| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07738491B2 |
Frame structure, method for organizing data and method for transmitting data
A frame structure for transmitting data over a digital interface has a plurality of data frames. In this plurality of data frames a first sampling data frame is based on at least one sampling word and dedicated to a first logical channel. A set of data frames follows the first sampling data frame and carries in a compressed format a plurality of predefined status data words dedicated at least to the first logical channel. A first further sampling data frame follows the set of data frames. It is based on at least one further sampling word and dedicated to the first logical channel. |
| US07738490B2 |
Method and system for fairly allocating differentiated bandwidth based on shared multicast traffic in time division multiplexed passive optical network
A method for fairly allocating a differentiated bandwidth based on shared multicast traffic in transmission of downstream traffic in a Time Division Multiplexed-Passive Optical Network (TDM-PON) is provided. The method includes the steps of: deciding a total number of multicast groups to which services are currently provided, and a number of multicast groups to which a predetermined optical network unit (ONU) subscribes; calculating a multicast share degree in each of the multicast groups, and a total multicast share degree of the predetermined ONU in all of the multicast groups; dividing the total multicast share degree of the predetermined ONU by the total number of multicast groups to calculate a final normalized multicast share degree of the predetermined ONU; calculating an average multicast bandwidth of the predetermined ONU depending on a total bandwidth allocated to multicast traffic services on the basis of the final normalized multicast share degree; calculating the differentiated bandwidth of the predetermined ONU using ONU-specific service weights; and subtracting the average multicast bandwidth from the differentiated bandwidth of the predetermined ONU to calculate a maximum dynamic timeslot bandwidth of the predetermined ONU. |
| US07738488B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) gateway visitor location register (VLR) functionality
Methods, Systems, and Computer Program Products for Providing Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi) Gateway Visitor Location Register (VLR) Functionality. A method is disclosed herein for providing Wi-Fi gateway VLR functionality for an access point in a Wi-Fi network. The steps of the method can occur at a Wi-Fi gateway VLR that can perform VLR functions for at least one access point in a Wi-Fi network. The VLR functions can include receiving a registration request from a subscriber located in a service area of an access point in the Wi-Fi network. Further, the VLR functions can include authenticating the subscriber with a home location register (HLR) associated with the cellular network. The VLR functions can also include receiving information associated with the subscriber from the HLR. The Wi-Fi gateway VLR can store the information associated with the subscriber and maintain Wi-Fi reachability information for sending media packets to the subscriber in the Wi-Fi network. |
| US07738487B2 |
Re-formatting variable-rate vocoder frames for inter-system transmissions
Methods and apparatus are presented for supporting the transmission of variable-rate vocoder frames over non-compatible communication channels. Variable-rate vocoder frames are re-formatted as cargo in multi-rate vocoder frames. At the receiver, a determination is made as to whether a received multi-rate vocoder frame carries a variable-rate vocoder frame cargo. If a variable-rate vocoder frame is cargo, then a determination of the frame type is made. Various embodiments for conveying cargo information are presented. |
| US07738485B1 |
Parallel wireless scheduler
A method, medium, and wireless system are provided for scheduling access terminals to prevent starvation of other access terminals connected to a communication network. The wireless system includes access terminals and base stations that are configured with a first wireless scheduler and a parallel wireless scheduler that select access terminals to communicate during specified time slots. The access terminals may measure channel conditions associated with communications to the base station and transmit requests that specify a desired communication rate to the base station. The first and parallel wireless schedulers on each base station receive the requests from each access terminal and select an access terminal to communicate during a subsequent time slot that may be based on, for example, the channel conditions and weighted average functions of the communication rates—corresponding to the access terminal—generated by the first and parallel wireless schedulers. |
| US07738482B2 |
Apparatus and method for implementing a suspend mode in an Ethernet-based communications system
The present invention describes a communications system having a first link partner and a second link partner that are connected by a communications link having at least four pairs of conductors. According to IEEE Standard 802.3 (e.g. Ethernet) for 1000Base-T, a data link is maintained (in a period absent data transmission) by sending idle signals over four pairs of conductors of the cable to maintain a logical connection. This idle signal scheme is replaced with an alternate idle signaling scheme that uses only two pairs of conductors to maintain a logical connection and therefore can operate with using lower power. The other two pairs of conductors of the four pairs of conductors are unused to maintain a logical connection absent data transfer, and therefore can be used to implement a Suspend Mode of operation. During Suspend Mode, the physical layer of each link partner powers down unnecessary circuitry so as to operate in a low power environment. To initiate the Suspend Mode, idle signals are sent on one of the un-used pairs of the conductors mentioned above. To exit Suspend mode, idle signals are sent on respective conductors simultaneously. |
| US07738478B2 |
Apparatus and method for determining downstream topology in hybrid-fiber coaxial network
An apparatus for determining a downstream topology in a hybrid-fiber-coaxial network includes: a signal branching unit for branching a signal received from a cable modem termination system into a plurality of branched signals; a plurality of signal selecting units for selectively receiving a frequency band signal corresponding to a specific downstream channel among the plurality of branched signals; a downstream topology determining unit for analyzing a downstream ambiguity resolution frequency list contained in a channel information message of a downstream primary channel received from the cable modem termination system, collecting in parallel channel information messages with respect to a plurality of downstream channels, and determining a downstream topology at a high speed using the collected channel information messages; and a plurality of packet generating units for setting downstream channel frequency bands of the signal selecting units under control of the downstream topology determining unit, and sending the channel information messages of the collected downstream channels to the downstream topology determining unit. |
| US07738470B2 |
Fast and automatic self-forming meshing topology to integrate with wired networks
The present invention applies management frame defined in IEEE 802.11 standard to a wireless distribution system (WDS) mode by adding an information element (IE) into the management frame, which enables any access point (AP) in WDS to maintain IE based on its own setting and state, then send IE via the management frame for providing state of the AP under WDS mode, determine whether a physical link (i.e., a wireless link between APs) should be established therewith based on received IE, and maintain the established physical link through the wireless management frame in a real time manner. Thus, the existence and necessity of the physical link between different APs in WDS can be determined correctly. |
| US07738469B1 |
Multi-virtual service module pinhole or connection class offload
In a communications network, a virtual rack having service modules for performing network services is provided. A pinhole that corresponds to a plurality of the service modules is created. Data packets are directed to a service processor in response to matching the data packets to the pinhole. For connection class offload, using the acceleration processor to match the connection class pinhole to the data packets and creating connection class sessions that are used for processing subsequent packets of the connection. |
| US07738468B2 |
Method and apparatus for packet traversal of a network address translation device
A characterization method for a network address translation (NAT) device by an internal computer behind the NAT device includes creating a plurality of sockets; binding the plurality of sockets, respectively, to a plurality of ports; transmitting a plurality of STUN requests in user datagram protocol (UDP) packets to a plurality of STUN servers, wherein each STUN request is associated with one of the sockets; determining that the NAT device does not support UDP packets if responses are not received from the STUN servers; and determining a set of NAT characteristics of the NAT device if a response is received from each of the STUN servers. |
| US07738467B2 |
Output port based double Q tagging
One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of processing a packet sent to a provider network. The packet is received via a user port of an edge switch of the network. Forwarding and routing by the edge switch is determined based on a user VID. A provider VLAN tag, including a provider VID, is inserted into the packet prior to transmission of the packet via a provider port of the edge switch. |
| US07738466B2 |
Distributed hashing mechanism for self-organizing networks
A method for retrieving content of a distributed directory of a telecommunication system comprising a plurality of nodes arranged in a directed ring topology, the method comprising the steps of identifying a storage location of said content by means of a distributed hashing function, where the hashing function maps an element onto a node, where the node is responsible carrying elements with a hash value between the node and its successor node. The invention further concerns a corresponding computer software product, telecommunication device, and a telecommunication system. |
| US07738463B2 |
ATM-PON system and ONU automatic connection method
OLT is provided with a field for storing the number of effective bits for searching ONU serial numbers, a field for storing a search start serial number and a field for storing a search end serial number, and ONU serial numbers are searched from the search start serial number to the search end serial number within the number of effective bits to automatically perform acquisition of the ONU serial number and ONU connection. An ONU automatic connection method for an ATM-PON system is provided by which an ONU serial number is searched efficiently without registering the ONU serial number from OpS to OLT. |
| US07738452B1 |
Techniques for load balancing subscriber-aware application proxies
Techniques for distributing network traffic from an access server to a service gateway include receiving, at a load balancer, sticky table data that indicates an association between a particular subscriber IP address and a particular subscriber-aware service gateway in a gateway cluster. An input data packet is received with an input source address and an input transport-layer destination. If it is determined that the input transport-layer destination indicates a type of payload that uses a service gateway, then the particular service gateway associated with the particular subscriber is determined based on the sticky table and IP address in the input source address. An output data packet is directed to the particular service gateway using a link-layer or networking-layer destination address. These techniques allow a load balancer to be located anywhere on the network and to bypass a subscriber-aware service gateway for some data traffic. |
| US07738451B2 |
Method and device for flexible buffering in networking system
A method and device for flexible, dynamic and optimal buffering in a networking system are provided. Sizes of incoming packets are recognized and the packets are buffered into buffers of appropriate sizes. Usage times of buffers are counted, and during an idle state of the networking system, buffer number and descriptor number are re-calculated based on usage times. Then, buffers and descriptors are re-allocated based on the re-calculated number. By re-allocation, buffer sets with higher usage times are allocated with more buffers, and vice versa, so memory waste is lowered and the overall performance of the networking system is improved. |
| US07738449B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing voice signals to and from a telecommunications switch
A voice gateway (64) includes an input port (70) that receives a voice signal from an unbundled analog line (62) coupled to a Class 5 switch (52). The voice signal is converted to a digital format by an analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converting unit (76). The voice signal is placed into a compressed format by a compressing/de-compressing unit (80) using a selected one of a plurality of compression ratios. The voice signal is placed into a transport frame by a packetizing/de-packetizing unit (84) according to a selected packet format. The voice signal is multiplexed with other voice signals by an output port (88). The output port (88) places the voice signal onto a selected one of a plurality of output lines in order to transport the voice signal in its transport frame to one of an office customer premises (12) and a residence customer premises (14). |
| US07738442B2 |
Communication control unit and filtering method in communication control unit
Origination and incoming are regulated for each service in user units. An origination filter table stores contract service information indicating whether or not each service can be used and the maximum number of sessions that can be activated by the originator corresponding to each originator identifier (for example, SIP-URI). An incoming filter table stores incoming enable/refusal information and an originator identifier from which incoming is enabled or refused corresponding to each receiver identifier. A communication control section references the contract service information and the maximum number of sessions in the origination filter table based on the originator identifier in the message received from a communication terminal, determines whether or not the service indicated by service type information in the message can be used, and determines whether or not a new session can be established. The communication control section references the incoming enable/refusal information in the incoming filter table based on the receipt party and originator identifiers in the message and determines whether or not incoming is enabled. |
| US07738441B2 |
Communication apparatus and communication method
A communication apparatus includes a receiving device configured to receive one physical frame in which a plurality of MAC frames are aggregated. This physical frame includes one acknowledgement request frame for the plurality of MAC frames. The apparatus includes an acknowledgement frame forming device configured to form an acknowledgement frame representing reception statuses of the plurality of MAC frames in response to the acknowledgement request frame. The apparatus also includes a transmitting device configured to transmit the acknowledgement frame. This acknowledgement frame includes a compressed acknowledgement frame representing an acknowledgement bitmap having a size equal to a maximum number of MSDUs (MAC Service Data Units) when one MPDU (MAC Protocol Data Unit) corresponds to one MSDU. |
| US07738439B2 |
Communication system with request reservation timeslot management
A communication system is provided for communication between network nodes and a communication controller that provides for request timeslot management. In the network, when an individual node has data to transmit, the node transmits a request signal to the communication controller over an assigned timeslot. The timeslots are assigned to individual ones of the nodes, and the timeslots assigned recur in a repeating fashion. If a timeslot is unused for a predetermined period of time, such as when a node is turned off or simply has no data to transmit, the timeslot is either eliminated or reassigned. Eliminated timeslots reduce unnecessary time delay before request timeslots recur. |
| US07738433B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer program products for adapting a transmission setting
Method, wireless communication apparatus, and computer program products are provided for adapting at least one transmission setting to be applied by a first transceiver, which is adapted to be operative in a predetermined frequency band, in response to communication by a second transceiver, which is adapted to be operative in the predetermined frequency band. It is determined whether prioritized data traffic is communicated by the second transceiver. If prioritized data traffic is communicated by the second transceiver, the transmission setting is adapted in dependence of the prioritized data traffic. |
| US07738432B2 |
Dynamic network activation apparatus, systems, and methods
Apparatus, systems, methods, and articles herein interact with an operating system in a network client to simulate an “always connected” network connection model. Upon activation, a network driver implementing embodiments herein indicates to the operating system that a network connection has been established, whether or not an actual connection is established. Some embodiments may also present a pseudo network address (e.g., an IP address) to the operating system in the case of a virtual network connection. Upon sensing an actual physical network connection, embodiments herein may handshake with the operating system to establish a real network connection, including communicating a network-assigned network address to the operating system. The operating system may in turn report (or continue to report) an active connection to application programs so that a user need not repeatedly re-activate the network connection manually. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07738430B2 |
Mobile communication system, mobile communication method, base station, and mobile station
An effective random access control can be performed with a high throughput. A base station (11) communicates with mobile stations (12) by use of slotted ALOHA system. An offset time of 1.5 frames is established between upstream and downstream communication frames. If any of the upstream communication frames is available, the base station (11) notifies a transmission permission signal (I) by use of the corresponding downstream frame. If having data to be transmitted, a mobile station (12) in a reception state receives the transmission permission signal (I), switches itself into a transmission state, and transmits one frame of leading data by use of the upstream frame. If permitting continuous transmission of data following the leading data, the base station (11) transmits a continuous transmission permission information (P) to that mobile station (12), and transmits a transmission inhibition signal (B) to the other mobile stations (12) during that continuous transmission. When receiving the continuous transmission permission information (P), that mobile station (12) places itself in a transmission mode, and transmits the following data by use of a plurality of continuous frames of the upstream communication frames. |
| US07738427B1 |
Method and system for data rate based vertical handoff
A method and system for using data rate as a basis to allow or deny handoff from a communication system operating under a first air interface protocol (first protocol system) to a communication system operating under a second air interface protocol (second protocol system). A base station detects that a hybrid terminal has received a threshold low forward link data rate under the first protocol for a threshold time period, and the base station responsively evaluates the second protocol system to determine if the second protocol system has sufficient resources to provide at least as good a data rate as the threshold data rate. If the base station thereby determines that the second protocol system is a good alternative, then the base station will allow a handoff to occur when the terminal seeks to handoff to the second protocol. Otherwise, the base station will not allow the handoff to occur. |
| US07738423B2 |
Cell switching and packet combining in a wireless communication system
A method is provided to allow a mobile station to communicate with two different cells during a handoff between the cells. During the handoff, the mobile station may controllably combine information received from both of the cells with which it is communicating. |
| US07738420B2 |
Apparatus and method for allocating subchannel and power in communication system, and transmitting apparatus
In a communication system, subchannel state information for a plurality of user equipments (UEs) are collected, and a plurality of subchannel state prediction parameter values for the respective UEs are calculated using the subchannel state information. In addition, the communication system allocates at least one subchannel among the plurality of subchannels to a first UE having the highest priority. Subsequently, the communication system determines whether to allocate additional power to the at least one subchannel based on the plurality of subchannel state prediction parameter values, and allocates additional power to a subchannel that needs the additional power among the at least one subchannel. |
| US07738416B2 |
Data burst communication techniques for mobile communication devices operating in packet data sessions
Data burst communication techniques for mobile communication devices operating in packet data sessions are disclosed. A mobile communication device is adapted to receive and decode packet data of a plurality of packet data bursts of a data block over a packet data channel during a packet data session. The mobile communication device is further adapted to receive and decode broadcast control data of a plurality of broadcast data bursts of the same or adjacent data block over a broadcast control channel contemporaneously with the packet data, where each broadcast data burst is interleaved with packet data bursts of the packet data session. When a time conflict between at least one of the packet data bursts and at least one of the broadcast data bursts exists, the mobile communication device is adapted to prioritize the receiving and decoding of the at least one packet data burst over the at least one broadcast data burst. However, if the at least one broadcast data burst is received from a “high priority” or “imminent” handoff candidate neighbor cell, the mobile communication device is adapted to prioritize the receiving and decoding of the at least one broadcast data burst over the at least one packet data burst without completely suspending packet transfer operations. Advantageously, an efficient and less disruptive communication technique is provided during packet data sessions. |
| US07738413B2 |
Minimizing power consumption in a wireless system for a sensor networks using time slots for nodes
A power efficient system architecture that exploits the characteristics of sensor networks in order to decrease the power consumption in the network. The primary characteristic of sensor networks is that the destination of all the data packets in the network is a central data collector and this central data collector, which is usually denoted as access point (AP), has unlimited transmission power and energy whereas the sensor nodes have limited battery energy and transmission power. The system uses the AP to directly synchronize and explicitly schedule the nodes' transmissions over Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) time slots. |
| US07738410B2 |
Server apparatus, communication system, and paging execution method
According to one embodiment, a server apparatus includes a storage module stores information to execute paging of which the broadcast is not completed yet for paging using the recording module, a determination module determines whether or not to execute paging of information in which a paging request has been already recorded in the recording module, a detector detects a storage information amount of the paging stored in the storage module, and a report module reports the storage information amount detected by the detector to a terminal of a paging request origin. |
| US07738399B2 |
System and method for identifying target systems
An identification system for identifying and validating selected components of a communication system and methods for manufacturing and using same. The communication system includes a host system that is configured to couple with one or more target systems. When the host system is coupled with a selected target system, the communication system can enter an identification mode wherein the selected target system can provide identification data to the host system. The identification data includes information regarding at least one target system characteristic associated with the selected target system such that the host system can attempt to identify the selected target system based at least in part upon the target system characteristics. Once the selected target system has been identified, the communication system likewise can at least partially reconfigure the host system, as necessary, such that the host system can be compatible with the selected target system. |
| US07738398B2 |
System and method for configuring communication systems
An identification system for identifying and validating selected components of a communication system and methods for manufacturing and using same. The communication system includes a host system that is configured to couple with one or more target systems. When the host system is coupled with a selected target system, the communication system can enter an identification mode wherein the selected target system can provide identification data to the host system. The identification data includes information regarding at least one target system characteristic associated with the selected target system such that the host system can attempt to identify the selected target system based at least in part upon the target system characteristics. Once the selected target system has been identified, the communication system likewise can at least partially reconfigure the host system, as necessary, such that the host system can be compatible with the selected target system. |
| US07738394B2 |
Receiving data in a sensor network
A sensor network has a plurality of wireless sensors which transmit to an intermediate receiving device which relays data to a central server. A method is provided for receiving data packets at the intermediate receiving device from a plurality of the transmitting devices. Data packets are sensed on a communication medium at the receiving device and the total traffic intensity of data packets from the transmitting devices is estimated. A detection threshold for data packets is provided and adapted as a function of the total intensity. The receiving device receives data packets with a signal strength above the current detection threshold. |
| US07738390B2 |
Method of reporting quality metrics for packet switched streaming
A method of reporting quality metrics for packet switched streaming in a wireless network between a server and a client, comprising the step of transporting content data to the server to the client using a real time streaming protocol, the step of reporting at least one quality metric relating to the delivered data stream from the client to the server using both an unreliable transport mechanism, such as UDP, and at least one reliable transport mechanism, such as TCP. |
| US07738389B1 |
System and method for multiple test access in a communication network
A method of providing multiple test access for test equipment in a communication network is provided. The method comprises the step of coupling test apparatus to a first communication line via a first communication circuit in the test apparatus wherein the first communication line has a first quantity of equal bandwidth communication pathways that are dedicated for test access. The first communication line is coupled to a first cross connect apparatus. The test apparatus also has a second communication circuit that is coupled to the first communication circuit. The method further comprises the step of utilizing a second communication line having a second quantity of equal bandwidth communication pathways that are dedicated for test access. The second communication line is coupled between the first cross connect apparatus and a second cross connect apparatus. The second quantity is less than the first quantity. The method further comprises the step of controlling the test apparatus to initiate a test procedure wherein the second communication circuit initiates a test of network facilities associated with the second cross connect apparatus. |
