| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07647650B2 |
Swimming goggles
Swimming goggles include a couple of reticulate holding frames connected by a bridge, a couple of frames assembled in the reticulate holding frames, a couple of eyeglasses assembled in the frames, and fasteners. The reticulate holding frames are made of rigid material. Each reticulate holding frame forms a first and a second locking annulus corresponding to each other. Each reticulate holding frame defines an assembling opening in outward sides of the first and the second locking annulus. A first and a second connecting sheets respectively extend from opposing sides of the assembling opening and are assembled together when the swimming goggles are assembled. The frames are made of soft material and are assembled in the reticulate holding frames. The fasteners are assembled on the first and the second connecting sheets of the reticulate holding frames, and press the first and the second connecting sheets in a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction. |
| US07647649B2 |
Body-worn article functioning as a positioning device allowing patient positioning relative to medical therapy or examination device
A positioning device is applied in a reproducible manner to a patient, allows indication of the position of an anatomical area of the patient, allows the patient to be positioned in a reproducible manner in relation to an examination area of a medical examination device and a therapy area of a therapy device, and includes an antenna arrangement for the examination with a magnetic resonance device. In one embodiment, the positioning device also includes an arrangement for immobilizing the patient. |
| US07650646B2 |
Information-recording apparatus, information reproduction apparatus, information-recording method, information reproduction method and computer program
A recording or reproduction apparatus is provided which utilizes copyright information in operations to record content data onto a recording medium or reproduce content data from the recording medium. Copyright information for the contents includes information identifying an input source of the content data. The information identifying an input source is stored in the recording medium along with the content data. When the contents are reproduced from the recording medium, the input source information is acquired and used as a basis for determining whether the contents can be reproduced and output. Thus, it is possible to impose an output restriction on an operation to reproduce the contents in accordance with the input source. |
| US07650640B1 |
Method and system for detecting IA32 targeted buffer overflow attacks
Data streams are scanned to detect malicious jump-call-pop shellcode constructs used in attacks against stack-based buffer overflow vulnerabilities on software executing in the IA32 architecture prior to execution. Upon a detection of a malicious jump-call-pop shellcode construct, protective action is taken, such as preventing the malicious shellcode from executing. |
| US07650630B2 |
Device and method for restricting content access and storage
UIMID of a UIM 50 owned by the owner of a portable phone 40 is stored in an owner information registration area 410b of phone 40. A CPU 405 of portable phone 40, upon receiving content, compares a UIMID of a UIM 50 inserted in phone 40 to the UIMID registered in owner information registration area 410b. The storing of the content in a nonvolatile memory 410 is permitted only when the two UIMIDs agree with each other. |
| US07650628B2 |
Transcription data security
A computer program product for use with dictated medical patient information resides on a computer-readable medium and comprises computer-readable instructions for causing a computer to analyze the dictated information, identify likely confidential information in the dictated medical patient information, and treat the likely confidential information disparately from likely non-confidential information in the dictated medical patient information. |
| US07650620B2 |
Method and apparatus for push and pull distribution of multimedia
The present specification discloses a multimedia distribution system and method. The system and method has a producer workstation, a delivery server, a high-bandwidth one-way satellite transmission system, a terrestrial two-way communication system (including use of the Internet), a plurality of satellite affiliate workstations, and a plurality of terrestrial client workstations. The delivery server receives digital information (envelopes and associates media files) from the producer workstations for delivery of the information to the affiliate and client workstations addressed in the envelope. The affiliate and client workstations provide the delivery server with confirmation of delivery of each received envelope and its associated files. In the absence of receipt of confirmation of delivery, the delivery server re-sends the unconfirmed envelope and associated files to the non-confirming affiliate or client workstation by a two-way terrestrial connection or by a manual system, such as a dub-and-ship service. The delivery server has the ability to push content to affiliates, push-pull content to affiliate and clients, to conventionally pull content from the delivery server, and push the content to affiliates and clients by manual delivery services. The disclosed system and method utilize a unique envelope and addressing protocol and a unique broadcast file transfer protocol for distribution to affiliate workstations by one-way satellite broadcast. The disclosed system and method also make significant use of the TCP/IP, IGMP, and Ethernet protocols and information distribution techniques. |
| US07650616B2 |
Methods and apparatus for identifying audio/video content using temporal signal characteristics
Methods and apparatus for identifying audio/video content using temporal characteristics of a signal are disclosed. The disclosed apparatus and methods detect a plurality of signal features of a media signal derived from audio/video content and calculate time intervals between a plurality of those signal features to generate signatures. The signatures are then used to identify the audio/video content. |
| US07650615B2 |
Apparatus and method for destroying data storage media
A method and apparatus for permanently rendering data recorded on an optical disc unreadable, comprising a slotted alignment plate and a scarifying component. A disc rests against the plate so that the slot traverses the disc. The scarifying component slides through the slot and contacts the disc surface, thus creating an optically disruptive groove across a surface layer of the optical disc. This disruptive groove can pass through the index and data region and prevents access to previous data and information stored on the disc. |
| US07650608B2 |
System and method for application and resource data integration
A software architecture that provides applications with uniform access to data that is available from heterogeneous data sources. Applications access Liquid Data through a set of unified XML views that have been derived from the schemas of the underlying data sources. Liquid Data provides data independence in that applications can write components that do not have to change if an underlying data source changes. |
| US07650607B2 |
Supervisory process control and manufacturing information system application having a layered architecture
A supervisory process control and manufacturing information system application is disclosed. The components of the application are distributable to a plurality of networked computer devices in a multi-layered hierarchical manner wherein lower layers host higher installed layers of application components. Application objects reside at a relatively high level of the distributed application architecture and model entities within a process control system. Engine objects host execution of the application objects in a run-time environment. Thus, application objects are not deployed until a host engine object with which they are associated have been deployed. Engine objects are hosted by platform objects. The platform objects correspond to a physical computer system component for executing the engine objects and associated application objects. A configuration facility presents a variety of views including deployment and model views of the application. The views incorporate the relationships of the objects that make up the distributed application. |
| US07650605B2 |
Method and apparatus for implementing atomicity of memory operations in dynamic multi-streaming processors
A multi-streaming processor has a plurality of streams for streaming one or more instruction threads, a set of functional resources for processing instructions from streams, and a lock mechanism for locking selected memory locations shared by streams of the processor, the hardware-lock mechanism operating to set a lock when an atomic memory sequence is started and to clear a lock when an atomic memory sequence is completed. In preferred embodiments the lock mechanism comprises one or more storage locations associated with each stream of the processor, each storage location enabled to store a memory address a lock bit, and a stall bit. Methods for practicing the invention using the apparatus are also taught. |
| US07650597B2 |
Symmetric transformation processing system
An application system includes a first process configured to execute an application program, wherein the application program is operable to use a set of data structures. The application system also includes a second process configured to interpret a markup language document. A transformation template is configured to specify a symmetric mapping between the markup language document and the set of data structures. A transformation virtual machine runs in association with the first process and is operable to execute the transformation template. The transformation virtual machine is operable to perform a symmetric transformation between the markup language document and the set of data structures to allow the first process and the second process to exchange information. |
| US07650594B2 |
Graphical program analyzer with framework for adding user-defined tests
A system and method for enabling programmatic analysis of a graphical program, where the programmatic analysis includes user-defined tests. A software program referred to herein as a graphical program analyzer may be operable to programmatically analyze a graphical program by programmatically performing various tests on the graphical program. Some of the tests may be built in to the graphical program analyzer. The graphical program analyzer may also allow a user to add various user-defined tests. Adding user-defined tests to the graphical program analyzer may allow the functionality of the graphical program analyzer to be extended. When programmatically analyzing a graphical program, the graphical program analyzer may be operable to perform the user-defined tests in addition to the built-in tests. |
| US07650593B2 |
Proxy objects for display
A system and method facilitating attributed debugging is provided that facilitates a developer of an object to determine what information a debugger displays. An expression evaluator is provided. A debuggee (e.g., process to be debugged) can include a display proxy attribute that identifies a display proxy type associated with an object. When a request to examine the object is received by the expression evaluator, the expression can create the display proxy associated with the object, examine the display proxy, and provide information associated with the display proxy in response to the request to examine the object. |
| US07650591B2 |
Marshaling and un-marshaling data types in XML and Java
The use of XML types can allow the combination of XML and JAVA® type systems, which overcomes many deficiencies in existing marshaling and unmarshaling systems by translating XML schemas which define XML data in an XML document into XML types in JAVA®. Unlike traditional attempts at translating between XML and JAVA®, XML schemas realized as XML types can remain fully faithful to the XML, and are capable of a number of XML data operations. In addition, the XML types can be easily transformed among themselves and JAVA® types, and a lightweight store retaining XML information at tag level allows incremental XML marshaling and unmarshaling. |
| US07650590B2 |
Flexible code generation
There are methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for a flexible generation framework. The generation framework encapsulates a variety of different code generation technologies within a common interface. This allows various types of generator cores operating in various development environments to be integrated into the framework, and enables the generation of code using various generating technologies. |
| US07650589B2 |
Signal analysis function blocks and method of use
System and method implementing function blocks for specifying and performing a signal analysis function utilizing multiple instruments, including two or more virtual instruments (VIs). Each function block includes: a function block icon for display in a graphical user interface (GUI) of a signal analysis function development environment, that visually indicates a respective signal operation; and associated program instructions executable to perform the respective operation. Each function block is selectable from the function blocks by a user for inclusion in a set of function blocks, each operable to perform their respective signal operation continuously upon selection, and to provide a respective output, operable to be displayed in the GUI, provided as input to other function blocks, and/or exported to an external device. The set of function blocks is executable to perform the signal analysis function under the signal analysis function development environment using one or more of the multiple instruments. |
| US07650585B1 |
Implementing a user design in a programmable logic device with single event upset mitigation
Various approaches for generating an implementation of an electronic circuit design are disclosed. In one approach, a software portion of the design is compiled into software that is executable by a hard processor disposed on a single semiconductor chip with resources of an programmable logic device (PLD). A first synthesized version of a hardware portion of the design is generated for the PLD. A synthesized memory scrubber having an empty block for an address counter is generated, as well as a triple modular redundant (TMR) address counter. The memory in the first synthesized version of the hardware portion of the design is replaced with the memory scrubber, and a complete set of netlists is generated, including a TMR hardware portion of the design and a single instance of the synthesized memory scrubber. A configuration bitstream is generated from the complete set of netlists and stored for later use. |
| US07650584B2 |
Application specific semiconductor integrated circuit and its manufacturing method thereof
An ASIC includes a first-wire extended in a first-direction and a second-wire extended in a parallel direction to the first-wire and both are placed on a first-wire layer; and a third-wire placed on a second-wire layer above the first-wire layer and is extended above the wire and above the second-wire in a second-direction which intersects the first-direction and passing through a first via-hole is connected to the first-wire, and a fourth-wire separated from the third-wire extended in a parallel direction above the first-wire and above the second-wire and a fifth-wire separated from both the third-wire and the fourth-wire and extended in a parallel direction in a smallest space and passing through a second via-hole is connected to the second-wire, wherein, one end of the fifth-wire is extended to the center between the second-wire and the first-wire from above the second-wire. |
| US07650582B2 |
Circuit analysis device allowing more accurate analysis of signal propagation delay in circuit representation of a highly abstract level
The present invention provides a circuit analysis device including: storage unit having stored therein: connection information about multiple components; delay information including information about the delay time of a discrete component and a chain delay time which is a delay time in the case in which a chain delay effect is generated by a connection with another component about each kind of the multiple components; and chain effect propagating component information including information about kinds of chain effect propagating components which are components for transmitting the chain delay effect, and data processing unit for: referring to the information stored in the storage unit; performing a total delay time calculation process of sequentially adding the delay times of the components along a signal path in the circuit; and if the chain effect propagating component is halfway through the signal path in the total delay time calculation process, examining a connection relation between components that precede and follow the chain effect propagating component and determining a delay time of the component that follows the chain effect propagating component that corresponds to the connection relations. |
| US07650578B2 |
Display control apparatus and method, recording medium, and program
A display control apparatus includes an image creating section creating a first image having a predetermined number of drawing areas each onto which a thumbnail image is drawn, and an erasing section erasing at least one drawing area from the first image in response to an instruction from a user to display the first image. The number of drawing areas erased is the same as a number that is determined by subtracting the number of thumbnail images to be drawn in the first image from the predetermined number of drawing areas of the first image. The apparatus also includes a drawing section drawing a thumbnail image in each of the unerased drawing areas remaining in the first image, and a display controlling section controlling display of the first image including the thumbnail image drawn in each drawing area. |
| US07650568B2 |
Implementing handwritten shorthand in a computer system
Handwritten shorthand is used and interpreted in a stylus-based interface to trigger expanded text, implement functions, and/or launch executable programs. A user may be able to select a type of shorthand entry to define, such as a text-expansion-type shorthand entry, a function-type shorthand entry, or a program-type shorthand entry. Upon receiving handwritten input, a computer may determine whether or not to interpret the handwritten input as shorthand, or whether to act upon the handwritten shorthand, depending upon the context in which it is written. |
| US07650565B2 |
Method for managing annotations in a computer-aided design drawing
Annotations in CAD drawings are given fixed sizes so that CAD application will generate the annotations at the fixed size even though modeled objects within the CAD drawing are scaled in accordance with a paper space scale selected by the CAD designer. The annotations generally comprise text annotations and graphic annotations, including one or more of text, dimensions, hatch patterns, and symbols, and are represented as annotation objects having multiple properties, such as size, visibility, position and rotation. |
| US07650564B2 |
Global tone adjustment system for document files containing text, raster, and vector images
A document editing system supports globally editing the tone of an entire Web page without individually working on a plurality of factors characterizing the general effect (tone) of a document file such as a Web page. Upon receipt of an input of an effect (tone) from a user, parameterization occurs for a style tone of a style of a document file, a vector tone of a vector image included in the document file and a raster tone of a raster image included in the document file. A style adjuster then adjusts the style tone, the vector tone and the raster tone in response to the tone input from the user, and a display device displays the document file including the adjusted vector image and the raster image and modified according to the adjusted style. |
| US07650560B2 |
Packet transmission apparatus and method using optimized punctured convolution codes
A method of communication between or among a plurality of devices in a communication system using one or more frames to transmit a plurality of bits includes encoding the plurality of bits in accordance with a first puncture code in a first device of the plurality of devices, transmitting the plurality of encoded bits to a second device of the plurality of devices, and determining in the first device an error condition indicated in a received acknowledgement from the second device. When the error condition indicates a first error code, retransmitting the encoded bits in accordance with the first puncture code, and when the error condition indicates another error condition, different from the first error code, encoding the plurality of bits in accordance with a second puncture code, different from the first puncture code and transmitting the plurality of encoded bits to the second device. |
| US07650554B2 |
Method and an integrated circuit for performing a test
A method for performing a test of a high-speed integrated circuit with at least one functional unit and built-in self-test features by a low-speed test system. The method comprises the steps of transforming an external clock signal from the test system into a faster internal clock signal within the integrated circuit, generating a test pattern according to a predetermined scheme, and applying the test pattern to the functional unit, comparing a response from the functional unit with an expected test pattern. If the response differs from the expected test pattern, then an internal failure signal is generated and the internal failure signal is extended to a length, which may be recognized by the test system. Further the present invention relates to a high-speed integrated circuit with at least one functional unit and built-in self-test features. |
| US07650545B1 |
Programmable interconnect for reconfigurable system-on-chip
Signals sent from one system-on-chip core become switched to a reconfigurable logic core (RLC) for observation and, perhaps, replacement with another signal. A first signal line couples together a plurality of cores. A switch, disposed between the first signal line and an input signal line of the RLC, selectively controls whether the signal gets sent to the RLC. A multiplexer, having the first signal line and an output signal line of the RLC as inputs, selectively controls whether the signal or a replacement signal becomes conveyed to another core of the system-on-chip. Observation and control configuration memory bits act as inputs in the selective control of the switch and the multiplexer. Other embodiments teach shared RLC input signal lines amongst multiple cores. The RLC may contain an inverter, a test circuit, a logic analyzer or other. Methods of observing and replacing signals are also taught. |
| US07650544B2 |
Test mode control circuit
Provided is a test mode control circuit capable of preventing an MRS (mode register set) from changing in a test mode exit after a test mode entry. In the test mode control circuit, an MRS controller logically combines an MRS signal, a bank address, an MRS address, and a test mode control signal to output a latch control signal. A test mode control unit detects a test mode entry and a test mode exit to selectively activate one of a test mode set signal and a test mode exit signal, and outputs the test mode control signal having different voltage levels according to an activation state of the test mode set signal or the test mode exit signal. An address latch latches an input address when the MRS signal is activated, and outputs the latched input address as the MRS address when the latch control signal is activated. |
| US07650539B2 |
Observing debug counter values during system operation
A debugging architecture includes a set of debug counters for counting one or more events based on a set of signals from a device being monitored. The architecture provides for observing the outputs of the debug counters during operation of the device. The outputs of the counters are provided to an output bus (e.g., a Debug Bus) via an output bus interface during operation of the device being monitored. A data gathering system can access the output bus in order to gather the data from the counters for analysis. |
| US07650534B2 |
Apparatus, method and computer program for correction of multiple bit errors
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for monitoring and correcting data errors in a computer system, in particular transient data errors in computer systems having very limited tolerance for deteriorations in performance. The method comprises the steps of: writing a set of data to a plurality of separate databases (50, 80), the databases including at least a first database (50) and a second database (80), reading the set of data from the first database and applying an error correction code (ECC) to detect possible multiple bit errors in the set of data which was read from the first database, and in case an error is detected, the error is reported to an error management unit (30). Furthermore, the error management unit manages a switch of means from which data are read from the first database to the second database, and applying the error correction code for correcting single bit errors in the previously read set of data. The writing means corrects data in the first database by writing the set of data from the second database to both of the first and second databases, and reports to the error management unit that the error is corrected. |
| US07650527B2 |
MIPS recovery technique
Self-calibration of devices such as computer and graphics processors permits adjustment of processor clock rates, and access to normally unused processor capacity. Processor clock rates specified by device manufacturers are normally selected to insure operation across the entire manufacturer-specified range of operating temperatures and supply voltages. By limiting processor clock rates to nominal values, even when operating well within manufacturer-specified temperature and/or supply voltage limits, designers sacrifice processor capacity. By determining the upper limits of processor clock rates at which reliable operation can be realized, and adjusting processor clock rates to match those speeds, a representative embodiment of the present invention permits device users to gain additional, previously inaccessible processing capacity. |
| US07650522B2 |
Mobility policy manager for mobile computing devices
A mobile computing device that dynamically and automatically manages all network adapters on the device to obtain the best and most effective balance of network connectivity and power consumption without requiring operator or user application intervention. Performance is increased by lowering power consumption (longer battery life) and decreasing transaction latencies, providing a device that has flexibility and ease of use. According to one aspect is a system that includes a data analysis component that monitors parameters associated with a device and a mobility policy manager component that provides balance of network connectivity and power consumption based at least in part upon the monitored stimuli. |
| US07650521B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit having a first power supply region and a second power supply region in which power supply voltage changes
A semiconductor integrated circuit including a first power supply region supplied with a first power supply voltage, and having a first clock distribution network, a second power supply region supplied with a second power supply voltage, and having a second clock distribution network, a first phase synchronizer which provides a first output signal obtained by making a phase of a reference clock signal for controlling a data input/output coincident with a phase of a clock signal at a first point of the first clock distribution network, to a second point of the second clock distribution network, and a second phase synchronizer which provides a second output signal obtained by making the phase of the clock signal at a third point of the first clock distribution network coincident with a phase of a clock signal at a first point of the second clock distribution network, to a second point of the first clock distribution network. The semiconductor integrated circuit has a mode for changing a value of the second power supply voltage to a value which is different from a value of the first power supply voltage. |
| US07650520B2 |
Apparatus and method for centralized power management
The invention describes a system and method for arranging to provide power to a power monitor device. The disclosure describes the system and method receiving a request for power for at least one device specified by a power monitor device. The disclosure describes receiving at least one proposal from an entity desiring to supply power according to the request for power. A best proposal of the at least one proposal is determined. And the system and method command the power monitor device to supply power in accordance with the best proposal. |
| US07650519B1 |
Methods and apparatus for managing a user interface on a powered network
A system and methods for connecting a graphic user interface to a powered network is disclosed. The network-powered graphic user interface system converts encoded computer user interface signals transmitted over a powered network cable to multiple signal sets, each set associated with a peripheral device interface. Methods for managing the admission of the peripheral devices are also described. Connection criteria include the power budget for the connection, device characteristics, device power requirements and the characteristics of other devices sharing the powered network connection. |
| US07650517B2 |
Throttle management for blade system
Power is allocated to blades based on an estimate of the actual power they are expected to use rather than their maximum-power draw-value. To protect against situations where the estimated actual-power draw-value is exceeded, a hardware comparator monitors the blade system load against a predetermined threshold value set by a management module (MM) based on user input. If this threshold value is exceeded, a throttle latch is triggered, based on a signal from a service processor monitoring the blade system load. The output of this latch directly engages throttling. The service processor also monitors the output of the latch and communicates information regarding the throttling to the MM for evaluation. |
| US07650516B2 |
File display system and method thereof
A file display system is provided. The file display system includes a MCU (10), a display control unit (20) and a display unit (30). The MCU receives power-on commands and power-off commands from a control unit (50). According to the preferred embodiment, upon receiving a power-off command, the MCU reads a next page data content of a currently displayed page from a storage apparatus (40) and stores the next page data content in the display control unit; and upon receiving a following power-on command, the MCU enables the display control unit, and the display control unit controls the next page data content stored therein to be displayed on the display unit, the next page data content therefore becomes a currently displayed page. A related method is also provided. |
| US07650513B2 |
System and method for vehicle-to-vehicle migration of multimedia content
Systems and methods are provided for a multimedia storage and transfer. The system includes a first data storage device in a first vehicle, a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a second data storage device in a second vehicle, and a controller coupled to the wireless transceiver and first data storage device. The first data storage device has an embedded database configured to store multimedia files. The embedded database has a list of multimedia file content. The controller is configured to remove the list of multimedia file content from the first data storage device and transfer the list of multimedia file content to the second data storage device via the wireless transceiver. |
| US07650512B2 |
Method of and system for searching unstructured data stored in a database
A method of and system for searching unstructured data stored in a database. In one embodiment the method comprises storing a plurality of electronic records in a common repository of electronic records in the database that provides an audit trail that cannot be altered or disabled by users of the system where each electronic record comprises unstructured data stored in a character large-object (CLOB) format in a column of a table of the database; creating a security protocol that protects the electronic records against unauthorized access; and creating a query designed to identify electronic records in the database that meet criteria designated in the query. The method further comprises modifying the query in accordance with the security protocol to create a modified query prior to executing the query and running the modified query against the unstructured data. In one particular implementation, the unstructured data comprises a well-formed XML document stored within a column of a table stored in the database. |
| US07650511B2 |
Information processing method, falsification verification method and device, storage medium, and program
The secret data is acquired externally by making an arithmetic operation between unique information of an apparatus and the first information managed secretly, and secretly held as key data in a key holding part. A MAC generation part generates the authentication data based on a hash value obtained from the data to be protected and the key data held in the key holding part 21. An image file generation part generates an image file to provide the unique information and the authentication data together with the data to be protected. |
| US07650509B1 |
Encoding data in a password
A password authentication mechanism is capable of determining whether a password has expired without referring to a database or other information repository. Additional information can be encoded in the password without unduly lengthening the password, so that the additional information can be extracted from the password when the user provides the password for authentication purposes. Thus, the password serves as an information-carrying data item as well as acting as an authentication mechanism. Such a password can be used, for example, to provide time-limited access to a vehicle in response to receipt of timely payment, and to disable the vehicle if payment is not made. |
| US07650505B1 |
Methods and apparatus for persistence of authentication and authorization for a multi-tenant internet hosted site using cookies
A method for remote services authentication in an internet hosted environment includes a high level process and functionality for a secure, practical and logically optimized inter-network authentication mechanism by employees, partners and customers of an enterprise into the hosted Internet site. The lightweight authentication and authorization mechanism can be most effectively implemented in Java as part of the application or web server servlet. The method for remote services authentication includes initial secure password establishment, subsequent authentication and authorization, as well as authentication and authorization upon resuming previously run sessions with the hosted server using Internet cookies. |
| US07650499B2 |
Encryption apparatus and decryption apparatus
An encryption apparatus divides input original data into one or more data blocks. The size of each data block is an integer multiple of the bank size of a non-volatile memory equipped in a decryption apparatus. The encryption apparatus generates authentication data from this data block. The encryption apparatus generates encrypted data after it combines the authentication data to the data block. On the other hand, a decryption apparatus executes reverse processes to decrypt original data, and writes it in a non-volatile memory. |
| US07650497B2 |
Automated digital certificate renewer
The disclosure relates to the management of PKI digital certificates, including certificate discovery, installation, verification and replacement for endpoints over an insecure network. A database of certificates may be maintained through discovery, replacement and other activities. Certificate discovery identifies certificates and associated information including network locations, methods of access, applications of use and non-use, and may produce logs and reports. Automated requests to certificate authorities for new certificates, renewals or certificate signing requests may precede the installation of issued certificates to servers using installation scripts directed to a particular application or product, which may provide notification or require approval or intervention. An administrator may be notified of expiring certificates, using a database or scanning or server agents. Interaction with certificate authorities may be by an abstractor providing a common interface for issuing signing requests to disparate certificate authorities. Digital certificate management may also be applied to network-connecting client devices. |
| US07650493B2 |
System and method for integrating secure and non-secure software objects
A secure first process uses a non-secure software object by hosting said non-secure software object in a separate second process, where the first process's address space is inaccessible to the second process. The first process communicates with the second process, preferably by means of a COM API that the second process exposes to the first process. The application that runs in the second process may expose APIs of the hosted non-secure object to the first process, and the first process may communicate with the non-secure object hosted in the second process through this API. In a preferred embodiment, the second process renders its output in a child window of the first process, so that the use of a second process to host non-secure software objects is transparent to a user of the first process. |
| US07650490B2 |
Embedded device for implementing a boot process on a host
An embedded device, for implementing a boot process on a host, is provided. This embedded device includes servers supporting various industry-standard Internet protocols and services related to the boot process. This embedded device also includes a storage medium that stores boot options for multiple Operating Systems (OSs). In addition, this embedded device includes a user-friendly interface for configuring the servers for the boot process. |
| US07650488B2 |
Communication between processor core partitions with exclusive read or write to descriptor queues for shared memory space
In an embodiment, a method is provided that may include providing a first address space exclusively and coherently accessible by a first processor core partition in a platform. A second address space may be provided in this embodiment that is exclusively and coherently accessible by a second processor core partition in the platform. Also in this embodiment, a third address space in the platform may be provided that is accessible, at least in part, by both the first and second processor core partitions and may be to permit communication between the first and second processor core partitions of at least one packet and at least one descriptor associated with the at least one packet. The at least one descriptor may indicate, at least in part, one or more locations in the third address space to store, at least in part, the at least one packet. Of course, many alternatives, modifications, and variations are possible without departing from this embodiment. |
| US07650479B2 |
Maintaining cache coherency for secure and non-secure data access requests
A cache in a data processing apparatus has a status field associated with each entry in the cache to store a security value indicative of whether the data stored in that entry are secure data, non-secure data or aliased data. Secure data are only accessible in response to a secure data access request, non-secure data are only accessible in response to a non-secure data access request and aliased data are accessible in response to either a secure or a non-secure data access request. The data processing apparatus also has bus fabric which provides security data in response to a bus access request, the security data being indicative of whether the bus access request is to a storage location designated as secure, non-secure or aliased. |
| US07650476B2 |
System, method and computer program product for generating a consistent point in time copy of data
A method for generating a consistent point in time copy of data, the method includes: selecting at least one selected data block to be copied from a source volume to a target volume in response to a request to generate a consistent point in time copy of multiple data blocks; waiting until the source volume is ready to send the at least one selected data block to a remote volume while queuing at least one data block modify request; de-queuing the at least one queued modify requests while copying the at least one selected data block from the source volume to the target volume; wherein the copying includes utilizing a first copying mechanism to copy a first selected data block if a request to modify the first selected block is de-queued before the first selected data block is copied to the target volume; else, the copying includes using a second copying mechanism that is slower than the first copying mechanism. |
| US07650475B2 |
Storage system and method for managing data using the same
A storage apparatus enables efficient data restoration even if restoration is attempted using several different restoration points. The storage system is connected to a host apparatus, and includes a storage unit having various logical volumes formed therein and a controller configured to control I/O processing with respect to the storage unit. The controller stores journal data for a data volume in a journal volume, and also stores snapshot data for the data volume in a snapshot volume. In accordance with a restoration request designating a restore point, the controller restores the data volume to the state it was in as of the designated restore point, by applying the snapshot data stored in the snapshot volume and subsequently applying the journal data stored in the journal volume. During that process, the controller saves the data in the data volume to which certain journal data is going to be applied, in a journal backup volume. |
| US07650474B2 |
Method and system for interleaving first and second halves of a data segment of unknown length
Method and system for dividing a data segment of unknown length into first and second halves, for example, for interleaving the first and second halves. Units of the data segment are written into first and second register files. With respect to the first register file, responsive to determining that the last unit of the data segment has been written into the first register file, units of the data segment in the first register file that are not units of the first half of the data segment are removed, wherein the first register file stores the first half of the data segment. With respect to the second register file, responsive to writing each unit of the data segment into the second register file, data currently stored in the second register file is adjusted to comprise a last half of the data so far written into the second register file, wherein, when the last unit of the data segment has been written into the second register file, and the data currently stored in the second register file has been adjusted, the data currently stored in the second register file comprises the second half of the data segment. |
| US07650473B1 |
Secure deletion of information from hard disk drive
A method of securely deleting data from a storage medium includes generating a bitmap that corresponds to unused locations on the storage medium; initiating a background process that wipes the unused locations, where the background process runs asynchronously with a user application; wiping the unused locations; and updating the bitmap to reflect that the unused locations have been wiped. The wiping replaces data at the unused locations with random sequences, with pseudo-random sequences, with data generated by a secure deletion algorithm, with application data from the user application, or with all zeros. The wiping includes repeated writing of predetermined sequences to the unused locations. The wiping replaces data at unused locations that represent portions of any of blocks, clusters and sectors, and can wipe any metadata associated with files previously stored at any of the unused locations. Upon a request for access of data from a wiped location, data that does not correspond to data originally stored at the wiped location can be returned. |
| US07650472B2 |
Method for reducing memory power consumption
Provided is a method for reducing memory power consumption. A period of time allocated to a process is split into time slices each have a predetermined time interval, and a timer interrupt is generated for every time slice. It is checked whether context switch between processes occurs when the timer interrupt is generated. Memory banks having a memory allocated to a switched process are activated when the context switch occurs. All banks of a memory are converted into a low power state when the context switch does not occur. Accordingly, memory power consumption can be reduced through a software technique. |
| US07650470B2 |
Method and devices for data transfer
A storage apparatus is proposed for facilitating wireless communication between a computer device and one or more external portable electronic devices, or between those external devices. The storage apparatus includes a wireless transceiver for entering communication with any of one the devices. When the storage apparatus is communicating with any of the devices, it can transmit to that device any data stored in its memory for transmission to that device. Furthermore, the storage apparatus can receive from that device, and transmit to its memory, data to be relayed to another of the devices. |
| US07650469B2 |
Determining whether a non-running processor has access to an address space
A method is provided for determining whether a logical processor of an information processing system has access to an address space of the information processing system. An instruction is issued by a first processor, the instruction referencing a target logical processor and a target address space. In response to the instruction, first information is checked to determine whether the target logical processor is running. When it is determined that the target logical processor is not running, second information is checked by a host program to determine whether the target logical processor has access to the target address space. |
| US07650467B2 |
Coordination of multiprocessor operations with shared resources
In managing multiprocessor operations, a first processor repetitively reads a cache line wherein the cache line is cached from a line of a shared memory of resources shared by both the first processor and a second processor. Coherency is maintained between the shared memory line and the cache line in accordance with a cache coherency protocol. In one aspect, the repetitive cache line reading occupies the first processor and inhibits the first processor from accessing the shared resources. In another aspect, upon completion of operations by the second processor involving the shared resources, the second processor writes data to the shared memory line to signal to the first processor that the shared resources may be accessed by the first processor. In response, the first processor changes the state of the cache line in accordance with the cache coherency protocol and reads the data written by the second processor. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07650464B2 |
Object relocation guided by data cache miss profile
Data locality optimization through object relocation may be implemented in a virtual machine including a just-in-time compiler. The just-in-time compiler generates load instruction maps for each compiled method. A profile collector is coupled to the just-in-time compiler to receive hardware profiling support. The profile collector takes samples of data cache misses. A garbage collector is coupled to the profile collector. The garbage collector deduces types of objects from the cache miss samples and adjusts garbage collection object copying heuristics to relocate objects for better cache locality based on those types. |
| US07650463B2 |
System and method for RAID recovery arbitration in shared disk applications
A RAID controller is provided for each host sharing a RAID. Each RAID controller can determine whether another host is sharing the RAID and assume a master or slave status with respect to rebuild operations for the shared disk. The master controller may then manage any rebuild operations on rebuild disks within the RAID. |
| US07650462B2 |
Storage system and storage control apparatuses with compression and load balancing
In this invention, when execution of an special function executable only by a second storage control apparatus connected to a first storage control apparatus is requested by a higher-level apparatus, the special function is caused to be executed by a second storage control apparatus, and appropriate load balancing is achieved. An executing apparatus judgment section, upon receiving an execution request from a host, uses a function management section and a state detection section to decide which storage control apparatus should execute the function. An execution instruction section issues an instruction to execute the function to the function execution section of the storage control apparatus determined to be the executing apparatus. By this means, even in the case of an special function executable only by a storage control apparatus, the function can be caused to be executed. Hence a connection source storage control apparatus can appear to have increased functionality, without installing the function on the connection source storage control apparatus. |
