| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08000552B2 |
Image scaling method and related apparatus
An apparatus for scaling an input image is disclosed. The apparatus includes a resolution determining circuit and a scaler. The determining circuit determines the resolution of the input image. The scaler includes a scaling filter with an adjustable number of filter taps and scales the input image to output scaled pixels, wherein an amount of taps of scaling filter corresponds to the resolution of the input image. |
| US08000546B2 |
Adaptive scan method for image/video coding
An adaptive scan method for image/video coding in accordance with the present invention comprises acts of calculating an average power of the transformed coefficients vector and acts rearranging the powers of the transformed coefficients with descending order in the data block according to the power of transformed coefficients; Therefore, the adaptive scan method is dependent on different prediction mode witch has been coded in H.264 standard, and provides better rate-distortion performance in entropy coding to the conventional zig-zag scan. |
| US08000545B2 |
Method for accessing image data and method for accessing YUV420 image data
A method for accessing image data and a method for accessing YUV420 image data are disclosed. The method for accessing image data uses two different approaches to a buffer for accessing the JPEG image data, so that the method can achieve instant JPEG image data compression with only one buffer. |
| US08000544B2 |
Image processing method, image processing apparatus and recording medium
When generating output image data represented by a reduced number of gray levels from gray level image data, an image processing apparatus subtracts a pixel value of a selected pixel from a pixel value of adjacent pixel, amplifies the reduced value obtained by the subtraction, adds the amplified value to a numerical value in a numerical matrix, and finds a pixel value in the output image data represented by a reduced number of gray levels of pixel values, based on a value obtained by further adding a value obtained by adding the amplified value to the numerical value in the numerical matrix to a predetermined value. |
| US08000542B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing image data based on object movement speed within a frame
An apparatus for processing a non-interlaced image includes a wavelet transform part and a determination part. The wavelet transform part performs two-dimensional discrete wavelet transform of a level higher than or equal to level one on the data of the non-interlaced image. The determination part determines the movement speed of an object within the non-interlaced image based on at least the values of the wavelet coefficients of a 1LH sub-band of the wavelet coefficients obtained by the wavelet transform unit. |
| US08000541B2 |
Quantization differencing compression algorithm
The compression algorithm presented here is intended for the types of digital images acquired by solar system exploring spacecraft and missions, but can be utilized for all types of sequential data. It is lossy, but results in images whose Peak Signal to Noise Ratio remains in excess of 30 decibels, considered to be the threshold of being indistinguishable from the original image.Currently employed spacecraft compression algorithms are probabilistic, and are costly in terms of spacecraft weight, power, computation, memory and volume requirements.The algorithm submitted is non-probabilistic, requires less than 1 kilobyte of programming and memory space for computations, has low power and weight requirements, and can reside on a single Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), and.It processes utilizing addition and comparison only—no advanced numerical solution generation, function generation by series expansion, or other mathematical processing is required. |
| US08000537B2 |
Optical vision chip (OVC) and image recognition method using the same
Provided are an optical vision chip (OVC) and an image recognition method using the OVC. The OVC includes: a first display displaying an object image; a second display displaying a standard model image; and an optical sensor optically or electrically coupling the object image and the standard model image respectively displayed on the first and second displays and outputting a difference between the object image and the standard model image as an electrical signal. |
| US08000533B2 |
Space-time video montage
Systems and methods for space-time video montage are described. In one aspect, one or more arbitrary space-time volumes representing informative video portion(s) of at least one input video data sequence are identified. A video summary representing a montage of the at least one input video data sequence is generated for presentation to user from the one or more arbitrary space-time volumes. |
| US08000528B2 |
Method and apparatus for authenticating printed documents using multi-level image comparison based on document characteristics
A document authentication method compares a target document image (scanned image) with an original document image at multiple levels, such as block (e.g. paragraph, graphics, image), line, word and character levels. The paragraph level comparison determines whether the target and original images have the same number of paragraphs and whether the paragraphs have the same sizes and locations; the line level comparison determines if the target and original images have the same number of lines and whether the lines have the same sizes and locations; etc. Document segmentation is performed on the target and original images to segment them into paragraph units, line units, etc. for purposes of the comparisons. The original document may be segmented beforehand and the segmentation information stored for later use. The authentication process may be designed to stop when alterations are detected at a higher level, so lower level comparisons are not carried out. |
| US08000523B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method
An image processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises an object area extracting unit for extracting an object area including an object pixel and pixels adjacent to the object pixel from a bayer pattern image; a fault pixel judging unit for determining if the object pixel is a fault pixel based on levels of the adjacent pixels and a fault pixel judgment standard range that varies according to a level of the object pixel; and a fault pixel correcting unit for correcting the level of the object pixel determined to be a fault pixel based on a level average value of the adjacent pixels and a fault pixel correction standard range that varies according to the level average value of the adjacent pixels.Therefore, the present invention can remove a hot pixel and noise effectively. |
| US08000516B2 |
Manufacturing method of plugged honeycomb structure
A manufacturing method of a plugged honeycomb structure including attaching a transparent sheet to an end face of a honeycomb structure; picking up an image of the end face; with respect to cells positioned at other than outermost peripheral portion of a honeycomb structure (usual cells), subjecting the picked-up image to image processing, recognizing positions to be plugged on said sheet, and with respect to cells positioned at outermost peripheral portion (outermost peripheral cells), positions of the cells are recognized based on an average cell pitch calculated from the positions of the cells, subjecting to a perforation treatment based on the recognized positions of the sheet, submerging an end portion into a plugging slurry in which a material of the plugging portions is slurried, filling holes made at the respective sheet with the slurry to form the plugging portions. |
| US08000514B2 |
Methods for mobile image capture and processing of checks
The present invention relates to automated document processing and more particularly, to methods and systems for document image capture and processing using mobile devices. In accordance with various embodiments, methods and systems for document image capture on a mobile communication device are provided such that the image is optimized and enhanced for data extraction from the document as depicted. These methods and systems may comprise capturing an image of a document using a mobile communication device; transmitting the image to a server; and processing the image to create a bi-tonal image of the document for data extraction. Additionally, these methods and systems may comprise capturing a first image of a document using the mobile communication device; automatically detecting the document within the image; geometrically correcting the image; binarizing the image; correcting the orientation of the image; correcting the size of the image; and outputting the resulting image of the document. |
| US08000512B2 |
Slit collimator scatter correction
A technique is presented for establishing a patient's BMD using a dual-energy X-ray imaging system. In the technique, the dual-energy X-ray imaging system utilizes a slit collimator to expose a series of portions of a region of interest within a patient with X-rays of two different energies. A flat-panel digital X-ray detector detects the X-rays passing through the patient's region of interest and produces data representative of the intensity of the X-rays reaching the detector. The image intensity data is corrected for scatter based on identifying the regions of the image intensity data that are produced from scatter only, and not primary X-rays. A first-order derivative of the image intensity data is used to identify these regions. A value for the intensity of the scatter at the boundary of the scatter-only region is established. The value for the intensity of the scatter at the boundary of the scatter-only region is used to estimate scatter intensity in the region of the image intensity data that is produced from primary X-rays, as well as scatter. To correct the image intensity data for scatter, the known and estimated scatter intensities are subtracted from the image intensity data. |
| US08000510B2 |
Method and control device to control a slice image acquisition system
In a method and control device to control a slice image acquisition system, a scan protocol is initially selected from a number of scan protocols, and then an automatic control of the slice image acquisition system (13) ensues on the basis of the selected scan protocol by automatic receipt of previous information regarding the examination subject, automatic synchronization of the previous information with information regarding scan protocol-specific parameters of scan protocols, and automatic selection of the scan protocol, from among the number of scan protocols, that has parameters exhibiting the greatest compatibility with the received previous information according to an established rule. |
| US08000509B2 |
Image processing method for a microscope system
An embodiment is disclosed for performing the image processing for analyzing the results of a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) microscopic automated sample analysis to determine specific chromosomal characteristics. |
| US08000508B2 |
User interface for motion analysis in kinematic MR studies
In a diagnostic imaging system (10), a user interface (82) facilitates viewing of 4D kinematic data sets. A set of reference points is selected in a first 3D image to designate an anatomical component. An algorithm (104) calculates a propagation of the selected reference points from the first 3D image into other 3D images. Transforms which describe the propagation of the reference points between 3D images are defined. An aligning algorithm (112) applies inverse of the transforms to the 3D images to define a series of frames for the video processor (120) to display, in which frames the designated anatomical component defined by the reference points in each of the 3D images remains fixed while the other portions of the anatomical region of interest move relative to the fixed designated anatomical component. |
| US08000505B2 |
Determining the age of a human subject in a digital image
The age class of a human subject is ascertained in a digital image. The subject has a redeye defect pair; each defect having one or more defect pixels. In the method, two regions of pixels corresponding to the defects are identified. The distance between the regions is measured. A region size is determined, based upon the size of at least one of the regions. An age class is determined from the distance and region size. |
| US08000502B2 |
Portable memory storage device with biometric identification security
A portable memory storage device is disclosed where access to information on the device is granted only upon proper biometric authentication of a user. The device includes a controller, a non-volatile memory which may be a flash memory, and a biometric scanner system for controlling access to the information within the non-volatile memory. Each of the controller, non-volatile memory and biometric scanner system may be mounted in a base of the portable device, with the biometric system having an exposed surface on a top portion of the base for accepting biometric data such as a fingerprint. A cover is provided which includes a USB connector capable of mating within a USB port of the host device to establish communications between the portable and host devices. The cover also covers the exposed portion of the biometric scanner to protect the sensor when the portable memory storage device is not in use. |
| US08000500B2 |
System and method for analyzing of human motion based on silhouettes of real time video stream
A system and method for analyzing the motions of an object based on the silhouettes of the object are provided. The system includes a foreground detector, a contour extractor, a model generator, a corner histogram generator, and a value of similarity measuring unit. The foreground detector detects a moving foreground object from an input image. The contour extractor extracts silhouette contour of the detected foreground object, and the model generator generates mean value histogram models as references to determine motions of the object. The corner histogram generator generates corner histograms of hierarchical multiband in the extracted contour signal, and the value of similarity measuring unit calculates a value of similarity between the generated corner histogram of a current frame and the average model histogram in a histogram unit, measures a value making a value of similarity with the calculated current frame histogram maximum, and determines the measured value as a posture of the object in the current frame. |
| US08000493B2 |
Method and system for watermark embedding in a multimedia system-on-chip
Methods and systems for watermark embedding in a multimedia system-on-chip are disclosed and may comprise decrypting an encrypted and signed watermarking signal using a security processor integrated within the system-on-chip and embedding a watermark into a multimedia signal utilizing the decrypted watermarking signal, which may comprise an embedding key, a message to be embedded, and embedding parameters. The encrypted and signed watermarking signal may be received from an external memory via a host CPU within the system-on-chip or a secure server. The decrypted watermarking signal may be verified utilizing a signature, a public key and a random number generated locally. The verified watermarking signal may be stored on a non-volatile memory within the system-on-chip, or re-encrypted and re-signed before storing on a non-volatile memory that is external to the system-on-chip. The watermarking signal may be retrieved from the external non-volatile memory and re-decrypted and re-verified within the system-on-chip. |
| US08000492B2 |
Earphone set
An earphone set includes an earphone and a hanger. The earphone includes a shell and a shaft extending from the shaft. The hanger includes a bushing, a connector and a hook. The bushing is mounted on the shaft. The connector includes an annular portion mounted on the bushing. The bushing cannot be rotated in the annular portion just because of a torque derived from the weight of the earphone. However, when additionally subjected to a proper torque, the bushing can be rotated in the annular portion. The hook is rotationally connected to the connector. |
| US08000491B2 |
Transducer device and assembly
The invention concerns a transducer device and assembly. A transducer device and assembly according to the invention comprise sheet of electrical insulator covering connection pads of a transducer component. The sheet of electrical insulator has on its surface connection pads that have galvanic contacts with the connection pads of the transducer component. Inside or on a surface of the sheet of electrical insulator there are electrical conductors connected with the connection pads of the sheet of electrical insulator. With the aid of the sheet of electrical insulator equipped with the connection pads and electrical conductors the transducer component can be mounted to a wiring board in a desired orientation, i.e. the connection pads of the transducer component do not need to be against the wiring board. |
| US08000488B2 |
Method of preparing of an ear mold and the ear mold thereof
In regard to an ear mold for a hearing aid, there are provided the ear mold which a metal bush is settled in a tube for joint of the hearing aid, the metal bush has been used on account of settlement of said tube for joint of the hearing aid, and which a tube is adhered by an adhesive, the adhesive has been used on account of settlement of said tube. However, said ear mold has disadvantages that said tube is easily moved for the reason of instability, said tube drops out from the ear mold, and the ear mold has the problem of a phenomenon of a howling by sound leak-out.An ear mold E based on custom-made impression 1 and joined the ear hook hearing aid, also, in said ear mold E, a hub 12 having an elbow-loading-hole 121, a sound-leading tube loading hole 122 and an introductory-hole of a ear mold forming material 123 were embedded into an ear mold 17, a sound-leading tube 14 was loaded the sound-leading tube loading hole 122 of the hub 12, an elbow 13 was joined (loaded) with said elbow-loading hole 121 of the hub 12, the elbow 13 was loaded a tone tube 21, the hub 12 was fixed the body portion of the ear mold forming material 17 through the introductory-hole of the ear mold forming material 123, and a method of preparing of thereof. |
| US08000487B2 |
Frequency translation by high-frequency spectral envelope warping in hearing assistance devices
Disclosed herein, among other things, is a system for frequency translation by high-frequency spectral envelope warping in hearing assistance devices. The present subject matter relates to improved speech intelligibility in a hearing assistance device using frequency translation by high-frequency spectral envelope warping. The system described herein implements an algorithm for performing frequency translation in an audio signal processing device for the purpose of improving perceived sound quality and speech intelligibility in an audio signal when presented using a system having reduced bandwidth relative to the original signal, or when presented to a hearing-impaired listener sensitive to only a reduced range of acoustic frequencies. |
| US08000484B2 |
Speaker system for a gaming machine
A system includes a chair having an electrical connection to electrically connect the chair to a gaming device and a speaker package incorporated into the chair and coupled to the electrical connection. The speaker package includes a speaker mounted to a central member between a first shell defining a front cavity and a second shell defining a back cavity. |
| US08000482B2 |
Microphone array processing system for noisy multipath environments
Apparatus and a corresponding method for processing speech signals in a noisy reverberant environment, such as an automobile. An array of microphones (10) receives speech signals from a relatively fixed source (12) and noise signals from multiple sources (32) reverberated over multiple paths. One of the microphones is designated a reference microphone and the processing system includes adaptive frequency impulse response (FIR) filters (24) enabled by speech detection circuitry (21) and coupled to the other microphones to align their output signals with the reference microphone output signal. The filtered signals are then combined in a summation circuit (18). Signal components derived from the speech signal combine coherently in the summation circuit, while noise signal components combine incoherently, resulting in composite output signal with an improved signal-to-noise ratio. The composite output signal is further processed in a speech conditioning circuit (20) to reduce the effects of reverberation. |
| US08000480B2 |
Automotive audio system adapted for roadway conditions
A vehicle mounted audio multimedia system has a variable audio volume adapted to changes in the condition of a road surface. A vehicle occupant manually sets a desired audio volume level. Motion is sensed within a suspension system of the vehicle during travel of the vehicle. A roughness value is determined in response to the motion. The roughness value is transformed into a volume boost, the volume boost generally increasing with an increase in the roughness value. The volume boost is added to the desired audio volume level to provide the audio gain. |
| US08000469B2 |
Authentication engine architecture and method
Provided is an architecture (hardware implementation) for an authentication engine to increase the speed at which multi-loop and/or multi-round authentication algorithms may be performed on data packets transmitted over a computer network. Authentication engines in accordance with the present invention apply a variety of techniques that may include, in various applications, collapsing two multi-round authentication algorithm (e.g., SHA1 or MD5 or variants) processing rounds into one; reducing operational overhead by scheduling the additions required by a multi-round authentication algorithm in such a matter as to reduce the overall critical timing path (“hiding the ads”); and, for a multi-loop (e.g., HMAC) variant of a multi-round authentication algorithm, pipelining the inner and outer loops. In one particular example of applying the invention in an authentication engine using the HMAC-SHA1 algorithm of the IPSec protocol, collapsing of the conventional 80 SHA1 rounds into 40 rounds, hiding the ads, and pipelining the inner and outer loops allows HMAC-SHA1 to be conducted in approximately the same time as conventional SHA1. |
| US08000466B2 |
Method and apparatus for multiparty collaboration enhancement
A telecommunications system includes a network; a plurality of user devices operably coupled to said network and including a microphone and a speaker; a collaboration server configured to cause a playing of one or more test tones at said plurality of user devices and compensate for feedback if said test tones are detected by microphones associated with said plurality of user devices. |
| US08000465B2 |
Systems and methods for endpoint recording using gateways
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for recording media communications an exemplary method is comprised of the following steps: receiving instructions at a gateway to record an incoming call; receiving the incoming call from a calling communication device; determining whether to record the incoming call based on the received instructions; routing the incoming call to a called communication device in a customer center; responsive to the determination to record the incoming call, duplicating the media communications via the gateway; transmitting the duplicated media communications associated with the incoming call via the gateway; and recording the duplicated media communications. |
| US08000463B2 |
Telephone system
A telephone system comprising a first phone terminal belonging to private communication network, a second phone terminal belonging to public communication network, a transit device connects the private communication network to the public communication network, and a call control device controls a call between the first phone terminal and the second phone terminal, wherein the private communication network includes, a certification processing unit performs certification processing to certificate whether or not the first phone terminal should be connected to the public communication network, and a notification processing unit notifies the result of the certification processing to the call control device when a call connection request to form a communication link between the first phone terminal and the second phone terminal occurs, and the call control device forms the communication link in response to the call connection request if the notified result of the certification processing shows a success. |
| US08000459B1 |
System and method for a wireless meta service
A system and method for creating a custom-developed service by a customer in a service directory of a network service provider are provided. The data defining the custom-developed service received by the network service provider may be tested, corrected, and verified. The service directory may be established in the provider's network to store the data associated with the custom-developed service. Once the custom-developed service is established and operational, the customer or its subscribers may be billed based on their use of the service. |
| US08000455B1 |
Methods and systems for call processing
Systems and methods are described for processing calls. A call is received at a softswitch or other call processing system from a caller intended for a first subscriber. The first call is associated with signaling information, the signaling information including a phone number associated with the caller. A determination is made as to whether the first subscriber has previously received a call associated with the caller phone number at the softswitch. If the first subscriber has not previously received a call associated with the caller phone number at the softswitch, a first message is played to the caller. An indication that the first message was played to the caller is stored in association with an account record associated with the first subscriber. |
| US08000453B2 |
Personal virtual assistant
A computer-based virtual assistant includes a virtual assistant application running on a computer capable of receiving human voice communications from a user of a remote user interface and transmitting a vocalization to the remote user interface, the virtual assistant application enabling the user to access email and voicemail messages of the user, the virtual assistant application selecting a responsive action to a verbal query or instruction received from the remote user interface and transmitting a vocalization characterizing the selected responsive action to the remote user interface, and the virtual assistant waiting a predetermined period of time, and if no canceling indication is received from the remote user interface, proceeding to perform the selected responsive action, and if a canceling indication is received from the remote user interface halting the selected responsive action and transmitting a new vocalization to the remote user interface. Also a method of using the virtual assistant. |
| US08000450B2 |
Aperture shield incorporating refractory materials
An x-ray tube electron shield is disclosed for interposition between an electron emitter and an anode configured to receive the emitted electrons. The electron shield is configured to withstand the elevated levels of heat produced by electrons backscattered from the anode and incident on the electron shield. This in turn equates to a reduced incidence of failure in the electron shield. In one embodiment the electron shield includes a body that defines a bowl-shaped aperture having a narrowed throat segment. The body of the electron shield includes a first body portion, a second body portion, and a disk portion. These portions cooperate to define the bowl and the throat segment. The throat segment and the lower portion of the bowl are composed of a refractory material and correspond with the regions of the electron shield that are impacted by relatively more backscattered electrons from the anode surface. |
| US08000449B2 |
Emitter for X-ray tubes and heating method therefore
It is described an emitter (26, 40) for X-ray tubes comprising: a flat foil with an emitting section (30, 46); and at least two electrically conductive fixing sections (31-34; 41-44); wherein the emitting section (30, 46) is unstructured. |
| US08000444B2 |
Vertical/horizontal small angle X-ray scattering apparatus and method for measuring small angle X-ray scattering
A vertical/horizontal small angle X-ray scattering apparatus, for enabling plural numbers of X-ray diffraction measurements, such as, transmission small angle X-ray diffraction, reflection small angle scattered X-ray diffraction, and in-plane X-ray diffraction, etc., comprises an X-ray generating apparatus 11 for generating X-ray, an optic system 16 for forming the X-ray into a predetermined incident beam of X-ray, a sample holder portion 120 for mounting a sample to be measured thereon, to irradiate the incident beam of X-ray thereupon, a vacuum path 17 for passing through small angle scattered X-ray from the sample, and an X-ray detector 18 for detecting the small angle scattered X-ray passing through the vacuum path, wherein the sample holder portion is fixed on a support base 110, while attaching the X-ray generating apparatus, the optic system, the vacuum path and the X-ray detector on a bench 100, as well, to be rotatable around the sample holder portion, and thereby enabling plural numbers of measurements of small angle X-ray scattering. |
| US08000437B2 |
Photodetection unit, photodetector, and x-ray computed tomography apparatus
A photodetecting unit having a favorable attaching operability is provided.In a photodetecting unit 1, two structures for attachment 30 are fixed to the rear face of a supporting substrate 20 formed by a sintered body of a ceramic. In the process of manufacturing the photodetecting unit 1, a laminate of green sheets is fired, so as to form a sintered body of a ceramic, and then each structure for attachment 30 is bonded to the rear face of the supporting substrate 20. This allows the structures for attachment 30 to be arranged accurately on the rear face of the supporting substrate 20, thereby ameliorating the attaching operability of the photodetecting unit 1. |
| US08000436B2 |
Radiation scanning units including a movable platform
A scanning unit for inspecting objects comprises in one example a radiation source, a movable platform to support an object, and a detector positioned to receive radiation after interaction of radiation with the object. The platform is movable at least partially within a cavity defined, at least partially, below at least one of the source or the detector. In another scanning unit, a first conveyor conveys an object to a movable platform, and second and third conveyors convey the object from the platform. The second and third conveyors are at different vertical heights. In another scanning unit, images from an energy sensitive detector and a spatial detector are fused. In a method, scanning parameters during CT scanning are changed and images reconstructed before and after the change. In another method, an object is scanned with X-ray beams having first and second energy distributions, generated by the same X-ray source. |
| US08000434B2 |
Energy spectrum reconstruction
A computed tomography system includes an x-ray source (108) that rotates about and emits radiation through an imaging region (116). At least one finite energy resolution detector (112) detects the emitted radiation. The at least one finite resolution detector (112) includes a plurality of sub-detectors (204). Each of the plurality of sub-detectors (204) is associated with one or more different energy thresholds. Each of the energy thresholds is used to count a number of incident photons based on a corresponding energy level. A reconstruction system (136) reconstructs the photon counts to generate one or more images of a subject residing within the imaging region (116). |
| US08000432B2 |
Shift register
A shift register includes a first flip-flop group composed of a plurality of cascaded first flip-flops, each first flip-flop having a first master latch and a first slave latch and having first and second transmission paths for transmitting a master clock and a slave clock, a second flip-flop group composed of a plurality of cascaded second flip-flops, each second flip-flop having a second master latch and a second slave latch which are each composed of a transistor with a relatively small transistor size and having a third transmission path connected to the first transmission path and a fourth transmission path connected to the second transmission path, and a transfer portion configured to transfer pieces of data held in the second flip-flops to one of the first master latches and the first slave latches of the first flip-flops. |
| US08000431B2 |
Method and composition for moderated nuclear fuel
A nuclear fuel composition includes a transuranic fuel and a neutron moderator mixed with transuranic fuel. The neutron moderator includes at least one of hafnium or zirconium. |
| US08000430B2 |
Wide frequency range delay locked loop
A delay locked loop operates over a wide range of frequencies and has high accuracy, small silicon area usage, low power consumption and a short lock time. The DLL combines an analog domain and a digital domain. The digital domain is responsible for initial lock and operational point stability and is frozen after the lock is reached. The analog domain is responsible for normal operation after lock is reached and provides high accuracy using smaller silicon area and low power. |
| US08000429B2 |
Jitter correction method and circuit
In a jitter correction method and circuit, combination data combined by adding, to referenced data, an end bit of data 1 clock prior to and a head bit of data 1 clock subsequent to the referenced data is sequentially generated. Each bit of the combination data is sequentially referred. When a change between a referenced bit and a bit directly adjoining the referenced bit is detected, and when a number of references reaches a multiplication number of the oversampling and a change between at least three adjoining bits including the referenced bit is not detected, change position display data regarding the directly adjoining bit as a change bit of the referenced data is generated and the number of references is initialized. When the change is not detected and the number of references does not reach the multiplication number, the number of references is incremented. All the change bits are extracted from the referenced data and the change position display data, and a data reproduction is performed corresponding to the multiplication number. |
| US08000424B2 |
Method and system for low complexity conjugate gradient based equalization in a wireless system
A method for processing signals includes, in a wireless system comprising one or more processors and/or circuits integrated within a single chip, initializing values related to at least one channel response vector and at least one correlation vector using a conjugate gradient-based (CG) algorithm. A plurality of filter taps may be updated utilizing at least one channel response vector and at least one correlation vector, for a plurality of received clusters, based on the initialized values and at least one signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for the received signal clusters. At least a portion of the received signal clusters may be filtered utilizing at least a portion of the updated plurality of filter taps. The updating may be repeated whenever a specified signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for the received clusters is reached. The initialized values may be updated during a plurality of iterations. |
| US08000417B1 |
Methods and OFDM receivers providing inter-carrier interference cancellation with guard interval reuse scheme
An OFDM (orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing) receiver circuit can include a GI (Guard Interval) combiner circuit that is configured to adaptively combine data in the GI of an OFDM formatted signal with data included in a predetermined section of an active OFDM symbol. |
| US08000414B2 |
Amplitude detection apparatus
This disclosure concerns an amplitude detector comprising: a maximum-minimum detector detecting a maximum and a minimum values of a digital signals; a first and a second lowpass filters respectively having a cutoff frequency lower than a frequency of the waveform signal; a cycle detector detecting a cycle of the waveform signal; a correction coefficient generator generating a numeric value of a correction coefficient expressed by a calculation with respect to the cycle of the waveform signal and a cycle of the sampling; a first multiplier generating a corrected maximum value by multiplying the maximum value of the digital signals by the correction coefficient; a second multiplier generating a corrected minimum value by multiplying the minimum value of the digital signals by the correction coefficient; and an output portion outputting the corrected maximum value or an absolute value of the corrected minimum value as the amplitude of the waveform signal. |
| US08000405B2 |
Transmission method, transmission apparatus and communication system
Of any one of transmission method X of transmitting modulated signal A and modulated signal B including the same data from a plurality of antennas and transmission method Y of transmitting modulated signal A and modulated signal B having different data from the plurality of antennas, base station apparatus 201 does not change the transmission method during data transmission and changes only the modulation scheme. Base station apparatus 201 transmits modulated signal A and modulated signal B to communication terminal apparatus 251 using the determined transmission method and modulation scheme. In this way, it is possible to improve data transmission efficiency when transmitting data using the plurality of antennas. |
| US08000403B2 |
Coding device, decoding device, transmitter and receiver
A coding device including a coding unit generating a systematic bit, a first redundant bit corresponding to the systematic bit, and a second redundant bit corresponding to the systematic bit, has a generating unit generating, from the two pieces of systematic bits, the two pieces of first parity bits corresponding to the systematic bits and the two pieces of second redundant bits corresponding to the systematic bits, a tuple of one systematic bit and the first redundant bit corresponding to one systematic bit, a tuple of the other systematic bit and the first redundant bit corresponding to the other redundant bit, and a tuple of the second redundant bit corresponding to one systematic bit and the second redundant bit corresponding to the other systematic bit. |
| US08000401B2 |
Signal generation using phase-shift based pre-coding
A phase-shift based pre-coding scheme used in a transmitting side and a receiving side that has less complexity than those of a space-time coding scheme, that can support various spatial multiplexing rates while maintaining the advantages of the phase-shift diversity scheme, that has less channel sensitivity than that of the pre-coding scheme, and that only requires a low capacity codebook is provided. |
| US08000399B2 |
Adaptive joint channel estimation and data demodulation for OFDM systems
The present invention provides architectures and methods which implement adaptive joint channel estimation and data demodulation in wireless communication systems to provide enhanced performance of the communication link. While not limited to any particular air interface, such architectures and methods are particularly beneficial in OFDM systems. Channel estimates may be performed for pilot sub-carriers for a given OFDM symbol and filtering may then be performed for channel estimation of a given data subcarrier. Received symbols may be equalized and demodulated, and the channel estimate may be updated for the given data subcarrier. Such a procedure enables more accurate channel estimation and improved data demodulation, thereby enhancing system performance. |
| US08000398B2 |
Time division synchronous orthogonal frequency division multiplexing supporting frequency division multiple access
A method of time domain synchronous orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (TDS-OFDM) communication, including the steps of: preparing OFDM-body; generating pseudo random (PN) sequence as a training signal; manipulating the PN sequence to concentrate the energy distribution thereof to the same bandwidth of sub-carriers of the OFDM-body; offsetting the manipulated PN sequence to align with frequency spectrum of the sub-carriers; and inserting the offset PN sequence as prefix of a TDS-OFDM data frame. The manipulating step may include the step of repeating the PN sequence by N times, wherein the spectrum of the repeated PN sequence concentrates on discrete bundles of sub-carriers, i.e., on one sub-carrier every N sub-carriers or M adjacent sub-carriers every MN sub-carriers, where M is an integer determined by the time duration ratio of the OFDM body and prefix. Alternatively, the manipulating step may include the step of expanding the PN sequence by N times, wherein the spectrum of the expanded PN sequence concentrates on a block of continual adjacent sub-carriers, the bandwidth of the PN sequence is 1/N of the whole bandwidth. |
| US08000396B2 |
Filtering apparatus, digital broadcast receiving apparatus and filtering method
A filtering apparatus which includes first filters assigned first numbers different from each other and which detect packets having a previously specified identifiers. The apparatus includes information registers disposed in correspondence with the first filters and which store a predetermined number of bits, and includes a condition storage portion that stores second numbers different from each other and section conditions associated with the second numbers. The apparatus includes a determination portion that determines a number range specifying a part of the second numbers for each first filter as not overlapping each other based on the first numbers of each first filter and selects a second number from each number range per first filter based on values of bits in each information register, and a second filter that checks whether the packet detected by each first filter satisfies the section condition associated with the second number determined for each first filter. |
| US08000387B2 |
System and method for Huffman shaping in a data communication system
In a communication system, Huffman coding techniques are used to obtain shaping gains for an improvement in data transmission rates. More particularly, a novel method of Huffman shaping is described that achieves a shaping gain of greater than 1 dB. The shaping gain results in a higher data rate transmission in a communication system where transmitted power is constrained. |
| US08000384B2 |
Apparatus for stabilizing convergence of an adaptive line equalizer
Illustrative embodiments provide a computer implemented method and an apparatus for data decorrelation in a line equalizer adaptive system. The apparatus comprises an input and an output, forming a data path there between, wherein the input capable of receiving data to create received data and the output capable of sending data. The apparatus further comprises an adaptive equalizer capable of equalizing the received data, connected to the data path, and a synchronous decorrelator connected to the data path, in communication with the adaptive equalizer, wherein the synchronous decorrelator evaluates an adapt enable output for each received data input to the adaptive equalizer to determine whether the adaptive equalizer can update settings of the line equalizer adaptive system. |
| US08000380B2 |
Detection unit and method for the detection of data symbols
A detection unit is disclosed for the detection of data symbols contained in a demodulated signal, whereby band spreading occurs transmit-side with the use of first sequences, whose first chips each assume one of two different first values. The detection unit comprises the following units: a) a sequence providing unit, which is designed to provide a group of second sequences with at least one second chip, whereby each second sequence is assigned to a first sequence and each second chip assumes a specific value of at least two different second values, which differ amount-wise from the first values, and whereby the group has at least one second sequence that has a higher level than the first sequences, b) a correlation unit which is connected to the sequence providing unit and is designed to calculate correlation results by correlating the demodulated signal with each second sequence of the group, and c) an evaluation unit which is connected to the correlation unit and is designed to derive the values of the data symbols by evaluating the correlation results. The invention further discloses a transmitting/receiving device and to an integrated circuit with such a detection unit and to a corresponding detection method. |
| US08000377B2 |
System and method for variable rate multiple access short message communications
A communication system and receiver is provided that facilitates increased message size in a communication system that supports a large number of transmitters sharing a common frequency band. The communication system facilitates increased message size by incorporating a plurality of transmit bit sets in each burst of data. The additional transmit bit sets are incorporated into a plurality of transmit codes that are generated using at least one additional spreading code that is orthogonal to the base spreading code. The plurality of transmit codes are then combined into one composite message and the composite message is spread again using another scrambling sequence. The final composite spread message is transmitted to the receiver in the appropriate message time slot, resulting in CDM/TDMA burst signal that facilitates increased message size. |
| US08000375B2 |
Interrogator
A hopping pattern setting section sets, as a frequency hopping pattern code, elements of a matrix in which all integers of “1” to “the number of frequencies to be used” appear only once and which is obtained by adding, as an offset, any one of integers of “0” to “(the number of frequencies to be used)−1” to each of elements of a matrix obtained by excluding integers larger than the number of frequencies to be used from a matrix in which all integers of “1” to “(prime number larger than the number of frequencies to be used)−1” appear only once. A frequency oscillation section converts the frequency hopping pattern code into the frequencies to be used to output unmodulated signals of the frequencies to a transmission section and a reception section. |
| US08000369B2 |
Surface emitting laser array, production process thereof, and image forming apparatus having surface emitting laser array
A surface emitting laser array comprising a plurality of surface emitting laser devices each having a semiconductor layer containing a first reflection mirror, an active layer, a current confined portion and a second reflection mirror. The laser array further comprises a first metal material layer for dissipating heat formed through a first insulating layer on the semiconductor layer and a second metal material layer for injecting current into the active layer formed through a second insulating layer on the first metal material layer. The first metal material layer is commonly shared by the plurality of the surface emitting laser devices. |
| US08000366B2 |
Laser diode with high indium active layer and lattice matched cladding layer
A semiconductor laser diode with a high indium content is provided with a lattice matched cladding layer or layers. One or both of the cladding layers may comprise bulk aluminum gallium indium nitride in the ratio of AlxGa1-x-yInyN and/or a short period superlattice structures of, for example, a plurality of alternating layer pairs of aluminum gallium indium nitride in the ratio of AlxGa1-x-yInyN and gallium indium nitride in the ratio of GasIn1-sN, providing a multi-quantum barrier (MQB) effect. Lattice matching of the cladding layer(s) and active layer reduce or eliminate strain, and the materials chosen for the cladding layers optimizes optical and carrier confinement. Alternatively, the lattice parameters may be selected to provide strain balanced MQBs, e.g., where the barrier layers are tensile-strained and the well layers compressed. |