| US07738387B2 |
System and method for diagnosing a cabling infrastructure using a PHY
A system and method for discovering a cable type using an automated, systematic process. A PHY can be designed to measure electrical characteristics (e.g., insertion loss, cross talk, length, etc.) of the cable to enable determination of the cable type. The determined cable type can be used in diagnosis of cabling infrastructure or in a dynamic configuration or operation process. |
| US07738383B2 |
Traceroute using address request messages
In one embodiment, an endpoint sends messages containing Simple Traversal of User Datagram Protocol (UDP) Through Network Address Translators (NATs) (STUN) requests to traceroute a path to the remote endpoint. The traceroute may be completed through security devices such as NATs and firewalls. Receipt of a STUN response from the remote endpoint signals that one of the traceroute packets reached the remote endpoint whereas the other traceroute packets have elicited error responses from intermediary, on-path routers, allowing these routers to be identified. |
| US07738379B1 |
Method and apparatus for throttling and distributing data transmissions across a network
The present invention provides a throttling unit for throttling and distributing data transmissions between terminals and servers in a network. The throttling unit determines a current status of the servers in the system, typically by receiving an overload notification from each server. Once the throttling unit has determined the current status of the servers, the throttling unit can adjust transmission rates of terminals to control the amount of the data received by each server based on its corresponding status. The transmission rate can also include a local load coefficient which can be adjusted to either increase or decrease the transmission rate of a terminal to a server depending on the status of the servers. A data transmission can subsequently be sent from a terminal to the servers based on the transmission rate determined for each of the servers. |
| US07738375B1 |
Shared shaping of network traffic
A method for sharing an aggregate bandwidth among a group of traffic classes may include allocating a portion of the aggregate bandwidth to one of the group of traffic classes having a first priority associated therewith, where the allocated portion is referred to as a first bandwidth. The method may include allocating an unused portion of the aggregate bandwidth to a second one of the group of traffic classes having a second priority associated therewith in conjunction with a parameter associated with a downstream device. |
| US07738371B1 |
Method and system for routing network packets
Method and system for sending and receiving a network packet via an inter-switch link (ISL) is provided. The method includes receiving a network packet at a network port; obtaining a destination identifier from a packet header for the network packet; generating a physical port number for routing the network packet; generating a signal indicating that an inter-switch link for the physical port number is shared by a plurality of partitions; generating a first set of virtual lanes based on a service level to virtual lane mapping scheme; generating a second set of virtual lanes based on an inter-switch link (ISL) service level to virtual lane mapping scheme; and selecting a virtual lane from the first set of virtual lanes or the second set of virtual lanes; based on a signal generated from a partition key table. |
| US07738369B2 |
Data structure caching for PDU re-generation and transmission in a 3G wireless network
In one embodiment, a transmitter (a) caches one or more MAC-d PDUs received from a network layer, (b) selects a subset of the MAC-d PDUs for combination into a MAC-e PDU, (c) generates the MAC-e PDU from the subset of selected MAC-d PDUs, (d) caches a data structure to allow re-generation of the MAC-e PDU, wherein the re-generation does not rely on any cached copy of the MAC-e PDU, (e) transmits the MAC-e PDU for receipt by a receiver; and (f) determines whether an ACK was received, wherein if an ACK was not received, then the MAC-e PDU is re-generated using the cached data structure and the subset of selected MAC-d PDUs, and steps (e) and (f) are repeated, and if an ACK was received, then the memories used to cache the data structure and the first subset of MAC-d PDUs are freed. |
| US07738366B2 |
Methods and structure for detecting SAS link errors with minimal impact on SAS initiator and link bandwidth
Methods and structures within a SAS expander for detecting link level errors in PHYs of a SAS expander to reduce overhead bandwidth utilization of SAS links between SAS initiators and SAS expanders. In one aspect hereof, a SAS expander self monitors the error status registers of its own PHYs over an internal path that does not use bandwidth of the attached SAS links. When a link level error is so detected the SAS expander may initiate actions and/or report the error to a SAS initiator to thereby reduce the potential for lost data integrity. Where multiple SAS expanders are configured in a SAS domain fabric, each expander may monitor its PHYs or one expander may be designated a master and monitor PHYs of all expanders in the fabric. |
| US07738363B2 |
Network relay apparatus
A network relay apparatus receives sub data different from main data by data transmission/reception processing units of a working system and a spare system, and when communication paths of the working system and the spare system are both working normally, makes the sub data flow through the communication path of the spare system. When a failure occurs in the communication path of the working system, the network relay apparatus switches the communication path for the main data to the spare system, and accordingly notifies it to a data relay unit, which is a relay destination of the main data. In the data relay unit, based on a notified content, corresponding relationships of ports in the unit are changed so that the received main data is output from the same output port as before. |
| US07738360B2 |
Method and apparatus for merging call components during call reconstruction
The present invention is directed to a secondary communication server 216 for assuming control of a communication formerly controlled by a primary communication server 212 in the event of a failure, comprising:(a) an input operable to (i) receive, from a first communication node 204a, first communication information, wherein the first communication information is associated with the communication and comprises a first node identifier 236a and/or a communication identifier 240a, the first node identifier 236a is associated with a second communication node 204b, the communication identifier is associated with the communication, and the second communication node 204b comprises second communication information associated with the communication and (ii) thereafter receive, from the second communication node 204b, the second communication information; and(b) a reconstruction agent 228 operable to identify the second communication information based on the first node identifier 236a and/or communication identifier 240a. |
| US07738357B2 |
Apparatus and method for carrier frequency offset estimation and correction in a wireless communication system
A method is disclosed for correcting carrier frequency offset (CFO) in a received data packet that includes one or more M data streams. The data packet has a payload portion preceded by a preamble portion, the payload portion having a plurality of data symbols (L) each of which include a plurality of data tones (K). The method comprises, making a per-stream preamble CFO estimate for each data stream by correlating repeated preamble portions that precede the data packet. The per-stream preamble CFO estimates are weighted and averaged to obtain a single preamble CFO estimate. Any CFO in each received data stream is then corrected according to the preamble CFO estimate. Additionally, for an lth data symbol in a data packet, a per-tone CFO estimate is derived and successively averaged over frequency (tones), time (symbols) and space (data steams) to derive data CFO estimate pdata. Any CFO in each received data stream may be corrected according to the data CFO estimate, and/or the preamble CFO estimate. |
| US07738356B2 |
Multiple stream cyclic-shifted delay transmitter
A multiple stream cyclic-shifted delay transmitter including a baseband processing module and a plurality of RF transmit sections. The baseband processing module is operably coupled to convert outbound data into a plurality of transmit baseband signal streams and cyclic-shift delay at least one of the plurality of transmit baseband signal streams to produce at least one cyclic shift delayed transmit baseband signal stream. The plurality of RF) transmit sections is operably coupled to convert the plurality of transmit baseband signal streams and the at least one cyclic-shift delayed transmit baseband signal stream into a plurality of RF signals. |
| US07738354B2 |
Crosstalk identification for spectrum management in broadband telecommunications systems
Crosstalk between subscriber loops used to transmit different broadband services through the same bundled telephone cable is a significant limitation to providing digital subscriber line services. A method for estimating the crosstalk, identifying the sources of the crosstalk and predicting additional sources of crosstalk are disclosed. The crosstalk sources are identified in the frequency domain by maximizing the correlation with a “basis set” of received crosstalk PSDs which consist of the cascade of a finite set of known transmit PSDs types times a representative set of crosstalk couplings. Multiple crosstalk types are identified with a technique of successive spectral subtraction. Once a type is identified the crosstalk disturber is compared against all other members of the complete set for that type. Additionally, Multiple Regression (MR) techniques and a Matching Pursuit (MP) algorithm are used to increase the ability of the system and method to identify various crosstalk disturbers. The identification of the crosstalk disturber is then used to perform crosstalk cancellation and spectrum management in a DSL system. |
| US07738349B2 |
Optical disc device with normal resolution signal selection filter
A normal resolution component included in a readout signal of a super resolution optical disc is canceled to improve quality of the readout signal. The normal resolution component is separated from the readout signal of the super resolution optical disc by using a normal resolution selection filter such as a low pass filter, a mark length determination circuit, and then the normal resolution component is subtracted from an original readout signal while gain and a phase are appropriately controlled. Thereby, an influence of crosstalk due to the normal resolution component is reduced. |
| US07738346B2 |
Polarizing diffraction element and optical head device
A polarizing diffraction element having a wavelength selectivity which functions as a polarizing diffraction element at a wavelength λ1, and which does not function as a diffraction grating not depending on incident polarization state and shows high transmittance at a wavelength λ2, and an optical head device employing the element, are provided.The polarizing diffraction element selectively diffracts or transmits incident light having two different wavelengths each containing a first circularly polarized light and a second circularly polarized light having a rotation opposite from the rotation of the first circularly polarized light, depending on wavelength and polarization state of the incident light. Then, a reflective wavelength region for at least the first circularly incident light, does not contain said two incident wavelengths. |
| US07738345B2 |
Optical disc drive and objective lens for the same
There is provided an objective lens used for three types of optical discs including by selectively using one of three types of light beams. At least one of surfaces of the objective lens is provided with a first region converging the third light beam on a recoding surface of the third optical disc. The first region has a step structure configured to have concentric refractive surface zones and to give an optical path length difference to an incident beam at each step formed between adjacent refractive surface zones. The step structure is configured such that the optical path length difference given by each step is substantially equal to an odd multiple of a wavelength of a first light beam, and a value of differentiation of an optical path difference function defining the step structure crosses zero in a height ranging from 30% to 70% of an effective diameter of the first region. |
| US07738342B2 |
Optical pickup device
An optical pickup device enables prevention of an increase of spherical aberration during tracking without needing any finite optical system. The diameters of parallel light beams (A, B, C) for the next-generation DVDs, DVDs, and CDs are limited to diameters of a, b, c (a>b>c) in accordance with the NA for each type by a light beam limiting element, the diameter of light beam B is limited to the diameter ranges of b to c and d (=0.85×c) to e (d>e>0), the diameter of the light beam C is limited to the diameter ranges of c to d and less than e. They are passed through a phase correcting element (13B) and focused on the corresponding optical recording medium signal planes by means of a common objective lens. The objective lens is so optimized that the wave front aberration to the light beam A is minimum on the signal plane of the next generation DVD. The phase correcting element (13B) has a phase correcting zones (Z1 to Z4) of diffraction optical structure exhibiting a pseudo-kinoform shape of a step constitution. The spherical aberration to the light beam B is corrected in the zones (Z1, Z3). The spherical aberration to the light beam C is corrected in the zones (Z2, Z4). The light beam A is passed through all the zones of the light beam diameter a without changing the parallel light beam state by optimizing the step heights of the zones (Z1 to Z4). |
| US07738336B2 |
Apparatus and method for optical information recording and reproducing
A recording condition on a media is optimized by introducing a new evaluation index. An apparatus for optical information recording and reproducing includes: a measurement means for recording codes including a specific code in a medium for optical information recording and reproducing, reproducing the codes from the medium for optical information recording and reproducing, and measuring, from a reproduced signal of the codes, a peak value of amplitude of a reproduced signal related to the specific code, the peak value being a maximum value or a minimum value of the amplitude of the reproduced signal related to the specific code; a statistic calculation means for calculating preset statistic by using a plurality of peak values at the same or different recording places, the plurality of peak value having been obtained by the measurement means; and a condition decision means for deciding at least one of a recording laser power condition and a recording pulse condition by using the statistic. The peak value and the statistic thereof serving as a new evaluation index are effective for evaluation of the apparatus for optical information recording and reproducing or setting of a recording condition in the specification. |
| US07738335B2 |
Method and apparatus for recording information on an optical recording medium
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of recording information to an optical recording medium that is suited to achieving high data transfer rates.The method of recording information according to the present invention is adapted for recording information to an optical recording medium by forming on the optical recording medium a plurality of recording marks selected from a group consisting of several types of recording marks each with different lengths, wherein a bottom power of a laser beam used for forming at least one recording mark contained in the group is set to be higher than a reproducing power of a laser beam used for reproducing information. According to the present invention, since the bottom power helps to erase a recording mark, it is possible to maintain a high erase efficiency even when information is recorded by setting a high data transfer rate. |
| US07738332B2 |
Reproduction method, optical disk drive, and IC circuit
In an optical disk drive that is equipped with a binarization circuit by the PRML method and carries out record/reproduction at a speed higher than a standard speed, to realize reproduction compatibility between the drive and another optical disk drive by the ordinarily adopted direct slice method. It can be realized by applying verification judgment equivalent to reproduction at a standard speed in accordance with a reproduction speed. More specifically, it is realized by counting 2 T data number by the direct slice method, using a Viterbi decoder that validates a run length shorter than the minimum run length, and adopting other measures. A higher record/reproduction speed is realized while reproduction compatibility, which is an important original function of an interchangeable optical disk, is secured. |
| US07738328B2 |
Optical disk apparatus for carrying out a defocus regulation
An optical disk apparatus includes: a servo control unit, operable to execute a servo control of focusing based on a focus error signal and to execute a servo control of tracking based on a tracking error signal; a detrack regulating unit, operable to execute a detrack regulation for setting an offset voltage, which is to be added to the tracking error signal, to be a voltage for giving the highest signal quality of an output of an optical pickup; and a defocus regulating unit, operable to execute a defocus regulation for setting an offset voltage, which is to be added to the focus error signal, to be a voltage for giving the highest signal quality of the output of the optical pickup. The defocus regulation is executed in a state in which the servo control of the focusing and the servo control of the tracking are executed. The defocus regulation is executed after the detrack regulation is executed, in the state in which the servo control of the focusing and the servo control of the tracking are executed. |
| US07738327B2 |
Device and method for scanning an optical recording medium and optical recording medium
The present invention relates to a device (1) for scanning an optical recording medium (3), comprising an optical unit (5) for reading data from and/or writing data to said recording medium (3) by scanning said recording medium (3) with a radiation beam (21), said radiation beam (21) being positioned on said recording medium (3) in response to a tracking error signal, a tracking means (7) for generating said tracking error signal and a position control means (11) for controlling a radial scanning position of said radiation beam (21) in respect to a track on said recording medium (3). In order to provide a device (1) which allows a reliable tracking even in cases of asymmetric tracking conditions it is proposed that said device (1) further comprises a calibration means (9) for determining a radial offset of said tracking error signal, said radial offset being obtained by tracking a first test track (45) of a test track area (23) on said recording medium (3) having asymmetric tracking conditions, wherein the position control means (11) is adapted for controlling the radial scanning position of said radiation beam (21) in respect to a track on said recording medium (3) using said tracking error signal and said radial offset, in case of asymmetric tracking conditions. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for scanning an optical recording medium (3), a corresponding optical recording medium (3) and a corresponding computer program. |
| US07738325B2 |
Reading and writing methods and apparatus for Blu-Rays discs
Blu-Ray reading and writing methods are provided. In a reading procedure, a first plurality of recording frames are sequentially read from a Blu-Ray disc and stored in a memory array along a first direction to assemble a first LDC block comprising a plurality of data lines arranged along a second direction. A second plurality of recording frames are simultaneously read and stored in the memory array along the second direction to assemble a second LDC block comprising a plurality of data lines arranged along the first direction while the data lines in the first LDC block are sequentially decoded and output. |
| US07738318B2 |
Method and apparatus for fault-tolerant, correlation SONAR processing
A system is disclosed that enables the use of an incomplete SONAR array matrix in a correlation SONAR system. An improvement is achieved through the generation of a correlation-array model matrix of hydrophone correlations, based on an independent estimate of the ship's velocity, such as from an inertial navigator. Meanwhile, estimates of the missing values are generated based on one or more values from the model matrix, an interpolation of values from the SONAR array matrix itself, or some combination thereof. Regardless of how the missing values are generated, the model matrix provides a basis for comparison with the SONAR array matrix, which is populated with the estimated values, wherein subsequent comparisons are made between successive iterations of the model matrix and the SONAR array matrix. By applying the disclosed technique, a correlation SONAR system with incomplete data is able to continue working, and in the presence of a greater number of hydrophone failures than before. |
| US07738317B2 |
Apparatus and methods for controlling position of marine seismic sources
Apparatus and methods are described for remotely controlling position of marine seismic equipment. One apparatus comprises a source connected to a tow member; and an adjustment mechanism connected to the source and the tow member, the adjustment mechanism adapted to actively manipulate an angle of attack of the source. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. |
| US07738316B2 |
Method and apparatus for hydrophone array fault detection and exclusion
A system is disclosed that provides an improvement in detecting a faulty hydrophone channel in a hydrophone array. The disclosed technique operates on pairs of hydrophones or, to generalize, on groups of two or more hydrophones; this is in contrast with operating on only one hydrophone at a time. As a result, the technique is able to use correlation data from the multiple hydrophones, in order to detect a fault. The technique also operates on received echo signal information that is associated with ongoing SONAR solution processing. The use of the relatively deterministic, echo signal information further enhances the performance. By using correlation products made up of the received echo signal information, the disclosed technique is able to leverage the SONAR solution processing that already relies upon the hydrophone array, such as spatial or temporal correlation SONAR, thereby reducing the additional processing incurred. Once a failed hydrophone channel has been identified, it is then excluded from the ongoing SONAR solution processing. |
| US07738314B2 |
Decoder with memory
In one embodiment, a decoder for decoding an address having a plurality of bits ranging from a first address bit a1 to a last address bit aN, each address bit being either true or false is provided that includes: a pre-charge circuit adapted to pre-charge a dynamic NOR node and a dynamic OR node and then allow the pre-charged dynamic NOR node and pre-charged dynamic OR node to float; a plurality of switches coupled between the dynamic NOR node and ground, each switch corresponding uniquely to the address bits such that the switches range from a first switch corresponding to a1 to an nth switch corresponding to aN, wherein any switch corresponding to a true address bit is configured to turn on only if its corresponding address bit is false, and wherein any switch corresponding to a false address bit is configured to turn on only if its corresponding address bit is true; a (n+1)th switch coupling the dynamic OR node to ground, the (n+1)th switch being controlled such that it turns on if the dynamic OR node is charged, whereby the pre-charged dynamic OR node discharges if the dynamic OR node remains charged; an odd plurality of inverters coupled in series with the dynamic OR node; and a word line driven by the odd plurality of inverters. |
| US07738306B2 |
Method to improve the write speed for memory products
A method and circuit are given, to realize a Bit-Line Sense Amplifier with Data-Line Bit Switch (BS) pass transistors for Random Access Memory (RAM) products as Integrated Circuit (IC) fabricated in CMOS technology with optimized operating characteristics of said RAM product with respect to good write stability and high write speed and wherein the layout area of the BS FET-switches and thus also the die size is minimized. This is achieved by using a two thickness technique of oxide layers for crucial internal circuit parts of the chip. |
| US07738302B2 |
Semiconductor memory device with stores plural data in a cell
A memory cell array is configured to have a plurality of memory cells arranged in a matrix, each of the memory cells being connected to a word line and a bit line and being capable of storing n values (n is a natural number equal to or larger than 3). A control circuit controls the potentials of the word line and bit line according to input data and writes data into a memory cell. The control circuit writes data into the memory cell to a k-valued threshold voltage (k<=n) in a write operation, precharges the bit line once, and then changes the potential of the word line an i number of times to verify whether the memory cell has reached an i-valued (i<=k) threshold voltage. |
| US07738300B2 |
Memory cell and method of programming the same
A method of programming a memory cell is described. The memory cell includes a gate with a charge trapping layer isolated from a substrate for storing data with a first region and a second region separated from the first region. The method of programming the memory cell includes applying a first voltage arrangement with a first gate voltage for programming the first region and applying a second voltage arrangement with a second gate voltage for programming the second region. The first gate voltage is greater than the second gate voltage. |
| US07738294B2 |
Programming multilevel cell memory arrays
Methods and apparatus, such as those for programming of multilevel cell NAND memory arrays to facilitate a reduction of program disturb, are disclosed. In one such method, memory cells are shifted from a first Vt distribution to a second Vt distribution higher than the first Vt distribution during a first portion of a programming operation if a second or a fourth data state is desired, while memory cells remain in the first Vt distribution if the first or a third data state is desired. During a second portion of the programming operating, if the third data state is desired, those memory cells are shifted from the first Vt distribution to a third Vt distribution higher than the second Vt distribution and, if the fourth data state is desired, those memory cells are shifted from the second Vt distribution to a fourth Vt distribution higher than the third Vt distribution. |
| US07738293B2 |
Apparatus and method of memory programming
A memory programming apparatuses and/or methods are provided. The memory programming apparatus may include a data storage unit, a first counting unit, an index storage unit and/or a programming unit. The data storage unit may be configured to store a data page. The first counting unit may be configured to generate index information by counting a number of cells included in at least one reference threshold voltage state based on the data page. The index storage unit may be configured to store the generated index information. The programming unit may be configured to store the data page in the data storage unit and store the generated index information in the index storage unit. The first counting unit may send the generated index information to the programming unit. The memory programming apparatus can monitor distribution states of threshold voltages in memory cells. |
| US07738290B2 |
Phase change memory device
A phase change memory device has a memory cell that uses a phase change film as a storage element, and includes: a first phase change region formed on a side of one face of the phase change film; and a second phase change region formed on a side of another face of the phase change film in a position that corresponds to the first phase change region, wherein the phase change memory stores two-bit data using combinations of a high resistance state due to amorphization and a low resistance state due to crystallization in the first phase change region with the high resistance state and the low resistance state in the second phase change region, the resistance value of the low resistance state being lower than that of the high resistance state. |
