) sequentially outputting each of the continuous images to generate the 3D image. Accordingly, after the user selects an object of 2D image, the method of the invention will automatically transform the 2D image into the 3D image. |
| US07876320B2 |
Face image synthesis method and face image synthesis apparatus
A face image synthesis apparatus includes a storage device (2) and an arithmetic processing unit (1). The storage device (2) stores a plurality of face images and a plurality of feature points including an origin. The plurality of feature points are set to each of the plurality of face images. The arithmetic processing unit (1) generates a plurality of deformed face images by deforming the plurality of face images so that the origin and the other feature points thereof are matched to each other and generates a synthesized face image from the deformed face images. |
| US07876311B2 |
Detection of low noise frequencies for multiple frequency sensor panel stimulation
The identification of low noise stimulation frequencies for detecting and localizing touch events on a touch sensor panel is disclosed. Each of a plurality of sense channels can be coupled to a separate sense line in a touch sensor panel and can have multiple mixers, each mixer using a demodulation frequency of a particular frequency, phase and delay. With no stimulation signal applied to any drive lines in the touch sensor panel, pairs of mixers can demodulate the sum of the output of all sense channels using the in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) signals of a particular frequency. The demodulated outputs of each mixer pair can be used to calculate the magnitude of the noise at that particular frequency, wherein the lower the magnitude, the lower the noise at that frequency. Several low noise frequencies can be selected for use in a subsequent touch sensor panel scan function. |
| US07876306B2 |
Mouse with tilt wheel encoding mechanism
The present invention relates to a mouse device having a tilt wheel encoding mechanism. The tilt wheel encoding mechanism includes a scroll wheel, a wheel carrier and a multi-direction switch unit. The scroll wheel is operable by a user. The wheel carrier has a receptacle for receiving the scroll wheel therein such that the scroll wheel is rotatable in the receptacle. By using the multi-direction switch unit to generate plural triggering signals, this encoding mechanism is simplified. |
| US07876305B2 |
Electrophoretic display device and driving method therefor
An electrophoretic display has at least one pixel (18) which comprises electrophoretic material (8, 9), a first electrode (6) and a second electrode (5). An addressing circuit (16, 10) addresses the at least one pixel (18) by applying between the first electrode (6) and the second electrode (5): (i) a drive pulse (Vdr) with a level in accordance with an optical state to be reached by the at least one pixel (18), and (ii) a series of shaking pulses (SP) which have an energy content depending on an optical state of the at least one pixel (18). |
| US07876301B2 |
Image displaying method, image displaying device, and contrast-adjusting circuit for use therewith
A system provides an image displaying technique that provides stable high contrast even in an area having high brightness. Based on information about an average brightness level of a digital luminance signal, black-correction processing which decreases a brightness level by offsetting the brightness level to the minus side, and increase processing which increases a contrast gain within a dynamic range, are performed for an analog luminance signal or a digital luminance signal, enabling improvement in contrast even where brightness is intense. |
| US07876298B2 |
Control timing for spatial light modulator
A spatial light modulator clocking method, called fast-clear, which employs embedded clear hardware in the SLM to enable the fast-clear bit to generate least-significant short-bit periods and without any bit ordering restrictions. In this method, fast data clears 34 are inserted between block data loads 32,36 within a frame refresh period. This method virtually eliminates the artifacts associated with the earlier reset-release timing method without the bit-ordering restriction of the jog-clear method. |
| US07876287B2 |
Mini monitor on shared peripheral bus
A system with a main monitor for a host computer and a second, mini monitor for displaying a portion of the display normally intended for the main monitor. In one embodiment, the mini monitor is connected to the computer over a shared, peripheral bus, such as the universal serial bus (USB). The smaller size of the mini monitor and either compression or slower refresh rates allow it to be connected to the USB just like other peripheral devices. |
| US07876284B2 |
Antenna substrate for non-contact communication apparatus and non-contact communication apparatus
An antenna substrate for a non-contact communication apparatus includes a support substrate and an antenna coil provided on or inside of the support substrate. The antenna coil has a first opening and an auxiliary coil. The auxiliary coil has a second opening which has an opening area smaller than the first opening. The auxiliary coil is insulated and isolated from the antenna coil, and arranged so that the second opening is opposed to a part of the first opening when viewed from a direction orthogonal to a surface of the support substrate. |
| US07876282B2 |
Enhanced implantable di-pole antenna system and method
As described herein vascular anchoring systems are used to position an implant in a vascular area such as a bifurcated vasculature with relatively high fluid flow, for instance, in an area of a pulmonary artery with associated left and right pulmonary arteries. Implementations include an anchoring trunk member having a first anchoring trunk section and a second anchoring trunk section. Further implementations include a first anchoring branch member extending from the anchoring trunk member. Still further implementations include a second anchoring branch member extending from the anchoring trunk member. |
| US07876281B2 |
Magnetic material, magnetic sheet, and portable electronic apparatus
A magnetic material used for an antenna module of an RFID (radio frequency identification) system that uses a communication frequency of 13.56 MHz, includes an Fe alloy magnetic material containing Fe as a primary component, and Si and Al added thereto, and phosphorous of 0.2 to 0.5 wt % added to the Fe alloy magnetic material. |
| US07876279B2 |
Antenna
An antenna having a plurality of resonant frequencies and including a feed point; a ground point; and an antenna track extending between the feed point and the ground point and including, in series, a first small loop, a large loop and a second small loop. In one embodiment, the extension of the antenna track through the first U-shaped small loop displaces the antenna track in a first direction, then the extension of the antenna track through the large U-shaped loop displaces the antenna track in a second direction opposite to the first direction and the extension of the antenna track through the second U-shaped small loop displaces the antenna track in the first direction. A bridge element may be used. |
| US07876275B2 |
Electronic device
According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a housing, an antenna and a supporting portion. The antenna has a communication face. The supporting portion is between the housing and the antenna. The supporting portion is configured to support the antenna to be slidable between the first position where the antenna is inside the housing and the second position where the antenna is out of the housing, and also to be pivotable at the second position. |
| US07876273B2 |
Apparatus and method
An apparatus including a first conductive cover portion defining an interior surface and an exterior surface of the apparatus; an antenna element, connected to a feed point and arranged to operate in at least a first resonant frequency band; a conductive element, positioned between the interior surface of the first conductive cover portion and the antenna element, and arranged to couple with the first conductive cover portion, wherein the combination of the conductive element and the first conductive cover portion are operable in a second resonant frequency band, different to the first resonant frequency band and are arranged to be contactlessly fed by the antenna element. |
| US07876272B2 |
Antenna design for an attached accessory
Various embodiments are directed to antenna designs that may improve the performance of a mobile computing device. Some embodiments are directed to a mobile computing device assembly comprising accessory incorporating a supplemental antenna designed to be adjacent to at least one internal antenna of a mobile computing device when the accessory is attached to the mobile computing device. The supplemental antenna and the internal antenna may cooperatively form an antenna system for the mobile computing device resulting in improved performance. In various implementations, the use of the supplemental antenna in conjunction with the internal antenna may enhance antenna performance and/or increase antenna efficiency. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07876268B2 |
System and method for precise location of receiving antennas
Various aspects of the present invention are shown and described, each of which has stand alone utility in a navigated medical environment. A receiver position calibration system and method facilitates calibration of a reference frame prior to each navigated procedure. A concept and application of confidence weights is introduced.Confidence weights can be applied to distance calculations to mitigate the effects of interference and increase the tolerance of the navigated medical system. Multi-path interference is minimized through the transmission of a signal having a pattern of unique frequencies and filtering of the distance calculations for each frequency to identify the ‘best’ distance in the presence of multi-path interference. A position determination method and system that transmits a signal having multiple frequency components permits positions to be identified with high resolution over a large area. |
| US07876266B2 |
Harmonic block technique for computing space-time solutions for communication system network nodes
A method solving for unknown location values and clock rate values of one or more nodes of a network of nodes communicating with one another entails associating multiple transmitting nodes and receiving nodes that produce, respectively, ping transmit events and ping receive events by receiving and associating receive count stamps to the ping transmit events. Ping event values corresponding to ping events relating to associated ones of the ping transmit events and the ping receive events are generated and accumulated. Solutions for transmit and receive node clock rate values and node location values relating to the transmit and receive ping events at arbitrary times within a harmonic block time interval are generated from the grouped, accumulated ping event values. The generated solutions for one of the associated multiple nodes are a function of the ping transmit events and ping receive events produced by the others of the associated multiple nodes. |
| US07876262B2 |
Radar system
Electronically steered radar systems such as frequency scanning radars are particularly suitable for detecting and monitoring slow moving, ground-based targets. So-called crawler radar systems are intended for detection of targets that deliberately attempt to avoid detection by keeping low and by moving slowly. Disclosed is a radar system which includes an electronically steered antenna and a receiver arranged to process signals received from a target located at a distance from the radar system so as to identify a Doppler frequency associated with the target. The antenna stares at, rather than glides past, the target surrounding clutter. This means that the spectral spreading of static ground clutter associated with mechanical radar systems can be eliminated, overcoming one of the shortcomings of mechanical radar systems that would otherwise render a crawler radar system unsuitable for Doppler processing. |
| US07876261B1 |
Reflected wave clock synchronization
A radar system has a phased-array antenna and plural local oscillators for controlling local transmit/receive units. The local oscillators are slaved to a master oscillator. The analog clock signal paths are subject to relative changes in electrical length. The electrical lengths of the signal paths are measured by phase-detecting forward- and reverse-direction clock signal flows. The phase-detected information for each signal path is a measure of the time delay. The radar command processor receives the measure of time delay and corrects the radar operation in response thereto. |
| US07876260B2 |
Method and system for reducing light pollution
A system for preventing light pollution includes one or more radar units that monitor for vehicles in a volume surrounding or containing one or more obstructions having one or more obstruction lights. A master radar detection processing unit receives sensed radar detection information from the one or more radar units with associated radar signal processing units and determines whether a vehicle is present within the monitored volume. A plurality of obstruction light controller units are interconnected in a network, such as a wireless network. Each obstruction light controller unit turns on an obstruction light when a vehicle enters the monitored volume or a failure condition exists, and turns off the obstruction light when the vehicle has vacated the monitored volume and no failure condition exists. The one or more radar units can transmit sensed radar detection information to a master radar detection processing unit via the network. |
| US07876253B2 |
A/D conversion circuit for use with low-potential and high-potential power supplies
A D/A conversion circuit for performing D/A conversion at high speeds. The D/A conversion circuit includes a resistor string including a plurality of resistor elements connected between a low-potential power supply and a high-potential power supply. A plurality of first switch groups are connected to the connection nodes between the resistor elements for selectively outputting voltages at the connection nodes. The outputs of the switches of the first switch groups are connected in common to a corresponding one of the nodes. The plurality of nodes are connected to an output terminal of the D/A conversion circuit via a second switch group. Predetermined switches of the first switch groups are connected in parallel to third switches to apply voltages to the nodes. |
| US07876252B1 |
Compression of sampled data in a data acquisition system
In a data acquisition system that captures signal data from one or more input channels, the signal data are compressed prior to transfer or storage. Compression allows the data acquisition system to effectively store more captured signal data in a given amount of memory. The data transfer interface of the data acquisition system requires less bandwidth for transfer of compressed data than for uncompressed data. The compression operations may be performed in real time. The data acquisition system may include one or more analog-to-digital converters to sample analog signals received over the input channels to produce the sampled data for compression. The compressed data are transferred to a processor where they are decompressed prior processing or analysis. This abstract does not limit the scope of the invention as described in the claims. |
| US07876251B2 |
System for processing patient monitoring signals
A patient monitoring signal processing system adaptively varies medical signal data rate. The system uses an analog to digital converter for digitizing an analog cyclically varying input signal derived from a patient in response to a sampling clock input. The sampling clock determines frequency of analog to digital sampling of the analog input signal by the analog to digital converter. A detector detects first and second different signal portions within a cycle of the cyclically varying input signal. A control processor coupled to the analog to digital converter and the detector, provides the sampling clock and adaptively determines first and second different frequencies of the sampling clock to be used in sampling within detected corresponding first and second different signal portions of the cyclically varying input signal in response to predetermined information indicating a frequency of a signal component of the cyclically varying input signal in the first signal portion is higher than a frequency of a signal component of the cyclically varying input signal in the second signal portion. Also the first frequency is higher than the second frequency of the first and second different frequencies. |
| US07876250B2 |
Calibration circuit and method for A/D converter
An analog to digital conversion circuit comprises a first digital noise cancellation filter (16) configured to provide a signal to cancel quantization noise from an analog to digital converted output signal. In a calibration phase a second digital noise cancellation filter (26) is has an input coupled to an input of the first digital noise cancellation filter (16). Mutually different sets of at least one-filter coefficients are programmed in the first and second digital noise canceling filters (16, 26). A difference is computed of averaged size indications of digital output signals derived using signals from the first and second digital noise cancellation filters (16, 26) using the same input signal. Updates of the sets of at least one filter coefficients are adapted dependent on the difference between the averaged size indications. |
| US07876246B1 |
Photonic analog-to-digital converter
A monitoring device in an analog-to-digital converter, the monitoring device including a monitoring module configured to receive a first radio frequency signal provided by a first radio frequency modulator and a second radio frequency signal provided by a second radio frequency modulator. The first radio frequency signal being associated with a laser data and a radio frequency input signal. The laser data being associated with a radio frequency oscillator signal. The second radio frequency signal being associated with the laser signal and the radio frequency oscillator signal. The monitoring module is configured to determine a modification factor based on the first radio frequency signal and the second radio frequency signal. |
| US07876241B2 |
Data modulating method and apparatus, data demodulating method and apparatus, and code arranging method
In a data demodulating method and apparatus, and a code arranging method, a multiplexer multiplexes an input data stream divided by a predetermined length into a plurality of types of pseudo-random data streams using multiplexed information of predetermined bits by applying a predetermined multiplexing method to each of the pseudo-random data streams. An encoder RLL-modulates the plurality of types of pseudo-random data streams to create a modulated code stream including a minimum of DC components. The multiplexer generates the random data streams by inconsecutively scrambling the input data stream using the multiplexed information. The encoder weak DC-free RLL-modulates each of the multiplexed data streams without using a DC control sub code conversion table to which additional bits are added and provides a code stream including a minimum of DC components among multiplexed, RLL-modulated code streams. |
| US07876239B2 |
Secure notification messaging systems and methods using authentication indicia
Systems and methods are disclosed for notification or messaging systems that give confidence to the notification-receiving party that a notification concerning the travel status of a mobile thing is from a proper authorized source. One representative method, among others, comprises the following steps: monitoring travel data associated with a mobile thing; communicating a notification involving a delivery or pickup task associated with the mobile thing to a personal communications device associated with a party; and providing authentication information to the personal communications device that indicates to the party that the notification is from an authorized source. A representative system, among others, comprises a computer system that is programmed to perform each of the foregoing steps. |
| US07876232B2 |
System and method for illumination of a data cable