| US08000363B2 |
Solid state laser device with reduced temperature dependence
The present invention relates to a solid state laser device with a solid state gain medium between two resonator end mirrors (3, 5) and a GaN-based pump laser (1) arranged to optically pump the solid state gain medium. The solid state gain medium is a Pr3+-doped crystalline or polycrystalline host material (4) which has a cubic crystalline structure and highest phonon energies of ≦600 cm−1 and provides a band gap of ≧5.5 eV. The proposed solid state laser can be designed to emit at several visible wavelengths with the emitted power showing a reduced dependence on the temperature of the GaN-based pump laser (1). |
| US08000360B2 |
Laser diode assemblies
Laser diodes (120) emit laser beams along a vertical YZ plane at different distances from the YZ plane. The beams are collimated in their fast and slow axes, and are redirected by turning mirrors (162) to form a beam stack (130C) traveling along the XZ plane. The beam stack is turned by about 90°, then converged by a focusing lens (174) into an optical fiber (180). A compact assembly is thus provided. Each laser diode (120.i), its collimating optics (154.i, 158.i, i=1, 2, . . . ) and its turning mirror (162.i) are rigidly attached to a flat, heat-spreading surface (144.i) and thus remain aligned with each other in thermal cycling. |
| US08000358B2 |
Power monitoring system for a parallel optical transmitter
A power monitoring system uses a low loss reflective element to partially split the output laser beams from an array of laser sources, in a parallel configuration, to produce a monitor beams for each laser source. Each of these monitor beams may propagate within the reflective element in a lossless manner under total internal reflection and into one of a plurality of photodiodes that sense an optical characteristic such as output beam intensity, where this sensed signal is then used as part of a feedback control to control operation of the laser sources in the array. |
| US08000353B2 |
Delay variation buffer control technique
A delay variation buffer controller allowing proper cell delay variation control reflecting an actual network operation status is disclosed. A detector detects an empty status of the data buffer when data is read out from the data buffer at intervals of a controllable time period. A counter counts the number of contiguous times the empty status was detected. A proper time period is calculated depending on a value of the counter at a time when the empty status is not detected and the value of the counter is not zero. A timing corrector corrects the controllable time period to match the proper time delay and setting the controllable time delay to a predetermined value when the empty status is not detected and the value of the counter is zero. |
| US08000351B2 |
Source synchronous link with clock recovery and bit skew alignment
A high speed transmission system transfers data streams over a plurality of data links. Each data link may carry a number of bit streams. A clock signal is not transmitted over the optical link. Instead, an indication of the appropriate clock signal frequency and phase is embedded in the transmitted data. At the receiving end, a clock signal of an appropriate frequency and phase is generated. The new clock signal is used to sample and reconstruct the original data streams. |
| US08000349B2 |
Telephone communication system over a single telephone line
A module and kit for coupling at least one telephone service signal to at least one telephone device over a wiring. The network includes: a wiring having at least two conductors for carrying multiple time-domain multiplexed digitized voice channels; an exchange side device coupled to the wiring and operative to couple at least one telephone service signal to at least one digitized voice channel; and at least one subscriber side device coupled to the wiring and operative to couple the at least one telephone device to at least one digitized voice channel. |
| US08000344B1 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for transmitting and receiving layer 2 frames associated with different virtual local area networks (VLANs) over a secure layer 2 broadcast transport network
Methods, systems, and computer program products for sending and receiving frames associated with different VLANs over a secure layer 2 broadcast transport network are disclosed. According to one method, a layer 2 frame is received at a transmit port of a layer 2 forwarding device. The layer 2 frame is to be sent over a secure layer 2 broadcast transport network. A VLAN identifier corresponding to a first VLAN is extracted from the layer 2 frame. The first VLAN identifier is mapped to a second VLAN identifier used by the secure broadcast transport layer 2 network to identify the first VLAN. A portion of the layer 2 frame including the first VLAN identifier is encrypted. The layer 2 frame is transmitted over the secure layer 2 broadcast transport network with the second VLAN identifier in a cleartext portion of the frame. |
| US08000339B2 |
Method and system for transparently transcoding a multicast stream
A method and apparatus for transparently transforming a multicast stream is provided. The method includes transforming the multicast stream in a content engine. The multicast stream has a first bandwidth. The content engine receives a request for the multicast stream from a multicast receiver with a second bandwidth availability. Thereafter, the content engine transforms the multicast stream to a multicast stream with a third bandwidth. The third bandwidth is less than or equal to the second bandwidth. The transformed multicast stream is sent to the multicast receiver. |
| US08000338B2 |
Methods and apparatus for continuous connectivity between mobile device and network using dynamic connection spreading
The invention provides methods and apparatus for establishing a connection between a mobile client and an external computer network such that the client computer network connection provides the illusion of seamless connectivity. In one aspect of the invention data is processed in a wireless communication network and is received from a access point at a gateway to an external computer network. Access points are disposed in the vicinity of the path of the mobile client. In another aspect of the invention data is processed in a wireless communication network and is received at an onboard proxy from an access point. The data is then transmitted to a mobile client. |
| US08000337B2 |
Runtime flow debugging a network device by examining packet counters at internal points
In one embodiment, the internal path traversed by packets between two user visible interface, selected by a user, is displayed. The path displayed includes internal interfaces traversed by the packets. First and second count values showing the packets traversing each displayed internal interface at the beginning and end of a selected time period are also displayed. A delta, being the difference between the first and second count values for each internal interface indicates the number of packets traversing the interface during the time period and can be analyzed to determine the identity of a packet processing hardware logic block where packets might be getting dropped. |
| US08000320B2 |
System for providing multi-phased, multi-modal access to content through voice and data devices
A method for accessing content through multiple devices, e.g. Telephone (1) and/or a data device (4) such as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or Web Enabled Mobile Phone, is discussed where a user can initiate interaction with data through any device (mode), and then switch to another mode of interaction without starting over. The discussed method also allows a user to return to the same point in an application where a call session was lost or intentionally disengaged before completion. The user can regain access to the original call session via any telecommunications (voice or non-voice) device. Access can be accomplished whether the device is the same or different from that used for the original session. |
| US08000319B2 |
Multipoint multimedia/audio conference using IP trunking
A multipoint communication system uses Internet protocol trunking to facilitate communication between media control units (for sending and receiving multipoint communication signals between end-point devices), a media gateway (for translating between non-Internet protocol multipoint communication signals and Internet protocol communication signals), and a controller (for establishing and controlling a multipoint communication session between the end-point devices). In addition, a multimedia gateway (for use in a multipoint communication system) is described that incorporates an interactive voice response unit through which users of non-Internet protocol devices (connected to the multimedia gateway) interact to establish a communication session with a multipoint communication system. |
| US08000317B2 |
VOP (voice over packet) automatic call distribution
A system for automatically routing calls in a voice-over-packet (VOP) environment at a customer's premises without using a private branch exchange (PBX) is provided. One embodiment of the system includes a VOP-signal monitoring component that can monitor an incoming packet-based data stream to identify VOP data that is associated with one or more voice communications, a packet-identification component that can identify packets that make up a communications stream, a destination-determination component that can identify a first target device that should receive the packets identified to make up the communications stream; and a routing component that can direct the packets to the first target device. |
| US08000314B2 |
Wireless network system and method for providing same
A wireless network, which includes a wireless router client operable to broadcast data packets to at least one wireless server and one additional wireless client. Each client and server includes programs for determining optimum routes between them. The client also includes a program for determining if a received data packet is not addressed to it and if the packet has been sent via a new optimal route unknown to the client, and for notifying the respective server of such a new optimal route. |
| US08000309B2 |
Method for transmitting signal and method for receiving signal
A method for transmitting a signal according to the present invention comprises spreading a control channel data through a PN code and generating a diffused control channel data; time division multiplexing the diffused control channel data and a service channel data and generating a multiplexed signal; and inverse Fourier transforming the multiplexed signal and generating an inverse Fourier transformed signal.Accordingly, in multi-hop communication, frequency efficiency is improved by not using different RF frequencies between a control channel and service channel, and applying a control channel and service channel through the TDM (Time Division Multiplexing) method, and the channel efficiency is improved by WAVE channel switching. |
| US08000307B2 |
Radio network communication system and protocol
A communications system and protocol for a radio communications network including a number of transceiver devices. The protocol ensures that network variables to be shared by all devices are correctly received and updated by all devices. The protocol also provides for accurately detecting the transition from one time slot to another, in a given data transaction. |
| US08000305B2 |
Preamble sequencing for random access channel in a communication system
A system and method for initializing a system communication without previous reservations for random access channel (RACH) access includes a first step of defining at least one spread sequence derived from at least one constant amplitude zero autocorrelation sequence. A next step includes combining the spread sequence with a Walsh code to form an extended spread sequence. A next step includes using the extended spread sequence in a preamble for a RACH. A next step includes sending the preamble to a BTS for acquisition. A next step includes monitoring for a positive acquisition indicator from the BTS. A next step includes scheduling the sending of a RACH message. A next step includes sending the RACH message. |
| US08000303B2 |
Method and apparatus for frequency selection at start of service session in MBMS system
A method and an apparatus are disclosed for applying frequency layer convergence (FLC) to connected mode user equipments (UE) having no dedicated channel for a multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) service in a mobile communication system employing a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) scheme. The method and apparatus prevent uplink signaling congestion which may occur when the UEs located in non preferred frequency layers (NPL) of the MBMS service move to a preferred frequency layers (PL) when a MBMS service session starts. If the MBMS service session starts in a situation of applying the FLC, a radio network controller (RNC) notifies the UEs desiring to receive the MBMS service and located in NPLs for the MBMS service of FLC information including a PF value and a timer value, with reference to the number of the NPL UEs joining the MBMS service. The UEs performs a PF test according to the PF and timer values, thereby maintaining the degree of congestion and signal transmission load at appropriate levels. |
| US08000302B2 |
Adaptive multi-channel modem
An adaptive multi-channel (AMC) modem that can receive one or multiple spread spectrum signals simultaneously includes an adjustable filter, a ΔΣ ADC, and a digital processor. The adjustable filter filters an input signal with an adjustable bandwidth and provides an output signal comprised of a selected number of spread spectrum signals. The ΔΣ ADC digitizes the output signal and provides data samples. The sampling rate and/or the reference voltage of the ΔΣ ADC may be varied to obtain the desired performance. The digital processor processes the data samples for each spread spectrum signal to recover data sent in that signal. A controller ascertains the operating conditions (e.g., the desired signal level, the undesired signal level, and so on) and selects the number of spread spectrum signals to receive based on the operating conditions, user requirements, and possibly other factors. |
| US08000299B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing and obtaining information regarding local agent in wireless network
A method and apparatus for providing and obtaining information includes detecting information regarding a local agent, representative of a mobile node in a predetermined area, from a message from an access router; requesting the information from a node other than the access router, dependent upon whether the information is detected or not; and obtaining the information by receiving a response to the request. |
| US08000297B2 |
Access router based mobile IPv6 fast handover method
Provided is a mobile IPv6 fast handovers method, which includes the steps of: a) if a mobile node is moved in a layer 2, receiving a modified RS message from a mobile node in the access router, b) detecting movement of the mobile node in a layer 3 in the access router, c) if the mobile node makes a movement in the layer 3, generating CoA of the mobile node in the access router; d) performing Duplicate Address Detection in the access router to inspect uniqueness of the generated CoA; and e) transmitting a modified RA message to the mobile node in the access router. The Fast Handovers method of the present research performs fast movement detection by using layer 2 information simply and efficiently for fast handover in the mobile IPv6 and generates CoA in the access router instead of the mobile node without operations of many additional messages. |
| US08000293B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing spatial-division multiple access
A method and apparatus for performing spatial-division multiple access within a communication system is provided herein. During operation, nodes will return null subspace information along with their channel subspace information. The null subspace is similar to the channel subspace except that the null subspace information directs a base station to the matrix in a predefined codebook that results in minimum power being received at the node. The null subspace for each node is taken into consideration when communicating with a particular node. |
| US08000287B2 |
Radio communication system and mobile station device
A mobile station device transmits a random access preamble to a base station device and performs uplink timing alignment based on the synchronization timing deviation information included in a random access response which the base station device transmits in response to the transmitted random access preamble, wherein in an uplink synchronous status, the mobile station device does not perform uplink timing alignment based on synchronization timing deviation information included in a random access response, which is a response to a random access preamble whose preamble ID is randomly selected by the mobile station device. |
| US08000283B2 |
Method and apparatus for relay station neighbor discovery
A method and apparatus for relay station neighbor discovery by providing predictable timing for relay station preambles and route advertisements, minimizing signaling overhead by keeping these times fixed, scheduling a subset of relay stations for transmission of relay station preamble during any given transmission zone, and allowing the scanning relay stations to scan for a fraction of a frame to determine its neighbors without any repercussions to its activity in the rest of the frame. |
| US08000280B2 |
Network communication apparatus, network communication method, and address management apparatus
To connect arbitrary network communication apparatuses by selecting an appropriate route or identifying an IP address in an environment which includes a network using plural NAT routers, which is hierachically connected through plural NAT routers for distributing private IPs. A network communication apparatus includes: a direct search unit which transmits a direct search request to another network communication apparatus; a route information obtaining unit which obtains route information of the network communication apparatus from a server which holds the route information of the network communication apparatus; and a communication control unit which performs, when the information regarding the other network communication apparatus is obtained upon the direct search request, communication with the other network communication apparatus based on the information, and which performs, when the information is not obtained, communication with the other network communication apparatus, based on the route information. |
| US08000278B2 |
De-activation, at least in part, of receiver, in response, at least in part, to determination that an idle condition exists
In one embodiment, a method is provided. In the method of this embodiment, in response, at least in part, to a determination that an idle condition exists, one or more packets may be transmitted to indicate, at least in part, that a transmitter is desired to refrain from transmitting, during one or more predetermined time intervals, to a receiver. Also in the method of this embodiment, also in response, at least in part, to the determination that the idle condition exists, the receiver may be de-activated, at least in part, during the one or more predetermined time intervals. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment. |
| US08000277B2 |
Mobile communication network system and mobile communication method
The mobile communication network system of the present invention is made up from a mobile communication network (MNW), a plurality of external networks (EX1-EX3), a plurality of mobile terminals (x, y, z), a plurality of gateways (EGW1-EGW3) for connecting the external networks (EX1-EX3) and mobile communication network (MNW), and a plurality of radio access points (APa1-APc2) for connecting the mobile terminals (x, y, z) to the mobile communication network (MNW). When packets are transmitted and received between mobile terminals (x, y, z) within the mobile communication network (MNW), the packets are communicated, not by way of external networks (EX1-EX3), but by way of virtual networks that correspond to each external network (EX1-EX3) that have been prepared on the mobile communication network. |
| US08000272B2 |
Uplink scheduling grant for time division duplex with asymmetric uplink and downlink configuration
Signalling uplink and downlink scheduling grants for a plurality of subframes in a time division duplex frame is addressed. In one aspect the allocated uplink subframes are divided into groups, so the number of groups equals the number of downlink subframes being allocated. Uplink grants for the groups are sent with the downlink grants, and for those groups that have more than one uplink subframe, the grant message also indicates which uplink subframes are included in that group. In another aspect there are two sets of grant messages, one for the uplink subframes and one for the downlink subframes. Each of the uplink grant messages is sent on a different uplink grant message, and there is a one-to-one correspondence between the uplink grant channel and the uplink subframe being scheduled by the grant. That correspondence may also be signalled with the grant messages. |
| US08000271B1 |
Method and system for selectively operating in a half-duplex mode or full-duplex mode in a packet-based real-time media conference
A method and system for managing communications in a packet-based real-time media conference. A conference server determines whether a given conference session should operate in half-duplex mode or in full-duplex mode, and the server instructs at least one participating station accordingly. In the half-duplex mode of operation, for instance, a station may engage in an implicit floor control process, in which the station treats an incoming media stream as an implicit floor denial. On the other hand, in the full-duplex mode of operation, a station would not treat an incoming stream as an implicit floor denial. |
| US08000270B2 |
Content downloading over TDM with download pausing
A telecommunications device and method for downloading content using Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) includes receiving a request for content to be downloaded using TDM. The content may be communicated in response to receiving the content request. In response to receiving a call request for use of a telephone line, a download status of the telephone line may be determined. If the download status of the telephone line is indicative of content being downloaded, the content may be suspended from being communicated to enable a call associated with the call request to be connected with the telephone line. Otherwise, if the download status of the telephone line is not indicative of content being downloaded, a call associated with the call request may be connected with the telephone line. |
| US08000265B2 |
Method and system for determining network topology of a virtual private network in multi protocol label switching (MPLS) based virtual private networks (VPNs)
Presented is a method and system of determining network topology of a virtual private network in Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) based Virtual Private Networks (MPLS/VPNs). The method includes obtaining VPN routing and forwarding (VRF) details of at least one virtual private network, determining any variations in network configuration and determining, from said network configuration variations, network topology of the at least one virtual private network. |
| US08000262B2 |
Method for identifying network similarity by matching neighborhood topology
A method of computing a measure of similarity between nodes of first and second networks is described. In particular, sets of pairwise scores are computed to find nodes in the individual networks that are good matches to one another. Thus, a pairwise score, referred to as Rij, is computed for a node i in the first network and a node j in the second network. Similar pairwise scores are computed for each of the nodes in each network. The goal of this process is to identify node pairs that exhibit high Rij values. According to the technique described herein, the intuition is that nodes i and j are a good match if their neighbors are a good match. This technique produces a measure of “network similarity.” If node feature data also is available, the intuition may be expanded such that nodes i and j are considered a good match if their neighbors are a good match (network similarity) and their node features are a good match (node similarity). Node feature data typically is domain-specific. Using the similarity scores, a common subgraph between the first and second networks then can be computed. |
| US08000261B2 |
System and method for multicast transmission
A system and method for multicast transmission are disclosed. In one embodiment, a virtual exchange network including interconnected nodes is embedded within a network. A sender is disposed in communication with a root node and receivers are disposed in communication with a set of edge nodes. The sender publishes a packetized data stream to which the receivers subscribe. The packetized data stream is promulgated by implicit signaling through optimum virtual exchange network connections from the sender through the virtual exchange network to the receivers. The interconnected nodes, responsive to receiving the published packetized data stream, are adapted to multicast N instances of the published packetized data stream to N recipients selected from the group consisting of receivers and other of the interconnected nodes. |
| US08000257B2 |
Method of providing point-to-multipoint service in mobile communication system
A method of providing a point-to-multipoint service in a mobile communication system and transmission controlling method thereof are disclosed, by which a better quality of a point-to-multipoint service can be provided in a manner of coping with time-variable channel situation variable adaptively. In a mobile communication system providing a point-to-multipoint service, the present invention includes the steps of receiving data for the point-to-multipoint service from a base station, measuring a reception quality for the received point-to-multipoint service data, and transmitting reception quality information for the point-to-multipoint service data to the base station. |
| US08000251B2 |
Instrumenting packet flows
Real-time customer packet traffic is instrumented to determine measured delays between two or more points along a path actually traveled by a packet, such as within or external to one or more packet switching devices. These measurements may include delays within a packet switching device other than the ingress and egress time of a packet. These measured delays can be used to determine whether or not the performance of a packet switching device or network meets desired levels, especially for complying with a Service Level Agreement. |
| US08000250B1 |
Method for routing optical signals with diversity requirements
The present invention discloses a method of determining a route for transmitting a signal through a network. The method comprises obtaining and storing network and demand data. The demand data is processed using a shortest path routing method to obtain an initial route and the network data is updated accordingly. An initial cost based on the initial route is computed. The initial route is returned to the network and the network data is again updated with regard to increasing spare capacity. The demand data is re-processed using a constrained diverse shortest path routing method to obtain a final route until a stop criterion is satisfied. A final cost based on the final route is computed. |
| US08000248B2 |
Router and method for refreshing quality of service reservation
A method and an associated router in first administrative domain of a telecommunications network wherein the first administrative domain comprises a first end point associated to a reservation for a session transiting through the router between the first end point and a second end point in a second administrative domain. The router comprises a quality of service (QoS) reservation module maintaining a refresh timer associated with the reservation. The QoS reservation module is capable of, upon expiration of the refresh timer, sending a refresh reservation message toward the second end point on behalf of the first end point and, upon reception of a refresh confirmation message to the refresh reservation message, resetting the refresh timer without forwarding the refresh confirmation message toward the first end point. |
| US08000245B2 |
Internet protocol header compression reordering
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: receiving, at the network node, a packet belonging to a flow, the packet including a marking used to identify a quality of service (QoS) required for the packet; assigning a compression context identifier to the packet; queuing the packet in a queue selected from a plurality of queues based on the marking in the packet; identifying a period of congestion and, in response, blocking the packet; when the period of congestion has ended and the packet is dequeued, determining whether the QoS associated with the packet is the same as a QoS stored in a context identifier storage; and when the QoS associated with the packet is not the same as the QoS stored in the context identifier storage, determining that the flow has expired and discarding the packet. |
| US08000243B2 |
Quality of service control in multiple hop wireless communication environments
One or more relay stations may be employed along a wireless communication access path between an ingress station and an egress station. A logical communication tunnel is established between the ingress and egress stations through any number of intermediate relay stations to handle session flows of PDUs. As PDUs arrive, the ingress station may determine and add scheduling information to the PDUs before they are delivered to the downstream intermediate relay stations or egress stations. The scheduling information is used by the downstream stations to schedule the PDUs for further delivery. The scheduling information may also be used by the egress station to schedule the PDUs for delivery. The scheduling information added to the PDU by the ingress station bears on a QoS class associated with the PDU, a deadline for the egress station to deliver the PDU, or a combination thereof. |
| US08000242B2 |
Reducing packet loss for a packet data service during congestion in a transport network
A method and an apparatus for reducing packet loss for a packet data service during congestion in a transport network are provided. The method comprises measuring a packet loss rate over a time period in one or more flows of data traffic packets associated with the packet data service to determine whether the one or more flows of data traffic packets are experiencing a variation in a desired traffic performance level at a particular time duration during the congestion in the time period. The method further comprises triggering a request to reduce a flow rate of at least one of the one or more flows of data traffic packets based on the packet loss rate if the at least one of the one or more flows of data traffic packets experiences the variation in the desired traffic performance level. By using a distributed transport congestion control, for example, only such Best Effort data traffic packet flows that generate bursty traffic at a specific moment of congestion sense the congestion and thus trigger an associated rate reduction action. However, other flows that do not experience the congestion may not be affected. |
| US08000241B2 |
Methods and apparatus for controlling access link packet flow aggregation and resource allocation in a mobile communications system
Methods and apparatus for aggregating IP packets over an access link between a wireless access router and a core node and for managing resource allocation to access link packet aggregates, e.g., as a function of the status of wireless communications links used to couple mobile nodes to the access router are described. Improved aggregate resource control messages and use of such messages are described. Some of the new messages allow aggregate resources for both upstream and downstream aggregates to be controlled in a single message. A single message may include information corresponding to multiple aggregates and/or multiple constituent flows included in an aggregate with aggregate direction information being included. Use of tunnels to communicate management messages, e.g., messages used to control resource allocation to aggregates is also described. Propagation of access link aggregate information is communicated to tunnel end nodes which generate packets that are communicated over the access link. |
| US08000237B1 |
Method and apparatus to provide minimum resource sharing without buffering requests
A throttle device is coupled with a central processing unit in a node for reducing traffic overload in a Next Generation Network (NGN). The device is coupled with a basic throttle with different levels of traffic priority and both are situated between a source node and a target node for processing traffic. When a traffic offer is received by the throttle, the throttle device by provisionally updating the basic throttle priority levels, determines whether to send the traffic offer on to the source node. If the provisional, traffic priority level is greater than a new traffic priority level the traffic is admitted and rejected if the updated priority level is less than the new traffic priority level. |
| US08000236B2 |
Media proxy able to detect blocking
A media proxy receive a first message from a near end of a path of a communications session, and before receiving a corresponding message from a far end, the media proxy is arranged to detect a blocking situation where another device in the path is awaiting the first message before forwarding the corresponding message. Detecting such a blocking situation enables it to be overcome, and enables the communication session to proceed. The media proxy can send a probe message to discover if there is another media proxy along the path causing the blocking. This is useful where the only information about the far end is the media path which is in the call set up, e.g. IP address and port. Sending the probe message can be under the control of a call server. |
| US08000235B2 |
Bandwidth allocation method and apparatus
System for bandwidth assignment to manage congestion over a network bottleneck, comprises a regulation point being set up downstream of the bottleneck in the network to manage congestion in data packets arriving from various sources via the bottleneck. For each of the sources, a priority level assigner assigns priority levels to respective data packets. A token bucket assigns tokens at a limiting rate to the prioritized data packets, the tokens allowing passage of packets to which they are assigned. The token bucket is a multi-priority token bucket, meaning it has at least two thresholds corresponding to the priority levels assigned to the packets. The token bucket only assigns a token to an arriving packet having a respective priority level if there are sufficient tokens currently in the bucket to reach the threshold corresponding to the packet's priority level. |
| US08000231B2 |
Method, system, and apparatus for network device to access packet switched network
A method for a network device to access a packet switched network is applied to a system in which the network device accesses the packet switched network by connecting to PEs in an active-standby mode. The method includes: an active PE and a standby PE each sends a fault detection message to the network device through an interface connected to the network device; the active PE sets the state of the interface to “up” and advertises a route to a remote PE if a fault detection response returned by the network device is received through the interface within a preset period; otherwise, the active PE sets the state of the interface to “down”, and withdraws the advertised route; and the standby PE sets the state of the interface to “up” and advertises another route to the remote PE after receiving a fault detection response through the interface connected to the network device. |
| US08000228B2 |
Pilot signal in an FDMA communication system
Methods (500, 800) and corresponding systems (100, 200, 300, 400, 900) for generating a pilot symbol (330) include providing an M-point parallel transform sequence that is a discrete Fourier transform of a CAZAC sequence (312, 504-508). The M-point parallel transform sequence (312) is distributed (316, 510) to a set of M subcarriers among N subcarriers to form an N-point frequency-domain sequence (318) wherein the M subcarriers are evenly spaced apart. An N-point inverse fast Fourier transform (320, 512) is performed to convert the N-point frequency-domain sequence to an N-point time-domain sequence (322). The N-point time-domain sequence is converted (324, 514) to a serial sequence (326), and a cyclic prefix is added (328, 516) to the serial sequence to form a pilot symbol (330). |
| US08000225B1 |
Method of building flexible and effective transmission systems for two-way communications working in code domain
A method of building transmission systems using for two-way communications code division multiplexing is disclosed. For “point-to-point” transmission systems, which structure is shown on FIG. 1 and which resources are represented as plurality of orthogonal polynomials, the method provides flexible and effective distribution transmission resources. |
| US08000224B2 |
Receiver and frequency information estimating method
A receiver 100 has a Fourier transform section 105 Fourier-transforming symbols for propagation path estimation including subcarriers modulated by known signals different for two or more antennas to calculate first frequency information, a multiplying section 107 multiplying the first frequency information by complex conjugate signals of two or more known codes to calculate second frequency information of each of the subcarriers, an interpolation information generating section 121 selecting partial information from the second frequency information on the basis of the known codes and generating interpolation frequency information interpolating the subcarriers using the selected information, a subcarrier interpolating section 122 interpolating the interpolation frequency information to the second frequency information to calculate third frequency information, and an inverse Fourier transform section 109 inverse-Fourier-transforming the third frequency information. |
| US08000223B2 |
Method and system for multi-antenna preambles for wireless networks preserving backward compatibility
Methods and systems for processing multiple preambles for a wireless signal are disclosed herein. Aspects of the method may comprise selecting a portion of a preamble, and shifting the selected portion of the preamble to generate a plurality of subsequent preambles. The preamble may comprise a legacy preamble and/or an 802.11(n) preamble. The selected portion of the preamble may comprise a short training sequence. The shifting may comprise circular shifting. The circular shifting may comprise forward circular shifting and/or backwards circular shifting. The generated plurality of subsequent preambles may be transmitted via a plurality of antennas. A phase roll may be added to the selected portion of the preamble to generate the plurality of subsequent preambles. |
| US08000220B2 |
Digital data transmitting apparatus and digital data receiving apparatus
To provide a digital data transmitting apparatus and a digital data receiving apparatus that can realize, even when a transmission channel characteristic changes because of aged deterioration or the like of a relay, improvement of a reception performance following the change.A transmitting apparatus 1 generates a multiplexing frame formed by N slots including control information, data, outer parities, stuff bits, and inner parities and added with synchronization, pilot, and a transmission control signal and a parity and transmits data of the respective slots in a transmission system designated by the transmission control signal. In this case, pilot signals are symbols allocated to all signal points in order determined in advance for each of modulation schemes. A receiving apparatus 2 rewrites a phase error table 214 to calculate a phase error and performs synchronous detection according to the pilot signals. The receiving apparatus 2 also rewrites a likelihood table 235 to perform inner code decoding. Consequently, since reception processing adapted to distortion of a transmission channel characteristic can be performed, improvement of a reception performance can be realized. |
| US08000219B2 |
Method and apparatus for spectrum management
A method and apparatus for spectrum management in an xDSL system are disclosed. The method mainly include: determining a transmit PSD mask according to a crosstalk status of a line; performing IWF operation using the transmit PSD mask; and dynamically managing line spectrum according to the result of the IWF operation. Therefore, various embodiments of the present invention allow the DSLAM performance to approximate the OSM performance without the need for a center controller and with a rather simple algorithm in a severe crosstalk scenario. Moreover, the embodiments of the present invention may help to simply the design of DSLAM optimization system and achieve a proper balance between the DSLAM performance and the complexity. |
| US08000217B2 |
Optical disc and optical disc device
In a multilayer optical disc having information layers conforming to a plurality of different optical disc standards, because the type of each information layer is not recorded in the other information layers, in read and write operations by a compatible optical disc device conforming to a plurality of optical disc standards, every time the information layer being accessed changes, it has been necessary to read the type of the information layer and select a method of generating a tracking error signal adapted to the type of information layer, so access has taken time. In order to solve the above problem, in the optical multilayer disc according to the present invention, having information layers conforming to a plurality of different optical disc standards, in an area in one of the information layers, information about the other information layers is recorded. The time required to access the other information layers can be reduced by using this information to select a tracking error signal generating method. |
| US08000216B2 |
Double-electrode cantilever actuation for seek-scan-probe data access
A seek-scan-probe memory device, utilizing a media electrode to allow active cantilevers to contact the storage media, and a pull electrode to pull up cantilevers away from the storage media when in an inactive mode. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08000213B2 |
Optical disc recording/reproducing apparatus
There is provided an optical disc recording/reproducing apparatus which can reduce the chip size using the high-miniaturization process and can enhance the detection accuracy. A signal which is obtained by amplitude-adjusting a header region in a reproduced signal detected by an optical pickup (1) is digitized, and peak detection or bottom detection from the reproduced signal in each of a first section and a second section in the header region is performed by detection circuits (9) to (12), respectively. Then, amplitude data in the first section and the second section are obtained by subtracters (13) and (14) from the detected values in the respective detection circuits. A difference in amplitude between the first section and the second section in the header region is obtained by a subtracter (15) based on the amplitude data, and the amplitude difference is outputted as an off-track error signal. The respective detection circuits (9) to (12) perform detection operations in the first and second sections, and hold the detection operations in the sections other than the first and second sections. |
| US08000212B2 |
Metrology for extreme ultraviolet light source
An extreme ultraviolet light system includes a drive laser system that produces an amplified light beam; a target material delivery system configured to produce a target material at a target location; a beam delivery system configured to receive the amplified light beam emitted from the drive laser system and to direct the amplified light beam toward the target location; and a metrology system. The beam delivery system includes converging lens configured and arranged to focus the amplified light beam at the target location. The metrology system includes a light collection system configured to collect a portion of the amplified light beam reflected from the converging lens and a portion of a guide laser beam reflected from the converging lens. The light collection system includes a dichroic optical device configured to optically separate the portions. |
| US08000211B2 |
Optical disc apparatus and method for controlling the same
An optical disc apparatus capable of obtaining an effect to reduce the laser noise without shortening the laser diode service life or increasing the power consumption. The optical disc apparatus includes a laser diode for emitting a laser beam, a laser driver for driving the laser diode, a detector for monitoring a first power emitted from the laser diode, a detector for monitoring a second power applied to an optical disc, and an attenuator for attenuating the first power. The light attenuation factor of the attenuator is changed by the ratio between the first power and the second power. |
| US08000210B2 |
Quarter-wave plate, and optical pickup device
A quarter-wave plate includes a base member including a ridge and trough periodic structure with a structural period of λmin/2 |
| US08000209B2 |
Optical pickup, optical element, optical information device, computer, optical information medium player, car navigation system, optical information medium recorder and optical disk server for use with a light source which emits a divergent beam
An optical pickup includes: a laser light source which outputs an divergent beam having an elliptical far-field pattern; a beam shaping element having at least one cylindrical plane and which shapes the divergent beam outputted from the laser light source into an divergent beam having a prescribed shape in which at least the length in the major axis direction of the elliptical shape is shortened; a light collecting portion having a beam splitter which perpendicularly collects the divergent beam that is outputted from the beam shaping element and which has a prescribed shape on the recording surface of an optical disk , and a mirror or the like; and a light detecting portion The optical axis of the divergent beam is rotated so that the direction in which the major axis of the divergent beam having a prescribed shape is shortened conforms to the radial direction of an optical information recording medium. |
| US08000207B2 |
Method for reproducing hologram
A method for reproducing a hologram includes: irradiating a recording disc with a first reference beam and a second reference beam, both having a parallel light flux, in different directions at a same incident angle to form a hologram having an unslanted grating pattern in which a grating vector is parallel to a light incident surface of the recording disc; irradiating the hologram with the first reference beam or the second reference beam to extract reproduced light; and detecting a position where an intensity of the reproduced light is maximum. |
| US08000204B2 |
Data processing method for a holographic data storage system