| US07650456B2 |
Employment method of virtual tape volume
Conventionally, it has been impossible to use a virtual tape volume having the same volume serial number and different media. A computer implemented virtual tape system enables making definition of a virtual tape volume of another medium with the same volume serial number and definition of a virtual tape magazine of grouped virtual tape in a virtual tape management table. A virtual tape control mounts a virtual tape volume of a virtual tape magazine used in a job or a virtual tape volume on a virtual tape device based on a management table correlating the job with the virtual tape magazine or a command. |
| US07650452B2 |
Method and apparatus for arbitration and fairness on a full-duplex bus using dual phases
A method and apparatus for arbitrating on a high performance serial bus is disclosed. The invention provides for a plurality of arbitration phases and an arbitration advancing means. |
| US07650450B2 |
Serial bus system
A serial bus system for data communication between devices according to a master-slave protocol has a data bus connecting master and slave devices and a shared clock system arranged to provide a shared-clock signal to the master and slave devices. The master and slave devices are arranged to derive device-individual clock signals which are synchronized with data received on the data bus, from the shared-clock signal and a data-timing indication on the data bus. |
| US07650447B2 |
System and method for a host to access an internal SATA storage device within an accessible host using an external serial ATA connection
An accessible host includes one or more internal SATA storage devices, an external SATA connector, an internal SATA port controller, an external SATA port controller, and a switching mechanism. The switching mechanism allows the accessible host to access an external storage device when the switching mechanism is in a first configuration. When the switching mechanism is in a second configuration, a second host is able to access one or more internal SATA storage devices within the accessible host. |
| US07650445B2 |
System and method for enabling a mobile device as a portable character input peripheral device
A portable electronic communication device, designed for voice and data communication is utilized as a peripheral input device for transmitting/providing character inputs, entered in the first device's touch input mechanism, to a second electronic device. The first device has a mode switching utility that switches the first device between a first standard communication mode and a second peripheral input device mode. When the first device is in the second peripheral input device mode, the first device operates as a peripheral input device for the second device. A character input recognition utility executes on the first device to provide the functions of: detecting an input on the touch screen input mechanism; generating an electronic representation of the input; establishing a communication link between the second communication transmitter and an identified second device; and forwarding the electronic representation of the character input to the communication transmitter for transmission to the identified second device. |
| US07650444B2 |
Systems and methods for remotely managing an application-specific display device
A communications device comprising an embedded application-specific device driver for an application-specific display and an embedded remote access application that execute on a processor. The embedded application-specific device driver is configured to communicate data with a communication (COM) port via a serial port and to provide a video signal to the application-specific display. The embedded remote access application is configured to remotely access the application-specific display and to communicate display data via a network. |
| US07650441B2 |
Electronic apparatus with device capable of simultaneously reading and writing and method thereof
An electronic apparatus including a device capable of simultaneously reading and writing, and a method thereof. The present electronic apparatus includes a first device to generate and output a Command containing a Read_Start_Address, a Write_Start_Address, and Write_Data in a header, and a second device to receive the Command to enable data to be recorded. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the time required to communicate data between devices. |
| US07650438B2 |
Apparatus and methods for communicating with programmable logic devices
A circuit arrangement includes a programmable logic device. The programmable logic device includes configuration logic circuitry. The programmable logic device also includes configurable interconnects. The circuit arrangement further includes a storage device configured to provide data to the programmable logic device. The storage device communicates with the programmable logic device via a bi-directional interface. |
| US07650437B2 |
System and method for managing hardware configuration parameters
A system and method manages configuration data within a hardware component of a device to support hardware component changes during development or manufacture of the device. A Standardized Virtual Part (SVP) file is formed as a binary file and includes a SVP header that comprises metadata of one of at least schema version, revision numbers, part numbers, creator and description. The SVP file also includes hardware configuration data and a SVP trailer that includes error checking data for data authentication. The SVP file is loaded onto the device during development or manufacture for configuring the hardware component. |
| US07650436B2 |
I/O handling in generic USB drivers
Techniques are disclosed to provide I/O handling in generic USB drivers. More particularly, a generic USB device driver architecture is described which enables development through a user-mode USB library that accesses a generic kernel-mode driver. The architecture may be utilized to provide efficient development for I/O handling. In a described implementation, a method includes defining a data structure utilized to access a plugged-in device. A pipe policy of the data structure is defined and utilizing to access the plugged-in device through a plurality of routines provided by a generic user-mode library (e.g., a dynamic link library (DLL)). The generic user-mode library is communicatively coupled to a kernel-mode generic device driver. In another described implementation, a separate generic device driver is loaded for each plugged-in device or for each functionality supported by the device. |
| US07650434B2 |
Global tree network for computing structures enabling global processing operations
A system and method for enabling high-speed, low-latency global tree network communications among processing nodes interconnected according to a tree network structure. The global tree network enables collective reduction operations to be performed during parallel algorithm operations executing in a computer structure having a plurality of the interconnected processing nodes. Router devices are included that interconnect the nodes of the tree via links to facilitate performance of low-latency global processing operations at nodes of the virtual tree and sub-tree structures. The global operations performed include one or more of: broadcast operations downstream from a root node to leaf nodes of a virtual tree, reduction operations upstream from leaf nodes to the root node in the virtual tree, and point-to-point message passing from any node to the root node. The global tree network is configurable to provide global barrier and interrupt functionality in asynchronous or synchronized manner, and, is physically and logically partitionable. |
| US07650433B2 |
Power management for multi-interface device clusters
Multi-interface devices with at least a high-power network interface and a low-power network interface may form into power management clusters. Power management clusters may be maintained over low-power networks associated with the low-power network interfaces. One or some relative few of the cluster participants may be designated lead devices. Designated lead devices participate in high-power networks as well as a low-power network of their power management cluster. Designated lead devices may monitor associated high-power networks for messages addressed to any participant in their power management cluster, and may notify a participant of the incoming message. In response, the participant may establish a high-power network connection to receive the message. In this way, each participant in the power management cluster receives a service quality benefit of a continuous high-power network connection, but only a relative few participants suffer the associated power expenditure at any given moment. |
| US07650424B2 |
Supporting mobile hosts on an internet protocol network
A subnet of an information network includes one or more mobile hosts, and a first interface of a home router. The first interface and the mobile hosts are assigned corresponding group addresses. Unicast addresses of packets received at a second interface of the home router and destined to members of the subnet, are mapped to the member's group addresses. Each mobile host sends a request to join a group corresponding to the group address assigned to the host, whenever the host links with the network at a new point of attachment. Thus, network routers can track the host as it moves its link with the network from one point of attachment to another, and unicast packets destined to the mobile host from a host outside the subnet are routed to the mobile host over the virtual link created between the home router and the mobile host. |
| US07650422B2 |
Audio playback apparatus for controlling pause and resume of audio
An audio playback apparatus includes a playback section for playing audio back, a buffer section (13) for temporarily storing voice data to be played back, a switch (14) for on/off switching transmission of the voice data from the buffer section (13) to the playback section, at least one threshold judgment section (18) for judging whether an amount of voice data buffered in the buffer section (13) is equal to or smaller than at least one threshold value, the at least one threshold judgment section (18) providing a true output when the buffered voice data amount is equal to or smaller than the at least one threshold value, a timer (19) triggered by an output from the at least one threshold judgment section to output a trigger pulse with a predetermined duration of time, and a first control section (191) for controlling on/off of the switch (14) to prevent transmission of the voice data in the buffer section (13) to the playback section for the predetermined duration of time of the trigger pulse when the true output is provided from the at least one threshold judgment section (18). |
| US07650421B2 |
Adaptable accelerated content streaming
Adaptable accelerated content streaming allows data to be streamed from a server to a client over a network at an accelerated rate for an amount of time before reducing the rate. In accordance with one aspect, the accelerated rate is prohibited from exceeding a threshold amount, which is based at least in part on both a total bandwidth of the server and an amount of bandwidth currently being used by the server. In accordance with one aspect, the data can be streamed to the client at up to an adaptable accelerated rate. |
| US07650419B2 |
Multi-media remote data access terminals and system
In a public internet access terminal, the combination comprising an access station, and computer apparatus at the station and including a user keyboard and data display means, and a user credit card reader at the station, and the computer apparatus including circuit means operatively connected to the card reader to be responsive to reading of user credit card data to enable user access to the internet via the computer apparatus at the access station. |
| US07650413B2 |
Managing shared memory resources in a high-speed switching environment
A system for managing shared memory resources in a high-speed switching environment includes a data memory logically divided into multiple blocks that correspond to multiple credits. The system includes a central agent that can maintain a pool of available credits that includes one or more of the credits. The central agent can also allocate a credit to an input port module from the pool of credits. The allocated credit indicates that the corresponding one of the blocks is available to the input port module. The system includes multiple input port modules that can each track allocated credits received from the central agent, receive a packet, determine whether enough of the allocated credits are available to write the packet to the data memory, and, if enough of the allocated credits are available, write the packet to one or more blocks corresponding to one or more of the allocated credits that are available. The system includes multiple output port modules that can each read from a block and return the credit corresponding to the read block to the pool of credits. |
| US07650411B2 |
Method and system for secure management and communication utilizing configuration network setup in a WLAN
A method for enabling communication of information in a secure communication system may include generating a notification when at least two configurators attempt to separately register with an 802.11 client station within a single configurator timing window. The method may further include detecting whether the at least two configurators attempt to register within the 802.11 client station within the single configurator timing window time duration. The notification may be generated in response to the detecting. The 802.11 client station may receive configuration information from at least a first of the at least two configurators, prior to the generation of the notification. The configuration information may include one or both of a service set identifier (SSID) and/or a passphrase. The notification may include an indication of detected multiple configurators. |
| US07650407B2 |
Content display monitor
The invention can enable monitoring of the display of content by a computer system. Moreover, the invention can enable monitoring of the displayed content to produce monitoring information from which conclusions may be deduced regarding the observation of the displayed content by an observer. The invention can also enable monitoring of the display at a content display site of content that is provided by a content provider site over a network to the content display site. Additionally, the invention can enable the expeditious provision of updated and/or tailored content over a network from a content provider site to a content display site so that the content provider's current and appropriately tailored content is always displayed at the content display site. Aspects of the invention related to transfer of content over a network are generally applicable to any type of network. However, it is contemplated that the invention can be particularly useful with a computer network, including private computer networks (e.g., America Online™) and public computer networks (e.g., the Internet). In particular, the invention can be advantageously used with computer networks or portions of computer networks over which video and/or audio content are transferred from one network site to another network site for observation, such as the World Wide Web portion of the Internet. |
| US07650401B2 |
Managing introspectable objects in an enterprise
Managing object relationships in an enterprise is presented. A request manager receives a view request from a user. The request manager retrieves a management definition object (MDO) and a perspective that corresponds to the view request, which the request manager uses to generate a view that includes nodes corresponding to an enterprise's objects. The user analyzes the generated view, and sends a command request to the request manager that corresponds to a plurality of the nodes. The request manager uses the retrieved perspective, the MDO, and also may access a backend in order to identify objects that correspond to the command request. Once the objects are identified, the command manager sends a command to the identified objects to the backend through plug-ins. |
| US07650400B2 |
Dynamic configuration and self-tuning on inter-nodal communication resources in a database management system
A database management system in which a plurality of nodes form a database instance, each node including a communication manager for dynamically configuring inter-nodal communication resources. The communication manager receives communication resource allocation requests from clients or a self-tuning algorithm. A resource self-tuning mechanism allocates or de-allocates memory blocks used for communication resource elements dynamically in real time without cycling the instance. Memory blocks are de-allocated asynchronously by placing associated communication resource elements in quarantine until all communication resource elements associated with the memory block are quarantined. |
| US07650398B2 |
Limited plugin load-up in support of distributed network management and service provisioning solutions
An integrated data network management and data service provisioning environment is provided. The integrated environment includes legacy software application code and current software application code each augmented with code portions enabling exchange of information therebetween via an interworking layer as well as support for limited application code load-up and execution. A facility for participation in and interacting with the integrated environment is also provided. A man-machine interface is integrated across different applications which themselves may be executed on different computers to provide a seamless exchange of information. Feature componetized application code is loaded and executed on a need-to-use basis, and unloaded when not used. Advantages are derived from enhanced resource utilization efficiencies in providing network management and service provisioning solutions. The interworking layer also provides for security enforcement across applications participating in the integrated environment. |
| US07650392B1 |
Dynamic content processing in a reverse proxy service
A method and apparatus for managing dynamic content processing in a reverse proxy server. The reverse proxy server may include modules for handling dynamic links, invalid or incorrect HTML code, and the like, in HTTP data. The reverse proxy server may further accept user- or administrator-defined specific modules for handling HTTP data. Upon receiving the HTTP data from the host server in response to a request from a client, the reverse proxy server determines whether pre-patching module(s) or post-patching module(s) are to be executed. Depending on the determination specific modules are executed before, after, or before and after generic patching. In one embodiment, the modules may include tags for automatic starting of an application tunnel, when an application requiring an application tunnel is to be launched at a host server. |
| US07650391B2 |
Server device and client-server system
In a client-server system comprising a plurality of client terminal devices and a server device which transmits and receives information to and from the plurality of client terminal devices, the server device comprises an acquisition unit which obtains a priority of the client terminal device from a priority storage unit, based on a control request from the client terminal device, a determination unit which determines whether or not the control request is accepted, based on the obtained priority, and an execution unit which executes control in response to the control request when the determination unit determines that the control request is accepted. |
| US07650385B2 |
Assigning priorities
Disclosed is a technique for assigning priorities. A request to manipulate data is received. A type of the request is determined. A priority is assigned to the request based on the type of the request. |
| US07650383B2 |
Electronic message system with federation of trusted senders
Systems and methods for allowing challenge messages to be sent directly to a recipient's inbox where normally the challenge message would be sent to a pending folder or deleted. Challenge messages sent between federated messaging services contain a federated token which can be identified, authenticated and validated to determine whether the challenge message should be sent to a recipient's inbox. The federated token can include an authentication portion and a validation portion. Authentication methods for the authentication portion can include, for example, checksums, salts, hashes and digital signatures. Once a federated token is authenticated by decrypting the authentication portion according to one or more of these authentication methods, the federated token is validated by determining the defined use-base and determining whether the receipt of the federated token satisfies the defined use. |
| US07650376B1 |
Content distribution system for distributing content over a network, with particular applicability to distributing high-bandwidth content
The invention facilitates the distribution of content over a network (e.g., the Internet, a television network) and, in particular, the distribution of high-bandwidth (i.e., data intensive) content, such as video content or customized content. At least one of the sites of the network (a “core server”) is controlled (at least in part) by an entity that desires to distribute content to one or more other network sites (“client(s)”) at which the content is to be used. In accordance with the invention, a core server uses one or more other network sites (“node server(s)”) to distribute content on behalf of the core server to one or more clients. In particular, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the entit(ies) having control (at least in part) of each of one or more network sites (node server(s)) can be recruited to use their site(s) to distribute content on behalf of a core server to one or more clients. |
| US07650374B1 |
Hybrid multi-precision multiplication
Multiple-precision hybrid multiplication is a technique that takes advantage of row-wise multiplication and column-wise multiplication. To generate a product for multiple-precision operands, partial products of the multiple-precision operands are accumulated in accordance with a hybrid of column-wise multiplication and row-wise multiplication. The partial products accumulated are of partial rows. The partiality of the row-wise partial products is defined by a parameter. |
| US07650371B2 |
Finalizable object usage in software transactions
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for providing a software transactional memory system that supports allocation and use of finalizable objects inside transactions. By supporting such finalizable object usage inside a software transactional memory system, correct behavior is maintained when a garbage collector must determine when a particular one or more of the objects are eligible for finalization. A to-be-finalized set is provided for a transaction. An object is placed into the to-be-finalized set for the transaction whenever a finalizable object is allocated within the transaction. A finalize indicator is set for each object in the to-be-finalized set at an appropriate time to indicate that the objects are eligible for finalization. For example, if the transaction is ready to commit and the transaction is an open transaction, then the to-be-finalized set is traversed and a finalize indicator is set for each object to indicate they are eligible for finalization. |
| US07650370B2 |
System and method for regeneration of methods and garbage collection of unused methods
A system and method for improving the effectiveness of a data processing application when using a virtual machine, where the program includes many methods, i.e. program sections, that are stored in the memory of the computer used, and where garbage collecting is used by said program. Thread stacks are first analyzed with respect to the methods required thereby. Each of the methods required is caused to be regenerated, where occurrent references to a method are replaced with references to the regenerated methods. All non-regenerated methods are then erased, and the corresponding memory space released. |
| US07650369B2 |
Database system management method and database system
A control device 10 at a main center, in order for an update carried out in an operation database device M to be also conducted in an operation database device S at a sub-center, generates and transmits a differential log file 16 to a control device 20 at the sub-center. The control device 20 at the sub-center, when receiving a differential log file 22, updates the operation database device S on the basis of the log information in the differential log file 22, and accumulates the log information in a recovery log file 26. The log information of a recovery point set at the main center is incorporated into this recovery log file 26. |
| US07650364B2 |
Portable database system
An improved method of storing databases in a portable computer is provided to reduce and optimize storage space required while ensuring accessibility to user-required data. An improved method of interchanging data records between a master computer and a portable computer is also provided. In the present invention, attributes are assigned to data records and data fields to indicate relevance of the record or field to a user in different circumstances. Only the data records and data fields relevant to a user's current circumstance are downloaded to the portable computer. A change in circumstance of a user is tracked by a change in attribute, which triggers replacement or interchange of existing data records with data records that are relevant to the user's current circumstance. |
| US07650363B2 |
Document management system, document management program and recording medium
A document management system for managing a document together with property information thereof in a folder can respond to various user's needs by providing some latitude with the property information. When the document management system detects some actions related to a document registering operation with a designated folder by a user, the document management system starts a template attaching process for attaching a template (property information) associated with the designated folder to a newly registered document. Even if a plurality of templates are provided to the folder, the document management system can attach all the templates to the document. In detail, the document management system reads templates in a template information table based on template IDs obtained from a folder-template correspondence table and then provides the read templates to the document to be processed. When the document is in another folder and is copied to a destination folder, the document management system associates templates attached to the source document with the destination folder and then attaches the document to the templates. |
| US07650361B1 |
Media content modification and access system for interactive access of media content across disparate network platforms
A media content playlist generation and access system for a video entertainment network is herein disclosed whereby a plurality of media content emanating from various disparate networks may be conglomerated into a customized list. The list may contain stored media content, which are customarily stored in the head end portion of a CATV network, media content accessible via the Internet, or yet to be aired media content. The system also provides for manipulation of the playlist from various consumer electronic display devices that are interconnected to the Internet, or the PSTN, thereby allowing further customization of the playlist at the user's convenience. Additionally, a multiple user account system is provided wherein multiple user accounts may be configured in order to allow a corresponding multiple individualized playlists, which are each customized to suit each user's tastes. |
| US07650357B2 |
Translation of object queries involving inheritence
Join expressions, expressed in terms of objects, are translated into a relational database join statement by generating a parse tree based on the join expression. The parse tree is traversed to build the relational database join statement. |
| US07650355B1 |
Reusable macro markup language
Methods and systems in accordance with the present invention provide macros and a markup language referred to as Reusable Macro Markup Language (“RMML”) which allows numerical analysis routines to be written quickly, cheaply, and in a form that is usable by a broad range of data documents in the Reusable Data Markup Language (“RDML”) formatting language. RMML and RDML are markup languages, such as the Hypertext Markup Language (“HTML”) or the Extensible Markup Language (“XML”). Generally, RDML facilitates the browsing and manipulation of numbers, as opposed to text as in HTML, and does so by requiring attributes describing the meaning of the numbers to be attached to the numbers. RMML allows spreadsheet type macros to be posted as web documents, to be searched by search engines, to be combined into more complex programs, and to be reused with many data documents. RMML macros also provide reusable user-defined calculations for use in conjunction with RDML that automatically manipulate and display numerical data contained in RDML markup documents. |
| US07650350B1 |
Method and apparatus for concurrently processing remembered sets in a space-incremental garbage collector
In a space incremental garbage collector, delays caused by scanning remembered sets are reduced by scanning the remembered sets mostly concurrently with the operation of the non-collection threads. Before scanning, remembered sets associated with regions in some collection set are “sequestered” (no further insertions are allowed by the non-collection threads or the collector) in order to prevent further changes. Any further changes to these sequestered remembered sets that occur before phase two of the scanning process are then handled by one or more “refinement threads.” Each refinement thread is a thread that can record reference locations in remembered sets, scan entries in collection set remembered sets and update reference location lists for use in the aforementioned second phase of remembered set processing. The refinement threads operate concurrently with the operation of the non-collection threads. |
| US07650348B2 |
Systems and methods of building and using custom word lists
Standard word lists that are often used for such operations as predictive text, spell checking, and word completion are based on general linguistic data that might not accurately reflect actual text usage patterns of particular users. Systems and methods of building and using a custom word list for use in text operations on an electronic device are provided. A collection of text items associated with a user of the electronic device is scanned to identify words in the text items. A weighting is then assigned to each identified word, and the words and corresponding weightings are stored. |
| US07650346B2 |
User-defined type consistency checker
A system that facilitates checking the consistency of a user-defined data type in relation to a database environment. The invention can employ a user-defined type (UDT) storage format whereby values can be self-describing, including the runtime type of the value. The invention can take the type definition that is persisted in the metadata catalogs as a streaming input and generate a type-specific state machine thereafter. At every point in the checking process, the type-specific state machine can be aware of the next data type that is to be encountered in the check. Whenever an embedded UDT is encountered, the current type-specific state machine can be suspended and saved. The embedded UDT can be checked before proceeding. In this way, the complex check can be effected using memory space proportional to the number of levels in the UDT as opposed to the number of bytes in the object. |
| US07650345B2 |
Entity lookup system
In an electronic document such as a map, an entity lookup system associates primitive data with entity data though parallel or corresponding grids of a primitive quad-tree and an entity quad-tree. A key is assigned to grids in the primitive quad-tree in association to particular grids in the entity quad-tree. |
| US07650344B2 |
System and method of managing software product-line customizations
A method of managing application service provider product line variations is disclosed. The method includes receiving a client customization request, creating a configuration managed file tailored to the client customization request, binding the configuration managed file to at least one customizable resource, and deploying the customizable resource to a data store. The customizable resource is instantiated after disposition at the data store. |
| US07650341B1 |
Data backup/recovery
An apparatus in a first device of an association of devices includes a processor configured to: communicate with a storage device storing segments of a distributed, segmented single first file system including file system entities residing in segments and including at least portions of one of files and directories, the association of devices including file servers that control metadata of separate segments of the single first file system, including metadata of file system entities residing in the segments; communicate with a backup module configured to backup file system data of a second file system different from a distributed, segmented file system; analyze data in the single first file system to determine data associated with different segments of the single first file system; and present data from the single first file system to the backup module in accordance with what data belong to which segment of the single first file system. |
| US07650340B2 |
Describing documents and expressing document structure
Apparatus and methods of revealing the hierarchical structure of a document having content of a characteristic type of content are described. The hierarchical structure may be expressed, independently of document content type, as a tree structure of one or more nodes. A semantic representation for interpreting the tree structure may also be provided. Document description files are used to encapsulate structural and meta information associated with a document stored on a computer-readable medium. Document description files are external to native application files and have a set of required fields. Document description files point to the referenced document data using Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) and serve as virtual documents. In addition to the required fields, applications can choose to encode additional structural information in the document description files. |
| US07650338B2 |
Method and system for managing data transaction requests
A method and system is provided to process data transactions in a data store including a plurality of databases. The system may comprise a computer interface module to receive a data transaction request from at least one requesting computer and a data store interface module to interface the system to the plurality of databases. The system also includes a data access layer defining an abstraction layer to identify at least one database of the plurality of databases. The data transaction request may be an object orientated request and the plurality of databases may be horizontally distributed wherein the data access layer defines an object orientated abstraction layer between the computer interface module and the plurality of databases. In one embodiment a data dependent routing module is provided that generates a query to a database that is identified based on content of the data in the data transaction request. |
| US07650336B1 |
File system atomic lock
A locking mechanism for an electronic file creates a key file for each electronic file stored on a file system. The key file is created when the electronic file is loaded or first created on the system. As a user requests to edit the electronic file, the file system is requested to rename the key file with a lock. If the file system returns an error in response to the request to rename, the user is informed that the electronic file is locked or inaccessible. If the system successfully renames the key file, the user is allowed access to the electronic file. |
| US07650333B2 |
Smartfilter in messaging
The subject application relates to a system(s) and/or methodology that facilitate filtering any set of items in a quick and efficient manner including messages and optionally calendar, notes, and task items. More specifically, as a filter string (input) is entered, it can be immediately compared to properties associated with a selected set of items to filter. As a result, the set of items can be dynamically filtered based on the input entered according to a one-to-one match of the filter string with any selected item or message property. Message properties can include sender, subject, and body of a message. Any items that match the input can be presented to the user in the form of a list. As additional input is entered, the list may dynamically change as more input or less input is received. Thus, any items that match the input appear on the list. |
| US07650331B1 |
System and method for efficient large-scale data processing
A large-scale data processing system and method includes one or more application-independent map modules configured to read input data and to apply at least one application-specific map operation to the input data to produce intermediate data values, wherein the map operation is automatically parallelized across multiple processors in the parallel processing environment. A plurality of intermediate data structures are used to store the intermediate data values. One or more application-independent reduce modules are configured to retrieve the intermediate data values and to apply at least one application-specific reduce operation to the intermediate data values to provide output data. |
| US07650323B2 |
CAN communication for building automation system
Systems and methods for implementing CAN communication for building automation systems are disclosed. An exemplary system may comprise at least one sending device linked to a plurality of receiving devices over a CAN automation network. A control frame may be broadcast over the CAN automation network by the at least one sending device, the control frame encapsulated into a CAN extended data frame. An acceptance filter may be provided at each of the plurality of receiving devices, each of the plurality of receiving devices reading the control frame from the CAN extended data frame and determining if the receiving device is a target device based on the control frame. Device communication may also be implemented as methods for dynamic address assignment and firmware download. |
| US07650321B2 |
Two classifier based system for classifying anomalous medical patient records
Missing data is addressed in a medical decision support system. The classifier applied to the patient record with missing data is obtained as a function of the available data. For example, one of a plurality of different classifiers is selected based on the features available in the patient record to be classified. The different classifiers are developed using different feature sets. The classifier developed using a feature set closest to or a sub-set of the features available in the patient record is selected for classifying the patient record. As another example, features in a training set corresponding to features available in the patient record are used to build a classifier. The classifier is applied to the patient record by inputting the available features of the patient record. |
| US07650318B2 |
Behavior recognition using vectors of motion properties based trajectory and movement type
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided with a behavior determining apparatus including: an elemental-behavior extracting unit configured to extract, from trajectory data in which positions of a traveling body in an observation area are held at predetermined time intervals, L (L is an integer equal to or larger than 1) elemental behavior quantities among a stopping time, a stop frequency, a walking time, a running time, a direction change frequency, a sum of angle change quantities at the times when the traveling body changes a traveling direction, a sum of absolute values of angle change quantities at the times when the traveling body changes a traveling direction, a gravitational center set vector, and a pre-stop average speed; and a behavior determining unit configured to determine a behavior of the traveling body from the L elemental behavior quantities. |
| US07650317B2 |
Active learning framework for automatic field extraction from network traffic
An active learning framework is provided to extract information from particular fields from a variety of protocols. Extraction is performed in an unknown protocol, in which the user presents the system with a small number of labeled instances. The system then automatically generates an abundance of features and negative examples. A boosting approach is then used for feature selection and classifier combination. The system then displays its results for the user to correct and/or add new examples. The process can be iterated until the user is satisfied with the performance of the extraction capabilities provided by the classifiers generated by the system. |
| US07650315B2 |
Transaction server and computer programme product
A computerized transaction server (1), for the conclusion of contracts between service users and service providers, comprises a user interface with several data input modules (151), having data input fields for the input of data relating to the object of the contract. Data rules and business rules, provided for the data input fields, are stored in a regulatory databank (18). The quality of inputted data values are verified by the transaction server (1), according to the provided data rules and the data values are evaluated based on the provided business rules. Various contract conclusion processes (141, 142) and/or data input modules (151) for the input of additional data are automatically selected and activated by the transaction server, depending on the result of the evaluation. For the checking and evaluation of the data values, sets of rules with differing business rules and/or data rules are selected by the transaction server (1), depending on inputted data values. The transaction server (1) permits a complex and flexibly configurable automatic evaluation or inputted data values and dynamic and automatically adjustable data input sequence and process operation plan dependent on inputted data values and stored business rules. |
| US07650312B2 |
Method and system to enable continuous monitoring of integrity and validity of a digital content
A method and a system for securely transmitting a digital content in a digital right management (DRM) network, the method comprising partitioning the digital content into a plurality of fragments. The method further comprises associating each fragment with a license key. Each fragment is encrypted with the corresponding license key and are sent to an electronic device in response to receiving a request for the digital content. |
| US07650310B2 |
Technique for reducing phishing
Embodiments of a system that performs authentication during a financial transaction are described. During operation, this system asks a prospective customer a subset of questions from a set of questions, where the subset of questions has a probability of being different from those asked while previously or subsequently asking questions of the prospective customer or another prospective customer. Next, the system receives answers to the subset of questions from the prospective customer, thereby confirming that the prospective customer is a customer associated with a financial transaction. Then, the system provides transitory information associated with the financial transaction that, for the customer, uniquely identifies a provider of the financial transaction, thereby completing the authentication. |
| US07650308B2 |
Auto substantiation for over-the-counter transactions
A flexible spending account system can be implemented according to one embodiment of the invention so as to automatically substantiate purchases made at a retailer merchant. For example, according to one embodiment of the invention, a method of authorizing products for purchase can be implemented by determining via a computer that a product requested for purchase at a point of sale by a consumer matches a qualified product category under the flexible spending account, sending an authorization request message for requesting use of said flexible spending account of said consumer, wherein said authorization request message comprises a total purchase amount field and a first qualified amount field for a first type of qualified items. |
| US07650306B2 |
Transaction structure for issuing inflation-linked securities
Transaction structures for issuing inflation-linked securities are disclosed. According to various embodiments, the transaction structure includes an entity purchasing fixed income securities issued by an issuer. The fixed income securities may have been previously issued by the issuer as part of a single, previous offering by the issuer or they could be newly issued by the issuer to the entity. The method also includes the entity and a swap counterparty entering into an inflation swap agreement. The inflation swap agreement obligates the entity to make periodic fixed payments to the swap counterparty in exchange for periodic floating payments from the swap counterparty dependent upon an inflation index, such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The method further comprises issuing, by the entity, inflation-linked securities to investors. The inflation-linked securities, which may be bonds, may have a principal amount and/or an interest rate that is indexed to the inflation index. |
| US07650305B1 |
Displaying market data
A system for generating a display of at least one side of a market includes a computer system having one or more computers. The displayed side of the market includes one or more offers from one or more market participants. Each offer includes an offered price and an offered quantity. The computer system receives market data reflecting the one or more offers and generate a display of the received market data. The display includes a price axis, a quantity axis, and one or more offer bars. Each offer bar represents one or more offers including substantially equal offered prices. Placement of an offer bar along the price axis represents the substantially equal offered prices for the one or more offers represented by the offer bar. The height of an offer bar relative to the quantity axis representing the aggregate offered quantity for the one or more offers represented by the offer bar. The computer system accesses an average price specified by a user, calculates an offered quantity available at the specified average price based on the received market data, and indicates the calculated offered quantity within the display of the received market data. |
| US07650304B1 |
Solicitation to web marketing loop process
Methods and systems consistent with the present invention allow users with a universal resource locator and code to access a web site. Once the code is accepted, the user has the ability to view one or more offers which he can then accept or reject. If the user accepts an offer, his account can be automatically created or updated. Further, any information regarding the user's viewing history can be saved. The user's viewing history can then be analyzed to determine the effectiveness of the offer wherein the offer can be modified to entice users to accept more offers. |
| US07650302B2 |
Numerical calculation device, numerical calculation method, and computer product
A numerical calculation device calculates a value of any one of an option premium or an option risk indicator or both related to a barrier option. The numerical calculation device includes a magnitude relation judging unit that judges a magnitude relation between a value of a volatility used for a calculation of the option risk indicator and a threshold value of the volatility at which it is predicted in advance that an overflow occurs, and a calculation executing unit that executes, when it is judged that the value of the volatility is equal to or larger than the threshold value, the calculation of the option risk indicator using a specific approximation formula and calculation procedure. |
| US07650301B2 |
System and method for monitoring acquisition channels
To ensure merchant acquisition compliance, the invention enables creation of merchant selection criteria that are used to query a database of acquired merchants. A set of acquired merchants is randomly compiled based on the selection criteria and is entered into a workflow to determine compliance with a set of rules that are represented by a checklist. A checklist corresponding to the set of acquired merchants is retrieved. The set and the checklist are combined to create a case, which is assigned to a representative. The representative ensures that a merchant acquisition form for each merchant in the set complies with a checklist item. When a merchant acquisition form is found to be non-compliant, then it is either corrected by the representative (if the error is minor), or sent to an acquisition manager (when more substantive errors are found). The acquisition form is then corrected and the case is closed. |