| US07738289B2 |
Memory accessing circuit and method
The present invention relates to a memory accessing circuit, which is for accessing a memory circuit with 2N impedance states. The memory accessing circuit includes a testing signal generating circuit, for generating a testing signal by detecting the impedance state of the memory circuit; a reference signal generating circuit, for generating 2N−1 reference signals by detecting the impedance states of a reference circuit having 2N−1 impedance paths; a median signal generating circuit, for generating (2N−1)−1, median signals by receiving the 2N−1 reference signals; and a comparing circuit, for comparing the testing signal and the (2N−1) median signals. The present invention further provides a memory accessing method thereof. |
| US07738287B2 |
Method and system for providing field biased magnetic memory devices
A method and system for providing a magnetic memory is disclosed. The method and system include providing a plurality of magnetic storage cells in an array, a plurality of bit lines, and at least one bias structure. Each of the plurality of magnetic storage cells includes at least one magnetic element having an easy axis and being programmable by at least one write current driven through the magnetic element. The plurality of bit lines corresponds to the plurality of magnetic storage cells. The at least one bias structure is magnetically coupled with the at least one magnetic element in each of the plurality of magnetic storage cells. The at least one bias structure provides a bias field in a direction greater than zero degrees and less than one hundred eighty degrees from the easy axis. |
| US07738285B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
In a multiport SRAM memory cell of the present invention, an access transistor of a first port is disposed in a p-type well, and an access transistor of a second port is disposed in a p-type well. The gates of all of transistors disposed in a memory cell extend in the same direction. With the configuration, a semiconductor memory device having a low-power consumption type SRAM memory cell with an increased margin of variations in manufacturing, by which a bit line can be shortened in a multiport SRAM memory cell or an associative memory, can be obtained. |
| US07738281B2 |
Semiconductor storage device
A semiconductor storage device according to the present invention comprises a plurality of memory cells each provided with an access transistor in which a source is connected to a bit line and a gate is connected to a word line and a capacitor in which a storage electrode is connected to a drain of the access transistor, the plurality of memory cells being placed in a matrix shape in column and row directions, a sense amplifier circuit connected to the source of the access transistor via the bit line, a bit-line precharge voltage generating circuit for generating a bit-line precharge voltage lower than a sense amplifier supply voltage to be supplied to the sense amplifier circuit and supplying the generated bit-line precharge voltage to the bit line, and a cell plate voltage generating circuit for generating a cell plate voltage set to be lower than the bit-line precharge voltage and supplying the generated cell plate voltage to a plate electrode of the capacitor. |
| US07738275B2 |
Leakage current cut-off device for ternary content addressable memory
A leakage current cut-off device for a ternary content addressable memory is provided. The storage cell of a ternary content addressable memory may be in the active mode, data-retention mode and cut-off mode. This invention applies a multi-mode data retention power gating device to the storage cell of the ternary content addressable memory to reduce the leakage current through the storage cell in the data-retention mode and the cut-off mode, and support the full speed operation in the active mode. |
| US07738273B2 |
Connector device and power detecting apparatus utilizing the same
A connector device in accordance with the present invention includes a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion, the first connecting portion has a power input terminal and an input side ground terminal, and the second connecting portion has a power output terminal and an output side ground terminal. The power input terminal and the power output terminal are connected by a first connecting line, the input side ground terminal and the output side ground terminal are connected by a second connecting line, and the first connecting line and the second connecting line are connected via a rectifier element which passes current only in a direction from the second connecting line to the first connecting line. As a result the connector device can prevent input of power having an inverse direction to an electric load even when the power having the inverse direction is output from the power output device side to the electric load side. |
| US07738272B2 |
Circuit and method for rectifying and regulating voltages
A circuit having a first input and a second input configured to apply an alternating voltage, a first output and a second output configured to supply a rectified and regulated voltage, a rectifier bridge circuit having a current return circuit, a third transistor and a fourth transistor, and a controller configured to regulate the voltage between the first and the second output to a constant value. The current return circuit is connected to the first input, the second input and to the second output. The third transistor is configured as a series voltage regulator and is connected to the first input and the first output. The fourth transistor is configured as a series voltage regulator and is connected to the second input and the first output. The controller is coupled to a control input of the third transistor and to a control input of the fourth transistor. Further, a method for rectifying and regulating voltages of a circuit is provided. The circuit and the method can be used in a contactless chip card. |
| US07738267B1 |
Systems and methods for common-mode voltage reduction in AC drives
Control systems, methods and power conversion systems are presented for controlling common mode voltages in AC motor loads driven by inverter PWM control using switching sequences with only active vectors where a first vector of each switching sequence differs by one phase switching state from a last vector of a switching sequence of an adjacent sector, along with enhanced deadtime compensation and reflected wave reduction techniques in providing pulse width modulated switching signals to a switching inverter. |
| US07738265B2 |
Control system for a voltage converter and method
A control arrangement for a voltage converter includes a first input electrically connected to a device configured to sense a first current in a primary side of a transformer and a first output electrically connected to a control terminal of a transistor. The transistor is electrically connected with the primary side of the transformer and the first output is configured to supply a control signal to the control terminal. The control arrangement also includes a computing unit configured to adjust the control signal so that the transistor has a low resistance value during a switched-on phase and a high resistance value during a switched-off phase. |
| US07738262B2 |
Plug-in unit and communication apparatus
In order to detachably mount a module to a plug-in unit while reliably realizing electromagnetic shielding of the plug-in unit in a communication apparatus having a sub-rack and the plug-in unit electrically connected to the sub-rack, the present invention provides a second shield cover member covering a portion protruding from a front end surface of a printed board in an interface part and having a first opening to expose a connection with an outside provided at a front end of the interface part to the outside, the first opening being in contact with a circumferential surface of the interface part and a shield mechanism interposed between the second shield cover member and a front cover member to cover a gap between a second opening of the front cover member and an outer circumferential surface of the second shield cover member. |
| US07738254B2 |
Disk array system
The disk array system includes: controller modules, power source modules, and battery modules of a basic chassis; enclosure modules and power source modules of an expanded chassis; and operation levers which are commonly used for operations of insertion/removal and fixation of the modules. The operation lever includes a rotary shaft portion serving as a fulcrum point, a lever main body and a latch portion located on one side of the lever, and a hook portion located on the other side thereof. When a module is inserted and fixed, a user rotates the lever main body. By this means, the latch portion and the hook portion are fixed to a receiving portion and the module is connected and fixed to the backboard with a connector. |
| US07738251B2 |
Modular computing environments
A computer system may include a connecting hub having a plurality of docking regions and be configured to provide to each docking region electrical power, a data network interface, a cooling fluid supply and a cooling fluid return; and a plurality of shipping containers that each enclose a modular computing environment that incrementally adds computing power to the system. Each shipping container may include a) a plurality of processing units coupled to the data network interface, each of which include a microprocessor; b) a heat exchanger configured to remove heat generated by the plurality of processing units by circulating cooling fluid from the supply through the heat exchanger and discharging it into the return; and c) docking members configured to releaseably couple to the connecting hub at one of the docking regions to receive electrical power, connect to the data network interface, and receive and discharge cooling fluid. |
| US07738249B2 |
Circuitized substrate with internal cooling structure and electrical assembly utilizing same
An electrical assembly which includes a circuitized substrate including a first plurality of dielectric and electrically conductive circuit layers alternatively oriented in a stacked orientation, a thermal cooling structure bonded to one of the dielectric layers and at least one electrical component mounted on the circuitized substrate. The circuitized substrate includes a plurality of electrically conductive and thermally conductive thru-holes located therein, selected ones of the thermally conductive thru-holes thermally coupled to the electrical component(s) and extending through the first plurality of dielectric and electrically conductive circuit layers and being thermally coupled to the thermal cooling structure, each of these selected ones of thermally conductive thru-holes providing a thermal path from the electrical component to the thermal cooling structure during assembly operation. The thermal cooling structure is adapted for having cooling fluid pass there-through during operation of the assembly. A method of making the substrate is also provided. |
| US07738241B2 |
Auxiliary mounting device capable of guiding an audio output from an electronic device
An auxiliary mounting device includes a mounting seat mounted with an electronic device thereon and having an upright rear wall formed with a through hole that is aligned with a rear opening unit in a housing of the electronic device. An upright reflecting plate is connected to a rear surface of the rear wall, is disposed adjacent to the through hole, is pivotable about a vertical axis relative to the rear wall, and is operated at a used position, where a desired angle is formed between the reflecting plate and the rear surface of the rear wall such that sound waves of an audio output reproduced by a loudspeaker of the electronic device propagate rearwardly from the electronic device through the through hole in the mounting seat and are then reflected by the reflecting plate so as to propagate sidewardly and frontwardly. |
| US07738238B2 |
Portable audio/video playing device disposing structure
A portable audio/video device disposing structure includes: a base having a recession disposed on a surface of the base; a carrying unit movably coupled with the recession of the base and having a disposing portion disposed on a surface of the carrying unit, a latch element disposed at an end of the disposing portion, and an indentation disposed on both sides of the disposing portion separately; and a contractible unit with both ends coupled to the base and the carrying unit respectively. The portable audio/video device is installed on the carrying unit in conformity with the base and the contractible unit to achieve the effects of adjusting the portable audio/video device to any angle and disposing the portable audio/video device in any position. |
| US07738235B2 |
LED light apparatus
In one aspect, a compact, lightweight, high-intensity and long-life LED lighting apparatus is provided. The LED lighting apparatus includes: a lens array including a plurality of lenses; a first circuit board including at least one LED (e.g., a plurality of surface-mount type LEDs); and a second circuit board electrically connected with the first circuit board to control illumination of the plurality of LEDs, wherein the second circuit board is configured substantially perpendicular to the first circuit board. In another aspect, a heat dissipation assembly is provided for a lighting apparatus that includes a first circuit board with at least one LED, and a second circuit board configured substantially perpendicular to the first circuit board. |
| US07738233B2 |
Method and device for operating an inductive load with different electric voltages
A method for operating an inductive load, which is operated in a motor vehicle with electric voltages of different magnitudes, is provided, a current rise in the inductive load being influenced by selecting pulse lengths and pulse pauses of the electric voltage. |
| US07738231B2 |
Overvoltage protection device with simplified display system and corresponding production method
A device (1) for protecting an electrical installation from overvoltages, having at least one protection component (2) and disconnection means (3) capable of changing from a closed configuration to an open configuration, as well as signaling means (5) capable of indicating the configuration of the disconnection means (3). The disconnection means (3) and the signaling means (5) respectively comprise a mobile disconnection element (4) and a mobile signaling element (12) arranged such that, when going from the closed configuration to the open configuration, the mobile disconnection element (4) moves in a rotational movement according to a first trajectory and cooperates with the mobile signaling element (12) to drive the mobile signaling element in rotation along a second trajectory different from the first trajectory. |
| US07738229B2 |
Microprocessor-controlled multifunctioning light with intrinsically safe energy limiting
A method is provided for reducing the power rating of a current limiting resistor (R) in a branch circuit having at least one protected element and the current limiting resistor connected between first and second nodes. The method includes the steps of: determining a maximum fault current in the branch circuit; determining a total current limiting resistance to limit the current in the branch circuit having the short-circuited elements to the maximum fault current; inserting a fuse having an intrinsic resistance in the branch circuit; and dividing the determined total current limiting resistance between the resistor (R) and the intrinsic resistance of the fuse. |
| US07738227B2 |
Control system and method with constant maximum current for power converter protection
System and method for protecting a power converter. The system includes a first comparator configured to receive a threshold signal and a first signal and to generate a comparison signal. The first signal is a sum of a second signal and a third signal, and the third signal is associated with an input current for a power converter. Additionally, the system includes a pulse-width-modulation generator configured to receive the comparison signal and generate a modulation signal in response to the comparison signal, and a switch configured to receive the modulation signal and control the input current for the power converter. An amplitude for the first signal becomes larger if an amplitude for the input voltage becomes larger. The second signal is generated by receiving an input voltage for the power converter, converting the received input voltage to a fourth signal, and converting the fourth signal to the second signal. |
| US07738226B2 |
Integrated snubber device on a semiconductor basis for switching load reduction, voltage limitation and/or oscillation attenuation
Integrated snubber device on a semiconductor basis for wiring an electric network for absorbing electric energy from an electric energy store, of an electric network, including at least two terminals for being connected to the electric network to be wired, an electric resistor structure, and a reactance structure, which are connected between the terminals. |
| US07738218B2 |
Magnetic detection head and method for manufacturing the same
A magnetic detection element capable of maintaining the ΔRA at a high level and reducing the magnetostriction by improving a material for a free magnetic layer, as well as a method for manufacturing the same, is provided. The free magnetic layer includes a laminate composed of a CoMnX alloy layer formed from a metal compound represented by a compositional formula CoaMnbXc (where X represents at least one of Ge, Ga, In, Si, Pb, Zn, and Sb and a+b+c=100 atomic percent) and a CoMnZ alloy layer formed from a metal compound represented by a compositional formula CodMneZf (where Z represents at least one of Sn and Al and d+e+f=100 atomic percent). In this manner, the magnetostriction of the free magnetic layer can be reduced. |
| US07738215B2 |
Magnetic head slider having spherical of ellipsoidal projection formed thereon
Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a magnetic head slider capable of securing a larger flying margin even when position variations occur at the time of flying. Embodiments of the present invention also provide a magnetic head slider having an excellent flying following capability. A read element and a write element of a magnetic head slider are arranged on a spherical or ellipsoidal projection and this projection is formed on a thin film magnetic head part. This may prevent a flying margin from being reduced by variations in flying position and may prevent a manufacturing step from being caused on the spherical or ellipsoidal projection. Moreover, by making the constituent ratio of the thin film magnetic head part on an air-bearing surface of the magnetic head slider 100 to be 7% or more, the read element and the write element are arranged at a pressure center position on the center rail surface of the air-bearing surface. This may enhance a following capability when the slider flies. |
| US07738213B2 |
Magnetic disk medium, reticle and magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus
A magnetic disc medium according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a preamble part in a servo area of each of sectors obtained by dividing a surface of the medium in a circumference direction, the preamble part including strip-shaped patterns formed of a plurality of magnetic materials, and each of the strip-shaped patterns formed of the magnetic materials being divided by non-magnetic materials at periodic intervals. |
| US07738210B2 |
Position control method of inertial drive actuator and inertial drive actuator
A position control method of inertial drive actuator includes a movement-amount setting step of setting an amount of movement, a target-position setting step of setting a target position of a moving body, a position detection step of detecting a relative position of the moving body, a comparison step of comparing the target position and the relative position, a drive-voltage pattern setting step of setting a drive voltage pattern which is to be applied to the moving means, a first electrode, and a second electrode, based on the amount of movement which is set, and a comparison result, and a driving step of driving the moving body by controlling a frictional force between the vibration substrate and the moving body, by making an electrostatic force act on both, while synchronizing with a movement of the vibration substrate, by applying a drive voltage pattern which is set at the drive-voltage pattern setting step, between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the moving body is moved to the target position by repeating steps from the comparison step to the driving step. |
| US07738207B2 |
Optical storage system using an antenna for recording information data to a phase-change type medium
An assembly and method for recording and/or reading high-density data includes a phase change media, an antenna placed adjacent the phase change media, and a source of electromagnetic radiation. |
| US07738204B2 |
Disk drive with multi-protocol channel to controller interface and method
An apparatus and associated method are described for use in a disk drive including a disk that that is supported for controlled rotation and for cooperating with a transducer arrangement for accessing the disk in performing a data operation. The disk includes an arrangement of servo track wedge segments for storing servo data such that a set of servo data is periodically available as the disk is rotated in relation to the transducer arrangement and the servo track wedges are separated by an arrangement of user data wedge segments for use in storing user data. Generally, a controller IC and a channel IC are provided. The servo data is transferred from the channel IC to the controller IC using one data protocol and user data is bidirectionally transferred between the channel IC and the controller IC using a different data protocol. |
| US07738203B2 |
Magnetic recording medium Formatted with ROM and RAM regions
A magnetic recording medium has a RAM region and a ROM region. The RAM region includes a plurality of first tracks each having a first magnetic portion. The first magnetic portions in adjacent tracks are separated from each other. The ROM region includes a plurality of second tracks each having a second magnetic portion. A width of the second magnetic portions in a direction perpendicular to a track direction of the first tracks is larger than that of the first magnetic portions in the perpendicular direction. |
| US07738199B1 |
Filter device
A filter device has a frame, an optical filter, two magnetic members and two covers. The frame has a window and two rails attached to the opposite sides of the window. Each rail has two coil holding portions. The optical filter is able to slide between the rails and has at least one lens and two holders holding the magnetic members. The covers hold the optical filter between the rails. Thus the filter device is able to prevent the coils from wear-out failures with a simple and enduring structure. |
| US07738197B2 |
Stage apparatus, and camera shake correction apparatus using the stage apparatus
A stage apparatus comprising: a stationary support board; a movable stage positioned to face the stationary support board to be movable relative to the stationary support board; at least three support members which are in contact with one surface of the movable stage which faces the stationary support board to be slidable thereon; at least three position adjusting devices provided on the stationary support board and configured to adjust positions of the three support members, respectively, in a direction toward/away from the movable stage; and a biasing device which biases the movable stage in a direction to bring the three support members into contact with the movable stage. |
| US07738194B2 |
Optical component and method of manufacturing the same
An optical component includes a lens holder including a first electrode, an insulating structure formed on the first electrode and having a through hole provided as an optical path, and at least one second electrode formed inside the insulating structure to encompass the through hole, and at least one microlens located in the through hole and formed of transparent resin. |
| US07738193B2 |
Positioning unit and alignment device for an optical element
The invention relates to a positioning unit for an optical element in a microlithographic projection exposure installation. Said unit comprises a first connection region (A, 22) for connecting to the optical elements, and a second connection region (B, 20) for connecting to an object in the vicinity of the optical elements. At least two levers are connected to the second connection region by means of the respective lever bearing thereof, and the respective load arm thereof is connected to the first connection region by an articulation by means of an intermediate element (31, 33, 36) applied to said articulations. Regulating devices (28, 29) or actuators are arranged on the respective power arms of the levers. In a first position, the first connection region and the second connection region are arranged in relation to each other in such a way that the lever bearings of at least two levers and the articulations associated with said levers have approximately parallel rotational axes that are located approximately in a plane in the first position. |
| US07738191B2 |
Single focus lens
A single focus lens comprises: a first lens of positive power having a convex-shaped surface on an object side; a second lens of a negative meniscus lens having, on the object side, a concave-shaped surface on its paraxial axis; and a third lens of an aspheric lens having, on the object side, a convex-shaped surface on its paraxial axis, in this order from the object side, wherein the single focus lens satisfies the predetermined conditions. |
| US07738189B2 |
Side emitting lens, and backlight unit and liquid crystal display including the same
The present invention provides a side emitting lens that may reduce optical loss and improve light emitting ratios, and a backlight unit and liquid crystal display including the side emitting lens. The side emitting lens may have a substantially dome-shaped body. The body includes a base part on which external light is incident, a refracting part to refract incident light and emit the light from side surfaces, and a reflecting part. The reflecting part is in the shape of a conical recess at a central portion of the refracting part to fully reflect the incident light toward one of the refracting part and the base part and the reflecting part comprises two or more reflecting surfaces. Each of the two or more reflecting surfaces is a curved surface. |
| US07738186B2 |
Optical lens system for taking image
An optical lens system for taking image comprises, in order from the object side to the image side: a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface; a second lens element with negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface and at least one aspheric surface; a meniscus third lens element with negative refractive power having a convex image-side surface; and a fourth lens element with negative refractive power having a convex object-side surface and an aspheric image-side surface. The above configurations and arrangements of the lens elements can effectively reduce the size of the optical system while improving its resolution. |
| US07738182B2 |
Image pickup optical system and image pickup apparatus including the same
An image pickup optical system includes a first-lens unit having negative refractive power; a second-lens unit having positive refractive power and being disposed closer to an image side than the first-lens unit; an aperture; and a diffraction optical part provided on the joint surface of a first-cemented lens closer to the image side than the aperture. The focal length of the whole system, the Abbe number of the negative lens of a second-cemented lens closer to the image side than the aperture, the focal length within the air, the Abbe number of a negative lens closer to an object side than the aperture, the average value between the curvature radius closest to the object side and the curvature radius closest to the image side of the first-cemented lens including the diffraction optical part, the curvature radius of the diffraction optical part, and so forth, are set appropriately. |
| US07738181B2 |
Zoom lens and optical apparatus having zoom lens
Providing a compact zoom lens exhibiting optical performance, of which a chromatic aberration in a telephoto state is well corrected. The zoom lens includes a plurality of lens groups, the plurality of lens groups includes at least three lens groups with positive refractive power, each of the three lens groups with positive refractive power has a positive lens, and given conditional expressions are satisfied. |