A data processing method for a holographic data storage system includes in a writing operation, receiving a plurality of digital data groups; modulating the digital data groups to a plurality of corresponding digital matrixes, wherein each of the digital matrix comprises a digital data group and a plurality of digital redundancies; arraying the digital matrixes on a data plane to form an image information, wherein the image information has more opaque pixels than transparent pixels; and storing the image information in a storage medium; and in a reading operation, receiving the image information; transforming the image information into a plurality of analog matrixes, wherein each of the analog matrixes comprises an analog data portion and an analog redundancy portion; demodulating the analog matrixes to a plurality of corresponding analog data groups; and transforming the analog data groups into a plurality of digital data groups by using a soft decision apparatus. |
| US08000202B2 |
Apparatus for recording/reproducing information on/from an optical disc having focus control capabilities
The present invention provides a method for recording/reproducing information on/from an optical disc, wherein the optical disc has a first to an n-th recording layers (n is an integer of 2 or greater) laminated on a substrate, each of the first to the n-th layers having data regions segmented into a first to an m-th data zone groups (m is an integer of 2 or greater) along a radial direction of the optical disc, each of the first to the m-th data zone groups including at least one data zone, the method comprising the steps of: a) recording/reproducing information in/from data zone groups from a j-th data zone group of a first recording layer to a j-th data zone group of an n-th recording layer; and b) repeating step a) for j=1, 2, . . . , m. |
| US08000200B2 |
HFM enable control system
A modulation control system for use with a high frequency modulator is described. This system comprises a latch for selectively receiving enable signals, wherein the latch transmits a latched signal in response to receiving at least two of the enable signals; a selection device coupled to the latch for receiving the latched signal, a voltage source, and a terminal for receiving at least one of the enable signals, wherein the selection device transmits a selected signal; and a logic device coupled to the selection device and a terminal for receiving a modulated enable signal, wherein the logic device transmits a synchronized signal for either enabling or disabling the high frequency modulator in response to receiving the selected signal associated with at least one of the enable signals. |
| US08000196B2 |
Composite reproducing apparatus
An optical disc reproducing device that composes a composite reproducing apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes an optical disc detecting portion which detects inserting and ejecting of an optical disc. The optical disc reproducing device also includes an identification information obtaining portion which obtains identification information to uniquely identify the optical disc from a management information recorded area of the optical disc. The identification information obtaining portion reads out the identification information and outputs it to a display device when inserting of the optical disc is detected by the optical disc detecting portion. An identification information recording portion which is included in the display device stores the identification information in a memory portion when the identification information is output from the optical disc reproducing device. Then an identification information display portion reads out the identification information and displays it on a display portion when it receives a command to display the identification information. |
| US08000193B1 |
Timing recovery for optical disc drive high frequency modulation
A method and apparatus for recovering clock timing from a hi-phase modulated portion of an HFM signal. The signal includes transitions between high and low levels. A clock count is initiated upon detection of a first transition, which corresponds to an expected clock timing of the signal. The count is stopped upon detection of a second transition. An actual clock count includes a number of clock cycles occurring between the transitions based on the expected timing. A first expected clock count between transitions is identified if the actual clock count between the transitions falls within a first range of clock counts. A first error between the actual and first expected clock counts is determined. A second expected clock count between transitions is identified if the actual clock count between transitions falls within a second range of clock counts. A second error between the actual expected clock counts is determined. |
| US08000192B2 |
Disc-shaped recording medium, cutting apparatus for same, and disc drive
There is provided an optical disc having preformed thereon a spiral wobbled track as a grove and/or land along with data is to be recorded. The track is wobbled for a series of predetermined signal units each composed of an FSK information bit part based on a waveform resulted from FSK modulation of information bit and a singe-frequency part based on a waveform of a single frequency. The FSK modulation uses two different frequencies of which the one is the same as the single frequency and the other is different from the single frequency. These different frequencies are in such a relation that each of them has an even number of wobbles and an odd number of wobbles alternately in a predetermined cycle. |
| US08000189B2 |
Optical pickup and optical disk device
An optical pickup includes: a light source that emits a light beam; an object lens that condenses the light beam on a target recording layer of an optical disk; a lens moving unit; a condensing lens; a hologram element that diffracts, in diffracting a reflected light beam and separating it into reflected zeroth-order and first-order light beams, parts of the reflected first-order light beam in a first direction and sets them as first and second beams, diffracts parts of the reflected first-order light beam in a second direction and sets them as third and fourth beams; and a photodetector that receives the first and second beams and the third and fourth beams and generates light reception signals, and receives interlayer stray light of a part of the light beam reflected by the other recording layers other than the target recording layer and generates a stray light reception signal. |
| US08000179B2 |
Optical disc including two different sets of sectors having identical IDs
An optical disc including: sectors each having a sector ID; a first area having a first set of sectors sequentially arranged on the disc according to their respective IDs; a second area having a second set of sectors sequentially arranged on the disc according to their respective IDs, the second area being located after the first area in respect of a disc scan direction, the second area including all information needed for playback of the entire disc and having at least one sector ID which duplicates that of a sector in the first set of sectors. |
| US08000176B2 |
Estimation of maximum available write power of an optical storage drive
A method for estimating maximum available write power of an optical storage drive includes generating a beam of laser light having a power level, measuring a first parameter of the laser light source and a second parameter of the beam of laser light, and using the measured parameters to estimate the maximum available write power. |
| US08000174B2 |
Timepiece including a striking mechanism
In a timepiece with a striking mechanism, for example a minute repeater watch, in order to prevent the control stem (9) inadvertently setting the time during operation of the striking work and causing damage, an uncoupling device is inserted in the time-setting train (17), and is controlled via a mobile part of the striking mechanism. The uncoupling device includes an intermediate motion wheel (19) that can be moved, for example axially, from a rest position in which it is meshed with the castle wheel (16). Said mobile part of the striking mechanism is preferably the strike barrel arbour (46), carrying a rotating cam (56) with a spiral profile. At the start of actuation of the striking mechanism, the cam pushes a lifting lever (60), which raises a strip (25) controlling the vertical movement of the intermediate motion wheel (19). This interrupts the kinematic connection in the motion work train, such that the stem (9) can rotate the castle wheel (16) without producing any effect and without encountering any resistance. |
| US08000167B2 |
Streamer cable with enhanced properties
The present invention relates to streamer cables. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for preparing a streamer cable. The method may comprise retrofitting the streamer cable with a solid void-filler material, where the streamer cable was configured as a liquid-filled streamer cable. The retrofitting may comprise introducing a void-filler material into the streamer cable when the void-filler material is in a liquid state and curing or otherwise solidifying the void-filler material to a solid state. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a streamer cable comprising an outer skin and-at least one sensor positioned within the outer skin. The streamer cable may also comprise a solid void-filler material positioned between the outer skin and the at least one sensor, wherein the solid void-filler material is coupled to the at least one sensor. |
| US08000161B2 |
Method and system for encoding to eliminate parasitics in crossbar array memories
A method of encoding data stored in a crossbar memory array, such as a nanowire crossbar memory array, to enable significant increases in memory size, modifies data words to have equal numbers of ‘1’ bits and ‘0’ bits, and stores the modified words together with information enabling the original data to be retrieved upon being read out from memory. |
| US08000160B2 |
Semiconductor device and cell plate voltage generating apparatus thereof
A semiconductor device includes a monitor voltage transfer unit and a voltage generating unit. The monitor voltage transfer unit selects one of a plurality of internal voltages including a cell plate voltage in accordance with a test mode to output it to a voltage monitor pad or outputs an external voltage supplied from the voltage monitor pad as a first pre cell plate voltage. The voltage generating unit generates the cell plate voltage using any one of the first pre cell plate voltage and a second pre cell plate voltage generated within itself in accordance with the test mode. The semiconductor device can generate a pre cell plate voltage at the desired level. |
| US08000158B2 |
Semiconductor memory device including repair redundancy memory cell arrays
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cell matrixes each of which contains plural memory cell arrays whose number is lager than 2n and smaller than 2n+1, n being a natural number. The semiconductor memory device includes normal memory cell arrays including 2m numbers of memory cell arrays of the plurality of memory cell matrixes, m being a bit of addresses, wherein a data access operation is performed on normal memory cells in the normal memory cell arrays as normal word lines corresponding to the normal memory cells are activated in response to the addresses, and additional redundancy memory cell arrays in the plurality of memory cell matrixes, wherein repair-expected memory cells in the normal memory cell arrays are replaced with the additional redundancy memory cell arrays as redundancy word lines corresponding to the additional redundancy memory cells are activated in response to the addresses corresponding to the repair-expected memory cells. |
| US08000154B2 |
Non-volatile memory device and method of controlling a bulk voltage thereof
A non-volatile memory device comprises a voltage supplier comprising memory cells in which the voltage supplier supplies a positive set voltage to a bulk of a memory cell array at the time of a read operation of the memory cells and a controller for controlling the voltage supplier to set and supply a bulk voltage depending on a number of erase/program cycles of the memory cell array. |
| US08000153B2 |
Enhanced erase for flash storage device
A flash storage device includes flash storage units that are erased in response to a condition or command while allowing the flash storage device to be used subsequent to the erase. A flash controller interface receives a command for erasing the flash storage device and provides an erase command to flash controllers in the flash storage device. Alternatively, the flash storage device detects a condition in response to which the flash controller interface provides an erase command to the flash controllers. Each flash controller independently erases a flash storage unit in response to receiving the purge command such that the flash storage units are erased substantially in parallel with each other and the erase operations overlap. Subsequent to the erase, certain control data is reconstructed to allow subsequent use of the flash storage device. |
| US08000151B2 |
Semiconductor memory column decoder device and method
Semiconductor memory devices and methods include a flash memory cell array fabricated in a well, with memory cells in the same column connected to each other in series and connected to a respective bit line. The memory devices also include a column decoder, a data register buffer unit, a row decoder, an erase control unit, and an input/output buffer unit. In one or more embodiments, the erase control unit applies voltages to the well to erase the memory cells in a manner that avoids breaking down p-n junctions formed by transistors fabricated in the well. In another embodiment, high voltage transistors are used to selectively isolate the bit lines from and couple the bit lines to a peripheral circuit in pairs so that each high voltage transistor is shared by two bit lines. |
| US08000149B2 |
Non-volatile memory device
The present invention relates to a method of operating a non-volatile memory device. In an aspect of the present invention, the method includes performing a first program operation on the entire memory cells, measuring a first program speed of a reference memory cell, storing the first program speed in a program speed storage unit, repeatedly performing a program/erase operation until before a number of the program/erase operation corresponds to a specific reference value, when the number of the program/erase operation corresponds to the specific reference value, measuring a second program speed of the reference memory cell, calculating a difference between the first program speed and the second program speed, resetting a program start voltage according to the calculated program speed difference, and performing the program/erase operation based on the reset program start voltage. |
| US08000147B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
A NAND cell unit includes memory cells which are connected in series. An erase operation is effected on all memory cells. Then, a soft-program voltage, which is opposite in polarity to the erase voltage applied in an erase operation, is applied to all memory cells, thereby setting all memory cells out of an over-erased state. Thereafter, a program voltage of 20V is applied to the control gate of a selected memory cell, 0V is applied to the control gates of the two memory cells provided adjacent to the selected memory cell, and 11V is applied to the control gates of the remaining memory cells. Data is thereby programmed into the selected memory cell. The time for which the program voltage is applied to the selected memory cell is adjusted in accordance with the data to be programmed into the selected memory cell. Hence, data “0” can be correctly programmed into the selected memory cell, multi-value data can be read from any selected memory cell at high speed. |
| US08000146B2 |
Applying different body bias to different substrate portions for non-volatile storage
Body bias can be applied to optimize performance in a non-volatile storage system. Body bias can be set in an adaptive manner to reduce an error count of an error correcting and/or detecting code when reading data from non-volatile storage elements. Also, a body bias level can be increased or decreased as a number of programming cycles increases. Also, body bias levels can be set and applied separately for a chip, plane, block and/or page. A body bias can be applied to a first set of NAND strings for which operations are being performed by controlling a first voltage provided to a source side of the first set of NAND strings and a second voltage provided to a p-well. A source side of a second set of NAND strings for which operations are not being performed is floated or receives a fixed voltage. |
| US08000143B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device including circuit formed of thin film transistors
A transistor is arranged for electrically isolating a sense amplifier formed of a thin film transistor from a data line electrically coupled to the sense amplifier. When a write driver drives the data line, a control signal is applied to isolate the data line from the sense amplifier. |
| US08000142B1 |
Semi-volatile NAND flash memory
Semi-volatile NAND flash memory systems, apparatuses, and methods for use are described herein. According to various embodiments, a semi-volatile NAND flash memory may be partitioned into various retention regions. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US08000139B2 |
Multiple time programmable (MTP) PMOS floating gate-based non-volatile memory device for a general purpose CMOS technology with thick gate oxide
A multiple time programmable (MTP) memory cell, in accordance with an embodiment, includes a floating gate PMOS transistor, a high voltage NMOS transistor, and an n-well capacitor. The floating gate PMOS transistor includes a source that forms a first terminal of the memory cell, a drain and a gate. The high voltage NMOS transistor includes a source connected to ground, an extended drain connected to the drain of the PMOS transistor, and a gate forming a second terminal of the memory cell. The n-well capacitor includes a first terminal connected to the gate of the PMOS transistor, and a second terminal forming a third terminal of the memory cell. The floating gate PMOS transistor can store a logic state. Combinations of voltages can be applied to the first, second and third terminals of the memory cell to program, inhibit program, read and erase the logic state. |
| US08000138B2 |
Scaleable memory systems using third dimension memory
A non-volatile scalable memory circuit is described, including a bus formed on a substrate that includes active circuitry, metallization layers, and a plurality of high density third dimension memory arrays formed over the substrate. Each memory circuit can include an embedded controller for controlling data access to the memory arrays and optionally a control node that allows data access to be controlled by an external memory controller or by the embedded controller. The memory circuits can be chained together to increase memory capacity. The memory arrays can be two-terminal cross-point arrays that may be stacked upon one another. |
| US08000136B2 |
Non-volatile memory with both single and multiple level cells
Memory arrays and methods of operating such memory arrays are described as having a memory cell operated as a single level cell interposed between and coupled to a select gate and a memory cell operated as a multiple level memory cell. In some embodiments, a memory array is described as including a number of select gates coupled in series to a number of memory cells operated as single level memory cells and a number of memory cells operated as multiple level memory cells, where a first select gate is directly coupled to a first memory cell operated as a single level memory cell interposed between and coupled to the first select gate and a continuous number of memory cells operated as multiple level memory cells. |
| US08000135B1 |
Estimation of memory cell read thresholds by sampling inside programming level distribution intervals
A method for data storage includes storing data in a group of analog memory cells by writing into the memory cells in the group respective storage values, which program each of the analog memory cells to a respective programming state selected from a predefined set of programming states. The programming states include at least first and second programming states, which are applied respectively to first and second subsets of the memory cells, whereby the storage values held in the memory cells in the first and second subsets are distributed in accordance with respective first and second distributions. Respective first and second medians of the first and second distributions are estimated, and a read threshold is calculated based on the first and second medians. The data is retrieved from the analog memory cells in the group by reading the storage values using the calculated read threshold. |
| US08000127B2 |
Method for resetting a resistive change memory element
A method of resetting a resistive change memory element is disclosed. The method comprises performing a series of programming operations—for example, a programming pulse of a predetermined voltage level and pulse width—on a resistive change memory element in order to incrementally increase the resistance of the memory element above some predefined threshold. Prior to each programming operation, the resistive state of the memory element is measured and used to determine the parameters used in that programming operation. If this measured resistance value is above a first threshold value, the memory element is determined to already be in a reset state and no further programming operation is performed. If this measured resistance value is below a second threshold value, this second threshold value being less than the first threshold value, a first set of programming parameters are used within the programming operation. If this initial value is above the second threshold value but below the first threshold value, a second set of programming parameters are used within the programming operation. |
| US08000121B2 |
Solid state drive with non-volatile memory for a media device
A media device is provided that includes a processor configured to execute a media device program, a non-volatile memory electrically coupled with the processor, the non-volatile memory being vertically configured, an input/output module electrically coupled with the processor and the non-volatile memory and configured to communicate with an input/output device, and an analog/digital module electrically coupled with the processor and the non-volatile memory, the analog/digital module configured to output a media signal. The non-volatile memory configured to emulate a hard disk drive. The input/output module may be in electrical communication with the input/output device and/or signal communication with the input/output device. |
| US08000120B2 |
Read and match circuit for low-voltage content addressable memory
A read, write, and match circuit for a low-voltage content addressable memory. A write circuit inputs signals for storing data in the memory cells, a read circuit retrieves the stored data from the memory cells, and a match circuit compares the data stored in the memory cell with the data searched by the match circuit. The circuits for writing, reading and matching are separated from each other and exempt from mutual interference. |
| US08000119B2 |
Switching mode power supply and method of operation
In one embodiment, an SMPS includes a rectifier for generating an input DC voltage from an input AC voltage. A switching transistor is coupled to a primary coil of a transformer for generating power which is transferred to a second side of the transformer according to an operation of the switching transistor. A switching controller receives a feedback voltage corresponding to an output voltage, a sensing signal corresponding to a current flowing through the switching transistor, and a first signal corresponding to a voltage difference between a first electrode and a second electrode of the switching transistor. The switching controller controls an on/off operation of the switching transistor. The switching controller sets a threshold period whenever the first signal has a value greater than a reference value, thereby setting a plurality of threshold periods during operation of the switching mode power supply. For each threshold period, the switching controller turns on the switching transistor at a point after a variable delay time from a previous point at which the switching transistor was turned on. |
| US08000112B2 |
Active snubber for transition mode power converter
A transition mode power converter having an active snubber the operation of which is controlled using an auxiliary winding on the transformer of the power converter. In one embodiment, the power converter includes a transformer having a primary winding connected to a voltage source, a primary switch, an auxiliary switch, a capacitor, and an auxiliary winding on the transformer. The primary switch includes a first terminal connected to the primary winding of the transformer and a second terminal connected to a common node. The auxiliary switch includes a first terminal connected to the voltage source and to the primary winding. The capacitor is connected between a second terminal of the auxiliary switch and the first terminal of the primary switch. The auxiliary winding of the transformer is connected to a third terminal of the auxiliary switch and controls operation of the auxiliary switch via the third terminal. |
| US08000111B2 |
Electronic device structure
An electronic device structure includes an upper case, a lower case, a main board, a suspending member, and a fixing member. The upper case and the lower case respectively have an upper combining column and a lower combining column. The main board has a through hole, the upper combining column passes through the through hole, and a size of the through hole is larger than a size of the upper combining column, such that a moving gap is kept between the upper combining column and the through hole. The suspending member is combined with a side of the main board and spaced with the main board by a suspending distance. The fixing member passes through the lower combining column and the suspending member and is fixed on the upper combining column, such that the main board is disposed on the lower combining column through the suspending member. |
| US08000103B2 |
Cooling system for contact cooled electronic modules
Various embodiments disclose a system and method to provide cooling to electronic components, such as electronic modules or the like. The system includes one or more cold plates that are configured to be thermally coupled to one or more of the electronic components. Internally, each of the cold plates has a cooling fluid flowing inside of at least one passageway. The cooling fluid thus removes heat from the electronic components primarily by conductive heat transfer. An input and an output header are attached to opposite ends of the passageway to allow entry and exit of the cooling fluid. The input and output headers are attached to an external system to circulate the cooling fluid. |
| US08000099B2 |
Power supply cooling system
A power supply cooling system comprises a computer device having at least one inlet for receiving an airflow generated by a cooling system removably couplable to the computer device, the computer device configured to receive power from the cooling system. |
| US08000095B2 |
Sliding mechanism and electronic device using the same
The invention provides a sliding mechanism and an electronic device using the same. The sliding mechanism includes a bottom plate, a connection rod, a cover plate, an elastic member, and a connection member. Guiding sections are formed at two sides of the bottom plate, and the bottom plate has a first fastening hole and an arc-shaped groove. The connection rod has a first end and a second end. Sliding portions are formed at two sides of the cover plate to cooperate with the guiding sections to enable the cover plate to slide relative to the bottom plate, and the cover plate has a second fastening hole and a connection hole. The elastic member includes a third end and a fourth end. Furthermore, the connection member slidably fastens the fourth end of the elastic member and the second end of the connection rod to the arc-shaped groove through the connection hole. |
| US08000094B2 |
Rotation module and electronic device using the same
A rotation module includes a base and a rotation member rotatably positioned on the base. The base includes a resisting surface and a connecting surface opposite to the resisting surface. A cylindrical protrusion is formed on the resisting surface. A locking portion is formed at an end of the cylindrical protrusion. The cylindrical protrusion defines an opening through the locking portion. The rotation member includes a bottom surface and a supporting surface opposite to the bottom surface. The rotation member defines a circular through hole. The locking portion is deformable due to the opening so that the cylindrical protrusion is able to pass through the circular through hole. The locking portion releases after the locking portion passes through the circular through hole and resists the rotation member to prevent the rotation member from detaching from the base. |
| US08000092B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus having an improved supporting configuration of a display part, which includes a display to display an image thereon and a pair of bases which are coupled to the display to rotate around an axis of upward and downward directions with respect to a vertical line of the display. |
| US08000086B2 |
Chip capacitor
A capacitor element having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end surface and a second end surface is coated with a cathode layer, except for the first end surface. Anode lead extends out from the first end surface. An anode terminal has a first portion located close to and beneath the lower surface of the capacitor element and has a second portion connected to the anode lead via an arcuate connector. A cathode terminal is disposed under the lower surface of the capacitor element, being spaced from the first portion of the anode terminal. A packaging resin covers the capacitor element, the anode terminal and the cathode terminal. A depression is formed in the anode terminal, which extends from a portion of the anode terminal facing the lower surface of the capacitor element to the inner edge of the anode terminal facing the cathode terminal. |
| US08000083B2 |
Scalable integrated circuit high density capacitors
The present invention provides several scalable integrated circuit high density capacitors and their layout techniques. The capacitors are scaled, for example, by varying the number of metal layers and/or the area of the metal layers used to form the capacitors. The capacitors use different metallization patterns to form the metal layers, and different via patterns to couple adjacent metal layers. In embodiments, optional shields are included as the top-most and/or bottom-most layers of the capacitors, and/or as side shields, to reduce unwanted parasitic capacitance. |
| US08000082B2 |
Electrostatic chuck assembly with dielectric material and/or cavity having varying thickness, profile and/or shape, method of use and apparatus incorporating same
An electrostatic chuck assembly having a dielectric material and/or having a cavity with varying thickness, profile and/or shape is disclosed. The electrostatic chuck assembly includes a conductive support and an electrostatic chuck ceramic layer. A dielectric layer or insert is located between the conductive support and an electrostatic chuck ceramic layer. A cavity is located in a seating surface of the electrostatic chuck ceramic layer. An embedded pole pattern can be optionally incorporated in the electrostatic chuck assembly. Methods of manufacturing the electrostatic chuck assembly are disclosed as are methods to improve the uniformity of a flux field above a workpiece during a plasma processing process. |
| US08000081B2 |
Method and apparatus for safely dechucking wafers
A wafer stage installed in a process chamber for safely dechucking a wafer is provided. In one embodiment, the wafer stage comprises: a chuck support for supporting a chuck; a chuck mounted on the chuck support for receiving and attaching a wafer thereto; a support lift means for supporting the wafer; a driving means coupled to the support lift means for gradually raising the support lift means to contact the wafer in response to a variable quantity; a sensor attached to the driving means for detecting a change in the variable quantity; and a controller for controlling the variable quantity to the driving means when a predetermined variable quantity is detected in comparison to the change in the variable quantity for a predetermined time. |
| US08000080B2 |
Particle trap
An apparatus and method for trapping particles in a housing is disclosed. A high voltage terminal/structure is situated within a housing. A conductive material, having a plurality of holes, such as a mesh, is disposed a distance away from an interior surface of the housing, such as the floor of the housing, forming a particle trap. The conductive mesh is biased so that the electrical field within the trap is either non-existent or pushing toward the floor, so as to retain particles within the trap. Additionally, a particle mover, such as a fan or mechanical vibration device, can be used to urge particles into the openings in the mesh. Furthermore, a conditioning phase may be used prior to operating the high voltage terminal, whereby a voltage is applied to the conductive mesh so as to attract particles toward the particle trap. |
| US08000079B2 |
Relay driving module and an electronic device incorporating the same
A relay driving module is adapted for driving a latching relay, and includes a current limiting circuit, an energy storage component, and a switch circuit. The current limiting circuit is adapted for receiving a power signal, and draws an amount of current that does not exceed a current threshold from the power signal. The energy storage component is coupled electrically to the current limiting circuit for receiving the current from the current limiting circuit so as to store energy therein. The switch circuit is coupled electrically to the energy storage component, and is controlled by a control signal to selectively enable the energy storage component to discharge the energy stored therein so as to drive the latching relay. |
| US08000078B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling a lifting magnet supplied with an AC source
A magnet controller supplied by an AC source controls a lifting magnet. Two bridges allow DC current to flow in both directions in the lifting magnet. During “Lift”, relatively high voltage is applied to the lifting magnet until it reaches its cold current. Then voltage is lowered. After a desired interval, once the magnet has had time to build its electromagnetic field, voltage is further reduced to prevent the magnet from overheating. The magnet lifting forced is maintained due to the magnetic circuit hysteresis. During “Drop”, reverse voltage is applied briefly to demagnetize the lifting magnet. At the end of the “Lift” and the “Drop”, most of the lifting magnet energy is returned to the line source. A logic controller controls current and voltage of the magnet and calculates the magnet's temperature. In one embodiment, a “Sweep” switch is provided to allow reduction of the magnet power to prevent attraction to the bottom or walls of magnetic rail cars or containers. |
| US08000076B2 |
Interrupter, a method of responding to a monitored event and an integrated circuit including an interrupter
An interrupter, a method of responding to a monitored event and an IC are disclosed. In one embodiment, the interrupter includes: (1) a monitoring circuit configured to monitor for an occurrence of at least one event and generate an external event signal when detecting the occurrence, (2) a microprocessor, having: (2A) at least one functional pin and (2B) a reset input pin, coupled to the monitoring circuit, the microprocessor configured to begin a reset process in response to receiving the external event signal at the reset input pin and thereby set the functional pin to a reset state, and (3) a responding circuit coupled to the functional pin and configured to initiate a predetermined action when the functional pin is set to a reset state. |
| US08000075B2 |
Tube integrity safety switch
A safety device for disabling a positive pressure radiant tube heater upon failure of the heat exchanger and a corresponding method are described. This invention relates to the ability to detect a condition where a failure of the heat exchanger triggers the safety device and disables the heater. The safety device includes a low melt wire; an insulating sleeve positioned about the low melt wire, the wire and sleeve positioned on top of the reflector, a tension device to maintain the wire under tension; and a control device to disable the heater if the wire is discontinuous. |
| US08000074B2 |
Electrical power distribution system
An electrical power distribution system for connecting an electrical device to a source of electrical power and disconnecting the electrical device therefrom. The system includes a PCD tag associated with the electrical device, and a PCD reader associated with a receptacle electrically connectable to the source of electrical power. The PCD tag has a PCD tag memory in which data related to the electrical device is stored in a format readable by the PCD reader, the data including an electrical device load rating. The system also has a switch device for connecting and disconnecting the receptacle to the power source. In addition, the system has a measuring device for measuring actual load and a control circuit for comparing actual load to the electrical device load rating. The control circuit provides a disconnect signal to the switch device upon the actual load exceeding the electrical device load rating. |
| US08000073B2 |
Current-mode under voltage lockout circuit
A current-mode under voltage lockout (UVLO) circuit provides an output signal that indicates to connected devices whether a connected power supply is sufficient (i.e., of sufficient strength and stability) based on a comparison of a current that is proportional to the power supply and a reference current. The current-based UVLO circuit employs a reference current generator that is capable of providing a stable reference current and a voltage-to-current converter that provides a current proportional to the power supply voltage. A comparator compares the reference current to the current proportional to the power supply voltage and determines based on the magnitudes of the two currents whether the power supply voltage is sufficient or ‘good’ and generates an output signal indicating the status of the power supply voltage. |
| US08000072B2 |
Apparatus for short circuit protection
The present invention relates to an apparatus for short circuit protection. The apparatus comprises two supply inputs for connecting the apparatus to a terminal of a power supply and two supply paths being connected together and to the supply inputs, wherein each supply path comprises a disconnection means for disconnecting the supply path. Further the apparatus comprises a determination means for determining a current flowing from one of the supply paths through the other one of the supply paths and a control means for controlling the disconnection means of the supply paths dependent on the current determined by the determination means, wherein the control means is connected with the disconnection means and the determination means. |
| US08000071B2 |
Apparatus and method for reducing the die area of a PWM controller
An apparatus and method for reducing the die area of a PWM controller include a protection circuit triggered by a fault index signal for counting, and the counting time is provided for a delay time required by fault verification. Therefore, fault detection circuits can be eliminated and the purpose of reducing the die area can be achieved. |
| US08000069B2 |
Circuit testing closer apparatus and method with dynamic test thresholds
A circuit testing closer is capable of closing a power distribution circuit and interrupting the resulting current at the next current zero. Upon detecting a fault, the circuit testing closer is operable to open contacts to isolate the fault. Next, the circuit testing closer tests the faulted line to determine whether the fault has cleared. The circuit testing closer may employ one or more dynamic thresholds to determine the existence of a fault. |
| US08000065B2 |
Magnetoresistive element and thin-film magnetic head
A magnetoresistive element includes: a detection surface that receives a magnetic field to be detected; a free layer made of a ferromagnetic material, having an end face located in the detection surface, and exhibiting a change in magnetization direction in response to the magnetic field to be detected; a pinned layer made of a ferromagnetic material, disposed away from the detection surface, and having a fixed magnetization direction; and a coupling portion made of a nonmagnetic material and coupling the free layer to the pinned layer. The coupling portion includes a nonmagnetic conductive layer that allows electrons to be conducted while conserving their spins. |
| US08000063B2 |
Magneto-resistive element, thin film magnetic head, magnetic head device, and magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus
A magneto-resistive element includes a lower magnetic shield film and a magneto-resistive film disposed above the lower magnetic shield film. The lower magnetic shield film includes a lower shield layer and an upper shield layer. The upper shield layer is amorphous or microcrystalline, made of a NiFe or CoFe composition containing B or P, and deposited on the lower shield layer. The lower shield layer is a magnetic conductive layer which is amorphous or microcrystalline with a crystal grain size equal to or less than 20 nm. |
| US08000056B2 |
Apparatus and method to rotate a read/write head
A method is presented to rotate a read/write head rotatable along a first axis and comprising a first assembly having a first servo element and a second servo element. The method moves a sequential information storage medium adjacent to the read/write head along a second axis, wherein the second axis is substantially orthogonal to the first axis, and determines the rotation angle for the read/write head with respect to the sequential information storage medium using the first servo element and the second servo element. The method then positions the read/write head with respect to the second axis based upon the rotation angle. |
| US08000055B2 |
Control system and method for loading actuator arm of rotating storage device
A system includes a control module configured to generate a first signal to control a speed of an actuator arm of a rotating storage device. An estimating module includes a first filter configured to generate a first filtered output based on the first signal. A second filter is configured to generate a second filtered output based on the speed of the actuator arm. The estimating module is configured to estimate a force to move the actuator arm based on (i) the first filtered output and (ii) the second filtered output. The first filter and the second filter include infinite impulse response (IIR) filters of Pth order, where P is an integer greater than 1. |
| US08000053B1 |
Write jog value determination for a disk drive
A disk drive for determining a write jog value is disclosed. The disk drive comprises: a disk; a head including a reader and a writer; and a processor. The processor controls operations in the disk drive including: commanding the reader to track follow on a first track, wherein the writer is located over an uncalibrated track position; commanding the writer to write a first test pattern on a section of the disk; commanding the writer to move by a plurality of step amounts to write a plurality of test patterns; commanding the reader to move by a second plurality of step amounts to read the plurality of test patterns; determining a reader signal value associated with each test pattern; determining the uncalibrated track position based on the read signal values; and determining the write jog value based on the distance between the first track and the uncalibrated track position. |
| US08000052B2 |
Cartridge refresh and verify
A method according to one embodiment of the present invention includes receiving an instruction to perform a verification operation on a media cartridge having a tape wrapped around a spool; unwrapping at least some of the tape from the spool of the media cartridge; after the unwrapping, wrapping at least some of the tape back onto the spool; during at least one of the unwrapping and wrapping (and preferably both, and possibly over several cycles of unwrapping and wrapping), performing a verification operation; generating a quality metric based on the verification operation; and outputting the quality metric or derivative thereof, such as a pass or fail indication; an instruction to set a pass/fail flag; a number, score or graphic illustrating to a user a general quality of the tape, etc. Additional methods and systems are also presented. |
| US08000050B2 |
Magnetic storage control apparatus, magnetic storage control method, and magnetic storage apparatus
A magnetic storage control apparatus for controlling a magnetic storage apparatus that uses a recording medium having a plurality of reference signals on its track and having a data area between the reference signals. The apparatus includes: a measurement section that reproduces the reference signal in a predetermined track of the recording medium and measures, for each data area, the time for a head to scan the data area to obtain a measurement value; a calculation section that calculates a setting value concerning the frequency of a recording clock used in data recording based on the measurement values of a plurality of data areas obtained by the measurement section; and a generation section that generates the recording clock based on the measurement values obtained by the measurement section and setting value calculated by the calculation section. |
| US08000047B2 |
Inspection apparatus and inspection method of magnetic disk or magnetic head
The present invention provides a technique for converting burst data to digital data, applying FFT operation to 2n (n is an integer) pieces of digital data in response to any start signal synchronized with a sector signal, applying a window function centered around data corresponding to a frequency of a burst data signal component before the FFT operation, and performing head positioning based on a result as the detected value of the burst data. |
| US08000046B2 |
Storage device, processor or storage device, and computer program product for providing parameter adjustment during read/write operations
According to one embodiment, a storage device includes: ahead actuator configured to move a head to an arbitrary position on a disk medium; a write/read module configured to write data to or read data from the disk medium using the head; an adjustment region selector configured to divide the disk medium into a plurality of regions in a circumferential direction, write test data to each of the regions, read the test data to measure signal quality of the each of the regions, compare the signal quality of the each of the regions, and select a parameter adjustment region; and a parameter adjustment module configured to adjust a parameter used for the write/read module to write data to and read data from the disk medium to an optimal value using the selected parameter adjustment region. |
| US08000044B2 |
Lens holder driving device and image pickup unit employing planary-driven polymer actuator
There are provided a lens holder being capable of holding a lens and having flange portions at opposite end portions thereof along an optical axis, a planary-driven actuator including driving arm portions having lens holder support points for holding the outer surface of the lens holder at a plurality of opposing positions and having free-end side contact portions, a lens-holder retaining plate having spring-characteristic portions, and fixing frames which form the outer surfaces of a lens holder driving device and fix the respective components. |