| US07650300B2 |
System for managing gas expenditures
The present invention is a system for providing businesses with comprehensive gas book management capabilities, inclusive of a process for authorizing and tracking gas book expenditures, as well as software for accounting, reconciling and reporting. An overseer runs the software and enters pertinent Request data into a database. The software prints two hard copies of the gas Purchase Order each bearing a unique auto-generated Purchase Order number. One copy is given to the requestor, and one is filed. When purchasing gas, the Requestor exchanges their Purchase Order with a receipt for gas. The requestor returns this receipt to the overseer, who enters pertinent Receipt data into the database. This allows the business to periodically reconcile the database against charge statements received from credit card issuers or gas stations, better manage gas usage, and identify fraud, excessive gas spending, and charge mistakes. |
| US07650295B2 |
Method, apparatus, and medium for remote approval of a delivery if the recipient is absent from the delivery location
The method of managing delivery goods comprises the steps of receiving identification information for delivery goods entered by a deliverer when a recipient of the delivery goods is not at home, extracting delivery goods information and recipient information relevant to the delivery-goods identification information from a storage unit which stores the delivery goods information and the recipient information corresponding to the delivery goods information, and notifying the recipient of the delivery goods information based on the recipient information. |
| US07650293B2 |
System and method for workforce requirements management
The present invention provides a workforce requirements management system and method that determines future demand for service related transactions or activity and optimizes the planning of workforce to meet the future demand. Initially, the workforce requirements management system reviews historical data regarding transaction volume and service activity to determine the future demand for such transactions or service activities. The historical data may come from a conventional enterprise resource planning application and/or include demographic data and/or economic indicators. The workforce requirements management system can optimize a forecast by isolating certain variance factors and refining the forecast accordingly. A forecast can also be optimized by estimating transaction times and correlating variance factors with estimated transactions times. Additionally, the workforce requirements management system can optimize the forecast based on the queuing model employed for the particular service. Finally, the workforce requirements management system can create a long term resource plan that identifies the most efficient balance of full time equivalent and part time equivalent staffing levels to meet the long term forecast need at the desired service level at the lowest overall labor cost. Specific outputs generated by the workforce requirements management system include a transaction forecast, a resource forecast, a resource plan, and a resource schedule. |
| US07650292B2 |
Insurance products and related methods and systems
A method of structuring a life insurance product includes: selecting one or more insureds from a pool of applicants; collecting at least one premium payment, the at least one premium payment comprising a charge for cost of insurance; issuing at least one policy covering the one or more insureds, the at least one policy having a cash value and a death benefit; placing the at least one premium payment into an account, thereby populating the account with assets; investing the assets thereby generating a rate of return; tying the cash value and death benefit amounts to the rate of return; creating a mortality fluctuation reserve, adding the mortality fluctuation reserve to the account, and investing the reserve; and calculating a mortality experience credit upon satisfying certain criteria. Associated data processing methods and systems are also described. |
| US07650290B2 |
Computer installation for establishing a diagnosis
A method and computer installation for communicating with one or more other computer installations with a processor, and memory with data and instructions stored therein so that the processor can execute a predetermined program. The program enables the processor to receive the following data: anamnesis data for a client; physical/diagnostic data for the client; data on diagnostic methods; and use of medication and treatment methods with regard to predetermined diseases. The program enables the processor to calculate, and incorporate in a report, the following: the risk of the client acquiring one of the predetermined diseases, harbouring such a disease or having such a disease; data with regard to a possible prevention programme for the client to prevent the one of the predetermined diseases; and data with regard to any medication to combat the one of the predetermined diseases that may be harboured or existing. |
| US07650289B2 |
Billing system and method for determining transportation charges for packages
A billing system for determining package transportation charges. The billing system includes a reader to read a package identifier associated with said package and the reader generates a package identifier signal and transmits the same to a microprocessor. The billing system also includes a package sizer having a plurality of non-contact optical sensors located along each of an x, y and z axis, where each optical sensor is in a known position. The sensors are oriented relative to the conveyor so that packages passing over the sensors are detected by the sensors and produce a signal correlated to said package size. Also provided is a microprocessor to receive and correlate said package size and identifier signals, and to determine an appropriate shipping charge based upon the same. A weigh scale may also be incorporated into the system. A method of determining a transportation charge is also comprehended, which includes a self-diagnostic initialization procedure. |
| US07650287B2 |
Regional attribute determination method, regional attribute determination device, and regional attribute determination program
In a regional attribute determination method for determining a regional attribute representing an attribute of people gathering in each region, user information including the locations and attributes of a number of users is acquired from a number of portable information terminal devices used by the number of users, the acquired user information of the number of users is stored in a user information storage part, and the regional attribute is determined on the basis of the user information of the number of users stored in the user information storage part. |
| US07650286B1 |
Recruitment vendor management system and method
A computer system and method for identifying a matching resume for a job description. The system receives and stores the job description that includes job requirements, each including a required skill or experience-related phrase and a required term of experience. The system receives and stores resumes that include skill or experience-related phrases. When the skill or experience-related phrases include the required skill or experience-related phrase for a job requirement, the system computes a term of experience for the required skill or experience-related phrase. To compute the term of experience, the system associates a contextual use and an experience range with each skill or experience-related phrase. A resume is a match when it includes the required skill or experience-related phrase for each job requirement and the term of experience for the required skill or experience-related phrase in the resume is greater than or equal to the required term of experience. |
| US07650283B2 |
Dialogue supporting apparatus
A dialogue supporting apparatus that easily selects a desired sample sentence from among candidate-sample sentences corresponding to inputted speech. The dialogue supporting apparatus includes a speech recognition unit performing continuous speech recognition of the inputted speech, a database unit having a sample sentence database holding the correspondence of sample sentences of a source language and a target language, a sample sentence selection unit selecting one or more sample sentences from within the sample sentence database, according to a speech recognition result or operation of a GUI unit, a sample sentence comparison unit (i) comparing the one or more sample sentences selected by the sample sentence selection unit and the speech recognition result, (ii) calculating word scores from an appearance location of the words, and (iii) deriving a display parameter for each word of each sample sentence, based on the word scores, and the GUI unit performing the display of a sample sentence based on the display parameter. |
| US07650281B1 |
Method of comparing voice signals that reduces false alarms
A method of comparing voice samples to reduce false alarms by receiving a first voice sample, generating a model of the first voice sample, reordering the first voice sample, generating a model of the reordered first voice sample; receiving a second voice sample; generating a model of the second voice sample; reordering the second voice sample, generating a model of the reordered second voice sample, comparing at least one pairings of the models, and determining if the first voice sample matches the second voice sample if the model comparisons are within a user-definable threshold. |
| US07650266B2 |
Method of simulating deformable object using geometrically motivated model
A method of simulating a deformable object comprises modeling deformable elasticity for the object by defining an actual shape and a goal shape and pulling points in the goal shape towards corresponding points in the goal shape. |
| US07650265B2 |
Methods of using geometric constructs for neutronics modeling
Various geometric constructs are configured for use in modeling a system, for example a fissile system, using an analysis method, such as Monte Carlo, to model such systems based upon the interstitial regions formed by these geometric constructs. The various geometric constructs are configured to provide for modeling of, for example, complex arrays and lattices and allows for embedding of these constructs and virtual filling of arrays of these modeled units. |
| US07650264B2 |
Implementing a graphical program on a programmable hardware element to configure an instrument to perform a measurement function
A computer-implemented system and method for generating a hardware implementation of graphical code. The method comprises first creating a graphical program. A first portion of the graphical program may optionally be compiled into machine code for execution by a CPU. A second portion of the graphical program is converted into a hardware implementation according to the present invention. The operation of converting the graphical program into a hardware implementation comprises exporting the second portion of the graphical program into a hardware description, wherein the hardware description describes a hardware implementation of the second portion of the graphical program, and then configuring a programmable hardware element utilizing the hardware description to produce a configured hardware element. The configured hardware element thus implements a hardware implementation of the second portion of the graphical program. |
| US07650263B2 |
Method for fast computation of optimal contact forces
A method for rapidly determining feasibility of a force optimization problem and for rapidly solving a feasible force optimization problem is disclosed. The method comprises formulating the force optimization problem or force feasibility problem as a convex optimization problem, formulating a primal barrier subproblem associated with the convex optimization problem, and solving the primal barrier subproblem. The method and related methods may also be used to solve each problem in a set of force optimization problems, determine the minimum or maximum force required to satisfy any of a set of force optimization problems, solve a force closure problem, compute a conservative contact force vector, or solve a feasible force optimization problem with bidirectional forces. |
| US07650262B2 |
Method, system, and software for analyzing pharmacovigilance data
A computer-implemented method of analyzing a dataset of pharmacovigilance data, includes determining a sample size-independent measure of association between two conditions of interest in the dataset of pharmacovigilance data; using a hypergeometric distribution to determine a measure of statistical unexpectedness between the conditions of interest in said dataset, wherein the distribution is based on an urn model under a hypothesis that the conditions are statistically independent; and displaying the measure of association with the measure of the statistical unexpectedness to identify a significant association between conditions of interest. |
| US07650257B2 |
Enhanced hang-timer for console simulation
An enhanced hang-time evaluation mechanism is disclosed, where the mechanism is capable of providing data to a game console for simulation. Such data may correspond to the actions of an object, such as snowboarder, skier, or mountain biker, and then be simulated in a game console. The simulation of such an object may be proportional in accuracy to the types of data gathering devices employed. An accelerometer measuring hang-time via static acceleration may be used. Also, any data gathering device capable of providing spatial positioning data may be used, whether it is a compass providing orientation data, a altimeter providing altitude data, or a global positioning device providing positioning data. Such data may also be stored in a memory module, where the data may be characterized, evaluated, and then provided to the game console, regardless of whether the memory module is internal or external to the hang-time mechanism. |
| US07650245B2 |
Impulse line-clogging detecting unit and impulse line-clogging detecting method
An impulse line-clogging detecting apparatus. The apparatus is provide with: a differential pressure detecting unit that detects a differential pressure of a fluid, and outputs time-series data of the differential pressure. Fluctuations are determined by a differential pressure fluctuation calculating unit that calculates a differential pressure fluctuation, and a fluctuation variance calculating unit that calculates a variance of the differential pressure fluctuation. Based upon the calculated variance, a variance ratio calculating unit calculates a variance ratio of the differential pressure fluctuation variance to a differential pressure fluctuation variance obtained in advance in a normal state of the high and low pressure side impulse lines. A variance ratio correcting unit calculates a correction value for suppressing a change of the variance ratio. Finally; a clogging determining unit determines whether the high and low pressure side impulse lines are clogged, based on the variance ratio corrected by the variance ratio correcting unit. |
| US07650240B2 |
Estimating an attribute value using spatial interpolation and masking zones
Aspects of the present invention are directed at estimating the value of an attribute at a specified geographic location. In one embodiment, a method is provided that estimates the elevation at a principal point using LiDAR data that was collected from spatially related secondary points. More specifically, the method includes identifying secondary points where sample attribute data was obtained that are within a predetermined distance to the principal point where the attribute is being estimated. A secondary point may be selected and allocated a masking zone and a determination made regarding whether one or more distant secondary points are within the area of the masking zone. In this regard, more distant secondary points that are inside a masking zone may be assigned less relevance when estimating the value of the attribute. |
| US07650235B2 |
Telematics system using image data and method for directing a route by using the same
Disclosed is a telematics system comprising a telematics terminal for storing complex intersection images and providing information related to a present position and a running direction by using the complex intersection images, and a telematics server for sharing ID codes of the complex intersection images stored in the telematics terminal with the telematics terminal and creating route data in response to a request from the telematics terminal, wherein the telematics server adds the ID codes of the complex intersection images to the route data when the route data include complex intersections and transmits the ID codes of the complex intersection images and the route data to the telematics terminal. The telematics system provides route information, which is easily recognized by users. |
| US07650230B1 |
Navigational device for mounting on a support pillar of a vehicle and a method for doing same
A navigation assembly (177k) for mounting a conventional, portable navigational device (10k) in a vehicle not originally equipped with navigational capabilities is provided. The navigation assembly (177k) comprises the navigational device (10k) and a mounting assembly (194k). Trim (196k) covering a support pillar (98k) of the vehicle and installed during manufacture of the vehicle is replaced with substantially similar trim (196k) having the mounting assembly (194k) mounted thereto or integrally formed therewith. The mounting assembly (194k) comprises a base (198k), a docking station (200k), and a retractable face plate (202k). The base (198k) of the mounting assembly (194k) is secured to the trim (196k) and includes a cut-out (204k) in which the docking station (200k) may be mounted. The docking station (200k) also includes a cut-out (208k) sized and configured to receive the navigational device (10k). The retractable face plate (202k) covers the cut-out (208k) in the docking station (200k) and is retracted in the rearward position when the navigational device (10k) is mounted in the docking station (200k) and is retracted in the forward position when the navigational device (10k) is not mounted in the docking station (200k). |
| US07650224B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions in a combustion engine
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions in a combustion engine. The method includes a shift detection module determining an out of gear (OOG) indicator for a manual transmission. The method further includes an engine speed module determining an engine speed target based on at least one operating condition of the engine. The method continues with a load determination module determining an engine load target in response to the OOG indicator and an engine acceleration module determining a desired net torque based on the engine speed target and the engine load target. Finally, the method concludes with an emissions module determining a minimum fuel target based on the desired net torque and an actuation module generating a fueling signal to engage an engine fueling. |
| US07650223B2 |
Method and device for integrative control of gas engine
An integrative control method and device for controlling gas engines is proposed which load responsivity of the engine is improved while maintaining air fuel ratio control and stable control is performed when fuel gas of different calorific value is used. The control method comprises a speed control process for controlling engine rotation speed by controlling the fuel gas flow control valve based on deviation of actual engine rotation speed from a target command value of rotation speed, and an air fuel ratio control process for controlling air fuel ratio of fuel-air mixture by controlling throttle valve opening based on deviation of the actual mixture flow rate from the command value of mixture flow rate, whereby correction of theoretical air fuel ratio in accordance with exhaust temperature is performed in the air fuel ratio control process, the correction being done to correct the theoretical air fuel ratio used to calculate the command value of fuel-air mixture flow rate in accordance with exhaust temperature based on deviation of actual exhaust temperature from target exhaust temperature prescribed for various engine rotation speeds and load factors. |
| US07650222B2 |
Method and device for integrative control of gas engine
An integrative control method and device for controlling gas engines is proposed which is improved load responsivity of the engine in transient operation. The control method comprises a speed control process for controlling engine rotation speed by controlling the fuel gas flow control valve based on deviation of actual engine rotation speed from a target command value of rotation speed, and an air fuel ratio control process for controlling air fuel ratio of fuel-air mixture by controlling throttle valve opening based on deviation of the actual mixture flow rate from the command value of mixture flow rate, whereby at least either fuel gas flow correction or fuel-air mixture flow correction is performed when time-series variation of input signals relating to performance change of the gas engine exceeds a reference range determined beforehand, the fuel gas flow correction being performed by correcting control variables of the fuel gas flow control valve in the speed control process, and the mixture flow correction being performed by correcting opening of the throttle valve in the air fuel ratio control process. |
| US07650221B2 |
Ejector system for vehicle
An ejector system controls the idle speed of an internal combustion engine by controlling an electric throttle valve system that adjusts the flow-rate of the intake air to be supplied to the internal combustion engine, and includes an ejector which generates a negative pressure of which the absolute value is larger than the absolute value of a negative pressure to be introduced from an intake manifold, a vacuum control valve which causes the ejector to operate or causes the ejector to stop operating, and an ECU that controls the vacuum switching valve. With the ejector system, even if the ejector is caused to operate or caused to stop operating, it is possible to appropriately suppress fluctuations in the idle speed, and appropriately obtain a negative pressure. |
| US07650220B2 |
Method for anti-alias dual processing loop data acquisition in an internal combustion engine
A method to operate an electronic controlled internal combustion engine with an electronic controller having memory and tables resident therein to obtain and use sensor data beyond the Nyquist threshold. |
| US07650219B2 |
Reserve torque management for engine speed control
An engine control module comprises a base reserve module, a power steering reserve module, a reserve torque module, first and second engine actuator modules, and an engine speed control module. The base reserve module determines a base reserve torque. The power steering reserve module determines a power steering reserve torque. The reserve torque module determines a first reserve torque based on the base reserve torque, the power steering reserve torque, and at least one of an oil temperature of an engine and a barometric pressure. The first and second engine actuator modules control first and second actuators of the engine, respectively. The engine speed control module instructs the first engine actuator module to produce a first torque output from the engine and instructs the second engine actuator module to produce a second torque output from the engine. |
| US07650210B2 |
Remote vehicle diagnostic management
Vehicular diagnostic arrangement includes a diagnostic system arranged on the vehicle to determine whether any vehicular components is operating non-optimally, is expected to fail or has failed and generate an output indicative or representative thereof, and a communications device coupled to the diagnostic system and arranged to direct a transmission of the output of the diagnostic system to a remote location. Remote locations encompasses remote facilities which handle maintenance or monitoring of the vehicle such as a dealer of the vehicle, the manufacturer of the vehicle or the manufacturer of the components for which non-optimal operation has been detected. The communications device may be arranged to direct the transmission of the output of the diagnostic system to the remote location via the Internet, the remote location including or being an Internet-enabled device possessed by the dealer, manufacturer or owner of the vehicle. |
| US07650206B2 |
Apparatus and method for environmentally conditioning a space
An apparatus situated in a space for controlling an air terminal device to affect at least one environmental condition in the space includes: (a) at least one sensor unit for presenting at least one sensed indication related with at least one respective environmental condition of the at least one environmental condition; and (b) a local control unit coupled with the air terminal device and coupled with at least one respective sensor unit of the at least one sensor unit. The local control unit responds to a relationship of at least one predetermined requirement with the at least one sensed indication to effect the controlling. |
| US07650203B2 |
Foot structure for humanoid robot and robot with the same
Provided is a foot structure for a humanoid robot capable of effectively keeping its balance in a pause state or action. The foot structure includes a support; a plurality of lower structures having an upper member connected to a bottom of the support; a plurality of lower members having a plurality of independent portions each movably connected to the upper member; and a revolute joint for coupling the upper member and the lower member. Since a contact between the foot structure and the floor is smoothly made, a shock is prevented from being transferred to a body of the humanoid robot. Also, a vibration generated when the humanoid robot steps on the floor is eliminated, so that the humanoid robot can pose a stable and smooth gate. |
| US07650199B1 |
End of line performance prediction
A method, apparatus, and a system for performing post processing modeling is provided. A predicted end of line parameter relating to a workpiece is determined. The predicted end of line parameter is stored. An interface for accessing the end of line parameters provided. |
| US07650197B2 |
Method of associating audio with a position on a surface
A method of enabling recorded audio to be associated with a location on a surface is provided. The surface has coded data printed thereon, which is indicative of a plurality of locations on the surface. The method comprises the steps of: interacting with the surface using an optical sensing device comprising a microphone; recording audio using the microphone; reading some of the coded data during the interaction; determining a position of the sensing device using the read coded data; and communicating, to a computer system, position data indicative of the position of the sensing device and audio data corresponding to the recorded audio, thereby enabling the computer system to associate the audio data with the position. |
| US07650195B2 |
Automated tuning of large-scale multivariable model predictive controllers for spatially-distributed processes
An automated tuning method of a large-scale multivariable model predictive controller for multiple array papermaking machine cross-directional (CD) processes can significantly improve the performance of the controller over traditional controllers. Paper machine CD processes are large-scale spatially-distributed dynamical systems. Due to these systems' (almost) spatially invariant nature, the closed-loop transfer functions are approximated by transfer matrices with rectangular circulant matrix blocks, whose input and output singular vectors are the Fourier components of dimension equivalent to either number of actuators or number of measurements. This approximation enables the model predictive controller for these systems to be tuned by a numerical search over optimization weights in order to shape the closed-loop transfer functions in the two-dimensional frequency domain for performance and robustness. A novel scaling method is used for scaling the inputs and outputs of the multivariable system in the spatial frequency domain. |
| US07650194B2 |
Intracochlear nanotechnology and perfusion hearing aid device
An intra-cochlear implant is provided for aiding in the hearing of a patient. The implant includes a body portion implantable within an interior of a cochlea of a patient. The body portion has a proximal end, a distal end and a primary axis. A plurality of signal carrying electrodes extends along the body portion. The electrodes have proximal ends and distal ends, with the proximal ends being capable of receiving a signal from a signal generator, and the distal ends being capable of delivering the received signal to an anatomical receptor within a cochlea. At least several of the plurality of electrodes have a nanoelectrode-sized portion. The implant also may include a fluid delivery system of tubules, reservoirs, and pumps for the delivery of chemicals and cells to activate regeneration of neural elements lost during the hearing loss process. |
| US07650190B2 |
Methods and apparatus for the regulation of hormone release
A method and apparatus for delivering corrective therapy through hormone regulation is provided. Inhibition of sympathetic fibers by spinal cord stimulation is used to regulate the levels of hormones such as catecholamines, renin, and calcitonin gene-related peptide. The invention utilizes a closed or open loop feedback system in which physiological parameters such as the concentrations of hormones and sympathetic indicators such as heart rate and urine production are monitored and used to determine the appropriate level of neurostimulation. The site of electrical stimulation includes, but is not limited to, the spinal cord at levels T7-L2 and the associated neural fibers within a region of the T7-L2 dermatomes. |
| US07650188B2 |
Means for augmenting medical electrical systems
A medical electrical system includes a device including a connector port and an external electrically active surface and an auxiliary lead including a supplemental electrode and a connector end. The external electrically active surface of the device is adapted to receive the auxiliary lead connector end, thereby electrically coupling the supplemental electrode to the device via contact between the connector end and the external surface. |
| US07650186B2 |
Leadless cardiac stimulation systems
Various configurations of systems that employ leadless electrodes to provide pacing therapy are provided. In one example, a system that provides multiple sites for pacing of myocardium of a heart includes wireless pacing electrode assemblies that are implantable at sites proximate the myocardium using a percutaneous, transluminal, catheter delivery system. Also disclosed are various configurations of such systems, wireless electrode assemblies, and delivery catheters for delivering and implanting the electrode assemblies. |
| US07650185B2 |
System and method for walking an implantable medical device from a sleep state
A system and method for waking up an implantable medical device (“IMD”) from a sleep state in which power consumption by the IMD is essentially zero. The IMD may be adapted to perform one or more designated measurement and/or therapeutic functions. In one embodiment, the IMD includes a wake-up sensor that is adapted to sense the presence or absence of a wake-up field generated by another IMD or an external device. The wake-up field may, in some embodiments, be an electromagnetic field, a magnetic field, or a physiologically sub-threshold excitation current (i.e., E-field). Upon sensing by the wake-up sensor of the wake-up field, other components of the IMD, which may include a controller, a sensing and/or therapy module, and/or a communications module, are awakened to perform one or more designated functions. |
| US07650183B2 |
Impedance spectroscopy system for ischemic mucosal damage monitoring in hollow viscous organs
Alternate embodiments of an impedance spectroscopy method are disclosed for monitoring ischemic mucosal damage in hollow viscous organs. In each embodiment, a sensor catheter is placed inside a patient's hollow viscous organ. Afterwards, the catheter is electrically driven to obtain a complex impedance spectrum by causing two electrodes in the tip of the catheter to inject a current into the mucosal tissue at different frequencies, while two other electrodes measure the resulting voltages. A pattern recognition system is then used to analyze the complex impedance spectrum and to quantify the severity of the mucosal injury. Alternatively, the complex impedance spectrum can be appropriately plotted against the spectrum of normal tissue, allowing for a visual comparison by trained personnel. |
| US07650181B2 |
Synchronization of repetitive therapeutic interventions
A medical device of the type used for assisting a user in manually delivering repetitive therapy to a patient (e.g., chest compressions or ventilations in cardiac resuscitation), the device comprising a feedback device configured to generate feedback cues to assist the user in timing the delivery of the repetitive therapy, at least one sensor or circuit element configured to detect actual delivery times, at which the user actually delivers the repetitive therapy, and a processor, memory, and associated circuitry configured to compare the actual delivery times to information representative of desired delivery times to determine cue times at which the feedback cues are generated by the feedback device. |
| US07650177B2 |
Medical sensor for reducing motion artifacts and technique for using the same
A sensor for pulse oximetry or other applications utilizing spectrophotometry may be adapted to reduce motion artifacts by fixing the optical distance between an emitter and detector. A flexible sensor is provided with a stiffening member to hold the emitter and detector of the sensor in a relatively fixed position when applied to a patient. Further, an annular or partially annular sensor is adapted to hold an emitter and detector of the sensor in a relatively fixed position when applied to a patient. A clip-style sensor is provided with a spacer that controls the distance between the emitter and detector. |
| US07650175B2 |
Method and device for detecting fault in a blood oxygen sensor
A device for measuring blood oxygen content comprises a blood oxygen sensor interface, a signal processing unit, and a plurality of voltage sampling points. A method for detecting fault in a blood oxygen sensor comprises the steps of: connecting the blood oxygen sensor to the signal processing unit; providing voltage signals by the signal processing unit via a pair of testing terminals, for alternately driving two LEDs connected in inverse-parallel with each other in the blood oxygen sensor; sampling the voltages of the pair of testing terminals, respectively, and determining the fault relevant to the LEDs based on the relationship of the voltages; receiving current signals from a photodiode in the blood oxygen sensor by the signal processing unit via another pair of terminals, converting the received current signals into voltage signals, and outputting positive voltage signals via a reverser and a follower, respectively; and sampling the positive voltage signals respectively for determining the fault relevant to the photodiode. Thus, the fault of the sensor can be detected and determined by employing a plurality of sampling points without the tissue to be measured of the human body, thereby the output error due to the faults of the sensor can be avoided, and the device can be maintained conveniently. |
| US07650168B2 |
Voice activated dialing for wireless headsets
A wearable wireless telecommunications headset may include at least a microphone, a speaker, a transceiver, a processor and a memory. The headset processes audio commands from a user, recognizing the commands and executing them appropriately. The headset communicates with multiple communication devices, answering incoming communications from any devices in range and announcing identity information about an initiator of the communication, as well as initiating outgoing communications by recognizing a spoken communications address, or recognizing and looking up a spoken name in a locally or remotely stored address book. |
| US07650165B2 |
Satellite based data transfer and delivery system
A high speed data transfer system includes a WAU (201) which is utilized to provide high speed access to satellite transferred data. The system is configured such that a plurality of data utilization (205) may access the high speed data via wireless links to the WAU (201). Advantageously, high speed data services may be provided to users without the users requiring individual satellite antennas. |
| US07650159B2 |
Communication system
A communication system comprising: a first and second user equipment for communication over a shared floor; a controlling server for managing the shared floor; and at least one participating server for serving said first user equipment; the participating server being arranged to detect a connection request from said first user, and to insert into the connection request from the first user equipment a token; and wherein the controlling server is arranged to detect said inserted token and to route user plane messages via the participating server responsive to said received token. |
| US07650151B2 |
Channel partitioning for wireless local area networks
The present application discloses, inter alia, a system for improving the aggregate throughput of a wireless local area network which includes: at least one access point that is equipped with at least one transceiver configured to simultaneously transmit and receive at multiple frequencies using multiple channels; and the access point being configured to acquire channel conditions of users and to pool sets of users on the channels based on the channel conditions. |
| US07650147B2 |
Integrated personal digital assistant device
An integrated device provides functionality of both a PDA and cellular telephone. Features include a power button offering control of both the computing and telephony functions of the device; a lid that turns the device on and off and controls additional telephony functions; a jog rocker that activates the device and is used to select from a variety of menu options; application buttons that offer direct access to applications stored on the device, and which can be configured to operate in conjunction with secondary keys to offer added functionality; a keyboard that enables data input into the device; an automatic word completion function that verifies and corrects a user's typing in real time; and a simplified keyboard navigation system that allows the navigation of menus using keyboard shortcuts. |
| US07650144B2 |
Monitoring control apparatus, monitoring system, monitoring method, wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication system
A main controller used in a security system having a sensor or a camera performs wireless communication with the sensor or the camera so as to control the sensor or the camera. The main controller has a plurality of communication sections that perform wireless communication by using communication systems having different communication speeds. The camera transmits and receives information by performing wireless communication with the main controller. The camera is provided with a first camera communication section and a second camera communication section that perform wireless communication by using communication systems having different communication speeds, and a camera communication control section for selecting the first camera communication section and the second camera communication section according to the information to be transmitted and received, as a communication section to perform communication. |
| US07650141B2 |
Apparatus, and associated method, for facilitating routing of data in a radio communication system having a mobile node capable of roaming movement
Apparatus, and an associated method, for providing routing information to a mobile node operable in a radio communication system. The routing information is used by the mobile node to address data messages that are to be communicated to a relay host, or other, device. The routing information that is provided to the mobile node includes a plurality of separate routing sequences. Different ones of the routing sequences are used by the mobile node, depending upon at what location that the mobile node is positioned when the data message is sent. A registration server is used by which to create the routing information, responsive to indications of a home network associated with the mobile node and a current location of the mobile node. |
| US07650139B2 |
Method for ensuring security of subscriber card
A method for ensuring the security of subscriber cards, includes the following steps: setting a security key in the subscriber card, and setting a verification equipment and storing the security key in the verification equipment; the subscriber card authenticating the verification equipment according to the security key before responding to relevant access request; if the authentication succeeds, the relevant access is permitted; otherwise, the relevant access is refused. With the present invention, the security of the subscriber card is guaranteed without using a PIN code, which is very convenient for the subscriber. |
| US07650136B2 |
GPS enabled emergency messaging system
A GPS enabled Emergency Messaging System (GEMS) includes: Emergency Response Centers (ERC's) for defining emergency broadcast messages directed to specified geographic areas; a GPS Control Segment (CS) facility that receives messages generated by the ERC's and coordinates uplink and downlink communications with orbiting GPS satellites; a GPS Space Segment (SS) that includes the multiple orbiting GPS satellites and that receives emergency messages from the CS facility and broadcasts transmissions containing both GPS navigational information and an emergency broadcast message; and GEMS-enabled user equipment that is capable of receiving and processing broadcast emergency messages. The system permits emergency messaging data to be superimposed on the existing GPS signal structure and delivered to users with GPS receivers capable of receiving the superimposed messaging data. |
| US07650134B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device and high frequency power amplifier module
In a SPDT switch, a resistor for leak path is connected between a terminal for antenna and a reference potential. The resistor for leak path allows charge capacitances accumulated in electrostatic capacitor elements provided as DC cut capacitors connected to transmission signal terminals and reception signal terminals to be discharged and allows rapid lowering of a potential at the terminal for antenna. In the SPDT switch, a switching characteristic is improved and a delay in the rising edge of a low-power slot which comes after a high-power slot is reduced. |
| US07650133B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit device and high frequency power amplifier module
Switching characteristics in an SPDT switch are improved to reduce the rise delay in a low power slot following after a high power slot. Control terminals of an SPDT switch are respectively provided with backflow prevention circuits. The backflow prevention circuit is configured to have two transistors and a diode. In a transmission mode, for example, when a time slot where a high power passes through transistors is followed by a time slot where a low power passes through, the electric charges accumulated in the gates of the transistors are blocked. In the case where the transistors are in the OFF state, the electric charges accumulated in the gates of the transistors are immediately discharged to allow the transistors to be completely turned OFF. |
| US07650132B2 |
Low noise amplifier (LNA) gain switch circuit
A circuit is formed to steer current in and out of an inductive load in a manner that enables an amplifier to provide a plurality of gain steps without modifying an LC time constant for the circuit and, therefore, without modifying the tuning or frequency of oscillation for the circuit. A first group of MOSFETs are coupled in parallel and define the circuit current flow. A second group of MOSFETs are coupled in parallel to each other and in series to an impedance device. A third group of MOSFETs coupled to steer current in and out of the impedance device to affect the output signal coupled to one end of the impedance device. The transistors in the second and third groups of MOSFETs are selectively activated to control the amount of current that goes through the impedance device. |
| US07650129B2 |
Receiver for a multi-carrier signal
A receiver which is arranged to receive an RF multi-carrier signal (60) comprises an in-phase mixer (51) for frequency down converting the RF multi-carrier signal to an in-phase multi-carrier signal (I) and a quadrature mixer (52) for frequency down converting the RF multi-carrier signal (60) to a quadrature multi-carrier signal. The receiver further comprises a local oscillator (60) arranged to generate in-phase and quadrature mixing signals (64,65) for the in-phase and quadrature mixers (51,52). The local oscillator (60) is further arranged to add a frequency offset to the in-phase and quadrature mixing signals (65, 65) so as to minimize an error vector magnitude of the in-phase and quadrature multi-carrier signals (I, Q). |
| US07650126B2 |
Method and system for the allocation of UWB transmission based on spectrum opportunities
A method and system for efficiently utilizing frequency spectrum resources is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of determining at least one spectrum opportunity (510), wherein the opportunity is identified by a frequency range and a time duration, determining a set of altered transmission characteristics (515, 517) to allow transmission of a desired signal in the identified frequency range, wherein the altered transmission characteristics avoid interference with signals expected in the frequency range, and transmitting said desired signal using the altered transmission characteristics when the transmission occurs during said time duration. In one aspect of the system, the step of determining at least one opportunity comprises the steps of receiving signals in known frequency ranges, and determining the characteristics of the received signals. The system comprises a receiving unit (1001) for receiving information items regarding at least one receivable signal, a processing unit (862) for determining characteristics of the at least one received signal, a managing unit (864) for altering transmission characteristics of a desired signal based on the determined received signal characteristics, wherein the altered transmission characteristics avoid interference with the received signals and a transmission unit (866) receiving said altered transmission characteristics to transmit said desired signal. In one aspect, the desired signal transmission characteristics are altered in a frequency range/time period to avoid interference with received signals in the frequency range. |
| US07650121B2 |
Time division duplexing transmission/reception apparatus and method using polarized duplexer
A time division duplexing (TDD) transmission/reception apparatus and method are provided. The TDD transmission/reception apparatus includes: a transmitter which generates a transmitted signal; an antenna which transmits the transmitted signal to an external device and receives a received signal from an external device; a receiver which restores source data by demodulating the received signal; and a polarized duplexer which has a first end connected to the transmitter and the receiver and a second end connected to the antenna and comprises an inclined surface, the inclined surface polarizing the transmitted signal and the received signal such that the directivity of the transmitted signal and the directivity of the received signal are perpendicular to each other. |
| US07650120B2 |
High frequency module
A high frequency module comprises: a switch circuit connected to two antenna terminals; a diplexer connected to two reception signal terminals and the switch circuit; and a diplexer connected to two transmission signal terminals and the switch circuit. Each of the diplexers incorporates two band-pass filters and a low-pass filter. Each of the band-pass filters is formed by using a resonant circuit. |
| US07650112B2 |
Method and system for extending coverage of WLAN access points via optically multiplexed connection of access points to sub-stations
A SW (70) receives an Ethernet® signal from an outside of areas E and F. The SW (70) selects and outputs the obtained Ethernet® signal to any one of APs (91a to 91e) in accordance with a network structure managed by the SW (70). The AP (91a to 91e) converts the Ethernet® signal to an electrical signal type wireless LAN signal, which is in turn output to a main station (10). The main station (10) frequency-multiplexes the signal output from each of the APs (91a to 91e), and converts the signal to an optical signal, which is in turn output to sub-stations (20a and 20b). The sub-station (20a and 20b) transmits the signal transmitted from the main station (10) to a terminal in the form of a wireless radio wave. Thereby, when a plurality of communication areas are present, the accommodation capacity of an AP can be effectively utilized in each communication area. |
| US07650109B2 |
Analyzing system, analyzing method using the same, and system for collecting survey results for use in analysis