| US07738179B2 |
Image display device using P-polarized light and S-polarized light
An image display device projects lights emitted from each of two two-dimensionally light emitting type photoelectric devices onto first and second light diffusing bodies, and projects and images transmitted images of the light diffusing bodies onto the retina in the respective eyeballs of the user. The display device includes one light source, a first polarization beam splitter dividing light emitted from the light source into P-polarized light and S-polarized light, and an optical system which leads each of the P-polarized light and S-polarized lights respectively to the two photoelectric devices thereby illuminating the two photoelectric devices. The optical system leads polarized light to each of the two photoelectric devices via a second polarization beam splitter and a λ/4 plate, and leads reflected lights to the relay optical system via the λ/4 plate and the second polarization beam splitter. |
| US07738177B2 |
Light source
A light source for use in a projection system comprises a pair of lamps each effective to produce a substantially collimated beam. Part of the light emitted by each lamp is directed through the light originating part of the same, or another, lamp. A light combiner is arranged within the path of the light beams from each of the two lamps to provide a composite light beam of a cross section less than the sum of the cross section of the beams produced by each of the lamps. |
| US07738176B2 |
Lenslet array for beam homogenization
Apparatus for homogenizing a laser beam includes a lenslet array. In some embodiments, the lenslets have a negative power. The lenslet array may include from 16 to 36 effective lenslets in some embodiments, or any other suitable number in alternative embodiments. Some embodiments additionally include a re-focusing lens for directing the beamlets onto a target so that the beamlets overlap and the energy distribution is homogenized. In an alternative embodiment, the lenslet array and re-focusing lens are combined in one optic. |
| US07738175B2 |
Micro-optic security and image presentation system providing modulated appearance of an in-plane image
A synthetic micro-optic system and security device is disclosed including an in-plane image formed of an array or pattern of image icons and an array of focusing elements, the system producing at least two different synthetic images whereby one synthetic image operates to modulate or control the extent of the appearance of another synthetic image. In an exemplary form, the array of image icons forms an in-plane synthetic image, while the interaction of the array of focusing elements with the array of image icons forms a separate synthetically magnified image that serves to control the field of view of the in-plane image and, thus, serves to modulate or control the extent of appearance of the in-plane image. The appearance of the in-plane image, thus, visually appears and disappears, or turn on and off, depending upon the viewing angle of the system. |
| US07738169B2 |
Infrared lens, infrared camera and night vision
An infrared lens 1a includes first to third lenses L1 to L3 which are made of zinc sulfide and arranged in this order from an object side. Each of the first to third lenses L1 to L3 is configured as a positive meniscus lens of which convex surface is opposed to the object. The lenses L1 to L3 are formed by heat-press molding raw powder of zinc sulfide using a lens-shaped mold. In addition, a concave surface (the surface opposed to the image side) of the first lens L1 is formed as a diffractive surface. |
| US07738166B2 |
Fiber amplifier with integrated fiber laser pump
An optical system adapted to amplify an input signal includes an optical pump supporting the input signal and an optical pump beam. The optical pump includes an input port, a first active medium coupled to the input port, and a pump output coupled to the first active medium. The optical amplifier includes an amplifier input optically coupled to the pump output and adapted to receive the input signal after passing through the optical pump, a second active medium coupled to the amplifier input, and an amplifier output adapted to output the amplified input signal. |
| US07738164B2 |
Multi-band hybrid SOA-Raman amplifier for CWDM
A multi-band hybrid amplifier is disclosed for use in optical fiber systems. The amplifier uses Raman laser pumps and semiconductor optical amplifiers in series to produce a relatively level gain across the frequency range of interest. Multiple Raman pumps are multiplexed before coupling into the fiber. The Raman amplified optical signal may be demultiplexed and separately amplified by the SOAs before re-multiplexing. Gain profiles of the Raman pumps and the SOAs are selected to compensate for gain tilt and to alleviate the power penalty due to cross-gain modulation in the SOAs. The disclosed hybrid amplifier is especially useful in coarse wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM) systems. |
| US07738161B2 |
Wavelength converting devices
A wavelength converting device has a substrate made of an electro-optic material and converts a wavelength of a fundamental light to oscillate a converted light. A wavelength converting portion is provided in the substrate and has a cross sectional area of 0.0001 mm2 or larger and 0.01 mm2 or smaller. A pair of thinner portions are provided in both sides of the wavelength converting portion, respectively, and thinner than the wavelength converting portion. |
| US07738159B2 |
Deformable mirror system and deformable mirror drive device
A deformable mirror system includes a deformable mirror, which comprises a deformation part with a reflection surface formed thereon, a fixing part configured to fix the deformation part, and a pair of electrodes disposed facing the deformation part and the fixing part, respectively, and a deformable mirror drive device. The deformable mirror drive device includes a drive unit configured to generate drive force so as to deform the deformation part, a capacitance detection unit configured to detect capacitance between the pair of electrodes, a conversion unit configured to convert a target deformation quantity signal into a target capacitance signal on the basis of a relationship between the capacitance and deformation quantity of the deformation part, and a control unit configured to decide drive force generated from the drive unit so as to coincide an output from the conversion unit with an output from the capacitance detection unit. |
| US07738154B2 |
Lubricating micro-machined devices using fluorosurfactants
A method of lubricating MEMS devices using fluorosurfactants 42. Micro-machined devices, such as a digital micro-mirror device (DMD™) 940, which make repeated contact between moving parts, require lubrication in order to prevent the onset of stiction (static friction) forces significant enough to cause the parts to stick irreversibly together, causing defects. These robust and non-corrosive fluorosurfactants 42, which consists of a hydrophilic chain 40 attached to a hydrophobic fluorocarbon tail 41, are applied by nebulization and replace the more complex lubricating systems, including highly reactive PFDA lubricants stored in polymer getters, to keep the parts from sticking. This lubrication process, which does not require the use of getters, is easily applied and has been shown to provide long-life, lower-cost, operable MEMS devices. |
| US07738153B2 |
Magnetic field position feedback for holographic storage scanner
The present invention provides a scanner comprising: a base member; a scanning beam reflective member having a first tilt axis and a second tilt axis orthogonal to the first tilt axis; a mounting assembly for mounting the scanning beam reflective member on the base member for tilting of thereof along the first and second tilt axes; an actuator for tilting the scanning beam reflective member along the first and second tilt axes to provide a tilt orientation; a magnet assembly which generates one or more magnetic fields which are responsive and correlated to the tilt orientation; and a magnetic field sensor assembly for sensing the magnetic fields generated by the magnet assembly to thereby indicate the tilt orientation. The mounting assembly may comprise a suspension assembly having a tilt imparting assembly for imparting tilt to the reflective member, and a reflective member holder assembly for holding the reflective member. |
| US07738151B2 |
Holographic projector
A projection device having a coherent light beam-generator that generates a light beam and a beam expander disposed to receive the light beam and to emit an expanded light beam. The projection device also includes a digital micro-mirror device disposed to receive a holographic transform of an original image and to display the holographic transform for illumination by the expanded light beam into a holographic light beam with a convergent or focusing lens disposed to receive and modulate the holographic light beam and a liquid crystal plate volumetric image reconstructor that receives the focused holographic light beam and emits a 3-dimensional holographic image of the original image. |
| US07738150B2 |
Hologram methods for signature security, consolidated content, and an accelerometer
Techniques for identifying encoded digital data in a multichannel hologram are described. A method can include steps of reading a first channel of a multichannel hologram, extracting first content data stored in the first channel, reading a second channel of the multichannel hologram, extracting second content data stored in the second channel, and utilizing the extracted content data. The extracted content data may be used for digital signature recognition. A system can include a multichannel hologram configured to store first, second, and third content data at first, second, and third channels respectively, at least one optical sensor configured to read the first, second, and third channels of the multichannel hologram and extract the first, second, and third content data, and a processor configured to measure an acceleration when the system is acted upon by a force. |
| US07738148B2 |
Techniques for predicting colorimetric measurements of mixed subtractive colors
This invention provides methods for predicting calorimetric measurements of subtractive colors, in particular, when there is a measurable colorimetric change in one or more individual colorant relative to a set of baseline measurements. The invention is useful for, among other things, imaging applications or soft proofing environments to improve color modeling without requiring significant empirical measurements for adjustments to color models. |
| US07738144B2 |
Document reading device and image forming apparatus using the same
A document reading device of the present invention includes a glass platen on which a document is to be laid and document reading means including scanning optics for reading the image of the document laid on the glass platen. A document pressing member presses the document against the surface of the document table. The document pressing member is removably mounted to the body of the document reading device by hook and loop fasteners. |
| US07738139B2 |
Inking on photographs
Methods of selecting a color for an electronic ink are disclosed. A portion of a photograph may be analyzed to determine a representative color value, which may be an average color value for the portion. Depending on the photograph, more than one representative color value may be determined. A color or colors, that may include gradients in brightness or saturation levels, which will be visible on the representative color value or values, may then be determined. A color of the electronic ink is then set to the appropriate color or colors so that when a user inks on a photograph, the ink is visible. |
| US07738137B2 |
Inkjet print head synchronous serial output for data integrity
A method of error detection in an inkjet printing apparatus having a host coupled to a print head. The method comprises the acts of communicating a first data stream between the host and the print head, inserting a reference data stream into the first data stream, and validating the first data stream based on the reference data stream. |
| US07738136B1 |
Creating traps with asymmetric widths
Methods and apparatus, including computer program apparatus, implementing techniques for preparing a region of an electronic document for printing on a printing device having asymmetric misregistration behavior. The techniques include trapping the region asymmetrically to compensate for asymmetric misregistration behavior of a printing device. The region can be an entire page or a portion of a page represented in a page description language or a raster representation. The techniques can include defining an asymmetric transformation; applying the asymmetric transformation to the region to generate a transformed region; processing the transformed region to generate transformed traps; and applying an inverse transformation to the transformed traps to generate traps for the region, the inverse transformation being an inverse of the asymmetric transformation. Defining the asymmetric transformation can be done by obtaining a first trap width magnitude and direction, the first trap width being a minimum trap width for the device; obtaining a second trap width magnitude and direction, the second trap width being a maximum trap width for the device; defining a rotational component of the asymmetric transformation by determining an angle by which a first axis of a device space has to be rotated to be aligned with the first trap width direction; and defining a scaling component of the asymmetric transformation according to a ratio of the first trap width magnitude and the second trap width magnitude. |
| US07738134B2 |
Image forming apparatus and printing method for printing different types of originals
An image forming apparatus includes a hardware resource used for image forming processing and a program for performing processing concerning image formation, such that a plurality of originals having different types of originals in a mixed manner, are read, and printing paper sheets on which images have been formed based on the plurality of originals, are grouped. |
| US07738133B2 |
Device and method for restricting display of history
A device that performs processing upon receiving a request from a terminal, which includes: a processing information storage unit that stores information relating to the processing; a processing history generating unit that generates a history of the processing based on the information relating to the processing stored in the processing information storage unit; a processing history transmitting unit that transmits the history of the processing generated by the processing history generating unit to the terminal; and a restriction setting unit that sets restriction on the history of the processing, in which the processing history generating unit generates the history of the processing according to the restriction set by the restriction setting unit. |
| US07738131B2 |
Control apparatus and its method, and control program and storage medium holding it
A controller which exits between a client apparatus and an image processing apparatus and which controls access from the client apparatus such that the client apparatus can use a network server function of the image processing apparatus, its control method and control program and storage medium. To accomplish this, the controller which exists between a client terminal and an image processing apparatus and which controls data transmitted from the client terminal to the image processing apparatus comprises information providing unit which provides setup information of the controller to the client terminal and transfer unit which transfers setup information of the image processing apparatus to the client terminal. |
| US07738123B2 |
Keylock flash disk device
Methods and apparatus wherein a removeable supplemental controller is used to adapt a paper processing system to changes in functionality, particularly when the processing system comprises a printer, and the supplemental controller is a MICR flash device, and the changes in functionality relate to accepting input from an electromechanical keylock added to the printer, and to sensing the presence of a MICR cartridge within the printer. |
| US07738121B2 |
Method and inspection head apparatus for optically measuring geometric dimensions of a part
A method and inspection head apparatus for optically measuring geometric dimensions of a part are provided. The method optically measures the geometric dimensions of a part having a part axis at an inspection station. The method includes directing an array of spaced planes of radiation at the part so that the part occludes each of the planes of radiation at spaced locations along the part axis to create a corresponding array of unobstructed planar portions of the planes of radiation. Each of the unobstructed planar portions contains an amount of radiation which is representative of a respective geometric dimension of the part. The method further includes measuring the amount of radiation present in each of the unobstructed planar portions. |
| US07738120B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining geometrical dimensions of a vehicle wheel
A method and an apparatus of determining geometrical dimensions of a motor vehicle wheel (rim/tyre assembly) 1 by contact-less sensing, wherein the wheel is fixed on wheel receiving means 8 of a tyre changer, that at least one planar light beam 3 is emitted on to the wheel or at least a part of the wheel, wherein the light beam reflected at the impingement area is detected, and wherein the directions of the emitted and reflected light beams are evaluated for determining the shape and/or position of the respective impingement area 4 on the wheel 1. |
| US07738119B2 |
Optical inspection system for a wafer
Provided is an optical inspection system for a semiconductor wafer, by which a threshold value optimal for inspection can be determined and optical inspection of each chip can be performed based on the threshold value, by obtaining in advance a table indicating a relation between a film thickness of a thin film in specific positions in the wafer and a gradation value for each sample area in the chip, measuring the film thickness of the thin film in the specific positions of the wafer to be inspected before inspecting the chip, and comparing the measured film thickness with the gradation value in the table. |
| US07738118B2 |
Tape feeder and electronic-circuit-component supplying apparatus
A tape feeder includes a feeding member which feeds a carrier tape having feed holes in its lengthwise direction, and accommodating pockets which are arranged in the lengthwise direction, accommodate respective circuit components and have a predetermined position relative to the holes. The feeding member feeds the tape so that the circuit components are sequentially positioned at a component-supply position. The tape feeder also includes a tape-support surface which supports a surface of the tape and which has, in a path-related portion thereof located along a path of movement of the holes, one or more optical-characteristic giving portions each of which is larger than one of the holes and has a first optical characteristic that is given to the one hole and is recognized differently by an optical recognizing device than a second optical characteristic of another portion of the path-related portion. |
| US07738117B2 |
Method of manufacturing an optical element
A method of manufacturing an optical element involves an interferometric test of the optical element using an interferometer system of a Fizeau type combined with principles of white-light interferometry. The optical element is disposed in a cavity between a Fizeau surface and a mirror, and an optical path difference between a back surface of the optical element and the mirror is determined for determining parameters of the optical element, such as a thickness thereof. Measuring light from an optical delay apparatus can be supplied to the Fizeau interferometer through an optical fiber. |
| US07738112B2 |
Displacement detection apparatus, polarization beam splitter, and diffraction grating
A displacement detection apparatus, polarization beam splitter, and diffraction grating are provided. A displacement detection apparatus configured to detect a displacement includes a light source, a reflective diffraction grating configured to receive the two polarized beams, two polarization altering elements configured to alter the polarization states of two diffracted beams of the two polarized beams obtained at the diffraction grating, two mirrors configured to reflect the beams whose polarization states have been altered at the two polarization altering elements and to guide the reflected beams to the two polarization altering elements, each of the mirrors corresponding to the polarization altering elements, and a polarization beam splitter provided as a unit with at least the two polarization altering elements, the polarization beam splitter including a polarizing and splitting surface and a transmissive area. |
| US07738109B2 |
Fiber optic sensor using a Bragg fiber
An optical sensor includes a directional coupler comprising at least a first port, a second port, and a third port. The first port is in optical communication with the second port and with the third port such that a first optical signal received by the first port is split into a second optical signal that propagates to the second port and a third optical signal that propagates to the third port. The optical sensor further includes a Bragg fiber in optical communication with the second port and with the third port. The second optical signal and the third optical signal counterpropagate through the Bragg fiber and return to the third port and the second port, respectively. |
| US07738102B2 |
Layered film fabrication method, layered film defect detection method, layered film defect detection device, layered film, and image display device
Provided are a layered film defect detection device capable of performing defect detection considering irregularities of optical performance of a phase difference layer constituting the layered film without requiring insertion of a new part into an optical path; and a layered film defect detection method. A defect detection device used for a layered film (11) having a polarizing plate (1) and a phase difference layer (separator (2)) includes: a light source (12) arranged at one side of the film surfaces of the layered film (11), an imaging unit (13) arranged on the other side of the film surface; an inspection polarization filter (15) arranged between the light source (12) and the imaging unit (13); a defect detection unit (14b) for detecting a defect existing on the polarizing plate (1) according to the captured image; and an optical axis adjusting unit (16) for adjusting a relative angle position of the polarization axis (L2) of a polarizing filter (15) and a polarization axis (L1) of a polarizer (2). In the detection device, the relative angle position of the polarizing filter (15) is adjusted within a range of the polarization axis angle x of the polarizing filter satisfying the relationship 0 degrees |
| US07738097B2 |
Method for using a photonic crystal fiber as a Raman biosensor
A method is provided for biosensing using a photonic crystal fiber having a hollow core. The method includes: designating an analyte of interest; determining a wavelength for an excitation light source which generates a Raman spectrum when incident upon the analyte of interest; selecting a photonic crystal fiber that would guide the light when the fiber is non-selectively filled with a solvent hosting the analyte of interest; non-selectively filling a photonic crystal fiber with the solvent hosting the analyte of interest; interrogating the analyte of interest by coupling light from the light source to the photonic crystal fiber; and analyzing the light output from the photonic crystal fiber for Raman fingerprints. |
| US07738095B2 |
Method and apparatus for compact spectrometer for detecting hazardous agents
The disclosure relates to a portable system for obtaining a spatially accurate wavelength-resolved image of a sample having a first and a second spatial dimension that can be used for the detection of hazardous agents by irradiating a sample with light, forming an image of all or part of the sample using Raman shifted light from the sample, and analyzing the Raman shifted light for patterns characteristic of one or more hazardous agents. |
| US07738094B2 |
Method, system, and compositions for cell counting and analysis
The present invention provides a low cost imaged-based system for detecting, measuring and/or counting labeled features of biological samples, particularly blood specimens. In one aspect, the invention includes a system for imaging multiple features of a specimen that includes one or more light sources capable of successively generating illumination beams each having a distinct wavelength band and a plurality of differentially excitable labels capable of labeling a specimen comprising multiple features, such that each different feature is labeled with a different differentially excitable label. System of the invention may further include a controller operationally associated with the one or more light sources for successively directing illumination beams onto the specimen so that each of the different differentially excitable labels is successively caused to emit an optical signal within the same wavelength band, an optical system capable of collecting such emitted optical signals and forming successive images corresponding to the labeled features of the specimen on a light-responsive surface to form successive sets of image data thereof, and a disposable cuvette for collection and optical analysis of non-red blood cells. |
| US07738093B2 |
Methods for detecting and classifying defects on a reticle
Methods for detecting and classifying defects on a reticle are provided. One method includes acquiring images of the reticle at first and second conditions during inspection of the reticle. The first condition is different than the second condition. The method also includes detecting the defects on the reticle using one or more of the images acquired at the first condition. In addition, the method includes classifying an importance of the defects detected on the reticle using one or more of the images acquired at the second condition. The detecting and classifying steps are performed substantially simultaneously during the inspection. |
| US07738089B2 |
Methods and systems for inspection of a specimen using different inspection parameters
Methods and systems for inspection of a specimen using different parameters are provided. One computer-implemented method includes determining optimal parameters for inspection based on selected defects. This method also includes setting parameters of an inspection system at the optimal parameters prior to inspection. Another method for inspecting a specimen includes illuminating the specimen with light having a wavelength below about 350 nm and with light having a wavelength above about 350 nm. The method also includes processing signals representative of light collected from the specimen to detect defects or process variations on the specimen. One system configured to inspect a specimen includes a first optical subsystem coupled to a broadband light source and a second optical subsystem coupled to a laser. The system also includes a third optical subsystem configured to couple light from the first and second optical subsystems to an objective, which focuses the light onto the specimen. |
| US07738086B2 |
Active CMOS biosensor chip for fluorescent-based detection
An active CMOS biosensor chip for fluorescent-based detection is provided that enables time-gated, time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. In one embodiment, analytes are loaded with fluorophores that are bound to probe molecules immobilized on the surface of the chip. Photodiodes and other circuitry in the chip are used to measure the fluorescent intensity of the fluorophore at different times. These measurements are then averaged to generate a representation of the transient fluorescent decay response unique to the fluorophores. In addition to its low-cost, compact form, the biosensor chip provides capabilities beyond those of macroscopic instrumentation by enabling time-gated operation for background rejection, easing requirements on optical filters, and by characterizing fluorescence lifetime, allowing for a more detailed characterization of fluorophore labels and their environment. The biosensor chip can be used for a variety of applications including biological, medical, in-the-field applications, and fluorescent lifetime imaging applications. |
| US07738084B1 |
Fiber optic liquid mass flow sensor and method