| US08000043B2 |
Lens module with zoom and auto-focus functions
A lens module includes a case, one and more lens units positioned in the case and having at least one lens, a carrying member, a piezoelectric driving unit, and at least a fixing member. The carrying member is connected to the lens unit such that the lens unit is movable forward and backward. The piezoelectric driving unit is mounted in the case for transferring a driving force to the carrying member so as to carry the lens unit to move. By using this configuration, the front and rear lens units may conduct the auto focus function and the zoom function respectively, thereby reducing a stroke of the lens, and reducing the size of the lens driving unit. Accordingly, the lens module may be manufactured in a small size so that it may be inserted into a cellular phone. |
| US08000041B1 |
Lens modules and fabrication methods thereof
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a lens module is provided, which includes a first lens assembly including a first patterned substrate, a first recess formed from a first surface of the first patterned substrate, a first lens element disposed in the first recess, and a second lens element disposed on the first patterned substrate, wherein the second lens element aligns along an optical axis through the first lens element. |
| US08000040B2 |
Imaging lens, manufacturing method thereof, and compound lens
In an imaging lens, one compound lens and two single lenses are arranged in a lens barrel. On the light output side of the lens barrel, a filter is arranged with a distance from lens barrel. With a further distance from the filter, an imaging element is arranged. In the compound lens, a resin lens is bonded to a base member lens, having an output surface center of the resin lens displaced by a prescribed amount relative to an output surface center of the base member lens, so that a transmission decentration amount attributed to the base member lens, not including the resin lens, and the single lenses is cancelled by a transmission decentration amount by the resin lens when taken as a whole lens system. Thus, the imaging lens capable of suppressing reduction in resolving power due to transmission decentration of the lenses is obtained. |
| US08000039B2 |
Imaging lens
An imaging lens including, from an object side, a diaphragm, a first lens that is a lens having a positive power whose convex surface faces the object side, and a second lens having a negative power whose concave surface faces the object side, wherein a condition expressed by the following expressions is to be satisfied: −0.1.≦r1/r2<0.1, 0.85≦f1/FL≦1, and 0.1≦d3/FL≦0.3 (where, r1: center radius curvature of the object side face of the first lens, r2: center radius curvature of the image surface side face of the first lens, f1: focal distance of the first lens, d3: center thickness of the second lens and FL: focal distance of the entire lens system). |
| US08000037B2 |
Imaging lens, imaging device, and mobile terminal
Provided is an imaging lens, including, in order from an object side: a positive first lens; a second lens having a concave shape toward the object side; and (i−2) number of lens, wherein the i-th lens, which is the most image-side lens, includes: an i-th lens flat plate; and a positive or negative lens element on at least one of the opposite surfaces of the i-th lens flat plate, wherein the following conditional relationship is satisfied: 0.9>Ymax/Y>0.61, where: Ymax is a height of the most off-axial ray on an image-side surface of the (i−1)th lens; and Y is a maximum image height. |
| US08000036B2 |
Imaging lens system
An imaging lens system in order from the object side to the image side includes a first lens with negative refractive power, a second lens with positive refractive power, a third lens with negative refractive power, a fourth lens with positive refractive power, a fifth lens with negative refractive power and a sixth lens with positive refractive. The imaging lens system satisfies the following formulas: Nd2>1.8 and Vd2<25, where Nd2 is the refractive index of the second lens, Vd2 is the Abbe number of the second lens. |
| US08000034B2 |
Total-reflection lens
This invention is regarding to an innovatively designed lens that employs two holes of different shapes as light-inlet and light-outlet surfaces to direct lights. The main feature is that the light can emit out at a more focused and uniformed fashion through refraction and total reflection. On the other hands, the lens also has grooves set to allow for side lighting purposes when needed. And with the grooves, the light can emit at a wide range when multiple such lens are properly assembled. |
| US08000027B2 |
Drive device, lens barrel, image pickup apparatus, lens drive method and method of producing shape memory alloy
A lens barrel, an image pickup apparatus, a lens drive method and a method of producing a shape memory alloy used for the drive device are disclosed. A drive device includes: a lens group for guiding light from a subject; a shape memory alloy adopted to be deformed by an electricity supplied to the shape memory alloy, for moving the lens group in a direction of an optical axis; and electricity-supply controlling means for controlling an amount of the electricity supplied to the shape memory alloy; and a detecting means for detecting whether a movement of the lens group starts or not. In the drive device, a movement amount of the lens group in the direction of the optical axis is controlled based on the amount of electricity supplied when the detecting means detects the movement of the lens group. |
| US08000021B2 |
Lens manufacturing apparatus and lens manufactured thereby
A lens manufacturing apparatus includes a first mold, a second mold, a first core, and a second core. The first mold defines a first compartment therein. The second mold defines a second compartment therein. The first core is inserted into the first compartment of the first mold, and includes a first mold surface with a first half-mold cavity and a conic ring surrounding the first half mold cavity. The second core is inserted into the second compartment of the second mold, and includes a second mold surface with a second half-mold cavity. The second half-mold cavity includes a bottom which connects to the periphery of the second mold surface by an acclivitous surface. The acclivitous surface is parallel with the outermost conic surface of the conic ring. |
| US08000019B2 |
Optical system for a display panel using divided irradiation
An optical system for a display panel is disclosed. An optical system comprises a color separating portion for separating light that is emitted from a light source into a plurality of beams having different spectra; and a projecting portion for projecting the plurality of beams onto a plurality of divided areas of a predetermined range in the display panel, while sequentially switching the plurality of beams. |
| US08000017B2 |
Lens array apparatus and manufacturing method thereof
A lens array apparatus and a manufacturing method thereof are provided in which the lens array apparatus can achieve appropriate optical performance regardless of changes in ambient temperature. As a predetermined angle of gradient in relation to a thickness direction for each of a plurality of lenses, an exiting direction of light emitted from each lens is at an angle of gradient allowing respective converging points of the light emitted from each lens to be positioned on a predetermined straight line that corresponds to each lens and is parallel with the thickness direction, under a plurality of different ambient temperatures. |
| US08000013B2 |
Tinted lenses that correct for high order aberrations
Disclosed herein are photopolymerizable compositions and formulations that comprise photochromic dyes, photochromic blue light blocking dyes, permanent dyes, permanent blue blocking dyes, and/or their combinations. In some variations, these formulations are suited for example, for sandwiching between lens blanks to form semi-finished lens assemblies to form a tinted lens useful in sunglasses. The formulations are also suitable for correcting optical aberrations, and may provide a photochromic effect when exposed to sunlight. |
| US08000012B2 |
Optical multilayer film and image display device
A first adhesion layer and a second adhesion layer are formed on a base material formed of polyester biaxially stretched in this order from the side of the base material. Additionally, a hard coat layer and an antireflection layer are formed on the second adhesion layer to form a multilayer film. When refractive indices of the base material, the first adhesion layer, the second adhesion layer, and the hard coat layer are η1, η2, η3, and η4, respectively, the refractive indices are adjusted so as to satisfy the following formulae (1) to (3) to prevent rainbow unevenness. (η1/η4)1/2×0.95≦η2/η3≦(η1/η4)1/2×1.05 (1) η1<η4 (2) η2<η3 (3) The two adhesion layers can enhance the adhesive strength with the base material. |
| US08000010B2 |
Sighting optics including an optical element having a first focal length and a second focal length and methods for sighting
Sighting optics include a front sight and a rear sight positioned in a spaced-apart relation. The rear sight includes an optical element having a first focal length and a second focal length. The first focal length is selected so that it is about equal to a distance separating the optical element and the front sight and the second focal length is selected so that it is about equal to a target distance. The optical element thus brings into simultaneous focus for a user images of the front sight and the target. |
| US08000008B2 |
Optical device with controllable deflection element for vibration compensation
An optical device, in particular a microscope (1), that includes a beam path in which is arranged at least one deflection element (5, 6a to 6f) for deflecting the beam path, at least one vibration sensor (34) being arranged in or on the optical device; at least one of the deflection elements (5, 6a to 6f) including a mirror having a controllably deformable mirror surface (50); and a control unit (32) being provided that, as a function of the output signal of the vibration sensor (34), applies control to the at least one deflection element (5, 6a to 6f) in order to adjust the mirror surface (50) in such a way that vibrations of the optical device are compensated for by a correspondingly opposite-phase adjustment of the mirror surface (50). |
| US08000006B2 |
Rear-projection screen
The present invention is directed to a rear-projection screen which encompasses 1) a flexible light-diffusive first film having a substantially smooth first surface and an opposing substantially smooth second surface, and comprising a wax-free amorphous thermoplastic matrix having a plurality of light-diffusing particles dispersed therein and which is lens-free; and 2) an opposing flexible light-absorption second film having a first surface and an opposing second surface, and comprising a thermoplastic matrix having a plurality of light-absorbing particles dispersed therein, wherein the first and second films are adapted to be 3) bonded together in direct contact with each other and then, affixed as a laminate to one or more transparent rigid substrates or 4) affixed individually to a transparent rigid substrate. |
| US08000005B2 |
Multilayered fluorescent screens for scanning beam display systems
Fluorescent screens and display systems and devices based on such screens using at least one excitation optical beam to excite one or more fluorescent materials on a screen which emit light to form images. The fluorescent materials may include phosphor materials and non-phosphor materials such as quantum dots. |
| US08000003B2 |
Fluorescence microscope
The invention provides a fluorescence microscope and a method for using this to measure fluorescence. The microscope comprises a silicon wafer filter membrane which is highly-planar and does not fluoresce. Moreover, it has a very high perforation density, so that a small surface area is sufficient for effective measurement. Using a camera as the location-sensitive detector moreover makes it possible to take advantage of better optical resolution, which means that optics having a smaller numerical aperture and a smaller magnification factor can be employed, with a greater working distance. All these factors together provide a fluorescence microscope capable of much more rapid measurements than the existing fluorescence microscopes. |
| US08000001B2 |
Method of forming polymeric microarray support
The invention comprises a polymeric microarray support (1) for an optical assay arrangement (2) comprising optical means (3, 4, 6) for detection of light emitted from the support. The microarray support is provided with microfeatures comprising a surface enlarging pattern (5), i.e. grooves having a selected depth (8). The depth is selected such that the sum of the depth and of the variations in the thickness (7) of the support substantially corresponds to the depth of focus of the optical means. |
| US07999996B2 |
Electrophoresis device comprising hole-containing structure and method for fabricating the same
Disclosed herein are an electrophoresis device comprising a hole-containing structure and a method for fabricating the same. By which electrophoretic particles are embedded into holes, the optical properties of the device can be controlled. The electrophoresis device includes a structure having inherent optical properties, thus realizing improvement in reliability and display quality. Since the electrophoresis device uses a gas or vacuum as a medium of the electrophoretic particles, it can be driven with a high speed. |
| US07999992B2 |
Charge conducting medium
An electrochromic assembly 32 is disclosed. The assembly comprises: first and second electrodes 22, 24, at least one electrode being transparent; a porous membrane 10 defining a plurality of pores, the membrane having a first refractive index and located between the electrodes 22, 24; an electrolyte filling the pores, the electrolyte having a second refractive index substantially matching the first refractive index, the electrolyte and membrane together forming a substantially transparent electrolytic layer; and at least one electrochromic layer 18 covering at part of the first electrode 22. The membrane 10 is flexible and the spacing between the electrodes 22, 24 is held substantially constant by the membrane 10. The membrane is sealed with sealant 42. |
| US07999990B2 |
Optical element, optical device, and display device
An optical element includes a plurality of first beam bodies arranged in a first direction on a first plane and being parallel to each other, and second beam bodies placed between adjacent ones of the first beam bodies and provided parallel to the first beam bodies. The first beam body has side surfaces which face the second beam bodies adjacent thereto and are sloped so that the width in the first direction gradually decreases to the upward direction perpendicular to the first plane, the second beam body has side surfaces which face the first beam bodies adjacent thereto and are sloped so that the width in the first direction gradually increases to the upward direction perpendicular to the first plane, and as viewed in the first direction, the spacing between the first beam body and the second beam body is variable. |
| US07999986B2 |
Mirror device drive control apparatus and projector
A mirror device drive control apparatus adapted to perform drive control of a mirror device having a hysteresis characteristic, includes: a drive section adapted to drive the mirror device with a drive signal; a detection section adapted to detect a displacement of a movable section of the mirror device, and to generate and then output a detection signal corresponding to the detection; and a start-up processing section adapted to perform a start-up process of the mirror device, wherein the start-up processing section detects a frequency of an envelope included in abnormal vibration of the movable section as a beat frequency fb based on the detection signal of the detection section, obtains a predetermined frequency f1 based on a frequency f of the drive signal of the mirror device with which the beat frequency is detected and the beat frequency fb, and drives the mirror device again with the drive signal having the frequency f1. |
| US07999981B2 |
Method and device for manufacturing a hologram recording medium
Arrangements are made to enable different original images to be reproduced upon observation from different positions and yet enable reproduced images of high resolution to be obtained. In a case of recording two original images, each of the two original images Ia and Ib is defined as a set of point light sources in an XYZ global coordinate system, and two propagation spaces Sa and Sb, each enabling propagation of light emitted from an origin Q of an αβγ local coordinate system, are defined. A predetermined recording plane and a reference light are set in the XYZ coordinate system, and an interference fringe pattern, which is formed on the recording plane by object light components from the point light sources constituting the respective original images and the reference light, is determined by computation. In this process, the computation is performed upon deeming that a light from a point light source belonging to the original image Ia spreads only within the propagation space Sa, with the origin Q of the αβγ coordinate system being overlappingly set at the position of the point light source, and that a light from a point light source belonging to the original image Ib spreads only within the propagation space Sb, with the origin Q of the αβγ coordinate system being overlappingly set at the position of the point light source. |
| US07999978B2 |
Matrix coefficient determining method and image input apparatus
The matrix coefficient determining process of the present invention can determine linear matrix and color-difference matrix coefficients appropriate for a given type of light source at the same time. The coefficients can be used to perform color correction of RAW data to ensure good color reproduction. Furthermore, by performing the matrix coefficient determining process for a number of types of light sources, optimum color reproduction coefficients and for each of the light sources can be obtained. |
| US07999977B2 |
Network printing apparatus
The network printing apparatus is adapted to connection with an external information apparatus through a network. The network printing apparatus includes: a print data acquisition device which acquires print data outputted by the external information apparatus through the network; and a print data storage device which stores the print data acquired by the print data acquisition device. The external information apparatus includes a digital broadcast receiving apparatus which receives data transmitted through digital broadcasting. The network printing apparatus prints the print data stored in the print data storage device. |
| US07999974B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, image processing program and image processing system for preventing document forgery
An information acquisition part 21 acquires fluctuation information fluctuating in real time, such as a time at the time of acquiring information. The write position setting part 23 obtains a write position of a tracing pattern 5 in image data based on the fluctuation information obtained by the information acquisition part 21. The image processing part 13 applies image processing to the input image data, with the information specific to the apparatus turned into a tracing pattern and written in the write position. Therefore, by adding an anti-copying tracing pattern to different positions in the individual pages of the image data, the tracing pattern can be made hardly recognized. |
| US07999972B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, image processing program, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus is configured to apply correction processing to image data having sharpness varying depending on an alignment direction of pixels. The image processing apparatus detects a feature quantity in an edge direction of the image data. The image processing apparatus sets an intensity of the correction processing based on correction intensity which is predetermined based on the sharpness varying depending on the alignment direction of the pixels, according to the detected feature quantity in the edge direction of the image data. |
| US07999970B2 |
Light source device, optical scanning device, and image forming apparatus
A light-source holding member that holds semiconductor lasers along the sub-scanning direction is fixed to an attachment member at two points with first and second screws. An elastic member is interposed between the light-source holding member and the attachment member to urge the second screw upwards. The light-source holding member can be tilted with respect to the sub-scanning direction depending on the fastening force of the second screw. By adjusting the fastening force of the second screw, angles of light beams emitted from the semiconductor lasers are adjustable. |
| US07999969B2 |
Imaging device, printing system, printing device, image printing method, and storage medium having stored thereon program controlling the image printing method
In the case of printing while a digital camera is directly connected to a printer, it has been impossible to determine to what extent image blurring affects a print image. In an imaging device, a detection section (17A) detects blurring. An image blurring compensation section (15A) compensates image blurring. A compensation amount detection section (16) detects an image blurring compensation amount. A calculation section (19A) calculates a residual blurring amount by subtracting the image blurring compensation amount from an image blurring amount. An image recording section (12) records an image signal, as a shot image, together with the residual blurring amount. A print size specification section (91) specifies a print size of the shot image and stores a tolerance (β) of the residual blurring amount with respect to the print size. And, a determination section (80) determines whether or not the residual blurring amount is equal to or greater than the tolerance with respect to a predetermined print size, and issues a warning to a photographer or the like in the case where the residual blurring amount is greater than the tolerance. |
| US07999967B2 |
Print control apparatus, printing apparatus, print control method, and program thereof
Provided is a print control apparatus including a display image processing unit and a printing process unit so as to execute a printing process, wherein the display processing unit includes a unit arranging a plurality of images in a predetermined layout and acquiring an arrangement printing instruction for executing printing; a unit outputting the arrangement printing instruction, which is a printing output instruction, to the printing process unit using at least one specified image and layout information of the image; a unit outputting an arrangement image generation instruction for generating the arrangement image data to the printing process unit using at least one specified image and layout information which is information about the arrangement of the image; a unit which, when arrangement image data of a predetermined format is acquired from the printing process unit as a response of the arrangement image generation instruction, generates display image data from the acquired arrangement image data and outputs the generated display image data to a display unit; and a display image processing unit. |
| US07999966B2 |
Color content detection
Embodiments including detection of color content in an image are disclosed. |
| US07999963B2 |
Print processing system and method for sequentially performing first processing and second processing using a first device and a second device
A CPU of an image forming apparatus, such as a color electrophotographic copying apparatus, reads print step information from a memory, such as a USB memory, that stores print image data and print step information relating to a plurality of print steps for producing a print of the print image data and a progress state of the print steps. The CPU updates the progress state of the print steps stored in the memory subsequent to the print step being performed by a printer in the image forming apparatus, displays a next print step to perform based on the read print step information, and controls the printer. The image forming apparatus thus avoids leaks of the print data, and prevents useless printing and erratic job processing. Thus, even an inexperienced operator can provide sophisticated high quality print service using the image forming apparatus. |
| US07999961B2 |
Information processing apparatus, distributed printing controlling method, storing medium and program
Control is effected to produce a plurality of child print jobs for a plurality of printers from data to be printed, on the basis of inputted instruction for distributed print, and information regarding a parent print job is produced on the basis of information regarding the plurality of child print jobs produced under control of the distributed print, and the parent job is displayed in a distinguishable manner from the child print job. |
| US07999960B2 |
Printing system, printing system control method, program and storage medium
A printing system is arranged so that each time a storage button disposed on an operation panel of a printer is operated, an interrupt event transferred from the printer to the computer is detected at the computer, and in accordance with the detected interrupt event, image data in a memory card mounted on a card slot of the printer is stored on a hard disk of the computer, and that each time a print start button disposed on the operation panel of the printer is operated, an interrupt event transferred from the printer to the computer is detected, and in accordance with the detected interrupt event, image data read from the memory card and image data stored on the hard disk of the computer is both printed. |
| US07999959B2 |
System and method for user-specific discovery and initiation of a default document processing device
The subject application is directed to a system and method for user-specific discovery and initiation of a default document processing device. First, a computing device is placed in data communication with an associated data network. Device data corresponding to document processing devices accessible by the computing device is then retrieved. Via the associated data network, data communication is established between the computing device and the document processing devices. The relative location between the computing device and each of the document processing devices is then determined according to the established data communication. A default document processing device subset is thereafter selected from the available document processing devices based upon the determined location. Operation of the document processing device subset is then enabled via the computing device. |
| US07999957B2 |
Input position setting method, input position setting device, input position setting program, and information input system
An input position setting method of setting an input position for an instruction position by an instruction section on the basis of a pickup image data obtained by picking up an image of a display area when an operator instructs a predetermined position of the display area to be displayed by an image display device by the use of the instruction section, includes acquiring an image area corresponding to the instruction section as an instruction image area from the pickup image data; detecting a position existing on a contour of the instruction image area, which is remotest from a reference position set in the instruction image area, as a remotest point and setting the input position on the basis of the remotest point; and generating input position setting progress information to show the operator the progress of setting the input position and superimposing the input position setting progress information on the image data to be displayed by the image display device. |
| US07999956B2 |
System and method for improving print shop operation
There is provided a system for a print production facility, with print job processing departments, in which a wait time interval is determined for each recorded instance in which an output, from a set of multiple outputs, is delivered from a first one of the print job processing departments to a second one of the print job processing departments. A statistical metric value, representative of a wait time interval for the set of multiple outputs, is computed, and a workflow relationship between the print job processing departments may be altered when a total number of recorded instances and/or the statistical metric value exceed given references. |
| US07999955B2 |
Printing system, print server and computer program that differentiate between on-line and off-line finishing devices in said printing system
A printing system capable of reducing workload of an operator by automatically separating finishing specifics of a printed product into tasks to be performed by an on-line printer and tasks to be performed by an off-line finishing device. The printing system comprises an on-line client, print server and printer as well as an off-line finishing device, and the print server receives the job ticket from the client, separates the finishing specifics included in the received job ticket into those to be performed by the printer and those to be performed by the finishing device based on information regarding specifications and installed options of the printer and finishing device, sets in the printer parameters for the finishing specifics separated and assigned to the printer, and creates data for a finishing device job ticket that includes the finishing specifics separated and assigned to the finishing device. |
| US07999954B2 |
Methods and devices for host error detection by a printer
A printer comprising a reception unit for receiving a command or data sent from a host computer, a timer for counting elapsed time after the command or data is received, and an error detection unit for reporting that the host computer is in an error state when the command or data from the host computer is not received within a predetermined time after the timer starts counting the elapsed time. |
| US07999953B2 |
Printer having print and receive buffers and a printer control method for controlling same
Described are a printer and a method of controlling it, in which discarding received data and clearing data from a receive buffer is started when an off-line error occurs and the printer goes off-line. When the printer returns on-line, a control unit causes a data receiving unit to stop discarding said received data and causes sending a clear response as an on-line status report telling the host computer that the printer is returning on-line. |
| US07999951B2 |
Direct print handling of native and non-native data formats
Methods of, and devices for, image processing of input data, directed to an imaging device, where a method comprises: (a) generating a spool shell based on received job setting information for received input data; (b) determining if the received input data is native to the imaging device; and (c) if the received input data is not native to the imaging device, then (i) converting the received input data into a native converted data, and (ii) generating a spool job by encapsulating the converted data within the generated spool shell. |
| US07999950B1 |
Method and apparatus for providing backup font support for missing device glyphs
The present invention provides a method and apparatus in a data processing system for printing characters. Data received includes glyphs for output on an output device, wherein the glyphs are to be output using a selected device font. Monitoring for unsupported glyphs in the selected device font is performed. In response to detecting a glyph unsupported by the selected device font, a back up system font is used to output the glyph to the output device. |
| US07999949B2 |
Spectroscopic ellipsometers
The present invention discloses an optical measurement and/or inspection device that, in one application, may be used for inspection of semiconductor devices. A method is disclosed for extracting information of a device-under-test for an ellipsometer, comprising the steps: providing a plurality of incoming polarized beams using a plurality of polarizers, where each of the beams being polarized at a designated polarizing angle; using a parabolic reflector to focus said plurality of incoming polarized beams on a spot on a DUT; using a parabolic reflector to collect a plurality of beams reflected from said DUT; and analyzing said collected beams using a plurality of analyzers, wherein each of the analyzers having a designated polarizing angle with respect to its respective polarizer. |
| US07999946B2 |
Fiber optic particle motion sensor system
A sensor apparatus combines an optical sensor in which acceleration, acoustic velocity, or displacement (vibration) causes a corresponding shift in the center wavelength of the sensor output, coupled to a high speed interferometric interrogator, through an unbalanced fiber interferometer. The unbalanced interferometer functions to translate optical wavelength shift into phase shift, which is easily demodulated by the interrogator. |
| US07999944B2 |
Multi-channel swept wavelength optical interrogation system and method for using same
A multi-channel swept wavelength optical interrogation system and a method are described herein that enable the interrogation of one or more biosensors which for example could be located within the wells of a microplate. In one embodiment, the optical interrogation system comprises: (a) a tunable laser that emits an optical beam which has a predetermined sequence of distinct wavelengths over a predetermined time period; (b) a distribution unit that splits the optical beam into a plurality of interrogation beams; (c) an array of optical interrogation units that receive and direct the interrogation beams towards an array of biosensors; (d) the array of optical interrogation units receive a plurality of reflected interrogation beams from the array of biosensors; (e) a data processing device that receives and processes information associated with the reflected interrogation beams to determine for example whether or not there was a biochemical interaction on anyone of the biosensors. |
| US07999943B2 |
Device manufacturing method with angular-resolved spectroscopic lithography characterization
To inspect all portions of the substrate, the substrate table can be moved rotationally and linearly. Furthermore, the detector can be moved rotationally. This allows all portions of a surface of the substrate to be inspected from all angles in a plane parallel to the substrate. In one example, as less linear motion is needed, the apparatus occupies a smaller volume and generates smaller vibrations. |
| US07999937B1 |
Microfluidic devices and methods for integrated flow cytometry
Microfluidic devices and methods for flow cytometry are described. In described examples, various sample handling and preparation steps may be carried out within a same microfluidic device as flow cytometry steps. A combination of imaging and flow cytometry is described. In some examples, spiral microchannels serve as incubation chambers. Examples of automated sample handling and flow cytometry are described. |
| US07999933B2 |
Method for calibrating imaging spectrographs
Disclosed is a method for calibrating optical spectrographs, and in particular optical spectrographs having focal plane array detectors. The method comprises the steps of detecting a spectrum of a known source, referencing a table of known spectral wavelengths and relative intensities, and deriving a spectrograph model based on the spectrograph's physical properties to approximate the observed spectrum, wherein non-linear optimization techniques refine the theoretical model parameters, thereby minimizing the residual difference between observed and calculated spectral intensities in an iterative process producing a set of physical model parameters that best describe the modeling spectrograph for calibration of subsequent spectral acquisitions. |
| US07999932B2 |
Inspection apparatus and inspection method
An inspection apparatus includes a wafer stage for carrying a wafer, an illumination module which irradiates an inspection beam on the wafer carried on the wafer stage, a detection module which detects scattering rays or reflection rays from the wafer on the wafer stage and outputs an image signal, a coordinates control module which stores information about the arrangement of individual inspection areas on the wafer, and an imperfect area recognition module which recognizes, on the basis of the inspection area arrangement information stored in the coordinates control module, an imperfect inspection area interfering with a wafer edge. |
| US07999928B2 |
Method and system for combined Raman and LIBS detection
In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a method for interrogating a sample by: illuminating a first region of the sample with a first illumination pattern to obtain a plurality of first sample photons; illuminating a second region of the sample with a second illumination pattern to obtain a plurality of second sample photons; processing the plurality of first sample photons to obtain a characteristic atomic emission of the first region and processing the plurality of second sample photons to obtain a Raman spectrum; and identifying the sample through at least one of the characteristic atomic emission of the first region or the Raman spectrum of the second region of the sample. |
| US07999927B2 |
In vitro determination of analyte levels within body fluids
A reagentless whole-blood analyte detection system that is capable of being deployed near a patient has a source capable of emitting a beam of radiation that includes a spectral band. The whole-blood system also has a detector in an optical path of the beam. The whole-blood system also has a housing that is configured to house the source and the detector. The whole-blood system also has a sample element that is situated in the optical path of the beam. The sample element has a sample cell and a sample cell wall that does not eliminate transmittance of the beam of radiation in the spectral band. |
| US07999920B2 |
Method of performing model-based scanner tuning
A model-based tuning method for tuning a first lithography system utilizing a reference lithography system, each of which has tunable parameters for controlling imaging performance. The method includes the steps of defining a test pattern and an imaging model; imaging the test pattern utilizing the reference lithography system and measuring the imaging results; imaging the test pattern utilizing the first lithography system and measuring the imaging results; calibrating the imaging model utilizing the imaging results corresponding to the reference lithography system, where the calibrated imaging model has a first set of parameter values; tuning the calibrated imaging model utilizing the imaging results corresponding to the first lithography system, where the tuned calibrated model has a second set of parameter values; and adjusting the parameters of the first lithography system based on a difference between the first set of parameter values and the second set of parameter values. |
| US07999919B2 |
Substrate holding technique
Disclosed is technology for holding a substrate and, specifically, an object holding apparatus including a chuck for holding an object, a holding unit for holding the chuck, a generating unit provided in the holding unit, for generating a field related to an attraction force, a member provided in the chuck and attracted by the generating unit in accordance with the field, and a supporting unit for supporting one of the generating unit and the member, for movement at least in a direction nearing the other and in a direction away from the other. |
| US07999917B2 |
Illumination system and microlithographic projection exposure apparatus including same
The disclosure relates an illumination system configured to guide illumination light from a radiation source to an object plane and to provide defined illumination of an object field in the object plane, wherein illumination light is supplied to the object field by a bundle-guiding optical pupil component which is disposed in a pupil plane of the projection objective, and wherein at least another bundle-guiding component is disposed upstream of the pupil component in the beam path of the illumination light. The disclosure further concerns a projection exposure apparatus that includes such an illumination system of this type, a method of fabricating a microstructured component using such a projection exposure apparatus, and a microstructured component fabricated using such a method. |
| US07999914B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A lithographic apparatus is disclosed having a deformable lens element through which a patterned radiation beam is arranged to pass before reaching a substrate and having a deformable lens actuator configured to transmit a combination of a force substantially parallel to the optical axis of the projection system and a localized torque about an axis substantially perpendicular to the optical axis independently at a plurality of sub-regions on the deformable lens element. |
| US07999909B2 |
Fabrication method of in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device including twisted nematic liquid crystal layer between first and second ferroelectric liquid crystal layers
An in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate including a pixel electrode in a pixel region, a second substrate facing the first substrate and including a common electrode, a first alignment layer on the pixel electrode, a second alignment layer on the common electrode, a first ferroelectric liquid crystal layer on the first alignment layer and including a first spontaneous polarization, a second ferroelectric liquid crystal layer on the second alignment layer and including a second spontaneous polarization, a rotational direction of the first ferroelectric liquid crystal layer with respect to the first alignment layer being different from a rotational direction of the second ferroelectric liquid crystal layer with respect to the second alignment layer, and a twisted nematic liquid crystal layer between the first and second ferroelectric liquid crystal layers. |
| US07999908B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method of fabricating the same
A liquid crystal display device and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed in the present invention. The liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates including a plurality of liquid crystal display panel regions, each liquid crystal display panel region having an active region and a dummy region, a sealant outside the liquid crystal display panel regions, a dummy column spacer on the dummy region to control a liquid crystal flow, a buffer region between the sealant and the dummy column spacer to accommodate a liquid crystal, and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates. |
| US07999904B2 |
Flat display panel
A flat display panel includes a first substrate and a second substrate adhered to the first substrate. The first substrate has a display region, and a peripheral region located on at least one side of the first substrate. The peripheral region includes a driving IC connection region. The second substrate has a main region corresponding to and covering the display region of the first substrate, and at least one extension region protruding from the main region and covering a portion of the peripheral region. |
| US07999903B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having columnar spacers formed on first and second elongated support layers
To implement a support layer which is smaller than in the prior art with a stable contact area with the spacers in columnar form even in the case where the spacers in columnar form are miniaturized.A liquid crystal display device is provided with: a first substrate; a second substrate; and a liquid crystal display panel having liquid crystal sandwiched between the above described first substrate and the above described second substrate, and characterized in that the above described second substrate has spacers in columnar form, the above described first substrate has a support layer in a region where the above described spacers in columnar form are formed, the above described support layer has: a first layer extending in a first direction; and a second layer formed on the above described first layer and extending in a second direction which crosses the above described first direction at an angle of 70° to 110°, and the surface of the above described spacers in columnar form on the above described first substrate side faces the portion where the above described first layer of the above described support layer and the above described second layer overlap. The above described first layer and the above described second layer of the above described support layer are rectangular in a plan view. The above described first layer is a semiconductor layer and the above described second layer is a metal layer. |
| US07999899B1 |
Fringe field switching liquid crystal display apparatus
A fringe field switching liquid crystal display apparatus is provided. This apparatus includes a first electrode disposed in a stacked relationship with a second electrode. The first electrode includes a first side edge, a second side edge, and plural spaces that define plural strips between the first and the second side edges, wherein the plural strips and the plural spacings form a first area. The second electrode is disposed on one of places above and below the first electrode, and has at least a penetrating vacancy or other capacitance-reduction device, which has a projection onto the first electrode located outside the first area. |
| US07999898B2 |
Active matrix type liquid crystal display device
An active matrix liquid crystal display device is provided in which decrease in the aperture ratio is prevented, and deterioration in display quality is reduced by preventing liquid crystal molecules in a region of a pixel electrode which region faces a bus line from aligning in two or more directions. A liquid crystal panel in the active matrix liquid crystal display device includes a plurality of pixel electrodes (2) in array; and bus lines (42) arranged in a grid so as to surround each of the pixel electrodes (2), the pixel electrodes (2) each including a prominence (50) overlapping an adjacent one of the bus lines (42) in a top view, wherein the respective prominences (50) of each adjacent two of the pixel electrodes (2) facing each other across an adjacent one of the bus lines (42) overlap the bus line (42) at positions different from each other with respect to a direction in which the bus line (42) extends. |
| US07999896B2 |
Liquid crystal display unit
A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes: a vertical alignment liquid crystal layer; first and second electrodes arranged on one surface of first and second substrates to face the liquid crystal layer; and first and second alignment films arranged on the first and second electrodes, respectively, in contact with the liquid crystal layer. The first alignment film has been subjected to an optical alignment treatment by obliquely irradiating a first alignment film material, having a photosensitive wavelength within the wavelength range of 250 nm to 380 nm, with light including the photosensitive wavelength. The device further includes: a metal layer arranged between the first alignment film and the first substrate; and a first resin layer arranged between the metal layer and the first alignment film. The first resin layer has an optical property that attenuates the intensity of light, which has been incident on the first resin layer and then reflected from the metal layer, to 60% or less at the photosensitive wavelength. |
| US07999893B2 |
Complex birefringent medium, polarizing plate, and liquid crystal device