A surveyor carries a terminal device 200 and travels to a survey point preliminarily instructed. The surveyor obtains survey position information by using a GPS unit in the terminal device 200 at the survey point. The surveyor also photographs an object of a survey by using a camera in the terminal device 200 at the survey point. After completion of a series of surveys, the surveyor transmits survey results including the survey position information to an analyzing apparatus 100 by using the terminal device 200. The analyzing apparatus 100 determines reliability by using survey position information included in the survey results and carries out a predetermined analysis by using a survey result of high reliability. Consequently, a survey result of low reliability can be eliminated from objects to be analyzed. |
| US07650108B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus for use with a transfer sheet includes: a sheet feeding unit structured to feed the transfer sheet; a color detection sensor structured to detect color information on the transfer sheet fed from the sheet feeding unit; a recognition section structured to recognize whether the transfer sheet subjected to the detection by the color detection sensor is a non-tabbed transfer sheet having no tab, or either a tabbed transfer sheet having a tab or an unprocessed tabbed transfer sheet blank, the unprocessed tabbed transfer sheet blank being capable of being processed into a tabbed transfer sheet having a tab by post-processing, wherein a recognition result is made based on the color information detected by the color detection sensor; and a control section that controls image forming on and conveying of the fed transfer sheet, according to the recognition result by the recognition section. |
| US07650097B2 |
Slide shutter and toner supplying apparatus having the same
A toner supplying apparatus having a sealing member. The toner supplying apparatus includes a toner tank to hold toner, the toner tank having a toner supplying hole to discharge the toner, a slide shutter disposed inside the toner tank so as to close the toner supplying hole, the slide shutter allowing the toner supplying hole to be opened when the toner tank is mounted in an image forming apparatus, and a sealing member disposed on an outer circumference of the slide shutter to prevent the toner from leaking out through a gap between the slide shutter and the toner tank. |
| US07650087B2 |
Control method of driving toner containers and image forming apparatus
The purpose is to provide a control method of driving toner containers for use in an apparatus including a plurality of toner containers each filled with toner and detachably mounted thereinto from a toner container covering structure; and a toner supply device for supplying toner to a developing unit while rotating the plurality of toner container. This method includes the step of detecting a first toner container whose toner has run out, among the plurality of toner containers. When the first toner container has been detected, this method makes a control including the steps of: opening the toner container covering structure; stopping the rotational motion of the first toner container; and continuing the rotational motion of a second toner container or containers other than the first toner container. |
| US07650080B2 |
Method and apparatus for waveform generation
A spread spectrum waveform generator has a photonic oscillator and an optical heterodyne synthesizer. The photonic oscillator is a multi-tone optical comb generator for generating a series of RF comb lines on an optical carrier. The optical heterodyne synthesizer includes first and second phase-locked lasers, where the first laser feeds the multi-tone optical comb generator and the second laser is a single tone laser whose output light provides a frequency translation reference. At least one photodetector is provided for heterodyning the frequency translation reference with the optical output of the photonic oscillator to generate a spread spectrum waveform. A receiver pre-processor may be provided to operate on the spread spectrum waveform. |
| US07650076B2 |
Dynamic blocking of token-controlled data transmissions in communication networks
A method for token-controlled data transmission includes receiving a token including transmission data specifying one of a plurality of data channels and a time window. A burst blocker is configured, based at least in part on the transmission data, for the selective communication of the specified data channel on an optical transmission medium having the plurality of data channels. The selective configuration of the burst blocker includes splitting the specified data channel from the plurality of data channels, configuring the burst blocker in a first configuration during a time other than the time window to rejoin the specified data channel with the plurality of data channels for transmission of the plurality of data channels toward a destination node, and configuring the burst blocker in a second configuration during the time window to block the specified data channel to prevent the transmission of the specified data channel. |
| US07650071B2 |
Optical signal receiver, optical signal monitoring unit, and optical signal monitoring method
An optical signal receiver is provided which is capable of making an optical signal receiver come into common and shared use even when a plurality of transmission methods is to be performed and of constructing a simplified optical transmission system. In a performance monitoring circuit, a switching control section transmits a connecting control signal to make a switching section operate so that the switching section selects a monitoring section to be connected based on bit-rate information corresponding to information about a transmission method type fed from a frequency detecting circuit and the selected monitoring section is connected to a clock/data regenerating circuit. The monitoring section extracts alarm information from a data signal fed from the clock/data regenerating circuit and transfers the alarm information to the selection connecting section. When the switching control section receives alarm information, the alarm information is transferred to devices mounted on a downstream side. |
| US07650070B2 |
Self-testing optical transceiver controller using internalized loopbacks
An operational optical transceiver microcontroller configured to initiate a self-test using internalized loop backs. The microcontroller includes a memory, at least one processor and a number of input and output terminals. The output terminals are coupled to internally corresponding input terminals by a configurable switch. The memory receives microcode that, when executed by the processor, causes the microcontroller to close the switches so as to internally connect the output and input terminals. A signal is then asserted on the output terminal. This signal loops back and is received by the input terminal. The processor may then detect the microcontroller's response to the signal. |
| US07650069B1 |
GrannySnap architecture
Systems and methods for facilitating photo completion are provided. According to one embodiment, a system is provided including a hand held device, an application running on the hand held device, and a printing system. The hand held device includes the capability to both capture and transmit digital photos. The application provides the hand held device with hyper-simplified photo capture and delivery. In one embodiment, the application defaults a number of parameters that can be configured on the hand held device, such as the target, the photo review mechanism, the presentation method. These defaults can be set (reset) directly in the application or overridden in the system post transmission processing. In one embodiment, the printing system may control the schedule of publication. For example, the printing system may print received digital photos immediately, the next morning, on a periodic basis, or after receiving eMail confirmation. |
| US07650068B2 |
Camera and method of imaging
A camera includes a photometry section, an exposure calculating section, and a correction calculating section. The photometry section obtains photometry values at a plurality of positions of a subject. The exposure calculating section obtains an exposure value when photographing based on the photometry values. The correction calculating section obtains a correction value for correction of the exposure value based on a highest value among photometry values belonging to a predetermined range out of the plurality of photometry values obtained by the photometry section. |
| US07650062B2 |
Information recording apparatus, information reproducing apparatus, and related computer programs
Pictures are captured, and thereby moving-picture data is generated which represents a sequence of moving-picture fields. At least one picture is captured, and thereby still-picture data is generated which represents at least one still-picture frame corresponding in picture capture timing to one of the moving-picture fields represented by the moving-picture data. Components which correspond to said one of the moving-picture fields are removed from the still-picture data to generate supplementary still-picture information. Link information is generated which represents the picture capture timing correspondence between the still-picture frame and said one of the moving-picture fields. The moving-picture data, the supplementary still-picture information, and the link information are recorded on a recording medium. |
| US07650059B2 |
Information storage medium and information recording/playback system
There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data. |
| US07650054B2 |
Very high quality channel for multipathway optical rotary joints
The present invention relates to the field of rotary joints, or similar devices, more specifically to optical rotary joints. Embodiments of the invention are directed to a multipathway optical rotary joint, comprising a stationary plane, a moving plane rotatable about a reference axis of rotation and a Dove prism, rotatably placed between the stationary plane and the moving plane. The assembly is configured so that when the moving plane rotates at a speed ω, the prism rotates at a speed ω/2. The optical pathways are arranged so as to pass through the prism. The Dove prism includes a central optical channel passing an optical wave without undergoing deviation, the axis of the channel being substantially coaxial with the reference axis of rotation. An optical pathway is furthermore arranged in the joint so as to pass through the joint, following an axis substantially coinciding with the reference axis of rotation. |
| US07650050B2 |
Optical sensor device for local analysis of a combustion process in a combustor of a thermal power plant
An optical sensor device for local analysis of a combustion process in a combustor of a thermal power plant, in particular a gas turbine plant, includes at least one wavelength selective optical element exposed directly or indirectly to hot combustion gases being produced by said combustion process, the optical element including an array of nano- and/or microcrystalline fibres which are created by shear flow crystallization. |
| US07650049B2 |
Waveguide modulator and related modulation method
A modulator including a waveguide propagating an electromagnetic wave of given wavelength (λ) with absorption. Means such as an electrical junction enable the residence time of the electromagnetic wave in the guide to be modified. A corresponding modulation method is also provided. |
| US07650047B2 |
Change detection equipment and method of image recognition
The present invention can extract a change not only from an orthorectified image but also from a plurality of images captured at different camera positions, under different lighting conditions, at different angles, and at different scaling factors. Foot-print information is extracted from each of images to be compared, and a change is detected by comparing the foot-print information. |
| US07650045B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method
An image processing apparatus comprises an extractor for extracting a brightness component from image data; a scale converter for obtaining a distribution of the brightness component on relatively large scale; a brightness component improver for improving the distribution of the brightness component of the image data by using the brightness component and an output of the converter; and an image reproducer for reproducing the image data by using an output of the improver as a distribution of a brightness component of a new image, wherein the apparatus further comprises a face detector for detecting a face area from the image data, and the improver adjusts a degree of improvement by using a distribution of a brightness component of the face area being an output of the detector. Thus, it is possible to automatically adjust the degree of improvement of the luminance distribution according to the image data to be processed. |
| US07650043B2 |
Method of reducing blocking artifacts from block-coded digital images and image reproducing apparatus using the same
A method of removing blocking artifacts from block-coded digital images and an image reproducing apparatus using the same remove blocking artifacts from a block-coded digital image. The method includes adjusting filtering offsets on a block-by-block basis using motion vector (MV) and quantization parameter (QP) values; and performing deblocking filtering to remove the blocking artifacts from a decoded digital image using the adjusted filtering offsets. Accordingly, since the filtering offsets may be adaptively adjusted on a block-by-block basis to fit image characteristics, the blocking artifacts may be efficiently removed, thus, improving image quality. |
| US07650036B2 |
System and method for three-dimensional video coding
Systems and methods are provided for receiving and encoding 3D video. The receiving method comprises: accepting a bitstream with a current video frame encoded with two interlaced fields, in a MPEG2, MPEG4, or H.264 standard; decoding a current frame top field; decoding a current frame bottom field; and, presenting the decoded top and bottom fields as a 3D frame image. In some aspects, the method presents the decoded top and bottom fields as a stereo-view image. In other aspects, the method accepts 2D selection commands in response to a trigger such as receiving a supplemental enhancement information (SEI) message, an analysis of display capabilities, manual selection, or receiver system configuration. Then, only one of the current frame interlaced fields is decoded, and a 2D frame image is presented. |
| US07650034B2 |
Method of locating a human eye in a video image
A human eye is detected in a video image by identifying potential eye candidates using horizontal and vertical projection filtering on a specified portion of the image, coupled with rudimentary appearance-based testing. The identified eye candidates are clustered and winning eye candidates are selected based on appearance, spatial-geometric and anthropomorphic considerations. The winning eye candidates are subjected to additional appearance-based testing, and high confidence eye candidates are accepted if they favorably compare with identified eye candidates from previous video image frames. |
| US07650028B1 |
Vicinal light inspection of translucent materials
The present invention includes methods and apparatus for inspecting vicinally illuminated non-patterned areas of translucent materials. An initial image of the material is received. A second image is received following a relative translation between the material being inspected and a device generating the images. Each vicinally illuminated image includes a portion having optimal illumination, that can be extracted and stored in a composite image of the non-patterned area. The composite image includes aligned portions of the extracted image portions, and provides a composite having optimal illumination over a non-patterned area of the material to be inspected. The composite image can be processed by enhancement and object detection algorithms, to determine the presence of, and characterize any inhomogeneities present in the material. |
| US07650026B2 |
Method for operating an x-ray diagnostics device
The invention relates to a method for operating an x-ray diagnostics device having an x-ray source and an x-ray image detector, between which the distance can be adjusted, with an image sequence of low resolution images being provided with a different distance, an adjustment of the coordinates systems of the images being carried out and a high resolution image being calculated from the images. A method for generating high resolution x-ray recordings is achieved here by means of a C-arm system, a so-called C-arm superresolution image. |
| US07650022B2 |
Methods and systems for combining a plurality of radiographic images
Methods and systems for combining a plurality of radiographic images. Software can be used to provide various stitching and blending methods to join first and second images into a composite, larger image. |
| US07650021B2 |
Device and method for determining the concentration of a tracer in blood
With the aid of an X-ray CT (5, 6), the spatial position (r) of a body cavity that is filled with blood is determined, which for example can be a part of the aorta or of the left ventricle of the heart of a patient (1). Subsequently, a TOF-PET unit that includes two detector elements (3a, 3b) is positioned to place a predefined volume element (2) in the blood filled body cavity. From pairs of annihilation quanta received from the volume element (2) a concentration of the tracer in this volume element (2) and thus in the blood is determined. This concentration can for example be used within the framework of pharmaco-kinetic examinations which are carried out on the patient (1) with the aid of a three-dimensional PET unit (4). |
| US07650020B2 |
Identification of image characteristics
A method of identifying the characteristics of an image such as an iris image or other biometric image comprises taking repeated scans across the image and determining the variability between those scans. By taking a sequence of scans, a two-dimensional variation code (70) is built up. This may then be compared with a stored library of similar variation codes to identify the individual. |
| US07650018B2 |
Image creation device, image creation method, and image creation program
A captured image of an object is input twice using a white background and a black background, after which the opacity D and the color image X of the object are obtained to yield an object image. It is possible to easily create a high-quality real image. |
| US07650015B2 |
Image processing method
A method and apparatus for localizing an area in relative movement and for determining the speed and direction thereof in real time is disclosed. Each pixel of an image is smoothed using its own time constant. A binary value corresponding to the existence of a significant variation in the amplitude of the smoothed pixel from the prior frame, and the amplitude of the variation, are determined, and the time constant for the pixel is updated. For each particular pixel, two matrices are formed that include a subset of the pixels spatially related to the particular pixel. The first matrix contains the binary values of the subset of pixels. The second matrix contains the amplitude of the variation of the subset of pixels. In the first matrix, it is determined whether the pixels along an oriented direction relative to the particular pixel have binary values representative of significant variation, and, for such pixels, it is determined in the second matrix whether the amplitude of these pixels varies in a known manner indicating movement in the oriented direction. In each of several domains, histogram of the values in the first and second matrices falling in such domain is formed. Using the histograms, it is determined whether there is an area having the characteristics of the particular domain. The domains include luminance, hue, saturation, speed (V), oriented direction (D1), time constant (CO), first axis (x(m)), and second axis (y(m)). |
| US07650012B2 |
Moving-object height determining apparatus by image processing of two-dimensional image
The present invention relates to a moving-object height-determining apparatus which tracks and monitors a moving-object, such as a human, from a two-dimensional image captured from above by single image-capturing means to calculate a relative height of two moving objects existing relatively close to each other. |
| US07650010B2 |
Connected video and audio
The presently claimed invention relates to connecting video and audio signals to audio-video content. One claim recites a method including: receiving data at a server, the data representing picture elements of a video signal or audible portions of an audio signal, the data having been communicated from a remotely located handheld device; at the server, using a processor to derive identifying information from the data; obtaining a link or an address pointer from a database or registry using at least the derived identifying information, the link or address pointer linking or pointing to audio-visual content which is stored at a location remotely located from the server, the audio-visual content being associated with the video signal or with the audio signal; communicating the link or the address pointer to the remotely located handheld device, whereby the remotely located handheld device is provided access the audio-video content with the link or the address pointer. Of course, other combinations and claims are provided too. |
| US07650009B2 |
Controlling use of audio or image content
The present invention relates generally to controlling use of audio or image content (e.g., which may comprise video). In one claim, a method is provided including: receiving information, the information having been obtained from analyzing data representing audio elements or image picture elements to derive the information there from, accessing a database with the information to obtain permitted usage rights for audio or image content associated with the data; and providing the information to a remote device to allow control of the audio or image content in accordance with the permitted usage rights. Of course, other combinations are provided and claimed as well. |
| US07650008B2 |
Digital watermarking compressed video captured from aerial sensors
Digital watermarking technology is used in conjunction with compressed video captured from aerial, unmanned apparatus, such as satellites and aircraft. One implementation includes a method of capturing video depicting at least a portion of the earth's surface, the video captured by an aerial, unmanned apparatus; compressing the captured video; and hiding a first digital watermark in the compressed captured video through alterations to data representing the compressed video. The first digital watermark is generally imperceptible to a human observer of the video. And the digital watermark has a plural-bit payload including at least geographical metadata associated with the captured video. Other implementations are also provided. |
| US07649999B2 |
Method and apparatus for establishing a key agreement protocol
A system and method for generating a secret key to facilitate secure communications between users. A first and second and a function between the two monoids are selected, the function being a monoid homomorphism. A group and a group action of the group on the first monoid is selected. Each user is assigned a submonoid of the first monoid so that these submonoids satisfy a special symmetry property determined by the function, a structure of the first and second monoids, and the action of the group. A multiplication of an element in the second monoid and an element in the first monoid is obtained by combining the group action and the monoid homomorphism. First and second users choose private keys which are sequences of elements in their respective submonoids. A first result is obtained by multiplying an identity element by the first element of the sequence in a respective submonoid. Starting with the first result, each element of the user's private key may be iteratively multiplied by the previous result to produce a public key. Public keys are exchanged between first and second users. Each user's private key may be iteratively multiplied by the other user's public key to produce a secret key. Secure communication may then occur between the first and second user using the secret key. |
| US07649995B2 |
Method and device for authenticating MS that has an R-UIM by using CAVE algorithm
A method and device for authenticating a MS has an R-UIM by using CAVE Algorithm are provided. The hardware structure of the device includes a cdma2000/HRPD dual-mode chip, a User Identity Module supporting the CAVE algorithm. The dual-mode terminal forms the NAI value with the domain name stored in a memory of the dual-mode terminal in advance by the IMSI. The dual-mode terminal extracts a RAND that is necessary for the calculation of an authentication parameter1 from the Random values included in a Chap Challenge message, instructs the R-UIM card to use the CAVE algorithm to calculate the authentication parameter1 with the RAND and an existing SSD_A in the R-UIM card, and bears the authentication parameter1 by the Result domain of a Chap Response message. With the present invention, the wastes caused by the replacement of R-UIM cards can be avoided. |
| US07649989B2 |
Wearable terminal holder with pivoting D-rings
A wearable terminal holder device includes a curved body, a first D-ring and a second D-ring. The curved body has a first side and a second side with a longitudinal axis bisecting the first and second sides. The first D-ring is pivotally coupled to the first side of the body. The second D-ring is pivotally coupled to the second side of the body. |
| US07649988B2 |
Comfort noise generator using modified Doblinger noise estimate
A background noise estimate based upon a modified Doblinger noise estimate is used for modulating the output of a pseudo-random phase spectrum generator to produce the comfort noise. The circuit for estimating noise includes a smoothing filter having a slower time constant for updating the noise estimate during noise than during speech. Comfort noise is smoothly inserted by basing the amount of comfort noise on the amount of noise suppression. A discrete inverse Fourier transform converts the comfort noise back to the time domain and overlapping windows eliminate artifacts that may have been produced during processing. |
| US07649982B2 |
Network-test system and method using script command in a server to emulate a tty device and define a tty test case
A device translates a script command related to teletype (TTY) communications in a network, and generates or receives a TTY signal based on the translated script to test the network. |
| US07649976B2 |
System and method for determining dimensions of structures/systems for designing modifications to the structures/systems
A method and system of determining the physical dimensions and configuration of a structure or system as a precursor to the design of modifications of the structure or system by analyzing hidden objects within the structure or system is provided. The method includes accessing the structure or system prior to the modification for preparation of the modification; scanning the structure or system with an x-ray backscatter unit; collecting data from the x-ray backscatter unit and combining and reconstructing the data into a 2-D, 2-D panoramic or 3-D data set; producing surfaces and structures of the hidden objects from the data set; and tying the surfaces and structures of the hidden objects into a pre-existing coordinate system of the structure or system creating a 3-D model. |
| US07649974B2 |
Method and system for controlling an X-ray imaging system
Methods and systems for controlling an X-ray imaging system. The method for controlling an X-ray imaging system includes acquiring a plurality of subviews of patient attenuation data wherein a first set of subviews of patient attenuation data is acquired at a first radiation flux level and a second set of subviews of patient attenuation data is acquired at a second radiation flux level. The first radiation flux level is different than the second radiation flux level. The method further includes combining the first set of subviews of patient attenuation data and the second set of subviews of patient attenuation data to form corrected views for subsequent image generation. |
| US07649970B2 |
Repair apparatus for a nuclear reactor shroud
The tie rod repair apparatus includes a tie rod secured at its upper end to the shroud flange at the top of the shroud. The lower end of the tie rod passes through an opening in the shroud support plate without imposing a load on the plate. The lower end of the tie rod is anchored to the lower end of the core shroud support cylinder such that the compressive load path exerted by the tie rod to restrain the cracked shroud passes directly through the shroud support cylinder and the assembly of shroud cylinders bypassing the shroud support plate. |
| US07649967B2 |
Method and device for estimating a signal to interference ratio (SIR) in wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) systems
A method and device (100) for estimating a signal to interference ratio (SIR) of a signal transmitted from a first unit and to a remotely located second unit in a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) wireless communication system. The transmitted TPC (Transmit Power Control) is checked and upon this result the SIR is determined. The checking of the TPC includes the estimation of the previous and the present power using a weighted contribution of the pilots and the data. |
| US07649960B2 |
Feedback and scheduling schemes for a communications system
The present invention provides a transmitter. In one embodiment, the transmitter includes a coefficient circuit configured to generate coefficients of a set of basis waveforms that represent channel quality metrics and a transmit circuit that transmits the coefficients. The present invention also provides a receiver. In one embodiment, the receiver includes a receive circuit configured to receive coefficients of a set of basis waveforms that represent channel quality metrics and a reconstruction circuit configured to reconstruct the channel quality metrics from the coefficients. |
| US07649959B2 |
Transmission format indication and feedback in multi-carrier wireless communication systems
A method is provided for specifying a transmission mode for each signal portion of a multi-carrier signal transmitted between a first and second device. The method includes defining an adaptive modulation and coding set divided into a plurality of subsets, each of the plurality of subsets including a plurality of transmission modes for transmitting a signal portion. The method further includes selecting a transmission mode subset from the plurality of subsets for transmission of the multi-carrier signal from a first to a second device, selecting a signal portion transmission mode for each signal portion from the plurality of transmission modes of the selected transmission mode subset, defining semantic bits that indicate the selected transmission mode subset, defining an indicator bit for each signal portion indicating the selected sub-carrier transmission mode, and transmitting the semantic bits and the indicator bit for each signal portion from a first to a second device. |
| US07649952B1 |
Low complexity soft demapping
A method of analyzing soft symbol information in a communication system that transmits multiple independent data streams is disclosed. The method includes setting a trellis structure using a fixed spatial delay constraint, calculating a joint probability between a targeted symbol and a set of observation samples either recursively or nonrecursively, and approximating a likelihood function for a given branch by a single probability density function with mean and variance computed based on available soft information on past symbols relative to the branch that is being currently considered. |
| US07649949B2 |
Multipurpose television module
An external module for use with a host television device consistent with certain embodiments wherein the host television device receives at least one content service has a connector for attaching to the module. Java™ code is received from the content service being received by the host television device over the connector. An application execution engine residing on the external module carries out execution of the Java™ code. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. |
| US07649944B2 |
Motion vector derivation method, moving picture coding method and moving picture decoding method
A motion vector derivation unit includes a comparison unit for comparing a parameter TR1 for a reference vector with a predetermined value to determine whether it exceeds the predetermined value or not; a switching unit for switching selection between the maximum value of a pre-stored parameter TR and the parameter TR1 according to the comparison result by the comparison unit; a multiplier parameter table (for multipliers); and a multiplier parameter table (for divisors) for associating the parameter TR1 with a value approximate to the inverse value (1/TR1) of this parameter TR1. |
| US07649941B2 |
Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus
A video encoding method comprises selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations each including a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture, generating a prediction picture signal in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination, generating a predictive error signal representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal, and encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination. |
| US07649939B2 |
Apparatus and method for decoding and computing a discrete cosine transform using a butterfly processor
An apparatus to determine the inverse transform of a block of encoded data the block of encoded data comprising a plurality of compressed frequency domain data elements. An input register is configured to receive a predetermined quantity of data elements. At least one butterfly processor is coupled to the input register and is configured to perform at least one mathematical operation on selected pairs of data elements to produce an output of processed data elements. At least one intermediate register is coupled to the butterfly processor and configured to temporarily store the processed data. A feedback loop is coupled to the intermediate register and the butterfly processor, and where if enabled, is configured to transfer a first portion of processed data elements to the appropriate butterfly processor to perform additional mathematical operations and where if disabled, is configured to transfer a second portion of processed data elements to at least one holding register. |
| US07649931B1 |
Equalizer filter with dynamically configurable code domain filter
A technique for an equalizer filter with dynamically configurable code domain filter is described. The input to a transmitter chain is modified by an equalizer filter with dynamically configurable code domain filter, prior to being applied to the transmitter. The equalizer filter with dynamically configurable code domain filter modifies and smoothen the amplitude of the signal. The modified and smoothen signal has its peaks reduced which results in lower Crest Factor with negligible degradation of Error Vector Magnitude of individual codes. The input to the equalizer filter with dynamically configurable code domain filter could be a baseband, an intermediate frequency (IF) or radio frequency (RF) signal. When the signal is an IF or RF signals it needs to be down converted to baseband before applied to the equalizer filter. |
| US07649929B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing modem command and status latency on a digital audio interface within a direct access arrangement circuit
An apparatus for reducing modem command and status latency within a direct access arrangement (DAA) circuit is disclosed. The DAA circuit includes a serial audio interface for providing communications between the DAA circuit and the host computer system. The serial audio interface can operate under multiple serial communication interface standards, such as the AC '97 standard and the HD Audio standard. The DAA circuit also includes means for configuring the serial audio interface to transmit and receive modem samples at an audio sample rate higher than a modem sample rate of the modem samples and at a predetermined bit size that is wider than a bit size of the modem samples. The additional bits other than the modem samples are utilized to indicate command and status information associated with the DAA circuit or a telephone line such that modem command and status latency on the serial audio interface within the DAA circuit can be reduced. |
| US07649921B2 |
Laser module
A laser module includes a semiconductor laser element and a feedback optical component forming an external cavity with the semiconductor laser element. Even if a ratio of a current threshold of the laser module changing according to a polarized state of returned light from the feedback optical component to a current threshold of the semiconductor laser element is in an arbitrary range within a predetermined range, a total value of a relative intensity noise occurring between a first frequency determined according to a cavity length of the external cavity and at least equal to or more than a frequency band of using a laser light and a second frequency calculated by multiplying the first frequency by a predetermined number is equal to or more than −40 dB. |
| US07649920B2 |
Q-switched microlaser apparatus and method for use
A monolithic passively Q switched microlaser includes an optically transparent heat conductive element bonded to a gain medium, which is in turn bonded to a saturable absorber, which may also be bonded to a second optically transparent heat conductive element. Only the gain medium and saturable absorber are disposed within the laser resonator. |
| US07649919B2 |
Automatic power control circuits and methods
An automatic power control (APC) circuit applicable to controlling a laser generation module including a laser generator for generating laser and a photosensor for outputting a detection result corresponding to the power of the laser, includes: a comparator, coupled to the photosensor and biased by a first voltage level, for comparing the detection result and a reference signal to generate a comparison result; a level shifter, coupled the comparator, for shifting an intermediate voltage level controlled by the comparison result to generate a control voltage; and a driver, coupled to the level shifter and the laser generator, for driving the laser generator according to the control voltage and a second voltage level. |
| US07649917B2 |
Method and system for continuous sweeping of a tunable laser
The invention relates to a method and system for providing a set of continuous tuning regions from a discontinuously tuned laser, by providing a wavelength reference having at least first and second resonance peaks, sweeping the laser across a pre-determined wavelength range of the wavelength reference, and defining, within the laser sweep, one or more regions of continuous tuning operation of the laser, each of the regions corresponding to a response of the laser between adjacent resonance peaks of the wavelength reference. The advantage of the invention is that it provides a way for stitching together continuous regions of a multi-section tunable laser in an efficient and accurate manner. |
| US07649915B2 |
Pulsed laser sources
Various embodiments include modelocked fiber laser resonators that may be coupled with optical amplifiers. An isolator may separate the laser resonator from the amplifier, although certain embodiments exclude such an isolator. A reflective optical element on one end of the resonator having a relatively low reflectivity may be employed to couple light from the laser resonator to the amplifier. Enhanced pulse-width control may be provided with concatenated sections of both polarization-maintaining and non-polarization-maintaining fibers. Apodized fiber Bragg gratings and integrated fiber polarizers may be also be included in the laser cavity to assist in linearly polarizing the output of the cavity. Very short pulses with a large optical bandwidth may be obtained by matching the dispersion value of the fiber Bragg grating to the inverse of the dispersion of the intra-cavity fiber. Frequency comb sources may be constructed from such modelocked fiber oscillators. In various exemplary embodiments, low dispersion and an in-line interferometer that provides feedback, assist in controlling the frequency components output from the comb source. |
| US07649914B2 |
Optical fibre laser
A fiber laser is disclosed comprising a single mode or low-order-mode cladding pumped fiber laser oscillator or preamplifier, a cladding pumped fiber laser power amplifier to guide multiple transverse modes, wherein an output from the oscillator or preamplifier is applied through a mode mixing means to the power amplifier to provide that a laser signal of the cladding pumped fiber laser power amplifier is emitted from the fiber laser power amplifier in the multiple transverse modes. |
| US07649912B2 |
Time synchronization, deterministic data delivery and redundancy for cascaded nodes on full duplex ethernet networks
A method and circuit for precisely synchronizing clocks in separate nodes on a communication network is provided by adjusting timestamps and related data in network messages. The circuit will allow a daisy-chain connection of the nodes and will forward time synchronization frames while accounting for delays in a manner that does not use boundary clocks, but does not depart from the IEEE 1588 standard protocol. The delays will be added on the fly to synchronization packets and the IP checksum and frame CRC will be adjusted. Deterministic data delivery and redundant data paths are also provided in a full duplex Ethernet network. |
| US07649907B2 |
Method of processing data in a medium access control (MAC) layer
A method of processing data in a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer through which at least one first channel is mapped to a second channel in a transmitting end of a wireless communication system is disclosed. More specifically, a MAC layer data block is configured by including at least one higher layer data block received through the at least one first channel and adding a header thereto which includes at least one field which indicates at least two types of information. Furthermore, the MAC layer data block is tranferred to a lower layer through the second channel. |
| US07649903B2 |
Method and system for managing traffic in fibre channel systems
Method and system for routing fiber channel frames using a fiber channel switch element is provided. The method includes, inserting a time stamp value in a fiber channel frame that is received at a receive segment of the fibre channel switch element; determining if a timeout occurs after a frame arrives at a receive buffer; and processing the frame if the timeout occurred. The method also includes, determining if a delta time value, which provides an accumulated wait time for a frame, is present in frame data; subtracting the delta time stamp value from a global time stamp value and using the resulting time stamp value to determine frame timeout status in the fiber channel switch element. A timeout checker circuit declares a timeout after comparing a time stamp value that is inserted in a fiber channel frame with a programmed time out value and a global counter value. |
| US07649902B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing syntax-directed application layer data buffering
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates buffering data at a kernel in a computer system, wherein the data is buffered based on the structure of a message contained in the data. The system operates by receiving data at a computer system from an external source. Next, the system buffers the data at a kernel on the computer system. As the system buffers the data, the system also determines if the buffered data constitutes a complete message as defined by a communication protocol. If so, the system forwards the buffered data to an application on the computer system. |
| US07649899B2 |
System and method for dynamic egress routing through a single default gateway in a mesh network
A system and method for dynamic egress routing through a default gateway in a network is disclosed. One aspect of the present invention includes providing a default gateway that manages routes to Internet egress points for a client. The default gateway includes a list of Internet egress points that correspond to the default gateway. A metric is applied to the list to determine the optimal path to an Internet egress point. The default gateway uses the optimal path to manage Internet access routing for the client. Another embodiment includes a system for managing routing to Internet egress points on a network having a default gateway configured to route data packets between the Internet egress points and a client. The default gateway determines the optimal path to the Internet egress points. |
| US07649896B2 |
System using label switching techniques to support QoS for mobile ad-hoc networks and its label distributing and switching method
The present invention provides a system using label switching techniques to support QoS for mobile ad-hoc networks and its label distributing and switching method. The system includes plural clusters, each having plural mobile nodes. At least one mobile node in a cluster is selected as a routing agent. One routing agent in a cluster is selected as a core routing agent. Each core routing agent is capable of obtaining an unique seed for generating an label L=f(S, i, j)=S×3i×2j to a new LSP, where S is an unique seed that is an unique prime number, except 2 and 3, obtained by the core routing agent, i represents one of different kinds of LSP, and j represents one of different numbers for the same kind of LSP. Through the interconnecting of core routing agents, the virtual backbones can be constructed for bandwidth sharing. |
| US07649890B2 |
Packet forwarding apparatus and communication bandwidth control method
In a network for forwarding user packets by a tunneling protocol, an egress edge node to which tunnels concentrate from a plurality of ingress edge nodes allocates a bandwidth to each of sessions multiplexed through each of the tunnels and notifies each of the ingress edge nodes of the allocated bandwidth, and the ingress node notifies private routers or terminal devices of the allocated bandwidth. |
| US07649888B2 |
System for link independent multi-homing in heterogeneous access networks
A system for link-independent multihoming in a network having heterogeneous access network technologies is disclosed, providing such multihoming in a manner transparent to IP connections. The system of the present invention provides constructs and methods for: discovering and selecting a multihoming server; selecting a primary media access control (MAC) address; associating multiple link addresses with a MAC address; and forwarding packets via the multihoming server based on certain defined policies. |
| US07649884B1 |
Collaborative multicast routing (CMR) for multicasting in unidirectional, hybrid, multi-tiered mobile wireless network
The present invention provides a scalable and reliable collaborative multicast routing for multicasting in hybrid, multi-tiered, mobile heterogeneous wireless networks. It establishes a multicast tree, maintains the established route, detects and prevents most link breakage within the multicast tree by a neighboring node or the cooperation of the neighboring node, and enables merging of partitioned multicast trees of the same multicast group by nodes that participate in one of the partitioned multicast trees. The use of local nodes to collaboratively establish, maintain, recover, and merge the hybrid, multi-tiered mobile wireless networks that use heterogeneous set of mobile wireless nodes is the fundamental basis for the collaborative multicast routing scheme of the present invention. |
| US07649880B2 |
Systems and methods for deriving storage area commands
Systems and methods for quickly resolving storage area commands from packet addresses are presented. Clients exchange packets comprising addresses and payloads with physical storage areas that have controllers using a stateless protocol. Modules use the addresses in addition to payloads to derive commands that are understandable by the controller. Furthermore, the neither the module nor the controller require use of a file system to interact with the physical storage area. Modules can derive the storage area commands through resolving a context associated with physical storage area. In some embodiments, modules split addresses into portions that can be used as indices into context lookup tables. In other embodiments, modules can employ variants to router address lookup algorithms to quickly resolve storage area commands. |
| US07649878B2 |
Circuit control apparatus and method
A circuit control apparatus for establishing a connection to a communication partner via a public circuit network or via a computer network is disclosed. The circuit control apparatus includes: a specifying information storing part 171 for storing specifying information for specifying a called party to which the circuit control apparatus originates a call to establish a connection via the public circuit network; a circuit control part 11 for immediately originating a call via the public circuit network for establishing a connection to a called party specified by the specifying information, and for trying to originate a call via the computer network for establishing a connection to a called party that is not included in the specifying information storing part; and a changing part 16 for changing specifying information in the specifying information storing part. |
| US07649877B2 |
Mobile device for sending text messages