A method and apparatus are provided for sensing the mass flow rate of a fluid flowing through a pipe. A light beam containing plural individual wavelengths is projected from one side of the pipe across the width of the pipe so as to pass through the fluid under test. Fiber optic couplers located at least two positions on the opposite side of the pipe are used to detect the light beam. A determination is then made of the relative strengths of the light beam for each wavelength at the at least two positions and based at least in part on these relative strengths, the mass flow rate of the fluid is determined. |
| US07738077B2 |
Patterning device utilizing sets of stepped mirrors and method of using same
A system and method are used to independently control multiple parameters of a patterned beam. This can be performed using a patterning device configured to pattern a beam of radiation comprising a controller and an array of stepped mirrors. The array comprises a plurality of sets of four of the stepped mirrors that are controlled with respect to each other. Adjacent ones of the stepped mirrors in each of the sets have perpendicular axes of rotation and perpendicular steps. In one example, the patterning device is used to patterned the beam of radiation, which patterned beam is projected onto an object. For example, the object can be a substrate (e.g., semiconductor substrate or flat panel display substrate) or a display device. |
| US07738073B2 |
Liquid crystal display and method of fabricating the same
An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display, which can surely perform an instillation process used when liquid crystal is sealed between substrates in a cell process, and a fabrication method thereof. A liquid crystal display comprises a sealing material made of a photo-curing type material which seals liquid crystal sandwiched between substrates, and a shading film having a shading area which overlays a red-colored layer transmitting red light, a green-colored layer transmitting green light and a blue-colored layer transmitting blue light, wherein only the blue-colored layer is formed in an area of the shading film contacting with the sealing material and the photo-curing type material of the sealing material is structured to have a light reactive area for a wavelength of blue color band. |
| US07738070B2 |
Liquid crystal display element
A liquid crystal display element of the present invention is arranged so that a material layer having dielectric anisotropy includes a chiral material and a liquid crystal material with a nematic liquid crystal phase, and 0.25≦d/p≦0.50 is satisfied assuming that the thickness of the material layer is d and the chiral pitch length of the liquid crystal material is p. |
| US07738068B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device minimizing touch inferiority and a press inferiority defects is provided. The device includes first and second substrates, a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, gap spacers between the first and second substrates for maintaining a cell gap, and pressure spacers between the first and second substrates configured to contact the first and second substrates when pressure is applied to the first or second substrate, wherein a spatial density of the gap spacers or a spatial density of the pressure spacers varies at different positions across the first and second substrates. |
| US07738065B2 |
Polarizing plate provided with optical compensation layers and image display apparatus using the same
There is provide a polarizing plate provided with optical compensation layers capable of performing viewing angle compensation with respect to a liquid crystal cell, providing broadband circular polarization, contributing to thickness reduction, preventing uneven display due to heat, and favorably preventing light leak in black display, and an image display apparatus using the same. The polarizing plate provided with optical compensation layers of the present invention includes a polarizer, a first optical compensation layer, and a second optical compensation layer in the stated order, wherein: the first optical compensation layer contains a resin having an absolute value of photoelastic coefficient of 2×10−11 m2/N or less, and has a relationship of nx>ny=nz and an in-plane retardation Re1 of 100 to 170 nm; the second optical compensation layer has a relationship of nx=ny>nz, an in-plane retardation Re2 of 0 to 50 nm, and a thickness direction retardation Rth2 of 30 to 400 nm; and an absorption axis of the polarizer and a slow axis of the first optical compensation layer form an angle of 25° to 65°. |
| US07738062B2 |
Liquid crystal display and method of manufacturing the same
The invention relates to a transflective liquid crystal display and a method of manufacturing the same and provides a transflective liquid crystal display which can achieve high display characteristics in both of reflective and transmissive modes and a method of manufacturing the same. The display has a pair of substrates provided opposite to each other, a liquid crystal sealed between the pair of substrates, a plurality of pixel regions each having a reflective area which reflects light from the side of one of the substrates and a transmissive area which transmits light from the side of the other of the substrates toward the one of the substrates, and an ultraviolet-hardened material which is a product of polymerization of a polymeric component mixed in the liquid crystal with ultraviolet light and which is formed at a substrate interface in the reflective area to control the alignment of the liquid crystal in the reflective area. |
| US07738058B2 |
Color filter film substrate and application thereof
A color filter substrate and applications thereof are disclosed. The color filter substrate comprises a transparent substrate, a light-shade layer, a color filter layer and an electrode layer. The light-shade layer and the color filter layer are disposed on the transparent substrate. The electrode layer is formed on the light-shade layer and the color filter layer, wherein the electrode layer comprises at least one first electrode region, at least one second electrode region, at least one slit and at least one connecting portion. The first electrode region and the second electrode region are separated by the slit. The connecting portion is connected between the first electrode region and the second electrode region. The color filter substrate is applicable to a liquid crystal display panel and a liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus. |
| US07738051B2 |
Portable display device
A portable display device is provided. The portable display device includes a liquid crystal display panel for displaying an image, a back light assembly having a light source for supplying light to the liquid crystal display panel, and a bottom chassis for supporting the back light assembly. The sides of the bottom chassis have an I-beam shaped or C-beam shaped cross-section. |
| US07738046B2 |
System and apparatus for receiving digital television signals
Apparatus and methods to receive and display digital television signals are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus to receive digital television signals comprises an antenna assembly coupled to the signal processing circuitry and comprising a first antenna positioned to maximize reception in a first direction and a second antenna positioned to maximize reception in a second direction, different from the first direction, and a processor coupled to the antenna assembly and comprising a selection logic module to select an antenna to receive a digital television signal for a specific channel, and a tuning logic module to configure the antenna assembly to receive a signal via a selected antenna. |
| US07738042B2 |
Noise reduction device for a video signal and noise reduction method for a video signal
A noise reduction device for generating a delay frame by delaying an input frame in each frame, a first difference value between the delay frame and the input frame, a line delay frame by delaying the input frame in each line, and a second line delay frame by delaying the delay frame in each line. The device generates a second difference value between the input frame and the line delay frame, a third difference value between the delay frame and the second line delay frame, a fourth difference value between the line delay frame and the second line delay frame. The device corrects the input frame by using the first difference value based on a logical sum (or product) of the third difference value and the fourth difference value, and the delay frame based on a logical sum (or product) of the second difference value and the fourth difference value. |
| US07738039B2 |
Method and apparatus for setting a voltage controlled crystal oscillator in a video processing device
The present invention concerns a method and apparatus for setting a frequency reference in an integrated receiver decoder (IRD). More specifically, the present invention discloses an electrical circuit arrangement in which the voltage controlled crystal oscillator (VCXO) is set to oscillate at the desired frequency prior to the initial use thereof and that frequency is stored in a non-volatile memory unit. Upon initial use, the IRD receives a data signal corresponding to a frequency reference. The IRD uses a threshold value to compare the frequency reference of the incoming data signal with the frequency stored in the non-volatile memory. If the frequencies differ by a predetermined value, the frequency from the incoming data signal is stored in the non-volatile memory and is used to set the VCXO. |
| US07738038B2 |
Content-dependent scan rate converter with adaptive noise reduction
A content-dependent scan rate converter with adaptive noise reduction that provides a highly integrated, implementation efficient de-interlacer. By identifying and using redundant information from the image (motion values and edge directions), this scan rate converter is able to perform the tasks of film-mode detection, motion-adaptive scan rate conversion, and content-dependent video noise reduction. Adaptive video noise reduction is incorporated in the process where temporal noise reduction is performed on the still parts of the image, thus preserving high detail spatial information, and data-adaptive spatial noise reduction is performed on the moving parts of the image. A low-pass filter is used in flat fields to smooth out Gaussian noise and a direction-dependent median filter is used in the presence of impulsive noise or an edge. Therefore, the selected spatial filter is optimized for the particular pixel that is being processed to maintain crisp edges. |
| US07738037B2 |
Method and apparatus for eliminating motion artifacts from video
A method and apparatus for detecting and correcting motion artifacts in interlaced video signal converted for progressive video display. A correction is applied where interlaced video material is determined to originate from film source, thereby having been converted to video using a process known as 3-2 pulldown. Where the video material is not a result of the 3-2 pulldown process, a check is made for the presence of “pixel motion” so that corrections may be applied to smooth out the pixel motion. To determine 3-2 pulldown or field motion, a video field is compared to the field prior to the previous field to generate field error. Field errors are generated for five consecutive fields and a local minimum error repeated every five fields indicate the origination of the video material from film source using the 3-2 pulldown process. Upon confirmation of 3-2 pulldown, the video material is modified to correct for the mixing of two film frames into one interlaced video frame by assuring that the two fields of the de-interlaced video frame contain data from the same film frame. Where the video material did not originate from a film source, but pixel motion is detected, the pixel motion is smoothed out by an averaging method. The odd and even fields of the resulting video data are subsequently combined to form a progressive video material. |
| US07738035B2 |
Lens barrier module and image pickup apparatus having the same
A lens barrier module including a substrate in which an opening is defined, sectors opening the opening when picking up an image and closing the opening when not picking up the image, and a motor provided at the substrate and driving the sectors. |
| US07738031B2 |
Image input device
In an image input device including a multistage aperture (13) which reduces a quantity of light by changing an aperture, and an ND filter (15) which reduces a quantity of light by changing transmittance of passing light, if ghosts tend to occur due to the second light reducing means, the generation of ghosts is effectively avoided. An object determining unit determines whether a strong light source is present on an object image formed by an optical unit (10) for imaging based on luminance distribution on the object image. The multistage aperture (13) and the ND filter (15) are controlled in order to obtain a proper exposure to pickup the object image. If the object determining unit determines which a strong light source is present on the object image, the ND filter (15), which reduces the quantity of light by changing the transmittance of passing light, is used as less as possible, and the multistage aperture (13) is functioned preferentially. |
| US07738028B2 |
Camera having a focusing adjusting system
A camera with a photographing optical system, including a focus adjusting system which captures images at different focal positions via an image pickup device while moving a focusing lens group within a controllable searching range, and moves the focusing lens group to the in-focus position; a memory which stores a first image captured when an in-focus state is achieved; and a comparing device which compares the first image stored in the memory with a second image captured via the image pickup device before commencement of movement of the focusing lens group. The focus adjusting system operates within a limited searching range including a current position of the focusing lens group when predetermined conditions are satisfied, including a condition upon which it is determined that the first image and the second image match each other completely or by a predetermined degree. |
| US07738026B2 |
Increasing fill-factor on pixelated sensors
Disclosed are systems, devices, and methodologies that facilitate increasing the effective fill-factor of digital sensors. In general, fill-factor relates to the active area or photosensor region of the sensor with respect to the inactive area/deadzone or space between pixels. By increasing the effective fill-factor, transmission of optical information is increased to the sensor while mitigating information loss between pixels. A digital camera may contain a sensor that is responsive to electromagnetic radiation and a coherent scattering medium between the sensor and a lens that diffuses the electromagnetic radiation with respect to the sensor in order to increase the effective fill-factor. |
| US07738025B2 |
Camera with a display control
A camera comprises a monitor which allows a composition of a subject to be confirmed, a backlight which illuminates at least one region on the monitor, an image pickup device and a distance measuring unit for detecting an image condition of the subject, and a backlight control unit which changes the region to be illuminated by the backlight, in accordance with a detection result from the image pickup device and the distance measuring unit. |
| US07738018B2 |
Image capture control method and apparatus thereof
An image capture control method and apparatus thereof is provided. The method includes capturing automatic exposure environmental data by an image capture unit, calculating initial shutter exposure period and initial sensitivity in accordance with the environmental data, and determining in accordance with the specific mode. Under the specific mode, capturing the image based on the initial shutter exposure period and initial sensitivity when the initial shutter exposure period is less than or equal to the predetermined period. Modify parameters for image capture to obtain final shutter exposure period and final sensitivity when the initial shutter exposure period exceeds the predetermined period. Capturing the image with the final shutter exposure period (t′) and processing the captured image with the final sensitivity (ISO′). |
| US07738015B2 |
Red-eye filter method and apparatus
A digital image acquisition system having no photographic film, such as a digital camera, has a flash unit for providing illumination during image capture and a red-eye filter for detecting a region within a captured image indicative of a red-eye phenomenon, the detection being based upon a comparison of the captured image and a reference image of nominally the same scene taken without flash. In the embodiment the reference image is a preview image of lower pixel resolution than the captured image, the filter matching the pixel resolutions of the captured and reference images by up-sampling the preview image and/or sub-sampling the captured image. The filter also aligns at least portions of the captured image and reference image prior to comparison to allow for, e.g. movement in the subject. |
| US07738013B2 |
Systems and methods for power conservation in a CMOS imager
The present invention provides systems and methods capable of reducing power consumption in an imaging device. One imaging device includes two analog to digital converters that are separately programmable and can be in different power modes. Each analog to digital converter is capable of creating an image derived from a pixel array that has a full field of view, but lower resolution. |
| US07738011B2 |
Camera control system
A camera control system consists of a plurality of camera apparatus, camera control units coupled to the plural camera apparatus, respectively, a transmission path connected to the camera units and a base station connected to the transmission path. The base station has a database and the database is stored with setting values concerning at least photographing direction, image quality and voice quality of the plural camera apparatus and the plural camera control units in a plurality of table formats. An arbitrary camera control unit has a memory unit. A desired setting value of those stored in the database is down loaded to the memory unit on the basis of a command from the camera control unit and the setting values of the plural camera apparatus and camera control units are modified with the down loaded setting value. |
| US07738009B2 |
Method for following at least one object in a scene
A method is provided for monitoring at least one object in a scene, which method provides that, once a moving object stops and comes to a standstill, the dwell time at standstill is counted so as to generate a signaling as a function of the dwell time. The object is described by a list or a matrix characterizing the direction of movement and the time. |
| US07738005B2 |
Image forming apparatus
At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an image forming apparatus using a plurality of laser beams that includes a unit configured to detect a main scanning synchronization signal per beam while performing a laser light amount control per beam for each predetermined line, and a unit configured to produce a main scanning synchronization signal of a beam whose main scanning signal is not detected, by using the main scanning synchronization signal of the detected beam. |
| US07737996B2 |
Techniques for automated animation
Techniques are provided for forming one or more animation sequences used in animating a graphic. A semantic model of one or more semantic elements corresponding to content data is received. A presentation model of one or more presentation elements corresponding to objects is received. A set of one or more mappings is determined. The set of one or more mappings includes a mapping of each of said semantic elements to one or more presentation elements. The set of one or more mappings are traversed in an ordering in accordance with a selected animation sequence type specifying a set of objects that animate together. One or more animation sequences are built when performing the traversing step using each of the one or more mappings by applying one or more rules in accordance with a particular classification associated with each of the one or more mappings. |
| US07737994B1 |
Large-kernel convolution using multiple industry-standard graphics accelerators
A multi-chip system and method are disclosed that utilizes a plurality of graphics pipelines to perform large kernel convolution. Each graphics pipeline includes a standard rendering unit and a video data convolve unit. Each video data convolve unit receives video pixel data from the video output of the standard rendering unit. The video data convolve units are connected in a chain. Each group of one or more video data convolve units in the chain convolves the video pixel data received by the group. The last video data convolve unit in the chain outputs a stream of convolved pixels. |
| US07737992B2 |
Method and system for transforming adaptively visual contents according to terminal user's color vision characteristics
Disclosed are a method and a system that adaptively transform visual contents inputted from a network, in accordance with the visual characteristics of a terminal user. A visual characteristics descriptor that describes the information of the user visual characteristics in a predetermined format is proposed. The descriptor includes the information of the color vision deficiency type and the color vision deficiency degree. The color vision deficiency may be described in numerical degree or textual degree. The invention adaptively transforms visual contents differently in accordance with the color vision deficiency type. |
| US07737988B1 |
Using font filtering engines for texture blitting
Systems and methods used for font filtering may also be used to perform texture blits. Texture data is read in blocks that are coarsely aligned. Font engines may be used to align the texture data as specified by a copy (blit) instruction to provide a finely aligned region of the texture data within a font filter footprint. The finely aligned region is then bilinearly filtered using a “nearest” mode to provide the bit aligned region of the texture map specified by the copy instruction. |
| US07737982B2 |
Method and system for minimizing an amount of data needed to test data against subarea boundaries in spatially composited digital video
A method and system for minimizing an amount of data needed to test data against subarea boundaries in spatially composited digital video. Spatial compositing uses a graphics unit or pipeline to render a portion (subarea) of each overall frame of digital video images. This reduces the amount of data that each processor must act on and increases the rate at which an overall frame is rendered. Optimization of spatial compositing depends on balancing the processing load among the different pipelines. The processing load typically is a direct function of the size of a given subarea and a function of the rendering complexity for objects within this subarea. Load balancing strives to measure these variables and adjust, from frame to frame, the number, sizes, and positions of the subareas. The cost of this approach is the necessity to communicate, in conjunction with each frame, the graphics data that will be rendered. Graphics data for a frame is composed of geometry chunks. Each geometry chunk is defined by its own bounding region, where the bounding region defines the space the geometry chunk occupies on the compositing window. Only the parameters that define the bounding region are communicated to each graphics unit in conjunction with the determination of which graphics unit will render the geometry chunk defined by the bounding region. The actual graphics data that comprises the geometry chunk is communicated only to those geometry units that will actually render the geometry chunk. This reduces the amount of data needed to communicate graphics data information in spatially composited digital video. |
| US07737981B2 |
Information processing apparatus
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes: a plurality of graphics processing units (GPUs) having different characteristics; a memory configured to store information on association between one of the plurality of GPUs and an application program; and a drawing control unit configured to control the GPU associated with the application program to perform drawing processing when the application program is run. |
| US07737979B2 |
Animated transitions for data visualization
A “Charting Animator” enhances computer-based charting/graphing systems by rendering dynamic animations of chart displays. In general, when a user changes from one chart type to another, adds new data to a chart, or changes, sorts or deletes data, a new chart is generated to replace the old chart. Conventional charting systems simply replace the existing chart with the new chart. In contrast to conventional systems, the Charting Animator renders animated transitions that dynamically morph the original chart into the new chart. Consequently, these animations avoid abrupt changes that can disorient users. Examples of these animations include animating changes from one chart family to another (e.g., changing from a “Bar Chart” to a “Pie Chart”), animating changes from one chart type within a chart family to another chart type (e.g., changing 2D Bar Charts to 3D Bar Charts or Stacked Bar Charts), animating data changes, animating sorts, etc. |
| US07737968B2 |
Image processing device and image processing method
Games are processed in a more realistic and immediate manner during image processing for soccer games and the like. Specifically, the movements of characters more accurately simulate those of actual opponents, resulting in greater game realism.The invention is an image processing device for imaging and displaying the behavior of characters modeled on opponents in virtual three-dimensional space. It is determined (S21 to S24) whether or not there exists a certain situation in which the relation to the game contents (in the centering area, for example) or the positional relation (such as distance) between characters and a target (such as opponent characters or the ball) having a relation through the game to said characters matches certain conditions, and the eyes of the characters are directed to the target (S25, S26, S28, etc.) when it is determined that the certain situation exists. The invention is especially suitable for soccer games. |
| US07737965B2 |
Handheld synthetic vision device
A handheld synthetic vision system includes a display, a sensor suite and a computer all housed in a handheld unit. The system enhances normal vision by displaying to a user actual or digitally created visual scenes of objects and information that may or may not be perceptible to unaided human senses. |
| US07737962B2 |
Display device
A display device, comprising: display elements formed in vicinity of intersections of signal lines and scan lines aligned vertically and horizontally; image pickup units provided corresponding to each of the display elements by at least one piece, each converting incident radiation at predetermined range into an electric signal; electric charge accumulators which accumulate the electric charge in accordance with the electric signal converted by the image pickup units; and signal processing unit which generates digital image data corresponding to image picked up by the image pickup unit, based on accumulated electric charge of the electric charge accumulator for each of a plurality of image pickup conditions. |
| US07737959B2 |
Position detection system using laser speckle
A detection system. The detection system includes a substrate, a laser, and a sensor array. The substrate includes a first surface, a second surface conceptually divided into multiple areas, and a third surface. The laser is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation into the substrate and incident subsequently onto second surface areas. The sensor array is configured to capture electromagnetic radiation reflected from the second surface. If a first dielectric, having first dielectric constant, is in contact with some areas, electromagnetic radiation incident thereon experiences total internal reflection and if a second dielectric having second dielectric constant is in contact with other areas, some of the electromagnetic radiation incident thereon is reflected back into the substrate by the second dielectric. The sensor array is configured to detect laser speckle originating from the incidence of the electromagnetic radiation at the second surface and to detect electromagnetic radiation reflected from the second dielectric. |
| US07737958B2 |
Touch screen device and method of displaying and selecting menus thereof