The present invention provides a complex birefringent medium, which has the so-called inverse wavelength dispersibility, that is, a wavelength dispersibility capable of giving an optimum phase difference to a light of a wide visible wavelength range, has a wide viewing angle, can be produced by a convenient method and is excellent in a degree of adjusting freedom of inverse wavelength dispersibility and in mass productivity, a polarizing plate and a liquid crystal display device. The complex birefringent medium of the present invention is a complex birefringent medium having a structure in which a plurality of birefringent layers are laminated, wherein in the complex birefringent medium, a phase difference exhibits inverse wavelength dispersibility as the whole of the complex birefringent medium, and wherein when a principal refractive index having the maximum absolute value of a difference from an average value of three principal refractive indexes at a wavelength λ (nm) is designated as a first principal refractive index n1(λ), a normal line of the birefringent layer and a principal axis corresponding to the first principal refractive index n1(550) of the birefringent layer are in the same plane. |
| US07999890B2 |
Liquid crystal driving electrode and a liquid crystal display using the same
A liquid crystal driving electrode and a liquid crystal display using the same are provided. The liquid crystal driving electrode includes a substrate, a reflecting electrode layer, and a light-transmissible electrode. The substrate includes a plurality of pixels; each pixel has a reflection area and a transmission area adjacent to the reflection area. The reflecting electrode overlaps the reflecting area while the light-transmissible electrode overlaps the transmission area. The reflecting electrode has an effective margin. The light-transmissible electrode electrically connects to the reflecting electrode and extends to overlap the effective margin. |
| US07999887B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a display panel, a backlight which radiates light to the display panel, a light emitting element which is mounted on the backlight, and a light guide plate on which light from the light emitting element is incident. The light guide plate has an upper surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface has grooves formed therein delimited by at least one surface which extends at a slant with respect to the bottom surface. A reflection sheet is provided which reflects the light radiated from the bottom surface. The grooves are formed to produce a first light which is reflected on the grooves and a second light which is radiated from the grooves and is reflected on the reflection sheet, and an asymmetric prism sheet is arranged on the light guide plate. |
| US07999886B2 |
Backlight apparatus and liquid crystal apparatus having particular light emission control
By controlling light emission, non-emission, and light intensity of each of the light emitting elements arranged on a backlight unit, a point-shaped light emitting point is created and the light emitting point is moved along the arrangement of pixels formed on a liquid crystal display panel unit. By moving the light emitting point as if an electron beam were scanning in the CRT display, it is possible to enhance the dynamic image blur removal effect. |
| US07999882B2 |
Liquid crystal module
A liquid crystal module includes a rear frame, a light reflecting sheet, a cold cathode tube, an optical sheet, a liquid crystal panel, a pair of lead wires and a pair of lamp sockets. The rear frame has an access opening. The cold cathode tube is disposed above the light reflecting sheet in an interior of the rear frame and having a pair of electric terminals at both end portions of the cold cathode tube. The pair of lead wires is connected to the electric terminals to form connected portions. The lead wires extend through the access opening of the rear frame from the interior of the rear frame. The pair of lamp sockets is fixedly attached to the both end portions of the cold cathode tube and fitted into the access opening of the rear frame to support the cold cathode tube with respect to the rear frame. |
| US07999879B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device is provided which has a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the pair of substrates, in which liquid crystal molecules are vertically aligned with respect to the substrates when no voltage is applied between the substrates and the liquid crystal molecules tilt in a plurality of directions to be almost parallel to the substrates by applying a voltage between the substrates. In the liquid crystal layer, when the voltage is applied, a proportion of a region where the liquid crystal molecules tilt in a direction of 0 degrees to 180 degrees is different from a proportion of a region where the liquid crystal molecules tilt in a direction of 180 degrees to 360 degrees with the angle being defined counterclockwise with the right direction on a screen being 0 degrees. |
| US07999867B2 |
Image edge detection apparatus and method, image sharpness emphasizing apparatus and method, recorded meduim recorded the program performing it
The present invention relates to an apparatus for and a method of providing a sharper image by preventing the deterioration of an image caused by the difference in dynamic ranges of a center part and a surrounding part of the image photographed by an image sensor or by the difference of lens resolution. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an image edge detection apparatus and a method thereof, a sharpness emphasis apparatus and a method thereof, and a recoding medium recorded with a program performing the method can acquire the sharpness and quality of a desired image by detecting an edge of a surrounding part by use of an edge detection filter having a different filter area size and/or a weight of a computed edge value in a center part and the surrounding part, respectively, of the image, and then by giving a weight to the detected edge. |
| US07999866B2 |
Imaging apparatus and processing method thereof
An imaging apparatus is provided having: a pixel unit including an effective pixel region of multiple pixels accumulating charges generated according to incident light to output signals and an ineffective pixel region of multiple pixels outputting signals not dependent on incident light; a plurality of vertical signal lines provided for each column of pixels of pixel unit; a vertical scanning circuit that scans and selects pixels of pixel unit in row units to output signals of selected pixels of same row to plurality of vertical signal lines; and a horizontal scanning circuit that scans and selects signals of plurality of vertical signal lines to output signals of selected vertical signal lines; wherein the vertical scanning circuit selects pixels of same row of effective pixel region in row units once during one frame and selects pixels of same row of ineffective pixel region in row units multiple times during one frame. |
| US07999864B2 |
Imaging apparatus and its control method for setting suitable clipping level
An imaging apparatus includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion units configured to output an image signal obtained by executing photoelectric conversion and a noise signal; a clipping unit configured to clip the noise signal to a clipping level when the noise signal exceeds a preset clipping level; a control unit configured to calculate the clipping level based on a signal read from the plurality of photoelectric conversion units and set the calculated clipping level to the clipping unit as the preset clipping level; and a differential unit configured to execute differential processing of subtracting a noise signal read from the photoelectric conversion unit and clipped by the clipping unit, from an image signal read from the plurality of the photoelectric conversion units. |
| US07999863B2 |
Image correction apparatus and method
When the image of a face is detected from within the image of a subject, the brightness of the face image is calculated. If it is determined that the face image is dark are requires a correction, a revised gamma correction curve is calculated in such a manner that both the face image and the overall image of the subject take on the appropriate brightness. A gamma correction is applied using the revised gamma correction curve. Noise reduction processing is executed in order to suppress the amount of noise produced by the gamma correction. |
| US07999860B2 |
Image file for storing digital images and ancillary data values using multiple encoding methods
An image format for storing digital images within a baseline DCT compatible bitstream comprises entropy coded image data, a first application marker storing a first data value using a first encoding method to convey a first information value related to the image, and a second application marker storing a second data value using a second encoding method to convey the same said first information value related to the image. More specifically, the first application marker uses TIFF tags within an Exif application marker and the second application marker uses a FlashPix compatible structured storage stream, while the entropy coded data includes restart markers to define tile boundaries within the entropy coded image data. |
| US07999855B2 |
Image capture device having motion sensing means
An image capture device (10) incorporates motion sensing means (12a/12b), a controller (16) and setting controls (14) for the image capture device (10), wherein the controller (16) is operable to store a plurality of configurations of the setting controls (14) as preset configurations, wherein each of said preset configurations is associated with a particular output of the motion sensing means (12a/12b). |
| US07999852B2 |
Test or calibration of displayed greyscales
Testing a display involves display of a series of test patterns, each at a different luminance or color, and with a predetermined minimum difference of luminance or color from their background, each pattern being unpredictable to a user, and determining if the user has correctly identified the patterns. This can enable a more objective test without needing external measuring equipment. Calibrating the display involves determining an output luminance level by detecting a minimal difference of drive signal to give a just noticeable output luminance difference at a given high luminance drive level, and determining an absolute luminance of the given high input luminance level from the minimal difference and from a predetermined human characteristic of visibility threshold of luminance changes. This can avoid the need for an external or internal sensor. This can be useful during conformance checks or during calibration of the display for example. |
| US07999849B2 |
Moving object detection
Moving object detection methods and systems are described. In an embodiment, motion likelihoods are accumulated from sets of sequential image frames which are generated from a sensor scan of one or more moving objects. Regions that each indicates a probable moving object from the accumulated motion likelihoods are determined, and the one or more moving objects are then detected from the respective regions that indicate a probable moving object. |
| US07999847B2 |
Audio-video tip analysis, storage, and alerting system for safety, security, and business productivity
An audio surveillance, storage, and alerting system, including the following components: One or more audio sensory devices capture audio data having attribute data representing importance of the audio sensory devices. One or more audio analytics devices process the audio data to detect audio events. A network management module monitors network status of the audio sensory devices and generates network events reflective of the network status of all subsystems. A correlation engine correlates two or more events weighted by the attribute data of the device used to capture the data. Finally, an alerting engine generates one or more alerts and performs one or more actions based on the correlation performed by the correlation engine. This invention may be used to help fight crime and help ensure safety procedures are followed. |
| US07999846B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing system, and recording medium for programs therefor
An image processing apparatus connected to a monitoring camera and a display for processing an image input from the monitoring camera includes an image storage storing an image input from the monitoring camera, a characteristic parameter storage storing a characteristic parameter characterizing a specific image, a specific image extraction unit, wherein the specific image extraction unit cuts out images having a plurality of predetermined sizes from all parts of the input image stored in the image storage, executes character evaluation processing for checking whether or not cut out images have an identical character to the specific image for each cut out image, and extracts the cut out images which has an identical character to the specific image by the character evaluation processing, and a display image generation unit for generating a display image for displaying a whole image of the input image and the extraction specific image on the display. |
| US07999837B2 |
Exposure head, image forming apparatus, and image forming method
Provided is an image forming apparatus including: a latent image carrier, on which a latent image is formed; an exposure head that includes a first light-emitting element and a second light-emitting element that is disposed in a direction in which the latent image container corresponding to the first light-emitting element is moved; and a control unit that changes over and performs a first latent image forming operation, in which the latent image is formed on the latent image container by using the first light-emitting element, and a second latent image forming operation, in which the latent image is formed on the latent image container by using the second light-emitting element, wherein the control unit controls a first light emission timing of the first light-emitting element in the first latent image forming operation and a second light emission timing of the second light-emitting element in the second latent image forming operation to be different from each other. |
| US07999835B2 |
Laser irradiation apparatus and method of fabricating organic light emitting display using the same
A laser irradiation apparatus and method of fabricating an organic light emitting display using the same are provided. The laser irradiation apparatus includes: a laser generator; a mask having means for changing a propagation path of a laser beam; and a projection lens. The method of fabricating an organic light emitting display includes: irradiating a laser beam on an edge of an irradiated region of a donor substrate using the laser irradiation apparatus with high intensity to form an organic layer pattern on a substrate. The laser beam having low intensity can perform a transfer process to improve laser beam efficiency. In addition, it is possible to reduce damage on the organic layer, and improve quality of the transferred organic layer pattern. |
| US07999828B2 |
Image processing apparatus, computer program product, and preview image displaying method
An image processing apparatus includes a system control unit, and a display control unit. The system control unit judges whether a setting item that is newly selected on a preview image is mutually exclusive with a setting item that has already been selected on the preview image. The display control unit displays, when the setting items are mutually exclusive with each other, an area corresponding to the setting item newly selected differently from other areas. The display control unit also displays, when the area is selected, why the setting item newly selected cannot be set. |
| US07999827B2 |
Method and system for generating dynamic blocks
Tools and techniques for creating and editing a master block definition for a block, and manipulating a block instantiation of the block are described. User input can be received defining a block and a master block definition can be generated for the block. The block can include one or more graphical entities and receiving a user input defining a block can include receiving one or more user inputs manipulating a graphical representation of the block. The master block definition can include at least one allowable manipulation to a geometry of the block when instantiated. One or more block instantiations of the block can be manipulated differently according to the allowable manipulation. |
| US07999823B2 |
Device and method for projection device based soft proofing
A display (36) for reproducing an image intended for printing on a substrate using a set of inks, the image having a perceived color gamut when print it on the substrate, the display (36) including a light source (38) generating a set of at least three primary color (RGB), and a controller (42) combining the set of at least three primary color to substantially reproduce the image, wherein the at least three primary color define a viewed color gamut which substantially covers the perceived color gamut. |
| US07999815B1 |
Active raster composition and error checking in hardware
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a system for computing and error checking configuration parameters related to raster image generation within a graphics processing unit. Input parameters are validated by a hardware-based error checking engine. A hardware-based pre-calculation engine uses validated input parameters to compute additional private configuration parameters used by the raster image generation circuitry within a graphics processing unit. |
| US07999813B2 |
System and method for data synchronization for a computer architecture for broadband networks
A computer architecture and programming model for high speed processing over broadband networks are provided. The architecture employs a consistent modular structure, a common computing module and uniform software cells. The common computing module includes a control processor, a plurality of processing units, a plurality of local memories from which the processing units process programs, a direct memory access controller and a shared main memory. A processing system for performing graphics processing is also provided. A first processor is of a first processor type and a number of second processors are of a second processor type. One of the second processors can perform graphics processing on a first set of graphics data to generate a second set of graphics data, and another of the second processors can perform graphics processing on the second set to generate a third set of graphics data. |
| US07999809B2 |
Computer systems and methods for automatic generation of models for a dataset
A method of automatically generating models from a dataset includes multiple steps. First, a description of a view of a dataset is provided. The description includes multiple fields associated with the dataset. Next, a set of properties is determined for each of the multiple fields. Finally, the description is automatically translated into one or more models based on the respective properties of the multiple fields and a set of predefined heuristics. |
| US07999806B2 |
Three-dimensional shape drawing device and three-dimensional shape drawing method
A device drawing a three-dimensional shape and including a high order bit comparing section comparing high order bits of a depth value retained by a high order Z-buffer memory with high order bits calculated by a calculation section. If these two sets of high order bits are the same, a low order bit comparing section compares low order bits retained by a low order Z-buffer memory with low order bits calculated by the calculation section. If a depth indicated by the high order bits calculated by the calculation section is shallow, the high order bits retained by the high order Z-buffer memory and the low order bits retained by the low order Z-buffer memory are updated. If a depth indicated by the low order bits calculated by the calculation section is shallow, the low order bits retained by the low order Z-buffer memory are updated. |
| US07999805B2 |
System and method of converting edge record based graphics to polygon based graphics
A method and graphics converter for converting edge record based graphics to polygon based graphics is provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a method for converting graphic object data that defines a graphic object for delivery to wireless devices connected to a wireless communications network, the method comprising: converting the graphic object data from a path format to a second format, the path format including path elements that are each associated with a fill style and define one or more polygon shapes at least partially filled with the associated fill style, the path elements collectively defining the graphic object; converting the graphic object data from the path format to a second format, the converting including: redefining the polygon shapes defined by the path elements as groups of triangles; and combining at least some triangles in the groups of triangles into further polygon shapes that fall within complexity thresholds based on predetermined capabilities of a wireless device to which the converted graphic object data will be delivered. |
| US07999802B2 |
Interface system and flat panel display using the same
An interface system capable of minimizing an electro magnetic interference. The interface system may be constructed with a serializer for receiving a first data and second data having a plurality of bits from an external device and sequentially outputting bits of the received first data and second data; a transmission circuit including a decoder for converting two bits supplied from the serializer into three bits, a driver for controlling a flow of electric currents to correspond to the three bits and a transmission resistor to which a voltage is applied to correspond to the flow of the electric currents; a reception circuit including a reception resistor for receiving a voltage supplied the transmission resistor, amplifiers for amplifying a voltage applied to both ends of the reception resistor, comparators for recovering the three bits and an encoder for recovering the two bits using the three bit by comparing the voltage supplied to the amplifiers; a deserializer for recovering the first data and the second data while sequentially storing the two bits supplied from the reception circuit; and stabilization circuits for controlling the transmission circuit. |
| US07999799B2 |
Data transfer method and electronic device
The present invention provides a liquid-crystal display device that is able to reduce EMI, current consumption, and so forth in an interchip transfer of display data, a timing signal, and so forth and to provide an appropriate timing margin. In an interchip transfer of display data, a timing signal, and so forth that uses a plurality of data drivers, a certain data driver is used as a data driver. When the data driver is used in a first stage, an internal receiver is made to function as an RSDS receiver by fixing the IFM terminal at the “H” level. The received RSDS signal constitutes a CMOS signal that has been divided into two by the receiver and is output by the transmitter. Here, a data inversion signal is generated and output by the transmitter. When the data driver is used in the second or subsequent stage, the internal receiver is made to function as a CMOS receiver by fixing the IFM terminal at the “L” level. The received CMOS signal is output after being subjected to inversion control by means of the data inversion signal by the receiver and transmitter. |
| US07999798B2 |
Method and device for decoding a position-coding pattern
In a method for position decoding, a position is calculated on the basis of information determined from a partial area, imaged by a sensor, of a position-coding pattern. If the position calculation fails, the information from the partial area recorded by the sensor is matched with information about how the position-coding pattern is designed in a plurality of matching partial areas, which each define a position in the position-coding pattern. The position of the positions defined by the matching partial areas, which according to the matching step is the most probable position in the position-coding pattern for the imaged partial area is accepted as the decoded position. A device and a computer program for carrying out the method are also described. |
| US07999797B2 |
Detecting and locating a touch or a tap on an input surface
A device may receive measurements from an accelerometer in relation to a tap on a surface. The device may process the measurements to obtain a signal that indicates an occurrence of the tap on the surface and may produce the location of the tap based on the processed measurements. |
| US07999792B2 |
Electronic apparatus
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a coordinate input device which inputs coordinate data, a disabling range setting module which sets a disabling range in which the coordinate data, which is input by the coordinate input device, is disabled, a determination module which determines whether the coordinate data, which is input by the coordinate input device, is included in the disabling range which is set by the disabling range setting module, and a process module which executes a process corresponding to the coordinate data, which is input by the coordinate input device, in accordance with a determination result of the determination module. |
| US07999791B2 |
Handheld electronic device and keypad providing enhanced usability and reduced size, and associated method
An improved handheld electronic device, keypad, and method in accordance with the invention meet these and other needs. An improved handheld electronic device having an improved keypad provides enhanced usability and reduced size by organizing its keys in pairs, with a pair of keys being disposed on a support. Each key of a pair of keys is individually actuatable. An actuation of a key causes a primary conductor associated with the key set to electrically to connect a pair of contacts and to cause a secondary conductor associated with the key to electrically connect another pair of contacts. The primary conductor is a dome that is collapsible to electrically connect the pair of contacts and to provide a particular tactile feedback to the user. The secondary conductor is a conductor other than a collapsible dome. An actuation of any key or of any pair of keys thus provides to the user a consistent tactile feedback from a collapse of a single dome. An improved method in accordance with the invention is also disclosed. |
| US07999788B2 |
Television interfacing
Among other things, on a wireless handheld device that has a display and keys, an interface is provided that enables a user to control aspects of presentation of video material on a display of the handheld device, the interface including presentation on the display of visible tokens that are associated with respective keys. |
| US07999787B2 |
Methods for driving electrophoretic displays using dielectrophoretic forces
A dielectrophoretic display has a substrate having walls defining a cavity, the cavity having a viewing surface and a side wall inclined to the viewing surface. A fluid is contained within the cavity; and a plurality of particles are present in the fluid. There is applied to the substrate an electric field effective to cause dielectrophoretic movement of the particles so that the particles occupy only a minor proportion of the viewing surface. |
| US07999783B2 |
Shift register with shift register unit having output terminal non-continuously receiving low voltage and liquid crystal display using the same
An exemplary shift register (20) includes a plurality of shift register units (200) connected one by one. Each of the shift register units includes a first switch unit (201), a second switch unit (202), a third switch unit (203), a fourth switch unit (204), and a fifth switch unit (205). A signal input terminal of each shift register unit is coupled to an output terminal of a rear-stage shift register unit. A first clock input terminal receives a first clock signal to turn on/off the first and second switch units. The third switch unit receives a second clock signal. The fourth switch unit pulls up the output voltage of the output terminal according to a controlling signal from the first switch unit. The fifth switch unit pulls down the output voltage of the output terminal according to controlling signals from the second and third switch units. |
| US07999778B2 |
Apparatus and method for driving LCD
An apparatus for driving a liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel and a controller for controlling division and latch of data, and controlling the sampling of the divided data. A data driver divides input digital data into a number of digital data under control of the controller, converts the latched digital data into a number of analog data, and then simultaneously samples the analog data to supply to the data lines. |
| US07999775B2 |
Viewing angle controllable liquid crystal display device and driving method thereof
A viewing angle controllable liquid crystal display device, as embodied, includes: a liquid crystal panel including a plurality of color pixels, each of the color pixels having color subpixels and at least one interference subpixel; an input unit for inputting color subpixel data to be supplied to the color subpixels and inputting area data of an image whose security is requested; an interference data generating unit for generating interference subpixel data to be supplied to the interference subpixels; an interference area control unit for controlling the interference data generating unit to output the interference subpixel data corresponding to the area data; a data combining unit for combining the interference subpixel data with the color subpixel data; and a driving circuit for driving the color subpixels and the interference subpixels on the liquid crystal panel using the combined data from the data combining unit. |
| US07999774B2 |
Circuit for amplifying a display signal to be transmitted to a repair line by using a non-inverting amplifier and LCD device using the same
A circuit for amplifying a display signal transmitted to a repair line by using a non-inverting amplifier is disclosed, which comprises a voltage follower, a non-inverting amplifier, a repair line, a thin film transistor (TFT) and a liquid crystal (LC) capacitor. The voltage follower is electrically connected to a data driver chip to thereby provide a display signal to the non-inverting amplifier. The non-inverting amplifier amplifies the display signal to thus obtain an amplified display signal, and transmits the amplified display signal to the TFT and the LC capacitor through the repair line. The amplified display signal is kept at a desired voltage level when the LC capacitor receives the amplified display signal. |
| US07999772B2 |
Current-driven oled panel and related pixel structure
A pixel structure includes a light-emitting device (LED); a first scan line; a data line; a first transistor having a gate coupled to the first scan line; and a current mirror electrically connected to the LED. The current mirror includes a second transistor having a gate connected to the data line and one of the source and the drain of the first transistor, and one of a source and a drain coupled to a first voltage source; and a third transistor having a gate coupled to the other of the source and the drain of the first transistor, one of a source and a drain coupled the first voltage source. The LED is coupled between the other of the source and the drain of the third transistor and a second voltage source whose voltage level is greater than a voltage level of the first voltage source. |
| US07999771B2 |
Organic light emitting display and driving method thereof
An organic light emitting display includes column lines for receiving a drive current, each column line belonging to one of groups. Row lines are for receiving a scan signal. Organic light emitting diodes of pixels are at crossings of the row and column lines. A data driver includes a common current source and drive switching elements. The common current source is for applying the drive current to the column lines in one group. The drive switching elements are connected to the common current source and are for applying the drive current to the column lines in said one group within a drive period in which the scan signal is applied. Charge switches connected to the column lines are turned-on before the drive current is applied to the column lines, and turned-off during the drive period. A voltage retaining circuit coupled with the charge switches is for preliminarily charging the pixels. |
| US07999766B2 |
Plasma display panel driving method, plasma display panel driver circuit, and plasma display device
A driving method and a driver circuit for improving the definition of display image on a plasma display device. In an initial state in an addressing discharge period, a scanning electrode is applied with a scanning base pulse at a first power supply potential. This suppresses a weak erroneous discharge between a scanning base pulse and a display data pulse. Next, the scanning electrode is applied with a scanning pulse. After the scanning pulse has been applied, the scanning electrode is applied with the scanning base pulse at a second power supply potential. In this way, the level of the scanning base pulse applied to the scanning electrode after the end of the application of the scanning pulse in the addressing discharge period is lower than the level of the scanning base pulse applied to the scanning electrode before the application of the scanning pulse. This ensures a potential difference between the scanning electrode and the sustain electrode, and facilitates the formation of a wall charge required for a sustain discharge in the next discharge sustain period. |
| US07999764B2 |
Plasma display apparatus
A plasma display apparatus comprises a plasma display panel and a first driver. The plasma display panel includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The first driver includes an inductor into which a current flows in a first direction before and after a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode rises from a negative polarity sustain voltage and into which a current flows in a second direction different from the first direction before and after the voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode falls from a positive polarity sustain voltage. |
| US07999763B2 |
Plasma display apparatus
A plasma display apparatus is disclosed. In the plasma display apparatus, a data signal includes a voltage rising period during which the data signal gradually rises to a first voltage using an inductor, a voltage maintaining period during which the data signal is maintained at a second voltage higher than the first voltage, and a voltage falling period during which the data signal gradually falls to a voltage equal to or less than the second voltage. A magnitude of the first voltage is equal to or more than one half of a magnitude of the second voltage, and is less than the magnitude of the second voltage. A current flowing in the inductor ranges from zero ampere to a maximum current value of the inductor at a time when a voltage of the data signal is equal to the first voltage. |
| US07999761B2 |
Plasma display apparatus and method of driving the same
A plasma display apparatus and a driving method of thereof are provided. The plasma display apparatus comprises a plasma display panel comprising a plurality of first address electrodes and a plurality of second address electrodes, and a data driver for supplying a voltage of a substantially equal magnitude to a last first address electrode of at least one side of the plurality of first address electrodes and at least one second address electrode. |
| US07999759B2 |
Z-axis redundant display / multilayer display
A display system for presenting one or more planes of display information. The display system may include two or more display modules positioned in a spaced relationship in a stacked formation substantially along a Z-axis perpendicular to a display face of a display module. Each display module may be selectively activated to display a visual image or deactivated to a quiescent state. Further, when a display module is activated to display the viewed image, the viewed image can be viewed through a prior display module which is deactivated to a quiescent state. |
| US07999755B2 |
Method and apparatus for quadrifilar antenna with open circuit element terminations
A quadrifilar antenna having helical windings is fed by a phase shift feed network, each winding having an open circuit termination element, the phase shift feeding network having forward directional phase shift paths from a feed input to phase shift feed output ports, and having a first reverse directional transmission path from one or more of the phase shift feed output ports back to a first isolation port, and a second reverse directional transmission path from another one or more of the phase shift feed output ports back to a second isolation port, the first and second isolation ports isolated from the forward directional phase shift paths, and a differential termination impedance, floating from ground, connected the first and second isolation ports. Optionally, the differential termination impedance is frequency selective. |
| US07999753B2 |
Apparatus and methods for constructing antennas using vias as radiating elements formed in a substrate
Antennas are provided which are constructed using one or more conductive via stubs as radiating elements formed in a substrate. The antennas can be integrally packaged with IC chips (e.g., IC transceivers, receivers, transmitters, etc.) to build integrated wireless or RF (radio frequency) communications systems. |
| US07999751B2 |
Magnetically coupling near-field RFID antenna
An improved magnetically coupling near-field RFID antenna is embodied as a magnetic H-field coupler, and the near-field RFID antenna is embodied as a looped and/or frame-shaped antenna. The looped and/or frame-shaped antenna comprises a looped or frame-shaped strip conductor. The strip conductor is arranged set apart from a ground surface parallel thereto. A dielectric is interposed. The start and the end of the strip conductor end close to each other forms a gap or spacing. The start of the strip conductor is fed to ground. The end of the strip conductor is terminated by a terminating resistor. The terminating resistor is connected between the end of the strip conductor and a ground surface. |
| US07999748B2 |
Antennas for electronic devices
Key antennas are provided for an electronic device such as a laptop computer. The electronic device may have radio-frequency transceivers that transmit and receive signals using the key antennas. An antenna resonating element may be mounted beneath a keycap of each key antenna. The antenna resonating element may be spirally wrapped and integrated into the keycap. The key antenna may function as an antenna and may also function as an input key for an electronic device. A flexible communications path may pass through a hole in a conductive housing of the electronic device and may be used to couple the antenna resonating element to the radio-frequency transceiver. The antenna resonating element may be coupled to the radio-frequency transceiver by a weak spring. The weak spring may form a portion of the antenna resonating element. |
| US07999737B2 |
Beam adjusting device
The present invention relates to a device for adjusting the beam direction of an antenna. The device has a source connection terminal to be connected to a signal source and at least two feed connection terminals to be connected to antenna element feed points. A feed line structure is elongated in a main direction at a distance from and in parallel to a fixed ground plane on at least one side of said feed line structure, wherein a movable dielectric element is located between said feed line structure and said ground plane so as to change the signal phase of signal components being transferred between said source connection terminal and the respective feed connection terminals. The device includes means for allowing said ground plane to be positioned relatively close to said feed line structure without risking accidental contact between said feed line structure and said ground plane. |
| US07999732B2 |
Method and system for GPS position measuring and frequency error detecting method
A receiver terminal receives a frequency from an external reference oscillator portion, which is more accurate than that of a frequency generated within the receiver in a local oscillator portion. The frequency from the local oscillator portion is measured using the external frequency as the reference, which determines the error in the local oscillator frequency relative to the external reference and permits the local oscillator frequency to be corrected to within the error of the external oscillator frequency. A plurality of candidate values for the remaining local frequency error are selected within a predetermined frequency range to include any remaining error of the local oscillator frequency. The received signal from a satellite is correlated with a matching pseudorandom code to detect the signal and measure the signal delay and Doppler shift of the signal relative to the corrected local oscillator frequency. The delay value is used to obtain a pseudorange measurement and the measured Doppler shift permits further correction to the local oscillator frequency, thus reducing the frequency search range for the remaining satellites. |
| US07999731B2 |
GPS data recording apparatus and related method thereof
A GPS data recording apparatus includes a storage device and a processing circuit coupled to the storage device. The processing circuit comprises: a sampling module, for sampling a GPS data; and a packet processor, for packetizing the sampled GPS data to generate a data packet to be stored in the storage device, and for unpacketizing the stored data packet from the storage device if necessary. According to present invention, GPS data can be recorded and be replayed as necessary. |
| US07999729B2 |
Methods and systems for location determination via multi-mode operation
Provided is a method for facilitating location determination. The method includes granting a subscriber access to a location determination network via a first device and determining location of a second device via the network, the second device being configurable for dual mode location determination. Finally, the determined location of the second device is provided to the first device. |
| US07999728B2 |
Granularity control in publishing information
A system and method for sharing user information between online services may determine a degree of relationship between the services to determine how much, and what precision level, of user information should be shared. In one example, the user information may be global positioning system (GPS) location information for the user, and requesting users (or systems) receive different levels of the location information based on their respective relationships to the user and/or the user's online information service. The relationship between services may be user-defined using onscreen graphical tools. The determination may also include determining the levels of activity of users at the services, whereby information regarding less active users is less detailed than information regarding active users. |
| US07999725B2 |
Level monitoring device for determining and monitoring a fill level of a medium in the process area of a vessel
A fill level measuring device for ascertaining and monitoring fill level of a medium in the process space of a container by means of a microwave travel time measuring method. The device includes: measurement transmitter; and an antenna unit, which is constructed at least of a hollow conductor and a radiating element, wherein a process isolation element is inserted into the hollow conductor for process isolation between measurement transmitter and the process contacting, radiating element. The process isolation element is made of a ceramic material and includes at least one glass layer, via which the process isolation element is directly glass bonded in the hollow conductor in a glass bonding region. |
| US07999720B2 |
Camouflage positional elements
One aspect relates to camouflaging an object by affecting a presentation at least partially using at least one positional element based at least in part on a position of the at least one positional element. Another aspect relates to configuring at least a first camouflage positional element and at least a second camouflage positional element to act as a decoy presentation, an active chaff, and/or a smart chaff. Another aspect relates to providing at least one positional element that can deceive, confuse, defeat, or lead one or more sensors towards or away from a target, such as to act as chaff, one or more flares, fog, one or more decoys, or a combination thereof. Another aspect relates to determining a suitable camouflage for at least one camouflage positional element at least partially considering a background for the at least one camouflage positional element, and affecting a presentation using the at least one camouflage positional element at least partially based on the suitable camouflage. |
| US07999717B2 |
Folding circuit and analog-to-digital converter
A folding circuit and an analog-to-digital converter wherein a response to small signals is improved, a load on a clock signal can be reduced, and the increase of circuit area can be prevented. The circuit includes a reference voltage generating circuit that generates a plurality of differential voltages as reference voltages, and a plurality of amplification circuits that convert differential voltages between the plurality of reference voltages and an analog input voltage to differential currents, and output these differential currents. The output ends of the amplification circuits are alternately connected. Each of the amplification circuit is configured by a differential amplifier circuit having cascode output transistors (145, 146). A switch (144), which is turned on in synchronization with the control clock, is provided between the both sources of the cascode output transistors (145,146). |
| US07999713B2 |
Parallel analog-digital converter with dual static ladder
The invention relates to fast, high resolution, analog digital converters, and more particularly those which possess at least one conversion stage of “flash” type. The converter according to the invention uses N differential amplifiers with four inputs. The amplifier of rank j receives the input voltage to be converted Vep−Ven on two first inputs, and a reference potential difference on two other inputs. The reference potential difference is obtained between two taps of networks of resistors that are identical operating in parallel and supplied between a high voltage source and a low current source; the taps for an amplifier are respectively a tap Pj of rank j of a first network and a tap P′N−j+1 of rank N−j+1 of a second network. This reduces the first and second order non-linearity effects due to the fact that the differential amplifiers consume an input current tapped off from the networks of resistors. |
| US07999710B2 |
Multistage chopper stabilized delta-sigma ADC with reduced offset
A relatively low frequency chopping operation is applied to a delta-sigma ADC to reduce DC offsets resulting from non-ideal component operation. Sequential chopping takes place outside a closed loop and may include an inverted polarity feedback for a part of the chopping period. Nested chopping involves chopping within the closed loop, and may include an inverted polarity feedback and a time shift. The feedback compensation for sequential and nested chopping permits the correct polarity feedback to be provided at the desired time in conjunction with sampling and quantization events. Integrating capacitor(s) may be swapped in relative polarity during nested chopping to preserve residual conversion information for the desired polarity. The ADC operation is non-temperature dependent and avoids modification to the useful signal, resulting in higher accuracy. |
| US07999707B2 |
Apparatus for compensating for error of time-to-digital converter