A data cable includes a plurality of illumination devices, an application module, and a lighting control module. The plurality of illumination devices are adapted to receive a control signal to change an illumination characteristic of the plurality of illumination devices, and the control signal is indicative of a signal characteristic for data to be transmitted over the data cable. The application module is adapted to analyze the data communicated over the data cable to determine the signal characteristic. The lighting control module is connected to the application module and adapted to light the plurality of illumination devices at the data cable based on the signal characteristic. |
| US07876231B2 |
Integrated management system for multi-air conditioner and integrated management method thereof
An integrated management system having at least one air conditioner group including a plurality of air conditioners, and a remote integrated management system connected to the at least one air conditioner group and configured to analyze operation state information related to the plurality of air conditioners in the at least one air conditioner group and to generate an alarm signal based on the analyzed operation state information. |
| US07876225B2 |
Methods and apparatus for switching a transponder to an active state, and asset management systems employing same
A transponder that may be used as an RFID tag includes a passive circuit to eliminate the need for an “always on” active RF receiving element to anticipate a wake-up signal for the balance of the transponder electronics. This solution allows the entire active transponder to have all circuit elements in a sleep (standby) state, thus drastically extending battery life or other charge storage device life. Also, a wake-up solution that reduces total energy consumption of an active transponder system by allowing all non-addressed transponders to remain in a sleep (standby) state, thereby reducing total system or collection energy. Also, the transponder and wake-up solution are employed in an asset tracking system. |
| US07876220B2 |
Garment tracking and processing system
A process for laundering, sorting and delivering garments is enhanced by incorporating a Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) tag into each garment. An RFID reader antenna includes left and right interleaved parallel and vertically aligned pluralities of generally orthogonal ferrite horseshoes to shape the sensing magnetic fields. The span of coverage along with the non-aligned magnetic fields ensure that RFID tag is read even regardless of orientation. Accurate detection facilitates tracking of garments during laundering, repair, replacement, sorting, etc. |
| US07876219B2 |
Message leaving system and method for digital photo frame
A message leaving system for digital photo frame (DPF) is provided. The message leaving system includes a message recording unit configured to record a message in the DPF, a detecting sensor initiated by information sent from the message recording unit to detect human presence after a predetermined detecting time period from the message being stopped recording, a message reminding unit generating a notification signal to inform users to play the message when the detecting sensor detects human presence, and a message handling unit configured to store or delete the message after the message being played. |
| US07876216B2 |
Object location and reporting system for harsh RF environments
A system verifies torquing of pressure fittings in an aircraft wheel well. A strain gauge and an ultra-wide band (UWB) pulse signal generator are placed on a wrench used to torque the fittings. The strain senses the torque applied by the wrench, and the pulse signal generator generates UWB pulse signals indicating the location of the fitting and the torque applied to the fitting. The pulse signals are received by UWB radios within the wheel well, which generate location measurements based on the received pulse signals. A processor automatically calculates the location of the fitting being torqued based on the location measurements, and a display produces a 3-dimensional image of the fittings and their torque status. |
| US07876215B1 |
System and method for locating and notifying a mobile user of people having attributes or interests matching a stated preference
A location-based and preference-based system and method for matching information such as the attributes, interests and/or characteristics profiles of persons with the expressed preferences of mobile users to alert and direct such users to any persons having information matching the user's express preferences. In particular, the system comprises a mobile device such as a GPS-capable PDA that stores the user's preferences and communicates with a server that contains or accesses the profiles of the persons to compare the profiles and preferences. Comparison of the user's preferences with the various profiles allows the user only to be informed of those persons that it is likely to be interested in. The system and method thus provides for a mobile real-time point of interest exchange network. |
| US07876214B1 |
System and method for providing reviews to a mobile user of restaurants having attributes matching a stated preference
A location-based and preference-based system and method for matching information such as the attributes and/or characteristics profiles of restaurants with the expressed preferences of mobile users to alert and direct such users to any restaurants having information matching the user's express preferences. The system and method also permits users to submit restaurant reviews that may be accessed by others for the matching restaurants. In particular, the system comprises a mobile device such as a GPS-capable PDA that stores the user's preferences and communicates with a server that contains or accesses the profiles of the restaurants to compare the profiles and preferences. Comparison of the user's preferences with the various profiles allows the user only to be informed of those restaurants that it is likely to be interested in, while providing access to third party reviews of the restaurants. The system and method thus provides for a mobile real-time point of interest exchange network. |
| US07876210B2 |
Direction indicator
If a turn signal switch is operated and a right-turn signal or a left-turn signal is input, a turn signal controller outputs a turn signal lamp lighting signal to a relay so as to make the turn signal lamp flash. Detection signals of an operating amount and an operating direction of a joy stick are input to a main controller, and the main controller detects a steering angle of the vehicle on the basis of the input detection signals, and outputs the steering angle to the turn signal controller. The turn signal controller determines that a course change is finished in case the input steering angle becomes smaller than a second steering angle after becoming larger than a first steering angle, and stops a turn signal lamp lighting signal on an output state so as to turn off a flashing turn signal lamp. |
| US07876209B2 |
Vehicle signal system with audio visual control and method
An audio visual turn/hazard signaling system in a vehicle can include an electronic user-selectable sound file, a control circuitry containing a solid state relay, a sensor, and an amplifier. The signal system of the invention provides a customizable signal system including a sound file where the operator can choose the volume and frequency to play when turn signal is activated. The signal system of the invention also provides an automatic volume adjuster wherein the safety of the operator while operating a vehicle is enhanced. |
| US07876207B2 |
Wake-up controller and a method therefor for power control over peripheral circuitry based upon slots of a data field
In a wake-up control device for waking up a peripheral circuit such as a transmitter/receiver in a radio communication device, during a standby time in which an RF unit and a processing unit are powered off by a switch, an RF signal is received to produce a detection signal by a detector. The detection signal is transferred to the wake-up controller to be sampled. The header and other fields are detected and counted. A control signal is in turn produced by the respective counts to turn on the switch. |
| US07876198B2 |
Adaptive intelligent electronic horn
An adaptive intelligent electronic horn (100) comprises a mechanical soniferous apparatus (112), an electromagnetic coil (106), a driver circuit (104) and an oscillating circuit (102). A sensor (110) is provided between the mechanical soniferous apparatus (112) and the oscillating circuit (102). An on-off ratio adjusting circuit (108) is provided at the input end of the oscillating circuit (102). The sensor (110) measures the oscillation frequency of the mechanical soniferous apparatus (112) and feedbacks the measured oscillation frequency signal to the oscillating circuit (102). The on-off ratio adjusting circuit (108) controls a pulse width of an oscillation signal from the oscillating circuit (102) based on a voltage of power supply and/or an ambient temperature. The oscillating circuit (102) outputs corresponding oscillation signal to the driver circuit (104) based on the oscillation frequency signal received from the sensor (110) and/or the control signal from the on-off ratio adjusting circuit (108). |
| US07876197B2 |
Mobile asset data management system
Methods and systems for preventing unauthorized use of a mobile asset are described. The method for providing access to the mobile asset can include providing a control device on the mobile asset. The control device is in communication with the mobile asset to selectively control whether the mobile asset is enabled for operation. The method also includes storing data in the control device that identifies a group of potential operators who are permitted to operate that mobile asset. This stored data includes unique password data for each potential operator in the permitted group. Further, the method includes receiving an identifier and password from an accessing operator and comparing by the control device of the received identifier to the stored data to order confirm that the accessing operator is a potential operator. Moreover, the method includes comparing by the received password to the stored data in order to confirm that the password matches the unique password data, and, if the comparisons are satisfied, controlling the mobile asset to be enabled for operation by the accessing operator. |
| US07876195B2 |
Fan resistor
A fan resistor is formed with a resistive pattern of electrically conductive material sandwiched between two panels of thermally conductive material. An insulating barrier on each surface of the resistive pattern electrically insulates it from the thermally conductive panels. The resistive pattern is cut from a sheet of metal using a stamping machine and the cut resistive pattern is dropped on one of the panels, a surface of which has an electrically insulating barrier thereon. |
| US07876191B2 |
Power converter employing a tapped inductor and integrated magnetics and method of operating the same
A power converter employing a magnetic device including a magnetic core and first and second tapped windings. Each winding of the magnetic device has first and second winding sections, respectively, coupled to the magnetic core, wherein the first and second winding sections are formed from a formed and folded planar conductive sheet. The magnetic core includes a common leg, a plurality of outer legs, and a top plate. The first and second winding sections are constructed with a formed and folded planar conductive sheet formed with structures usable as pins in a through-hole, surface-mount, or combined printed wiring board assembly process. The outer legs at either end of the magnetic core are positioned back from magnetic core ends, and the magnetic core is formed with a stepped structure to accommodate winding pins in a surface-mount printed wiring board assembly process. |
| US07876187B2 |
Actuator
With variable airgap reluctance actuators problems arise due to the relationship between actuator mass and displacement range. By providing opposed surfaces in the actuator stator core and armature which have undulations typically in the form of grooves, slots and projections, a greater displacement range can be achieved whilst maintaining performance above a rated displacement force characteristic. In such circumstances by establishing a necessary rated displacement force characteristic, an actuator can be tailored and designed to meet that characteristic over a desired displacement range which has significantly less mass in comparison with a prior actuator arrangement having flat surfaces. |
| US07876186B2 |
Electronically actuated apparatus
An electromagnetic actuator having an annular pole piece and an annular armature with surfaces formed thereon through which a magnetic flux passes. The armature is axially movable relative to the pole piece between a first position and a second position. Magnetic flux is efficiently transmitted between the pole piece and the armature and the pole piece can be employed to guide the armature for movement thereon. |
| US07876184B2 |
Electrical relay
An electrical relay includes a magnetic system, a contact system and a slider. The magnetic system includes an armature. The contact system includes a moveable spring contact and a fixed spring contact. The moveable spring contact is moveable between an open position and a closed position. The moveable spring contact is in electrical contact with the fixed spring contact in the closed position. The slider connects the moveable spring contact to the armature. The slider transfers movement of the armature to the moveable spring contact. The slider has at least one contact opening element extending there from. The contact opening element strikes the moveable spring contact during movement of the moveable spring contact to the open position to break any existing weld between the moveable spring contact and the fixed spring contact. |
| US07876180B2 |
Waveguide forming apparatus, dielectric waveguide forming apparatus, pin structure, and high frequency circuit
There are provided a waveguide forming apparatus, a dielectric waveguide forming apparatus, a pin structure and a high frequency circuit that can optimize a circuit portion provided therein and have high versatility. A waveguide is formed by allowing first and second conductive layers (6, 7) to cooperate with a plurality of control pins (2). A variable high frequency circuit forming portion is freely and simply changed by displacing each control pin (2) between a down-status indicated by Z1 and an up-status indicated by Z2. |
| US07876173B2 |
Signal output device, signal output control method, program and recording medium
The present invention can control the power of an output from a device, which changes the amplitude of an input and outputs a result of the change, according to the frequency of the input so that the power is close to a desired value. An output control system (1) includes an amplitude changer (2) which controls the ratio of a change in amplitude according to a control signal, a discrete attenuator (14) which outputs an output signal obtained by attenuating an output from the amplitude changer while discretely setting an amount of the attenuation, a measurement result changer (18) which changes a measurement result of the output signal, a set voltage recording unit (24) which records a correspondence between a value of the control signal and a value of the output signal when the input signal is at a predetermined frequency, a measurement result correcting unit (44) which corrects an output from the measurement result changer (18) according to the frequency of the input signal, a target value correcting unit (42) which corrects a target value of the output signal according to the frequency of the input signal, a voltage setting unit (26) which sets the value of the control signal, an attenuation setting unit (12) which sets the amount of the attenuation according to the frequency of the input signal and a change setting unit (13) which sets an amount of the change provided by the measurement result changer (18). |
| US07876171B2 |
Balance-unbalance conversion element
A balance-unbalance conversion element that easily adjusts the phase balance between two balance signals. The balance-unbalance conversion element includes a dielectric substrate and an electrode pattern on a surface of the dielectric substrate. The electrode pattern includes a first ¼-wavelength resonance line coupled to a first balance terminal; a second ¼-wavelength resonance line coupled to a second balance terminal; a ½-wavelength resonance line having a first open end coupled to an unbalance terminal and the first ¼-wavelength resonator and a second open end coupled to the second ¼-wavelength resonator; and a balance characteristic adjustment electrode having a tip end opposed to a side of the ½-wavelength resonance line and a base end electrically coupled to a ground electrode. A center line of the electrode pattern on the surface of the dielectric substrate and the center of the tip end of the balance characteristic adjustment electrode are separated from each other. |
| US07876165B2 |
Ring-based multi-push voltage-controlled oscillator
A ring-based multi-push voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) generates a multi-push output signal using a control voltage. The ring-based multi-push VCO includes a plurality of delay cells, a plurality of buffer amplifiers, and a bias unit. The delay cells connect each other in sequence to form a ring structure, and each delay cell connects with the respective buffer amplifier. The bias unit connects with the buffer amplifiers to output the multi-push output signal. The control voltage supplied to the delay cells is utilized to control the frequency of the multi-push output signal, and the ring structure formed by the delay cells is to multiply the frequency of the multi-push output signal to increase the frequency tuning range. |
| US07876163B2 |
Voltage-controlled oscillator circuit and phase locked loop circuit using the same
To set a best oscillation state of a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) circuit, it is necessary to evaluate variability of manufactured ICs to specify set values based on the variability. Provided is an oscillator including: a terminal receiving a first signal; a VCO coupled to the terminal, the VCO oscillating to generate a second signal and to change a frequency of the second signal in response to an amplitude of the first signal, and revealing gain-slope characteristics in the frequency of the second signal versus the amplitude of the first signal; and a control circuit coupled to the VCO to alter the gain-slope characteristics in response to the amplitude of the first signal, the VCO having so-called self regulating characteristics in which the VCO is locked up based on the variability of the manufactured ICs without depending on external control. |
| US07876159B2 |
Power amplifier circuit for multi-frequencies and multi-modes and method for operating the same
A multi-frequency and multi-mode power amplifier is provided. The amplifier has a carrier power amplifier and a peaking power amplifier. The carrier power amplifier receives a first signal and outputs a first amplified signal, in which a first transistor size adjusting unit is included to adjust an equivalent transistor size based on a mode indication signal. The peaking power amplifier receives a second signal and outputs a second amplified signal, in which a second transistor size adjusting unit is included to adjust an equivalent transistor size based on the mode indication signal. |
| US07876158B2 |
High gain stacked cascade amplifier with current compensation to reduce gain compression
A high gain stacked cascade amplifier includes a first amplifying element, a second amplifying element, a current mirror bias element, and a dynamic bias adjustment element. The first and second amplifying elements are coupled in series to form the high gain stacked cascade amplifier configuration. The current mirror bias element provides a bias to the first and second amplifying elements. The dynamic bias adjustment element is coupled to the second amplifying element. The dynamic bias adjustment element is configured to increase a gain compression point of a composite filter, formed by the first and second amplifying elements, in response to a determination that an input signal causes gain compression in the first amplifying element. |
| US07876156B2 |
Radio frequency (RF) power amplifier and RF power amplifier apparatus