A touch screen device and method for displaying and selecting menus thereof are provided. The touch screen device includes a screen with a display for displaying menu images thereon and a detector for detecting a touch on a screen, and a controller which displays one or more menu bars on the screen. Each of the menu bars may have an expanded portion at one end thereof, and the menu bars may be displayed such that the expanded portions are arranged in a zigzag pattern to facilitate menu selection and reduce input errors. When two or more menu bars are erroneously touched, the controller may enlarge and display the touched menus so that a new touch input for the correct menu can be easily made. Thus, menus displayed on the touch screen may be arranged for easy selection, and input errors may be easily corrected. |
| US07737956B2 |
Electronic device and method providing a cursor control
An electronic device and method for controlling a cursor is provided. The electronic device includes a display, a timer, and a processing unit. The display includes a screen and a frame thereof. The frame further has a touch sensitive region for generating sensing signals in response to an input operation. Each sensing signal is assigned a coordinate for identification. The timer records a time duration of continuously receiving the sensing signals. The processing unit determines a direction of the input operation according to the coordinates assigned to the sensing signals and a speed of the input operation according to the duration of the timer, and thus moves a cursor displayed on the screen corresponding to the direction and speed. A related method is also provided. |
| US07737953B2 |
Capacitive sensing apparatus having varying depth sensing elements
One embodiment in accordance with the invention includes a capacitive sensor apparatus that includes a first sensing element having substantially constant width along its length and configured to have varying capacitive coupling to an object proximate to a capacitive sensing reference surface, along a first axis of the capacitive sensing reference surface. The length of the first sensing element is oriented along the first axis. The capacitive sensor apparatus can include a second sensing element having substantially constant width along its length and configured to have varying capacitive coupling to the object proximate to the capacitive sensing reference surface along the first axis. The length of the second sensing element is oriented along the first axis. The first and second sensing elements are conductive, and are configured to provide information corresponding to a spatial location of the object relative to the first axis of the capacitive sensing reference surface. |
| US07737951B2 |
Navigation device with touch screen
A navigation device is programmed to be able to associate any function, belonging to a core set of functions, with a non-overlapping touch input zone that is large enough to be reliably activated using a finger. Hence, the present invention is predicated on the insight that it is possible to identify a set of core functions and to then enable all of them to be reliably selected/activated by a finger touch to a touch input zone large enough for reliable activation. This is especially advantageous for an in-car navigation device in which the core functions are those functions that are likely to be activated by a driver whilst still driving. |
| US07737947B2 |
Tracking motion using an interference pattern
A system, method, and device for tracking motion across a surface by creating an interference pattern by reflecting light from the surface. There is produced, as a result of sensor moving across the surface, at least one signal pattern corresponding to a detection of a dimension of the interference pattern. This detected dimension is associated with an assumed dimensional value to determine a distance traveled by the sensor. |
| US07737943B2 |
Input device
An input device includes a substrate and a movable object that moves on the substrate. One of the substrate and the movable object includes a magnetic field generator and the other of the substrate and the movable object includes electromagnetic conversion elements provided to detect magnetic fields generated outside of the magnetic field generator. |
| US07737937B2 |
Scanning backlight for a matrix display
A scanning backlight unit (BU) for a matrix display comprises a plurality of light sources (L1, . . . , Ln). A driver (2) supplies drive signals (D1, . . . , Dn) to the light sources (L1, . . . , Ln). A controller (3) controls the driver (2) to separately activate the light sources (L1, . . . , Ln) to obtain light-emitting regions (5) being active. A light sensor (4) is associated with a group of at least two of the light sources (L1, . . . , Ln) to supply a sensor signal (SES) which indicates a luminance (LU) of the group. The controller (3) reads the sensor signal (SES) at different instants (ts1, . . . , tsn) at which mutually different subsets of the light sources (L1, . . . , Ln) of the group are active to control the driver (2) to supply power levels to the light sources (L1, . . . , Ln) of the group to obtain a luminance (LU1, . . . , LUn) of each one of the light sources (L1, . . . , Ln) of the group in dependence on the sensor signal (SES). |
| US07737934B2 |
Pixel structure of liquid crystal device and driving method thereof
A driving method for activating an optical self-compensated birefringence mode liquid crystal device is provided. The optical self-compensated birefringence mode liquid crystal device has plural pixel structures, plural substrates and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the plural substrates. Each of said plural pixel structures comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, a pixel electrode and a common electrode. The driving method comprising steps of: providing a space between said first electrode and said second electrode on one of plural substrate; providing a first potential difference between said first electrode and said second electrode to generate a first electric field; and performing an initialization process from a bend of said second electrode to transitioning an alignment state of said liquid crystal layer from a non-display alignment state to a display alignment state by said first electric field. Further, generate a second electric field by a second potential difference between said pixel electrode and said common electrode. |
| US07737933B2 |
Display unit and drive system thereof and an information display unit
In a display panel, a dummy pulse of a predetermined voltage signal is superimposed on a data signal and the dummy pulse has an amplitude much larger than the amplitude of the data signal, and thus a signal waveform applied to a light modulation layer such as LC layer is changed to a high frequency wave. The applying position of the dummy pulse is varied according to each color of R, G and B, or varied according to frame or field. By performing a MLS drive with the dummy pulse superimposed on the data signal, the amplitude difference between the selection signal and the data signal can be reduced. Thus, a common driver IC and a segment driver IC can be formed as one semiconductor chip to be placed on one side, constructing a three side free type. |
| US07737927B2 |
Organic light emitting display device and driving method
A pixel including an organic light emitting diode, an organic light emitting display device including the pixel, and a method for driving the organic light emitting display device. The pixel includes first and second drivers and first and second selectors. A horizontal period for driving the pixel includes first and second periods. The first driver charges a first voltage corresponding to a reference current flowing into a data line during the first period. The second driver charges a second voltage corresponding to a sum of the reference current and a pixel current during the second period. The first selector is turned-on during the horizontal period for connecting the data line to the first and second drivers. The second selector controls the flow of current to the organic light emitting diode and is turned-off during the horizontal period but is otherwise turned-on. |
| US07737926B2 |
Dynamic LED matrix lighting control using scanning architecture
This invention is a new LED back lighting architecture that each individual LED is controlled by its associated LED drive cell. The LEDs are sequentially connected one after another. A host controller transmits image displaying signals by signal scanning-flows. The current flow for controlling each LED's color lighting is by either binary current flow control or two-steps progressive current flow control. |
| US07737925B2 |
Active matrix pixel cell with multiple drive transistors and method for driving such a pixel
A pixel cell in an active matrix display comprising a current driven emissive element such as an OLED (20) and a data input (17) for receiving an analogue data signal (Vin). The pixel has at least two drive elements (12, 14), each being connected to a power supply (16) and arranged to drive the emissive element in accordance with the data signal, and selecting means (22, 24) for providing, in response to a select signal (21, 23), the data signal to at least one of the drive elements (12, 14). Further, each drive element is adapted to drive the emissive element (20) in a different drive current range in response to a given data signal. Thereby, a required brightness range can be obtained while data voltages too close to the threshold voltage may be avoided. |
| US07737923B2 |
Display device and driving method of display device
One feature of the present invention includes first to third steps of holding a voltage, corresponding to a difference between a voltage applied to a first power supply line and a threshold voltage of a first transistor, between both electrodes of first and second storage capacitors; holding a voltage, corresponding to a difference between a voltage applied to the first power supply line and a gate-source voltage of the first transistor, which is necessary to supply a light-emitting element with a current equivalent to a video signal current inputted into a signal line, between both the electrodes of the second storage capacitor; and applying a voltage based on the voltage held in the first and second storage capacitors in the first and second steps to a gate electrode of the first transistor; therefore, a current is supplied to the light-emitting element through the first transistor. |
| US07737921B2 |
Driving device and method of plasma display panel by floating a panel electrode
Disclosed are a driving device and a driving method for a plasma display panel (PDP). A panel capacitor is formed by a scan electrode and a sustain electrode. The charges are moved from the panel capacitor to a capacitor by turning on a transistor which is connected between the scan electrode and the capacitor. By this method, the voltage of the panel capacitor is steeply reduced so that a discharge is generated in the panel capacitor. When the voltage of the capacitor increases because of the charges moved from the panel capacitor, the gate-source voltage of the transistor is reduced. As a result, the transistor is turned off so that the scan electrode is floated. Accordingly, the discharge is steeply quenched so that the wall charges are precisely controlled. After the capacitor is discharged, the above-noted operation may be repeated. |
| US07737918B2 |
Method for controlling address power on plasma display panel and apparatus thereof
A method for controlling address power consumption on a PDP is disclosed. Image data to be displayed on the PDP are converted into subfield data, and the subfield data are analyzed to generate a variation value of the data for each subfield. An address power recovery circuit operates or ceases operating in one or more subfields based on the variation value of the data associated with each subfield. Image data is determined to be a normal mode or a specific mode based on the generated variation value of the image data, and the number of the subfields displayed on the PDP during the specific mode is set to be less than the number of subfields displayed during the normal mode. |
| US07737916B2 |
Plasma display apparatus and driving method thereof to yield a stable address discharge
A plasma display apparatus and a method of driving the plasma display apparatus are disclosed. The plasma display apparatus includes a plasma display panel including a plurality of electrodes, a driving pulse controller for outputting a timing control signal and a driver. The driver supplies a set-down pulse to at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes depending on the timing control signal. The first set-down pulse gradually falls from a first voltage to a second voltage during a first period, is maintained at the second voltage during a second period, and gradually falls from the second voltage to a third voltage during a third period. |
| US07737914B2 |
Information system
An interactive information delivery terminal includes an information display unit, retrieval client for generating control commands for transmission to an information store over a first communications link, for the retrieval of information therefrom, and a user interface for receiving control commands from a user device over a second communications link for controlling the retrieval client. The terminal is connected to the Internet and a short range radio (piconet) interface, for example a “Bluetooth” interface and is located in a position where it is not vulnerable to damage but where it is nevertheless visible. The radio interface is located so that it can make radio contact with interface units fitted to user handsets in a publicly accessible region. Through the Internet the terminal may be connected to any other internet site. |
| US07737912B2 |
Portable electronic display device with automatic lockout of message selection switches to prevent tampering with selected message
A portable electronic display device includes an electronic display surface having at least one display panel that displays a graphical and/or textual message, memory that stores a plurality of the messages, and one or more switches on the device that allow user selection of one of the messages. The device further includes a controller that disables the one or more switches if none of the switches are selected after a predetermined period of time after power is turned on to the display device, or if none of the switches are selected after a predetermined period of time subsequent to the last switch selection occurrence. In this manner, a person is prevented from subsequently changing the message via the one or more switches. |
| US07737907B2 |
Planar antenna
An antenna includes first and second radiating elements. The first radiating element is operable in a first frequency range. The second radiating element cooperates with the first radiating element to define a slot therebetween in such a manner that the second radiating element is coupled electromagnetically to the first radiating element. The construction as such permits operation of the second radiating element in a second frequency range different from the first frequency range, and a third frequency range different from the first and second frequency ranges. |
| US07737903B1 |
Stepped-reflector antenna for satellite communication payloads
A stepped reflector for being illuminated by at least one multiple-band feed is provided. The reflector includes a central region and a first annular region with an annular width of w. The first annular region is axially stepped a height h above the central region, where h is approximately equal to m × [ Φ ± ( ϕ ( Θ = 0 ) - ϕ ( Θ = Θ 0 ) ) ] × π 180 × λ 2 π × 1 2 , where m is a positive odd integer, Φ is a desired amount of phase shift of an outer region of a phase front for reflecting off of the reflector, φ is a feed phase contribution for an angle Θ, and Θ0 is an angle formed between an axis of the at least one feed and a line connecting a phase center of the at least one feed and an inner edge of the at least one annular region. The central region and the annular region of the reflector may be parabolically curved or may alternately be shaped. The reflector may be fed by one or more multiple-band horn antennas. |
| US07737902B2 |
Diversity reception slotted flat-plate antenna
The invention relates to a planar antenna realised on a substrate comprising a slot of closed form dimensioned to operate at a given frequency in a short-circuit plane of at least one feed-line. The perimeter of the slot being designed such that p=kλs where k is a whole number greater than 1 and λs the guided wavelength in the slot, the antenna comprising at least one first feed-line placed in an open circuit zone of the slot and a second feed-line placed at a distance d=(2n+1)λs/4 from the first line, where n is an integer greater than or equal to zero. |
| US07737893B1 |
Positioning in a single-frequency network
Apparatus having corresponding methods and computer-readable media comprise a receiver adapted to receive a plurality of single-frequency network (SFN) signals at a predetermined frequency; a correlator adapted to correlate the SFN signals with a predetermined reference signal, wherein correlating produces a plurality of correlation peaks; a grouper circuit adapted to group the correlation peaks into arrival groups such that the correlation peaks in different arrival groups are known to be from different transmitters; and a selection circuit adapted to select the earliest correlation peak in each arrival group as a leading correlation peak. |
| US07737889B1 |
Method and apparatus for processing global navigation satellite system signals
Disclosed is a receiver that receives at least three satellite signals and determines the contribution of dispersive elements, nondispersive elements, and phase windup to a phase difference between each received satellite signal and a corresponding generated signal. |
| US07737886B2 |
Doppler radar systems
A frequency scanning radar system includes a frequency scanning radar controller for use in controlling a frequency generator, the frequency generator being arranged to generate a plurality of sets of signals, each set of signals having a different carrier frequency and comprising a sequence of modulation patterns, transmitted at a selected rate, wherein the radar controller is arranged to select the rate in dependence on the carrier frequency. The system also includes a signal processor arranged to derive tone data from received signals, wherein the signal processor is arranged to process the received signals at a rate dependent on the rate of transmission of the sequence of modulation patterns. Additionally, the system includes an audio system arranged to output audio data derived from signals received by the frequency scanning radar system by playback of the derived tone data at a constant rate. |
| US07737882B2 |
Radar device
A radar device can reliably, and rapidly detect dirt adhered to a radome surface without misdetection. The radar device includes a transmit/receive shared antenna (306) that transmits an electric wave to an object and receives a reflected wave that has been reflected from the object, a mixer (307) that mixes a transmission signal and a reception signal together to generate a beat signal, and a signal processing unit (312) that measures a distance to the object and a relative speed of the object on the basis of the beat signal. The transmit/receive shared antenna (306) modulates an unmodulated wave into a pulse and transmits the pulse modulated wave at a specific timing. In the case where the unmodulated pulse is transmitted, the beat signal that has been generated by the mixer (307) is converted into a digital voltage value by an A/D converter (310). The signal processing unit (312) detects the dirt that is adhered to the radome (314) of the transmit/receive shared antenna (306) on the basis of an output of the A/D converter 310. |
| US07737880B2 |
Microwave and millimeterwave radar sensors
A radar sensor system and method for vehicles. An example radar system includes a processor, a plurality of transceivers having antenna(e). The antenna of the transceivers are located at various points around the vehicle. The transceivers include receive and transmit electronics that are in signal communication with the corresponding antenna. The transmit electronics output radar signals via the antenna. The transmit electronics include a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), a dielectric resonator oscillator (DRO), a phase locked loop (PLL) component and a direct digital synthesizer (DDS). The receive electronics receive from the antenna any radar reflections corresponding to the outputted radar signals and send signals associated with the radar reflections to the processor. The processor generates output signals based on the signals received from the plurality of transceivers. |
| US07737872B2 |
DAC module and applications thereof
A digital to analog conversion (DAC) module includes a digital to analog converter, a sample and hold circuit, and a switch module. The digital to analog converter is coupled to convert a digital signal into an analog signal. The sample and hold circuit is coupled to sample the analog signal to produce a sampled analog signal. The switch module is coupled to provide the analog signal as an output of the DAC module when the DAC module in a first mode and to output the analog signal to the sample and hold circuit when the DAC module in a second mode, wherein the sampled analog signal provides the output of the DAC module in the second mode. |
| US07737866B2 |
Auto-parking device
An auto-parking device installed on a vehicle comprises a vehicle status sensing unit for detecting a state of a vehicle, an image acquisition unit for capturing vehicle outside image, a range sensing unit for measuring the space, a processing unit for receiving states of the vehicle from the vehicle status sensing unit, receiving environmental states from the image acquisition unit and range sensing unit, calculating a parking path based on parallel parking or back-in parking and then controlling the vehicle steering, throttle and brake via a driving control unit to automatically park the car into the space as per the planned parking path. |
| US07737864B2 |
Traffic signal transfer switch with interlock constructions
A transfer switch configured particularly for use with traffic signal controllers, to enable a traffic signal controller to be powered by a portable electrical generator, when utility line power is unavailable. A housing, configured to be mounted either on the surface of a traffic signal controller cabinet, or recessed into an opening of the cabinet, so as to be flush to the surface thereof, is provided. The housing is configured to be substantially weatherproof without requiring the use of gaskets. |
| US07737862B2 |
Remote control system and method thereof, remote control device and device targeted for control
In a remote control system, when a user directs a host device of a portable type toward target devices for search and specification, a search signal including a unique identifier (UID) is transmitted from a directional antenna. Each of the target devices stores the UID included in the received search signal in a memory unit, and transmits a response signal including device information on itself from an antenna. The host device identifies one of the target devices based on the device information included in the response signal, runs a control program for the identified target device, and displays an operation screen on a display unit. When the user instructs the remote operation on the operation screen, the host device transmits a remote control signal including the UID from the omni-directional antenna. When the target device receives the remote control signal including the UID that matches with the UID stored in the memory unit, the target device controls a function unit according to the remote control signal. |
| US07737856B2 |
System and method for monitoring a plurality of transceivers
A system for and a method of monitoring a plurality of transceivers is disclosed. In one embodiment the method includes enabling one transceiver of the plurality of transceivers. The method also includes disabling all other transceivers of the plurality of transceivers. A transmit coil emits a high frequency electromagnetic field, the one transceiver transmitting a signal in response to the field of the transmit coil. At least one of a plurality of reader coils receives the signal transmitted by the one transceiver, the plurality of reader coils being suitably arranged in the vicinity of the area to be monitored. An evaluator determines a position of the one transceiver from the signal received from the one transceiver by the at least one of the plurality of reader coils. |
| US07737853B2 |
System and method for disabling RFID tags
The invention provides protection to wireless portable transponders from unauthorized interrogation by employing a mechanical means for disabling reception by or from the antenna of the transponder. Transponders include RFID tags that are attached to items that a persons may purchase or carry. Such transponders generally have means for receiving and storing electronic and other information, commonly in binary form using memories as in electronic circuits, etc. The invention is designed to provide privacy of electronic information. The tags can be protected from receiving or providing unauthorized or unwanted information. The invention provides the mechanical means that permit the owner to decide when reception/interrogation of personal or other information is not desired by employing the provided mechanical disable control means. |
| US07737852B2 |
Wheeled vehicle mounted with RFID tag, RFID tag, speed measurement system, and speed measurement method
An RFID tag having a memory portion for holding information on a wheeled vehicle is mounted on the wheeled vehicle, and an external interrogator and the RFID tag exchange information with each other. Further, an RFID tag having a memory portion for holding information on a wheeled vehicle and a communication device for exchanging information with the RFID tag are set on the wheeled vehicle. When the external interrogator and the RFID tag exchange information with each other, the communication device holds information of a situation, for example, speed information, information on date and time, and the like in the memory portion in the RFID tag. |
| US07737848B2 |
Method and middleware for standards agnostic transaction processing
A method and middleware is provided for information processing includes an input thread module (210), a ware thread module (220) and an output thread module (230). The input thread module (210) selects input thread messages from first data (520), the first data derived from information received by an input device (110) coupled to the input thread module (210). The ware thread module (220) is coupled to the input thread module (210) and generates ware thread messages corresponding to the input thread messages in response to the input thread messages to generate second data (620) and data processes the ware thread messages independently from one another (630). And the output thread module (230) is coupled to the ware thread module (220) and generates output thread messages from and in response to the second data (720) and provides the output thread messages independently from one another for writing to one or more output devices in accordance with the second data (730). |
| US07737846B2 |
Security system and method for protecting merchandise
A security system for protecting items of merchandise includes a programmable key, a programming station for generating a security disarm code (SDC) into the key, and a security device attached to the item of merchandise. The security device is initially programmed with the SDC from the key and is subsequently disarmed by the key upon matching the SDC of the key with the SDC stored in the security device. A wireless interface is provided in the programming station, programmable key and security device for programming the SDC into the key and for matching the SDC of the key with the SDC of the alarm module. An internal timer in the key invalidates the SDC in the key after a predetermined time period to prevent use of the key for disarming a security device after the time period has expired. The programming station initially generates a unique SDC which remains in the programming station for use with the programmable keys and alarm modules. Each retail store will have its own programming station so that each store has its own unique SDC usable only in that store and with the keys programmed therein. |
| US07737842B2 |
Global position system device
A global position system device including a host and a plurality of direction indicating lights is provided. The direction indicating lights are disposed at the host, wherein each direction indicating light is represented as one direction. The host controls the direction indicating lights such that one of the direction indicating lights is bright and the others are dark. Then, users are indicated by the direction indicating lights to make a turn or keep running straightforward. |
| US07737841B2 |
Alarm and alarm management system for remote tracking devices