A mobile device includes a display device, a modem interface to communicate with a network, an input interface to receive data, and processing logic responsive to the input interface. The mobile device also includes a memory accessible to the processing logic. The memory includes a plurality of instructions executable by the processing logic to provide a user interface to the display device. The user interface includes a first area to receive a text message and a second area to receive an identifier associated with an addressee device. The memory also includes instructions executable by the processing logic to receive the text message and to submit the text message for conversion into an audio message and for transmission of the audio message to the addressee destination device. |
| US07649871B2 |
Communication control apparatus for determining data transmission timing with a node type and a state variable
A communication control apparatus, mounted on each node of a telecommunications system, receives node type information selected by a neighboring node, and transmits node type information selected by the own node and node type information of another node. The apparatus receives the state variable signal of the neighboring node reflecting a phase representing another node's data transmission timing, and transmits a state variable signal representing the own node's data transmission timing. Subsequently, the apparatus selects the own node's node type in accordance with another node's type information received. The apparatus then varies, based on the own node's node type information selected, another node's node type information and the neighboring node's state variable signal, the state of the own node's phase in accordance with a time evolution rule based on a phase response function and a synchronization alliance function for thereby determining the own node's data transmission timing. |
| US07649870B2 |
Multi-hop multi-channel wireless communication system
A multi-hop wireless communication system operates on multiple channels. Each wireless station in the system has at least two transmitting and receiving modules operating on different fixed channels. During transmission and reception of the packets, the transmitting and receiving modules are used selectively on each hop, using a channel supported by the wireless stations at both ends of the hop. When two or more channels are available, the channel used is selected so as to balance channel usage in the system as a whole, or on the multi-hop path as a whole. Alternatively, each wireless station may have a fixed transmitting channel. Communication delays are reduced because channel switching overhead is eliminated. |
| US07649865B2 |
Service-activation based state switching
A method and system for providing a broadcast or multicast service to a terminal device in a data network, wherein a connection state of the terminal device is switched to a dedicated channel state in which a dedicated physical channel is allocated to the terminal device, in response to a broadcast service notification. Thereby, point-to-point connections can be used for data transmission of said broadcast or multicast service, without requiring any additional responses from the concerned terminal devices. |
| US07649864B2 |
Allocation period determination for packet data
An allocation period for packet data in a packet data communication system is determined. Measurements from mobile stations are collected and a maximum allocation period for at least one possible base station for transmitting data packets to the mobile station is determined on the basis of the collected measurements. A base station and a corresponding allocation period are selected on the basis of the at least one determined maximum allocation period. |
| US07649855B1 |
Alternative 1000BASE-T scrambler
A physical coding sublayer (PCS) device includes a first data scrambler, a second data scrambler, and a selector. The first data scrambler scrambles first data and implements a first scrambling cycle. The second data scrambler scrambles second data and implements a second scrambling cycle. The second data is different than the first data. The second scrambling cycle is shorter than the first scrambling cycle. The selector selects the first data scrambler to scramble the first data during normal operations. The selector selects the second data scrambler to scramble the second data during testing. The first data scrambler does not scramble the second data. The second data scrambler does not scramble the first data. |
| US07649853B1 |
Method for keeping and searching network history for corrective and preventive measures
A method is provided for identifying an event of network activity associated with a network where the network includes a plurality of interfaces and the method includes providing a first data structure comprising a node, partitioning the plurality of interfaces into a plurality of groups, associating the plurality of groups with the node, providing a vector corresponding to a group of the plurality of groups for representing a summary of the network activity, and identifying an event of network activity according to the vector. Experimental results are shown to demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the invention. |
| US07649851B2 |
Virtual network management method, virtual network management program, virtual network management system, and virtual network means
The invention relates to a network management method wherein: a service management equipment holds the mapping of services and virtual networks as management information; a managed server sends an advice to a VLAN management equipment when its status changes; and the VLAN management equipment receives the advice and refers to the information contained in the advice to thereby identify the managed server and the connection port of a network switch, and configures a virtual network belonging to the identified port of the network switch. The method alleviates the task of reconfiguration associated with the adding or deleting of servers. |
| US07649849B2 |
Systems and methods for measuring transport utilization
Systems and methods of measuring transport utilization are provided. A method may include receiving data regarding a number of stuff bits used to pad an unused portion of at least one frame. The at least one frame may have a fixed data payload. The method may also include determining a first transport utilization measurement based on the number of stuff bits and based on the size of the fixed data payload. |
| US07649848B1 |
Ability to apply different levels of quality of service (QoS) to different sessions in an IPsec tunnel
Quality of Service (QoS) is provided to a secure data tunnel such an IPsec tunnel using information about the tunnel and the underlying data session to formulate a set of bandwidth requirements. A policy server operates to receive the information to create the set of bandwidth requirements which are enforced by a termination device. The termination device sets the bandwidths. QoS can be provided on a static or continuous basis. QoS can be provided on a dynamic basis. QoS can be provided at different levels depending on the type of data session. Multiple QoS can be provided for multiple data sessions existing simultaneously using multiple SSIDs. |
| US07649840B2 |
Method, means and computer program product for controlling and/or restricting use of telecommunications connection
The invention includes method for monitoring and/or limiting the use of a data communications connection subject to payment between IP clients in a packet-switched connection network, in which method the operator terminal, such as a SIP system, of the signalling channel of the connection station of the client is set to control a traffic limiter, such as a firewall in the operator's traffic-relaying system between the source terminal and the destination terminal. The invention also includes a system for limiting the use of a data communications connection subject to payment, between IP clients, in a packet-switched connection network and a computer software product for limiting the use of a data communications connection subject to payment, between IP clients, in a packet-switched connection network. |
| US07649839B2 |
Method and device for managing data rate in a communication system
A method is provided for managing a data rate in a communication system that includes a first device. The first device receives (202) at least one data packet from a second device over a link, wherein the at least one data packet is sent at a first data rate, and monitors (204) a frequency of occurrence of early termination of transmissions on the link. The first device further determines (206) a second different data rate for the link based on the frequency of occurrence of early termination of transmissions and sends (208) a request to the second device to adjust the first data rate to the second data rate for subsequent transmission of data packets. Thereafter, the first device receives (210) at least one data packet from the second device over the link at the second data rate. |
| US07649836B2 |
Link state machine for the advanced switching (AS) architecture
A link state machine for the Advanced Switching (AS) Architecture includes added transition sub-states. Transition events typically handled in AS link states are handled in the transition sub-states. Separating the transition events and flow from the link states into smaller transition sub-states may make the AS link machine easier to manage and facilitate debugging efforts. |
| US07649835B2 |
Unsynchronous mode brother's keeper bus guardian for a ring networks
In one embodiment, a node comprises an interface to communicatively couple the node to a first channel. The first channel communicatively couples the node to a first neighbor node and a first neighbor's neighbor node in a first direction. When the node is operating in an unsynchronized mode: the node relays, along the first channel, for a relay period, data received from the first neighbor node that was sourced from that first neighbor node and, after relaying the data received from the first neighbor node that was sourced from that first neighbor node and for a block period, the node blocks data received from the first neighbor while the node relays, along the first channel, data received from the first neighbor's neighbor node. |
| US07649830B2 |
Hybrid type channel estimation method and system for mobile environment
Disclosed herein is a hybrid channel estimation method and system for an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) wireless communication system. The hybrid channel estimation method includes the steps of acquiring a first channel coefficient using decision-directed channel estimation; acquiring a second channel coefficient using pilot-symbol-aided channel estimation; and calculating the final channel coefficient of a received signal by multiplying the first and second coefficients by first and second multiplication coefficients, respectively, and adding the multiplication results. The step of acquiring the first channel coefficient using the decision-directed channel estimation includes the steps of acquiring an initial channel coefficient by processing a long training symbol using a Least Square (LS) method; generating data by equalizing, demodulating and modulating a fast Fourier transformed new symbol using a previously estimated channel coefficient; and acquiring a new channel coefficient by dividing the new symbol by the data. |
| US07649826B2 |
Optical information recording reproduction device
An optical information recording reproduction device is disclosed which finds the correlation between the ratio of the minimum pit amplitude to the maximum pit amplitude of an RF signal obtained from the light reflected by the pits recorded on an optical disk in a tracking servo mode and spherical aberration in advance, and stores it. In recoding information on the optical disk, the optical information recording reproduction device calculates the ratio of the minimum pit amplitude to the maximum pit amplitude of the RF signal, and compares the calculation to the stored correlation, and feeds back to an aberration correction optical system and a driving mechanical system to correct the aberration into an aplanatic state. |
| US07649822B2 |
Recording and reproducing apparatus and recording method
A recording/reproducing apparatus is provided which can write continuously a file of large-capacity at high-speed.A record area of HDD is provided with a disk cache area for temporarily storing data to be written. The disk cache area is defined as a area that is not used by a host apparatus (3) in an LBA space, and the disk cache area is disposed in an area with a high transfer rate such as an outer circumferential area of a disk (10). A file transferred from the host apparatus (3) is written in the disk cache area, and the file is transferred from the disk cache area to a usual user area during an idle period to release the disk cache area and prepare for next transfer data write. |
| US07649819B2 |
High-density recording medium and method and apparatus for controlling data playback thereof
Disclosed herein are a high-density recording medium and a method and apparatus for controlling data playback thereof. Playback control information, such as channel bit length information, is recorded in a burst cutting area (BCA) of a high-density optical disc in a wobble type. When the high-density optical disc is reproduced, the playback control information is detected in a push-pull signal detection mode and the optimum data playback operation corresponding to the recording capacity of the optical disc is performed on the basis of the detected playback control information. Alternatively, bit error rates (BERs) are calculated while a plurality of predetermined bit detection modes are sequentially performed, one of the bit detection modes corresponding to the smallest one of the calculated BERs is selected and the data playback operation is performed in the selected bit detection mode. Therefore, it is possible to perform a data playback operation optimal to the recording capacity of a BD-ROM (Blu-ray Disc-ROM) even through disc information (DI) is recorded in a PIC (Permanent Information & Control data) zone of the BD-ROM in a recording format necessitating a decoding process and the recording capacity is any of different values such as 23 Gbytes, 25 Gbytes, 27 Gbytes, etc. |
| US07649818B2 |
Optical recording apparatus and method for searching for recording power of the same
An optical recording apparatus uses a method of searching for a recording power, where the method includes: searching for a first optimum recording power; recording data on an optical disc at the first optimum recording power; determining whether recording environments are changed when a user desires to re-record the data after recording the data in the optical recording apparatus; re-searching for the optimum recording power when the recording environments are changed, and determining the researched optimum recording power to be a second optimum recording power; and recording the data at the second optimum recording power. |
| US07649813B2 |
Accessing audio-centered information using a multilevel table-of-contents mechanism and directory structures
Audio-centered information is stored on a unitary medium by a Table-of-Contents (TOC) mechanism for specifying an actual configuration of various audio items on the medium. In addition to the TOC mechanism a file-based access mechanism to the information is assigned through a ROOT directory that contains a highest level TOC directory pointing at various audio items. |
| US07649812B2 |
Time adjustment device, timepiece with a time adjustment device, and a time adjustment method
A time adjustment device having a reception unit that receives satellite signals transmitted from positioning information satellites; a time information generating unit that generates internal time information; a time information adjustment component that corrects the internal time information; and a reception controller that controls operation of the reception unit; wherein the satellite signal contains satellite time information that is kept by the positioning information satellite; the reception unit can select a first reception mode for receiving first information including the hour, minute, and second data in the satellite signal, and a second reception mode for receiving second information including the hour, minute, and second data, week information for the current year, month, and day, and satellite health information in the satellite signal; the time information adjustment component includes a time adjustment recording component that records whether or not the time was adjusted using the second information received in the second reception mode after the internal time information was initialized, a first time information adjustment component that controls the reception unit by way of the reception controller in the first reception mode to receive the first information, and sets the hour, minute, and second values of the internal time information based on the received first information, and a second time information adjustment component that controls the reception unit in the second reception mode to receive the second information, and sets the year, month, day, hour, minute, and second values of the internal time information using the received second information; the first time information adjustment component operates when it is recorded in the time adjustment recording component that the time was adjusted using the second information; and the second time information adjustment component operates when it is not recorded in the time adjustment recording component that the time was adjusted using the second information. |
| US07649810B2 |
Tamper resistant hourmeter for mower
A tamper resistant hourmeter is provided for an engine powered lawn mower. The hourmeter has a first pin connected to a positive voltage from a battery through a key actuated switch, a second pin to ground, a third pin to a magneto ignition, and a fourth pin to a fuel shutoff solenoid. The tamper resistant hourmeter connects the positive voltage from the battery to the fuel shutoff solenoid. The fuel shutoff solenoid opens a fuel line to the engine only if the key actuated switch is in either of the run or start positions. |
| US07649808B2 |
Distance measuring system and method utilizing infrared radiation and ultrasonic wave
A distance measuring system comprising: a transmitter that simultaneously emits an infrared radiation and an ultrasonic wave; and a receiver that include a table showing a relationship between an arrival time, indicative of a period from detection of the received infrared radiation to detection of the received ultrasonic wave, and a required received signal strength of the ultrasonic wave corresponding to the arrival time when the ultrasonic wave is directly received, that compares the received signal strength of the ultrasonic wave with a required received signal strength corresponding to the arrival time retrieved from the table, and that calculates the distance to the transmitter based on the arrival time when the received signal strength of the ultrasonic wave is higher than the required received signal strength corresponding to the arrival time retrieved from the table. |
| US07649807B2 |
Method for locating an impact on a surface and device for implementing such a method
Method for locating an impact on a surface (9), in which acoustic sensors (6) pick up acoustic signals ski (t) generated by the impact and the impact is located by calculating, for a number of reference points of index j, a validation parameter representative of a function: PRODkji1i2. . . i2P(ω)=φSki1(ω) φRji1(ω)*φSki2(ω)*φRji2(ω) . . . φSki2p(ω)*φRji2p(ω) where: φSki(ω) and φRji(ω)* are complex phases of Ski(ω) and of Rji(ω), for i=i1, i2, . . . , i2p, indices denoting sensors, Ski(ω) and Rji(ω) being the Fourier transform of ski(t) and rji(t), rji(t) being a reference signal corresponding to the sensor i for an impact at the reference point j, p being a non-zero integer no greater than NSENS/2. |
| US07649804B2 |
In-situ determination of yield stress state of earth formations
Determination of in-situ rock yield stress state of a geological formation surrounding a borehole includes determining a profile for each of an axial effective, a radial effective, and a hoop effective stress within at least one axial plane containing a borehole axis. A predicted radial shear response radial profile is calculated from the effective stresses within the at least one axial plane. A measurement-based estimate of a shear response radial profile within the at least one axial plane is determined from measured data. A maximum radial distance at which a difference between the predicted and measurement-based shear response radial profiles is identified within the at least one axial plane as being greater than a difference threshold. The respective axial, radial, and hoop stresses, are determined at the identified maximum radial distance. The identified stresses are indicative of an in-situ yield stress state of the rock. |
| US07649801B2 |
Semiconductor memory apparatus having column decoder for low power consumption
The present invention relates to a column decoder for low power consumption in a semiconductor memory apparatus. The semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a column select signal decoder, which has a driving voltage input node and uses a driving voltage, for producing a plurality of column select signals by decoding a column select control signal; and a driving voltage supply controller for controlling a supply of the driving voltage to the driving voltage input node. |
| US07649800B2 |
Logic circuit and word-driver circuit
Disclosed is a logic circuit which includes first and second MOS transistors which are connected in series between a first signal-input terminal and GND. The gates of the first and second MOS transistors are connected in common to a second signal-input terminal and a connection node between the drains of the first and second MOS transistors is connected to an output terminal. When the first and second MOS transistors are both in an off state, the output terminal is less than or equal to a low level. |
| US07649798B2 |
Memory device using antifuses
Herein described is a method of implementing one or more native NMOS antifuses in an integrated circuit. Also described is a method for programming one or more native NMOS antifuses used within a memory device. The method further comprises verifying one or more states of the one or more native NMOS antifuses after the programming has been performed. In a representative embodiment, the one or more native NMOS antifuses are implemented by blocking the implantation of a dopant into a substrate of an integrated circuit. In a representative embodiment, an integrated circuit incorporates the use of one or more native NMOS antifuses. In a representative embodiment, the integrated circuit comprises a memory device, such as a one time programmable memory. |
| US07649793B1 |
Channel estimation for multi-level memories using pilot signals
Embodiments of the present invention provide channel estimation for multi-level memories using pilot signals. A memory apparatus includes a memory block comprising a plurality of memory cells and adapted to operate with at least two levels of signals for writing data into and reading data from the memory cells. At least two memory cells are employed as reference cells to output a plurality of pilot signals. The memory apparatus also includes a channel block operatively coupled to the memory block, and adapted to facilitate the writing and reading of data into and from the memory cells. The channel block is also adapted to receive the pilot signals and determine one or more disturbance parameters based at least in part on the pilot signals and to compensate the read back signals based at least in part on the determined one or more disturbance parameters during said reading of data from the memory cells. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US07649790B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device is provided that is capable of detecting a short circuit defect to be detected in a memory array without causing an error due to off-current of a sense amplifier circuit. Sense amplifier circuits amplify a potential between a pair of bit lines, which occurs based on potential of memory cells selected by driving word lines and bit lines. Selection transistors are provided between the bit lines and the sense amplifier circuits. A word-SE interval control circuit included in an X timing generating circuit turns off the selection transistors and disconnects the bit lines from the sense amplifier circuits based on a signal representing a test state for expanded time when a test to expand an interval between word line driving and activation of the sense amplifier circuits and detect defect sites of the bit lines is performed. |
| US07649786B2 |
Non-volatile memory architecture and method, in particular of the EEPROM type
A memory architecture includes at least one matrix of memory cells of the EEPROM type organized in rows or word lines and columns or bit lines. Each memory cell includes a floating gate cell transistor and a selection transistor and is connected to a source line shared by the matrix. The memory cells are organized in words, all the memory cells belonging to a same word being driven by a byte switch, which is, in turn, connected to at least one control gate line. The memory cells further have accessible substrate terminals connected to a first additional line. |
| US07649784B2 |
Memory cell programming methods capable of reducing coupling effects
In a memory cell programming method, first through n-th programming operations are performed to program first through n-th bits of the n bits of data using the plurality of threshold voltage distributions. The first through n-th programming operations are performed sequentially. A threshold voltage difference between threshold voltage distributions used in the n-th programming operation is less than or equal to at least one threshold voltage difference between threshold voltage distributions used in the first through (n−1)-th programming operations. |
| US07649783B2 |
Delayed activation of selected wordlines in memory
Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to receive an external read command at a control circuit coupled to a memory array. Individual wordline activation may be delayed according to a delay period determined by a read level voltage magnitude associated with a plurality of memory cells included in the array. |
| US07649782B2 |
Non-volatile memory having a dynamically adjustable soft program verify voltage level and method therefor
An erase operation in a non-volatile memory includes selecting a block on which to perform an erase operation, erasing the selected block, receiving test data corresponding to the selected block, determining a soft program verify voltage level based on the test data, and soft programming the erased selected block using the soft program verify voltage level. A non-volatile memory includes a plurality of blocks, a test block which stores test data corresponding to each of the plurality of blocks, and a flash control coupled to the plurality of blocks and the test block, the flash control determining a soft program verify voltage level for a particular block of the plurality of blocks based on the test data for the particular block when the particular block is being soft programmed. |
| US07649779B2 |
Integrated circuits; methods for manufacturing an integrated circuit; memory modules; computing systems
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to integrated circuits, methods for manufacturing an integrated circuit, memory modules, and computing systems. |
| US07649778B2 |
Method for accessing in reading, writing and programming to a NAND non-volatile memory electronic device monolithically integrated on semiconductor
A method for accessing, in reading, programming, and erasing a semiconductor-integrated non-volatile memory device of the Flash EEPROM type with a NAND architecture having at least one memory matrix organized in rows or word lines and columns or bit lines, and wherein, for the memory, a plurality of additional address pins are provided. The method provides both an access protocol of the asynchronous type and a protocol of the extended type allowing to address, directly and in parallel, a memory extended portion by loading an address register associated with the additional pins in two successive clock pulses. A third multi-sequential access mode and a parallel additional bus referring to the additional address pins are also provided to allow a double addressing mode, sequential and in parallel. |
| US07649777B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory cell matrix with divided write/erase, a method for operating the same, monolithic integrated circuits and systems
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes a plurality of word lines WL; a plurality of bit lines BL; memory cell transistors having a charge storage layer arranged in the column whose charge storage state is controlled by one of the word lines; memory cell transistor rows MSGm, MSGn functioning as select gate lines by injecting a charge into the charge storage layer of a memory cell transistor to form an enhancement mode transistor. Any one of a first select gate transistor or a second transistor, or both may be formed by a memory cell transistor functioning as a select gate transistor. |
| US07649776B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory system
According to an embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory system includes: a nonvolatile semiconductor memory; and a memory controller having: a memory interface unit that inputs commands to the nonvolatile semiconductor memory and inputs or outputs data between the nonvolatile semiconductor memory; a memory that stores writing information indicating a memory cell transistor that is written the latest in each of the NAND cell units; and a processor that sets a read voltage based on the writing information to readout data from the memory cell transistors connected to a first word line; wherein a row controller is configured to set a plurality of levels of the read voltage to be applied to the first word line, with respect to one threshold for discriminating data stored in a memory cell transistors. |
| US07649775B2 |
Flash memory device applying erase voltage
A flash memory device includes; a plurality of layers, each one including memory cells arranged in a matrix of rows and columns, a layer decoder configured to select one of the plurality of layers to thereby define a selected layer and an unselected layer, a voltage generator configured to generate an erase voltage at a level higher than ground voltage, and an internal voltage, and a row select circuit configured to apply the erase voltage to the selected layer, and apply at least one of the erase voltage and the internal voltage to the unselected layer during an erase operation. |
| US07649772B2 |
Memory and method for programming in multiple storage region multi-level cells
A method for programming a memory, which includes multiple multi-level cells each having a left half cell and a right half cell, includes the following steps. First, a target address corresponding to 2n-group data to be stored is provided, wherein n is a positive integer. Next, the 2n-group data is sequentially programmed into the multi-level cells based upon the target address in a programming loop so that the data stored in the left half cells and the data stored in the right half cells are from different groups of the 2n-group data. |
| US07649769B2 |
Circuit arrays having cells with combinations of transistors and nanotube switching elements
Circuit arrays having cells with combinations of transistors and nanotube switches. Under one embodiment, cells are arranged as pairs with the nanotube switching elements of the pair being cross coupled so that the set electrode of one nanotube switching element is coupled to the release electrode of the other and the release electrode of the one nanotube switching element being coupled to the set electrode of the other. The nanotube articles are coupled to the reference line, and the source of one field effect transistor of a pair is coupled to the set electrode to one of the two nanotube switching elements and the source of the other field effect transistor of the pair is coupled to the release electrode to the one of the two nanotube switching elements. |
| US07649764B2 |
Memory with shared write bit line(s)
A memory includes at least one write bit line and a plurality of memory cells. The at least one write bit line is configured to carry a write bit signal. The plurality of memory cells are arranged in a column and are configured to be selectively coupled to the at least one write bit line. The plurality of memory cells are configured to be selectively read or written in a first phase of a cycle and selectively read or written in a second phase of the cycle using the at least one write bit line. |
| US07649763B2 |
Nonvolatile ferroelectric memory
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a nonvolatile ferroelectric memory, including a ferroelectric capacitor composed of a ferroelectric film sandwiched by capacitor electrodes made of a conductive material, a cell capacitor block stacked a plurality of the capacitor electrodes and the ferroelectric film of the ferroelectric capacitor perpendicular to a main surface of a silicon substrate in layer, a cell transistor having a drain electrode and a source electrode, the drain electrode and the source electrode are electrically connected to the ferroelectric capacitor in parallel, a memory cell composed of the ferroelectric capacitor and the cell transistor, a cell block having the plurality of memory cells electrically connected in series, the drain electrode and the source electrode being as a terminals, a word line, a bit line connected to one end of the cell block, the bit line being arranged along orthogonal direction to the word line and a plate line connected to the other end of the cell block, the plate line arranged along the word line. |
| US07649759B2 |
Serial content addressable memory
A technique is presented for implementing a content addressable memory (CAM) function using traditional memory, where the input data is serially loaded into a serial CAM. Various additions, which allow for predicting the result of a serial CAM access coincident with the completion of serially inputting the data are also presented. |
| US07649758B2 |
Power supply apparatus, methods and computer program products using D-Q domain based synchronization techniques
A value of an AC reference waveform is obtained and converted to a d-q reference frame value. A phase estimate is generated responsive to the d-q reference frame value. An AC output of the power supply apparatus is controlled responsive to an output current of the power supply apparatus and the phase estimate. For example, an output current value may be obtained and converted to a d-q reference frame current value responsive to the phase estimate, and the AC output may be controlled responsive to the d-q reference frame current value. |
| US07649756B2 |
Common mode noise reduction in converter systems through modification of single phase switching signal
A method and apparatus for reducing common mode noise in a three phase pulse width modulated (PWM) system, the method comprising the steps of receiving the first, second and third modulating waveforms, identifying one of the modulating waveforms that is at least one of instantaneously the maximum and instantaneously the minimum of the modulating waveforms as a first identified waveform, wherein comparison of the first identified waveform to the carrier signal would generate a first on-off pulse sequence associated with a phase corresponding to the first identified waveform, generating switch control signals associated with the phase corresponding to the first identified waveform that cause a modified on-off pulse sequence that is phase shifted from the first pulse sequence, using the second and third modulating waveforms to generate second and third on-off pulse sequences corresponding to the second and third phases and providing the modified pulse sequence and the second and third pulse sequences to the one of the inverter and the converter. |
| US07649754B1 |
Self limiting zero voltage switching power conversion networks
The subject invention reveals a new three terminal canonical cell for non-isolated power conversion. The canonical cell achieves reduced semiconductor component stresses for applications with limited line voltage range for small step up and step down ratios or for large step up and step down ratios. Some of the canonical cells can be used to form buck, boost, and buck boost converters. The new canonical cell achieves zero voltage switching over a broad range of line and load voltages and is self limiting without the addition of additional components to sense and respond to over load current. |
| US07649753B2 |
Power supply for electrostatic precipitator
An exemplary embodiment of the disclosure pertains to a high-voltage AC-DC converter converting alternating input current into high-voltage direct current to be provided to a load, e.g. for use of powering an electrostatic precipitator. The converter includes at least one unit for the conversion of the alternating (AC) input current into high frequency alternating (AC) current, at least one transformer for adapting the high frequency alternating (AC) current to requirements of the load. A series loaded resonant tank is provided between the at least one unit and the at least one transformer. Modularizing of the topology is achieved in that there are at least two units for the conversion of the alternating (AC) input current into high frequency alternating (AC) current connected to the same transformer. |
| US07649752B2 |
Riser card module
A riser card module includes a riser card and a mounting rack. The riser card is inserted in a slot of a main board vertically and has a first hook member arranged on the side of the slot. The mounting rack includes an upright board and an engagement member. The upright board mounts the riser card in parallel. The engagement member has a mounted portion, a force portion, and a hook portion. The mounted portion is mounted on the upright board. The force portion and the mounted portion form a predetermined angle. The hook member is connected on the force portion and has a second hook member hooking on the first hook member. When the force portion is pressed toward a direction reducing the predetermined angle, the second hook member is disengaged from the first hook member. |
| US07649751B2 |
Apparatus for inexpensive mezzanine-type card board-to-board connector blind mate alignment system using printed circuit board material
An alignment system for a mezzanine-type printed circuit board is provided. The alignment system includes tab portions formed from the insulating material of the printed circuit board, in which the tab portions engage receptacles and limit movement of the printed circuit board. |
| US07649745B2 |
Circuit board including stubless signal paths and method of making same
A circuit board may include first and second sides, a plurality of circuit board layers between the sides, and a plurality of signal traces located in respective circuit board layers. The circuit board layers and the signal traces may extend from a first component connection region at the first side of the circuit board to a second component connection region at the first side of the circuit board. The signal traces may thus form stubless signal paths through the circuit board between the component connection regions. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment. |
| US07649740B2 |
Stacked mounting structure
In a stacked mounting structure At least a pair of a first connecting terminal and a second connecting terminal is formed, and further, the stacked mounting structure includes a protruding electrode which is provided on at least any one of the first connecting terminal and the second connecting terminal, and an electroconductive paste which is formed on a side surface of an intermediate substrate, and which electrically connects the first connecting terminal and the second connecting terminal. The first connecting terminal and the second connecting terminal are exposed by a recess in a surface of the intermediate substrate. The first connecting terminal and the second connecting terminal are electrically connected via the protruding electrode and the electroconductive paste in the recess which is provided in the intermediate substrate. |
| US07649738B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device is provided with an enclosure having a side wall in which vent holes are formed, a heat generator stored in the enclosure, a radiator disposed adjacent to the vent holes, a heat receiver thermally connected to the heat generator, a heat transmission member having one end thermally connected to the heat receiver and the other end thermally connected to the radiator, a fan disposed adjacent to the radiator to generate cooling air toward the radiator, and a seal member that seals a gap formed between the radiator and the side wall having the vent holes formed therein. |
| US07649737B2 |
Flat panel display
The invention provides a technique enabling an image of high quality to be displayed while decreasing an effect of an outside light proceeding toward a back surface of PDP through a through hole for mounting an electric circuit on a chassis. A flat panel display of the invention includes a display panel, a metallic chassis having a through hole and joints for connecting the back surface of the display panel and the chassis to each other. The joints are on the back surface of the display panel distant from each other in a predetermined direction, and one of the joints is arranged at a position corresponding to the through hole of the chassis. |
| US07649727B2 |
Method and apparatus for remotely operating AC powered appliances from video interphones or shopping terminals
A method for adding and connecting a remotely operated SPDT relay to an electric power circuit of an AC appliance connected to a manually actuated electrical SPDT switch for integrating said AC appliance into an home automation network, each said relay and said SPDT switch includes a pole terminal and dual traveler terminals and said relay is similar to a shape and a size of an AC switch fit for installation into a standard electrical box. |
| US07649721B2 |
Fault current limiting
An alternating current system 10 has a primary circuit 11 which forms a primary winding 18 on a core 16. A secondary winding 24 is connected with a current source 26 or, alternatively, with an impedance 60. The core 16 is threaded by a superconducting coil 20 having a current source 22. In normal use, current in the coil 20 provides a DC bias level of flux in the core 16, and the source 26 is varied to maintain substantially constant flux, thereby minimizing losses in the primary circuit 11. In fault conditions, current in the coil 20 is reduced or removed to increase voltage losses across the coil 18, thereby limiting fault current. The impedance 60 can also be switched into circuit, creating further current limiting by virtue of the transformer effect of the windings 18, 24. |
| US07649715B2 |
Magnetic head assembly bonding electrode pad of slider and electrode pad of flexible wiring substrate together by solder
A magnetic head assembly is provided. The magnetic head assembly includes a slider in which a head element is mounted. A flexure supports the slider. The flexure includes a pair of outriggers, a connection portion, and a tongue portion. A flexible wiring substrate is fixedly bonded to the surface of the flexure. An electrode pad of the slider and an electrode pad of the flexible wiring substrate are bonded to each other by solder. A plurality of solder bonded portions are arranged on the connection portion. A deformable portion is formed in the pair of outriggers and located on an extended line on which the solder bonded portions are arranged, so that the free end side of the flexure is deformable. |
| US07649713B2 |
Thin-film magnetic head with heating element and heatsink
A thin-film magnetic head that has an improved protrusion efficiency under the condition of not only assuring the reliability of the-heating operation, but also stabilizing the read output is provided. The head comprises: a magnetic head element for writing and/or reading data signals; a heating element for generating heat at least during operations of the magnetic head element; and a first heatsink element provided adjacent to the heating element for receiving a part of the heat generated from the heating element, the first heatsink element being a distance from the magnetic head element. |
| US07649712B2 |
Self aligned wrap around shield for perpendicular magnetic recording
A write element for use in perpendicular magnetic recording. The write element including a write pole and a self aligned wrap around shield that can have a trailing shield gap thickness that is different from its side shield gap thickness. The materials making up the trailing shield gap and the side shield gaps can be different materials or can be the same material deposited in two different steps. The side or wrap around portions of the trailing shield can extend down to the level of the leading edge of the write pole or can terminate at some point between the levels of the leading and trailing edge to form a partial wrap around trailing shield. |
| US07649711B2 |
Double notched shield and pole structure for stray field reduction in a magnetic head
A double notched magnetic structure for use in a magnetic head for avoiding stray field writing. The structure could be a magnetic shield, magnetic pole of a write head or some other magnetic structure used in a magnetic head of a magnetic recording system, and has notches formed at both the front end (adjacent to the ABS) and at the back end (away from the ABS). The notches at the front end form a forward protruding portions that performs the necessary function of the structure, such as magnetic shielding, and has laterally extending recessed portions (recessed by the front notches) that move the flux focal points of the structure away from the ABS to avoid stray field writing. The back notches form a backward extending portion that affects the geometry of the structure to prevent the focusing of magnetic flux caused by stray magnetic fields having a component perpendicular to the ABS. |
| US07649707B2 |
Auto-servo tape system and associated recording head
A recording head comprises a first tape-head contact area including a first write element and a first read element, which itself may include an MR sensor element. The first read element is laterally offset as to the first write element, and no portion of the first read element lies in a region laterally overlapped by the first write element. A second tape-head contact area includes a second write element and a second read element, which also may include an MR sensor element. The second read element is laterally offset as to the second write element, and no portion of the second read element lies in a region laterally overlapped by the second write element. The first read and write elements of the first tape-head contact area are aligned with the second write and read elements of the second tape-head contact area so that an end portion of the second write element lies in a region that laterally overlaps only an end portion of the first write element. Data track widths less than one micron are achievable with this head design. |
| US07649706B2 |
Apparatus, medium, and method controlling flying height of a magnetic head of a disk drive
Provided is an apparatus, medium, and method controlling a flying height of a magnetic head of a disk drive so that a clearance between a disk and the magnetic head in a data write mode can be similar, e.g., substantially the same, as that of the magnetic head in a data read mode. The apparatus may includes a disk storing information, a magnetic head including a magnetic read element detecting a magnetic field on the disk, a magnetic write element magnetizing a portion of the disk, a structure generating an air bearing between a surface of the disk and the magnetic read element and magnetic write element, and a heater heating the structure that generates the air bearing, and a current supply circuit supplying current to the heater so that a clearance between the disk and the magnetic head in a write mode can be similar, e.g., substantially the same, as that of the magnetic head in a read mode. |
| US07649703B2 |
Lens driving apparatus
A lens driving apparatus 1 of the present invention includes a substantially cylindrical yoke 3; a base 5 to which the yoke 3 is attached; a carrier 7 having a lens; a coil 10; and a magnet 13, wherein the carrier 7 is moved in a direction of an optical axis of a lens by electromagnetic force generated by passing current through the coil 10, the base 5 is substantially square-shaped as viewed from a plane, the yoke 3 is placed at an inner position of the base 5, the yoke 3 has an outer peripheral wall 3a and an annular inner peripheral wall 3b to be spaced to each other, each magnet is placed between the outer peripheral wall and the inner peripheral wall and at a position corresponding to a base corner portion of the base 5, and a space between the outer peripheral wall 3a and the inner peripheral wall 3b positioned at a base side portion 3e is made narrower than a space between the outer peripheral wall 3a and the inner peripheral wall 3b positioned at the base corner portion. |
| US07649693B2 |
Zoom lens and image pick-up apparatus