An RF power amplifier has a final-stage amplifier stage which generates an RF transmit output signal, a signal detector which detects an RF transmit output level, a first detector, a second detector and a control circuit. The final-stage amplifier stage includes a transistor and a load element and performs saturation type nonlinear amplification and non-saturation type linear amplification. The first detector and the control circuit maintain the RF transmit output signal approximately constant with respect to a variation in load at an antenna at the saturation type nonlinear amplification. The second detector and the control circuit reduce an increase in the output voltage of the final stage transistor with respect to an overload state of the antenna at the non-saturation type linear amplification. |
| US07876153B1 |
Transconductor circuit
A transconductor circuit, particularly according to the multi-tanh principle, having a first input node and a second input node, a first differential amplifier coupled to the first and second input nodes, and having a first offset voltage, and a second differential amplifier coupled to the first and second input nodes, and having a second offset voltage different from the first offset voltage. A first resistance circuit is coupled between the first differential amplifier and at least one current source, and a second resistance circuit is coupled between the second differential amplifier and the at least one current source. Varying of the current sources enables control of the transconductance without degrading linearity. |
| US07876152B2 |
High-impedance level-shifting amplifier capable of handling input signals with a voltage magnitude that exceeds a supply voltage
A level-shifting amplifier is provided for level-shifting an input signal with a voltage magnitude that exceeds a supply voltage of the amplifier. In operation, the amplifier has an input impedance of greater than 100 MOhms. |
| US07876149B2 |
Harmonic quadrature demodulation apparatus and method thereof
Disclosed herein is a harmonic quadrature demodulation apparatus and method. The harmonic quadrature demodulation apparatus includes an input terminal for externally receiving an input focused signal, a harmonic phase estimation unit for estimating a second-order harmonic phase component from the input focused signal. The second-order harmonic detection unit includes an in-phase component extractor, a quadrature component extratctor, a Hilbert transformer, an adder and a low pass filter. The in-phase component extractor extracts an in-phase component of the input focused signal. The quadrature component extractor extracts a quadrature component of the input focused signal. |
| US07876147B1 |
Background offset cancellation scheme for continuous time gm-C filters
The present disclosure describes methods and apparatus for compensating DC offset in a filter having a plurality of transconductance pieces. In one implementation, the method includes measuring a corresponding DC offset associated with each transconductance piece of the plurality of transconductance pieces; storing each measured DC offset corresponding to each transconductance piece of the plurality of transconductance pieces; selecting one or more of the plurality of transconductance pieces to be used during operation of the filter; deriving an aggregate amount of DC offset for the one or more selected transconductance pieces, the aggregate amount of DC offset being derived based on each stored DC offset value corresponding to each selected transconductance piece; and applying the derived aggregate amount of DC offset to the one or more selected transconductance pieces to compensate for the DC offset during the operation of the filter. |
| US07876146B2 |
Method and apparatus for powering down analog integrated circuits
A method and an apparatus powers down an analog integrated circuit. A power down circuit is electrically coupled to the analog circuit and is adapted to power down the analog circuit in response to receiving a power down signal. A node protection circuit is electrically coupled to the analog circuit and is adapted to provide a predetermined voltage potential to at least one predetermined node in the analog circuit in response to receiving the power down signal when a voltage potential at the at least one predetermined node is not determined by the power down circuit. |
| US07876145B2 |
Control system architecture for qubits
A control system architecture for quantum computing includes an array of qubits, which is divided into a plurality of sub-arrays based on a first direction and a second direction, the second direction intersecting the first direction, a plurality of control lines each coupled to a corresponding sub-array of qubits in the first direction, a plurality of enable/unenable lines each coupled to a corresponding sub-array of qubits in the second direction, a controls signal source that generates a control signal, wherein the control lines are used to apply the control signal commonly to one or more sub-arrays of qubits in the first direction, an enable/unenable signal source that generates a enable signal, wherein the enable/unenable lines are used to apply the enable signal independently to the corresponding sub-array of qubits in the second direction to set a bias point of each qubit of the corresponding sub-array of qubits in the second direction between a first position, in which the qubit is unenabled and not responsive to the control signal, and a second position, in which the qubit is enabled and responsive to the control signal. |
| US07876142B2 |
Latch inverter and flip-flop using the same
A latch inverter includes a first PMOS transistor, a second PMOS transistor, a first NMOS transistor, a second NMOS transistor, a first level-adjusting unit and a second level-adjusting unit. The first level-adjusting unit changes the voltage level of the source of the second PMOS transistor in advance, and the second level-adjusting unit changes the voltage level of the drain of the second NMOS transistor in advance. |
| US07876137B2 |
Configurable architecture hybrid analog/digital delay locked loop (DLL) and technique with fast open loop digital locking for integrated circuit devices
A configurable architecture, hybrid analog/digital delay locked loop and technique with fast open loop digital locking for integrated circuit dynamic random access memory (DRAM) devices and devices incorporating embedded DRAM. The DLL design and technique disclosed employs a hybrid analog/digital delay line, but does not use conventional closed loop architecture during the digital phase of the locking process. |
| US07876135B2 |
Power-on reset circuit
A power-on reset circuit produces a reset signal output configured by an upper trip-point in an input hysteresis characteristic of the circuit. The upper trip-point is configured by resistances of a first pair of resistors coupled in series at an internal voltage reference node. A temperature coefficient of the upper trip-point is configured by resistance values of a second pair of resistors where each resistor is coupled with a corresponding switching device with an associated switching threshold. A magnitude of the input hysteresis characteristic is configured by resistances of a third pair of resistors in series. The magnitude of hysteresis is configured independent of configuring either the level or the temperature coefficient of the upper trip-point. |
| US07876133B1 |
Output buffer circuit
An output driver circuit can include at least a first driver transistor having a source-drain path coupled between a first power supply node and an output node. A first variable current supply can generate a current having at least one component that is inversely proportional to a power supply voltage. A first driver switch element can be coupled in series with the first variable current supply between a gate of the at least first driver transistor and a second power supply node. |
| US07876131B2 |
Dual gate transistor keeper dynamic logic
A dynamic logic gate has a device for charging a dynamic node during a pre-charge phase of a clock. A logic tree evaluates the dynamic node with a device during an evaluate phase of the clock. The dynamic node has a keeper circuit comprising an inverter with its input coupled to the dynamic node and its output coupled to the back gate of a dual gate PFET device. The source of the dual gate PFET is coupled to the power supply and its drain is coupled to the dynamic node forming a half latch. The front gate of the dual gate PFET is coupled to a logic circuit with a mode input and a logic input coupled back to a node sensing the state of the dynamic node. The mode input may be a slow mode to preserve dynamic node state or the clock delayed that turns ON the strong keeper after evaluation. |
| US07876130B2 |
Data transmitting device and data receiving device
A data transmitting device and a data receiving device are disclosed. The data transmitting device may include a clock signal generator for generating a clock signal, and a transmitter for generating a transmission signal having the clock signal inserted in a data signal, wherein the clock signal has only a single differential element, and the data signal has two differential elements with an amplitude identical to an amplitude of the clock signal. The clock signal may be embedded and the clock signal may be restored by using the common element of the data signal without any auxiliary reference voltage. As a result, only the data signal line may be used between the data transmitting device and the data receiving device, to reduce the number of transmitting lines. Furthermore, the data transmitting and receiving devices according to embodiments will not need a reference voltage. As a result, the clock signal may be restored smoothly even if the size of the data signal is changing. Further, the amplitude of the clock signal included in the data signal is identical with the amplitude of the data signal. As a result, additional power consumption and EMI may be reduced. |
| US07876125B1 |
Register data retention systems and methods during reprogramming of programmable logic devices
Systems and methods provide register data retention techniques for a programmable logic device in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. For example, in one embodiment, a programmable logic device includes a plurality of logic blocks adapted to generate user data during operation of the programmable logic device; a plurality of registers adapted to store the user data during a reprogramming operation of the programmable logic device; and configurable routing resources adapted to provide a programmed data path between the logic blocks and the registers. |
| US07876124B2 |
Download sequencing techniques for circuit configuration data
Methods, systems, and devices are described for the implementation of a novel architecture to support download sequencing techniques for circuit configuration data. Sets of configuration data from nonvolatile memory may be sequentially transferred to volatile memory to support reconfigurable circuit elements, for example, for use in a clock generator. Different programmable circuit elements may use configuration data, but have different ramp-up times before stable operation. With early download sequence positioning of configuration data, and corresponding immediacy in initiation of operation, certain clock elements are able to commence initiation of operation while remaining clock elements are provided with configuration data from a latter portion of the download sequence. |
| US07876119B2 |
Method of inspecting semiconductor device chip patterns on a wafer
An inspection method includes performing an inspection by applying a probe to pads of a contact check pattern located, together with a chip pattern, on a wafer, and performing an inspection by applying the probe to pads of the chip pattern if a result of the inspection using the contact check pattern is within a predetermined range. A pattern having the same size as that of the chip pattern, differing in external appearance from the chip pattern, and having the same pads as those of the chip pattern is used as the contact check pattern. |
| US07876118B2 |
Test equipment
Provided is a test apparatus that tests a device under test, comprising a pattern generating section that generates a test pattern for testing the device under test; a signal supplying section that supplies the device under test with a test signal corresponding to the test pattern; a trigger generating section that supplies a trigger signal to an external instrument connected to the device under test; and a synchronization control section that outputs, to the trigger generating section, a synchronization signal instructing generation of the trigger signal, based on at least a portion of the test pattern generated by the pattern generating section. |
| US07876115B2 |
Chuck for holding a device under test
A chuck includes a conductive element that contacts a device under test in a location on the chuck. The chuck includes an upper surface for supporting a device under test and a conductive element that extends through the chuck to the upper surface of the chuck. The conductive element is electrically isolated from the upper surface of the chuck, and makes electrical contact with any device under test supported by the chuck. |
| US07876113B2 |
Method of inspecting pattern and inspecting instrument
Electron beam is irradiated to a wafer in the midst of steps at predetermined intervals by a plurality of times under a condition in which a junction becomes rearward bias and a difference in characteristic of a time period of alleviating charge in the rearward bias is monitored. As a result, charge is alleviated at a location where junction leakage is caused in a time period shorter than that of a normal portion and therefore, a potential difference is produced between the normal portion and a failed portion and is observed in a potential contrast image as a difference in brightness. By consecutively repeating operation of acquiring the image, executing an image processing in real time and storing a position and brightness of the failed portion, the automatic inspection of a designated region can be executed. Information of image, brightness and distribution of the failed portion is preserved and outputted automatically after inspection. |
| US07876111B1 |
System for measuring opposite sides of a wireless communication apparatus
A measuring system for testing and measuring a wireless communication apparatus includes a plurality of first probes, a plurality of second probes, and a control module. The first probes are arranged to face toward a first side of the wireless communication apparatus for testing and measuring a plurality of first test points provided on the first side of the wireless communication apparatus. The second probes are arranged to face toward an opposite second side of the wireless communication apparatus for testing and measuring a plurality of second test points provided on the second side of the wireless communication apparatus. The first and second probes detect wireless signals of the wireless communication apparatus via the first and second test points, respectively. The control module is electrically connected to the first probes and the second probes for receiving a plurality of measuring signals transmitted from the first and the second probes. |
| US07876110B2 |
Method and apparatus for simulating electrical characteristics of a coated segment of a pipeline
Method and apparatus for simulating electrical pipe-to-soil impedance of a coated segment of a pipeline includes simulating a current injection point to a buried pipe section, simulating a first output signal from a magnetometer positioned at a first location over the buried pipe section, simulating a second output signal from a magnetometer positioned at a second location over the buried pipe section, simulating bonding of pipe coating of the pipe section, and simulating soil resistance of a soil environment surrounding the buried pipe section. The invention includes both field-test simulation with calibration pipe samples, and bench-test simulation using electronic simulation of the pipe coating. The simulations may be used for test and general calibration of MEIS pipeline coating inspection systems. |
| US07876106B2 |
System and method for detecting an object at a location
An occupancy detection system includes a signal generator coupled to an electrode, the signal generator configured to output a first signal at a first frequency and a second signal at a second frequency. The system further includes a voltage detection circuit connected to an output terminal of the signal generator and to an input terminal of the electrode, wherein the voltage detection circuit is configured to measure a first voltage responsive to the first signal at the first frequency and a second voltage responsive to the second signal at the second frequency. A control module in communication with the voltage detection circuit is configured to detect a state of occupancy based on the first voltage and the second voltage. |
| US07876105B2 |
Sensor device and display apparatus
A sensor device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an electrode array having plural electrodes arranged in an array manner, a signal generator configured to generate a first signal having a first frequency, and apply the first signal to the plural electrodes, and a detection unit configured to, when the first signal is applied to the plural electrodes, and a second signal having a second frequency is applied to an object to be detected, detect a distance between each electrode included in the electrode array and the surface of the object, using an interference wave between the first signal applied to each electrode and the second signal applied to the object, or detect irregularities on the surface of the object, using a signal generated by using the interference wave outputted from one electrode and the interference wave outputted from another electrode. |
| US07876103B2 |
LED chain failure detection
The system consists of an LED failure detection circuit to provide protection against individual LED catastrophic failure. When LED clusters are arranged in a series-parallel configuration, it is important to detect individual LED failure in order to avoid uncontrolled luminous intensity reduction and/or light uniformity degradation. The circuit compares the voltage levels on LEDs with similar position but situated in different chains. In normal conditions, the voltage levels are substantially similar to one another. In case of individual or multiple LED failure, open or shortcircuit, the circuit sends a signal to the automatic turn off circuit that initiates the lamp forced turn off sequence. |
| US07876102B2 |
Mixed galvanic-inductive imaging in boreholes
A mixed mode tool uses an inductive source and detects galvanic currents and/or potentials at electrodes in proximity to a borehole wall to produce a resistivity image of the earth formation. Alternative, the magnetic field produced by a galvanic current is detected by an antenna coil and used to produce a resistivity image. |
| US07876098B2 |
Volume coil for MRI system
A volume coil for a magnetic resonance imaging system is composed of a number of coil units. In the coil, there are overlapped parts between two adjacent ones of the coil units for eliminating coupling between these two adjacent coil units. Two next-adjacent ones of the coil units, which are separated from each other by one coil unit, are each provided with an inductor, and these two inductors are coupled with each other for eliminating coupling between these two next-adjacent coil units. All coil units are collected on one axial end face of the coil. Two coil units in the coil that are neither adjacent coil units nor next-adjacent coil units are connected with each other on the end face by a capacitance circuit or a inductance circuit for eliminating the coupling between these two coil units that are neither adjacent coil units nor next-adjacent coil units. The coupling among the various coil units is relatively thoroughly eliminated, and the signal-to-noise ratio of the signal received by the coil is increased. |
| US07876097B2 |
Local coil arrangement with magnetic field sensor and magnetic resonance system with such a local coil arrangement