A system and method of implementing an alarm hierarchy in a remote tracking device tracked by a monitoring center is described. The remote tracking device is worn by a wearer and includes a location determining mechanism, a wireless communication mechanism and a processor operable to monitor the status of the remote tracking device and to compare the location of the remote tracking device to a set of programmed rules. The system and method include an automated response to an initial indication of an alarm condition invoked by the remote tracking device based on a change to the status of the remote tracking the device or a violation of the programmed rules. The automated response provides an indication of the alarm condition to the wearer. Next, communication can be established with the monitoring center when the alarm condition persists, such that the monitoring center can provide instructions to the wearer based on the alarm condition. If the wearer does not comply with the instructions from the monitoring center, a warning mechanism in the remote tracking device can be activated to warn those in the vicinity of the wearer. |
| US07737835B2 |
Hand held tire pressure monitoring system
A tire pressure monitoring system includes a plurality of tire pressure monitoring devices mounted within corresponding tires that transmit information to a handheld receiver that is mounted and supported within a cradle of a vehicle cabin. The handheld device is removable from the cradle to reveal a primary display that communicates specific information regarding the conditions of the system and individual tires. The remote handheld device can also be utilized to prompt a tire pressure monitoring device to display temperature compensated pressure measurements in real time during tire inflation. |
| US07737834B2 |
Data communication system
A data communication system installed in an electric machine includes a transmission terminal and a reception terminal both mounted on the electric machine, a transmission-side opposed conductive member disposed on the transmission terminal, a transmission circuit for applying voltage between the transmission-side conductive member and the conductive body, thereby changing electric field generated on the entire surface of the conductive body, the voltage being changed according to information to be transmitted, a reception-side opposed conductive member provided on the reception terminal, thereby being capable of generating potential difference according to the electric field between the conductive body and the reception-side opposed conductive member, and a reception circuit for receiving the information based on a change in the potential difference between the conductive body and the reception-side opposed conductive member. |
| US07737832B2 |
Assistance system for motor vehicles
An assistance system for motor vehicles has at least one monitoring unit monitoring a space external to a vehicle, in particular in a direction of travel of the motor vehicle, with a warning zone being defined in the monitored external space on each side of a lane. The warning zone is delimited by an earliest warning line and a latest warning line encompassing the respective lane marking or, as the case may be, boundary. An evaluation unit receives the data transmitted by the monitoring unit and generates a warning signal for an acoustic, visual and/or haptic warning and/or a steering intervention if the evaluation unit detects that a defined warning threshold lying within the warning zone is exceeded. The warning signal is issued only as a function of further planned driver-adaptive conditions. |
| US07737831B2 |
Multi-function control and display apparatus and device for automobiles
Various embodiments of this invention are directed towards an aftermarket automobile accessory that interfaces with vehicle Electronic Control Units (ECU's) and local networks such as Controller Area Network busses (CAN-busses) in order that a user may add performance, convenience, and safety systems to the vehicle using factory controls and displays. Various embodiments of the invention allow wireless control of cabriolet tops, automatic control of cabriolet tops, and the control of further vehicle systems. |
| US07737828B2 |
Tactile feedback device
The present invention discloses a tactile feedback device for giving realistic touch sensation to the user by stimulating the skin of the user. The tactile feedback device of the present invention comprises a housing having one end positioned near the skin of the user in use, an actuator, touch pins and an elastic means. The actuator is mounted inside the housing to convert electromagnetic energy into kinetic energy. The touch pins are mounted inside the housing so as to pop in and out, and the front end thereof is popped out of one end of the housing to contact the skin, and is connected with the actuator so as to be operated by kinetic energy of the actuator. The elastic plates of the elastic means are mounted between one end of the housing and the actuator, and have the touch pins fixedly passing through so as to be interlocked with the touch pins, and when the touch pins pop in and out, they are elastically deformed to have elastic energy. According to the present invention, the touch pins stimulate the skin of the user by dint of an interlocking structure of the actuator that converts electromagnetic energy into kinetic energy and the elastic means, so it is possible to implement realistic touch sensation. |
| US07737825B1 |
Integrated circuits with persistent data storage
The circuitry introduced in this invention selectively slows down the functioning of an electronic circuit by maintaining a particular state for a prolonged period of time. This circuitry is used not only to achieve the desired effect in maintaining security from electronic thieves trying to circumvent codes but also in other applications such as enabling a circuit to continue to function in the event of a brief loss of power. For example, in an RFD system, if a reader is frequency hopping, a tag loses power for as long as about 400 milliseconds when the reader changes to other frequencies. In a preferred embodiment, the disclosed circuitry is used in conjunction with a destruct sequence. |
| US07737824B2 |
Radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, portable terminal, and server for RFID tag
A hierarchical structure is established among a plurality of RFID tags, such that ID numbers can be read only from RFID tags which belong to a particular layer. RFID tag can control whether permission should be given to read its ID number therefrom to protect the ID number. Data held in the RFID tag can be read from the outside. RFID tag comprises a memory circuit having a function of holding data, and a logic circuit having a function of processing a control command received from outside. Memory circuit stores an own ID number for identifying the RFID tag itself, and a parent ID number for identifying a second RFID tag. When RFID tag receives an ID number read command which contains first data as a parameter from outside, the logic circuit outputs the own ID number to outside only when the first data matches the parent ID number. |
| US07737823B2 |
Method for efficiently querying and identifying multiple items on a communication channel
Systems and methods for efficiently querying and identifying multiple items on a communication channel are disclosed. The inventions preferably uses radio frequency identification with interrogation devices and systems that identify radio frequency identification transponders. A depth-first tree traversal protocol algorithm, including commands and symbols, is used to more efficiently interrogate a plurality of transponders in a short amount of time. |
| US07737820B2 |
Remote control system for an access door having remote transmitter verification
A remote control system for moving an access door includes an indicator, at least one uniquely coded remote transmitter, and a controller that is switchable to a learning mode for learning a unique code of a remote transmitter to define a learned remote transmitter. The controller is switchable to a door moving mode based upon receiving a signal from the learned remote transmitter. The controller cooperates with the indicator for indicating whether a new uniquely coded remote transmitter has been learned based upon the controller being switched to the door moving mode to thereby alert a user of a potentially unauthorized learned remote transmitter. Alternately, a remote switch may be used to activate the indicator. |
| US07737817B2 |
Resistor network such as a resistor ladder network and a method for manufacturing such a resistor network
The invention relates to a resistor network (2) such as a resistor ladder network, comprising at least a resistor body (4) which is provided with at least a column (6) of taps (8) situated between a first tap and a second tap, wherein, in use, at least two taps can be connected with respective first and second sources of reference input potentials, and wherein each tap of the at least one column of taps can be used for outputting an output potential via a contact area which is connected with the concerning tap, wherein the resistor body (4) comprises a multiple of resistor sub-bodies (5), wherein each resistor sub-body (5) is connected with a column (6) of taps (8), and wherein the only electrical connections between the resistor sub-bodies (5) are established by electrical connections via taps (8) connected with the resistor sub-bodies (5). Furthermore the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a resistor network (2) such as a resistor ladder network. |
| US07737815B2 |
Dual core transformer and backlight driving unit for liquid crystal display device including the same
A dual core transformer including a bobbin having a through-hole along a first direction; a first coil wound around a first portion of the bobbin; a second coil wound around a second portion of the bobbin; first and second I cores inserted into the through-hole; and first and second C cores covering the first and second portions of the bobbin. |
| US07737814B1 |
Electrostatic shield and voltage transformer
An electrostatic shield and a voltage transformer having a high voltage winding and a low voltage winding. The shield takes the form of a concentric winded coil, made from a round conductive wire having a layer of insulation around it and a radius of at least ten times the radius of the wire used for the high voltage winding. This shield is dimensioned to surround the high voltage winding of the transformer. |
| US07737810B2 |
MEMS switching device protection
A micro-machined switching system for equalizing an electrical property, such as charge due to parasitic capacitance formed at an input and an output of a micro-machined switching device. The micro-machined switching device may be a MEMS relay or a MEMS switch. In addition to the micro-machined switching device, the switching system also includes a balancing module for equalizing the electrical property between the input and the output of the micro-machined switching device. In certain embodiments, the balancing module includes a switch operable in a first state causing charge due to the parasitic capacitance on the input and the output of the micro-machined switching device to substantially balance. The switch is also operable in a second state wherein parasitic capacitance can separately accumulate at the input and the output of the micro-machined switching device. |
| US07737800B2 |
Frequency modulation circuit
Provided is a frequency modulation circuit 1 for outputting a highly precise frequency-modulated signal regardless of variation in a characteristic of a VCO 15. A correction value calculation section 17 calculates a correction value Vt2 based on a voltage value (Vtx−Vt1) resulting from subtracting a control voltage Vt1, which is generated by a control voltage generation section 11, from a control voltage Vtx at which a sensitivity of the VCO 15 is maximized. A variable amplifier 18 amplifies the correction value Vt2. An addition section 13 outputs a control voltage Vt3, which results from adding the amplified correction value Vt2 to the control voltage Vt1, to the VCO 15 via a DAC 14. |
| US07737798B2 |
Systems and methods for multi-range clock generation
Various systems and methods for clock generation are disclosed herein. As just one example, a system for clock generation is disclosed that includes a phase/frequency control circuit that provides a feedback control; a multi-range selector circuit that receives the feedback control; and a controlled oscillator that provides an output with a phase and frequency at least in part governed by the multi-range selector circuit and the feedback control. In various instances of the aforementioned embodiments, the controlled oscillator is a ring oscillator relying on inherent capacitance. |
| US07737796B2 |
Constant temperature type crystal oscillator
A lead wire led-out type crystal oscillator of constant temperature type for high stability is disclosed, which includes a heat supply body that supplies heat to a crystal resonator from which a plurality of lead wires are led out, to maintain the temperature constant. The heat supply body includes a heat conducting plate which has through-holes for the lead wires and is mounted on the circuit board, and which faces, and is directly thermally joined to, the crystal resonator and a chip resistor for heating which is mounted on the circuit board adjacent to the heat conducting plate, and is thermally joined to the heat conducting plate. |
| US07737795B2 |
Voltage controlled oscillator
A ring oscillator based voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) is disclosed. The VCO includes a set of delay cells connected to each other in a ring configuration. Each of the delay cells includes a source-coupled input transistor pair, a current-steering transistor pair and a pair of load resistors. The source-coupled input transistor pair receives a pair of differential voltage inputs. The load resistors, which are connected to the source-coupled input transistor pair, provide a pair of differential voltage outputs. The current-steering transistor pair, which is connected to the source-coupled input transistor pair, receives a pair of differential bias voltage inputs. The output frequency of the VCO is directly proportional to the differential bias voltages at the pair of differential bias voltage inputs. |
| US07737793B1 |
Calibrating control loops
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, are described for calibrating control loops, specifically phase-locked loops. In one aspect, an apparatus is provided that includes an oscillator model that generates a predicted phase based on an input, a first averaging submodule that generates an average predicted phase over a predetermined number of samples, and a first summing submodule that receives a first corrected phase error and generates a predicted repetitive phase disturbance using the first corrected phase error, the predicted phase, and the average predicted phase. |
| US07737788B1 |
Cascode gain boosting system and method for a transmitter
A communication device includes a first polarity driver circuit including a first current source, a first amplifier that receives an input signal, that controls the first current source, and that receives a signal from the first current source, a first cascode device arranged in a cascode configuration with the first current source, and a second amplifier that receives a bias signal, that controls the first cascode device, and that receives a signal from the first cascode device. |
| US07737781B2 |
Differential amplifier and input circuit using the same
A differential amplifier comprises a plurality of first switching elements configured to output differentially amplified signals through output terminals when a voltage level of a first input signal and a second input signal belongs to a first range and a plurality of second switching elements configured to output the differentially amplified signals through the output terminals when the voltage level of the first input signal and the second input signal belongs to a second range. |
| US07737763B2 |
Virtual electronic fuse apparatus and methodology
A virtual electronic fuse apparatus and methodology are disclosed that permit the state of an electronic fuse to change from an un-blown state to a blown state and then back to a virtual un-blown state. In one embodiment, the electronic fuse may change from the virtual un-blown state back to a virtual blown state. |
| US07737758B2 |
Level shift circuit
An amplifier including the transistors of a first set operates by a power source VCC2, and amplifies the input signal, changing in the voltage range of the power source VCC2, in the voltage range of the power source VCC2. The output of this amplifier operates using a power source VCC1 with a converting portion including the transistors of a second set, and the output of the amplifier is converted into an output within the voltage range of the power source VCC1. The two output amplifiers amplify the output of this converting portion based on a (½) VCC1 reference. The converting portion performs the conversion using a plurality of transistors with the power source VCC2 taken as a power source and a plurality of transistors 7 with the power source VCC1 taken as a power source, as current mirrors. |
| US07737753B2 |
Method and device for adjusting or setting an electronic device
Method and device for adjusting or setting an electronic device (1) exhibiting at least one input for an external input signal and at least one output signal output, the value or the state of the output signal being a function of the values or of the state of the input signal. A memory circuit (9) for the value of an adjustment signal is linked to an adjustment input of the electronic device. A circuit (11) increments/decrements said adjustment value stored in said memory circuit. A switching circuit (12) switches said input of the electronic device to a predetermined state and links said output of the electronic device to said memory circuit via said incrementing/decrementing circuit. Said incrementing/decrementing circuit (11) is adapted for adjusting the value of said adjustment signal so that, when said input is switched to said predetermined state, the value or the state of said output signal tend to or attain a predetermined value or a predetermined state. |
| US07737751B1 |
Periphery clock distribution network for a programmable logic device
A programmable logic device (PLD) includes a signal distribution network, separate from the high-quality, low-skew clock distribution networks of the PLD, for distributing, from peripheral input/output regions of the PLD, clock-type signals. The signal distribution network includes a central periphery clock bus, located near a group of peripheral input/output regions, for conducting clock-type signals from those regions onto a clock spine of the PLD. The clock spine may be dedicated to the signal distribution network, or may be part of a high-quality, low-skew clock distribution network covering all or part of the PLD. The signal distribution network allows greater skew than such high-quality, low-skew clock distribution networks, but nevertheless is of higher quality, and allows less skew, than the general programmable interconnect and routing resources. |
| US07737748B2 |
Level shifter of semiconductor device and method for controlling duty ratio in the device
A level shifter of a semiconductor device and method of controlling a duty ratio are provided. The level shifter includes first and second PMOS transistors having sources to which a power supply voltage is applied, first and second NMOS transistors having sources to which a ground voltage is applied, third and fourth NMOS transistors having sources connected to drains of the first and second NMOS transistors and gates to which the power supply voltage is applied; and a voltage controlled delay unit for receiving an input signal applied to a gate of the first NMOS transistor, inverting a level of the input signal, determining whether a voltage of an inverted input signal should be charged in response to a voltage control signal, outputting the voltage of the inverted input signal of which delay time is controlled, and applying the inverted input signal to a gate of the second NMOS transistor. |
| US07737747B2 |
Scheme for controlling rise-fall times in signal transitions
A serial interface interacting with a transmission pad system circuitry wherein a differential impedance is reckoned across the system voltage source, includes a scheme for controlling transmitter rise-fall transitions (to selectively speed up or slow down transitions) without requiring additional timing controls or affecting reflection coefficient of the transmitter port. The scheme uses at least one pre-charged capacitor, e.g., PMOS capacitor, interacting with the transmitter pad and connected through resistances or otherwise across the differential impedance with a switch. A modified scheme uses first and second parallely connected PMOS capacitors connectable with the transmission pad by switches, which may be NMOS switches. The scheme may be used in a MIPI D-PHY compliant DSI transmitter operating at, for e.g. 800 Mbps, and low signal common-modes. The scheme controls signal transition times of high speed circuitry including transmitters and uses a DATA signal which is already available to the circuitry. |
| US07737742B2 |
Delay locked loop
An integrated circuit includes a chain of delay elements, a first phase detector, and a controller. The chain of delay elements is configured to delay an input clock signal for providing an output clock signal phase shifted with respect to the input clock signal by a selected value. The first phase detector is configured to provide a common control signal to each delay element based on a phase difference between the input clock signal and a signal output from one of the delay elements to adjust a delay of each delay element. The controller is configured to provide an independent control signal to each delay element to individually adjust the delay of each delay element such that the delay of each delay element is equal. |
| US07737739B1 |
Phase step clock generator
An integrated circuit includes a phase step generator and a clock circuit. The phase step generator generates an input clock signal based on a reference clock and the clock circuit generates an output clock signal based on the input clock signal. Additionally, the clock circuit generates a feedback clock signal based on the output clock signal and locks a phase of the feedback clock signal with a phase of the input clock signal. In response to an assertion of a trigger signal, the phase step generator extends a phase of the input clock signal by inserting a phase step into the reference clock signal. A bandwidth of the clock circuit is determined based on the output clock signal after assertion of the trigger signal. |
| US07737738B2 |
Frequency divider
A frequency divider comprising, a first latch circuit and a second latch circuit, the second latch circuit being crossed-coupled to the first latch circuit. Each latch comprises a respective sense amplifier coupled to a respective latch. The sense amplifiers comprise a first clock input for receiving a first clock signal. The latches comprise a second clock input for receiving a second clock signal having a second frequency, the second frequency being substantially double the first frequency. |
| US07737732B2 |
Constant slope ramp circuits for sample-data circuits
A sample-data analog circuit includes a level-crossing detector. The level-crossing detector controls sampling switches to provide a precise sample of the output voltage when the level-crossing detector senses the predetermined level crossing of the input signal. A multiple segment ramp waveform generator is used in the sample-data analog circuits. The ramp waveform generator includes an amplifier, a variable current source, and a voltage detection circuit coupled to the current source to control the change in the amplitude of the current. The ramp generator produces constant slope within each segment regardless of the load condition. The sample-data analog circuit also utilizes variable bandwidths and thresholds. |
| US07737728B1 |
OCD driver slew rate control
An off-chip driver (OCD) includes: a logic circuit, for providing a logic signal input; a pre-driver stage, coupled to the logic circuit, for providing a ramped up voltage in response to the logic signal input; a final driver stage, coupled to the pre-driver stage, for providing an output voltage in response to the ramped up voltage; and a bias circuit, coupled to the pre-driver stage, for providing a constant bias voltage to the pre-driver stage, wherein the constant bias voltage keeps the pre-driver stage within an operational range to compensate for variations in process, temperature and supply voltage. |
| US07737727B2 |
Bi-directional buffer for open-drain or open-collector bus
Provided herein are bi-directional buffers, and methods for providing bi-directional buffering. In an embodiment, a bi-directional buffer includes a differential input/differential output amplifier that includes a first input/output node and a second/input output node. The differential input/differential output amplifier is configurable in a first configuration and a second configuration. When in the first configuration, the second input/output node follows the first input/output node. When in the second configuration, the first input/output node follows the second input/output node. |
| US07737723B1 |
Transparent field reconfiguration for programmable logic devices
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a programmable logic device (PLD, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA)) includes a plurality of input/output blocks adapted to precondition registers within the programmable logic device with desired signal values prior to release of control of the input/output blocks to user-defined logic provided by a reconfiguration. |
| US07737720B2 |
Virtual power rail modulation within an integrated circuit
An integrated circuit is provided with logic blocks which draw their power from virtual supply rails. These virtual supply rails are connected by switch blocks to main supply rails. The switch blocks are subject to modulation to maintain the virtual supply rails at an intermediate voltage level such that a reduced voltage difference is applied across the logic block. This intermediate voltage level is used in a state retention mode in which the clock signal clk to the logic block is stopped and state signal values are maintained therein using this reduced virtual power rail derived voltage difference. When it is desired to resume processing then the full virtual rail voltages are restored by rendering the switch blocks fully conductive and then the clock is restarted. The switch blocks which are modulated by controllers which use feedback control based upon the sensed virtual rail voltages (VVdd and Vgnd) while drawing their own power from the normal supply rails (Vdd and gnd). |
| US07737718B2 |
Power supply assembly and semiconductor testing system using same
A power supply assembly that can be miniaturized even though an applied voltage to a load is rendered variable, and a semiconductor testing system using the same are put into practice. With an improvement of the power supply assembly for finding an error against a set voltage by feeding back an applied voltage applied to a load, and applying a predetermined voltage to the load by causing an output amplifier to increase and decrease amperage to be fed to the load on the basis of the error, it is characterized in provided a voltage converter causing a voltage level of a power supply voltage of the output amplifier to follow up a voltage level of the set voltage. |
| US07737717B2 |
Current-voltage-based method for evaluating thin dielectrics based on interface traps
A method for evaluating gate dielectrics (100) includes providing a test structure (101). The test structure includes a gate stack that includes a gate electrode on a gate dielectric on a substrate, and at least one diffusion region diffused in the substrate including a portion below the gate stack and a portion beyond the gate stack. Pre-stress off-state I-V testing (102) is performed on the test structure to obtain pre-stress I-V test data, wherein the pre-stress off-state I-V testing includes a first measurement involving the gate electrode, the substrate and the diffusion region, a second measurement involving the gate electrode and the substrate with the diffusion region floating, and a third measurement involving the gate electrode and the diffusion region with the substrate floating. The test structure is then stressed (103) including electrically stressing for a time (t). Following the stressing, post-stress I-V testing is performed (104) wherein the first, second and third measurements are repeated to obtain post-stress I-V test data. The gate dielectric is evaluated (105) from the pre-stress and post-stress I-V test data. |
| US07737713B2 |
Apparatus for hot-probing integrated semiconductor circuits on wafers