An apparatus for compensating for an error of a time-to-digital converter (TDC) is disclosed to receive a delay phase from a phase detector including the TDC and a phase error including a TDC error and compensate for the TDC error to have a time resolution higher by N times (N is a natural number). The apparatus includes: a fragmenting and multiplying unit fragmenting the delay phase by N times (N is a natural number) to generate first to (N−1)th fragmented delay phases; an adding unit adding each of the first to the (N−1)th fragmented delay phases to the phase error to generate first to (N−1)th phase errors; and a comparison unit acquiring a phase error compensation value nearest to an actual phase error from the phase error and the first to (N−1)th phase errors. |
| US07999706B2 |
Characteristic acquisition device, method and program
It is possible to reduce errors generated between multiple D/A conversion paths. A characteristic acquisition device includes [1] an arbitrary signal generator that converts a first (second) input digital pattern into a first (second) output analog pattern, [2] a digitizer that converts a first input analog pattern into a first output digital pattern, and [3] a characteristic acquisition device that includes a first transmission characteristic deriving unit that derives a first transmission characteristic which converts the first input digital pattern into the output digital pattern where the input analog pattern is the first output analog pattern, a second transmission characteristic deriving unit that derives a second transmission characteristic which converts the second input digital pattern into the output digital pattern where the input analog pattern is the second output analog pattern, and a transmission characteristic ratio deriving unit that derives a transmission characteristic ratio which is a ratio relating to the first transmission characteristic and the second transmission characteristic. |
| US07999701B1 |
Transportation notification system
The present invention relates to a system and method of providing students, drivers, guardians, and schools with useful notifications regarding a school's transportation system comprising, at least one vehicle for transporting people as passengers; a transceiver unit within a vehicle comprising a wireless communication means, a satellite navigation system receiver to acquire the location of the vehicle, a memory storage device for storing map and vehicle route information, at least one display means for presenting information to a vehicle driver, and a Central Processing Unit (CPU) interfaced to the memory storage device, to the wireless communication means, and to the satellite navigation system receiver, wherein the transceiver unit transfers data regarding a location of the at least one vehicle relative to a plurality of passenger pick-up and drop-off locations; a plurality of household units located proximate to the pick-up and drop-off locations comprising at a means for sending and receiving data regarding passenger status and the vehicles' impending arrival at the pick-up and drop-off locations, a display means, and a CPU controllably interfaced to the means for sending and receiving data and to the display means. |
| US07999697B2 |
WLAN-based no-stop electronic toll collection system and the implementation thereof
A no-stop electronic toll collection (ETC) system based on WLAN is disclosed in the present invention. The system includes an on-board equipment, roadside equipments, a multiple access carriageway control system and a toll balance center. The communication is implemented between the on-board equipment and the roadside equipments according to the demand determined by the wireless local network protocol. The system offered in the present invention applies several technology means to effectively overcome the technology prejudice that the WLAN technology is not suitable for the ETC system. Compared with the existing technology, the present ETC system has the advantages of low cost, high efficiency, complete function and good performance index, therefore the present invention is very meaningful for the application and extension of the ETC system and the improvement of the industrial technology. |
| US07999691B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring barrier interconnections
Revealed herein is a system and method for monitoring continuity between adjacent barrier members. Each barrier member has a first edge defining a first connector and an opposed second edge defining a second connector. The second connector is adapted to cooperatingly engage a corresponding first connector of an adjacent barrier member. The system comprises detectable bodies along the first connector of the barrier member and a detector locatable along the second connector of the adjacent barrier member. The detector detects the proximity of the detectable bodies. The method comprises inserting a first barrier member into a soil formation, engaging the second connector of a second barrier member with the first connector and inserting the second barrier member into the soil formation adjacent to the first barrier member while utilizing the detector to verify engagement of the first and second connectors. |
| US07999690B1 |
Door excess weight alarm
A weight alarm system for indicating excess weight applied to a door is disclosed. The alarm system comprises an excess weight sensing means, such as a pressure strip means fixed around a peripheral edge of the door or a load cell fixed between the peripheral edge of the door and a structural mount for the door. A door latching mechanism includes traverses either a front or a rear side of the door and includes a latching bolt. When the excess weight sensing means if actuated a signaling means is activated to alert those nearby to a possible suicide attempt. |
| US07999687B1 |
Alarm system for cement trucks
Alarm system for a cement truck providing an audible, or visible, other sensory alarm when water is flowing between the water tank and the mixing barrel. A method is also provided for generating an alarm signal when water is flowing between the water tank and the mixing barrel. The alarm system may be provided as a kit for retrofitting an existing cement truck. |
| US07999683B2 |
RFID tag with reduced detuning characteristics
An RFID tag and an RFID access card configured to reduce detuning effects from a typical RFID environment. The present invention provides an RFID tag that is specifically configured to reduce the detuning effects caused by initiating communication between an RFID tag and an RFID tag reader in the presence of materials such as metal, liquid, and the human body. In one embodiment, the present invention provides an RFID tag comprising an electronic circuit portion attached to a main antenna body portion, the main antenna body portion having two opposite side portions, which are substantially symmetrical with respect to one another, wherein each side portion extends outwardly to form a generally side-oriented v-shape. |
| US07999682B2 |
RFID tag disabling systems and methods of use
Systems and methods for disabling transponders used in electronic toll collection or other RFID systems, wherein the transponders include an antenna and RFID circuitry. The transponders can be selectively disabled by releasably securing a disabling device having a metallic portion at an operative position over the antenna of the RFID system, whereupon the metallic portion is coupled to the antenna in such a manner as to disable the RFID circuitry so long as the disabling device is at the operative position. The RFID circuitry is arranged to be automatically enabled upon removal of the disabling device from the operative position. |
| US07999680B2 |
Safety equipment for freight loading and unloading docks
To inform warehousemen that a vehicle that has arrived at a dock is situated so as to allow loading or unloading operations, the dock is equipped with a series of radio identification tags placed in succession along an access lane to the dock and it is verified by appropriate devices associated with the dock whether a locating device placed in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle and carrying readers of radio identification tags is or is not arranged at a position with respect to a given direction in relation to the succession of tags along the access lane to the dock. The locating device is advantageously implemented in the form of a restraint chock for the wheels of the vehicle or in the form of any other means for immobilizing the latter at the dock. |
| US07999678B2 |
Demodulating module, RFID system utilizing the demodulating module and method thereof
A demodulating module includes: a processing unit, for generating a control signal; and a demodulator, coupled to the processing unit and stored with a plurality of correlative coefficient masks, for receiving a data signal, selecting one of the correlative coefficient masks according to the control signal, generating a demodulated signal according to the data signal and the selected correlative coefficient mask, and transmitting the demodulated signal to the processing unit. |
| US07999675B2 |
RFID tags replying using changed reply timing
RFID tags and chips for RFID tags are capable of replying using changed reply timing. In a number of embodiments, this timing change is achieved when a tag receives a custom timing command from an RFID reader. In some embodiments, the changed reply timing affects an amount of delay before a tag backscatters a reply. |
| US07999673B2 |
Radiation detection with enhanced RFID tags
An identification tag that is vulnerable to ionizing or non-ionizing radiation and system for determining the presence of radiation based on corrupted or altered memory in the tag is disclosed. An identification tag comprises: a transceiver for receiving an RF signal and transmitting a modulated RF signal; first memory containing a first code for generating the modulated RF signal, the first code being associated with an object for identification; and second memory containing a second code corresponding to a unique identifier for the tag for further modulating the received RF signal, the second memory being specifically vulnerable to ionizing or non-ionizing radiation such that the presence of ionizing or non-ionizing radiation alters or corrupts the second code, wherein the detection of the altered or corrupted code can be employed to indicate the presence of radiation. |
| US07999671B2 |
Radio communication apparatus and information processing apparatus
A radio communication apparatus has a GPS function, is internally included in or is removably connected to an information processing apparatus. A reference position setting unit sets a reference position. A positional condition setting unit sets a positional condition about the reference position which is a condition for performing the processing under a predetermined security mode. A positional condition determining unit determines whether the condition for performing the processing under a predetermined security mode is obtained or not on the basis of the positional condition and its positional information obtained by the GPS function. A security mode processing performing unit performs processing under a predetermined security mode if it is determined that the condition for performing the processing under a predetermined security mode is obtained. If the information processing apparatus is powered off, the radio communication apparatus operates with the powered supplied from the information processing apparatus. |
| US07999670B2 |
System and method for defining areas of interest and modifying asset monitoring in relation thereto
System and method for tracking assets comprises determining if an asset is inside a geofence area, using a first set of asset monitoring parameters to monitor operation of the asset, if the asset is inside the geofence area, and using a second set of asset monitoring parameters to monitor operation of the asset, if the asset is outside the geofence area. The invention further comprises a system and method for providing one or more competitors with an asset tracking device, wherein the asset tracking device allows each competitor's location to be monitored, defining one or more geofence areas on a racetrack, and detecting when the competitors enter a designated geofence area. |
| US07999667B2 |
Vehicle health management system
A method, apparatus, and computer program product for processing health management data for a vehicle. A plurality of modulated signals is received on a bus system in the vehicle. The plurality of modulated signals contains health management data from a plurality of data acquisition units. Each modulated signal has a different frequency from another modulated signal in the plurality of modulated signals to form a plurality of frequencies. The plurality of frequencies is selected to avoid interference with other data transmitted over the bus system by a plurality of data processing systems in the vehicle. The plurality of modulated signals is processed based on the plurality of frequencies used to transmit the plurality of modulated signals. |
| US07999666B2 |
Emergency lighting system with improved monitoring
An emergency lighting unit includes a lamp, a backup battery, controller, and a network interface. The controller connects the backup battery to the lamp upon detection of an emergency condition and loss of main power. The network interface interfaces with and receives commands from a fire alarm control panel via a fire alarm network. Each emergency lighting unit may have a unique identifier with respect to the fire alarm network. |
| US07999665B2 |
Plug-in vehicle having a recharging port with a state of charge indicator
A plug-in vehicle includes a vehicle body having an outer panel, a propulsion unit such as an electric motor, a rechargeable battery, a recharging port supported on the outer panel to receive power from an external electric power source, and a display subassembly connected to the battery. The display subassembly has a plurality of lights positioned around the recharging port to illuminate the recharging port and to illuminate in a manner corresponding to a condition of the battery. |
| US07999661B2 |
Signal relay device, communication network system and operation system
A signal relay device, a communication network system and an operation system include: a standardized logic interface conversion unit for judging a control system type or a device type and converting a signal to a signal appropriate for a communication network; or a device side logic interface conversion unit for converting a signal from the communication network to a signal appropriate for the control system type or the device type. An operation monitoring station includes a an advanced control block for the control system or the device and transmits a control signal to the communication network. |
| US07999659B2 |
Method for access control
A method for access control to at least one memory area of a passive and/or backscatter-based transponder is provided. In the method for access control, depending on an identification selection criterion, a first or at least one second identification within the transponder is activated, the activated identification upon an appropriate request by reader unit is transmitted to said unit, the at least one memory area of the transponder is divided into memory blocks with a settable size, access control information is assigned to a respective memory block, and read and/or write access to a specific memory block is released or blocked depending on the associated access control information and the identification selection criterion. |
| US07999656B2 |
Electronic lock box with key presence sensing
An electronic lock box contains a secure compartment for storing keys to a structure. A sensing system allow the lock box to determine whether the contents of the lock box have been replaced as well as ensuring the correct key or object has been returned. The system reports the status of the object back to the central clearinghouse computer through an electronic key or secure memory device. |
| US07999650B2 |
Coil device
A problem is to provide a sheet-like or thin plate-like coil device that can guarantee a high power transmission efficiency, that has quite little magnetic spurious radiation, that does not cause overheat even in the case of long charge, and that can be manufactured at low cost.The present coil device is characterized in that two spiral patterns composing a basic pattern are each formed into regular triangle, and are arranged in back to back manner sharing each of base side lines of those two triangles so that the basic pattern is formed into a rhombic S-shape as a whole. |
| US07999648B2 |
Wire-wound coil and method for manufacturing wire-wound coil
A wire-wound coil has a characteristic impedance that can be flexibly adjusted and can be prevented from varying undesirably. In the coil of the present invention, a primary wire part 18A and a secondary wire part 18B are wound around the surface of a core portion 14 so as to be separated from each other by a fixed distance. At the same time, at least one portion the secondary wire part 18B in a prior turn section 19X and at least one portion of the primary wire part 18A in a subsequent turn section 19Y are in close contact with each other, wherein the wire parts 18A and 18B are wound in different turns and are adjacent to each other on the same surface of the core portion 14. A method for manufacturing the wire-wound coil is also disclosed. |
| US07999643B1 |
Providing a common environment for multiple MEMS devices
The present invention relates to providing a uniform operating environment for each of multiple devices by providing a common environment to the devices. The common environment is provided by multiple cavities, which are interconnected by at least one environmental pathway, which may be provided by at least one tunnel. The common environment may help provide uniform operating pressure, which may be a partial or near vacuum, a surrounding gas of uniform contents, such as an inert gas or mixture of inert gases, or both. The devices may include micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) devices, such as MEMS switches. |
| US07999641B2 |
Circuit breaker having reduced auxiliary trip requirements
A bimetal in a circuit breaker can deflect in a first direction or a second direction depending upon conditions. If the bimetal deflects in the second direction it can increase the force necessary to operate a trip mechanism of the circuit breaker. A yoke stop helps to control bimetal deflection forces and thus, the amount of force necessary to operate the trip mechanism. This allows better control, size, and selection of operating parts for the circuit breaker. |
| US07999638B2 |
Microwave circuit assembly comprising a microwave component suspended in a gas or vacuum region
A microwave circuit assembly includes a Liquid Crystalline Polymer (LCP) layer that supports at least one microwave circuit component. First and second ground plane layers form the outer surfaces of the assembly and these are spaced apart at least partially by a gas, a mixture of gases, or a vacuum, from the LCP supporting layer and the at least one microwave circuit. |
| US07999633B2 |
EMI filter with an integrated structure of common-mode inductors and differential-mode capacitors realized by flexible printed circuit board
An integrated structure of common-mode inductors and differential-mode capacitors in an EMI filter realized using a flexible circuit board, including: a closed magnetic circuit formed by a first magnetic core and a second magnetic core, optionally including an air gap formed in a middle pillar of the magnetic cores, and with a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) wound on at least one pillar, the FPC formed by laminating alternating insulating and copper foil layers. The integrated structure of inductors and capacitors is advantageous in reducing the volume of the EMI filter and improving the power density of an electronic power transformer. |
| US07999620B2 |
Amplifier with dither
An analog amplifier includes at least one signal path. Each of the at least one signal path extends between an input and an output and includes a load device coupled to the output and a transistor coupled to the input. The analog amplifier further includes a dither current source selectively coupled to one of the at least one signal path. The dither current source is capable of supplying dither current to the load device of the selected signal path directly by bypassing the transistor of the selected signal path. |
| US07999619B2 |
Class AB output stage
The present disclosure relates to a class AB amplifier output stage. |
| US07999618B2 |
High bandwidth, rail-to-rail differential amplifier with output stage amplifier
An error amplifier expected to exhibit rail-to-rail operation, high bandwidth, and high slew rate, is described, the error amplifier comprising a first stage to receive an input differential voltage and to provide transconductance gain, an intermediate stage to provide current gain, and an output stage to drive a load. |
| US07999609B2 |
Managed wideband radio frequency distribution system with signal level enabling interface device and impedance signature detection
A system and method for managing distribution of wideband radio frequency signals includes detecting an impedance signature of a device connected at the end of transmission medium. A switch is opened to apply a wideband radio frequency signal to a transmission medium for distribution. A biasing voltage can be applied to the transmission medium based on the detected impedance signature. A signal conditioning circuit is selected based on the amplitude of the biasing voltage, and the wideband radio frequency signal is distributed to an output device. |
| US07999607B2 |
Power switches having positive-channel high dielectric constant insulated gate field effect transistors
Power switch units for microelectronic devices are disclosed. In one aspect, a microelectronic device may include a functional circuit, and a power switch unit to switch power to the functional circuit on and off. The power switch unit may include a large number of transistors coupled together. The transistors may include predominantly positive-channel, insulated gate field effect transistors, which have a gate dielectric that includes a high dielectric constant material. Power switch units having such transistors may tend to have low power consumption. In an aspect, an overdrive voltage may be applied to the gates of such transistors to further reduce power consumption. Methods of overdriving such transistors and systems including such power switch units are also disclosed. |
| US07999606B2 |
Temperature independent reference circuit
A temperature independent reference circuit includes first and second bipolar transistors with commonly coupled bases. First and second resistors are coupled in series between the emitter of the second bipolar transistor and ground. The first and second resistors have first and second resistance values, R1 and R2, and third and second temperature coefficients, TC3 and TC2, respectively. The resistance values being such that a temperature coefficient of a difference between the base-emitter voltages of the first and second bipolar transistors, TC1, is substantially equal to TC2×(R2/(R1+R2))+TC3×(R1/(R1+R2)), resulting in a reference current flowing through each of the first and second bipolar transistors that is substantially constant over temperature. A third resistor coupled between a node and the collector of the second bipolar transistor has a value such that a reference voltage generated at the node is substantially constant over temperature. |
| US07999605B2 |
Voltage generator and memory device including of the same
A voltage generator and a memory device including the voltage generator are provided. The voltage generator includes a clock generation unit which outputs a plurality of clock signals; a charge pumping unit which comprises a plurality of charge pumps, wherein one from among the plurality of charge pumps is enabled in response to an operation mode signal, and performs a charge pumping operation according to the plurality of clock signals to output a first voltage; and a regulator which generates a standby operation voltage from the first voltage. |
| US07999604B2 |
Boost circuit capable of controlling inrush current and image sensor using the boost circuit
In one embodiment, the boost circuit includes a boost unit configured to perform a charge pumping operation based on a control signal. A controller is configured to control the boost unit such that the boost unit performs a lesser charge pumping operation from an initial time when power is supplied to the boost circuit until a desired time than after the desired time. |
| US07999601B2 |
Charge pump and control scheme
A switch controller has a charge pump, a selector switch connected to the charge pump, and a pre-charge power supply input connectable to the input of the selector switch. For each of the output channels being controlled, a power control switch is connected to an output of the selector switch. In response to commands, output channels are enabled and disabled, causing corresponding actions in the power control switches. When an output channel is to be activated, the output channel is selected by the selector switch and the pre-charge power supply connected to the input of the selector switch. The charging is completed by the charge pump and the enabled status of the power control switch is maintained by the charge pump. |
| US07999600B2 |
Device and method for limiting Di/Dt caused by a switching FET of an inductive switching circuit
A circuit for limiting di/dt caused by a main switching FET during its turn-off against an inductive switching circuit is proposed. The circuit for limiting di/dt includes an auxiliary inductor in series with the main switching FET for inducing an auxiliary inductive voltage proportional to di/dt; an auxiliary FET in parallel with the main switching FET; the auxiliary FET gate is connected to produce a gate voltage equal to the auxiliary inductive voltage. When the di/dt tends to exceed a predetermined maximum rate of decrease the auxiliary FET produces an auxiliary current component counteracting further decrease of the di/dt. The main switching FET and the auxiliary FET can be formed from a single die with shared source and drain; the auxiliary inductor can be implemented as a parasitic inductance of an inherently required bonding wire connecting the main switching FET to its device terminal to simplify packaging with reduced cost. |
| US07999599B2 |
Adaptive bias circuit
Disclosed are apparatus and methods for electronic signal conversion in which a power level of the signal is used to adjust the bias current of a converter. |
| US07999598B1 |
High-voltage-tolerant linear scale-down circuit using low-voltage device
A voltage scale down circuit includes an input node configured to receive a voltage input within an input voltage range. At least two voltage followers are coupled to the input node. The voltage scale down circuit also includes at least two scalers. Each scaler is coupled to a respective voltage follower. An output node is coupled to the at least two scalers. Each voltage follower is configured to receive the voltage input. Each voltage follower is configured to supply a respective voltage for the voltage input within a narrower portion of the input voltage range. The output node is configured to supply a voltage output linearly related to the voltage input. An output voltage range of the voltage output is narrower than the input voltage range. |
| US07999596B2 |
Digital suppression of spikes on an 12C bus
An apparatus that is adapted to receive signals from an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) bus is provided. The apparatus comprises a serial data (SDA) filter, a serial clock (SCL) filter, I2C interface logic, and operational circuitry. The SDA filter is adapted to receive an SDA signal from the I2C bus and includes a hold terminal and a disable terminal. The hold terminal of the SDA filter issues a disable signal when a transient in the SDA signal is detected. The SCL filter is adapted to receive an SCL signal from the I2C bus and includes a hold terminal and a disable terminal. The hold terminal of the SCL filter issues a disable signal when a transient in the SCL signal is detected. Additionally, the hold terminal of the SCL filter is coupled to the disable terminal of the SDA filter, and the hold terminal of the SDA filter is coupled to the disable terminal of the SCL filter. The I2C interface logic is coupled to the SDA filter and to the SCL filter, and operational circuitry is coupled the I2C interface logic. |
| US07999592B2 |
Delay circuit of semiconductor device
A delay circuit of a semiconductor device increases its delay time as an external voltage increases. The delay circuit can also ensure a desired delay time according to an external voltage, without additional delay circuits. The delay circuit of the semiconductor device includes a first delay unit, and a second delay. The second delay unit has a propagation delay characteristic different from that of the first delay unit with respect to variation of a power supply voltage, wherein the first delay unit is supplied with a first power supply voltage independent of variation of an external voltage, and the second delay unit is supplied with a second power supply voltage dependent on the variation of the external voltage. |
| US07999589B2 |
Circuits and methods for clock signal duty-cycle correction
Duty-cycle correction circuits, clock distribution networks, and methods for correcting duty-cycle distortion are disclosed, including methods and apparatus for correcting duty-cycle distortion of differential output clock signals provided from a clock distribution network. In one such method, a single-ended clock signal is generated from differential input clock signals for distribution over a clock distribution network and from which the differential output clock signals are generated. A delay of a model delay path is matched to a propagation delay of the clock distribution network, and the single ended clock signal is adjusted to compensate for duty-cycle distortion. |
| US07999572B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
Provided is a semiconductor integrated circuit according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention including a data transmitting circuit that transmits data in parallel through a plurality of signal lines and a data receiving circuit that receives the data. The data transmitting circuit includes a plurality of data output circuits that output the data in a data transmission mode or set an output to a high impedance state in a HiZ mode, a plurality of data selection circuits that select one of the data and fixed data and output the selected data to the data output circuits, and a control circuit that controls the data output circuits to output the fixed data during a period between a time when a mode is switched from the HiZ mode to the data transmission mode and a time when the data output circuits start to output the data. |
| US07999570B2 |
Enhanced permutable switching network with multicasting signals for interconnection fabric
In one embodiment, an integrated circuit has an L-level permutable switching network (L-PSN) comprising L levels of intermediate conductors and (L+2) levels of conductors for L at least equal to one. An (i−1)-th level of conductors comprising Ii−1 number of conductors selectively couple to the i-th level of conductors comprising Ii number of conductors which comprise of D[i] sets of conductors in the L-PSN, where i is selected from [1:L+1], through ((Ii−1×D[i])+Ii×Q) number of switches where each conductor of the Ii−1 number of conductors selectively couples to at least (D[i]+Q) number of conductors of the Ii number of conductors, at least one conductor from each of the D[i] sets of conductors, for Q at least equal to one and D[i] greater than one. The integrated circuit can be used in various electronic devices. |
| US07999569B2 |
Edge rate suppression for open drain buses
An edge rate suppression circuit arrangement is provided for operation with an open drain bus. The circuit arrangement includes a variable resistive circuit having an input for receiving a variable voltage signal and an output coupled to the open drain bus, and a control circuit configured to operate the variable resistive circuit. The control circuit operates the variable resistive circuit in respective high and low resistance states in response to the variable voltage signal. |
| US07999567B2 |
SEU tolerant arbiter
Single Event Upset (SEU, also referred to as soft error) tolerant arbiters, bare arbiters, and filters are disclosed. An arbiter provides a filter section, and a bare arbiter, coupled to the filter section. The bare arbiter includes a redundant first input and a redundant second input, and a redundant first output and a redundant second output. A pull-down transistor in the bare arbiter conditionally overpowers a corresponding pull-up transistor in the bare arbiter when a contention condition is present in the bare arbiter. |
| US07999566B2 |
Wafer level testing
A wafer comprises a kerf region and a test chip. The kerf is a region in a wafer designated to be destroyed by chip dicing. The test chip is located within the kerf region and is configured to provide parametric data for a wafer fabrication process of a head. The test chip comprises a shield portion of a first shield layer electrically coupled to an element, a first pad within a second shield layer electrically coupled to the element, and a second pad within the second shield layer electrically coupled to the shield portion. |
| US07999561B2 |
Resin impregnated amount measuring method and resin impregnated amount measuring device in filament winding molding
A resin impregnated amount measuring method and device for accurately and successively measuring an amount of resin impregnated in a fiber in a filament winding molding. An electrostatic capacitance of a fiber impregnated with resin is measured, and an amount of resin impregnated in the fiber is measured based on the measurement result. The fiber impregnated with resin is traveled in a non-contacting manner between two parallel flat plates of an electrostatic capacitance sensor and a change in electrostatic capacitance is measured. The amount of resin impregnated in the fiber may also be measured by irradiating light on the impregnated fiber to determine the image area of, reflectivity of, or distance of the light source from, the fiber. |
| US07999559B2 |
Digital fault detection circuit and method
Digital fault detection circuit with an input circuit having input and output, wherein a first signal state at the input causes a predetermined signal state at the output and a second signal state at the input leaves the output floating; a signal line with signal line input and output, wherein the signal line input is coupled to the output of the input circuit; a keeper circuit coupled to the signal line output and configured to keep the signal line at the predetermined signal state, after the signal state at the input has changed from the first signal state to the second signal state; and a fault detector cell, which is coupled to the signal line between the signal line input and the signal line output and which is configured to change the state of the signal line which is otherwise kept by the keeper circuit, in response to a fault. |
| US07999558B2 |
Systems and methods of overvoltage and undervoltage detection
Systems and methods for overvoltage and undervoltage detection may be implemented with a fully differential circuit that includes a coarse comparator and a band gap based fine comparator. The coarse comparator may determine if the battery is closer to an OV condition or an UV condition. Based on the output of the coarse comparator, the trip point of the fine comparator is adjusted. The outputs of both comparators are pull-up circuits whose output is decoded to determine if an OV or a UV condition has occurred. The systems and methods accomplish valid circuit outputs even when the voltage across the battery reduces to zero volts. This may be achieved by using an active low signal for the UV condition and an active high signal for the OV condition. Thus, when the battery voltage goes to zero, the circuit evaluates to the correct output. |
| US07999555B2 |
Multi-channel measuring apparatus for connection to a fuel cell stack
A number and a combination of N-pole connectors and (N+1)-pole connectors are determined such that a number of fuel cells included in the fuel cell stack and a number of all of poles included in the plurality of terminal-side connectors are equal to each other. Further, when the number of fuel cells of the fuel cell stack changes, the change can be addressed by changing the number and the combination of the N-pole connectors and the (N+1)-pole connectors without newly providing a terminal-side connector other than the N-pole connector and the (N+1)-pole connector. |
| US07999554B2 |
Single floating battery cell voltage level translator circuitry
Voltage translator circuitry may include a path including a first resistor, a current controlling device, and a second resistor coupled in series. The voltage translator circuitry may further include an operational amplifier having a positive supply terminal to accept a positive supply voltage and a negative supply terminal to accept a negative supply voltage, neither the positive or negative supply voltage at ground voltage. The first resistor may further be coupled to a positive terminal of the battery cell to be monitored. The operational amplifier may have an input coupled to a negative terminal of the battery cell to be monitored. The voltage translator circuitry may further include an output terminal coupled to a node of the path between the current controlling device and the second resistor. The output terminal may be configured to provide the ground referenced cell voltage for the battery cell. |
| US07999551B2 |
Method for detection of signal source using estimation of noise statistics
A method for noise signal analysis and communication with an underground transmitter. The method comprises the steps of measuring a noise floor when no signal is transmitted from a transmitter, detecting a signal when the transmitter is transmitting, and estimating the noise free component of the signal by removing the noise floor measurement. The measurement of the noise floor and detecting the signal from the transmitter may be done using a root mean square technique. The noise floor measurement can be removed from the measured signal by subtracting the noise floor measurement from the measured signal or alternatively by calculating the square root of the difference between the square of the measured signal and the square of the noise floor measurement. The noise estimation technique may be used in connection with, a differential phased shift keying communication scheme or other modulation techniques. |
| US07999549B2 |
Transmission path for use in RF fields providing reduced RF heating
A transmission path (2) comprising an electrically conductive link or connection lead or line or cable (21) is disclosed, which path is or can be made RF safe (especially with respect to heating due to standing waves) when guided through RF electrical and/or magnetic fields especially of a MR imaging system and which is especially suitable for connecting a base or connection unit (1), like for example a power supply or a control or evaluation unit (first unit), with a distal or remote electrical unit (3) like a sensor or a detector, a transmit and/or receive unit, or an accessory device like for example an RF body or surface coil system, or an invasive or interventional device like for example a catheter or implantables (second unit), especially in a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system. The transmission path may comprise pressure switches or optical switches. |
| US07999546B2 |
MR imaging magnet with body coil illuminating the imaging bore
An imaging magnet has a patient bore for receiving a human or animal patient, including a body coil assembly having a body coil former and a body coil. The body coil assembly is provided with at least one source of light that is incorporated within the body coil assembly, and embedded within the body coil former, that radiates light into the patient bore. |
| US07999544B2 |
Rapid MRI dynamic imaging using mach
An MRI includes at least a singular imaging channel which uses a smoothly varying sampling pattern to sparsely sample k-space as a series of parallel lines over time to acquire data of an object. The MRI includes a computer in communication with the imaging channel that performs a signal processing routine to interpolate the data and fill in points of k-space which were not sampled by the imaging channels and produce an image of the object. A method for using an MRI includes the steps of acquiring data of an object with at least a singular imaging channel of the MRI which uses a smoothly varying sampling pattern to sparsely sample k-space as a series of parallel lines over time. There is the step of performing a signal processing routine with a computer in communication with the imaging channel to interpolate the data and fill in points of k-space which were not sampled by the imaging channels. There is the step of producing an image of the object. |
| US07999542B2 |
Method for determining formation parameter
A method of measuring a parameter characteristic of a rock formation in an oil well is provided for evaluating a reservoir treatment applied to a subterranean formation including the steps of injecting from a tool body suspended into a well at an injection location a known volume of fluid into the formation, performing a logging operation sensitive to a change of fluid content at several measuring points below and above the injection location; and using results of the logging operation to determine a depth profile along said well of a parameter related to fluid content. |
| US07999541B2 |
System and method for improving the analysis of polymorphic chemical substance forms and concentrations using NQR
A method for analysing a chemical substance containing quadrupolar nuclei to determine a measurable characteristic of the substance. The method includes irradiating the substance with RF energy in a prescribed manner to stimulate NQR of certain quadrupolar nuclei within the substance. Then receiving and processing a signal emitted from the substance to isolate an NQR signal therefrom. Thereafter analysing the NQR signal to obtain a measure of the characteristic of the substance; and providing an output indicative of the measure for analytical purposes. Specific methods for analysing a chemical substance during production thereof to determine a characteristic of the substance indicative of the quality thereof, and for searching for chemicals together with specific systems are also described. |
| US07999530B2 |
Device under test power supply
A power supply with and input and output includes an amplifier configured to set an output voltage of the power supply output equal to a fixed input voltage for the power supply. The power supply has a first output stage coupled to the amplifier and configured to source and sink current at the output of the power supply between a first voltage rail and a third voltage rail. The power supply has a second output stage coupled to the amplifier and configured to source and sink current to the output of the power supply between a second voltage rail and the third voltage rail. A selection device is configured to enable the first and second output stages based on a selection input signal. The selection device is situated outside of the first and the second output stages. |
| US07999528B2 |
Dual mode transient recovery control method of DC-DC converters
A dual mode transient recovery control method and system is proposed, which is designed for use with a direct-current (DC) power output unit, such as a DC-DC converter, for fast transient recovery of DC output power by switching the DC-DC converter to operate between a hysteretic mode and a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) mode. The proposed control method and system is characterized by the use of a dual-threshold scheme to compare the output voltage. This feature may discharge the transient output voltage, raised by the over-shoot, to the steady state by switching to the discharging mode, and similarly charge the transient output voltage, dropped by the under-shoot, to the steady state by switching to the charging mode. This mechanism may allow DC-DC converters with higher slew rate to make transient ripples of output voltage to return to steady state more quickly, and additionally allow a better level of noise immunity. |
| US07999526B2 |
Digital charge-mode control of a power supply
Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for charge-mode control. An embodiment of a charge mode controller may include an analog/digital converter configured to monitor the current through a duty cycle switch and convert the current to a switch current value; an accumulator module configured to integrate the switch current value during the switching cycle and output an accumulated charge value; and a comparator module responsive to the accumulated charge value and a charge set point configured to generate a gate drive signal for the duty cycle switch that turns the duty cycle switch ON when the accumulated charge value is less than the charge set point and turns the duty cycle switch OFF when the accumulated charge value reaches the charge set point and thereby controls the duty cycle of the converter and the power supplied by the power stage. |
| US07999524B2 |
Interleaved power factor correction pre-regulator phase management circuitry
Methods for power factor correction (PFC) and for reducing conduction losses and switching losses in a power converter as well as the power converter and phase management circuitry for the power converter. The power converter includes a first PFC pre-regulator interleaved with at least one additional PFC pre-regulator, and a step down converter. The average input power is measured downstream of the front end at the step down converter and the average current sense signal is compared to a reference voltage. Each additional PFC pre-regulator is disable when output power generated by the front end is less than a first pre-designated rated power level and each additional PFC pre-regulator is enabled when the output power is greater than a second pre-designated rated power level. |
| US07999519B2 |
Phase shedding converter with ripple minimization
In an information handling system, a multi-phase electrical converter includes an electrical input, an electrical output, a plurality of converter phases coupled with the electrical input and the electrical output, and a controller to ramp operation of one or more of the converter phases as a load demand adjusts. In an embodiment the converter may be a multi-phase buck converter having a high side switch, a low side switch, and an inductor. In an embodiment, the controller may ramp operation of the converter phases by adjusting a duty cycle of the high side switch. In an embodiment, the controller may adjust a phase angle of one or more of the converter phases, wherein the adjustment may be relative to the ramping operation of the one or more of the converter phases. |
| US07999512B2 |
Single-power-transistor battery-charging circuit using voltage-boosted clock
A charge/discharge protection circuit protects a battery from inadvertent shorting on a charger node that can connect to a charger or to a power supply of a portable electronic device. A single n-channel power transistor has a gate that controls a channel between the battery and the charger node. The gate is connected to the charger node by a gate-coupling transistor to turn off the power transistor, providing battery isolation. The gate is driven by a voltage-boosted clock through a switch activated by an enable signal. The enable signal also activates a grounding transistor to ground a gate of the gate-coupling transistor. A comparator compares voltages of the charger and battery nodes, and the compare output is latched to generate the enable signal. An inverse enable signal activates a second switch that drives the voltage-boosted clock to the gate of the gate-coupling transistor to turn off the power transistor. |
| US07999502B2 |
Pumping system