A local coil arrangement for a magnetic resonance apparatus has a support structure with an antenna arrangement and a sensor arrangement embedded in the support structure. The antenna arrangement has a number of magnetic resonance antennas. A magnetic resonance excitation signal can respectively be emitted by means of each magnetic resonance antenna and/or a magnetic resonance signal can respectively be received by means of each magnetic resonance antenna. The sensor arrangement has a number of magnetic field sensors and an evaluation circuit. The magnetic field sensors detect how large a static magnetic field is to which the local coil arrangement is exposed and output a corresponding output signal and supply a corresponding output signal to the evaluation circuit. The evaluation circuit determines a logical presence signal and outputs it. The value of the logical presence signal depends on whether a field strength of the static magnetic field is greater than a minimum field strength. |
| US07876095B2 |
Apparatus for determination of an interface of a slag layer
An apparatus is provided for determination of at least one interface of a slag layer on top of a molten metal. The apparatus has a carrier tube and a measuring head arranged on one end of the carrier tube with a body fixed within the carrier tube and an end face facing away from the carrier tube. The apparatus further includes an oscillator arranged within the measuring head and an induction coil connected with the oscillator and arranged outside of the body and in front of its end face. |
| US07876094B2 |
Magnetic field characterization of stresses and properties in materials
Described are methods for monitoring of stresses and other material properties. These methods use measurements of effective electrical properties, such as magnetic permeability and electrical conductivity, to infer the state of the test material, such as the stress, temperature, or overload condition. The sensors, which can be single element sensors or sensor arrays, can be used to periodically inspect selected locations, mounted to the test material, or scanned over the test material to generate two-dimensional images of the material properties. Magnetic field or eddy current based inductive and giant magnetoresistive sensors may be used on magnetizable and/or conducting materials, while capacitive sensors can be used for dielectric materials. Methods are also described for the use of state-sensitive layers to determine the state of materials of interest. These methods allow the weight of articles, such as aircraft, to be determined. |
| US07876090B2 |
Calibration method and calibration apparatus for a hand-held locating device
A calibration apparatus for a hand-held locating device (7) has at least one first coil configuration (1a) having a first measuring range (2′) and a second coil configuration (1a′) having a second measuring range (2a′), in which measuring ranges (2a, 2a′) homogeneous alternating magnetic fields can be generated in a specifiable ratio with respect to the strength of the magnetic fields. The coil configurations (1a, 1a′) are arranged a specifiable distance apart so that the magnetic fields can be detected simultaneously by means of at least two aerials of the locating device (7) which are arranged at a fixed distance. The specifiable ratios define true distance parameters. |
| US07876087B2 |
Probe card repair using coupons with spring contacts and separate atachment points
Probecard architectures partition the spring compliance required for IC testing between several different components. Such architectures can provide shorter springs, better impedance control, improved power/ground distribution and more direct paths to tester electronics. The probecards can also use thinner interconnector substrates to conform to the planarity of a DUT and may suspend such a substrate by wires attached to a perimeter edge of the substrate to permit the substrate to tilt. Tilting can also be facilitated by positioning tester-side springs away from the perimeter of the substrate. Low compliance MEMS probes for such architectures can be provided on replaceable coupons having attachment points away from electrical connections, and a method for fabricating probe springs can plate spring material on a membrane deformed by contact with a bumped substrate. |
| US07876085B2 |
Quasi-resonant valley voltage detecting method and apparatus
The present invention discloses a quasi-resonant valley voltage detecting method, comprising the steps of: generating a valley detection signal by detecting a valley of a first quasi-resonant signal; generating a count value by counting the valley detection signal; and determining a level transition instance of a gating signal according to the count value, wherein the level transition instance of the gating signal is pulled back by the valley detection signal to trace the valley of the first quasi-resonant signal. The present invention also provides a quasi-resonant valley voltage detecting apparatus. |
| US07876082B2 |
DC/DC converter and slope compensation circuit thereof
A slope compensation circuit includes a first differential pair circuit, a current mirror unit, a first operating current generation circuit, and a transconductance compensation circuit. The first differential pair circuit is connected to a first current source and receives a pair of differential oscillation signals to generate a pair of differential currents corresponding to the differential oscillation signals. The current mirror unit is connected to the first differential pair circuit and mirrors the differential currents. The first operating current generation circuit is connected to the current mirror unit and generates a first operating current including the differential currents. The transconductance compensation circuit stabilizes a quiescent operating point of the first operating current generation circuit and receives the differential oscillation signals to generate an output current multiple times the value of the first operating current. |
| US07876081B2 |
DC-DC converter with substantially constant on-time and constant switching frequency
A comparator-system DC-DC converter 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a control unit 200 which has a comparator section 20, 40 which compares the output voltage of the voltage conversion section with a reference voltage and determines a predetermined ON width of the ON pulse of the control signal Ssw or a predetermined OFF width of the OFF pulse of the control signal Ssw, and frequency control means 25 which compares the control signal Ssw with reference clock Cref and adjusts the ON width or OFF width so that the frequency of the control signal Ssw is constant. The frequency control means 25 detects a state where the output current of the voltage conversion section 100 is 0 A or a state where the output current is going to be 0 A and stops the processing to adjust the ON width or OFF width. |
| US07876080B2 |
Power converter with monotonic turn-on for pre-charged output capacitor
A power converter for and method of producing a monotonic rise in output voltage at start-up. In one embodiment, the power converter includes a switch and an error amplifier coupled to an output terminal of the power converter. The power converter also includes a comparator with an output terminal coupled to a control terminal of the switch and an input terminal coupled to an output terminal of the error amplifier configured to enable the switch to conduct for a duty cycle. Additionally, the switch is configured to be turned off at a start-up of the power converter until a voltage of the output terminal of the error amplifier provides a duty cycle for the switch corresponding to an output characteristic pre-charge condition. |
| US07876079B2 |
System and method for regulating a power supply
In an embodiment, a method for controlling an output voltage of a power supply system is disclosed. The method includes regulating the power supply to a first voltage. After regulating the power supply to a first voltage, the power supply is regulated to a second voltage, which includes changing an input to the power supply system, and altering charge at an output of the power supply system until the output voltage reaches the second output voltage. |
| US07876078B2 |
Switching power supply with near zero supply current in light-load operation
Techniques for near zero light-load supply current in switching power supply are described. In one embodiment, a switching power supply comprises sub-circuits, a capacitor/inverter circuit, and a standby control circuit. The sub-circuits comprise a feedback resistor that supplies a fraction of an output voltage of the power supply, an integrator that provides an integrator output, a comparator that provides a pulse width modulated signal, a switching element that receives the pulse width modulated signal and modulates current such that the power supply provides a regulated voltage, and a monitoring circuit that provides a logic low signal when the pulse width modulated signal is absent over a period of time. The standby control circuit disables the sub-circuits when the logical low signal is detected permitting the switching power supply to operate at a minimum current, an re-enables the sub-circuits when an out of regulation signal from the capacitor/inverter circuit is detected. |
| US07876074B2 |
Amplifier employing interleaved signals for PWM ripple supression
An amplifier having improved distortion characteristics is set forth. The amplifier includes an interleaved PWM amplifier that generates interleaved PWM pulses in response to a modified input signal and one or more carrier signals. The interleaved PWM pulses of the amplifier are used to drive a power stage, such as an opposed current power stage. The amplifier also includes an interleaved PWM generator that provides interleaved PWM pulses in response to the modified input signal and one or more further carrier signals. The carrier signals used by the PWM generator may differ in phase from the carrier signals used by the interleaved PWM amplifier to generate its interleaved PWM pulses. One or more feedback circuits are employed in the generation of the modified input signal. More particularly, the feedback circuit(s) generates the modified input signal based on an input signal that is to be amplified and the interleaved PWM pulses of the interleaved PWM generator. |
| US07876073B2 |
Switching regulator with slope compensation and control method therefor
A current-mode controlled switching regulator and control method therefor. The switching regulator includes input and output terminals, a switching device to switch in accordance with a control signal, an inductor to store charge from an input voltage at the input terminal based on the switching device, a rectifying device to discharge the charge stored in the inductor, an error amplifier to amplify a voltage difference between a divided voltage generated by dividing an output voltage at the output terminal and a predetermined reference voltage, a slope voltage generator to generate and output a slope voltage having a slope angle corresponding to the input voltage, and a switching controller to compare a voltage output from the error amplifier with the slope voltage, generate a pulse signal with a duty cycle corresponding to a comparison result, and control the switching of the switching device according to the pulse signal. |
| US07876070B2 |
Electronic timepiece with generator function
An electronic timepiece with a generator function according to a first aspect of the invention has a generator, a storage unit that stores electrical energy produced by the generator, a timekeeping controller that is driven by the electrical energy stored in the storage unit, a time display that is controlled by the timekeeping controller and displays time, a voltage detector that detects the voltage of the storage unit, and a discharge unit that discharges the charge stored in the storage unit when the voltage of the storage unit detected by the voltage detector reaches a preset first setting. |
| US07876069B2 |
Electrical power unit
A fuel cell 1 and an electric double-layer capacitor 2 are parallelly arranged for a power supply. A DC/DC converter 3 steps up voltage of the fuel cell 1 and the electric double-layer capacitor 2, to thereby output power. An output switch 5 is disposed on an output pathway of the DC/DC converter 3. By controlling the output switch 5 with a control IC 4, output power can be switched on and off. When there is a fuel shortage or abnormality in the fuel cell 1, the control IC 4 controls the output switch 5, to thereby intermittently alter the output power. With this configuration, when the power supply is used for a mobile telephone as a portable electronic device connected thereto, a user can confirm whether there is a fuel shortage or a fuel cell abnormality by checking of blinking state of a charge pilot lamp of the mobile telephone. |
| US07876066B2 |
Multi-component charging station with surge protector
A charging station is provided for charging portable electronic devices. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the charging station includes a surge protector located within the charging station. The charging station includes a base for housing the surge protector, a removable base cover that can be placed over the base and a removable tray that can be placed over the base or over the base cover if the base cover is in place over the base. If desired, the charging station can be used in a disassembled form by placing the tray on one surface and the base on another. If the charging station is used in this manner, the base cover can be placed over the base. |
| US07876065B2 |
Method for extending the time a portable generator powered by a DC battery may operate by recharging the battery at the same time it is being used as a power source
A method for extending the time a battery-operated electrical generator may operate by recharging the battery, at the same time it is being used as a power source, by using a portion of the electrical output to operate an alternator to produce low current and low voltage electrical power to recharge the battery, while supplementing from another source, including solar or wind, the power used to operate the alternator. |
| US07876062B2 |
Brushless electric machine and apparatus using the same
A first member has a magnet assembly that includes at least one permanent magnet pair, and a second member includes an electromagnetic coil. A control circuit controls the supply of power to the electromagnetic coil as well as regeneration of power from the electromagnetic coil. The permanent magnet pair generates its strongest magnetic field along a magnetic field direction on homopolar contact planes where first magnetic poles contact one another, outward from the center of the permanent magnet pair along the magnetic field direction. The electromagnetic coil is positioned such that current will flow in a direction intersecting the magnetic field direction. |
| US07876060B2 |
Multi-lamps instant start electronic ballast
The electronic ballast comprises a series half bridge resonant inverter and a control circuit for the inverter with dimming capability. The inverter includes a first and a second voltage feedback circuits including first and a second charge pumps coupled in between inverter output and the dimming input of the control circuit. The feedback circuits generate a reference control signal to control operation after starting and an error control signals when the inverter output voltage exceeds a predetermined value. |
| US07876059B2 |
System and method for controlling a matrix of light emitting diodes and light provided therewith
A system and method for controlling a matrix of light emitting diodes (LED) connected to an input line comprises a power converter for connecting to the matrix of LEDs and to the input line therebetween and for receiving from the input line an input current and an input voltage characterized by a shape and a frequency and for providing a direct current (D.C.) output for powering up the LEDs, yielding an operating current through the LEDs. The power converter includes a first current sensor for sensing the input current and a second current sensor for sensing the operating current. The system further comprises a controller for connecting to both the input line and to the power converter. The controller includes a voltage sensor for sensing the input voltage and a pre-regulator i) for receiving the operating current, the input current and the input voltage, ii) for biasing the operating current towards a target current value, and iii) for regulating the power converter to cause the input current to follow the shape and frequency of the input voltage, yielding a unity power factor and minimizing the input current harmonic distortion. The present method and system allows maximizing the energy savings, controlling current flowing in the diodes so as to obtain the maximum flux of light with the minimum energy and also allows meeting all safety, EMI, reliability and robustness requirements. |
| US07876058B2 |
Systems and methods for backlighting image displays
Systems and methods for backlighting an image display by independently driving multiple backlights for the display. The display may be, for example, a LCD display panel of a portable information handling system such as a battery-powered notebook computer that employs two or more cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) for backlighting the LCD display. The multiple backlights may be independently driven, for example, using a common inverter that is capable of independently driving two or more backlight lamps, or by driving each backlight lamp with a separate inverter. |
| US07876050B2 |
Plasma display panel, and substrate assembly of plasma display panel
A plasma display panel includes a discharge space between two substrate assemblies opposed to each other, wherein a priming particle-emitting layer containing magnesium oxide crystals to which a halogen element is added in an amount of 1 to 10000 ppm is placed in such a way that the priming particle-emitting layer is exposed to the discharge space. |
| US07876049B2 |
Electrode-forming composition and plasma display panel manufactured using the same
An electrode-forming composition and a plasma display panel manufactured using the electrode-forming composition are provided. The electrode-forming composition includes: frit, a metal powder, and a vehicle, wherein the metal powder and the frit are contained in a weight ratio of 52 to 62:5 to 15; the plasma display panel including: first and second substrates that face each other with a predetermined distance between; a first electrode formed on the first substrate and extending in a first direction; a dielectric layer formed on the first substrate to cover the first electrode; a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, formed on the second substrate, and extending in a second direction crossing the first direction; a barrier rib in a space between the first substrate and the second substrate where the barrier rib defines a plurality of discharge cells; and a phosphor layer formed within each discharge cell, wherein the first electrode includes an insulating glass lager along an edge in the first direction. |
| US07876048B2 |
Plasma display panel with reduced power consumption and enhanced luminance
The present embodiments provide a plasma display panel includes first and second substrates facing each other, barrier ribs dividing a plurality of discharge cells between the first and second substrates, phosphor layers coated in the discharge cells, display electrodes extending in a first direction corresponding to the discharge cells between the first and second substrates, address electrodes arranged on the first substrate corresponding to the discharge cells and extending in a second direction crossing the first direction, and a dielectric layer formed on the first substrate while covering the address electrodes. Each of the address electrodes includes an insulating glass layer formed along a periphery of the electrode. The dielectric layer includes TiO2 within a range of 5-15% by weight. |
| US07876042B2 |
Double-sided light emitting device
A double-sided light emitting device including lower and upper substrates, an emission element formed between an inner surface of the upper substrate and an inner surface of the lower substrate and emitting predetermined light, an upper layer of polarizing material disposed on at least one of inner and outer surfaces of the upper substrate, and a lower layer of polarizing material disposed on at least one of inner and outer surfaces of the lower substrate. |
| US07876041B2 |
Organic light emitting display device