A zoom lens including a broad picture angle of 60 to 100 degrees as a photographic picture angle of the wide-angle end state, and having a magnification ratio of about three to six times, small front gem diameter, excellent compactness and high image formation performance, which is used in a video camera or a digital still camera, and an image pick-up apparatus using such a zoom lens. A zoom lens (20), consisting of plural groups and serving to change group spacing or spacings to thereby perform a magnification changing or adjusting operation, comprises a first lens group GR1 having positive refractive power, a second lens group GR2 having negative refractive power and a third lens group GR3 having positive refractive power which are arranged in order from the object side, and a last group GRR arranged at the side closest to the image surface and having negative refractive power, wherein the first lens group GR1 is constituted by single positive lens G1, and satisfies the following conditional formulas. 0.5 |
| US07649691B2 |
Dynamic variable shape optical element
Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are disclosed to provide a dynamic variable shape optical element for wavefront correction. In an embodiment, a variable shape optical element assembly includes an optical element having a front surface and a back surface with specified curvature characteristics. The variable shape optical element assembly also includes back knife edges having a designated shape disposed on the back surface of the optical element and front knife edges having a designated shape disposed on the front surface of the optical element. The variable shape optical element assembly further includes a mechanical arrangement adapted to apply a dynamic mechanical force to create the specified curvature characteristics. |
| US07649687B2 |
Reflective screen
A reflective screen includes a light reflecting layer, and a light diffusing layer provided on the light reflecting layer. The light diffusing layer has the diffusion property that in one (A axis) of two perpendicular axial directions on a light diffusion plane, a luminance distribution curve versus incidence angle is asymmetric with respect to the zero-incidence-angle axis, and the side on which the incidence angle (half-luminance incidence angle) with half of a peak luminance on the A axis in the normal direction to the screen plane is small faces in a direction in which external light has the highest strength. |
| US07649683B2 |
Process for the observation of at least one sample region with a light raster microscope with linear sampling
Process for observing at least one sample region with a light raster microscope by a relative movement between the illumination light and sample via a first scanner along at least one scanning axis essentially perpendicular to the illumination axis wherein several illuminated sample points lie on a line and are detected simultaneously with a spatially resolving detector. At an angle to the plane of the relative movement, a second scanner is moved and an image acquisition takes place by coupling the movement of the first and second scanners and a three-dimensional sampling movement being done by the illumination of the sample. The second scanner is coupled to the movement of the first scanner such that straight and/or curved lines and/or plane and/or curved surfaces are scanned which are extended along at least one scanning direction of the first scanner as well as along the scanning direction of the second scanner. |
| US07649676B2 |
System and method to form unpolarized light
A system and method are used to form an unpolarized light beam from a polarized light beam. A system comprises a source of radiation and a unpolarizing system. The source of radiation produces a linear polarized beam. The unpolarizing system has first and second optical paths and splits the linear polarized beam. A first portion of the split beam travels along the first optical path having a first path length. A second portion of the split beam travels along the second optical path having a second, different path length. The first and second portions of the split beam are combined to form the unpolarized beam. |
| US07649674B2 |
Electro-optic display with edge seal
Various types of edge seals for protecting electro-optic displays against environmental contaminants are described. In one type of seal, the electro-optic layer is sandwiched between a backplane and a protective sheet and a sealing material extends between the backplane and the protective sheet. In other seals, the protective sheet is secured to the backplane or to a second protective sheet adjacent the backplane. The electro-optic layer can also be sealed between two layers of adhesive or between one layer of adhesive and the backplane. Other seals make use of flexible tapes extending around the periphery of the display. |
| US07649673B2 |
Micromirror device with a single address electrode
A micromirror device comprises a plurality of mirrors arranged on a substrate, an elastic hinge for supporting any each of the mirrors to be deflectable in a plurality of directions, an electrode arranged to face the mirror, and a driving circuit, which is connected to the mirror via the elastic hinge, for applying to the mirror an address voltage for independently controlling the deflection of the mirror. |
| US07649670B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling curvatures of microlenses and micromirrors
The invention includes a method and apparatus for controlling curvatures of light directing devices. The apparatus includes a first substrate portion having formed therein a plurality of cavities, and a substantially flexible membrane disposed over the cavities for forming a respective plurality of light directing mechanisms, the light directing mechanisms disposed over the cavities. The respective curvatures of the light directing mechanisms are set using a pressure difference across each of the membrane portions disposed over the cavities. The respective curvatures of the light directing mechanisms may be controllably adjusted during operation of the light directing mechanisms. |
| US07649665B2 |
Apparatus and methods for optical switching using nanoscale optics
An apparatus and methods for optical switching using nanoscale optics are disclosed herein. A nano-optics apparatus for use as an optical switch includes a metallic film having a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of cylindrical channels containing a dielectric material, the metallic film acting as an outer electrode; and an array of non-linear optical components penetrating the metallic film through the plurality of cylindrical channels, the array acting as an array of inner electrodes. |
| US07649656B2 |
Image reading device
An image reading device capable of detecting foreign particles on a transparent member by including the transparent member, a conveyance unit that conveys an original document to the transparent member, a reading unit that reads via the transparent member an image of the original document being conveyed on the transparent member at multiple reading positions that exist with a prescribed distance therebetween along an original document conveyance direction, an output unit that outputs signals for different color components corresponding to each of the reading positions, a transparent member moving unit that moves the transparent member in a prescribed direction such that the original document slides over the transparent member while being conveyed to the reading positions during image reading, and a detector that detects noise components caused by foreign particles on the transparent member based on the output signals from the output unit. |
| US07649653B2 |
Processing apparatus and method for enhancing image color
We describe a processing apparatus and associated method for enhancing image color that includes a color space regional parameter storage module to store parameters of a color space region. A plurality of color space regional decision and enhancement attenuation calculation modules each calculate a color enhancement amplitude of a pixel responsive to the parameters. And a color space component enhancement module calculates a component of the color enhancement amplitude of the pixel in its color space. The processing apparatus and associated method achieve improved color enhancement in a specific region of the color space. |
| US07649650B2 |
Matching the perception of a digital image data file to a legacy hardcopy
A system/method for generating one or more new hardcopy prints from an electronic file comprising original digital image data, wherein the new hardcopy print(s) match a legacy hardcopy previously generated from the original digital image data of the electronic file, even when the legacy hardcopy was printed from an “enhanced” or “tuned” version of the original image data. The original image data and scanner data derived by scanning the legacy hardcopy are used to identify corresponding areas of constant color in the original data and the legacy hardcopy. The corresponding color areas are represented in a colorimetric color space and the original data color values are adjusted to match the legacy hardcopy color values. The adjusted data are used to print a new hardcopy. The colorimetric color space conversion is completed using a plurality of different printing device assumptions, and the printing device assumption resulting in the smallest starting color difference between the original color values and legacy hardcopy color areas is used for the color matching process. |
| US07649649B2 |
Determining the color match between image data and graphics objects
A system/method of color match assessment for electronic documents includes receiving digital data defining a composite electronic document including a raster image object having an edge and a color graphics object bordering the edge of the raster image object. The pixel color values defining the edge of the raster image object are processed to estimate a local color variance of the pixel color values. The local color variance is used to determine if the edge can be color matched to the bordering color graphics object. If the edge can be color matched, a match color for the edge is derived. The match color is associated with the digital data defining the electronic document so that a downstream object color match system can use the match color as needed, e.g., to adjust the color of the bordering color graphics object to ensure a match with the edge of the raster image object when the electronic document is printed using a xerographic printing process. |
| US07649647B2 |
Printer controller for a high-speed printer
A duplex color printer includes a body defining a plurality of docking bays in which respective color ink cartridges can be docked in a releasable manner. A pair of opposed print engines is mounted within the body and a substantially straight print media path is defined there-between. Each print engine includes at least one printhead coupled in fluid communication to the docked ink cartridges and is configured to eject the ink. A pair of print media trays is mounted to either side of the body and each contains print media. A print media feed arrangement is configured to feed print media from one of the trays, along the straight path during printing and into the other one of the trays. The straight print media path enables high speed printing. |
| US07649646B2 |
Process cartridge for image forming device
A process cartridge having a nonvolatile memory for storing prescribed information corresponding to addresses is detachably attached to a main body of an image forming device. The nonvolatile memory includes a first address at which data including a shipment destination used by a control system of the main body of the image forming device is stored, a second address where data including process control information to further control the control system of the main body is stored, a first unused address at which data including a destination code is stored and which is used by the control system of the main body of the image forming device is not defined, and a second unused address at which no data is stored and of which use by the control system of the main body of the image forming device is not defined. |
| US07649639B2 |
Device usage limiting method, apparatus and program
A usage limiting method for a device executing a job generated by a driver, in which a driver corresponding to a device manages a usage state of the device, and when the usage state agrees with a predetermined condition, the driver stops generation of a job corresponding to the device. |
| US07649638B2 |
System for managing replaceable modules in a digital printing apparatus
An electrophotographic printing or copying machine includes a functional module which can be readily removed and replaced by service personnel. The module includes a monitor in the form of an electronically-readable memory, which includes information about how the particular module is to be operated. A distribution board electronically accesses the memories within the monitors and reads therefrom information, such as how much voltage to supply to different components within each module. The distribution board can also update the number of prints made with each module, and maintain this count within the monitors. |
| US07649633B2 |
Method and instrument for measuring complex dielectric constant of a sample by optical spectral measurement
In order to measure a complex dielectric constant of a thin film on a substrate, a method includes irradiating the thin film sample with light at a first incident angle so that the light undergoes multiple internal reflections within the thin film sample. The method also includes measuring light that has transmitted through or reflected on the thin film sample following the multiple internal reflections, and determining a complex dielectric constant of the thin film sample based upon a spectrum of the transmitted or reflected light that has undergone the multiple internal reflections. |
| US07649630B2 |
Optimized transmissive reference level generation
A method, apparatus and system for optimizing the magnitude of reference levels in non-invasive imaging and analysis is disclosed. Optimizing the magnitude of reference levels enables improving signal to noise ratios and thereby improving the sensitivity and performance of the imaging and analysis system. The invention includes dynamically modifying the magnitude of one or more reference beams and significantly reducing the magnitude of undesirable reference radiation components. It may further include one or more stabilizing feedback systems. |
| US07649625B2 |
Optical apparatus, photomask inspecting apparatus, and exposure apparatus
An optical apparatus includes a laser light source for emitting a beam of light, an integrator for dividing the beam of light into plural beams of light, and a light focusing optical system for focusing the beams of light passed through the integrator. The optical apparatus also includes a stage, on which the light concentrated by the light focusing optical system is irradiated and on which an object may be placed, and includes a projecting optical system for projecting the light transmitted through the object. The following conditions satisfy the following numerical formula (1). The projecting optical system has a visual field including an effective visual field, and the integrator has a division number N corresponding to a predetermined direction in a predetermined effective visual field. A ghost image is formed in the effective visual field in the predetermined direction and has contrast γ. The light focusing optical system has numerical aperture NA1, the projecting optical system has numerical aperture NA2, and (NA1/NA2) defines a coherence factor σ. The object has a light blocking portion with an amplitude transmittance T. N ≧ σ π 8 π C 2 3 ( C = γ / T ) ( 1 ) |
| US07649617B2 |
Retro detector system
A light detection system duplicates the dynamic range of low intensity non-cooperative targets for high intensity cooperative targets. Both dynamic ranges of return light pulses are supported at the same time. In one embodiment, two beam splitters are used to reduce the intensity of reflected light that is received from high intensity sources to levels that can be accurately ranged. Ambiguity between the two paths is resolved by using an additional detector. Alternatively, one beam splitter is used to reduce the intensity of reflected light that is received from high intensity sources to levels that can be accurately ranged. The beam splitter system increases the effective dynamic range of the detection and ranging system passively without any need to reconfigure the system. |
| US07649616B2 |
Fiber laser ladar
A laser radar system and a method for use in a laser radar system are disclosed. More particularly, the laser radar system includes a fiber laser capable of generating a laser signal; a first optical path through which the generated laser signal may be transmitted; a second optical path through which a reflection of the transmitted laser signal may be received; and a detector capable of detecting the received reflection. The method includes generating a laser signal from a fiber laser; transmitting the laser signal; receiving a reflection of the transmitted laser signal; and detecting the reflection. |
| US07649614B2 |
Method of characterization, method of characterizing a process operation, and device manufacturing method
A system in which deformation of a substrate is monitored during processing of the substrate is described. In one embodiment, the distortion in the substrate is measured after each exposure and processing operation by comparing the position of a plurality of reference marks to values in a database. The substrate may be characterized by measuring positions on the substrate for a number of measurement fields and a number of measurement positions per field, calculating an estimated variance based at least on the number of measurement fields, the number of measurement positions per field, and a number of model parameters, and comparing the calculated estimated variance to a threshold amount to determine a status of the substrate. |
| US07649612B2 |
Phase shifting photolithography system
A phase shifting photolithography system includes inserting a phase shift component in a path of an illumination, wherein the phase shift component modifies a portion of the illumination to a different, and controlling an aperture shutter of the phase shift component modifying an interference of the illumination and the illumination with the different phase. |
| US07649608B2 |
Driving chip, display device having the same, and method of manufacturing the display device
A display device includes a display panel, a driving chip, and a non-conductive adhesive film. The display panel includes a pad member having a plurality of conductive pads. The driving chip includes a body and a plurality of bumps. The body has a driving circuit. The bumps are protruded from the body to make contact with the pads, respectively. The non-conductive adhesive film fixes the driving chip to the pad member. Therefore, a manufacturing cost is decreased, and a yield is increased. |
| US07649606B2 |
Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus
An electro-optical device includes a substrate, a plurality of external connection terminals provided on the substrate, an electronic component mounted on the substrate and having a plurality of terminals, and a plurality of wires that electrically connect the plurality of external connection terminals to the plurality of terminals of the electronic component. A constant-potential wire is provided in the vicinity of locations of connections of at least some of the plurality of wires with the respective terminals of the electronic component. |
| US07649603B2 |
Method for manufacturing an in-plane switching IPS mode liquid crystal display device with vertical alignment film
Provided are an in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device and a method for manufacturing the same. The device comprises a thin film transistor array substrate, a color filter substrate, and a liquid crystal. The thin film transistor array substrate has a common electrode and a pixel electrode arranged in an alternating pattern with each other, and has a first alignment film provided on the common electrode and the pixel electrode so as to align liquid crystal molecules in a vertical direction. The color filter substrate faces the thin film transistor array substrate, and has a second alignment film that aligns the liquid crystal molecules in a vertical direction. Liquid crystal is injected between the thin film transistor array substrate and the color filter substrate. |
| US07649602B2 |
Thin film transistor substrate, liquid crystal panel and liquid crystal display device using the same
A thin film transistor (TFT) substrate including a base, a plurality of scan lines and data lines and a pixel unit is provided. The scan lines are disposed on the base. The data lines are disposed above the scan lines and are perpendicular to the scan lines to define a plurality of pixel areas. The pixel unit is disposed on the base and inside one of the pixel areas. The pixel unit comprises a TFT and a pixel electrode. The TFT comprises a source and a drain. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to the drain. The pixel electrode comprises a first main electrode, a second main electrode and a plurality of branch electrodes. The first main electrode is perpendicular to the second main electrode. The branch electrodes are connected to the first main electrode and/or the second main electrode. The first main electrode substantially divides the pixel area evenly. |
| US07649601B2 |
Liquid crystal display having protrusion-like structures between pair of substrates
The invention relates to liquid crystal displays used in display sections of electronic apparatus and provides a liquid crystal display in which high anti-pressure characteristics can be achieved with a high aperture ratio maintained. A configuration is provided, which includes a pair of substrates provided opposite to each other, a liquid crystal sealed between the substrates, a plurality of pixel regions provided on the substrates, and protrusion-like structures provided in the pixel regions for regulating the alignment of the liquid crystal and maintaining a cell thickness between the substrates. |
| US07649600B2 |
Liquid crystal display device having OCB mode liquid crystal layer
A liquid crystal display device includes: a pixel electrode located on a lower substrate; a lower alignment layer located on the pixel electrode and having a predetermined alignment direction (or aligned in a predetermined direction); an upper substrate located apart from the lower substrate and having an opposite surface facing the lower substrate; an opposite electrode located on the opposite surface; an upper alignment layer located on the opposite electrode and having the predetermined alignment direction of the lower alignment layer; an upper protrusion line located between the upper substrate and the upper alignment layer and arranged in a direction crossing the predetermined alignment direction; and an optically compensated bend (OCB) mode liquid crystal layer located between the lower alignment layer and the upper alignment layer. |
| US07649598B2 |
Optical element and liquid crystal display device, and method of producing optical element
The present invention intends to provide an optical element that can be incorporated in a liquid crystal display device, is provided with a birefringent layer obtained by aligning and polymerizing polymerizable liquid crystal molecules, and, while sufficiently reflecting an actual condition of a liquid crystal display device, can reduce fear that a thickness of a driving liquid crystal layer unexpectedly varies. An optical element includes a light-transmitting base material and a birefringent layer comprising of aligned and polymerized liquid crystal molecules and having a value of indentation depth of 6% or less relative to a thickness of the birefringent layer, wherein said value is measured under conditions where a cylindrical indenter having a diameter of 30 (μm) is applied at a load of 10 mN/sec up to the maximum load of 400 mN. |
| US07649595B2 |
Method of forming a polymer dispersed liquid crystal cell, a cell formed by such method and uses of such cell
The present invention relates to a method of forming a polymer dispersed liquid crystal cell. It also relates to a cell produced by such method and to uses of such cells. |
| US07649594B2 |
Photo-luminescent liquid crystal display
A photo-luminescent liquid crystal display (PL LCD) includes: a light control unit which includes a liquid crystal (LC) layer modulating the UV light and electrodes driving the LC layer; and a light emitting layer which emits light by the UV light transmitted through the light control unit. The light emitting layer includes inorganic phosphors and semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) having a quantum confinement effect. The PL LCD includes adding QDs having a high quantum efficiency into luminescent substances having lower light utilization efficiency than other colors, for example, red phosphor having very low quantum efficiency to improve the light utilization efficiency, thereby improving the color balance. |
| US07649592B2 |
Backlight unit and liquid crystal display device
A backlight unit for use in a liquid crystal display device is disclosed. The backlight unit which may include a reflection plate; a plurality of fluorescent tubes; and a diffusion plate. The reflection plate may include a rectangular-shaped bottom plate section, four side plate sections respectively formed upright from four sides of the bottom plate section with a skew in the direction of moving away from the bottom plate section, and an edge plate section that protrudes from a tip end of each of the side plate sections toward outside thereof. |
| US07649586B2 |
Display device with floating transistor elements on alternating data lines
A panel for a display device includes a shorting bar to dissipate an electrostatic charge and the first and second testing bars. Signal lines are divided into the first signal line group electrically connected to the first testing bar and the second signal line group electrically connected to the second testing bar. Floating transistors are formed between the shorting bar and the signal lines of the second signal line group. |
| US07649584B2 |
LCD array substrate and fabrication method thereof
An LCD array substrate includes a plurality of gate lines arranged in a first direction; a plurality of data lines arranged in a second direction to cross the plurality of gate lines; a semiconductor layer formed at overlapping regions of the gate lines and the data lines and extending a predetermined length from the overlapping regions over the gate lines; a drain electrode spaced apart from the overlapping regions of the gate and data lines and disposed partially in contact with the semiconductor layer, the drain electrode having ends extended beyond the semiconductor layer and the gate line; and a pair of pixel electrodes disposed on opposing sides of the gate line and electrically connected with the drain electrode. |
| US07649576B2 |
Liquid crystal television and display device
A display device includes a casing of which a bottom portion is in contact with a setting face when the display device is set; a base member attached to a back face of the casing; and a stand member attached pivotably to the base member. The stand member supports a main body in cooperation with the bottom portion of the casing in an opened state and is capable of brought into a closed state when the stand member is not used. The bottom portion includes a first inclined face being in surface contact with the setting face in the opened state, and a second inclined face inclined relative to a horizontal direction when the casing is vertically erected. The stand member includes a contact portion having a third inclined face being in surface contact with the setting face in the opened state. |
| US07649575B2 |
Liquid crystal display device with improved response speed
A display device displays corrected externally-supplied video signals, and includes plural pixels, a scanning driver and a signal driver which applies display voltages to signal lines coupled to the pixels. The signal driver includes a first converter which converts a format of the externally supplied video signals into a first format, a memory which stores the video signals from the first converter temporarily, a correction circuit which computes correction values based upon the video signals from the first converter and the video signals in the memory and corrects the video signals from the first converter based upon the correction values, and a second converter which converts the first format of the video signals from the correction circuit to a format of the display voltages. The memory stores the correction values also, and the correction circuit corrects the video signals in the memory based upon the correction values in the memory. |
| US07649568B2 |
Image data decoding method of image vertical blanking interval and a device thereof
An image data decoding method of an image vertical blanking interval (VBI) and device thereof can adjust a run-in clock signal of data lines of teletext to a data phase of teletext data lines. The method can accurately decode data of the teletext data lines to avoid a phase bias and an erroneous decoding result. A main technical method to decode the data of the VBI is to extract the data of the teletext data lines to determine corresponding bit logical values of the image data and then to output a decode result and also output a phase adjustment value. The phase adjustment value is used to adjust a read phase value of the extracted image so as to synchronize a data phase in VBI. |
| US07649566B2 |
Layout of the optical path in the image capturing system and the method of forming the same
The image-capturing system comprises a image-capturing module and a plurality of mirrors, wherein the image-capturing module has a lens and a charge-coupled device (CCD). The image-capturing module is located on about the center in the image-capturing system, and a plurality of mirrors are arranged in the peripheral region within the image-capturing system to make the layout of optical path around the image-capturing module. Furthermore, reflectional angle of each mirror can be adjusted according to the requirement for design, so as to obtain the longest optical path. |
| US07649561B2 |
Physical quantity detecting device and imaging apparatus
A physical quantity detecting device includes: a detecting unit that detects a physical quantity supplied from the outside; and pixels which are two-dimensionally arranged and each of which has a selecting transistor for outputting a signal from the detecting unit to a signal line. In the physical quantity detecting device, the selecting transistor is a depletion-type transistor. |
| US07649559B2 |
Amplifier offset cancellation devices, systems, and methods
Methods, devices, and systems for offset cancellation in an amplifier are disclosed, wherein the amplifier inputs may be exposed to large loads from an array of pixel columns coupled in parallel. During a cancellation phase, an amplifier offset may be canceled by selectively coupling a first amplifier output to a first amplifier input and a second amplifier output to a second amplifier input. During a portion of the cancellation phase, a buffer may use the first amplifier input to drive a first pixel signal. During a different portion of the cancellation phase, the buffer may use the second amplifier input to drive a second pixel signal. To sense the pixel columns during an amplification phase, the first and second pixel signals are coupled to the first and second amplifier inputs, respectively, with the result that the amplifier offset and the buffer offset are cancelled from the amplifier output. |
| US07649557B2 |
Apparatus for processing a digital image signal and methods for processing a digital image signal
An apparatus for processing a digital image signal includes a pseudo-luminance generator configured to generate pseudo-luminance signals from the image signal. An edge detector detects an edge in the image signal using a part of an interpolated image signal as a luminance signal for a line of the image signal including a pixel subjected to edge detection and using the pseudo-luminance signals for adjacent lines. A color suppressor suppresses pseudo-color present in the chrominance component of the image signal in response to a detected edge. A compensator may be provided to generate a second edge metric relative to the image signal to compensate for an edge detection error occurring in the edge detector. A color suppression coefficient calculator to generate a color suppression coefficient using a first edge metric generated by the edge detector and the second edge metric. Corresponding systems and methods are disclosed. |
| US07649555B2 |
Apparatus for processing dead pixel
The present invention is related to a method and an apparatus for processing a dead pixel, more specifically to a method and an apparatus thereof for detecting and compensating a dead pixel that can maintain a good image quality by reducing image distortion and deterioration. With the present invention, the distortion of an image, caused by erroneously classifying a normal pixel of an inputted image as a dead pixel, is significantly reduced, thereby improving the quality of a processed image. Moreover, based on the characteristics of the inputted image, the algorithm and accuracy of detecting a dead pixel can be adjusted. |
| US07649545B2 |
Inspection system and method
A system for inspecting an object, the system comprising a camera; a work surface for receiving the object; and an apparatus for processing an image of the object taken by the camera wherein, during the capture of an image by the camera, the camera and the object are fixed with respect to one another. The processing apparatus identifies those image data components that represent the an edge of the object in an image plane, and projects each image edge data component onto the object plane. The processing apparatus also determines whether each object edge data component relates to an edge of the object that lies on the work surface or to an edge of the object that is spaced apart from the work surface and, upon determining that an object edge data component is spaced apart from the work surface, adjusts the value of the object edge data component by an amount depending on the ratio of the size of the object in a direction generally perpendicular with the work surface to the perpendicular distance of the camera's focal point from the object plane. |
| US07649542B2 |
Apparatus and method for forming image by detecting thermal print head type
Provided are an apparatus and method for forming an image by determining a thermal print head type and generating driving signals for driving the thermal print head according to the thermal print head type. The apparatus includes a data input unit which receives data regarding an image to be printed, a controller which determines the thermal print head type and generates driving signals for driving the thermal print head according to the thermal print head type, and the thermal print head which prints the image by heating a medium. |
| US07649541B2 |
Gamma correction apparatus and a method of the same
A gamma correction apparatus comprising a digital to analog converter (DAC), a plurality of compensating circuits, and at least one adjusting circuit is provided. The DAC is used to receive RGB digital signals to further generate analog signals. The analog signals are then transferred to the relative pixel devices through the signal lines on the LCD panel. The compensating circuits inserted between the DAC and the signal lines are used to adjust the analog signals to correct the displaying brightness of the pixel devices. The adjusting circuit connecting to the compensating circuits is used to control the operation of the compensation circuits. In addition, a method for adjusting gamma curves by providing three common voltage levels related to RGB colors individually is also provided to achieve better white balance. |
| US07649540B2 |
Coordinate transformations system and method thereof
A two-dimensional coordinate transformations software program and method thereof is described. In one aspect, the present invention solves problems of accurately and efficiently placing data from Records of Surveys, subdivision plats, deeds, highway right of way plats, and other map data onto the State Plane Coordinate Systems or other projection systems. The users of the software include engineers, especially those involved in right-of-way engineering, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Land Information Systems (LIS) specialists. In one aspect, a utility program is intended to supplement the coordinate geometry and GIS/LIS software currently used by surveyors and GIS/LIS specialists. In one embodiment, there is an efficient and speedy method to surveying, offering a preferred point and click approach using a unique graphical user interface of the two-dimensional coordinate transformation program. |
| US07649531B2 |
Image generation device and image generation method
An image generation device includes a memory in which a burst length, which is the smallest unit of read/write processing, is large; and an image generation device in which processing efficiency at the time of a memory access does not decrease, even in the case of accessing a rendering buffer for rendering a polygon. Image data is stored in a rendering buffer in block units made up of plural pixels, and image data of pixels corresponding to the polygon is stored in a serial region of the rendering buffer. A valid pixel flag indicating that a valid pixel is present within the block is stored in the rendering information buffer. The rendering buffer is accessed as little as possible based on placement of the valid pixel flags within the block. |
| US07649530B2 |
Mode-selecting apparatus, display apparatus including the same, and method of selecting a mode in display unit
A mode-selecting apparatus for selecting one of a first mode in which images are displayed on a display unit in accordance with a vertical synchronization control signal and a horizontal synchronization control signal, and a second mode in which images are displayed on the display unit in accordance with a data-enable signal, includes a first unit which counts a number of input horizontal synchronization control signals in each of frame periods, a second unit which counts a number of input data-enable signals in each of frame periods, and a third unit which selects one of the first and second modes in accordance with both the number of input horizontal synchronization control signals and the number of input data-enable signals. |
| US07649528B2 |
Display device comprising display driver having display driving section formed between transistors providing electric current thereto
The first and second chips are provided side by side. The first chip includes: a current supply section for outputting a drive current, the current supply section including a current mirror; a current distribution MISFET; a current input MISFET for transmitting an electric current to the current supply section, the current input MISFET being connected to the current distribution MISFET; and a second current distribution MISFET. The current distribution MISFET and the second current distribution MISFET constitute a current mirror. The second chip includes a second current input MISFET which is connected to the second current distribution MISFET. The ratio between the W/L ratio of the current distribution MISFET and the W/L ratio of the current input MISFET connected thereto is the same in the first and second chips. |
| US07649523B2 |
Method of estimating position of writing nib relative to an optical sensor
A method of estimating a position of a point on a writing implement relative to an optical sensor mounted on the writing implement is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) placing the point in contact with a coded surface; (b) capturing, using the sensor, at least two images of the coded surface at different rotations of the writing implement relative to the surface; (c) determining, from a perspective distortion of the coded surface in each image, an estimated rotation and viewing distance for each image; and (d) estimating, from the estimated rotations and viewing distances, the position of the point relative to the optical sensor. |
| US07649519B2 |
Source drivers having controllable output currents and related display devices and methods
Source drivers and display devices that include such source drivers are provided that may be used to control the amount of output current from an output buffer. These source drivers may comprise a buffer that is configured to receive an input signal and a control circuit that is coupled to the buffer that is configured to control an output current level of the buffer. The control circuit may comprise a bias voltage generator that is configured to generate a plurality of bias voltages, and the output current level of the buffer may be controlled based on the plurality of bias voltages. Methods of controlling the amount of current output from an output buffer of the source driver and methods of driving a display device are also provided. |
| US07649514B2 |
Data driving circuit, organic light emitting diode (OLED) display using the data driving circuit, and method of driving the OLED display
A data driving circuit including: a voltage digital-analog converter adapted to generate a first gradation voltage corresponding to external data; a current digital-analog converter adapted to generate a gradation current corresponding to the external data; a voltage control unit adapted to receive a feedback pixel current from a pixel via a data line and to generate a second gradation voltage by increasing or decreasing a level of the first gradation voltage in accordance with the feedback pixel current; a buffer unit adapted to selectively supply the first or second gradation voltage to the data line; and a selection unit adapted to selectively connect the data line to either the buffer unit or the voltage control unit. With this configuration, an image is displayed with a desired brightness. |
| US07649513B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display
An Organic light emitting diode display device includes: a pixel array having a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of data lines that cross each other, a plurality of power voltage supply lines to which a high level power supply voltage is supplied and that are substantially parallel to the data lines, a plurality of reset lines substantially parallel to the scan lines, a plurality of organic light emitting diodes that emit light due to the high level power supply voltage from the power voltage supply line, and a plurality of organic light emitting diode drive circuits that drive the organic light emitting diode with data from the data line in response to a scan signal from the scan line and that is initialized in response to a reset signal from the reset line; a scan drive circuit that supplies the scan signal to the scan lines; a reset drive circuit that supplies the reset signal to the reset lines that initializes the organic light emitting diode drive circuit; and a data drive circuit that supplies the data to the data lines respectively, wherein the scan drive circuit and the reset drive circuit are on a substrate including the pixel array. |
| US07649509B2 |
Plasma display device and driving method thereof
A plasma display device and driving method. A plurality of subfields from one frame are divided into a first subfield group and a second subfield group. A first subfield and a second subfield having adjacent weights in the first subfield group each include a reset period for resetting the discharge cells, a first address period for selecting discharge cells in the first line group, a first sustain period for performing a sustain discharge, a second address period for selecting discharge cells in the second line group and a second sustain period for performing a sustain discharge. |
| US07649506B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling image-display devices collectively
An image-transmitting device connected to image-display devices through a bus cable is provided. The image-transmitting device includes a memory unit storing a set of screen data whose correspondence to each of the image-display devices and a displaying order of the screen data to be displayed on the image-display devices are predetermined; a transmission-data-generating unit selecting specific screen data from among the set of the screen data by following the correspondence and the displaying order, and generating transmission data that each of the image-display devices is to display based on the selected specific screen data; a bus interface connected to the image-display devices through the bus cable; and a transmission unit transmitting the transmission data from the bus interface through the bus cable to each of the image-display devices. The image-transmitting device transmits as the screen data, a combination of data specifying an updating area of the screen data displayed on an image-display device and data used for updating part of the screen data displayed in the updating area, to the image-display device through the bus cable, so that the image-display devices can simultaneously update the screen data displayed thereon. |
| US07649501B2 |
Ultra-wideband antenna structure
An ultra-wideband antenna structure is provided. The ultra-wideband antenna structure includes a substrate with an edge, a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a ground surface mounted on the first surface; a radiating element mounted on the second surface and near the edge, and being a bent metal piece; and a short-circuited metal unit mounted on the first surface having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is electrically connected to the ground surface and the second end is electrically connected to the radiating element. |
| US07649499B2 |
High-frequency module
In a high-frequency module, an antenna device is disposed on a first principal surface of a second substrate, a first principal surface of a first substrate and a second principal surface of the second substrate face each other and are connected to each other by conductive connecting members, electronic components including an IC chip are mounted on the first principal surface of the first substrate, ground electrodes are disposed on the first and second substrates, the conductive connecting members are connected to a ground potential, and thus the IC chip is surrounded by the ground electrodes of the first and second substrates and the conductive connecting members. |
| US07649498B2 |
Antenna apparatus
Disclosed is an antenna apparatus including a dielectric substrate, an antenna element formed of a metallic plate which is disposed by having a predetermined space from the dielectric substrate, a plurality of leg pieces which extend toward the dielectric substrate from the antenna element, a chip capacitor which is electrically connected to the leg pieces and the dielectric substrate and an insert member made of resin which is inserted between the dielectric substrate and the antenna element. |
| US07649497B2 |
Antenna device, mobile terminal and RFID tag
There is provided with an antenna device including: a first wire antenna element having a length about half a wavelength of a radio wave in use; a second wire antenna element which is in a same plane as the first wire antenna element and substantially perpendicular to the first wire antenna element, and which is connected to the first wire antenna element at one end; a third wire antenna element which is in the same plane as the first wire antenna element and substantially in parallel with the first wire antenna element, and which is connected to the second wire antenna element; and a feed point provided on the second wire antenna element. |
| US07649489B2 |
Apparatus for analog/digital conversion of a measurement voltage
Apparatus for the analog/digital conversion of a measurement voltage with an analog/digital converter, which has an integrating component with an operational amplifier, a resistor and a capacitor in a feedback loop, wherein a reference voltage is applied to the inverting input of the operational amplifier and wherein the measurement voltage is applied to the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier The capacitor is charged during a charging phase of time length (t1) and discharged during a discharging phase of time length, wherein the analog/digital converter further includes a comparator connected downstream from the operational amplifier, a memory element connected downstream from the comparator, a time generator producing the charging time and a counter, the counter detects the edges, or the period length of the pulse-width modulated output signal provided by the A/D converter on the output, and a synchronizing element is provided, which synchronizes the edges of the pulse-width modulated, output signal with the clock pulse of the counter at least within a predetermined measurement duration. |
| US07649486B2 |
Flash A/D converter
A flash A/D converter includes a reference voltage generator for generating a plurality of reference voltages, a first group of amplifiers having a plurality of amplifiers each of which amplifies a difference voltage between each reference voltage generated by the reference voltage generator and a voltage of an input signal, and a second group of amplifiers having a plurality of amplifiers. Each amplifier of the first group of amplifiers is a differential amplifier having a different pair formed of a plurality of sets of cascade-connected transistors, and has a first switch for short-circuiting respective cascade connection portions of the plurality of transistors configuring the differential pair. Each amplifier of the second group of amplifiers is a differential amplifier having a differential pair formed of at least two transistors and has a second switch for short-circuiting a portion between input units of the differential pair. The first switch and the second switch are controlled to open and close by a control clock of a predetermined period. |