The present invention provides a pumping system (60) comprising: a pumping mechanism (64); a motor (51) for driving the pumping mechanism; a drive control (50) for controlling the motor; and means (52) for monitoring at least one state within the system; wherein, to improve the performance of the system, the drive control causes the system to operate for transient periods in an overload condition which can result in said monitored state exceeding a predetermined operational limit, and when operating in said overload condition said drive control controls the power to the motor dependent on the level of said monitored state thereby avoiding said state from exceeding said operational limit. |
| US07999501B2 |
Motor controller
A motor controller (2) for an axial-gap motor (1), which has a rotor (3), two stators (4, 5) disposed on both sides of the rotor (3) in the axial direction, and armature windings (6, 7) wrapped around the stators (4, 5), includes a field current controller (43, 44) which adjusts the field current in the current supplied to the armature windings (6, 7) of at least one of the stators (4, 5) so as to restrain a thrust force acting on the rotor (3) in the axial direction of the rotor (3). This restrains the thrust force acting on the rotor (3) of the axial-gap motor (1). |
| US07999500B1 |
Calibrating spindle motor controllers
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, are described for calibrating spindle motor controllers. In one aspect, a method is provided that includes receiving a compensator output from a spindle motor controller that compensates for variations in a velocity of an associated spindle motor, and filtering the compensator output to compensate for a spindle motor system pole and produce a high frequency roll-off. |
| US07999493B2 |
Primary-side driving control circuit for backlight of LCD panel
The present invention discloses a primary-side driving backlight circuit for LCD panel. The primary-side driving backlight circuit employs a single isolation device to achieve isolation request for safety for the secondary side. The PWM controller on the secondary-side of a transformer generates a control signal according to a feedback signal. The control signal is transmitted by the isolation device to a High/Low side driver. The High/Low side driver has a High Output and a Low Output, which drives power switches at high side and low side respectively, in order to control the power of an input source transmitting into the transformer and further control the voltage and current of cold cathode lamp(s) of a backlight circuit. |
| US07999492B2 |
LED driver system and method
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a system is provided for driving at least one light-emitting diode (LED). The system includes an output terminal connectable to an anode of the LED and at which an output voltage can be provided for the LED. A driver loop, connectable to a cathode of the LED, is operable to maintain a LED current flowing through the LED at a desired level, thereby attenuating modulation error attributable to voltage variations at the cathode of the LED. |
| US07999490B2 |
Light source, projector, and method for driving light source
A light source includes an arc tube having a first electrode and a second electrode that emit light by discharge between the electrodes, and a driving unit that supplies a current between the first electrode and the second electrode and can change at least a waveform of frequency and waveform of the supplied current. The driving unit can perform lighting drive of the arc tube, using a driving waveform formed by combining a first lighting waveform having a maximum current value at a part other than a half-cycle rear end of the waveform and a second lighting waveform having a maximum current value at the half-cycle rear end of the waveform. |
| US07999489B2 |
Circuit for driving light sources using balanced feedback signal
An exemplary circuit (200) for driving light sources (211, 212, 213, 214) includes feedback circuits (218, 228, 238, 248), a signal balance circuit, and a controller (250). Each feedback circuit corresponds to a light source and is configured for providing a first feedback signal according to a driving current of the light source. The signal balance circuit is configured for balancing all the first feedback signals and correspondingly generating a second feedback signal. The controller is configured for driving the light sources to illuminate according to the second feedback signal. |
| US07999487B2 |
Electronic circuit for driving a diode load with a predetermined average current
Electronic circuits and methods include provisions for passing a first current through a diode during a first time interval and for passing a second different current through the diode during a second different time interval. The first current is selected to achieve a predetermined voltage at a node of the diode. A duty cycle of the first current relative to the second current is selected to achieve a predetermined average current passing through the diode. In some arrangements, the diode is a light emitting diode. |
| US07999483B2 |
Circuit arrangement and method for actuating an electrical load
A circuit arrangement (1) for driving an electrical load (13) comprises a first and a second terminal (2, 3) for feeding a first and a second control signal (S1, S2), a first output (23), to which an electrical load (13) can be coupled, a current source (9), which is coupled to the first output (23), and a control device (5). The control device is coupled to the first and the second terminal (2, 3) and comprises a programming circuit (6) and a trigger circuit (7), which are each coupled on the output side to a control input of the current source (9). |
| US07999468B2 |
Display device having sealant and bezel area
A display device is disclosed. The display device includes a first substrate, a light emitting unit on the first substrate, a second substrate on the light emitting unit, and a seal member that attaches the first substrate to the second substrate. The light emitting unit includes a first electrode, a light emitting layer, and a second electrode. The seal member includes a straight portion and a curved portion. A radius of curvature of the curved portion lies substantially in a range between 0.2 mm and 2.5 mm. |
| US07999462B2 |
Display device with multiple OLEDS
To improve an image quality of an organic EL display by utilizing characteristics of a dual emission type organic light emitting element. A display device includes a first substrate over which a plurality of organic light emitting elements are provided and a second substrate over which an organic light emitting element is provided. The first and second substrates are facing each other. At least either the organic light emitting elements provided over the first substrate or the organic light emitting element provided over the second substrate emit/emits light toward both surfaces of the first or second substrate. Light emitting regions of the organic light emitting elements provided over the first substrate are overlapped with a light emitting region of the organic light emitting element provided over the second substrate as seen from the second substrate. |
| US07999458B2 |
Organic electro luminescence device and fabrication method thereof
An organic electro luminescence device is presented in which ink forming an organic electro luminescent layer is prevented from overflowing edges of a pixel region. The organic electro luminescent device includes first and second substrates and sub-pixels in the first and second substrates. An array element includes a thin film transistor formed on the first substrate in each sub-pixel. A first electrode is formed at an inner surface of the second substrate. A buffer is formed at an outer region to partition each sub-pixel formed on the first electrode. A first electrode separator is formed on the buffer and a second electrode separator is formed in a region including a stepped portion of the buffer. An organic electro luminescent layer is formed within a region partitioned by the second electrode separator. A second electrode is formed on the second substrate where the organic electro luminescent layer is formed. |
| US07999457B2 |
Organic light emitting display device
An organic light emitting display (OLED) device having an organic light emission unit, the organic light emitting unit including a first electrode layer on a substrate, a second electrode layer on the first electrode layer, and an organic layer between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, the OLED device including a first auxiliary electrode layer between the organic layer and the first electrode layer. The organic light emission unit is divided into first, second, and third pixel units. Each of the first, second, and third pixel units includes a second auxiliary electrode layer between the organic layer and the first auxiliary electrode layer. The second auxiliary electrode layers of the first, second and third pixel units are formed to have different thicknesses respectively, so that light beams emitted from the first, second and third pixel units can be provided with a resonance effect. |
| US07999454B2 |
OLED device with embedded chip driving
An electroluminescent device having a plurality of current driven pixels arranged in rows and columns, such that when current is provided to a pixel it produces light, including each pixel having first and second electrodes and current responsive electroluminescent media disposed between the first and second electrodes; at least one chiplet having a thickness less than 20 micrometers; including transistor drive circuitry for controlling the operation of at least four pixels, the chiplet being mounted on a substrate and having connection pads; a planarization layer disposed over at least a portion of the chiplet; a first conductive layer over the planarization layer and connected to at least one of the connection pads; and a structure for providing electrical signals through the first conductive layer and at least one of the connection pads of the chiplet so that the transistor drive circuitry of the chiplet controls current to the four pixels. |
| US07999451B2 |
Blue color filter element
A blue color filter having a blue filter layer comprising a first pigment having a maximum absorption at a wavelength within the range of from 550 to 650 nm, and a second pigment having a maximum absorption at a shorter wavelength than the first pigment within the range of from 500 to 600 nm, wherein the blue filter layer has chromaticity coordinates (x, y) in the 1931 CIE XYZ calorimetric system, calculated using CIE Standard Illuminant D65, that satisfy the expressions 0.134≦x≦0.15 and 0.03≦y≦0.06. |
| US07999449B2 |
Electroconductive polymer electrode and actuator using the same
The present invention relates to an electrode, wherein a substrate comprises a porous carbon material and an electroconductive polymer layer formed by an electrolytic polymerization method is provided substantially on the substrate; the electrode, wherein the porous carbon material comprises at least one porous carbon material selected from the group consisting of a carbon paper, a carbon fiber, a porous carbon sheet and an activated carbon sheet; and an actuator having the above electrode as a counter electrode. |
| US07999447B2 |
Piezoelectric device employing elastomer material
An elastomeric piezoelectric ultracapacitor embodiment is also disclosed. A dielectric elastomer is a polymer that may be configured to operate in a “generator mode.” In generator mode the dielectric elastomer operates like a variable capacitor, and amplifies the energy of charge placed on a pair of compliant electrodes, formed on opposite sides of the elastomer, when the elastomer is in a compressed state. An elastomeric piezoelectric ultracapacitor employs generator mode techniques to further increase the power generation capabilities of an piezoelectric ultracapacitor. |
| US07999442B2 |
Piezoelectric actuator and electronics device using the same
To provide a piezoelectric actuator that is small in size, large in displacement, high in rigidity, excellent in controllability, and excellent in stability, the present invention provides a piezoelectric actuator, including: a first piezoelectric member that is bent and displaced in a thickness direction; and a second piezoelectric member that is bent and displaced in a direction opposite to the first piezoelectric member. In the piezoelectric actuator, the first piezoelectric member and the second piezoelectric member are stacked on each other in the thickness direction of the first piezoelectric member and the second piezoelectric member, and the center portion in the longitudinal direction of the first piezoelectric member and the center portion in the longitudinal direction of the second piezoelectric member, or both ends of the first piezoelectric member and both ends of the second piezoelectric member are fixed to each other. |
| US07999440B2 |
Micro-fabricated devices having a suspended membrane or plate structure
The invention relates to micro-fabricated devices having a suspended membrane or plate structure and micro-fabrication techniques for making such devices. A substrate defines a cavity passing through the substrate, and the cavity defines a first opening. An intermediate portion is disposed over the substrate and defines a second opening. The second opening is larger in size than the first opening, and the dimensions of the second opening are controlled according to a parameter associated with performance of the device. A membrane is positioned adjacent the second opening. |
| US07999435B2 |
Electrochemical actuator
The present invention provides systems, devices, and related methods, involving electrochemical actuation. In some cases, application of a voltage or current to a system or device of the invention may generate a volumetric or dimensional change, which may produce mechanical work. For example, at least a portion of the system may be constructed and arranged to be displaced from a first orientation to a second orientation. Systems such as these may be useful in various applications, including pumps (e.g., infusion pumps) and drug delivery devices, for example. |
| US07999428B2 |
Apparatus for thermomechanical decoupling of the housing and stationary part of a rotating machine
An apparatus is described for thermomechanical decoupling of the housing and stationary part of a rotating machine, in particular of a dynamoelectric machine. The apparatus has at least one rotating shell, and in that this apparatus can on the one hand be attached to the housing and on the other hand to the stationary part, such that the rotating shell extends in the axial direction even in the mounted state. This results in centered bearing, which is stiff against lateral movement of the stationary part, in particular of the laminated core, while providing little impediment to the thermal growth of the stationary part. |
| US07999427B2 |
Directed flux motor
A directed flux motor described utilizes the directed magnetic flux of at least one magnet through ferrous material to drive different planetary gear sets to achieve capabilities in six actuated shafts that are grouped three to a side of the motor. The flux motor also utilizes an interwoven magnet configuration which reduces the overall size of the motor. The motor allows for simple changes to modify the torque to speed ratio of the gearing contained within the motor as well as simple configurations for any number of output shafts up to six. The changes allow for improved manufacturability and reliability within the design. |
| US07999424B2 |
Arrangement with an electric motor and a pump
An arrangement including an electric motor driving a pump is provided. The arrangement is delivering a process fluid along a flow path, which flow path extends along a gap between a stator and a motor rotor of the electric motor. To avoid rotor dynamic instability caused by hydrodynamics in the gap flow, guiding elements are provided in the flow path. |
| US07999423B2 |
Motor, pump, and method of manufacturing the motor
An object is to provide a motor that is designed to reduce the parts costs and the processing costs, without additional parts for fixing, by incorporating a fan cover, a condenser assembly box, and a foot plate into a molded stator. A motor 200 according to this invention has a stator 100, which is molded of a thermosetting resin as a molded stator 11. The motor 200 is characterized in that the molded stator 11 includes a foot plate mounting portion 13 where a foot plate 19 is mounted, and in that prepared holes for screw fixing of the foot plate 19 are exposed from a mold surface at the foot plate mounting portion 13. |
| US07999422B2 |
Linear actuator using magnetostrictive power element
A linear actuator includes a substantially cylindrical magnetostrictive element disposed in a housing. A retainer is cooperatively engaged with the housing and an exterior of the magnetostrictive element such that relaxed portions of the magnetostrictive element are frictionally retained in the retainer. An actuator rod is functionally coupled to one longitudinal end of the magnetostrictive element. A biasing device is disposed between the housing and the retainer to maintain the retainer in lateral compression. The actuator includes magnets arranged to induce peristaltic motion in the magnetostrictive element. |
| US07999415B2 |
Electronic leakage reduction techniques
Electronic leakage reduction techniques are provided, whereby an electrical outlet with a programmable computing unit is programmed to detect the current, resistance, power or pattern of current, resistance or power of an attached appliance in the on position and/or off position. Among other aspects, the electrical outlet with a programmable computing unit delivers a selected voltage below the original operational voltage and/or delivers voltage at particular durations for particular intervals to the appliance in the off position and compares detected current, resistance, power or pattern of current, resistance or power to programmed levels associated with the appliance in the on position and/or off position. If any or some of those characteristics match those programmed associated with the appliance in the on position, or fail to match those programmed associated with the off position by a set confidence interval, original operational voltage is provided to the appliance. |
| US07999408B2 |
Power and communication architecture for a vehicle
A power, ground and communication architecture (100) utilizes hubs (105, 110, 115). Each hub (105, 110, 115) contains computing, communication and power management elements (135, 140). Hubs (105, 110, 115) may be connected to multiple other hubs (105, 110, 115) to distribute communication and power in a freeform web-type arrangement, specific tree, bus or star arrangements are not required. Standardized wiring harness segments (120) are used to join the hubs (105, 110, 115) and control elements. Each of the strands in the web may be an independent point-to-point bus and isolated power line. |
| US07999403B2 |
System and method for locomotive engine cranking
In a method of operating a starting system coupled to a crankshaft of a vehicle engine, during engine starting, torque supplied by the starting system to the engine is continuously adjusted to provide more than two levels based on operating conditions of the vehicle or engine. |
| US07999398B2 |
Solid state device
A solid state device has a solid state component, a power receiving/supplying portion that mounts the solid state component thereon for receiving/supplying electrical power from/to the solid state component, and a glass sealing portion that seals the solid state component. The glass sealing portion is formed of a B2O3—SiO2—Li2O—Na2O—ZnO—Nb2O5 based glass, which is composed of 21 wt % to 23 wt % of B2O3, 11 wt % to 13 wt % of SiO2, 1 wt % to 1.5 wt % of Li2O, and 2 wt % to 2.5 wt % of Na2O. |
| US07999397B2 |
Microelectronic packages and methods therefor
A microelectronic package includes a microelectronic element having faces and contacts, the microelectronic element having an outer perimeter, and a substrate overlying and spaced from a first face of the microelectronic element, whereby an outer region of the substrate extends beyond the outer perimeter of the microelectronic element. The microelectronic package includes a plurality of etched conductive posts exposed at a surface of the substrate and being electrically interconnected with the microelectronic element, whereby at least one of the etched conductive posts is disposed in the outer region of the substrate. The package includes an encapsulating mold material in contact with the microelectronic element and overlying the outer region of the substrate, the encapsulating mold material extending outside of the etched conductive posts for defining an outermost edge of the microelectronic package. |
| US07999393B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of first interconnection layers which are provided in an insulating layer and formed in a pattern having a width and space smaller than a resolution limit of an exposure technique, and a second interconnection layer which is provided between the first interconnection layers in the insulating layer and has a width larger than that of a first interconnection layer. A space between the second interconnection layer and each of first interconnection layers adjacent to both sides of the second interconnection layer equals the space between the first interconnection layers. |
| US07999391B2 |
Multilayered wiring structure, and method for manufacturing multilayered wiring
Provided is a wiring of the Damascene structure for preventing the TDDB withstand voltage degradation and for keeping the planarity to prevent the degradation of a focus margin. A trench wiring (213) is formed in an interlayer insulating film, which is composed of a silicon carbide-nitride film (205), a SiOCH film (206) and a silicon oxide film (207) [(e)]. The silicon oxide film (207) is etched at a portion adjacent to the wiring of a polished surface by dry etching or wet etching [(f)]. A silicon carbide-nitride film (SiCN) (214) is formed as a Cu cap film [(g)]. An interlayer insulating film is further formed thereon to form a conductive plug, a trench wiring and so on. |
| US07999384B2 |
Top layers of metal for high performance IC's
A method of closely interconnecting integrated circuits contained within a semiconductor wafer to electrical circuits surrounding the semiconductor wafer. Electrical interconnects are held to a minimum in length by making efficient use of polyimide or polymer as an inter-metal dielectric thus enabling the integration of very small integrated circuits within a larger circuit environment at a minimum cost in electrical circuit performance. |
| US07999379B2 |
Microelectronic assemblies having compliancy
A microelectronic assembly includes a microelectronic element, such as a semiconductor wafer or semiconductor chip, having a first surface and contacts accessible at the first surface, and a compliant layer overlying the first surface of the microelectronic element, the compliant layer having openings in substantial alignment with the contacts of the microelectronic element. The assembly desirably includes conductive posts overlying the compliant layer and projecting away from the first surface of the microelectronic element, the conductive posts being electrically interconnected with the contacts of the microelectronic element by elongated, electrically conductive elements extending between the contacts and the conductive posts. |
| US07999374B2 |
Semiconductor component having adhesive squeeze-out prevention configuration and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor component includes a semiconductor element that has a plurality of signals, a wiring board that is disposed below the semiconductor element and that draws the plurality of signals of the semiconductor element, a heat conduction member that dissipates heat generated by the semiconductor element, a joining member that is disposed between the semiconductor element and the heat conduction member and that joins the heat conduction member to the semiconductor element, a support member formed with an opening so as to surround the semiconductor element that supports the heat conduction member, a first adhesive member that is disposed between the support member and the wiring board to bond the support member with the wiring board and a second adhesive member that is disposed between the support member and the heat conduction member to bond the support member with the heat conduction member. |
| US07999373B2 |
Arrangement having at least one electronic component
The invention relates to an arrangement comprising at least one electronic component and a cooling body associated therewith. A support physically interposed between the electronic component and the cooling body and the support has at least one layer with at least one material of an electric strength of at least 10 kV/mm and a thermal conductivity of at least 5 W/mK. At least one recess and/or at least one protruding element is arranged in and/or on the layer of the support, and is configured in such a manner that it extends, along the surface of the layer of the support, through preferably all electrically possible pathways between the electronic component and the cooling body as compared to the condition of the layer of the support without the recess and/or without the protruding element. |
| US07999372B2 |
Organic light emitting display device and method of fabricating the same
Provided is an organic light emitting display device. An organic light emitting display device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a first substrate; a second substrate comprising an interior surface opposing the first substrate; an array of organic light emitting pixels formed between the first and second substrates, the array comprising a top surface facing the second substrate; a frit seal interposed between the first and second substrates while surrounding the array; and a film structure comprising one or more layered films, the film structure comprising a portion interposed between the array and the second substrate, the film structure contacting the interior surface and the top surface; and wherein the second substrate comprises a recess on interior surface. |
| US07999367B2 |
Stacked memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a stacked plurality of interposer chips, each interposer chip seating a smaller corresponding memory chip, wherein a lowermost interposer chip in the stacked plurality of interposer chips is mounted on a buffer chip. Each one of the stacked plurality of interposer chips includes a central portion having bond pads seating the corresponding memory device and a peripheral portion having a plurality of through silicon vias (TSVs). The respective pluralities of TSVs for adjacent interposer chips in the stacked plurality of interposer chips are connected via vertical connection elements to form multiple internal signal paths communicating write data from and read data to the buffer chip from respective memory chips. |
| US07999366B2 |
Micro-component packaging process and set of micro-components resulting from this process
A process for packaging a plurality of micro-components made on the same substrate wafer, in which each micro-component is enclosed in a cavity. This process includes making a cover plate; depositing a metal layer on a face of the cover plate or on a face of the wafer; covering the wafer with the cover plate; applying a contact pressure equal to at least one bar onto the cover plate and onto the wafer; and heating the metal layer during pressing until a seal is obtained, each cavity thus being provided with a sealing area and being closed by a part of the cover plate and/or its metal layer. |
| US07999365B2 |
Package for monolithic compound semiconductor (CSC) devices for DC to DC converters
A multichip module defining a dc to dc converter employs a monolithic chip containing at least two III-nitride switches (a monolithic CSC chip) mounted on a conductive lead frame. The CSC chip is copacked with an IC driver for the switches and with the necessary passives. The module defines a buck converter; a boost converter, a buck boost converter, a forward converter and a flyback converter. The drain, source and gate pads of the monolithic CSC chip are connected to a lead frame by solder or epoxy or by bumping attach and a conductive connector or wire bonds connect the switch terminal to lead frame. |
| US07999364B2 |
Method and flip chip structure for power devices
A lead frame structure for supporting a semiconductor die is disclosed that includes at least two electrical leads each having a plurality of finger shaped structures unilaterally extending outward from the at least two electrical leads. The electrical leads are arranged so that the plurality of finger shaped structures forms inter-digital patterns where the semiconductor dies are bonded to the lead frame structure. |
| US07999362B2 |
Method and apparatus for making semiconductor devices including a foil
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including covering a portion of at least one semiconductor device with a foil, including covering at least one target region of the semiconductor device, and illuminating the foil with a laser to singulate from the foil a portion covering the at least one target region of the at least one semiconductor device. |
| US07999361B1 |
Shielding structure for transmission lines
A shielding structure comprises first and second comb-like structures defined in a first metallization layer on an integrated circuit, each comb-like structure comprising a plurality of teeth, the teeth of each comb-like structure extending toward the other comb-like structure; a first plurality of electrically conducting vias extending upward from the first comb-like structure; a second plurality of electrically conducting vias extending upward from the second comb-like structure; first and second planar structures in a second metallization layer above the first metallization layer; a third plurality of electrically conducting vias extending downward from the first planar structure toward the first plurality of electrically conducting vias; and a fourth plurality of electrically conducting vias extending downward from the second planar structure toward the second plurality of electrically conducting vias. The first and second comb-like structures, the first and second planar structures and the first, second, third, and fourth electrically conducting vias all being at substantially the same potential, preferably ground. In one embodiment, one or more signal lines are located in the second metallization layer between the first and second planar structures; and in another embodiment they are located in a third metallization layer between the first and second metallization layers. |
| US07999358B2 |
Shielding device
One aspect of the invention relates to a shielding device for shielding from electromagnetic radiation, including a shielding base element, a shielding cover element and a shielding lateral element for electrically connecting the base element to the cover element in such that a circuit part to be shielded is arranged within the shielding elements. Since at least one partial section of the shielding elements includes a semiconductor material, a shielding device can be realized completely and cost-effectively in an integrated circuit. |
| US07999357B1 |
Electrostatic discharge circuit using forward biased circular-arc shaped steering diodes
The present invention advantageously provides a circular-arc shaped structure for forward biased steering diodes used in an ESD circuit, which circular arc shaped structure forward biases steering diodes effectively prevent concentration of an ESD pulse to one section of the p-n junction within the forward biased steering diode (or, alternatively viewed, evenly distributing stress along the entire p-n junction), thus increasing reliability of the ESD circuit, and also minimizing input capacitance as well as occupying a smaller area. The circular-arc shaped structure thus provides a mechanism to evenly distribute the current flow through the ESD steering diodes, and therefore avoids the disadvantage of a voltage gradient along the steering diode structure. |
| US07999355B2 |
Aminosilanes for shallow trench isolation films
The present invention is a process for spin-on deposition of a silicon dioxide-containing film under oxidative conditions for gap-filling in high aspect ratio features for shallow trench isolation used in memory and logic circuit-containing semiconductor substrates, such as silicon wafers having one or more integrated circuit structures contained thereon, comprising the steps of: providing a semiconductor substrate having high aspect ratio features; contacting the semiconductor substrate with a liquid formulation comprising a low molecular weight aminosilane; forming a film by spreading the liquid formulation over the semiconductor substrate; heating the film at elevated temperatures under oxidative conditions. Compositions for this process are also set forth. |
| US07999354B2 |
Resin composition, filling material, insulating layer and semiconductor device
A resin composition of the present invention is used for forming a filling material which fills at least a through-hole of a semiconductor substrate, the through-hole extending through the semiconductor substrate in a thickness direction thereof and having a conductive portion therein. The resin composition is composed of: a resin having a radical-polymerizable double bond, a thermosetting resin and a resin which differs from the resin having the radical-polymerizable double bond and has an alkali-soluble group and a double bond; or a cyclic olefin resin. A filling material of the present invention is formed of a cured product of the above resin composition. An insulating layer of the present invention is formed of a cured product of the above resin composition. The insulating layer includes: a layer-shaped insulating portion provided on a surface opposite to a functional surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a filling portion integrally formed with the insulating portion and filling the through-hole. A semiconductor device of the present invention includes the above insulating layer. |
| US07999352B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device equipped with a metal thin film resistor is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a second interlayer insulating film formed on a first interlayer insulating film including a formation area of a wiring pattern. Connecting holes are formed in the second interlayer insulating film corresponding to both ends of the metal thin film resistor and the wiring pattern. An upper part of each connecting hole is formed in a taper shape. A sidewall is formed on the inner wall of each connecting hole. The metal thin film resistor is formed on the second interlayer insulating film between the connecting holes, inside of each connecting hole, and on the wiring pattern. |
| US07999351B2 |
Phase memorization for low leakage dielectric films
Embodiments of a phase-stable amorphous high-κ dielectric layer in a device and methods for forming the phase-stable amorphous high-κ dielectric layer in a device are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US07999340B2 |
Apparatus and method for forming optical black pixels with uniformly low dark current
An apparatus and method for forming optical black pixels having uniformly low dark current. Optical Black opacity is increased without having to increase Ti/TiN layer thickness. A hybrid approach is utilized combining a Ti/TiN OB layer in conjunction with in-pixel metal stubs that further occlude the focal radius of each pixel's incoming light beam. Additional metal layers can be used to increase the opacity into the infrared region. |
| US07999328B2 |
Isolation trench having first and second trench areas of different widths
A method of forming and resulting isolation region, which allows for densification of an oxide layer in the isolation region. One exemplary embodiment of the method includes the steps of forming a first trench, forming an oxide layer on the bottom and sidewalls of the trench, forming nitride spacers on the lined trench, and thereafter etching the silicon beneath the first trench to form a second trench area. An oxide layer is then deposited to fill the second trench. Densification of the isolation region is possible because the silicon is covered with nitride, and therefore will not be oxidized. Light etches are then performed to etch the oxide and nitride spacer area in the first trench region. A conventional oxide fill process can then be implemented to complete the isolation region. |
| US07999325B2 |
Method to remove spacer after salicidation to enhance contact etch stop liner stress on MOS
An example process to remove spacers from the gate of a NMOS transistor. A stress creating layer is formed over the NMOS and PMOS transistors and the substrate. In an embodiment, the spacers on gate are removed so that stress layer is closer to the channel of the device. The stress creating layer is preferably a tensile nitride layer. The stress creating layer is preferably a contact etch stop liner layer. In an embodiment, the gates, source and drain region have a silicide layer thereover before the stress creating layer is formed. The embodiment improves the performance of the NMOS transistors. |
| US07999322B2 |
Poly-Si thin film transistor and organic light-emitting display having the same
A thin film transistor comprises an Si-based channel having a nonlinear electron-moving path, a source and a drain disposed at both sides of the channel, a gate disposed above the channel, an insulator interposed between the channel and the gate, and a substrate supporting the channel and the source and the drain disposed at either side of the channel respectively. |
| US07999320B2 |
SOI radio frequency switch with enhanced signal fidelity and electrical isolation
A doped contact region having an opposite conductivity type as a bottom semiconductor layer is provided underneath a buried insulator layer in a bottom semiconductor layer. At least one conductive via structure extends from an interconnect-level metal line through a middle-of-line (MOL) dielectric layer, a shallow trench isolation structure in a top semiconductor layer, and a buried insulator layer and to the doped contact region. The doped contact region is biased at a voltage that is at or close to a peak voltage in the RF switch that removes minority charge carriers within the induced charge layer. The minority charge carriers are drained through the doped contact region and the at least one conductive via structure. Rapid discharge of mobile electrical charges in the induce charge layer reduces harmonic generation and signal distortion in the RF switch. A design structure for the semiconductor structure is also provided. |
| US07999318B2 |
Heavily doped region in double-diffused source MOSFET (LDMOS) transistor and a method of fabricating the same
A transistor includes a source, a drain and a gate. The source includes a p-doped p-body, a p+ region overlapping the p-body, an n+ region overlapping the p-body in proximity to the p+ region, and an n-doped source, heavily double-diffused (SHDD) region, only into the source region of the transistor, the SHDD region having a depth about equal to that of the first n+ region and overlapping the first n+ region. The drain includes a second n+ region and an n-doped shallow drain overlapping the second n+ region. The gate includes a gate oxide and a conductive material over the gate oxide. The SHDD region extends further laterally than the first n+ region beneath the gate oxide. The SHDD region is implanted using a dopant concentration greater than that of the n-doped shallow drain but less than that of the first n+ region. |
| US07999316B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
Disclosed is a vertically arranged semiconductor device. The semiconductor device can include a semiconductor substrate comprising a first conductive type buried layer, a first conductive type drift region formed on the first conductive type buried layer, and a second conductive type well formed on the first conductive type drift region. A gate insulating layer and a gate electrode can be formed in regions of the substrate from which the first conductive type drift region and the second conductive type well are selectively removed. A first conductive type source region can be formed at sides of the gate electrode. A n insulating layer can be formed on the semiconductor substrate including the gate electrode and can include a trench formed through the insulating layer and a portion of the second conductive type well. A barrier layer can be formed in the trench and a source contact including tungsten and aluminum can be deposited in the trench. A drain electrode layer can be formed on a bottom surface of the substrate below the first conductive type buried layer. |
| US07999315B2 |
Quasi-Resurf LDMOS
A semiconductor device can include a drift region, at least a portion of the drift region located laterally between a drain region and a source region. The drift region can include a first layer having a first doping concentration and a second layer having a second higher doping concentration than the first layer. The second layer of the drift region be configured to allow drift current between the source region and the drain region when a depletion region is formed in at least a portion of the first layer between the source region and the drain region. |
| US07999313B2 |
Semiconductor device having vertical pillar transistors and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes vertical pillar transistors formed in respective silicon pillars of a silicon substrate. The gates of the vertical pillar transistor are selectively formed on a single surface of lower portions of the silicon pillars, and drain areas of the vertical pillar transistors are connected with one another. |
| US07999312B2 |
Insulated gate-type semiconductor device having a low concentration diffusion region
A semiconductor 100 has a P− body region and an N− drift region in the order from an upper surface side thereof. A gate trench and a terminal trench passing through the P− body region are formed. The respective trenches are surrounded with P diffusion regions at the bottom thereof. The gate trench builds a gate electrode therein. A P−− diffusion region, which is in contact with the end portion in a lengthwise direction of the gate trench and is lower in concentration than the P− body region and the P diffusion region, is formed. The P−− diffusion region is depleted prior to the P diffusion region when the gate voltage is off. The P−− diffusion region serves as a hole supply path to the P diffusion region when the gate voltage is on. |
| US07999307B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device having cell and peripheral regions and method of making the same
A nonvolatile memory device and method of making the same are provided. Memory cells may be provided in a cell area wherein each memory cell has an insulative structure including a tunnel insulating layer, a floating trap layer and a blocking layer, and a conductive structure including an energy barrier layer, a barrier metal layer and a low resistance gate electrode. A material having a lower resistivity may be used as the gate electrode so as to avoid problems associated with increased resistance and to allow the gate electrode to be made relatively thin. The memory device may further include transistors in the peripheral area, which may have a gate dielectric layer, a lower gate electrode of poly-silicon and an upper gate electrode made of metal silicide, allowing an improved interface with the lower gate electrode without diffusion or reaction while providing a lower resistance. |
| US07999305B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes an element region having a channel region, and a unit gate structure inducing a channel in the channel region, the unit gate structure including a tunnel insulating film formed on the element region, a charge storage insulating film formed on the tunnel insulating film, a block insulating film formed on the charge storage insulating film, and a control gate electrode formed on the block insulating film, wherein a distance between the element region and the control gate electrode is shorter at a center portion of the unit gate structure than at both ends thereof, as viewed in a section parallel to a channel width direction. |
| US07999303B2 |
NAND-type nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
The present invention provides a high-performance MONOS-type NAND-type nonvolatile semiconductor memory device using an aluminum oxide film as a part of gate insulating film in a select transistor and as a block insulating film in a memory transistor. The NAND-type nonvolatile semiconductor memory device has, on a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of memory cell transistors connected to each other in series and a select transistor. The memory cell transistor includes a first insulating film on the semiconductor substrate, a charge trapping layer, a second insulating film made of aluminum oxide,a first control gate electrode, and a first source/drain region. The select transistor includes a third insulating film on the semiconductor substrate, a fourth insulating film made of an aluminum oxide containing at least one of a tetravalent cationic element, a pentavalent cationic element, and N (nitrogen), a second control gate electrode, and a second source/drain region. |
| US07999302B2 |
Charge trapping devices with field distribution layer over tunneling barrier
A memory cell comprising: a semiconductor substrate with a surface with a source region and a drain region disposed below the surface of the substrate and separated by a channel region; a tunneling barrier dielectric structure with an effective oxide thickness of greater than 3 nanometers disposed above the channel region; a conductive layer disposed above the tunneling barrier dielectric structure and above the channel region; a charge trapping structure disposed above the conductive layer and above the channel region; a top dielectric structure disposed above the charge trapping structure and above the channel region; and a top conductive layer disposed above the top dielectric structure and above the channel region are described along with devices thereof and methods for manufacturing. |
| US07999292B2 |
Image sensor and manufacturing method thereof
An image sensor can be formed of a first substrate having a readout circuitry, an interlayer dielectric, and lower lines, and a second substrate having a photodiode. The first substrate comprises a pixel portion and a peripheral portion. The readout circuitry is formed on the pixel portion. The interlayer dielectric is formed on the pixel portion and the peripheral portion. The lower lines pass through the interlayer dielectric to electrically connect with the readout circuitry and the peripheral portion. The photodiode is bonded to the first substrate and etched to correspond to the pixel portion. A transparent electrode is formed on the interlayer dielectric on which the photodiode is formed such that the transparent electrode can be connected with the photodiode and the lower line in the peripheral portion. A first passivation layer can be formed on the transparent electrode. In one embodiment, the first passivation layer includes a trench exposing a portion of the transparent electrode. Then, an upper line can be formed on the peripheral portion and in the trench to shield a lateral side of the photodiode. |
| US07999291B2 |
Method of manufacturing solid state imaging device, solid state imaging device, and camera using solid state imaging device
A method of manufacturing a solid state imaging device having a photo-electric conversion portion array and a transfer electrode array, these arrays being provided in parallel to each other, upper surfaces and side wall surfaces of the transfer electrode array being covered with a light-shielding layer, and a transparent layer showing an oxidizing property at the time of film formation, the transparent layer being formed on the photo-electric conversion parts and the light-shielding layer. |
| US07999277B2 |
Light emitting device and production method of same