An organic light emitting display device according to one or more embodiments is provided. An organic light emitting display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a reinforcement member disposed on a substrate and having a refractive index of greater than about 2.1, a transflective electrode disposed on the reinforcement member and contacting the reinforcement member, a pixel electrode disposed on the transflective electrode and contacting the transflective electrode, an organic light emitting member disposed on the pixel electrode, and a common electrode disposed on the organic light emitting member. |
| US07876036B2 |
Light emitting apparatus and manufacturing method therefor
A light emitting apparatus, includes: a light emitting device accommodating body, which has a recessed portion wherein a light emitting device is accommodated; a wiring pattern, which is provided for the light emitting device accommodating body 11 and is electrically connected to the light emitting device; a light transmitting substrate, which is mounted on the light emitting device accommodating body and completely closes the recessed portion; and a phosphor-containing, ultraviolet curing resin, which is so deposited that, opposite to the light emitting device accommodating body, the face of the light transmitting member is covered. |
| US07876031B2 |
Piezoelectric thin-film acoustic wave device and information processing unit using the same
A piezoelectric thin-film acoustic wave device formed of a piezoelectric thin film of AlN on the +C plane and having the polarization strength of not lower than 0.63×10−20 F/V and an information processing unit using the same are disclosed. This is the result of the inventors having studied the factors other than the C-axis orientation affecting the electromechanical coupling factor and developing a method of improving the electromechanical coupling factor in view of the occasional fact that the electromechanical coupling factor cannot be improved by improving the C-axis orientation and the electromechanical coupling factor required for the piezoelectric thin-film acoustic wave device is not obtained. In such a case, the receiving sensitivity of the receiving system may be deteriorated and the transmission strength of the transmission system is required to be increased undesirably having an adverse effect on the power saving efforts. |
| US07876030B2 |
Ultrasonic transducer which is either crimped or welded during assembly
An ultrasonic transducer includes: piezoelectric elements; a pair of clamping members which clamp said piezoelectric elements; and a cover member which is crimped to at least one of said pair of clamping members in a state where said cover member cooperates with said pair of clamping members to surround said piezoelectric elements. |
| US07876029B2 |
Piezoelectric device with irradiation damage preventing seal
A piezoelectric device includes: a piezoelectric resonator element; a package storing the piezoelectric resonator element therein in a manner to mount the piezoelectric resonator element on a base portion thereof composed of at least three layers that are layered; and a through hole penetrating through the base portion. In the device, the through hole includes a first hole formed on a first layer which is positioned to face the piezoelectric resonator element among the three layers; a second hole formed on a second layer contacting with the first layer; a third hole formed larger than the second hole on a third layer contacting with the second layer; and a metal coat formed on an inner wall surface of the second hole, and a sealing part for sealing the package is formed with a sealant in at least the second hole. |
| US07876024B2 |
Device and method for influencing vibration of a planar element
The invention is a device for influencing the vibration of a planar element having two opposite surfaces and a neutral fiber plane running between the two surfaces including at least one actuator and at least one sensor which each are provided with transducer materials and are connected to at least one electronic component or an electronic module. The at least one actuator and at least one sensor are completely integrated into the planar element so as to be spaced from the two surfaces as well as from the neutral fiber plane. |
| US07876012B2 |
Dynamo electric machine with an alloy member
A dynamoelectric machine comprising a stator having a plurality of slots and teeth, armature windings wound around the teeth, and a rotor disposed inside the stator, wherein an alloy member is disposed in the inner periphery of the stator and the magnetic compensator has its surface or inside thereof a high resistance layer. |
| US07876010B2 |
Passive magnetic bearing configurations
A journal bearing provides vertical and radial stability to a rotor of a passive magnetic bearing system when the rotor is not rotating and when it is rotating. In the passive magnetic bearing system, the rotor has a vertical axis of rotation. Without the journal bearing, the rotor is vertically and radially unstable when stationary, and is vertically stable and radially unstable when rotating. |
| US07876008B2 |
Fan and motor having multiple insulators with an axially protruding conductor pin
Axially upper and lower end surfaces of the stator core 41 are substantially covered by the first insulator 421 and the second insulators 422, both of which are made of resin. A boss 4222 is arranged circumferentially between the two neighboring teeth 411. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, three bosses 4222 are arranged at three out of four positions defined between any two neighboring teeth 411. A conductor pin 43 is inserted into each boss 4222 along the axial direction. The boss 4222 includes a hole extending axially upward from the axially lower end thereof, in which a conductor pin 43 is fitted. An axially lower position of the conductor pin 43 axially downwardly protrudes from the boss 4222. Into each of the notched portions 441 arranged to the circuit board 44, the conductor pin 43 is inserted and is soldered with the circuit board 44 such that the conductor pin 43 and the circuit board are electrically connected. |
| US07876004B2 |
Electric power tool with a rotatable brush plate
The invention is based on an electrical power tool with an electrical machine, having a motor housing that receives the electrical machine and having a rotatable brush plate for reversing a direction of rotation of the electrical machine. The brush plate is covered in its cross section by a pivotable cover. |
| US07875999B2 |
Electronic apparatus and fuel cell system
A PDA, which functions as an electronic unit, includes power supply which includes a fuel cell unit and an auxiliary power supply which is charged by an output of the fuel cell unit. A non-use state of the PDA is detected by non-use detection unit. Upon detection of the non-use state by the non-use detection unit, the output from the fuel cell unit is stopped and an output of the auxiliary power supply is shut off. |
| US07875997B2 |
Circuit interruption device
A circuit interruption device (110) is provided in which an interruption element (112) and a fuse element (114) are configured electrically in parallel. The interruption element includes an electrical conductor and a current interrupter capable of severing the electrical conductor to eliminate its capacity to carry current. An exemplary embodiment of a circuit interruption device is capable of detecting an interrupt control signal and actuating in response to the signal. |
| US07875990B2 |
Wind-energy power machine and storage energy power generating system and wind-driven power generating system
The wind-energy power machine and storage energy power generating system and wind-driven power generation system belong to the field of wind-energy power machine and power generating and equipments technology. The wind-energy power machine consists of a center rotating body, several frame portions and a wind pressure push mechanism provided in each frame portion; the central rotating body of the wind-energy power machine is vertically and rotationally installed on the special high frame structure which has wind collection wall, it has extremely high wind utilizing efficiency and power generating effect through the large scale motor and power generating system constituted by vertical or the horizontal integrated system or the combined system of integration of vertical series connection and parallel connection. |
| US07875982B2 |
Semiconductor device for preventing voids in the contact region and method of forming the same
A semiconductor device includes: an interlayer insulation film; a lower interconnection layer; an upper interconnection layer; and a via hole extending through the interlayer insulation film to establish electric connection between the lower and upper interconnections; wherein a plurality of interconnection lines is provided in the lower interconnection layer, and a contact region is formed for contact with the via hole by partially joining at least two interconnection lines, and a void exists in a first region of the interlayer insulation film located between adjacent interconnection lines, and no void exists in a second region of the interlayer insulation film located between a contacting portion of the via hole in the contact region and an interconnection line adjacent to the contact region, whereby reliably preventing any contact between a via hole and a void formed in an interlayer insulation film even when the via hole is greatly displaced. |
| US07875978B2 |
Metal line having a multi-layered diffusion layer in a semiconductor device and method for forming the same
A metal line having a multi-layered diffusion layer in a resultant semiconductor device is presented along with corresponding methods of forming the same. The metal line includes an insulation layer, a multi-layered diffusion barrier, and a metal layer. The insulation layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate and has a metal line forming region. The multi-layered diffusion barrier is formed on a surface of the metal line forming region defined in the insulation layer. The diffusion barrier includes a VB2 layer, a CrV layer and a Cr layer. The metal layer is formed on the diffusion barrier which substantially fills in the metal line forming region of the insulation layer to eventually form the metal line. |
| US07875977B2 |
Barrier layers for conductive features
Barrier layers for conductive features and methods of formation thereof are disclosed. A first barrier material is deposited on top surfaces of an insulating material, and a second barrier material is deposited on sidewalls of the insulating material, wherein the second barrier material is different than the first barrier material. The first barrier material induces grain growth of a subsequently deposited conductive material at a first rate, and the second barrier material induces grain growth of the conductive material at a second rate, wherein the second rate is slower than the first rate. |
| US07875972B2 |
Semiconductor device assembly having a stress-relieving buffer layer
Disclosed is a multilayer thermal interface material which includes a first layer of metallic thermal interface material, a buffer layer and preferably a second layer of thermal interface material which may be metallic or nonmetallic. The multilayer thermal interface material is used in conjunction with a semiconductor device assembly of a chip carrier substrate, a heat spreader for attaching to the substrate, a semiconductor device mounted on the substrate and underneath the heat spreader and the multilayer thermal interface material interposed between the heat spreader and the semiconductor device. The heat spreader has a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), CTE1, the buffer layer has a second CTE, CTE2, and the semiconductor device has a third CTE, CTE3, wherein CTE1>CTE2>CTE3. |
| US07875969B2 |
Rigid-flex printed circuit board with weakening structure
A rigid-flex PCB includes at least one rigid PCB (RPCB) and at least one flexible PCB (FPCB). Each RPCB has a connection section; first and second sections separately extended from two lateral edges of the connection section and having at least one FPCB bonding side each; and a weakening structure formed along each joint of the connection section and the first and second sections. Each FPCB has a bending section corresponding to the connection section on the RPCB; first and second sections separately extended from two lateral edges of the bending section and having at least one RPCB bonding side each corresponding to the FPCB bonding sides of the first and second sections of the RPCB. When a proper pressure is applied against the weakening structures, the RPCB may be easily bent broken at the weakening structures to remove the connection section therefrom. |
| US07875961B2 |
Semiconductor substrate of GaAs and semiconductor device
A semiconductor substrate, of GaAs with a semiconductor layer sequence applied on top of the substrate. The semiconductor layer sequence comprises a plurality of semiconductor layers of Al1-yGayAs1-xPx with 0≦x≦1 and 0≦y≦1. A number of the semiconductor layers respectively comprising a phosphorus component x which is greater than in a neighboring semiconductor layer lying thereunder in the direction of growth of the semiconductor layer sequence. Two semiconductor layers directly preceding the uppermost semiconductor layer of the semiconductor layer sequence have a smaller lattice constant than the uppermost layer. |
| US07875959B2 |
Semiconductor structure having selective silicide-induced stress and a method of producing same
The channel of a MOSFET is selectively stressed by selectively stressing the silicide layers on the gate electrode and the source/drain. Stress in the silicide layer is selectively produced by orienting the larger dimensions of the silicide grains in a first direction and the smaller dimensions in a second, perpendicular direction, with one of the directions being parallel to the direction of carrier movement in the channel and the other direction being perpendicular thereto. |
| US07875958B2 |
Quantum tunneling devices and circuits with lattice-mismatched semiconductor structures
Structures include a tunneling device disposed over first and second lattice-mismatched semiconductor materials. Process embodiments include forming tunneling devices over lattice-mismatched materials. |
| US07875953B2 |
Low crosstalk substrate for mixed-signal integrated circuits
An integrated circuit laminate with a metal substrate for use with high performance mixed signal integrated circuit applications. The metal substrate provides substantially improved crosstalk isolation, enhanced heat sinking and an easy access to a true low impedance ground. In one embodiment, the metal layer has regions with insulation filled channels or voids and a layer of insulator such as unoxidized porous silicon disposed between the metal substrate and a silicon integrated circuit layer. The laminate also has a plurality of metal walls or trenches mounted to the metal substrate and transacting the silicon and insulation layers thereby isolating noise sensitive elements from noise producing elements on the chip. In another embodiment, the laminate is mounted to a flexible base to limit the flexion of the chip. |
| US07875950B2 |
Schottky diode structure with multi-portioned guard ring and method of manufacture
In one embodiment, a semiconductor structure comprises a multi-portioned guard ring that includes a first portion and a second portion formed in a region of semiconductor material. A conductive contact layer forms a first Schottky barrier with the region of semiconductor material. The conductive contact layer overlaps the second portion and forms a second Schottky barrier that has an opposite polarity to the first Schottky barrier. The conductive contact layer does not overlap the first portion, which forms a pn junction with the region of semiconductor material. |
| US07875947B2 |
Filter, color filter array, method of manufacturing the color filter array, and image sensor
Provided are color filters formed of alternately stacked inorganic materials having different refractive indices, a color filter array, a method of manufacturing the color filter array, and an image sensor. A color filter can include a substrate and first and second inorganic films configured to filter light of a specific wavelength corresponding to a predetermined color, wherein the first and second inorganic films can be alternately stacked on the substrate and have different refractive indices from each other. The refractive index difference between the first inorganic film and the second inorganic film is at least 0.8. The color filter can be formed by alternately stacking the first and second inorganic films. The first inorganic film and the second inorganic film can have a refractive index of 1.3 to 6.0 in a visible light region of 400 to 700 nm, and can be formed of a material selected from the group consisting of SiO2, SiON, SiN, and Si. |
| US07875945B2 |
Rear electrode structure for use in photovoltaic device such as CIGS/CIS photovoltaic device and method of making same
A photovoltaic device including a rear electrode which may also function as a rear reflector. In certain example embodiments of this invention, the rear electrode includes a metallic based reflective film that is oxidation graded, so as to be more oxided closer to a rear substrate (e.g., glass substrate) supporting the electrode than at a location further from the rear substrate. In other words, the rear electrode is oxidation graded so as to be less oxided closer to a semiconductor absorber of the photovoltaic device than at a location further from the semiconductor absorber in certain example embodiments. In certain example embodiments, the interior surface of the rear substrate may optionally be textured so that the rear electrode deposited thereon is also textured so as to provide desirable electrical and reflective characteristics. In certain example embodiments, the rear electrode may be of or include Mo and/or MoOx, and may be sputter-deposited using a combination of MoOx and Mo sputtering targets. |
| US07875939B2 |
Semiconductor device including an ohmic layer
In an ohmic layer and methods of forming the ohmic layer, a gate structure including the ohmic layer and a metal wiring having the ohmic layer, the ohmic layer is formed using tungsten silicide that includes tungsten and silicon with an atomic ratio within a range of about 1:5 to about 1:15. The tungsten silicide may be obtained in a chamber using a reaction gas including a tungsten source gas and a silicon source gas by a partial pressure ratio within a range of about 1.0:25.0 to about 1.0:160.0. The reaction gas may have a partial pressure within a range of about 2.05 percent to about 30.0 percent of a total internal pressure of the chamber. When the ohmic layer is employed for a conductive structure, such as a gate structure or a metal wiring, the conductive structure may have a reduced resistance. |
| US07875928B2 |
Component arrangement having an evaluation circuit for detecting wear on connections
A component arrangement having an evaluation circuit for detecting wear on connections is disclosed. The component arrangement has the following features: a semiconductor body having at least one semiconductor component which is integrated in the semiconductor body and has at least one first connection zone, a first contact zone which is applied to the semiconductor body and contact-connects the at least one first connection zone in an electrically conductive manner, a contact element which is connected to the contact zone in an electrically conductive manner by means of at least one connection, the at least one contact zone having at least two contact zone sections which are arranged at a distance from one another and are each connected to the contact element in an electrically conductive manner by means of at least one connection, and an evaluation circuit being connected to the two contact zone sections. |
| US07875927B2 |
Semiconductor device including capacitor element and method of manufacturing the same
In a semiconductor device, a memory region and a logic region are provided on one silicon substrate. A trench is provided in the silicon substrate in the memory region, a memory cell transistor is provided in the memory region and a logic transistor is provided in the logic region. The memory cell transistor includes a first gate electrode constituted by a metal material. The first gate electrode is provided to be buried in the trench and to protrude outside of the trench. The logic transistor includes a second gate electrode constituted by same material as the metal material constituting the first gate electrode. |
| US07875924B2 |
Flash memory device and method for fabricating the same