| US07649482B2 |
Signal modulation method, signal modulation apparatus, electronic device, and computer program product
A signal modulation method by an electronic device which includes a minimal reducing unit that minimally reduces an integrated signal returned to an adder from an integrator.The signal modulation method includes generating an added signal with the adder. The signal modulation method further includes generating a new integrated signal with the integrator by returning a previously self-generated and stored integrated signal to the adder, and by integrating the added signal generated by the adder.The signal modulation method further includes generating a new quantization signal with a quantizer by quantizing the new integrated signal generated by the integrator. |
| US07649478B1 |
Data entry using sequential keystrokes
A method for designing a keyboard for efficient data entry. A user inputs data from a predefined set of characters such as letters or symbols on an input device by pressing one or more keys, in a sequential fashion, for each character. Based on the frequency of occurrence for each character, a prefix-free coding is used to generate an optimal or near-optimal key sequence mapping for the given character set. In one exemplary embodiment, eight to twelve keys from a phone keypad are used to generate English alphabets, which substantially reduces the average number of keystrokes per character. The present invention enables the user to efficiently input typical data from a given probability distribution of characters using a limited number of keys. |
| US07649476B2 |
System and method for identifying an aircraft during approach to a stopping position
A method for guiding an aircraft toward a stopping position within an aircraft stand of an airport comprises using a visual docking guidance system (VDGS) associated with the aircraft stand for displaying first instructions for guiding the aircraft toward the stopping position. The first instructions are based on an initial determination of the aircraft-type and on first sensed positional information of the aircraft. Aircraft-type data that is stored in a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag carried by the aircraft is then read. Using the VDGS, second instructions are displayed for guiding the aircraft toward the stopping position based on the aircraft-type data and based on second sensed positional information of the aircraft. |
| US07649473B2 |
Physically segmented logical token network
Token authorized packet exchange between a plurality of store-and-forward nodes in a downhole networking environment and respective applications for data processing and communication are described herein. |
| US07649468B2 |
System for detecting an undesirable condition and manipulating an electronic device
A system comprising at least one liquid detector that has a cathode and an anode and at least one switching mechanism for receiving a positive voltage from the cathode and anode of a liquid detector. Each switching mechanism comprises at least one switching component that is connected with a power source. Each switching component supplying a current from its connected power source when the switching component is activated. Preferably, each switching component is activated, when the switching component receives a voltage that exceeds a threshold voltage. The system also comprises a base unit that communicates remotely or through direct connection with each switching mechanism. The base unit communicates with at least one application control device that is connected with at least one electronic control apparatus for preventing the undesirable condition. The base unit may also be connected with at least one notification control device that is connected with an electronic notification apparatus for notifying a user that the undesirable condition has been detected. The electronic notification apparatus may comprise a visible light or LED and/or an alarm. |
| US07649466B2 |
Localization system and method for localizing objects or animals using such a localization system
In particular situations it may be desirable to follow, trace or otherwise localize specific (groups of) objects or animals, in particular people. The invention relates to a localization system. The invention also relates to a method for localizing objects or animals using such a localization system. |
| US07649461B2 |
Passive radio frequency identification chip with a variable-capacitance diode
A passive radio frequency identification (RFID) chip with a protection function against high-intensity electromagnetic fields includes an antenna for receiving electromagnetic waves generated by an RFID reader and generating AC electrical signals to output to a power unit at an output of the antenna; an input/output circuit; a logic circuit; the power unit for rectifying the AC electrical signals into DC (direct current) voltage and outputting the DC voltage to the logic circuit and the input/output circuit at an output of the power unit; a variable-capacitance diode including an anode connected with the output of the antenna and a cathode connected to ground; and a diode including an anode connected with the output of the power unit and a cathode connected with the output of the antenna. The passive RFID chip prevents the inner logic circuit and the input/output circuit from being damaged when receives high-intensity electromagnetic waves. |
| US07649458B2 |
Telephone messaging system with active security feature
A telephone messaging system with active security feature is disclosed. In one form of the invention, a telephonic security and recording system includes a cordless telephone security base including electronics operable to provide telephonic and security features. The electronics a telephonic and security processor operable to process security and telephonic based processes, a memory device coupled to the processor and operable to store information associated with providing telephonic and security features. The cordless telephone security base further includes a display coupled to the processor and operable to display telephonic and security information and at least three telephonic line transceivers operable to communicate with an analog telephonic network. A wireless handset transceiver is operable to wirelessly couple the analog telephonic network to a wireless handset and at least three read/write optical compact disk drives operable to record security and telephonic information are provided. The telephonic security and recording system further includes a digital memory card port sized to receive a digital memory card and a cordless telephone handset wirelessly coupled to the cordless telephone security base. |
| US07649457B2 |
Electronic alarm
The alarm system uses a presently available telephone set and an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit is connected to a plurality of sensors. The electronic circuit, in order to operate, uses DC voltage which is equal to the supply voltage of the telephone set. The sensors form the inputs for the electronic circuit of the alarm system. The inputs for the electronic circuit are connected to the pull up resistors. |
| US07649456B2 |
User interface for an electronic device used as a home controller
A system, device and method for wirelessly controlling a plurality of electronic appliances arranged within a local area include an electronic device having a location detection circuit, a user interface circuit and a display device. The location detection circuit is operative to determine a general location of the electronic device within the local area, and the user interface circuit is operative to receive the determined general location. Based thereon, the user interface circuit configures at least one user interface for control of at least one electronic appliance located in the same general location as the electronic device. The display device may display the user interface configured by the user interface circuit. |
| US07649454B2 |
System and method for providing a task reminder based on historical travel information
An apparatus for providing a task reminder includes a monitoring module configured to monitor a location of a user via a mobile communication device associated with the user at predetermined time intervals for tracking historical travel information of the user and a data store for storing the historical travel information and for storing user specified task information that includes a task and a task location. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a reminder module configured to calculate a novelty rating of a region that includes the task location and a current position of the user based on the user's historical travel information. The novelty rating is related to a historical presence of the user in the region. The apparatus also includes a message module configured to generate a reminder of the task based on the novelty rating of the region and a distance between the task location and the current position of the user. |
| US07649453B2 |
Remote control device
A remote control device capable of controlling a plurality of apparatuses is provided. The remote control device includes an external slit portion, an internal slit portion, a light receiving element, and a control circuit. The external slit portion and internal slit portion are arranged such that a prolonged line of each opening crosses a reception region of the light receiving element. The light receiving element is connected to the control circuit via a signal line. The external slit portion is formed such that the opening is located vertically when the remote control device is operated. The internal slit is formed such that the longitudinal direction of the opening is placed vertically when the remote control device is operated. |
| US07649451B2 |
Data processing device
The data processing device includes an identification information displaying controller, a selecting controller, and a recording controller. The identification information displaying controller displays a plurality of identification information that is read from a storage medium and is indicative of respective ones of a plurality of different operating conditions. The selecting controller selects at least one of the plurality of identification information from the plurality of identification information. The recording controller records the at least one of the plurality of identification information, allowing a user to use at least one of the plurality of different operating conditions that corresponds to the at least one of the plurality of identification information. |
| US07649448B2 |
Stop lamp lighting controller
The invention provides a stop lamp lighting controller able to improve durability of a relay while unnecessary automatic turning on and off are avoided. A stop lamp is lit through a main line at a gentle braking time. At a sudden braking time, the stop lamp is switched on and off by disconnecting and connecting the main line in a predetermined period. At a breakdown time of the main line, the main line is switched to a subline and a lighting function of the stop lamp is secured. The main line is formed when both a first relay and a second relay are in a de-energizing state. The main line is disconnected and connected by periodically opening and closing the first relay. The main line is switched to the subline by energizing the second relay. |
| US07649447B2 |
Wireless bike brake light
This invention proposes a wireless bike brake light that can respond to braking when bikes are in motion. The invention employs a MEMS (micro electro mechanical system)-structured accelerometer chip as sensor to detect related signals. A control circuits unit processes the signals, and then sends appropriate brake light to following vehicles based. The features of the invention are that (1) It can provide extra security when serving as a brake light with independence of braking system, (2) It is easily to install and durable, (3) It can be also applied to such sports as skiing, skateboarding, etc. that are not equipped with apparent brake devices, and thus hard to incorporate brake lights. |
| US07649445B2 |
Apparatus and method for evaluating driving skill and apparatus and method for informing efficiency of driver's physical load to driving operation
The driving skill evaluating apparatus is an apparatus that evaluates the driving skill of a driver who drives a vehicle. The evaluating apparatus includes: driver load measurement means for measuring the degree of physical load on the driver in a driving operation activity of the vehicle; driving operation quantity measurement means for measuring the quantity of driving operation performed by the driver for the vehicle in the driving operation activity; and evaluation means for evaluating the driving skill of the driver by using the degree of the physical load on the driver and the quantity of driving operation. And the driving load efficiency informing apparatus includes: the driver load measurement means: the driving operation quantity measurement means; load efficiency judgment value calculating means for calculating a load efficiency judgment value indicating a efficiency of efficiency of the physical load on the driver in the driving operation activity of the vehicle to the quantity of driving operation performed by the driver for the vehicle in the driving operation activity of the vehicle, by using the degree of the physical load on the driver and the quantity of driving operation; and informing means for informing the driver of the efficiency of the physical load on the driver to the driving operation activity of the vehicle in accordance with the load efficiency judgment value. |
| US07649441B2 |
Method and system for tuning an RFID interrogator
A method, apparatus, and system for periodically measuring the level of ambient noise found on a radio frequency channel used by a radio frequency identification interrogator to read radio frequency identification tags. The ambient noise is measured after the radio frequency identification interrogator has transmitted a signal. The measured level of ambient noise is then used to dynamically adjust a threshold value used to predict collisions on the channel. |
| US07649437B2 |
Multilayer positive temperature coefficient thermistor
A multilayer positive temperature coefficient thermistor that has a BaTiO3-based ceramic material contained as a primary component in semiconductor ceramic layers, the ratio of the Ba site to the Ti site is in the range of 0.998 to 1.006, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, and Pm is contained as a semiconductor dopant. In this multilayer positive temperature coefficient thermistor, a thickness d of internal electrodes layer and a thickness D of the semiconductor ceramic layers satisfy d≧0.6 μm and d/D<0.2. Accordingly, even when the semiconductor ceramic layers have a low sintered density such that an actual-measured sintered density is 65% to 90% of a theoretical sintered density, a multilayer positive temperature coefficient thermistor having a low rate of temporal change in room-temperature resistance can be obtained without performing any complicated processes, such as a heat treatment. When the content of the semiconductor dopant is 0.1 to 0.5 molar parts with respect to 100 molar parts of Ti, a low-temperature firing at 1,150° C. can be realized, and a low room-temperature resistance and a sufficiently high rate of resistance change can be obtained. |
| US07649436B2 |
Varistor body and varistor
A preferred varistor body has a structure of alternately laminated internal electrode layer and varistor layer made of a varistor material. The varistor layer has a composition containing Zn, Co, Pr, Li, and Zr. The analysis of varistor body in the depth direction from the surface thereof gives the Li content of 0.08 parts by mass or less to 100 parts by mass of the sum of Zn, Co, and Pr contents at a level of 2 μm at the surface side above the reference depth where the Zr content becomes almost constant. |
| US07649430B2 |
Switching device, and testing apparatus
Provided is a switching apparatus connecting a transmission line designated among transmission lines, between input and output terminals, and preventing a signal at the terminal from leaking to a control wiring, becoming a noise, and being superposed onto a signal at the other end. The switching apparatus includes: a plurality of input series switches switching the connection state between one end of the transmission lines and the input terminal according to a control signal; a plurality of output series switches switching the connection state between the other end of the transmission lines and the output terminal according to a control signal; a plurality of control wirings that supply a control signal to the input series switch and the output series switch; and a noise removal section that is provided between the input series switch and the output series switch and that reduces a noise propagated via a control wiring. |
| US07649427B2 |
Crystal oscillator
A crystal oscillator in which a temperature characteristic of an oscillation frequency is improved to omit a measurement operation of the temperature characteristic of the oscillator, and manufacturing is facilitated to reduce a manufacturing time. In the crystal oscillator, a power voltage is applied to a collector of a transistor via series connection of an inductor for resonance and a resistance, a crystal unit is disposed in a loop which returns to an emitter of the transistor from a point between the inductor L4 and the resistance, and further, in the loop, a first parallel circuit in which a stationary capacitor having a negative temperature coefficient and a stationary capacitor having a zero temperature coefficient are connected in parallel with each other is inserted between an oscillation output taking point and the collector. |
| US07649421B2 |
Quality of phase lock and loss of lock detector
A system, apparatus and method for providing phase lock conditions detection such as a quality of phase lock and loss of lock detection. A phase locked loop (PLL) circuit may comprise an oscillator for providing an output frequency, as well as a detector for detecting the output frequency of the oscillator, comparing the output frequency with a reference signal and outputting a first and second signals as a function of the comparison. The PLL circuit may further include an amplifying circuit for receiving the first and second signals, monitoring a deviation of the first and second signals from a predetermined threshold, and generating a third signal as a function of the deviation. The PLL circuit may further comprise a comparison circuit for receiving the third signal, comparing the third signal to a window threshold, and generating a fourth signal as a function of the comparison. The window threshold may be a function of apriori knowledge of at least one loop variable, wherein the window threshold is set based on a predetermined loop variable. An alarm circuit may receive the fourth signal and provide an alarm. |
| US07649415B2 |
Class L amplifier
A new Class L amplifier which dynamically switches between multiple pairs of power rails, and has the ability to select the most advantageous combination of rails for the minimization of power dissipation in the amplifier. In one embodiment, a bridged amplifier system includes two Class L amplifiers to drive a load. |
| US07649414B2 |
Methods and apparatus to reduce substrate voltage bounces and spike voltages in switching amplifiers
Methods and apparatus to reduce voltage bounces and spike voltages in switching amplifiers are disclosed. An example apparatus to reduce spike voltages in a switching amplifier disclosed herein comprises an input to sense an output voltage of the switching amplifier, and a pull-down circuit to electrically couple the apparatus with a transistor in the switching amplifier, wherein the pull-down circuit is configured to vary in strength based on the output voltage sensed by the input. |
| US07649411B2 |
Segmented power amplifier
A system for amplifying a signal is provided. The system includes a plurality of driver stages, each having an input, an output, and a disable control. An output stage having an input is coupled to the outputs of the plurality of driver stages. A plurality of disable control signals is provided to the driver stages so as to controllably enable and disable one or more of the driver stages. |
| US07649408B2 |
Loop filters
Loop filters are provided, in which a first resistor comprises a first terminal coupled to a first node, and a second terminal coupled to a second node; a first capacitor is coupled between the second node and a ground voltage, a second resistor comprises a first terminal coupled to the first node and a second terminal coupled to a third node. An operational amplifier comprises a non-inversion input terminal coupled to the second node, an inversion input terminal coupled to the third node, and an output terminal, and a second capacitor is coupled between the output terminal of the operational amplifier and the third node. |
| US07649407B2 |
Digitally tuned, integrated RF filters with enhanced linearity for multi-band radio applications
An integrated, multi-band radio frequency (RF) filter is capable of modifying a filter response thereof in response to control information. Switching elements within the filter can be changed between on and off conditions to modify the filter response. In one implementation, the integrated, multi-band filter is integrated on a front end module chip to be used within a multi-radio wireless device. In at least one embodiment, linearity enhancement circuitry is provided within a multi-band filter to improve linearity and reduce insertion loss. |
| US07649405B2 |
Leakage current control circuit with a single low voltage power supply and method thereof
A leakage current control circuit with a single low voltage power supply is provided. The circuit includes a first power supply line, a second power supply line, a ground line, a high voltage generating circuit, a power transistor and a control circuit. The high voltage generating circuit generates a voltage in response to an internal sleep signal. The gate electrode of the power transistor is connected to the output of the high-voltage generating circuit such that the power transistor is controlled by the high voltage generating circuit. When the power transistor turns on, the circuit is in operation mode; when the power transistor is off, the circuit is in sleep mode. The control circuit connects to the first power line, the second power line, and the ground line to output the internal sleep signal in response to the sleep signal. |
| US07649397B2 |
Internal voltage detection circuit and internal voltage generation device using the same
An internal voltage detection circuit and an internal voltage generation device using the same are disclosed. The internal voltage detection circuit includes a first detect signal generator for generating a first detect signal to detect a level of an internal voltage corresponding to an operating temperature of a memory cell, a second detect signal generator for generating a second detect signal to detect a specific level of the internal voltage corresponding to a preset temperature, and a detect signal clamp unit for comparing a level of the first detect signal and a level of the second detect signal with each other and clamping the first detect signal according to a result of the comparison. |
| US07649393B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit having active and sleep modes and non-retention flip-flop that is initialized when switching from sleep mode to active mode
A semiconductor integrated circuit has an active mode and a sleep mode. The semiconductor integrated circuit is constructed by alternately connecting a plurality of combinational logic circuits and a plurality of flip-flops. The flip-flops include a retention flip-flop that is supplied with electric power and retains the data in the sleep mode, and a non-retention flip-flop that is not supplied with electric power during the sleep mode. The non-retention flip-flop includes an initializing circuit that initializes the non-retention flip-flop when the semiconductor integrated circuit is switched from the sleep mode to the active mode. |
| US07649389B2 |
Delay locked loop circuit, semiconductor device having the same and method of controlling the same
A delay locked loop (DLL) circuit includes a basic loop, a coarse loop, a delay model and a fine loop. The basic loop generates a plurality of first clock signals, based at least in part on an input clock signal, a feedback clock signal and a fine loop output signal. The first clock signals respectively have a phase difference. The coarse loop generates a plurality of output clock signals, based at least in part on the input clock signal, the feedback clock signal and the first clock signals. The plurality of output clock signals respectively have a phase difference. The delay model generates the feedback clock signal by delaying one of the output clock signals by a first time period. The fine loop generates the fine loop output signal, based at least in part on the input clock signal and the feedback clock signal. |
| US07649386B2 |
Field programmable gate array utilizing dedicated memory stacks in a vertical layer format
A field programmable gate array, an access lead network coupled to the FPGA, and a plurality of memories electrically coupled to the access lead network. The FPGA, access lead network, and plurality of memories are arranged and configured to operate with a variable word width, namely with a word width between 1 and a maximum number of bits. The absolute maximum word width may be as large as m.times.N where m is the number of word width bits per memory chip and N is the number of memory chips. |
| US07649385B2 |
Logic with state retentive sleep mode
Embodiments disclosed herein provide sleep mode solutions for retaining state information while reducing power in a logic block. |
| US07649383B2 |
Bidirectional level shift circuit and bidirectional bus system
A plurality of transistors are connected between an I2C bus operating at a first voltage level and an I2C bus operating at a second voltage level and a main control electrode of at least one transistor is connected to a first power supply terminal and a main control electrode of the other at least one transistor is connected to an intermediate level between the first voltage level and the second voltage level, whereby a withstand voltage required to a transistor of the bidirectional level shift circuit of the I2C bus can be lowered. |
| US07649382B2 |
Apparatus to reduce voltage swing for control signals
The present invention provides for a device to reduce the voltage swing for control signals. An input signal with a maximum potential of DVDD and minimum potential of AVSS is level shifted to a maximum potential of AVDD and a minimum potential of AVDD-DVDD. A series of control signals are generated from the level shifted input signal by standard logic cells. The shifting of the input signal reduces the voltage swing for the control signals. These control signals are then used to drive a device operating at a potential of AVDD. |
| US07649381B2 |
Level conversion circuit
A level conversion circuit capable of realizing low-power/high-speed operation and suppression of variations in input/output characteristics due to variations in source voltage and temperature and device variation. The level conversion circuit comprises: a source follower circuit including a first transistor to input an AC signal of CML level thereto and a second transistor to input a control voltage thereto; and a control-voltage generating circuit to generate the control voltage to be inputted to the second transistor. The control-voltage generating circuit comprises: a replica source follower circuit which is a replica of the source follower circuit including a third transistor to input a central voltage of CML level thereto and a fourth transistor to input the control voltage thereto; and a comparator which controls the control voltage, thereby equalizing an output voltage of the replica source follower and a threshold voltage of a CMOS circuit. |
| US07649380B2 |
Logic circuits with electric field relaxation transistors and semiconductor devices having the same
In a logic circuit, a first switching device is connected between a first voltage and an output terminal through which an output signal is output. The switching device is selectively activated and deactivated based on an input signal. A second switching device is connected to a ground voltage and is selectively activated and deactivated based on the input signal. A control circuit outputs a control signal in response to the input signal. The control signal has a first voltage level during a first time period in which a state of the input signal changes, and has a second voltage level during a second time period in which a state of the input signal is constant. The second voltage level is lower than the first voltage level. A field relaxation circuit is connected between the terminal through which the output signal is output. |
| US07649370B2 |
Evaluation method of probe mark of probe needle of probe card using imaginary electrode pad and designated determination frame
An evaluation method of a probe mark of a probe needle of a probe card, includes the steps of: forming the probe mark of the probe needle on a probe mark evaluation wafer; recognizing the probe mark with imaging; and overlapping an imaginary electrode pad with the probe mark recognized by imaging so that the probe mark is evaluated. |
| US07649368B2 |
Wafer level interposer
Double-sided interposer assemblies and methods for forming and using them. In one example of the invention, an interposer comprises a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite of said first surface, a first plurality of contact elements disposed on said first side of said substrate, and a second plurality of contact elements disposed on said second surface of said substrate, wherein said interposer connects electronic devices via said first and said second plurality of contact elements. |
| US07649356B2 |
Pulse induction metal detector having high energy efficiency and sensitivity
A pulse induction metal detector having high efficiency and sensitivity. Within the scope of the invention is a high efficiency hand-held metal detector for detecting a metal object, comprising a coil and a source of current flow in the coil. The source is adapted to produce one or more pulses of current in the coil. Preferably, at least two of the pulses are spaced apart in time at least about 20 microseconds during which current flow in the coil is substantially constant. The metal detector also comprises a detecting circuit for detecting a response to the current pulses, and a sampling circuit for sampling the response at predetermined times at least during the time of one of the pulses. |
| US07649353B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging method and apparatus using a circularly polarized RF resonator detecting right and left circularly polarized components of MR signals
In an MR imaging method and apparatus which MR images with improved signal intensity, improved signal-noise ratio, improved contrast and improved image homogeneity can be acquired, the polarization state of the magnetic field of the RF pulses radiated into the measurement subject and of the resonance signals emitted by the measurement subject are distorted by the interaction with electrically-active materials of the measurement subject. In the transmission branch of the RF system the RF pulses emitted by a transmission coil are pre-distorted with regard to their polarization state. The sensitivity of the reception branch is optimized such that it is capable of detecting resonance signals independent of their polarization state. |
| US07649348B2 |
Auxiliary element for fixing a current sensor to an electrical conductor
An auxiliary element includes an end plate having an inner face which is intended to be applied against a large surface of a sensor and an outer face which bears two spaced-apart mounting lugs on a first edge thereof, the lugs extending outwards perpendicularly to the outer face. A first pair of passages is formed in the lugs for first screws used to fix the auxiliary element to a support. In addition, the end plate includes a through opening for the electrical conductor and a second pair of passages, symmetrically on either side of the opening, for second screws used to fix the end plate to the sensor. The through opening is formed by a recess provided on a second edge, opposite the first edge, and the second pair of passages are formed by two parallel slits which extend perpendicularly to the first edge of the end plate. |
| US07649346B2 |
Switching regulator having a normal operational mode and a light-load operational mode
A switching regulator including an inductor and a switching transistor and having a normal operational mode and a light-load operational mode is disclosed. The switching regulator includes an operational mode switching part configured to switch the normal operational mode and the light-load operational mode, and a light-load detection part configured to detect the light-load state of a load. The light-load detection part is configured to detect the light-load state of the load by a change in the voltage at the connection of the switching transistor and the inductor when the switching transistor is OFF. The operational mode switching part is configured to switch the normal operational mode to the light-load operational mode in response to the detection of the light-load state of the load by the light-load detection part. |
| US07649344B2 |
Power management for a portable electronic device
A system for a supplemental power source for a hand held portable electronic device is provided. A super capacitor is connected in parallel to a main battery of the portable electronic device. When the main battery becomes disconnected, the super capacitor is used to power the portable electronic device. The super capacitor is also used to provide compensation for the internal impedance of the main battery and the path impedance between the main battery and the load. |
| US07649341B2 |
Storage battery unit
A storage battery unit (1) including a storage battery (2) and a monitoring device (3) that monitors a state of the storage battery using an output of the storage battery as an input, wherein, in order to prevent the monitoring device from consuming electric power in a state before use of the storage battery and prevent nonfunctioning of the monitoring device in use of the storage battery, a starting circuit (4) is provided between the storage battery and the monitoring device (3), the starting circuit including: a main switch that holds an OFF state in a state before a load is connected to the storage battery and interrupts supply of electric power from the storage battery (2) to the monitoring device; and a switch drive circuit that detects a reduction in terminal voltage of the storage battery that occurs when the load exceeding the set value is connected to the storage battery, and sets the main switch to an ON state. |
| US07649336B2 |
Power supply with bidirectional DC-DC converter
A rechargeable DC power supply includes a housing including an interior, an exterior, and an integral heat sink including a heat absorbing surface formed in said interior and a heat dissipating surface formed in said exterior. The rechargeable DC power supply includes a rechargeable battery having battery terminals positioned in said interior, power supply terminals positioned at said exterior of said housing, and a first printed circuit board (PCB) assembly including a bidirectional DC-DC converter module connected between said battery terminals and said power supply terminals. The first PCB assembly is in coplanar contact with said heat absorbing surface. |
| US07649335B2 |
Vehicular power supply system and vehicle
A vehicular power system includes: a secondary battery; an up-converter receiving a voltage of the secondary battery at a first connection node thereof, and up-converting a voltage between terminals of the secondary battery and outputting the up-converted voltage at a second connection node thereof; system main relays switching between connection and disconnection of the voltage up-converted by the up-converter to and from a load of a vehicle; and a case housing the secondary battery, the up-converter and the system main relays. Preferably the vehicular power supply system further includes a capacitor having one end connected to the second connection node of the up-converter and the case further houses the capacitor. Preferably the capacitor includes a plurality of series connected, electric dual layer capacitors. A vehicular power supply system suitable for being mounted in a vehicle and miniaturized, and a vehicle having the system mounted therein, can thus be provided. |
| US07649332B2 |
Motor controller having counter to count position error events and method of motor control using same
A motor control system uses an incremental encoder that provides a signal indicative of motor position. If an illegal state change is detected in the same sampling interval, an error event is recorded and an error counter is incremented. When the number of counts exceeds a pre-determined threshold, the motor is disabled so that appropriate corrective action can be taken. |
| US07649329B2 |
Method and circuit for controlling motor and brushless motor system using the same
A method and a circuit for controlling a motor and a brushless motor using the same are provided. The brushless motor includes three phase coils, wherein the first terminals of all the phase coils are coupled to a common node. The method includes following steps: among the above-mentioned three phase coils, when there is no current flowing through the first phase coil of the above-mentioned three phase coils and a current flows from the second terminal of the second coil to the second terminal of the third phase coil, detecting the voltage at the second terminal of the first phase coil to be a first specific voltage; detecting the voltage drop of a DC sensing resistor to be a second specific voltage; and utilizing the first specific voltage, the second specific voltage and the DC voltage supplied to the motor to estimate zero crossing points for controlling the motor. |
| US07649327B2 |
System and method for selectively dimming an LED
Embodiments of the present disclosure include an LED ballast circuit for dimming one or more LEDs using a phase controlled dimmer switch. The LED ballast circuit has a power conditioning unit which includes a substantially fixed duty cycle clock for outputting a clock cycle and a transformer configured to store energy and discharge a substantial portion of the stored energy once per clock cycle in order to power one or more LEDs. The LED ballast circuit and load collectively behave like a resistor. |
| US07649320B2 |
Lamp with improved lamp profile
A lamp, containing ≦100 ppm Hg, includes a burner chamber having an axis, the axis having a section ≧0.05 mm. The burner chamber has a recess oriented toward a light arc produced in the burning chamber to suppress arc curvature. The lamp has an arc-luminescence profile of luminescence (measured in cd/m2)/mm with an average slope over that section which is ≧|300,000,000| (cd/m2)/mm. Preferably, the profile maximum value is ≧90,000,000 cd/m2. In one embodiment, the arc-making device includes two electrodes disposed for producing the light arc across their two tips, the depth of the recess being sufficiently small so as not to extend between the two tips. |
| US07649318B2 |
Design for a plasma display panel that provides improved luminance-efficiency and allows for a lower voltage to initiate discharge
A plasma display panel capable of increasing a luminous efficiency while decreasing discharge firing voltage while easily generating an address discharge by generating a sustain discharge as facing discharge. The discharge sustain electrodes are on barrier ribs between the two substrates. One of the sustain discharge electrodes extends between discharge cells and the other extends through discharge cells dividing discharge cells into two portions. Each discharge sustain electrode is surrounded by a dielectric material and also a non-transparent MgO protective layer. These electrodes are formed to be tall and narrow to allow for superior facing discharge potential. |
| US07649309B2 |
Highly efficient stable oxynitride phosphor
Phosphor from the class of the oxynitridosilicates, having a cation M which is doped with divalent europium, and having the empirical formula MSi2O2N2, where M=Sr1-x-yCayEux where 0.3≦x+y≦0.725, with a Ca/Eu ratio of >1, the oxynitridosilicate having an emission with a dominant wavelength in the range from 555 to 568 nm. |
| US07649308B2 |
Electron emission device and method for manufacturing the same
An electron emission device includes first electrodes formed on a substrate and oriented in a first direction of the substrate, and isolated electrodes disposed on a same plane as the first electrodes while being spaced apart from the first electrodes. The isolated electrodes are separately formed and arranged in the first direction as well as in a second direction crossing the first direction. Line electrodes are placed on a different plane from the first electrodes and the isolated electrodes and are disposed on an insulating layer. Each of the line electrodes is electrically connected to a respective plurality of the isolated electrodes arranged along the second direction to form a second electrode together with the respective plurality of the isolated electrodes. Electron emission regions are formed on the isolated electrodes along the peripheral sides of the isolated electrodes proximate to the first electrodes. |
| US07649307B2 |
Display panel assembly and method of manufacturing the same
A display panel assembly includes a first substrate having an effective display region for displaying an image and a non-effective display region positioned at a peripheral region outside of the effective display region, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a sealing member disposed along a boundary between the effective display region and the non-effective display region between the first and second substrates, the sealing member including a thermosetting material, and an exothermnic member interposed between the sealing member and the first substrate to generate heat for curing the sealing member. |
| US07649306B2 |
Piezoelectric component and method for manufacturing same
Disclosed is a piezoelectric component (1) comprising a piezoelectric transducer (10) wherein a pair of electrodes (20a, 20b) are formed on both major surfaces of a piezoelectric substrate (11), a pair of frame members (30a, 30b) fitted to both major surfaces of the piezoelectric transducer (10), a pair of sealing substrates (40a, 40b) composed of a light-transmitting resin material and so fitted as to cover the frame members (30a, 30b), opaque coating layers (50a, 50b) respectively formed on the sealing substrates (40a, 40b), and a pair of input/output terminal electrodes (61a, 61b) respectively connected to the electrodes (20a, 20b). By having such a constitution, the state of sealed space and sealing widths of the frame members (30a, 30b) can be checked by visual examination such as direct visual observation or image recognition, and thus a highly reliable piezoelectric component (1) can be obtained. In addition, a mark can be made on the coating layers (50a, 50b). |
| US07649305B2 |
Piezoelectric energy harvester
A mechanism for capturing mechanical energy and converting it to electrical energy for use continually charging or providing emergency power to mobile, battery-powered devices comprises a plurality of elongated piezoelectric elements mounted at one or support points to one or more support structures. The plurality of piezoelectric elements are preferably structured and arranged so that at least each three-dimensional coordinate axis has at least one element with a dominant mode of deflection in a plane normal to the axis, in order to permit harvesting energy from forces applied in any direction without regard to the orientation of the energy harvesting mechanism to the source of forces. This results in improved coupling of the transducer with the random movements or vibrations that may not confined to any particular plane or in a plane that is not necessarily aligned with the plane in which a piezoelectric element is designed to bend, thus improving the efficiency of energy capture. |
| US07649304B2 |
Piezoelectric resonator and piezoelectric filter
A piezoelectric resonator includes a laminated thin film having a first thin film portion supported by a substrate and a second thin film portion spaced apart from a first main surface of the substrate and acoustically isolated from the substrate. The second thin film portion of the laminated thin film includes a piezoelectric thin film, a first electrode disposed on the upper surface of the piezoelectric thin film, and a second electrode disposed on the lower surface of the piezoelectric thin film and being larger and thicker than the first electrode. The piezoelectric resonator further includes a mass adding film disposed around the first electrode and on at least one portion of a region extending outward from the periphery of a piezoelectric vibrating portion at which the first and second electrodes overlap each other with the piezoelectric thin film disposed therebetween. The second electrode arranged so as to extend beyond the piezoelectric vibrating portion to a region at which the mass adding film is disposed. |
| US07649303B2 |
Acoustic wave resonator
In an acoustic wave resonator, an IDT electrode is provided on a piezoelectric substrate. The IDT electrode is apodization-weighted such that a plurality of maximum values of cross widths are provided in acoustic wave propagation directions. Alternatively, in apodization weighting, weighting is applied such that at least one of a pair of envelopes located at outer side portions of the IDT electrode in directions substantially perpendicular to acoustic wave propagation directions includes a plurality of angled envelope portions angled from a central portion of the IDT electrode toward an outer side portion of the IDT electrode in a direction substantially perpendicular to the acoustic wave propagation directions. |
| US07649302B2 |
Electrostatic actuator and power generator
This electrostatic actuator includes an electret film and a conductor layer formed on the electret film, and the conductor layer is so formed as to have a sectional shape reduced in width upward from the side closer to the electret film. |
| US07649294B2 |
Rotary electric machine and stator for rotary electric machines
In a rotary electric machine, at least one of first and second ends of each conductor segment is at least partially joined to at least one of the first and second ends of a corresponding another one of the conductor segments to provide the stator winding including a plurality of joint portions of the plurality of conductor segments. An insulating film covers each of the conductor segments except for at least the joint portions of the stator winding. At least part of the insulating film of each of the conductor segments located close to a corresponding one of the joint portions contains an evaporatable component. An amount in ppm of the evaporatable component contained in the at least part of the insulating film is adjusted to be equal to or lower than 20000 ppm. |
| US07649292B2 |
Rotating electrical machine and hybrid drive unit provided with the same
An induction machine includes a stator provided with stator windings and a first rotor provided with first rotor windings, and generates an induction current in one of the stator windings and the first rotor windings by a rotating magnetic field generated in the other of the stator windings and the first rotor windings. A synchronous machine includes a second rotor which is provided with second rotor windings connected to the first rotor windings and coupled to the first rotor, and a third rotor which is provided with permanent magnets and rotatable independent of the second rotor, and a torque acts between the second rotor and the third rotor due to the interaction between the rotating magnetic field generated in the second rotor windings and the field flux generated in the permanent magnets. |
| US07649287B2 |
Motor fastening mechanism and cam device
A motor-fastening mechanism fastens an output shaft of a motor and an input shaft of a driven member to each other. The motor-fastening mechanism has a fastening section which fastens the output shaft of the motor and the input shaft of the driven member relatively immovably, a motor-attachment member which is attached to the motor, an engaged section which is provided on either one of the motor-attachment member and the driven member, and an engaging section which is provided on the other of the motor-attachment member and the driven member and which is engaged to the engaged section such that displacement of the output shaft in a rotating direction thereof is regulated. |
| US07649285B2 |
Linear drive device
A cup-shaped sleeve is made mainly of a resin and has an end where a plurality of pieces of a permanent magnet are insert-molded. An auxiliary ring made mainly of a resin is provided along an inner peripheral surface of the cup-shaped sleeve other than an inner peripheral surface thereof where the permanent magnet is provided. The auxiliary ring has its inner peripheral surface identical to the inner peripheral surface of the permanent magnet or located outside relative to the inner peripheral surface of the permanent magnet. When the cup-shaped sleeve is resin-molded, the resin which is a component of the cup-shaped sleeve is prevented from shrinking inward. Therefore, contact between the resin supporting the permanent magnet and the cylinder is prevented. Accordingly, a linear drive device is obtained in which the reciprocation of the piston is prevented from being hindered. |