A light emitting device, and a production method thereof, is provided having for a light source thereof a vertical geometry light emitting diode, that allows a large current to flow through the vertical geometry light emitting diode and takes into consideration the dissipation of heat occurring at that time or the expansion and contraction of a metal member due to thermal stress caused by that heat. The light emitting device at least comprises a package having a plurality of mutually separated package electrodes; a vertical geometry light emitting diode having a light emitting layer positioned between a p-type semiconductor layer and an n-type semiconductor layer, an upper partial electrode of the uppermost layer, and a lower electrode of the lowermost layer, wherein the lower electrode is joined onto one of the package electrodes; and, a conductive connecting member that connects the upper electrode of the vertical geometry light emitting diode with another of package electrodes; wherein the junction between said one of the package electrodes and the lower electrode, the junction between the upper electrode and the conductive connecting member, and the junction between the conductive connecting member and said other of package electrodes are made with solder. |
| US07999276B2 |
Chip-type LED package and light emitting apparatus having the same
Disclosed are a chip-type LED package and a light emitting apparatus having the same. The chip-type LED package includes a thermally conductive substrate with lead electrodes formed thereon. An LED chip is mounted on the thermally conductive substrate, and a lower molding portion covers the LED chip. In addition, an upper molding portion having hardness higher than that of the lower molding portion covers the lower molding portion. The upper molding portion is formed by performing transfer molding using resin powder. Accordingly, since the lower molding portion can be formed of a resin having hardness smaller than that of the upper molding portion, it is possible to provide a chip-type LED package in which device failure due to thermal deformation of the molding portion can be prevented. |
| US07999275B2 |
Composite semiconductor device, LED head that employs the composite semiconductor device, and image forming apparatus that employs the LED head
A composite semiconductor device includes a semiconductor thin film, a substrate, connection pads, and a light blocking layer. The semiconductor thin film includes light emitting elements. The driver circuits are formed on the substrate and the semiconductor thin film is fixed on the substrate, the driver circuit driving the light emitting element. The connection pads are formed on the substrate, electrical connection being made through which the connection pads. The light blocking layer is formed in an area between the light emitting element and the connection pad, the light blocking layer. The light blocking layer prevents light emitted from the light emitting element from reaching wires connected to the connection pad. |
| US07999270B2 |
III-nitride compound semiconductor light emitting device comprising layer with pinhole structure
The present invention discloses a III-nitride compound semiconductor light emitting device having an n-type nitride compound semiconductor layer, an active layer grown on the n-type nitride compound semiconductor layer, for generating light by recombination of electron and hole, and a p-type nitride compound semiconductor layer grown on the active layer. The III-nitride compound semiconductor light emitting device includes a plurality of semiconductor layers including a nitride compound semiconductor layer with a pinhole structure grown on the p-type nitride compound semiconductor layer. |
| US07999269B2 |
Light emitting apparatus and electronic device
A light emitting apparatus includes a light emitting element formed on a surface of a substrate and a light receiving element formed on an area other than an area overlapping the light emitting element on the surface of the substrate, the light receiving element detecting light emitted from the light emitting element. |
| US07999266B2 |
Semiconductor device including poly-Si and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device including polysilicon (poly-Si) and method of manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a TaNx material layer and a poly-Si layer formed on the TaNx material layer. The semiconductor device including poly-Si may be manufactured by forming a TaNx material layer and forming a poly-Si layer by depositing silicon formed on the TaNx material layer and annealing silicon. |
| US07999265B2 |
Photoelectric conversion device, electro-optic device, and electronic device
The photoelectric conversion device includes: a photoelectric conversion element in which a first electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer, and a second electrode are stacked in this order; and a thin film transistor (TFT) connected to the first electrode of the photoelectric conversion element via a contact hole, wherein the photoelectric conversion layer including a first photoelectric conversion layer disposed at a location which does not overlap with the contact hole and a second photoelectric conversion layer disposed at a location which overlaps with the contact hole, the first photoelectric conversion layer and the second photoelectric conversion layer are separated from each other by a separation groove, and the second electrode is selectively formed on the first photoelectric conversion layer, and the photoelectric conversion element is formed by the first electrode, the first photoelectric conversion layer, and the second electrode. |
| US07999264B2 |
Thin film transistor array panel and display device
A display device includes a first display panel including a common electrode disposed thereon, and a second display panel including; thin film transistors (“TFTs”) each including a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode, a first passivation layer disposed on the source and drain electrodes, a second passivation layer disposed on the first passivation layer and including at least one sensing protrusion, pixel electrodes disposed on the second passivation layer and connected with the drain electrode, and at least one conductive member disposed on the sensing protrusion. |
| US07999263B2 |
Semiconductor element and display device using the same
Provided is a semiconductor element including: a semiconductor having an active layer; a gate insulating film which is in contact with the semiconductor; a gate electrode opposite to the active layer through the gate insulating film; a first nitride insulating film formed over the active layer; a photosensitive organic resin film formed on the first nitride insulating film; a second nitride insulating film formed on the photosensitive organic resin film; and a wiring provided on the second nitride insulating film, in which a first opening portion is provided in the photosensitive organic resin film, an inner wall surface of the first opening portion is covered with the second nitride insulating film, a second opening portion is provided in a laminate including the gate insulating film, the first nitride insulating film, and the second nitride insulating film inside the first opening portion, and the semiconductor is connected with the wiring through the first opening portion and the second opening portion. |
| US07999262B2 |
Thin film transistor, method of fabricating the same, and method of fabricating liquid crystal display device having the same
A thin film transistor includes a gate electrode, a gate insulation layer on the gate electrode, source and drain electrodes formed on the gate insulation layer, a polysilicon channel layer overlapping the ohmic contact layers and on the gate insulation layer between the source and drain electrodes, ohmic contact regions over the source and drain electrodes for contacting the polysilicon channel to the source and drain electrodes, and doping layers over the source and drain electrodes. |
| US07999259B2 |
Display device having a photodiode whose p region has an edge width different than that of the n region
A display includes: a substrate having a pixel region and a sensor region in which photo-sensor parts are formed; an illuminating section operative to illuminate the substrate from one surface side of the substrate; a thin film photodiode disposed in the sensor region, having at least a P-type semiconductor region and an N-type semiconductor region, and operative to receive light incident from the other surface side of the substrate; and a metallic film formed on the one surface side of the substrate so as to face the thin film photodiode through an insulator film, operative to restrain light generated from the illuminating section from being directly incident on the thin film photodiode from the one surface side, and fixed to a predetermined potential, wherein in the thin film photodiode, the width of the P-type semiconductor region and the width of the N-type semiconductor region are different from each other. |
| US07999249B2 |
Nitride semiconductor light emitting device with surface texture and its manufacture
A nitride semiconductor light emitting device includes: a substrate for growing nitride semiconductor of a hexagonal crystal structure; a first nitride semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type formed above the substrate; an active layer formed on the first nitride semiconductor layer for emitting light when current flows; a second nitride semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type formed on the active layer; texture formed above at least a partial area of the second nitride semiconductor layer and having a plurality of protrusions of a pyramid shape, each of the protrusions including a lower layer made of nitride semiconductor doped with impurities of the second conductivity type and an upper layer made of nitride semiconductor not intentionally doped with impurities; and a transparent electrode covering surfaces of the second nitride semiconductor layer and the texture. |
| US07999245B2 |
Network centric directed energy systems
A system is provided where the system comprises a plurality of optical sources, each optical source configured to generate an optical beam and direct the optical beam from each of the plurality of optical sources towards a target; a beam discriminator module configured to monitor a parameter for each optical beam generated from each of the optical source; and a position sensor configured to receive a feedback from the beam discriminator module based on the monitored parameter; wherein based on the feedback, the position sensor determines if any optical beam at the target is off-target. |
| US07999244B2 |
MEMS devices and related scanned beam devices
Embodiments relate to a MEMS device including a scanner rotatable about at least one rotation axis, with the scanner having a characteristic resonant frequency. According to one embodiment, the MEMS device includes drive electronics operable to generate a drive signal that causes the scanner to oscillate at an operational frequency about the at least one rotation axis. The drive signal has a drive frequency selected to be about equal to the characteristic resonant frequency or a sub-harmonic frequency of the characteristic resonant frequency. According to another embodiment, the drive electronics are operable to generate a drive signal having a plurality of drive-signal pulses that moves the scanner at an operational frequency and sensing electronics are operable to sense a position of the scanner only when the drive-signal pulses of the drive signal are not being transmitted by the drive electronics. The MEMS device embodiments may be incorporated in scanned beam imagers, endoscopes, and displays. |
| US07999241B2 |
Extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus
An extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus has a magnetic field generator which generates a magnetic field region around a direction of the magnetic field passing through a plasma region in which a plasma is to be generated and converges charged particles including ion emitted from the plasma region toward the direction of the magnetic field, a first charged particle collector (receiver) mounted at both sides of an axis of the magnetic field in the magnetic field region in order to collect (receive) the charged particles converged by the magnetic field, a target supply unit supplying a target from a nozzle located outside a converging region in which the charged particles are to be converged inside the magnetic field region in an extreme ultraviolet light generating chamber, and a target collector located at a position opposite to the nozzle, the target retrieval portion retrieving a residual target which does not contribute to generation of the plasma. |
| US07999239B2 |
Techniques for reducing an electrical stress in an acceleration/deceleraion system
Techniques for reducing an electrical stress in a acceleration/deceleration system are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as an acceleration/deceleration system. The acceleration/deceleration system may comprise an acceleration column including a plurality of electrodes having apertures through which a charged particle beam may pass. The acceleration/deceleration system may also comprise a plurality of voltage grading components respectively electrically coupled to the plurality of electrodes. The acceleration/deceleration system may further comprise a plurality of insulated conductors disposed proximate the plurality of voltage grading components to modify an electrical field about the plurality of voltage grading components. |
| US07999237B2 |
Valuable document
The invention relates to a printed value document having at least one luminescent substance. |
| US07999236B2 |
Dual modality detection system of nuclear materials concealed in containers
Dual modality detection devices and methods are provided for detecting nuclear material, the devices include a neutron detector including multiple neutron detection modules; and a gamma detector including multiple gamma detection modules, where the multiple neutron detection modules and the multiple gamma detection modules are integrated together in a single unit to detect simultaneously both gamma rays and neutrons. |
| US07999227B2 |
Electromagnetic radiation detector and method for manufacturing such a detector
This electromagnetic radiation detector comprises a reflecting substrate and at least one detection element comprising a membrane sensitive to said radiation and suspended above the substrate. The distance between the membrane and at least one detection element and the substrate is variable, said distance having a predefined spatial distribution suitable for minimizing the rapid variations of a response of the radiation detector in at least one predefined wavelength range. |
| US07999222B2 |
Time-of-flight mass spectrometer
A time-of-flight mass spectrometer includes a detector and is adapted to measure the time it takes for an accelerated ion to reach the detector and thereby measure the mass of the ion. The time-of-flight mass spectrometer scans a voltage applied to an ion incident side surface of the detector in accordance with a mass to be measured. An electrode is provided between the detector and a space in which an ion flies. The time-of-flight mass spectrometer is capable of measuring ions of a wide range of masses with high detection efficiency by scanning a voltage applied to the electrode. |
| US07999220B2 |
Borehole measurements using a fast and high energy resolution gamma ray detector assembly
A gamma ray detector assembly for a borehole logging system that requires the measure of gamma radiation with optimized gamma ray energy resolution and with fast emission times required to obtain meaningful measurements in high radiation fields. The detector assembly comprises a lanthanum bromide (LaBr3) scintillation crystal and a digital spectrometer that cooperates with the crystal to maximize pulse processing throughput by digital filtering and digital pile-up inspection of the pulses. The detector assembly is capable of digital pulse measurement and digital pile-up inspection with dead-time less than 600 nanoseconds per event. Pulse height can be accurately measured (corrected for pile-up effects) for 2 pulses separated by as little as 150 nanoseconds. Although the invention is applicable to virtually any borehole logging methodology that uses the measure of gamma radiation in harsh borehole conditions, the invention is particularly applicable to carbon/oxygen logging. |
| US07999217B2 |
Image-capturing element including photoelectric conversion cells that pupil-divide object light and output a ranging signal
An image-capturing element includes a pair of photoelectric conversion cells that pupil-divide object light in a first direction and in a second direction and that output a ranging signal. The photoelectric conversion cells include a photoreceiving element configured to receive the object light and generate a ranging signal, a first light-shielding layer having a first light-transmitting area, and a second light-shielding layer having a second light-transmitting area. The photoelectric conversion cells include a first photoelectric conversion cell in which the first light-transmitting area is offset in the first direction on the first light-shielding layer and the second light-transmitting area is offset in the second direction on the second light-shielding layer, and a second photoelectric conversion cell in which the first light-transmitting area is offset in the second direction on the first light-shielding layer and the second light-transmitting area is offset in the first direction on the second light-shielding layer. |
| US07999216B2 |
Selective channel charging for microchannel plate
Techniques are disclosed that can be used to increase the dynamic range of a microchannel plate (MCP) device, thereby eliminating the need for conventional techniques such as gating. In one example embodiment, an MCP device is provided that includes a plurality of channels, each channel for amplifying a photoelectron input to the channel and for producing an electron cloud at its output. The device further includes one or more charging switches associated with each channel for allowing charging current to flow so as to charge that channel in response to producing an electron cloud. In some such example cases, the plurality of channels and the one or more switches are implemented in silicon, and the one or more charging switches turn on only in the presence of the electron cloud produced at the corresponding channel output. |
| US07999212B1 |
Precision guided munitions
A guidance system for actively guiding a projectile, such as a bullet after it has been fired from a gun. The guidance system includes a radar unit that includes a plurality of receiver arrays. An optical scope is also mounted to the gun for optically sighting a target. An inertial measurement unit provided on the gun locks onto the target after it has been sighted by the scope, and provides a reference location at the center of the receiver arrays from which the bullet can be directed. The receiver arrays receive radar monopulse beacon signals from the bullet. The signals from the bullet are used to identify the position of the bullet and the roll of the bullet. The signals sent to the bullet provide flight correction information that is processed on the bullet, and used to control actuators that move steering devices on the bullet. |
| US07999211B2 |
Heating element structure with isothermal and localized output
A microheater for heating at least one target area, the microheater comprising a substrate, a resistive material adjacent to the substrate and connector traces connected to the resistive material. The microheater is formed so that when a predetermined current flows through the resistive material, the target area is heated to a substantially isothermal temperature. |
| US07999209B2 |
Wire drive for wire feeder and spool gun
A modular welding wire feed drive for use in a welding system. The welding wire feed drive is designed to be detachably connected to the welding wire feed system of the welding system. The welding wire feed drive includes a drive housing designed to be detachably connectable to the welding wire feed system, a wire contact arrangement designed to controllably feed welding wire through the welding wire feed drive, and a drive motor that is connected to or interconnected to the wire contact arrangement to at least partially drive the wire contact arrangement. |
| US07999207B2 |
Apparatus for machining plate-shaped or cylindrical workpieces comprising cutting teeth
The invention concerns a device (10) for machining slab-shaped or cylindrical workpieces (70) which are provided with cutting teeth (S), with a machine base (12), a machining device (14) which can be displaced relative to the machine base (12), and a workpiece positioning device (16) which can be displaced relative to the machine base (12), the machining device (14) including a machining bridge (18) which can be displaced relative to the machine base (12) linearly along a first spatial axis (Y1) and a machining arm (20) which can be displaced relative to the machining bridge (18) linearly along a second spatial axis (X1), a machining unit (26) with a machining tool (28) being carried on the machining arm (20) so that it can swivel around a swivelling axis (E1), the swivelling axis (E1) substantially running orthogonally to a plane which is spanned by the first and second spatial axes (Y1, X1), the workpiece positioning device (16) also having a bearing slide (32) which can be displaced relative to the machine base (12) linearly along a third spatial axis (Z1), and a tilting bearing arrangement, in which a workpiece holding arrangement (44) is carried so that it can be tilted around a tilting axis (B1), being provided on the bearing slide (32). |
| US07999205B2 |
Method of separating foreign particles
In an electrostatic separator or a magnetic separator, prior to electrically charging or magnetization of particles in order to carry out separation of mixed powder of particles having different properties from each other, classification is performed by a classifier so that the content of fine powder having a spherical equivalent diameter of 10 μm or smaller is 15 mass % or less. After the classification, prior to electrostatic separation or magnetic separation, an operation of dispersing the mixed powder of particles may be carried out. |
| US07999204B2 |
Key frame and cover member for push button switch
An elastic projection elastically projecting outward is provided on the lower side and the lateral side of a hard base. The elastic projection functions as a fixing member when a cover member for a push button switch is fitted into a housing of the product. Inside an elastic projection is formed a space. When the elastic projection is pressed from the outside, the space enables the elastic projection which is elastically deformed inward, to proceed into the space. As a result, the elastic projection projecting from an outer peripheral line of the hard base can be elastically deformed so as to retract inwardly in the hard base. |
| US07999203B2 |
Electroluminescent keyboard
An electroluminescent keyboard includes a plurality of membrane switch structures, a plurality of keycaps, a plurality of electroluminescent elastic members, and an electrode layer. The electroluminescent elastic members are arranged between the keycaps and respective membrane switch structures for emitting light in response to an electric current or an electric field. The electrode layer is arranged between the electroluminescent elastic members and respective membrane switch structures and electrically connected to respective electroluminescent elastic members. The electroluminescent elastic members emit light when the electric current passes through the electrode layer or the strong electric field is applied to the electrode layer. The light-emitting element and the backlight module that are used in the conventional keyboard are not included in the electroluminescent keyboard. In addition, the light could be effectively controlled to be guided to a desired luminous region of the keycap. As a consequence, the illuminated keyboard is very cost-effective. |
| US07999201B2 |
MEMS G-switch device
A Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) G-switch includes one or more actuators formed between fixed driving stages and moveable driving stages. A proof mass is attached to the moveable driving stages and flexibly attached to a substrate through one or more spring members. A voltage control circuit applies working voltages to the driving stages. With a first working voltage applied between the moveable and the fixed driving stages, moving of the driving stages' sensing direction towards gravity at a first critical angle will cause moveable driving stages to collapse and touch the fixed driving stage on the substrate and thus turn on the MEMS G-switch. After turning on the G-switch, a second working voltage is applied and moving of the driving stages' sensing direction away from gravity at a second critical angle will cause moveable electrodes to deviate from the fixed electrodes and thus turn off the MEMS G-switch. |
| US07999200B2 |
Safety switch
A safety switch is described in which a switching contact in a lock mechanism switches between an open and closed condition. Switching is coupled to a lock member moveable between a locked position, locking a drive cam, and an unlocked position, allowing the cam to rotate. A link member, cooperating with the lock member, switches between open and closed conditions of normally-open and normally-closed switching contacts, indicating movement of the lock member between the locked position and the unlocked position. By monitoring the open and closed conditions of the normally-open and normally-closed switching contacts, it is possible to determine the state of the lock member, i.e., whether it is in the locked position or in the unlocked position. It therefore can be determined whether the drive cam is in the locked or unlocked (i.e., free to rotate) state. |
| US07999199B2 |
Electric commutator with multiple switch ways
An electric commutator (20) with multiple switch ways comprising a horizontal upper panel (24) with an upper face (24s) that can be contacted by a pointing element, a supporting frame (22) and means (26) for locating the point of contact of the pointing element on the horizontal upper face (24s) of the upper panel (24) that comprise a plurality of electric switches (28) on the supporting frame (22) that are capable of being actuated selectively by the upper panel (24). The switches (28) are distributed on the supporting frame (22) so as to divide the horizontal upper face (24s) of the upper panel (24) into a plurality number of contact zones (44), the number of which contact zones (44) is greater than the number of switches (28). |
| US07999198B2 |
Baby bath development and weighing system
A weighing system comprising an integrated bathing weighing unit having a container and a sensing arrangement associated with the container and configured to provide data indicative of a weight of a body located within the container. |
| US07999195B2 |
Circuit board having isolation cover and assembling method thereof
The present invention provides a circuit board having an isolation cover and an assembling method thereof. The circuit board of the present invention comprises a main body and an isolation cover disposed on the circuit board main body. The main body and the isolation cover have a plurality of corresponding first and second positioning portions, and a ground portion is disposed on at least one side of each first positioning portion. The isolation cover is disposed on a first surface of the main body, and each second positioning portion passes through a second surface of the main body and each first positioning portion. An end of each second positioning portion is connected to each ground portion. |
| US07999188B2 |
Energy cable
A cable for transporting or distributing electric energy, especially medium or high voltage electric energy, includes at least one electrical conductor, at least one electrically insulating layer surrounding the electrical conductor, and at least one sheath surrounding the electrically insulating layer, wherein the sheath includes 65% to 95% by weight of at least one thermoplastic ethylene polymer; 5% to 35% by weight of at least one plasticizing agent, the percentages being expressed with respect to the total weight of the sheath. The above sheath guarantees improved flexibility without impairing mechanical properties and particularly thermopressure resistance, which is essential to preserve shape and integrity of the screen layer during cable installation and use at high operating temperatures. |
| US07999183B2 |
Cable management accessories
A vertical cable manager includes a base, an interconnected double-spine assembly topped by a top frame, and a pair of doors. The double-spine assembly is supported by the base. Each door is removably coupled at each lower corner to the base and at each upper corner to the top frame, thus permitting each door to be opened or hinged along either of its lateral sides or removed entirely. The double-spine assembly may support selectively repositionable mounting members, which may in turn support a large cable spool, a selectively repositionable shelf-mounted handle spool assembly, and various other cable management accessories. |
| US07999182B2 |
Device for connecting two superconductive cables
The invention relates to a device for connecting together two abutting superconductive cables, each cable being constituted by at least a resistive conductive central support of substantially cylindrical shape, by at least one layer of superconductive material placed around the support, and by an insulating sheath surrounding said layer of superconductive material, the end of each cable being stripped to reveal the central support and said layer of superconductive material, the device being provided with an outer covering of insulating material. According to the invention, the device comprises at least one respective conductive sleeves engaged around the stripped portion of each of the cables, together with a conductive tube containing said sleeves and connected to them. |
| US07999178B2 |
Solar cell and method of producing the same
A solar cell comprises a substrate; an n-type barium silicide layer being arranged on the substrate and containing Ba atoms and Si atoms; an n+-type barium silicide layer being arranged on the n-type barium silicide layer and containing impurity atoms which are at least one of atoms belonging to Groups 13 to 15 of the periodic table, Ba atoms, and Si atoms; an upper electrode arranged on the n+-type barium silicide layer; and a lower electrode arranged on the substrate. |
| US07999175B2 |
Interdigitated back contact silicon solar cells with laser ablated grooves
Interdigitated back contact (IBC) solar cells are produced by depositing spaced-apart parallel pads of a first dopant bearing material (e.g., boron) on a substrate, heating the substrate to both diffuse the first dopant into corresponding first (e.g., p+) diffusion regions and to form diffusion barriers (e.g., borosilicate glass) over the first diffusion regions, and then disposing the substrate in an atmosphere containing a second dopant (e.g., phosphorus) such that the second dopant diffuses through exposed surface areas of the substrate to form second (e.g., n+) diffusion regions between the first (p+) diffusion regions (the diffusion barriers prevent the second dopant from diffusion into the first (p+) diffusion regions). The substrate material along each interface between adjacent first (p+) and second (n+) diffusion regions is then removed (e.g., using laser ablation) such that elongated grooves, which extend deeper into the substrate than the diffused dopant, are formed between adjacent diffusion regions. |
| US07999168B2 |
Robot
A robot includes: a sound collecting unit collecting and converting a musical sound into a musical acoustic signal; a voice signal generating unit generating a self-vocalized voice signal; a sound outputting unit converting the self-vocalized voice signal into a sound and outputting the sound; a self-vocalized voice regulating unit receiving the musical acoustic signal and the self-vocalized voice signal; a filtering unit performing a filtering process; a beat interval reliability calculating unit performing a time-frequency pattern matching process and calculating a beat interval reliability; a beat interval estimating unit estimating a beat interval; a beat time reliability calculating unit calculating a beat time reliability; a beat time estimating unit estimating a beat time on the basis of the calculated beat time reliability; a beat time predicting unit predicting a beat time before the current time; and a synchronization unit synchronizing the self-vocalized voice signal. |
| US07999167B2 |
Music composition reproduction device and composite device including the same
A composite device, including a first control section; a second control section; and a storage section having a common area and a dedicated area, the common area can be accessed by both the first control section and the second control section, and the first control section prohibits the second control section from accessing the dedicated area, when activated in a first mode, the first control section converts data stored in the dedicated area into a predetermined format and stores the converted data in the common area, and when activated in a second mode, the second control section by sending a request to the first control section, obtains the converted data from the common area of the storage section via the first control section, and carries out a process using the converted data. |
| US07999164B2 |
Valve mechanism for musical instrument and brass instrument provided with valve mechanism for musical instrument
A valve mechanism for musical instrument is inserted between a mouthpiece and a bell. The valve mechanism includes: a main tube through which the mouthpiece and the bell directly communicate with each other; a bypass tube which takes a bypass route from the middle of the main tube and, when the changeover valve is operated, causes indirect communication of the main tube which is in direct communication before the operation of the changeover valve; a group of main valves; and a group of sub valves. Setting of the bypass tube to a length that allows for a note one octave lower than a note produced only by the main tube, which is producible when the main tube indirectly communicates via the bypass tube. As a result, a degree of freedom and reliability of musical performance are improved in a wide register with almost no change in weight, among many advantages. |
| US07999160B2 |
Orienting, positioning, and forming nanoscale structures
A method. A first copolymer is provided. A substrate is provided having an energetically neutral surface layer with at least one trough integrally disposed thereon with sidewalls. A first film of the first copolymer is coated inside the trough. Line-forming microdomains are assembled of the first copolymer forming first self-assembled structures within the first film normal to the sidewalls and parallel to the surface layer. The first and second polymer blocks are removed from the first film and oriented structures remain in the trough normal to the sidewalls and parallel to the surface layer. A second film of a second copolymer is coated inside the trough. Line-forming microdomains are assembled of the second copolymer, and form second self-assembled structures within the second film oriented normal to the oriented structures and parallel to the sidewalls. The third and fourth polymer blocks are removed, and at least one second oriented structure remains. |
| US07999158B2 |
Highly transformable elite inbred line-PHWWE
A novel inbred maize line designated PHWWE and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing inbred maize line PHWWE with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHWWE through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the inbred line PHWWE or a trait conversion of PHWWE with another maize line. Inbred maize lines derived from maize line PHWWE, methods for producing other inbred maize lines derived from inbred maize line PHWWE and the inbred maize lines and their parts derived by the use of those methods. |
| US07999157B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH204002
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH204002. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH204002, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH204002 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 CH204002. |
| US07999156B2 |
Garden bean SB4355
A novel garden bean cultivar, designated SB4355, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of garden bean cultivar SB4355, to the plants of garden bean line SB4355 and to methods for producing a garden bean plant by crossing the cultivar SB4355 with itself or another garden bean line. The invention further relates to methods for producing a garden bean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other garden bean lines derived from the cultivar SB4355. |
| US07999155B2 |
Soybean variety D5032147
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated D5032147. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety D5032147. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety D5032147 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety D5032147 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US07999153B2 |
Soybean variety D5502014
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated D5502014. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety D5502014. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety D5502014 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety D5502014 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US07999152B2 |
Glyphosate-N-acetyltransferase (GAT) genes
Proteins are provided herein, including proteins capable of catalyzing the acetylation of glyphosate and other structurally related proteins. Also provided are polynucleotides capable of encoding these proteins, compositions that include one or more of these proteins and/or polynucleotides, recombinant cells and transgenic plants comprising these compounds, diversification methods involving the compounds, and methods of using the compounds. Some of the methods and compounds provided herein can be used to render an organism, such as a plant, resistant to glyphosate. |
| US07999151B2 |
Method of producing astaxanthin or metabolic product thereof by using carotenoid ketolase and carotenoid hydroxylase genes
To provide a microorganism or a plant transformed with a β-ionone ring-4-ketolase gene and/or β-ionone ring-3-hydroxylase gene derived from Brevundimonas sp. strain SD-212. The β-ionone ring-4-ketolase gene and β-ionone ring-3-hydroxylase gene produced by Brevundimonas sp. strain SD-212 each have a high activity compared with those of known enzymes, and therefore microorganisms transformed with the genes encoding these enzymes can efficiently produce astaxanthin. |
| US07999150B2 |
Expression cassettes for root-preferential expression in plants
The present invention relates to expression cassettes comprising transcription regulating sequences with root-preferential or root-specific expression profiles in plants obtainable from Arabidopsis thaliana genes At1g66280, At1g74500, At1g49570, At1g70710, At5g66690, At3g29630, At5g48070, or At4g17800. The expression cassettes according to the present invention may be employed for expression of a protein, or expression of an antisense RNA, sense or double-stranded RNA. Preferably, expression of the nucleic acid sequence confers to the plant an agronomically valuable trait. Vectors comprising such expression cassette, and transgenic host cell or non-human organism comprising the expression cassette or the vector is also enclosed. Also enclosed is a method for identifying and/or isolating a sequence with root-specific or root-preferential transcription regulating activity. |
| US07999147B2 |
Reduction of odors in absorbent articles
Provided are absorbent articles for retaining a malodorous bodily fluid. The absorbent articles comprise an additive that is a quaternary ammonium salt that is water soluble at 37° C., comprises an alkyl C16-C21 chain, and contains at least two oxygen atoms in the anionic portion of the salt. Also provided are methods of preparing absorbent articles, including disposable absorbent articles, containing the above additive. |
| US07999144B2 |
Microchannel apparatus and methods of conducting catalyzed oxidative dehydrogenation
Methods of oxidative dehydrogenation are described. Surprisingly, Pd and Au alloys of Pt have been discovered to be superior for oxidative dehydrogenation in microchannels. Methods of forming these catalysts via an electroless plating methodology are also described. An apparatus design that minimizes heat transfer to the apparatus' exterior is also described. |
| US07999141B2 |
Process for producing gas hydrate pellet
A process for producing gas hydrate pellets includes generating a gas hydrate by reacting raw gas and raw water under predetermined temperature and pressure conditions, and then shaping the gas hydrate into pellets by means of a pelletizer. Newly-formed gas hydrate or still-moist gas hydrate that has been partially dehydrated is shaped into pellets by means of a pelletizer, the shaping being conducted under conditions of the gas hydrate formation temperature and formation pressure. Subsequently, the shaped pellets are cooled to a sub-zero temperature by means of a refrigerating machine. |
| US07999137B2 |
Pesticide bi-phenyl-amidine derivatives
The present invention relates to bi-phenyl-amidine derivatives of formula (I) in which the substituents are as in the description, their process of preparation, their use as fungicide or insecticide active agents, particularly in the form of fungicide or insecticide compositions, and methods for the control of phytopathogenic fungi or damaging insects, notably of plants, using these compounds or compositions: |
| US07999135B2 |
Crystallization of iodixanol using ultrasound
This invention relates to the manufacture of iodixanol (1,3-bis(acetamido)-N,N′-bis[3,5-bis (2,3-dihydroxypropylaminocarbonyl)-2,4,6-triiodophenyl]-2-hydroxypropane), more specifically to the purification of iodixanol by crystallization by using ultrasound. |
| US07999134B2 |
Crystallization of iodixanol using milling
This invention relates to the manufacture of iodixanol(1,3-bis(acetamido)-N,N′-bis[3,5-bis(2,3-dihydroxypropylaminocarbonyl)-2,4,6-triiodophenyl]-2-hydroxypropane), more specifically to the purification of iodixanol by crystallization by using wet milling. |
| US07999133B2 |
Methods for making unsaturated acids using catalysts for methacrolein oxidation
Methods for making unsaturated acids using catalysts for oxidation of unsaturated and/or saturated aldehyde to unsaturated acids is disclosed where the catalyst including at least molybdenum (Mo) and phosphorus (P), where the catalyst has a pore size distribution including at least 50% medium pores and if bismuth is present, a nitric acid to molybdenum mole ratio of at least 0.5:1 or at least 6.0:1 moles of HNO3 per mole of Mo12. |
| US07999130B2 |
Methods for producing alkyl(meth)acrylates
The present invention relates to processes for preparing alkyl (meth)acrylates, comprising the steps of transesterifying an alkyl α-hydroxycarboxylate with (meth)acrylic acid to obtain alkyl (meth)acrylates and α-hydroxycarboxylic acid, and dehydrating the α-hydroxycarboxylic acid to obtain (meth)acrylic acid. |
| US07999128B2 |
Hydroxybenzophenone derivatives
Disclosed are hydroxyphenylbenzophenone derivatives of formula (1), wherein R1 and R2 independently from each other are hydrogen; C1-C20alkenyl; C3-C10cycloalkyl; or R1 and R2 together with the linking nitrogen atom form a 5- 6-membered heterocyclic ring; R3, R4 and R5 independently from each other are C1-C4alkyl; C1-C4alkoxy; or a radical of formula (1a) R6 is C1-C6alkyl; and A is a straight-chain or branched C3-C6alkylene, which is optionally interrupted by one or more *—O—*, or *—O—(CO)—* groups; and m is 0; or a number from 1 to 5. The compounds are useful as cosmetic UV filters with outstanding solubility properties in cosmetic oils. |
| US07999127B2 |
Siloxane monomers and oligomers
A process for preparing a cationically photopolymerizable siloxane oligomer, that includes: combining a platinum group catalyst, a hydrosiloxane compound selected from and a vinyl or allyl compound comprising a cationically photopolymerizable functionality; and then contacting the product with oxygen in the presence of the catalyst to form the cationically photopolymerizable multifunctional siloxane oligomer. R1 and R3 are independently fluoroethyl, methyl or phenyl. |
| US07999121B2 |
Derivatized 3,4-alkylenedioxythiophene monomers, methods of making them, and use thereof
The present invention relates to methods of making derivatized 3,4-alkylenedioxythiophene monomers and methods of using the 3,4-alkylenedioxythiophene monomers. |
| US07999120B2 |
Process for continuously removing a target product X in the form of fine crystals
A process for continuously removing a target product X in the form of fine crystals from a liquid phase P comprising the target product X and constituents other than the target product X by cooling suspension crystallization in the secondary chamber, into which the liquid phase P flows continuously, of an indirect heat exchanger with simultaneous continuous flow of a coolant through the primary chamber of the indirect heat exchanger and continuous withdrawal of a crystal suspension S having a degree of crystallization Y from the secondary chamber, in which the degree of crystallization Y is adjusted on the basis of a heat balance conducted continuously with the aid of a process computer. |
| US07999118B2 |
Process for producing N-halogenated hydantoins
This invention provides a process for the N-halogenation of at least one 5-hydrocarbyl hydantoin and/or at least one 5,5-dihydrocarbyl hydantoin. The process comprises concurrently feeding into a reaction zone (i) water, inorganic base, and 5,5-dimethylhydantoin, these being fed separately and/or in any combination(s), (ii) a separate feed of a brominating agent, and (iii) a separate feed of a chlorinating agent, in proportions such that during all or substantially all of the time the concurrent feeding is occurring halogenation of the 5-hydrocarbyl hydantoin and/or 5,5-dihydrocarbyl hydantoin occurs and resultant halogenated product precipitates in the liquid phase of an aqueous reaction mixture, and in which the pH of the liquid phase is continuously or substantially continuously maintained in the range of about 2.0 to about 8.0 during all or substantially all of the time the concurrent feeding is occurring. Also provided by this invention is a composition of matter which is a halogenated 5-hydrocarbyl hydantoin or a halogenated 5,5-dihydrocarbyl hydantoin, which is a mixture of the 1,3-dibromo-, 1,3-dichloro-, and/or N,N′-bromochloro-species of the halogenated hydantoin. |
| US07999114B2 |
Dicycloalkylcarbamoyl ureas as glucokinase activators
This invention relates to dicycloalkylcarbamoyl ureas of formula (I), which are activators of glucokinase and thus may be useful for the management, treatment, control, or adjunct treatment of diseases, where increasing glucokinase activity is beneficial. |
| US07999110B2 |
Solid state forms of racemic ilaprazole
The invention relates to crystalline forms of racemic ilaprazole, 2[[(4-methoxy-3-methyl-2 -pyridinyl)-methyl]sulfinyl]-5-(1 H-pyrrol-1-yl) 1H-Benzimidazole. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting gastric acid secretion comprising a crystalline Form of ilaprazole according to the invention in an amount effective to inhibit gastric acid secretion and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The invention also provides methods of treatment for various acid-related gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. |
| US07999108B2 |
Benzyl amines, a process for their production and their use as anti-inflammatory agents
The present invention relates to the compounds of formula I, processes for their production and their use as anti-inflammatory agents. |
| US07999106B2 |
Processes for the preparation of clopidogrel hydrogen sulfate polymorphic form I
Processes for the preparation of clopidogrel hydrogen sulfate of polymorphic form I are described which include use of specific solvents and process measures to avoid formation of undesired by-products. |