An embedded flash memory device and a method for fabricating the same which reduces the size of a memory device using logic CMOS fabricating processes and enhancing a coupling ratio of the memory device. The flash memory device includes a coupling oxide layer on an active area of a semiconductor substrate, a first control gate formed on and/or over the coupling oxide layer and a second control gate formed on and/or over and enclosing lateral sidewalls of the coupling oxide layer and the first control gate. |
| US07875922B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory and process of producing the same
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory of an aspect of the present invention comprises a semiconductor substrate, a pillar-shaped semiconductor layer extending in the vertical direction with respect to the surface of the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of memory cells arranged in the vertical direction on the side surface of the semiconductor layer and having a charge storage layer and a control gate electrode, a first select gate transistor arranged on the semiconductor layer at an end of the memory cells on the side of the semiconductor substrate, and a second select gate transistor arranged on the semiconductor layer on the other end of the memory cells opposite to the side of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the first select gate transistor includes a diffusion layer in the semiconductor substrate and is electrically connected to the pillar-shaped semiconductor layer by way of the diffusion layer that serves as the drain region. |
| US07875921B2 |
Non-volatile memory device for 2-bit operation and method of fabricating the same
A non-volatile memory device for 2-bit operation and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The non-volatile memory device includes an active region and a gate extending in a word line direction on a semiconductor substrate, and crossing each other repeatedly; a charge storage layer disposed below the gate, and confined at a portion where the gate and the active region cross; a charge blocking layer formed on the charge storage layer; a tunnel dielectric layer formed below the charge storage layer; first and second source/drain regions formed in the active region exposed by the gate; and first and second bit lines crossing the word line direction. The active region may be formed in a first zigzag pattern and/or the gate may be formed in a second zigzag pattern in symmetry with the first zigzag pattern. |
| US07875920B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
Provided are a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device, for example, a semiconductor device using carbon nanotubes or nanowires as lower electrodes of a capacitor, and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device may include a lower electrode including a plurality of tubes or wires on a semiconductor substrate, a dielectric layer on the surface of the lower electrode, and an upper electrode on the surface of the dielectric layer, wherein the plurality of tubes or wires radiate outwardly from each other centering on the lower portion of the plurality of tubes or wires. Thus, the off current of the capacitor may be increased by increasing the surface area of the lower electrodes of the capacitor. |
| US07875919B2 |
Shallow trench capacitor compatible with high-K / metal gate
Forming a shallow trench capacitor in conjunction with an FET by forming a plurality of STI trenches; for the FET, implanting a first cell well having a first polarity between a first and a second of the STI trenches; for the capacitor, implanting a second cell well having a second polarity in an area of a third of the STI trenches; removing dielectric material from the third STI trench; forming a gate stack having a first portion located between the first and the second of the STI trenches and a second portion located over and extending into the third trench; and performing a source/drain implant of the same polarity as the second cell well, thereby forming a FET in the first cell well, and a capacitor in the second cell well. The second polarity may be opposite from the first polarity. An additional implant may reduce ESR in the second cell well. |
| US07875918B2 |
Multilayer image sensor pixel structure for reducing crosstalk
An image sensor pixel includes a substrate, a first epitaxial layer, a collector layer, a second epitaxial layer and a light collection region. The substrate is doped to have a first conductivity type. The first epitaxial layer is disposed over the substrate and doped to have the first conductivity type as well. The collector layer is selectively disposed over at least a portion of the first epitaxial layer and doped to have a second conductivity type. The second epitaxial layer is disposed over the collector layer and doped to have the first conductivity type. The light collection region collects photo-generated charge carriers and is disposed within the second epitaxial layer. The light collection region is also doped to have the second conductivity type. |
| US07875917B2 |
Image sensor and method for manufacturing the same
An image sensor and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. In the image sensor, a semiconductor substrate has a pixel region and a peripheral region defined by a first device isolation layer. First and second photodiode patterns are formed on the pixel region and are connected to lower metal lines to first and second readout circuitries. The first photodiode pattern performs as an active photodiode and the second photodiode pattern functions as a dummy pixel. The dummy pixel can measure leakage current. |
| US07875915B2 |
Integrated circuit comprising a photodiode of the floating substrate type and corresponding fabrication process
An integrated circuit includes at least one photodiode associated with a read transistor. The photodiode is formed from a stack of three semiconductor layers comprising a buried layer, an floating substrate layer and an upper layer. The drain region and/or the source region of the transistor are incorporated within the upper layer. The buried layer is electrically isolated from the upper layer so as to allow the buried layer to be biased independently of the upper layer. |
| US07875912B2 |
Zrx Hfy Sn1-x-y O2 films as high k gate dielectrics
The use of atomic layer deposition (ALD) to form a nanolaminate dielectric of zirconium oxide (ZrO2), hafnium oxide (HfO2) and tin oxide (SnO2) acting as a single dielectric layer with a formula of Zrx Hfy Sn1-x-y O2, and a method of fabricating such a dielectric layer is described that produces a reliable structure with a high dielectric constant (high k). The dielectric structure is formed by depositing zirconium oxide by atomic layer deposition onto a substrate surface using precursor chemicals, followed by depositing hafnium oxide onto the substrate using precursor chemicals, followed by depositing tin oxide onto the substrate using precursor chemicals, and repeating to form the thin laminate structure. Such a dielectric may be used as a gate insulator, a capacitor dielectric, or as a tunnel insulator in non-volatile memories, because the high dielectric constant (high k) provides the functionality of a much thinner silicon dioxide film. |
| US07875906B2 |
Photodetector and production method thereof
The invention offers a photodetector that has an N-containing InGaAs-based absorption layer having a sensitivity in the near-infrared region and that suppresses the dark current and a production method thereof. The photodetector is provided with an InP substrate 1, an N-containing InGaAs-based absorption layer 3 positioned above the InP substrate 1, a window layer 5 positioned above the N-containing InGaAs-based absorption layer 3, and an InGaAs buffer layer 4 positioned between the N-containing InGaAs-based absorption layer 3 and the window layer 5. |
| US07875901B2 |
Optical device package and optical semiconductor device using the same
An optical device package comprises: a metal frame including a substrate and a rectangular die pad portion integrally connected to the substrate, wherein the substrate is a metal plate, and the die pad portion is bent from the substrate such that the die pad portion extends from the substrate at an angle of 90 degrees; signal lead pins extend in the opposite directions from the die pad portion relative to the substrate such that the first lead pins intersect the principal surfaces of the substrate at a right angle and are spaced apart from the metal frame; and a molded resin member including a plate-like resin base extending across and in contact with one of the principal surfaces of the substrate, wherein the signal lead pins protrude from a surface of the resin base; surfaces of the signal lead pins are covered with the molded resin member; and the metal frame and the signal lead pins are secured in place by the molded resin member. |
| US07875898B2 |
Semiconductor device
The inventive method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device using irradiation with laser light to partition a substrate having semiconductor layers formed thereon, with gallium contained in at least one of the substrate and the semiconductor layers, wherein the method comprises: forming grooves to be used as boundaries between individual substrates by irradiating the substrate along partitioning locations with laser light, immersing the substrate into an acid solution, and partitioning the substrate into individual substrates along the boundaries where grooves are formed. In this manner, it provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device in which, during the partitioning of a gallium-containing semiconductor device substrate, deposits of gallium compounds adhered during laser irradiation are removed, partitioning surfaces are formed flat and uniform, and the incidence of electrode continuity failures and resin peeling is low. |
| US07875897B2 |
Light emitting device
A light emitting device having: a light-emitting portion having a light emitting element flip-chip mounted, a first power supply portion that supplies power to the light emitting element, and an inorganic sealing material that seals the light emitting element; a second power supply portion that supplies power to the light-emitting portion; and a resin that seals the light-emitting portion. The resin comprises an optical-shaped surface. |
| US07875896B2 |
Transparent positive electrode
An object of the present invention is to provide a positive electrode having high transparency, low contact resistance and excellent current diffusibility and not requiring electron beam irradiation, high-temperature annealing or heat treatment, for alloying, in an oxygen atmosphere.The inventive transparent positive electrode for gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor light-emitting devices comprises a contact metal layer in contact with a p-type semiconductor layer, a current diffusing layer on the contact metal layer, the current diffusing layer having an electrical conductivity larger than that of the contact metal layer, and a bonding pad layer on the current diffusing layer. |
| US07875895B2 |
Organic light emitting diode (OLED) display and method of manufacturing the same
An organic light emitting display includes a substrate, an OLED including an anode electrode, a cathode electrode and an organic thin film formed between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, a reflective layer on the OLED, the reflective layer comprising a laminated first material and second material, the first material and the second material having different refractive indices, and an encapsulation layer on the reflective layer, the encapsulation layer comprising at least one of organic thin film and inorganic thin film. |
| US07875891B2 |
Light source device, light source module, and method of making the light source device
A light source device includes a lead frame, a first solid-state lighting chip, a first transparent encapsulation, a second solid-state lighting chip, and a second transparent encapsulation. The first solid-state lighting chip and the second solid-state lighting chip are respectively located at two opposite sides of the lead frame and electrically connected to the lead frame. The first transparent encapsulation and the second transparent encapsulation respectively encapsulate the first solid-state lighting chip and the second solid-state lighting chip. |
| US07875884B2 |
Hetero-crystalline structure and method of making same
A hetero-crystalline device structure and a method of making the same include a first layer and a nanostructure integral to a crystallite in the first layer. The first layer is a non-single crystalline material. The nanostructure is a single crystalline material. The nanostructure is grown on the first layer integral to the crystallite using epitaxial growth. |
| US07875883B2 |
Electric device using solid electrolyte
The present invention relates to a transistor for selecting a storage cell and a switch using a solid electrolyte. In a storage cell, a metal is stacked on a drain diffusion layer of a field-effect transistor formed on a semiconductor substrate surface. The solid electrolyte using the metal as a carrier is stacked on the metal. The solid electrolyte contacts with the metal via a gap, and the metal is connected to a common grounding conductor. A source of the field-effect transistor is connected to a column address line, and a gate of the field-effect transistor is connected to a row address line. |
| US07875879B2 |
Light-emitting element, light-emitting device, electronic device and quinoxaline derivative
A substrate including a semiconductor layer, where characteristics of an element can be evaluated with high reliability, and an evaluating method thereof are provided. A substrate including a semiconductor layer of the invention has a closed-loop circuit in which an antenna coil and a semiconductor element are connected in series, and a surface of an area over which the circuit is formed is covered with an insulating film. By using such a circuit, a contactless inspection can be carried out. Further, a ring oscillator can be substituted for the closed-loop circuit. |
| US07875870B2 |
Recording medium type identification device with optical sensors
According to the present invention, during identification of recording medium type, positioning of a recording medium at a measurement position for measuring the recording medium is facilitated, and the number of sensors for measuring the recording medium is reduced. In addition to identifying recording medium type, the top/reverse of the inserted recording medium can also be identified by way of a simple construction. A recording medium identification device, which identifies the type of a recording medium inserted through an insertion slot, comprises a plurality of sensors arranged in a band-like region having a predetermined width, in a depth direction, and a plurality of sensors arranged in a band-like region having a predetermined width, in a width direction. Data of two types of dimensions, combining dimensions of the recording medium in the depth direction and the width direction, is acquired by respectively arranging the a plurality of sensors in two partially overlapping band-like regions arrayed forming an L-shape. A plurality of types of recording media can be identified with increased identification precision by identifying the type of the recording medium based on such combined data of two types of dimensions. |
| US07875866B2 |
Beam recording apparatus and beam adjustment method
An electron beam recording apparatus includes: a displacement detection unit including at least three displacement sensors disposed at each different angle in a radial direction of the turntable; a shape calculation unit for calculating, based on the detected displacements by the at least three displacement sensors, shape data corresponding to displacements of side surface of the turntable in the radial directions; a rotation runout computing unit for computing, based on the shape data and at least one displacement detected by the at least three displacement sensors, rotation runout of the turntable including a rotation asynchronous component and a rotation synchronous component; and a beam irradiation position adjustment unit for adjusting an irradiation position of the electron beam based on the rotation runout. |
| US07875865B2 |
EUV illumination system with a system for measuring fluctuations of the light source
The disclosure relates to an EUV (extreme ultraviolet) illumination system. The system can include at least one EUV light source, and an aperture stop and sensor arrangement for the measurement of intensity fluctuations and/or position changes of the EUV light source, in particular in the range of the effectively utilized wavelengths, or of one of the intermediate images of the EUV light source. The aperture stop and sensor arrangement can include an aperture stop and an EUV position sensor. The aperture stop and sensor arrangement can be arranged in such a way that the aperture stop allows a certain solid angle range of the radiation originating from the EUV light source or from one of its intermediate images to fall on the EUV position sensor. |
| US07875862B1 |
Ultraviolet plant eradication apparatus and method
An ultraviolet plant eradication system providing an ultraviolet radiation beam delivered by at least one ultraviolet laser dispersing a selected bandwidth of ultraviolet radiation to an area containing certain specific plants in a pattern, projects the ultraviolet laser radiation beam into the ground area containing plants, the adjustable bandwidth of the ultraviolet radiation determined by the specific bandwidth optimally adapted to disrupt the cellular structure of the selected plant to be exterminated by the ultraviolet radiation, the system being applied by either a ground delivered vehicle or an airborne vehicle. |
| US07875861B2 |
Positioning device for positioning a patient and method for operating a positioning device
The invention relates to a positioning device for positioning a patient in a medical device comprising a patient receiving device for placing a patient and a robot arm having a plurality of movement axes for positioning the patient receiving device in a room. The positioning device can be placed into a manual operating mode in which a position of the patient receiving device in the room can be changed manually. The invention also relates to a method for operating the positioning device, comprising: providing a normal operating mode for positioning the patient receiving device automatically at a position predefined by a control device; providing a manual operating mode for manually changing a position of the patient receiving device; and switching from the normal operating mode into the manual operating mode if a switchover condition is present. The invention further relates to an irradiation device having the positioning device. |
| US07875851B1 |
Advanced process control framework using two-dimensional image analysis
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates utilizing a resolution enhancement for a circuit feature. A scanning electron microscope component (104, 204, 304, 404) can provide at least one two-dimensional image of the circuit feature. An image analysis engine (106, 206, 306, 406) can analyze the two-dimensional image. An advanced process control (APC) engine (108, 208, 308, 408) can generate at least one instruction for at least one of a feed forward control and a feedback control and a process component (102, 202, 302, 402) can utilize the at least one instruction to minimize an error. |
| US07875844B2 |
Absolute-type encoder and method for detecting absolute position
An absolute-type encoder includes an absolute-type encoder wheel. The absolute-type encoder wheel includes a primary optical grating unit and two secondary optical grating units, wherein the two secondary optical grating units are arranged outside and inside the primary optical grating unit and contain one less optical grating than that of the primary optical grating unit. The encoder wheel is rotated to find a zero point in the light detection signal of the secondary optical grating unit, and a corresponding light detection value of the primary optical grating unit is also determined based on the zero point. The absolute position of the encoder wheel can be calculated with reference to the corresponding light detection value. The absolute-type encoder can also be used as an incremental-type encoder to provide more versatility. |
| US07875843B2 |
Color filters and method of fabricating the same in image sensor