| US07649283B2 |
Inductive coupling method for remote powering of sensors
Means and methods of remotely powering a plurality of sensor coils are described. The plurality of sensor coils can be inductively coupled to a single, primary coil so as to bias the active circuitry of the sensors. The primary and sensor coils can have a separation on the order of inches, such that the sensors can be mounted exterior to a vessel and the primary coil can be mounted interior to the vessel. In some embodiments, the primary coil can be a wire coil. In other embodiments, the primary coil can be a planar coil pattern etched onto a printed circuit board. |
| US07649282B2 |
Wind park and method for the operation of a wind park
A wind park with a plurality of wind energy plants, which each have one plant control, which presets a desired value for the active power to its wind energy plant, and with a park control, which presets a desired value for the active power to be generated for each plant control and limits the active power fed by the wind park to a preset value, by shutting down a first group of wind energy plants and presetting a desired value for the active power to a second group of wind energy plants at a time, characterised in that the park control starts the wind energy plants of the first group again when the sum of the actual values of the active power of the wind energy plants of the second group has reached the preset desired value and/or a predetermined time duration has elapsed. |
| US07649278B2 |
Operating device for on-vehicle equipment
An operating device capable of assuring safety when operating on-vehicle equipment of an automobile is implemented. The operating device includes force sensors buried in a grasping part of a steering wheel in a vehicle, a detector for detecting force acted on the grasping part on the basis of an output signal of each of the force sensors, and a controller for outputting an operating signal to a piece of the on-vehicle equipment mounted on the vehicle on the basis of a detected signal supplied from the detector. As a result, it is possible to operate force sensors and operate the on-vehicle equipment by adjusting force used to grip the steering wheel or pressing the steering wheel without letting go the driver's hold of the steering wheel. |
| US07649270B2 |
Collective substrate, semiconductor element mount, semiconductor device, imaging device, light emitting diode component and light emitting diode
A collective substrate (1) is produced by firing a ceramic green sheet and forming through-holes (11) in the resulting substrate. The through-holes (11) each have an interior surface including taper surfaces (11b, 11c) which are tapered as having an opening size progressively decreasing from a main surface (21) and an external connection surface (22) toward a minimum size hole portion (11a). The taper surfaces (11b, 11c) respectively form obtuse angles θ1, θ2 with the main surface (21) and the external connection surface (22). A semiconductor element mount (BL) includes an insulative member (2) cut out of the collective substrate (1). An imaging device (PE2) includes an imaging element (PE1) mounted in a region surrounded by a frame (4) which is bonded to the main surface (21) of the insulative member (2) and closed by a cover (FL). A light emitting diode component (LE2) includes a light emitting element (LE1) mounted on the main surface (21) of the insulative member (2) with the minimum size hole portion (11a) of the through-hole being filled with an electrically conductive material (33a), the light emitting element being sealed with a fluorescent material and/or a protective resin (FR). A light emitting diode (LE3) includes the light emitting diode component (LE2) mounted in a package (7). |
| US07649269B2 |
Pad over active circuit system and method with frame support structure
An integrated circuit and method of fabricating the same are provided. Included are an active circuit, and a metal layer disposed, at least partially, above the active circuit. Further provided is a bond pad disposed, at least partially, above the metal layer. To prevent damage incurred during a bonding process, the aforementioned metal layer may define a frame with an outer periphery and an inner periphery. |
| US07649265B2 |
Micro-via structure design for high performance integrated circuits
In some embodiments, a micro-via structure design for high performance integrated circuits is presented. In this regard, an integrated circuit chip package is introduced having a dielectric layer, a plated throughhole in the dielectric layer, and a micro-via coupled with the plated throughhole, wherein the micro-via forms a path around an axis. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed. |
| US07649260B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device including: a semiconductor layer including an active region and an isolation region provided around the active region; an element formed in the active region; an interlayer dielectric formed above the semiconductor layer; and an electrode pad formed above the interlayer dielectric and having a rectangular planar shape having a short side and a long side, the electrode pad at least partially covering the element when viewed from a top side, and the semiconductor layer positioned in a specific range outward from a line extending vertically downward from the short side of the electrode pad being a forbidden region. |
| US07649258B2 |
Semiconductor device
Propagation of a crack in a semiconductor device is to be suppressed, thus to protect an element forming region. An interface reinforcing film is provided so as to cover a sidewall of a concave portion that penetrates a SiCN film and a SiOC film formed on a silicon substrate. The interface reinforcing film is integrally and continuously formed with another SiOC film, and includes an air gap. |
| US07649251B2 |
Thin-film device
A thin-film device incorporates: a substrate; an insulating layer, a plurality of lower conductor layers, a dielectric film, an insulating layer, a plurality of upper conductor layers and a protection film that are stacked in this order on the substrate; and a plurality of terminal electrodes. One of the terminal electrodes is connected to one of the lower conductor layers. The one of the lower conductor layers has a protruding portion that protrudes to extend more outward in a lateral direction than a side surface of the insulating layer. The one of the terminal electrodes has a concave portion that accommodates and touches at least part of the protruding portion, and touches the side surface of the insulating layer. |
| US07649250B2 |
Semiconductor package
Provided are a semiconductor package and a method for manufacturing the same. The semiconductor package includes: a substrate having a top surface on which a lead is formed and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface; a semiconductor chip attached to the top surface of the substrate and having an active surface on which a chip pad is formed and a back surface opposite to the active surface; a redistribution pattern electrically connected to the chip pad and extending from the active surface to a lateral surface of the semiconductor chip; and an interconnector electrically connecting the redistribution to the lead on the lateral surface of the semiconductor chip. |
| US07649246B2 |
Tab package connecting host device element
A device is provided in which a glass panel having beveled edge is flexibly connected to a TAB package. The outer lead portions of the TAB package include an end portion of first width connected to a connection pattern on the glass panel, a terminal portion having a second width greater than the first width, and a transition portion having a width that varies between the first and second widths. When the TAB package is connected the transition portion of the respective outer lead portions are disposed over the beveled edge of the glass panel. |
| US07649245B2 |
Structures and methods for a flexible bridge that enables high-bandwidth communication
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates high-bandwidth communication using a flexible bridge. This system includes a chip with an active face upon which active circuitry and signal pads reside, and a second component with a surface upon which active circuitry and/or signal pads reside. A flexible bridge provides high-bandwidth communication between the active face of the chip and the surface of the second component. By matching the wire line size in the flexible bridge to the size of circuits and/or signal pads on the chip and on the second component, the system allows signals to be sent between the circuits on the chip and the second component without having to change the scale of the interconnect, thereby alleviating wireability and bandwidth limitations of conventional chip packaging technologies. |
| US07649239B2 |
Dielectric spacers for metal interconnects and method to form the same
A plurality of metal interconnects incorporating dielectric spacers and a method to form such dielectric spacers are described. In one embodiment, the dielectric spacers adjacent to neighboring metal interconnects are discontiguous from one another. In another embodiment, the dielectric spacers may provide a region upon which un-landed vias may effectively land. |
| US07649238B2 |
Semiconductor device
In a PMOS transistor, the source-drain region is divided into four parts along the gate width and has an arrangement of four independent source regions and an arrangement of four independent drain regions. A partial trench isolation insulating film is arranged in contact with the whole of the opposed surfaces between the four source regions in such a manner that the channel region formed under the gate electrode is divided across the channel length. A body-tied region containing N-type impurities relatively high in concentration is arranged in contact with the side surface of the source region opposite to the gate electrode, and the potential of the body region is fixed through the well region from the body-tied region. |
| US07649237B2 |
Schottky diode for high speed and radio frequency application
A semiconductor diode that eliminates leakage current and reduces parasitic resistance is disclosed. The semiconductor diode comprises a semiconductor substrate; a semiconductor layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the semiconductor layer includes a first dopant and a first well with a Schottky region; and a polysilicon device positioned above the semiconductor layer and adjacent to the first well with the Schottky region. |
| US07649235B2 |
Electronic component package
The electronic component package includes a mounting board, an electronic component and a molding resin. An external electrode is disposed on a surface of the mounting board. The electronic component connected to the mounting board via the external electrode includes a component-substrate, a device, a component-cover and a protector made of resin. The component-substrate comprising a piezoelectric body includes a first surface on which the device is disposed and a second surface opposing the first surface. The component-cover covers the first surface of the substrate and the device. The protector provided on the second surface contains filler. The molding resin covers the electronic component on the mounting board. |
| US07649234B2 |
Semiconductor devices
An embodiment of a semiconductor device includes a gate electrode overlying a substrate and a lightly doped epitaxial layer formed on the substrate. A high energy implant region forms a well in a source side of the lightly doped epitaxial layer. A self-aligned halo implant region is formed on a source side of the device and within the high energy well implant. An implant region on a drain side of the lightly doped epitaxial layer forms a gate overlapped LDD (GOLD). A doped region within the halo implant region forms a source. A doped region within the gate overlapped LDD (GOLD) forms a drain. |
| US07649232B2 |
P-channel MOS transistor, semiconductor integrated circuit device and fabrication process thereof
A p-channel MOS transistor includes source and drain regions of p-type formed in a silicon substrate at respective lateral sides of a gate electrode wherein each of the source and drain regions of p-type includes any of a metal film region and a metal compound film region as a compressive stress source accumulating therein a compressive stress. |
| US07649230B2 |
Complementary field-effect transistors having enhanced performance with a single capping layer
Performance of a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) device having n-channel MOS transistors and p-channel MOS transistors is enhanced by providing a single capping layer overlying the MOS transistors with the single capping layer inducing stress in the transistor channel regions to enhance carrier mobility. The n-channel transistor is preferably fabricated in silicon having a (100) crystalline channel surface orientation, and the p-channel transistor is preferably fabricated in silicon having a (110) channel surface crystalline orientation. A tensile stress in the single capping layer induces tensile stress in the channel of the (100) n-channel transistor thereby enhancing the mobility of electrons while tensile stress in the single capping layer induces compressive stress in the channel of the (110) p-channel transistor thereby enhancing the mobility of holes. Alternatively, the n-channel transistor is fabricated in silicon having a (110) crystalline channel surface orientation, and the p-channel transistor is fabricated in silicon having a (100) channel surface crystalline orientation. A compressive stress in the single capping layer induces tensile stress in the channel of the (110) n-channel transistor thereby enhancing the mobility of electrons while compressive stress in the single capping layer induces compressive stress in the channel of the (100) p-channel transistor thereby enhancing the mobility of holes. |
| US07649229B2 |
ESD protection device
A semiconductor device capable of preventing an electrostatic surge without increasing a leak current. In the semiconductor device, a protection circuit for protecting an internal circuit is provided between a source line and a ground line. The protection circuit has a protection transistor of which the drain is connected to the source line and the source and gate are connected to the ground line. The protection transistor is configured by integrally forming two types of transistor structural portions. The latter of the transistor structural portions is longer than the former thereof in gate length. In addition, the sum of gate widths of the latter transistor structural portions is larger than the sum of gate widths of the former transistor structural portions. |
| US07649227B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of forming the same
An insulated gate semiconductor device comprising an insulator substrate having provided thereon a source and a drain region; a channel region being incorporated between said source and said drain regions, said channel region comprising a polycrystalline, a single crystal, or a semi-amorphous semiconductor material; and a region provided under said channel region, said region comprising an amorphous material containing the same material as that of the channel region as the principal component, or said region comprising a material having a band gap larger than said channel region.A process for fabricating the device is also disclosed. |
| US07649224B2 |
DMOS with high source-drain breakdown voltage, small on- resistance, and high current driving capacity
This invention is directed to offer a MOS transistor that has a high source-drain breakdown BVds, a low on resistance and a high electric current driving capacity. On resistance is lowered by forming an N well layer for lowering on resistance in the drift region. The N well layer is disposed beneath the gate electrode and away from the N well layer with a certain space between them. This space ensures the withstand voltage at the edge of the gate electrode of the drain layer side. Also, the N well layer is formed on the surface of an epitaxial layer in the region that includes a P+L layer. The edge of the N well layer of the drain layer side is located near the edge of the P+L layer of the drain layer side and away from the N well layer. This space makes the expansion of depletion layer from the P+L layer easier, further improving the withstand voltage. |
| US07649222B2 |
Semiconductor device
This semiconductor device includes a first conductivity type first semiconductor layer formed on the upper surface of a substrate, a first conductivity type second semiconductor layer formed on the first semiconductor layer, a first conductivity type third semiconductor layer formed on the second semiconductor layer, a second conductivity type fourth semiconductor layer formed on the third semiconductor layer, a first conductivity type fifth semiconductor layer formed on the fourth semiconductor layer and an electrode formed in a trench, so provided as to reach the second semiconductor layer through at least the fifth semiconductor layer, the fourth semiconductor layer and the third semiconductor layer, in contact with an insulating film, while the upper surface of the second semiconductor layer is arranged upward beyond the lower end of the electrode. |
| US07649220B2 |
Photodetector having dark current correction
A photodetector and method for making the same is disclosed. The photodetector includes a substrate having first, second, and third photodiodes and first and second pigment filter layers. The first, second, and third photodiodes generate first, second, and third photodiode output signals, respectively, each photodiode output signal being indicative of a light intensity incident on that photodiode and a dark current that is independent of the light intensity. The first and second pigment filter layers overlie the first and second photodiodes while a layer having both the first and second pigment filter layers overlie the third photodiode. An output circuit combines the first and third photodiode output signals to provide a first corrected output signal and combines the second and third photodiode output signals to provide a second corrected output signal. |
| US07649214B2 |
ESD protection system for multiple-domain integrated circuits
An integrated circuit system includes a first device in a first power domain, and a second device coupled to the first device in a second power domain. A circuit module is coupled between the first device and a power supply voltage or between the first device and a complementary power supply voltage in the first power domain for increasing an impedance against an ESD current flowing from the first device to the second device during an ESD event. |
| US07649213B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes an SiC substrate, a normal direction of the substrate surface being off from a <0001> or <000-1> direction in an off direction, an SiC layer formed on the SiC substrate, a junction forming region formed in a substantially central portion of the SiC layer, a junction termination region formed to surround the junction forming region, and including a semiconductor region of a conductivity type different from the SiC layer formed as a substantially quadrangular doughnut ring, having two edges facing each other, each crossing a projection direction, which is obtained when the off direction is projected on the upper surface of the SiC layer, at a right angle, wherein a width of one of the two edges on an upper stream side of the off direction is L1, that of the other edge on a down stream side is L2, and a relation L1>L2 is satisfied. |
| US07649209B2 |
Side-view surface mount white LED
A light emitting diode is disclosed. The diode includes a package support and a semiconductor chip on the package support, with the chip including an active region that emits light in the visible portion of the spectrum. Metal contacts are in electrical communication with the chip on the package. A substantially transparent encapsulant covers the chip in the package. A phosphor in the encapsulant emits a frequency in the visible spectrum different from the frequency emitted by the chip and in response to the wavelength emitted by the chip. A display element is also disclosed that combines the light emitting diode and a planar display element. The combination includes a substantially planar display element with the light emitting diode positioned on the perimeter of the display element and with the package support directing the output of the diode substantially parallel to the plane of the display element. |
| US07649197B2 |
Composite material, and light emitting element and light emitting device using the composite material
An object is to provide a light emitting element with low drive voltage which contains an organic compound and an inorganic compound. One feature of a light emitting element of the present invention is to include a layer containing a light emitting material between a pair of electrodes, in which the layer containing a light emitting material has a layer containing a carbazole derivative represented by General Formula (1) and an inorganic compound which exhibits an electron accepting property to the carbazole derivative represented by General Formula (1). With such a structure, the inorganic compound accepts electrons from the carbazole derivative, carriers are generated internally, and a drive voltage of the light emitting element can be reduced. |
| US07649195B2 |
Light emitting diode having active region of multi quantum well structure
Disclosed is a light emitting diode (LED) having an active region of a multiple quantum well structure in which well layers and barrier layers are alternately laminated between a GaN-based N-type compound semiconductor layer and a GaN-based P-type compound semiconductor layer. The LED includes a middle barrier layer having a bandgap relatively wider than the first barrier layer adjacent to the N-type compound semiconductor layer and the n-th barrier layer adjacent to the P-type compound semiconductor layer. The middle barrier layer is positioned between the first and n-th barrier layers. Accordingly, positions at which electrons and holes are combined in the multiple quantum well structure to emit light can be controlled, and luminous efficiency can be enhanced. Furthermore, an LED is provided with enhanced luminous efficiency using a bandgap engineering or impurity doping technique. |
| US07649193B2 |
Semiconductor body and semiconductor chip comprising a semiconductor body
A semiconductor body (2), comprising a semiconductor layer sequence with an active region (3) suitable for generating radiation. The semiconductor layer sequence comprises two contact layers (6, 7), between which the active region is arranged. The contact layers are assigned a respective connection layer (12, 13) arranged on the semiconductor body. The respective connection layer is electrically conductively connected to the assigned contact layer. The respective connection layer is arranged on that side of the assigned contact layer which is remote from the active region. The connection layers are transmissive to the radiation to be generated in the active region, and the contact layers are of the same conduction type. |
| US07649189B2 |
CRDS mirror for normal incidence fiber optic coupling
A cavity ring-down sensor having an optical path of mirrors and an interface proximate to a mirror with a normal incidence optical fiber coupling. The interface may be a block of transmissive materials having different indices of refraction for receiving a light beam of normal incidence from an optical fiber and directing the beam into the optical path. The sensor may be used applications where the optical fiber needs to be straight into the sensor without unusual bending because of space limitations. One application of this sensor may be for ground water testing via a narrow well casing. |
| US07649185B2 |
Fluorescent phantom device
Described herein is a phantom device that simplifies usage, testing, and development of light imaging systems. The phantom device includes a body and a fluorescent light source internal to the body. The body comprises an optical material designed to at least partially resemble the optical behavior of mammalian tissue. The phantom device has many uses. One use of the phantom device permits testing of tomography software in the imaging system, such as software configured for 3D reconstruction of the fluorescent light source. Another use tests spectral unmixing software in the imaging system. The phantom device also allows a user to compare trans- and epi-fluorescent illumination imaging results. |
| US07649184B2 |
Processing method and system
A processing method uses a processing system which includes an atmosphere replacing chamber having first and second gate valves, and a container that has an inside maintained in a reduced pressure or vacuum atmosphere and provides a predetermined process to an object, wherein the atmosphere replacing chamber is connected to the container through the first gate valve and a space different from the container through the second gate valve. The processing method includes the steps of exhausting the atmosphere replacing chamber while introducing first gas below predetermined humidity to the atmosphere replacing chamber, and vacuum-pumping the atmosphere replacing chamber after said exhausting step, by reducing an amount of the first gas to be introduced into the atmosphere replacing chamber. |
| US07649183B2 |
Apparatus for monitoring an item for radioactive material on or associated with the item
Method and apparatus is provided for monitoring an item for radioactive material on or associated with the item, the apparatus including an enclosed volume, an item monitoring location, a detection location, ion detectors provided within the detection location, a mover of gas for providing a flow of gas past the item monitoring location to a detection location, so as to revel the level and/or presence of radioactive material on the item. The item may be supported within the monitoring location by one or more rollers to ease its insertion and/or removal. The item monitoring location may be extremely elongate so as to measure pipes and the like. Various designs of roller and gas flow controllers are provided to optimize monitoring. |
| US07649181B2 |
Variable multi-stage waveform detector
A variable waveform detector may include multiple stages. |
| US07649178B2 |
Solid state detector packaging technique
A radiation detector package includes a radiation-sensitive solid-state element (10) having a first electrode (12) and a pixelated second electrode (14) disposed on opposite principal surfaces of the solid-state element. An electronics board (20) receives an electrical signal from the solid-state element responsive to radiation incident upon the radiation-sensitive solid-state element. A light-tight shield (40, 40′) shields at least the radiation-sensitive solid-state element from light exposure and compresses an insulating elastomer and metal element connector (30, 32) between the pixilated electrode (14) and contact pads (24) on the electronics board. |
| US07649177B2 |
Radiation image detector
A radiation image detector includes a first electrode for transmitting an electromagnetic wave for recording, the electromagnetic wave carrying a radiation image, a photoconductive layer for recording, a plurality of charge-collecting electrodes, and a substrate. The photoconductive layer for recording generates charges by irradiation with the electromagnetic wave for recording that has been transmitted through the first electrode, and has amorphous selenium as its major component and further contains alkali metal. The first electrode, the photoconductive layer for recording, the plurality of charge-collecting electrodes and the substrate are superposed one on another in this order. Further, an amorphous selenium layer is provided as an anti-crystallization layer between the first electrode and the photoconductive layer for recording. The amorphous selenium layer contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of As, Sb and Bi at 5% to 40%. |
| US07649176B2 |
Method for improving clinical data quality in positron emission tomography
A method for improving clinical data quality in Positron Emission Tomography (PET). The method provides for the processing of PET data to accurately and efficiently determine a data signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) corresponding to each individual clinical patient scan, as a function of a singles rate in a PET scanner. The method relates an injected dose to the singles rate to determine SNR(Dinj), and provides an accurate estimate of a quantity proportional to SNR, similar in function to the SNR(Dinj). Knowledge of SNR(Dinj) permits determination of peak SNR, optimal dose, SNR deficit, dose deficit, and differential dose benefit. The patient dose is fractionated, with a small calibration dose given initially. After a short uptake, the patient is pre-scanned to determine T, S, and R. An optimal dose is then determined and the remainder injected. |
| US07649175B2 |
Analog to digital conversion shift error correction
A method for correcting energy values of pulses from a nuclear medicine camera for errors due to Analog to Digital conversion shift includes determining a relationship between a subset of samples selected from a set of samples from the pulse, the relationship being expressed in the form of a code. A conversion table is accessed which provides a list of codes and corresponding conversion factors. The conversion factor for the closest code to that of the subset of samples is selected from the table and applied to an integration of the set of samples to correct the energy value of the pulse. |
| US07649174B2 |
Thermography camera configured for gas leak detection
A portable thermography camera system (100) renders a video image of a survey scene over a narrow spectral bandwidth corresponding with an absorption band of a gas to be detected in the video image. The camera system forms a scene image onto a focal plane array (108) and generates a corrected image signal (162) corresponding with irradiance values at a plurality of locations of the scene image. The camera system further generates a temporally filtered image signal (168) corresponding with a temporal characteristics of the image signal (162) over a selected number of prior image frames. A difference block (166) reduces the temporally filtered image signal (168) by a scaling factor and produces a difference image by subtracting the scaled temporally filtered image signal from the corrected image signal (162). The displayed difference signal improves the visibility of the gas to be detected. |
| US07649167B2 |
Rotary encoder having at least one depression area formed continuously with a defined depth along the periphery of a bearing fixation region
A rotary encoder for determining the rotation of an object to be measured includes a shaft that is coupled to the rotation of the object to be measured, as well as at least one bearing in which the shaft is rotationally mounted. The rotary encoder also has a rotary-transducer base member having a bearing fixation region at which the bearing is fixed in position, at least one depression area being formed continuously with a defined depth on the rotary-transducer base member along the periphery of the bearing fixation region such that it surrounds at least half the periphery of the bearing fixation region. |
| US07649164B2 |
Augmented photo-detector filter
Method and systems related to obstructing a first predefined portion of at least one defined wavelength of light incident upon a first photo-detector array; and detecting the at least one defined wavelength of light with a photo-detector in a second photo-detector array. |
| US07649163B2 |
Photomultiplier tube module having high-voltage generating circuit and digital circuit
An extension line of a tube axis of a photomultiplier tube is shifted from the center of gravity position of a front surface of a housing, which allows a space to be formed at an opposite side in the housing. A signal processing board is arranged in this space, and a high-voltage generating circuit board is fixed on the extension line of the tube axis, and thus the interior space of a housing can be effectively used. Since the signal processing board can be made adjacent to a tube wall of the photomultiplier tube, even when the length in a tube axis direction of the signal processing board is long, it becomes possible to house the same in the housing. Therefore, it becomes possible to achieve miniaturization. |
| US07649162B2 |
Optical feedback control unit, optical communication system, feedback control method, and recording medium for recording program
The present invention is to provide an optical feedback control unit for determining an optical output by a feedback control, an optical communication system, a feedback control method, and a recording medium for recording a program. According to the present invention, even when used in the system to which a plurality of nodes are connected, the unstable system may become stable by the proper feedback control without being affected by the optical level change according to the polarized variation or the loss variation. In The optical feedback control unit according to the present invention, an optical output control portion determines an optical output by a feedback control using the result detected by a detection portion, a dead zone not performing the feedback control is set for the difference between the detected value from the detection portion and the control target value, and when the difference between the detected value and the control target value is within the dead zone, a width of the dead zone is set to be wider than that of the dead zone when the difference between the detected value and the control target value is out of the dead zone. |
| US07649161B2 |
Light source utilizing light pipes for optical feedback
A light source having a first mixing chamber, a light pipe structure, and a controller is disclosed. The first mixing chamber includes a first plurality of LEDs, the first mixing chamber having a first transparent window through which light from the first plurality of LEDs exits the first mixing chamber. The light pipe structure has a first end optically coupled to the window such that light from the first plurality of LEDs enters the first end and a second end through which the light exits. The controller determines the power that is applied to the first plurality of LEDs and includes a photodetector optically coupled to the second end of the light pipe structure. The photodetector generates signals indicative of an intensity of light generated by the LEDs, the controller causing the LEDs to be powered such that the signal matches a target value. |
| US07649158B2 |
Preform-heating furnace comprising a member for controlling the movement of a heating means between indexed positions
The invention relates to a furnace (10) for heating preforms (20), of the type that comprises a preform-heating tunnel (12). According to the invention, the tunnel consists of a heating module (18) comprising vertical walls (14, 16) between which the preforms (20) travel. Moreover, at least one wall (16) of the module (18) is provided with at least one heating means (32) which is mounted to supports (34) such that it can move transversely and means (40) for adjusting the transverse position of the heating means (32) comprising at least one member (42) for controlling the movement of the heating means (32) between at least two indexed positions. The invention is characterized in that the control member (42) comprises an indexing boss (54) which can deform elastically such as to fit inside the complementary indexing notches (56, 58) on the corresponding support (34) at proximal and distal positions respectively. |
| US07649155B2 |
Piercing method for laser beam machine
A method for performing piercing preferentially on a laser beam machine by taking advantage of a capability to change laser machining tools automatically. A laser beam machine is equipped with a device for changing a torch and nozzle automatically. The laser beam machine is equipped with a means of selecting preferential treatment of piercing after nesting data is prepared by a CAM or NC system and performs piercing alone in favor of cutting by changing to a special-purpose piercing tool. |
| US07649154B2 |
Method of producing a graphic element
In the case of a method of producing a linear graphic element on a molded body, the molded body is metallically coated and the graphic element is produced by a laser irradiation. The coating is removed by the laser irradiation in the form of dots having the same diameter and the same mutual spacing. |
| US07649153B2 |
Method for minimizing sample damage during the ablation of material using a focused ultrashort pulsed laser beam
In one aspect the invention provides a method for laser induced breakdown of a material with a pulsed laser beam where the material is characterized by a relationship of fluence breakdown threshold (Fth) versus laser beam pulse width (T) that exhibits an abrupt, rapid, and distinct change or at least a clearly detectable and distinct change in slope at a predetermined laser pulse width value. The method comprises generating a beam of laser pulses in which each pulse has a pulse width equal to or less than the predetermined laser pulse width value. The beam is focused above the surface of a material where laser induced breakdown is desired. The region of least confusion (minimum beam waist or average spot size) is above the surface of the material in which laser induced breakdown is desired since the intensity of the beam falls off in the forward direction, preferably the region of the beam at or within the surface is between the region of least confusion and sufficient to remove material and the minimum intensity necessary for laser induced breakdown of the material to be removed, most preferably the region of minimum intensity is disposed at the surface of the material to be removed. The beam may be used in combination with a mask in the beam path. The beam or mask may be moved in the x, y, and Z directions to produce desired features. The technique can produce features smaller than the spot size and Rayleigh range due to enhanced damage threshold accuracy in the short pulse regime. |
| US07649150B2 |
Sensor having switch function, manufacturing method thereof and electronic device having sensor built therein
There are provided a sensor which is small, suitable for reflow soldering by automatic cleaning and automatic mounting, can be manufactured in batch, and has a switch function, and a manufacturing method of the sensor, and a portable telephone having the sensor built therein.There are provided a sensor having a switch function, the sensor being composed of a first substrate composed of a semiconductor by which a conducting part of the switch is formed, a second substrate composed of the semiconductor by which a conducting part of the switch is formed or an insulator by which the conducting part of the switch is formed, and a moving member having conductivity, wherein any of the first substrate and the second substrate has a cavity-shaped portion and the moving member having conductivity is confined by the first substrate and the second substrate, and a manufacturing method of the sensor, and an electronic device having the sensor built therein. |
| US07649149B2 |
Method and device for maintenance of high-voltage switchgear with voltage
Method for maintenance of high-voltage switchgear/fuses in an installation, which method is performed while the switchgear/installation is under operation/voltage. It is further provided a device for carrying out the method, which device includes screening plates 20A-C, which screening plates are provided with maneuvring means 22 and 25, fastening means 23 and 24 for fastening of the screening plates to the switchgear cell/installation and means for disconnecting the switch 27, 28A-B. |
| US07649145B2 |
Compliant spring contact structures
Photolithography patterned spring contacts are disclosed. The spring contacts may be fabricated using thin film processing techniques. A substrate, such as a silicon wafer or a carrier substrate is provided. At least one layer of a metal or alloy film may be deposited on the substrate or on at least one intervening release layer and patterned to form metal traces. A stressable material, exhibiting an at least partially tensile stress state, may be deposited on the metal traces in a localized region. A portion of the substrate or a portion of the intervening release layer underneath the metal traces may be removed by etching, causing the metal traces to curl upward resulting in the spring contacts. The spring contacts may be used as compliant electrical contacts for electrical devices, such as integrated circuits or carrier substrates. The compliant electrical contacts may also be used for probe cards to test other electrical devices. |
| US07649137B2 |
Signal processing apparatus and method, program, and recording medium
Disclosed herein is a signal processing apparatus, including: extraction means for extracting a feature quantity indicative of characteristics of sounds represented by a sound signal, the sounds including different tones from within a 12-tone equal temperament and being arranged in an order of a musical scale based on a reference sound having a predetermined tone; and root decision means for receiving the feature quantity and deciding whether the reference sound is a root of a first chord of the arranged sounds, the decision being based on the feature quantity. |
| US07649133B2 |
Striking member for use with a percussion instrument
The striking member for use with a percussion instrument is a vibration-inducing and flexing variation of a conventional unitary or one-piece drum stick, drum mallet or the like. The striking member includes a stick having opposed first and second ends, and a hollow shell having an opening formed through a lower end thereof. The first end of the stick is adapted for grasping by the user, and the second end is inserted through the opening, into an open interior region of the hollow shell. The hollow shell is secured to the stick, and flexes when striking a surface, such as a drum, for example. An elastic material may further be received within the hollow shell, and may at least partially fill the open interior region thereof in order to provide further elastic properties for the head of the striking member. |
| US07649129B2 |
Soybean variety 4305498
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 4305498. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 4305498. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 4305498 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 4305498 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US07649119B2 |
Method for the production of cyclic ketones
The present invention relates to a process for preparing a cyclic ketone having from 7 to 16 carbon atoms, which comprises at least the steps (a) oxidation of a composition (I) comprising at least one cyclic olefin which has from 7 to 16 carbon atoms and at least one C—C double bond by means of dinitrogen monoxide to give a composition (A), (b) treatment of the composition (A) with at least one base to give a composition (B). |
| US07649117B2 |
Process of preparing optically active β-hydroxycarboxylic acid derivative
Disclosed is a process of preparing an optically active β-hydroxycarboxylic acid derivative comprising asymmetrically hydrogenating a β-keto compound in the presence of a catalyst comprising a transition metal complex compound having a 2,3-bis(dialkylphosphino)pyrazine derivative as a ligand. The pyrazine derivative is preferably a quinoxaline derivative, and the transition metal is preferably ruthenium. Preferred examples of the quinoxaline derivative are (S,S)-2,3-bis(tert-butylmethylphosphino)quinoxaline, (R,R)-bis(tert-butylmethylphosphino)quinoxaline, (S,S)-bis(tert-adamantylmethylphosphino)quinoxaline, and (R,R)-bis(adamantylmethylphosphino)quinoxaline. |
| US07649116B1 |
Formation of olefins from methyl mercaptan
A process is disclosed for the production of olefins including ethylene, propylene and butenes from methyl mercaptan. The process comprises a reaction whereby methyl mercaptan produces the olefin and hydrogen sulfide by pyrolysis. The reaction is carried out at an elevated temperature in the range of 300° C. to 600° C. to achieve the pyrolysis. |
| US07649113B2 |
Mono, di and tri cyclic compounds useful for lowering IgE concentrations
The present invention is directed to novel compounds which are derivatives of minocycline or doxycycline, pharmaceutical compositions containing same and use thereof in lowering excess IgE levels in a mammal suffering from a disease where IgE is pathogenic. |
| US07649108B2 |
Process for the distillation of a mixture of isomeric diisocyanatodiphenylmethanes
A mixture of isomeric diisocyanatodiphenylmethanes composed of at least 2,2′-diisocyanato-diphenylmethane, 2,4′-diisocyanatodiphenylmethane and 4,4′-diisocyanatodiphenyl-methane is distilled in at least one stage and a divided-wall column is used in at least one distillation stage. |
| US07649107B2 |
Process for the preparation of cyclopentanone derivatives
The present invention relates to the field of organic synthesis and more particularly to a new process for the preparation of an acetal derivative of an alkyl 3-oxo-2-(2-oxoethyl)-1-cyclopentaneacetate. The invention also relates to a method to use said acetal derivative to prepare intermediates useful for the preparation of perfuming ingredients. |
| US07649103B2 |
Long chain unsaturated oxygenated compounds and their use in the therapeutical, cosmetic and nutraceutical field
Long-chain unsaturated oxygenated compounds and their use in the therapeutical, cosmetic and nutraceutical field. Use of compounds of formula R—X wherein X is a primary alcoholic functional group —CH20H, a carboxylic functional group —COON or a C1-C4 alkyl ester group, and of mono-, di- and tri-glycerides of acid compounds R—COON and of pharmaceutically acceptable salts of those acids, wherein R is a hydrocarbon chain having from 19 to 35 carbon atoms, which is saturated or unsaturated, including from one to five ethylenic or acetylenic unsaturations, linear or branched, including from one to five methyl branches, and optionally substituted by from one to three hydroxyl groups, for the preparation of pharmaceutical or nutraceutical compositions useful for the treatment and prevention of pathologies related to a high concentration of cholesterol and lipids, pathologies associated with an increased ability of the blood platelets to aggregate and with a reduced concentration of oxygen, in the treatment of ageing processes, for the preparation of compositions of nutritional integrators aimed at weight loss and cosmetic compositions useful in the treatment and prevention of skin damage caused by free radicals. |
| US07649101B2 |
Process for selective oxidation of olefins to epoxides
A process for the selective oxidation of olefins to epoxides comprising the step of contacting the olefin (propylene) with an oxidant (hydrogen peroxide) in the presence of a Lewis acid oxidation catalyst (MTO), organic base (pyridine or its N-oxide), in a solvent system comprising an organic water-miscible solvent (methanol); and adding a pressurizing gas (nitrogen) to increase the pressure, whereby olefin is further dissolved in organic solvent system to increase the selectivity and yield of the desired epoxide (propylene oxide). |
| US07649099B2 |
Method of forming a dianhydrosugar alcohol
The invention includes methods of producing dianhydrosugars. A polyol is reacted in the presence of a first catalyst to form a monocyclic sugar. The monocyclic sugar is transferred to a second reactor where it is converted to a dianhydrosugar alcohol in the presence of a second catalyst. The invention includes a process of forming isosorbide. An initial reaction is conducted at a first temperature in the presence of a solid acid catalyst. The initial reaction involves reacting sorbitol to produce 1,4-sorbitan, 3,6-sorbitan, 2,5-mannitan and 2,5-iditan. Utilizing a second temperature, the 1,4-sorbitan and 3,6-sorbitan are converted to isosorbide. The invention includes a method of purifying isosorbide from a mixture containing isosorbide and at least one additional component. A first distillation removes a first portion of the isosorbide from the mixture. A second distillation is then conducted at a higher temperature to remove a second portion of isosorbide from the mixture. |
| US07649095B2 |
Piperidine derivatives and agent comprising the derivative as active ingredient
Piperidine derivatives represented by formula (I) or nontoxic salts thereof (wherein symbols are defined in the description): Since the compound represented by formula (I) has a PDE4 inhibitory activity, it is useful for preventing and/or treating inflammatory diseases, diabetic diseases, allergic diseases, autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis, bone fracture, obesity, depression, Parkinson's disease, dementia, ischemia-reperfusion injury, leukemia and the like. |
| US07649094B2 |
Optically active compounds, method for kinetic optical resolution of carboxylic acid derivatives and catalysts therefor
The present invention provides a method of kinetic optical resolution of carboxylic acid derivatives using specific optically active catalysts. A racemic or diastereomeric mixture of carboxylic acid derivatives of the formula (A) is reacted with a nucleophile in the presence of an optically active catalyst to form an optically active nucleophile derivative of the formula (B). The catalyst is an optically active compound represented by the formula (C) or (D) [wherein R1 is a substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated, straight-chain, branched or alicyclic aliphatic hydrocarbon group which can have a heteroatom, R2 is ethyl or vinyl, and R5 is hydrogen or methoxy respectively]. |