An image sensor and a method for fabricating the same having enhanced sensivity. The image sensor enhances sensitivity and minimizes optical loss by isolating color filters from each other using a metal that has superior light reflection properties while having no effect on the color filters during deposition of the metal. |
| US07875840B2 |
Imager device with anti-fuse pixels and recessed color filter array
An imager device having a recessed color filter array formed in a trench of a material layer above a pixel array. Light-sensitive pixels are formed in the center area of the array, while non-light-sensitive pixels are formed in a buffer region adjacent the light-sensitive pixels and beneath an area of the color filter array having a non-uniform thickness. The non-light-sensitive pixels may be anti-fuse pixels functioning as individual, programmable memory cells, thereby providing in-pixel memory for the imager device. |
| US07875839B2 |
Solid state imaging device that generates color pixel signals corresponding to a color filter
A solid state imaging device comprises a color filter, a pixel, and first and a second output lines. The color filter has color filter components of a first and second color. Each pixel is covered by the color filter component and has a photoelectric conversion element. The photoelectric conversion element generates color pixel signals according to amount of light received by the photoelectric conversion element. A first pixel is covered by the first color filter component. A first color pixel signal is generated by the first pixel. The first output line outputs only the first color pixel signal. A second pixel is covered by the second filter component. A second color pixel signal is generated by the second pixel. The second output line outputs only the second color pixel signal. The first and second pixels are arranged in two dimensions. |
| US07875834B2 |
Oven for cooking food
An oven for cooking food, the oven comprising: an enclosure (2) for receiving the food to be heated and for containing a cooking atmosphere, the enclosure (2) comprising two horizontal walls forming respectively a bottom wall (9) and a top wall (10), interconnected by at least two vertical side walls (7, 8), the enclosure (2) being closed by at least one door (5) that is likewise vertical, and communicating with the outside via an exhaust opening (28) for exhausting gas inside the enclosure (2) and at a pressure above atmospheric pressure; and a heater device (11) for heating the cooking atmosphere. |
| US07875829B2 |
Thermal flux processing by scanning a focused line beam
The thermal processing device includes a stage, a continuous wave electromagnetic radiation source, a series of lenses, a translation mechanism, a detection module, a three-dimensional auto-focus, and a computer system. The stage is configured to receive a substrate thereon. The continuous wave electromagnetic radiation source is disposed adjacent the stage, and is configured to emit continuous wave electromagnetic radiation along a path towards the substrate. The series of lenses is disposed between the continuous wave electromagnetic radiation source and the stage, and are configured to condense the continuous wave electromagnetic radiation into a line of continuous wave electromagnetic radiation on a surface of the substrate. The translation mechanism is configured to translate the stage and the line of continuous wave electromagnetic radiation relative to one another. The detection module is positioned within the path, and is configured to detect continuous wave electromagnetic radiation. |
| US07875828B2 |
Laser irradiation apparatus
A laser irradiation apparatus includes a plurality of laser heads from which a laser is irradiated, can adjust arranged intervals of the laser heads, and moves freely to irradiate the laser along a shape of a subject. A laser oscillator oscillates a laser. A plurality of laser heads linearly irradiate the laser oscillated by the laser oscillator. A first driving means adjusts arranged intervals of the laser heads, and moves the laser heads in an X direction. A second driving means moves the laser heads in a Y direction different from the X direction. |
| US07875825B2 |
Plasma generating equipment
A method for generating plasma and a method for elemental analysis, each comprising the steps of providing a narrow portion in a flow channel made of an insulation material, the narrow portion having a cross-sectional area markedly smaller than a cross-sectional area of the flow channel; filling the flow channel and the narrow portion with a conductive liquid, and thereafter applying an electric field to the narrow portion, to conduct the electric field through the narrow portion, thereby generating plasma at the narrow portion. An apparatus for generating plasma, the apparatus for generating plasma comprising a narrow portion in a flow channel made of an insulation material, the narrow portion having a cross-sectional area markedly smaller than a cross-sectional area of the flow channel; and a means of applying an electric field to the narrow portion to conduct the electric field through the narrow portion; and an apparatus for emission spectroscopic analysis comprising the apparatus for generating plasma as defined above. |
| US07875821B2 |
Method for sorting integrated circuit devices
A method for sorting integrated circuit (IC) devices of the type having a substantially unique identification (ID) code, such as a fuse ID, including automatically reading the ID code of each of the IC devices and sorting the IC devices in accordance with their automatically read ID codes, is disclosed. |
| US07875817B2 |
Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus includes plural operation buttons, through which each switch on a board can be compressed, and a connection part configured to connect two operation buttons out of the plural operation buttons with each other while maintaining the two operation buttons apart from each other, and to return a compressed operation button through an elastic force, wherein the connection part is arranged below an operation button that is located between the two operation buttons among the plural operation buttons. |
| US07875815B2 |
Key sheet and pushbutton switch
The present invention provides a key sheet in which adjacent key tops are prevented from moving in conjunction with each other even when intervals between the key tops are designed to be narrow, and which facilitates a depressing operation by eliminating interference between the adjacent key tops. Further, the present invention provides a pushbutton switch using the above-mentioned key sheet. When a central key top is depressed, a portion of a soft sheet positioned between the key top and the key tops therearound is deformed to a large degree. On the other hand, a hard sheet is flexed entirely to a portion extending to a portion directly below the key tops. As a result, a clearance portion between the soft sheet and the hard sheet is formed. Therefore, the left and right key tops do not move in conjunction with each other, thereby making it possible to prevent erroneous input. Further, the peripheral key tops are not affected by the depressing operation of the central key top, thereby making it possible to suppress a depressing operation load to be small. |
| US07875807B2 |
Elastic conductive resin, and electronic device including elastic conductive bumps made of the elastic conductive resin
An electronic device includes an electronic part including at least one first electrode, a substrate including at least one second electrode, and at least one bump formed on the at least one first electrode and formed from an elastic conductive resin including a resin having rubbery elasticity, and an acicular conductive filler including a surface layer coated with one of gold, silver, nickel, and copper. The at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode are electrically connected to each other by mechanically contacting the at least one bump with the at least one second electrode. |
| US07875803B2 |
Electric bushing and a method of manufacturing an electric bushing
A bushing for electrical current and/or voltage through a grounded plane. A substantially rotationally symmetrical insulating body surrounds a central electrical conductor. The bushing includes a sealing member for gas/liquid sealing between the conductor and the insulator body. The bushing includes a compressible sealing element, which forms a gas/liquid seal, integrated with the insulating body, between the conductor and the insulating body. A method of manufacturing a bushing. |
| US07875802B2 |
Thermoplastic-based, carbon nanotube-enhanced, high-conductivity layered wire
A conductive wire includes a thermoplastic filament having a circumference and a plurality of coating layers dispersed about the circumference of the thermoplastic filament. The coating layers include a plurality of conductive layers comprising aligned carbon nanotubes dispersed therein and at least one thermoplastic layer between each pair of conductive layers. |
| US07875798B2 |
Rain shielded box for exiting through siding
A mounting box for installation on an exterior wall of a building. The mounting box has a box-shaped structure having a substantially horizontally disposed top surface when in situ, a nailing flange around a perimeter of the box-shaped structure, a downwardly and outwardly inclined shoulder on each side of the top surface, the shoulders each having a shoulder surface and a plurality of notches along an outer edge of the shoulder surface which attract and constrain the flow of water along the shoulders. |
| US07875794B2 |
Semiconductor wafer processing to increase the usable planar surface area
The invention provides a method for increasing the usable surface area of a semiconductor wafer having a substantially planar surface and a thickness dimension at right angles to said substantially planar surface, the method including the steps of selecting a strip thickness for division of the wafer into a plurality of strips, selecting a technique for cutting the wafer into the strips at an angle to the substantially planar surface, in which the combined strip thickness and width of wafer removed by the cutting is less than the thickness of the wafer, cutting the wafer into strips using the selected technique and separating the strips from each other. |
| US07875792B2 |
Apparatus and method for forming a photovoltaic device
The present disclosure relates to a device for concentrating light onto a photovoltaic target. In one embodiment, the device may include a transparent concentrating lens having an outside surface and a top and bottom portion wherein the bottom portion may be configured to receive concentrated light. A photovoltaic strip including a conducting strip are then provided along with film adhered to at least a portion of the outside surface of the concentrating lens wherein the film engages the lens and positions the photovoltaic strip at the lens bottom portion. A dielectric fluid may then be located between the lens and the film. |
| US07875791B2 |
Method for manufacturing a thermopile on a membrane and a membrane-less thermopile, the thermopile thus obtained and a thermoelectric generator comprising such thermopiles
A method for manufacturing thermopile carrier chips comprises forming first type thermocouple legs and second type thermocouple legs on a first surface of a substrate and afterwards removing part of the substrate form a second surface opposite to the first surface, thereby forming a carrier frame from the substrate and at least partially releasing the thermocouple legs from the substrate, wherein the thermocouple legs are attached between parts of the carrier frame. First type thermocouple legs and second type thermocouple legs may be formed on the same substrate or on a separate substrate. In the latter approach both types of thermocouple legs may be optimised independently. The thermocouple legs may be self-supporting or they may be supported by a thin membrane layer. After mounting the thermopile carrier chips in a thermopile unit or in a thermoelectric generator, the sides of the carrier frame to which no thermocouple legs are attached are removed. A thermoelectric generator according to the present disclosure may be used for generating electrical power, for example for powering an electrical device such as a watch. It may be used with a heat source and/or heat sink with high thermal resistance, such as a human body. |
| US07875789B2 |
Waveform generating apparatus, sound effect imparting apparatus and musical sound generating apparatus
A synthesizer 10 is configured such that when a PC 30 is connected thereto, the synthesizer 10 accepts selection of a tone used for sound generation from among a tone included in an internal tone generation unit 16 and a tone included in a tone generation module 312 provided by the external PC 30, and causes the PC 30 to enable the function of the tone generation module 312, downloads an edit operation accepting program corresponding to the tone generation module 312 from a UI control program memory 315 of the PC 30, and executes the downloaded edit operation accepting program to thereby realize a function of editing data of the tone included in the tone generation module 312, the data being stored in the PC 30, when the tone included in the tone generation module 312 of the PC 30 is selected. |
| US07875786B2 |
Instructional device and method for guitar or other stringed instrument
An instructional device and method for illustrating note positions in combinations corresponding to chords formed on a musical instrument is provided. The device includes a display that defines a plurality of note positions along each of a plurality of lines. The note positions correspond to the positions along the strings of the instrument such as the fret positions along the strings of a guitar. A plurality of markers are disposed along each of the lines, and each marker is configured to adjust between the note positions along a respective one of the lines, i.e., to positions corresponding to each of the notes along the corresponding string of the instrument. The markers are structured to be adjusted to a first predetermined configuration in which indicia on the markers indicate a chordal relationship between the corresponding note positions, and relative to a select note. |
| US07875780B1 |
Inbred corn line LLD20BM
An inbred corn line, designated LLD20BM, the plants and seeds of the inbred corn line LLD20BM, methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, produced by crossing the inbred corn line LLD20BM with itself or with another corn plant, and hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line LLD20BM with another corn line or plant and to methods for producing a corn plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic corn plants produced by that method. This invention also relates to inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line LLD20BM, to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line LLD20BM and to the inbred corn lines derived by the use of those methods. |
| US07875779B2 |
Plants and seeds of corn variety CV309595
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV309595. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV309595, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV309595 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV309595 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV309595. |
| US07875778B2 |
Plants and seeds of corn variety CV042972
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV042972. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV042972, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV042972 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV042972 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV042972. |
| US07875775B2 |
Plants and seeds of corn variety CV374246
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV374246. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV374246, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV374246 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV374246 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV374246. |
| US07875773B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH600622
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH600622. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH600622, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH600622 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH600622. |
| US07875769B1 |
Soybean variety A1016497
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1016497. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1016497. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1016497 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1016497 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US07875764B2 |
Nucleotide sequences mediating male fertility and method of using same
Nucleotide sequences mediating male fertility in plants are described, with DNA molecule and amino acid sequences set forth. Promoter sequences and their essential regions are also identified. The nucleotide sequences are useful in mediating male fertility in plants. In one such method, the homozygous recessive condition of male sterility causing alleles is maintained after crossing with a second plant, where the second plant contains a restoring transgene construct having a nucleotide sequence which reverses the homozygous condition. The restoring sequence is linked with a hemizygous sequence encoding a product inhibiting formation or function of male gametes. The maintainer plant produces only viable male gametes which do not contain the restoring transgene construct. Increase of the maintainer plant is also provided by self-fertilization, and selection for seed or plants which contain the construct. |
| US07875763B2 |
Fructan biosynthetic enzymes
This invention relates to isolated nucleic acid fragments encoding fructosyltransferases. More specifically, this invention relates to polynucleotides encoding 1-FFTs, 6-SFTs, or 1-SSTs. The invention also relates to the construction of a recombinant DNA constructs encoding all or a portion of the fructosyltransferases, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the recombinant DNA construct results in production of altered levels of the fructosyltransferases in a transformed host cell. |
| US07875762B2 |
Method of producing an exogenous protein in the egg of a chicken
This invention provides for proteins which are expressed in the avian oviduct, packaged into eggs laid by the avian and removed from the eggs. |
| US07875761B2 |
Bevelled foam
The invention relates to a foam dressing with a bevelled edge and where the density at the edge is higher than the density at the central part of the foam. The high density at the edges causes gel blocking of the wound exudate thereby preventing leakage of exudate through the edges. In a preferred embodiment the foam dressing is non-adhesive. The foam dressing may have a water-impervious backing layer, which extends all the way over the top of the dressing and down to the wound-contacting surface. The wound dressing is particularly useful in treatment of venous ulcers in connection with compression bandages, as the bevelling of the edges markedly reduces the indentations in the leg following use of this dressing when compared to a dressing with straight edges. |
| US07875757B2 |
Combination reforming and isomerization process
A reforming and isomerization process has been developed. A reforming feedstream is charged to a reforming zone containing a reforming catalyst and operating at reforming conditions to generate a reforming zone effluent. Hydrogen and an isomerization feedstream is charged into an isomerization zone to contact an isomerization catalyst at isomerization conditions to increase the branching of the hydrocarbons. The isomerization catalyst is a solid acid catalyst comprising a support comprising a sulfated oxide or hydroxide of at least an element of Group IVB, a first component being at least one lanthanide series element, mixtures thereof, or yttrium, and a second component being a platinum group metal or mixtures thereof. The reforming zone effluent and the isomerization zone effluent are each separated to form a light ends stream and a product stream. The light ends streams are combined for processing in a net gas re-contacting zone. |
| US07875756B2 |
Process for producing lower olefins under negative pressure
A process for producing lower olefins is disclosed. The technical problem is to overcome the defects presented in the prior art including high reaction pressure, high reaction temperature, low yield and selectivity of lower olefins as the target products, poor stability and short life of catalyst, and limited suitable feedstocks. The disclosed process, which is carried out under the conditions of catalytic cracking olefins and adopts as a feedstock an olefins-enriched mixture containing one or more C4 or higher olefins and optionally an organic oxygenate compound, comprises the steps of: a) letting the feedstock contact with a crystalline aluminosilicate catalyst having a SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio of at least 10, to thereby produce a reaction effluent containing lower olefins; and b) separating lower olefins from the reaction effluent; wherein, the reaction pressure is from −0.1 MPa to <0 MPa. |
| US07875755B2 |
Cracking C5+ paraffins to increase light olefin production
A process for increasing the light olefin production from light paraffins is presented. The process includes separating paraffins from olefin streams and separately processing the paraffins. |
| US07875753B2 |
2-bromo-2,2-dichloroethyl aromatics and process for preparation thereof
The present invention relates to novel 2-bromo-2,2-dichloroethyl aromatics of the formula (V) in which Ar is as defined above and to processes for preparation thereof. |
| US07875748B2 |
Compound derived from cyclopentadienone, preparation method thereof and EL element using the same
Disclosed are compounds represented by formula (1), wherein m, X, R1, R2, R3, R1′, R2′, R3′, and Ar are described herein. The inventive cyclopentadienone compounds can be used as core materials for an organic electroluminescence element or other optical devices. The invention also describes methods for preparing compounds of formula (1). |
| US07875744B2 |
4-((phenoxyalkyl)thio)-phenoxyacetic acids and analogs
The invention features 4-((phenoxyalkyl)thio)-phenoxyacetic acids and analogs, compositions containing them, and methods of using them as PPAR modulators to treat or inhibit the progression of, for example, dyslipidemia. |
| US07875742B2 |
Hydrogenation processes
The present invention is directed to a process for hydrogenating one or more organic compounds especially unsaturated organic compounds by bringing the compound into contact with a hydrogen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst, which comprises one or more catalytically active metals applied to a porous catalyst support. The one or more catalytically active metals having been derived via a decomposed organic complex of the metal on the support, in particular amine complexes of the metal. The decomposed complex may be treated with hydrogen to activate the catalyst before use as a hydrogenation catalyst. |
| US07875739B2 |
Method of decomposing organophosphorus compounds
Methods and kits for decomposing organophosphorus compounds in non-aqueous media at ambient conditions are described. Insecticides, pesticides, and chemical warfare agents can be quickly decomposed to non-toxic products. The method comprises combining the organophosphorus compound with a non-aqueous solution, preferably an alcohol, comprising metal ions and at least a trace amount of alkoxide ions. In a first preferred embodiment, the metal ion is a lanthanum ion. In a second preferred embodiment, the metal ion is a transition metal. |
| US07875736B2 |
Intermediate compounds and processes for the preparation of 7-benzyloxy-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2H-1-benzopyran
Disclosed herein is a compound of formula (I): wherein: Bn represents benzyl; Me represents methyl; and Y represents an oxygen atom or a CH2 group. The compound of formula (I) can be used in the preparation of 7-benzyloxy-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2H-1-benzopyran,Preparation processes of said compound of formula (I) are also disclosed herein. |
| US07875735B2 |
Processes for preparing isoflavonoids using 7-benzyloxy-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2H-1-benzopyran as a starting material
Disclosed herein are processes for the preparation of isoflavonoids, in particular haginin E, equol, daidzein, formononetin and the like, in which 7-benzyloxy-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2H-1-benzopyran is used as a common starting material. |
| US07875734B2 |
Low pressure carbonylation of heterocycles
Heterocycles, e.g., epoxides, are carbonylated at low pressure with high percentage conversion to cyclic, ring expanded products using the catalyst where L is tetrahydrofuran (THF). |
| US07875726B2 |
Thiazolidin-4-one derivatives
The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing at least one thiazolidin-4-one derivative to prevent or treat disorders associated with an activated immune system. Furthermore, the invention relates to novel thiazolidin-4-one derivatives notably for use as pharmaceutically active compounds. Said compounds particularly act also as immunosuppressive agents. |
| US07875723B2 |
S-omeprazole magnesium
The present invention discloses a process for preparing a magnesium salt of S-omeprazole. The S-omeprazole salt preferably has a water content below about 4.8% by weight, a magnesium content of about 3.4-4.0% by weight, calculated on the weight of anhydrous, solvent free S-omeprazole magnesium, and has an optical purity of at least about 85% entantiomeric excess (“e.e.”). In addition, the present invention provides a magnesium salt of S-omeprazole which is substantially free of neutral omeprazole, meaning that the product contains less than about 3% by weight of a sum of neutral S-omeprazole and neutral omeprazole. Moreover, the S-omeprazole magnesium according to the invention preferably has assay of related substances and degradation products of less than about 0.1% by weight as determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). |
| US07875722B2 |
Method for producing quinolone carboxylic acid derivative
The present invention relates to a method for producing a quinolone compound having high antibacterial activity and high safety, at high yield and in a simple manner.A quinolonecarboxylic acid derivative (1) of interest is produced through a one-pot manner by reacting a compound (2) with a salt of a cyclic amine (3) and with a boron derivative in a solvent in the presence of a base. |
| US07875721B2 |
Compounds for binding to ERα/β and GPR30, methods of treating disease states and conditions mediated through these receptors and identification thereof
The current invention is in the field of molecular biology/pharmacology and provides compounds which modulate the effects of GPR30 as well as the classical estrogen receptors alpha and beta (ERα and ERβ). These compounds may function as agonists and/or antagonists of one or more of the disclosed estrogen receptors. Diseases which are mediated through one or more of these receptors include cancer (particularly breast, reproductive and other hormone-dependent cancers, leukemia, colon cancer, prostate cancer), reproductive (genito-urological) including endometritis, prostatitis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, bladder control, hormone-related disorders, hearing disorders, cardiovascular conditions including hot flashes and profuse sweating, hypertension, stroke, obesity, osteoporosis, hematologic diseases, vascular diseases or conditions such as venous thrombosis, atherosclerosis, among numerous others and disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system, including depression, insomnia, anxiety, multiple sclerosis, neuropathy, neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, as well as inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, coeliac (celiac) disease and related disorders of the intestine. A contraceptive indication to prevent or reduce the likelihood of pregnancy after intercourse is a further aspect of the present invention. |
| US07875709B2 |
Nucleic acids encoding interleukin-18 mutants
The invention provides mutants of IL-18 with lower affinity to IL-18BP than the wild type IL-18 molecule. |
| US07875704B2 |
Anti-PLGF antibody
The present invention provides novel monoclonal antibodies directed to PlGF and fragments and derivatives thereof, more particularly to humanized antibodies and fragments thereof for use in the treatment and/or prevention of pathological angiogenesis. |
| US07875698B2 |
Polymeric initiators
A novel polymeric initiator is disclosed comprising a dendritic polymer core with at least one initiating functional group as an end group. The dendritic polymeric core is preferably a hyperbranched polymer. The polymeric initiators are useful in radiation curable compositions such as varnishes, lacquers and printing inks and are especially useful in radiation curable inkjet inks. |
| US07875691B2 |
Polyethylene composition with improved stress crack resistance/stiffness relation for blow moulding
The present invention relates to a polyethylene composition wherein (i) the composition has an MFR2 of 0.05 to 100 g/10 min, (ii) the environmental stress crack resistance ESCR measured according to the FNCT at 12 MPa and 23° C. in hours and the E-modulus EM measured according to ISO 527-2: 1993 satisfy the following relation: ESCR>−0.244 EM h/MPa+416 h (I). |
| US07875690B2 |
Ethylene-alpha olefin copolymers and polymerization processes for making the same
A process for the production of an ethylene alpha-olefin copolymer is disclosed. The process includes polymerizing ethylene and at least one alpha-olefin by contacting the ethylene and the at least one alpha-olefin with a metallocene catalyst in at least one gas phase reactor at a reactor pressure of from 0.7 to 70 bar and a reactor temperature of from 20° C. to 150° C. to form an ethylene alpha-olefin copolymer. The resulting ethylene alpha-olefin copolymer may have a density of 0.927 g/cc or greater and environmental stress crack resistance (ESCR) of 500 hr or more when measured according to ASTM 1693/B in 10% Igepal. |
| US07875689B2 |
Ink receptive particle, material for recording, recording apparatus and ink receptive particle storage cartridge
An ink receptive particle comprising an organic resin that is formed by a hydrophilic monomer component and a hydrophobic monomer component, wherein hydrophilic groups in the organic resin include a hydrophilic group having a salt structure and a hydrophilic group not having a salt structure. |
| US07875686B2 |
Polycycloolefin polymeric compositions for semiconductor applications
Polymeric compositions for semiconductor applications comprising 10 to 99 wt. % of norbornene-type cycloolefin monomers represented by one or more of Formula I(a), I(b), and optionally I(c) and/or I(d), 0.0005 to 0.5 wt. % of an addition polymerization procatalyst, and optionally: up to 0.5 wt. % of a cocatalyst, up to 59 wt. % of a crosslinking monomer, up to 50 wt. % of a viscosifier, up to 20 wt. % of a thixotropic additive(s), up to 80 wt. % of a filler, up to 10 wt. % of an antioxidant, and up to 0.6 wt. % of an antioxidant synergist, the total of the components of the formulation adding up to 100%. Such formulations are mass polymerized, or cured, to form polymeric compositions that have properties desirable for a variety of specific electronic, microelectronic, optoelectronic and micro-optoelectronic applications such as die attach adhesives, underfill materials, prepreg binders, encapsulants, protective layers, and other related applications. |
| US07875684B2 |
Thermosetting water-based paint and coating film-forming methods
The invention discloses thermosetting water-based paint comprising water-dispersible acrylic polymer particles which are obtained through multi-stage emulsion polymerization of radical polymerizable unsaturated monomers using a specific reactive emulsifying agent, said monomers comprising amido-containing radical polymerizable unsaturated monomer having at least 2 radical polymerizable unsaturated groups per molecule, methacrylic acid and hydroxyl-containing radical polymerizable unsaturated monomer; and coating film-forming methods which use the thermosetting water-based paint. |
| US07875683B2 |
Process for the metathetic degradation of nitrile rubber
The metathetic degradation of nitrile rubber can be improved by use of a combination of metal-carbene complex catalysts with specific transition metal additives. |
| US07875682B2 |
Propylene block copolymer and process for production thereof
Disclosed is a propylene block copolymer having excellent flexibility and impact resistance and showing a good polymer powder form. Also disclosed is a process for producing the copolymer. More specifically, the copolymer is a novel propylene block copolymer which satisfies a specific requirement and is produced by a process comprising continuously performing a multi-step polymerization composed of a former step in which a propylene homopolymer component or a specific propylene copolymer component is produced in the presence of a metallocene catalyst carried on a support and a latter step in which propylene and a specific copolymer component are produced by gas phase polymerization. |
| US07875681B2 |
Process for recycling polyolefin blend composition using an ethylene copolymer compatibilizing agent
A process is provided for preparing polymer composites from compositions comprising i) a polyolefin, ii) a polymer selected from the group consisting of polymers having hydroxyl groups and polymers having amino groups and iii) a polar ethylene copolymer having copolymerized units selected from the group consisting of C4-C8 unsaturated anhydrides, monoesters of C4-C8 unsaturated acids having at least two carboxylic acid groups, diesters of C4-C8 unsaturated acids having at least two carboxylic acid groups and mixtures thereof. The process is suitable for use with recycle streams that contain polymeric materials that are laminates or composites of dissimilar polymers. |
| US07875680B2 |
Eva blend compositions suitable for RF welding applications
Disclosed are films obtained from blends of ethylene copolymers with organic acid salt-modified potassium ionomeric copolymers. The films of the present invention can be welded using RF energy. |
| US07875679B2 |
Polypropylene resin composition and film thereof
A polypropylene resin composition comprising 40 to 80% of a polypropylene component (A) comprising a copolymer of propylene with ethylene and/or a C4-12 α-olefin, or a homopolymer of propylene, and 20 to 60% of a copolymer component (B) containing copolymer (B-1) and copolymer (B-2), wherein both (B-1) and (B-2) are copolymers of propylene with ethylene and/or a C4-12 α-olefin, in (B-1) the amount of units derived from propylene is more than 50% to 85%, and in (B-2) the amount of units derived from propylene is 15 to 50%, the molecular weight distribution is 3.0 or less, and blockness is 1.3 or less; in which composition the amount of (B-2) is 3% or more, and the ratio of the limiting viscosity of (B-1) to the viscosity of (A). is 1.5 or less, and the ratio of the limiting viscosity of (B-1) to the viscosity of (B-2) is 0.8 or more. |
| US07875662B2 |
Method for preparing surface-imprinted polymer microspheres having a core-shell form for selective separation of heavy metal ions
A method of preparing surface-imprinted microspheres having a core-shell form for selective separation of heavy metal ions, includes reacting a metal salt of a heavy metal with a monomer having at least one group that reacts with the metal salt under conditions effective to prepare a metal ion-containing monomer; mixing the metal ion-containing monomer with a cross-linker monomer and a polymerization initiator in a solvent to provide a mixture; subjecting styrene to dispersion polymerization to provide polystyrene beads that serve as a core; causing absorption of dibutyl phthalate onto the polystyrene beads to provide dibutyl phthalate-containing polystyrene beads; adding the mixture to the dibutyl phthalate-containing polystyrene beads, causing absorption of the metal ion-containing monomer onto the dibutyl phthalate-containing polystyrene beads, and causing polymerization of the absorbed monomer with the cross-linker monomer to provide the surface-imprinted microspheres; and causing removal of the metal ions to provide imprinted sites. |
| US07875661B2 |
Ordered polymer system and intraocular lens
An intraocular lens with an ordered polymer system contained within a lens capsule or a membrane in the lens capsule. The ordered polymer system includes at least one negatively charged copolymer comprising hydrophilic groups, anionic groups and hydrophobic groups, and at least one positively charged copolymer comprising hydrophilic groups, cationic groups and hydrophobic groups. The at least one negatively charged copolymer and the at least one positively charged copolymer are associatively arranged through non-covalent interactions in the lens capsule or the membrane. |
| US07875659B2 |
Water-soluble macromonomers containing terminal unsaturation and a process for the preparation thereof
This invention provides a water-soluble macromonomer having terminal unsaturation obtained by polymerization of monomers in the presence of inclusion complex of chain transfer agent in aqueous system. Hydrophobic chain transfer agent AMSD forms an inclusion complex with methylated cyclodextrin. The complexation enhances its solubility in water and enables the polymerization of water-soluble monomers in aqueous medium. After polymerization cyclodextrin is removed and the macromer with terminal unsaturation obtained can be used further for copolymerization with any vinyl monomer. |
| US07875655B2 |
Carpet waste composite
A composite material produced from carpet waste and a binding agent, in intimate association, which material includes 25% and 99% carpet waste and between 1 and 25% binding agent. A method for manufacturing the composite material is also disclosed. |
| US07875646B2 |
Derivatives of N-[(1,5-diphenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)methyl] sulfonamide, their preparation and their application in therapeutics
The present invention relates to compounds corresponding to the formula (I): In which R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are as described herein. The invention also relates to the method of preparation of said compounds and their application in therapeutics. |
| US07875645B2 |
Method for the treatment of CNS disorders with substituted 2-imidazoles or imidazole derivatives
The present invention relates a method for treating depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, stress-related disorders, psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease, neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, migraine, hypertension, substance abuse and metabolic disorders such as eating disorders, diabetes, diabetic complications, obesity, dyslipidemia, disorders of energy consumption and assimilation, disorders and malfunction of body temperature homeostasis, disorders of sleep and circadian rhythm, and cardiovascular disorders which comprises administering to an individual a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I wherein R, R1, R2, A and n are as defined in the specification and to their pharmaceutically active salts. The invention also relates to novel compounds of formula I, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and methods for their preparation. |
| US07875644B2 |
1-acyldihydropyrazole derivatives
Compounds of the formula (I), in which R1, R2, R3a, R3b, R3c and R3d have the meanings indicated in claim 1, are inhibitors of tyrosine kinases, in particular Met kinase, and can be employed, inter alia, for the treatment of tumours. |
| US07875642B2 |
Crystalline forms of an inhibitor of 11-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1
Novel crystalline salts of 3-[1-(4-chlorophenyl)-trans-3-fluorocyclobutyl]-4,5-dicyclopropyl-r-4H-1,2,4-triazole are potent inhibitors of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase Type 1 and are useful for the treatment of conditions associated with Metabolic Syndrome as well as cognitive impairment. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing these novel salts, processes to prepare these salts and their pharmaceutical compositions as well as uses thereof for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, hyperglycemia, obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and cognitive impairment. |
| US07875641B2 |
Sesquihydrate hydrochloride salt of irbesartan
The present invention relates to sesquihydrate hydrochloride salt of irbesartan and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same. |
| US07875640B2 |
Compounds as cannabinoid receptor ligands
The present application relates to thiazolylidene containing compounds of formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, L2 and A are as defined in the specification. Compositions comprising such compounds, and methods for treating conditions and disorders using such compounds and compositions are also disclosed. |