An apparatus for hot-probing integrated semiconductor circuits on wafers is disclosed that includes a support device for accommodating the wafer, a measurement card with electronic circuitry for functional verification of the integrated semiconductor circuits on the wafers, and a test head with contact needles which establishes an electrical contact between the measurement card and the integrated semiconductor circuits, wherein a detachable and coolable shield plate is provided between the measurement card and wafer in order to protect the apparatus. |
| US07737710B2 |
Socket, and test apparatus and method using the socket
An apparatus for testing electric characteristics of a test object including first connection terminals on a bottom surface and second connection terminals on a top surface, the apparatus comprises a test board comprising first pads on a predetermined surface; a socket configured to electrically connect the test object to the test board; and a handler configured to transport the test object to the socket. The socket comprises a first connection unit configured to be electrically connected to the first connection terminals of the test object and a second connection unit configured to be electrically connected to the second connection terminals of the test object. |
| US07737705B2 |
State detecting method and insulation resistance detector
There is provided a state detecting method adopted to an insulation resistance detector including the steps of: calculating a difference between the output of the filter when a pulse signal having a first pulse width is applied to the series circuit, and the output of the filter when a pulse signal having a second pulse width shorter than the first pulse width is applied to the series circuit; and detecting the state of the insulation resistance detector based on the calculated difference. |
| US07737704B2 |
System and method for using a PHY to locate a thermal signature in a cable plant for diagnostic, enhanced, and higher power applications
A system and method for using a physical layer device to locate a thermal signature in a cable plant for diagnostic, enhanced, and higher power applications. Cable heating in specific sections of a network cable is detected through an automatic identification of a thermal signature in electrical measurements of a network cable. The correlation of the thermal signature to a specific section of the network cable enables network personnel to locate hot spots in the network cable with ease. |
| US07737703B2 |
System and apparatus for electrically testing lead-to-lead shorting during magnetoresistive sensor fabrication
Built-in electrical test structures are measured for lead-to-lead shorting during the fabrication of MR elements on a wafer. The test structures are fabricated in the same fashion as the MR elements, however, the active sensor region or track width is omitted from the test structures. Thus, the left and right leads for each test structure are electrically isolated from each other in their “track width” region. If there is lead-to-lead shorting on a test structure, then the left and right leads are electrically connected in the track width region. A simple resistance measurement between the left and right leads determines the extent of any lead shorting by giving a quantitative resistance value. |
| US07737700B2 |
Arrangement and method for detecting air ingredients
Detecting air ingredients is obtained, a heater and gas sensitive acting layers are arranged on a substrate, which are connectable to an analyzing unit. Electrical resistances of n acting layers are connected in series; heater is a temperature sensor connected in parallel with this series connection, electrical resistance of heater is smaller than the sum of electrical resistances of acting layers and resistances are connected with a total of n+1 electrical terminals via electrodes so that heater is connected with two terminals and n−1 other terminals are connected with a respective junction that interconnects two acting layers. Heater is intermittently heated so that a predefined constant temperature of acting layers is achieved, temperature of acting layers is acquired by determining electrical resistance of heater; voltages in the series connection of acting layers are analyzed and a concentration of gases are determined from electrical resistances of acting layers. |
| US07737699B2 |
Method of marine electromagnetic survey using focusing electric current
Two embodiments of marine geo-electric probe methods for hydrocarbon deposits survey comprise—excitation of electromagnetic field in a surveyed medium by transmitting two rectangular current pulses therethrough, the first—during forward traveling of a probe device along a profile and the second—during backward traveling thereof,—measuring instant values of the first and second electric potential differences during the time between the pulses, wherein, the equal-zero condition of the electric potential differences along the profile is ensured,—calculating three sets of normalized electrical parameters based on difference values,—solving an inverse problem via a differential equation for the dipole source voltage in an electrochemically polarizable medium using the parameters,—producing data according to said electrical parameters, and—determining conductivity of the medium, induced-polarization factor and decay time constant of the polarization potential difference. The first embodiment is deployed for circular survey profiles, the second is for linear profiles. |
| US07737696B2 |
Magnetic resonance scanner with a longitudinal magnetic field gradient system
In a magnetic resonance scanner, a main magnet system (10) is wound to generate a longitudinally directed main magnetic field (B0) at least in a scanning region (20). The main magnet system includes a central magnet winding region (30) wound layer-by-layer disposed between outer magnet winding regions (32, 34). A longitudinal magnetic field gradient system (12, 12′) includes a central gradient winding region (40, 40′, 42, 42′) wound to generate a main longitudinally directed magnetic field gradient disposed between outer gradient winding regions (44, 46) wound to generate a compensatory longitudinally directed magnetic field gradient having opposite polarity from the main longitudinally directed magnetic field gradient. The outer gradient winding regions are arranged to substantially null mutual inductance between the outer magnet winding regions (32, 34) and the longitudinal magnetic field gradient system (12, 12′). |
| US07737694B2 |
Method and apparatus for high-gain magnetic resonance imaging
A method and apparatus for Magnetic Resonance Imaging with specialized imaging coils possessing high Signal-to-Noise-Ratio (SNR). Imaging and/or Radio Frequency receiving coils include a ballistic electrical conductor such as carbon nanotubes, the ballistic electrical conductor having a resistance that does not increase significantly with length. Due to their enhanced SNR properties, system designs with smaller static magnetic field strength can be constructed for the same quality of imaging, leading to substantial reductions in system size and cost, as well as to enhanced imaging with existing MRI systems. |
| US07737692B2 |
Method for sequence determination using NMR
The invention relates to methods for analyzing polysaccharides. In particular, compositional and sequence information about the polysaccharides are derived. Some methods use NMR in conjunction with another experimental method, such as, capillary electrophoretic techniques for the analysis. |
| US07737688B2 |
Magnetic field detecting apparatus
The magnetic field detecting apparatus is provided with: a magnetic field detecting unit for outputting one of two signals having different potential levels from each other in response to a perpheral magnetic field; an energizing control unit for producing a periodic energizing control signal indicative of timing at which the magnetic field detecting unit is energized by employing a clock signal and another signal obtained by frequency-dividing, or frequency-multiplying the clock signal, and for supplying the produced energizing control signal to the magnetic field detecting unit; a first inverting unit for inverting the potential level of the output signal of the magnetic field detecting unit; and an energizing time period control unit for supplying a time period control signal to the energizing control unit, the time period control signal controlling the time period of the energizing control signal in response to the potential level of the output signal of the magnetic field detecting unit, and the potential level of the signal obtained by inverting the potential level of the output signal by the first inverting unit. The energizing time period control unit supplies any one of two pieces of the energizing control signals whose durations and time periods are different from each other, during which the magnetic field detecting unit is not energized, in response to the potential level of the time period control signal supplied from the energizing time period control unit. |
| US07737685B2 |
Compositions for a magnetically hard layer on a piston rod
Described is a piston rod position-sensing system having a cylinder and piston rod arranged in the cylinder for movement with respect thereto. A magnetically hard layer is formed on the piston rod to provide a recording medium. The magnetically hard layer is made of a cobalt-phosphorous (Co—P)-based alloy. A magnetic pattern is recorded in the magnetically hard layer. A magnetic field sensor located in the cylinder senses the recorded magnetic pattern while the piston rod is moving with respect to the cylinder. Signals are generated in response to the sensed magnetic pattern for determining a position of the piston rod |
| US07737684B2 |
Isolated magnetostrictive buffered liquid level sensor
A magnetostrictive application probe is disclosed wherein the probe includes a preassembled sensor element mounted as an application housing installation as an installable unit. The modular nature allows interchanging with various electronic assemblies, and may be an explosion proof installation. |
| US07737679B2 |
Poly phase solid state watt hour meters
An electronic energy meter includes a first sigma delta modulator having an electrically isolated digital data output. A power supply stage coupled to a first electrical line provides a supply voltage to the first sigma delta modulator. A shunt device is also coupled to the first electrical line. The first sigma delta modulator is coupled via an input to the shunt device for measuring a current through the first electrical line. The electrically isolated digital output is isolated by a capacitive isolation barrier. |
| US07737677B2 |
Wide area protection control measurement system and method
The present invention provides a wide area protection control measurement system and method which excels in economy, reliability and expandability, in which applied arithmetic operation functions for protection, control and measurement can be freely added and changed, without adding or changing power monitoring terminals to be installed in the electric-supply station. The wide area protection control measurement system is configured from N number of power monitoring terminals 1 installed in an electric-supply station in a target range, one electric quantity aggregation device 3 connected with these power monitoring terminals 1 via a communication network 2, and M number of applied arithmetic operation devices 4 connected with the electric aggregation device 3 through an inter-device connection. Each power monitoring terminal 1 transmits electric quantity data to the electric quantity aggregation device 3 via the communication network 2. The electric quantity aggregation device 3 aggregates received electric quantity data to generate aggregated electric quantity data and outputs it to each applied arithmetic operation devices 4. Each applied arithmetic operation devices 4 performs applied arithmetic operation for protection, control or management, using the aggregated electric quantity data acquired from the electric quantity aggregation device 3. |
| US07737676B2 |
Series regulator circuit
A low drop out series regulator circuit for generating an output voltage that does not rely on voltage feedback or require a capacitor for stable operation includes first and second current sources connected in series between a supply voltage and ground. A resistor is connected between and in series with the first and second current sources, and a reference voltage is generated across the resistor by the current from the first current source. A first transistor is connected between the ground and a first node located between the resistor and the second current source. A current mirror circuit is connected between the supply voltage and the first transistor. A current sense transistor is connected between the current mirror circuit and an output terminal. An output transistor is connected between the supply voltage and the output terminal. The output voltage generated at the output terminal is equal to the reference voltage. |
| US07737674B2 |
Voltage regulator
A voltage regulator. A pass element has a control gate and outputs an output voltage according to an input voltage and a control signal received from the control gate. A feedback circuit generates a feedback signal according to the output voltage. A bandgap circuit generates a reference voltage according to the output voltage. An amplifier generates a first signal according to the feedback signal and the reference voltage. A start-up circuit generates the control signal according to the reference voltage and the first signal. |
| US07737671B2 |
System and method for implementing high-resolution delay
A system and method is provided for providing a deadband switching time delay. One embodiment of the present invention includes a switching regulator system. The switching regulator system includes a control circuit configured to alternately activate a high-side power switch and a low-side power switch of the switching regulator system. The switching regulator system also includes a switching delay element configured to provide a switching deadband associated with a logic state transition delay of at least one of the high-side power switch and the low-side power switch, the delay element comprising a programmable coarse delay element to provide a course delay amount and a programmable fine delay element to provide a fine delay amount. |
| US07737670B2 |
Power converter with improved efficiency
A power converter (10) includes a controller (12) configured to generate a switching signal. A first section (14) is coupled to the controller (12) and has first and second switches (26,30). The first section (14) is configured such that the first and second switches (26,30) operate in an alternating manner in response to the switching signal. A second section (16) is coupled to the controller (12) and has third and fourth switches (50,54). The second section (16) is configured such that the third and fourth switches (50,54) operate in an alternating manner in response to the switching signal. The first and second sections (14,16) are coupled to a node (88). A detection circuit (18) is coupled to the second section (16). The detection circuit (18) is configured to measure a voltage at the node between the operation of the third and fourth switches (50,54) and deactivate the second section when the voltage is above a predetermined threshold. |
| US07737669B2 |
Hierarchical control for an integrated voltage regulator
A hierarchical control for an integrated voltage regulator may include a voltage regulator circuit with a plurality of parallel voltage cells, with each of the cells having a plurality of phases of interleaved voltage converters, and a feedback control associated with the cells to set identical current references for the phases. A multi-rail embodiment has a plurality of parallel voltage regulator circuits each with a plurality of parallel voltage cells, with each of the cells having a plurality of phases of interleaved voltage converters, and a feedback control associated with the circuits to sense parameters of the circuits and set identical parameter references for the phases. |
| US07737666B2 |
Split gate drive scheme to improve reliable voltage operation range
Systems and techniques for efficient power regulators with improved reliability. A power regulator may include a first driver including a first switch and a second switch, where a power dissipation of the first switch is less than a power dissipation of the second switch. The power regulator may include a second driver. The first and second switches may be implemented as transistors, which may have different on-state breakdown voltages and/or on-state drain source resistances. |
| US07737664B2 |
Battery protective device and semiconductor integrated circuit device
A battery protective device that protects against battery damage and semiconductor destruction from overdischarge and overcharge of the battery. Resistance across switching elements is controllable to prevent current leakage through parasitic dipole elements in the integrated circuit. Current is detected with an overdischarge detecting circuit and an overcharge detecting circuit. Direction of the current to/from the battery is detected by discharge overcurrent and charge overcurrent detecting circuits. Switching discharge FETs and charge FETs are enabled as independently controlled, ON-OFF parallel switching elements, interposed in series in the charge/discharge current path of the battery. Only a part of the discharge or charge switching FETs can be turned ON and OFF for accurate current control in accordance with the detected current and its direction. |
| US07737663B2 |
Charging and discharging control circuit and charging type power supply device
Provided is a charging and discharging protection circuit realizing low current consumption in an overcurrent detection state, easy calculation of an automatic return impedance, and high usability. A pull-down circuit for pulling down an overcurrent detection terminal to a VSS terminal is connected in series between the overcurrent detection terminal and a switching circuit. The switching circuit is connected in series between the pull-down circuit and the VSS terminal. |
| US07737660B2 |
Hybrid battery and full charge capacity calculation method thereof
A hybrid battery and full charge capacity calculation method thereof. A full charge capacity is calculated for each battery at at least two discharge voltage levels, and a total full charge capacity is calculated by adding the calculated full charge capacity of the discharging battery to a full charge capacity of a non-discharging battery. A hybrid battery includes: a first power source and a second power source; a sense resistor that senses and outputs current information of at least one of the first power source or the second power source; and a fuel gauge circuit that calculates a first accumulated discharge amount using the current information from the sense resistor when a voltage of a currently discharging one of the first or second power source reaches a first discharge voltage level, and to add a first capacity corresponding to the first discharge voltage level to the first accumulated discharge amount. |
| US07737657B2 |
System and method for charging a battery in a mobile device
An adapter for providing a source of power to a mobile device through an industry standard port is provided. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the adapter comprises a plug unit, a power converter, a primary connector, and an identification subsystem. The plug unit is operative to couple the adapter to a power socket and operative to receive energy from the power socket. The power converter is electrically coupled to the plug unit and is operable to regulate the received energy from the power socket and to output a power requirement to the mobile device. The primary connector is electrically coupled to the power converter and is operative to couple to the mobile device and to deliver the outputted power requirement to the mobile device. The identification subsystem is electrically coupled to the primary connector and is operative to provide an identification signal. |
| US07737656B2 |
Automatic recharging mouse with self-movement feature
An automatic mouse charging system includes a charger plate and an automatically chargeable mouse. The charger plate includes an audio signal emitter for emitting an audio signal and a charging module for providing electric energy. The automatically chargeable mouse includes a mouse case, an electric energy storage element, multiple audio signal receivers, a driving mechanism, and a control unit. The audio signal receivers are used for receiving the audio signal. The control unit is used for discriminating one of the audio signal receivers that receives the strongest audio signal, thereby outputting a corresponding movement signal to the driving mechanism. The automatically chargeable mouse is moved toward the audio signal receiver that receives the strongest audio signal according to the movement signal. |
| US07737651B2 |
Self starting method and an apparatus for sensorless commutation of brushless DC motors
A method and apparatus for electronic control of a direct current motor is disclosed based upon a sensorless commutation technique using voltage vector analysis. A voltage vector is produced by addition of supply phase voltage vectors of energized windings with the back-electromotive force vector of the unenergized winding. The resultant voltage vector rotates at the same speed as the rotor and possesses rotor position information used to commutate phase windings. The angle that the resultant voltage vector makes with the real axis is measured to commutate the phase windings. By parking the rotor in a predetermined position, this technique can be used to efficiently start the motor from rest and commutate phase windings during normal operation. |
| US07737649B2 |
Apparatus on a spinning room machine for monitoring an electric drive motor
An apparatus on a spinning room machine, especially a spinning preparation machine, is arranged for monitoring an electric drive motor, which is connected to an electronic speed-setting and/or regulating device, a rotating operating element being connected to the drive motor. In order to monitor the drive motor so that no damage occurs even under different operating conditions, there is a device for automatically determining the loading of the drive motor during operation, which is connected to a device for comparison with pre-set values for the loading, to which there is connected a display and/or switching device which can be supplied with electrical signals in the event of departures. |
| US07737648B2 |
Motor controller
A motor controller stores values corresponding to predetermined equivalent resistance which corresponds to power loss generated by switching on and off switching elements. Voltage command values are determined by adding voltage drop values determined from values corresponding to the equivalent resistance and values of current flowing in the switching elements to target applied voltage values corresponding to current command values which correspond to target output of a motor. The switching elements arranged in a power supply line to the motor are switched on and off by control signals generated according to the voltage command values. |
| US07737647B2 |
Rectifier and system for controlling the speed of an electric motor
The invention concerns a reversible current rectifier, for connection to part of a polyphase network and to a continuous bus comprising a plurality of rectifier cells each rectifier cell including a rectifying device and a on-way electronic switch connected in anti-parallel with the rectifier device, the rectifying devices of different cells being arranged so as to form one rectifier. Each rectifier cell comprises means for controlling the electronic switch of the cell arranged to control the latter in closure after detecting a conduction of the rectifying device of the cell so as to enable current to be returned to the network. The control means are arranged to receive a signal external to the cell, for controlling the opening of the electronic switch, derived from another rectifier cell. |
| US07737645B2 |
Electronic tripping unit for a motor-circuit breaker of an electric motor
An electronic trip unit for a motor circuit breaker of an electric motor includes at least one detection unit configured to sense at least one current that is delivered to the electric motor. The unit further including a discriminator circuit, the discriminator circuit being in a first state when no measured current value exceeds a predefined trip threshold, and being in a second state when at least one measured current value exceeds the predefined trip threshold. The discriminator circuit includes an output for controlling the motor; a voltage-limiting component having a breakdown voltage; a resistor; and a switching unit configured to, in the first state, switch the control signal to the first level, and, in the second state, switch the control signal to the second level, the switching unit being configured to be switched by a voltage drop across the resistor. |
| US07737643B2 |
LED power control methods and apparatus
Methods and apparatus for providing and controlling power to loads including one or more LEDs. In one example, a controlled predetermined power is provided to a load without requiring any feedback information from the load (i.e., without monitoring a load voltage and/or load current). In another example, a “feed-forward” power driver for an LED-based light source combines the functionality of a DC-DC converter and a light source controller, and is configured to control the intensity of light generated by the light source based on modulating the average power delivered to the light source in a given time period, without monitoring and/or regulating the voltage or current provided to the light source. In various examples, significantly streamlined circuits having fewer components, higher overall power efficiencies, and smaller space requirements are realized. Based on various power driver configurations, lighting apparatus incorporating one or more power drivers for one or more LED-based loads may be implemented, and multiple such lighting apparatus may be coupled together to form a lighting network in which operating power is efficiently provided throughout the network. |
| US07737642B2 |
DC/AC inverter
A DC/AC inverter provided for transforming a DC voltage source into an AC power source, wherein the AC signal is used for driving a fluorescent lamp. The inverter comprises a half-bridge switch circuitry electrically connected to the DC voltage source, for outputting an AC signal, a resonant tank electrically connected between the half-bridge switch circuitry and the fluorescent lamp, for stepping up and filtering the AC signal into a high-voltage AC power source which is supplied to a load, and a controller feeding back an output of the fluorescent lamp, providing a pulse width modulation signal for turning on and off the half-bridge switch circuitry, such that the fluorescent lamp can operate consistently and provide a consistent brightness. |
| US07737640B2 |
Emergency lighting system
The present invention relates to an emergency lighting system comprising one or more first lighting elements and a power supply/charging unit that is incorporated in a host lighting fixture having one or more second lighting elements such as an HID, incandescent or fluorescent lamp. Optionally, a heating element can be provided that allows operation of the system in temperatures too low for operation of conventional emergency lighting systems. |
| US07737639B2 |
Fluorescent lamps having desirable mercury consumption and lumen run-up times
A fluorescent lamp includes a light-transmissive glass envelope having an inner surface, means for providing an electric discharge to the interior of the glass envelope, a phosphor layer within the interior of the glass envelope and a discharge-sustaining fill gas and a mercury dose sealed inside the light-transmissive glass envelope. The light-transmissive glass envelope can comprise a light-transmissive mixed alkali glass envelope and the phosphor layer can comprise a phosphor layer of approximately three mg/cm2. A barrier layer of approximately 0.3 mg/cm2 or less of alumina can be applied to the inner surface of the light-transmissive glass envelope. The mercury dose can be present in an amount to provide a saturated mercury vapor pressure within the light-transmissive glass envelope throughout substantially the entire life of the lamp. The lamp can have an end-of-life mercury consumption value of approximately 0.63 mg or less, including 0.44 mg or less, and a warm-up value in the range of approximately 40 to 50 seconds or less, including 30 seconds or less. |
| US07737636B2 |
LED assembly with an LED and adjacent lens and method of making same
An LED assembly having an LED and a lens disposed adjacent to a light emitting surface of the LED. The area of cross-section of the lens projected onto the light emitting surface of the LED is substantially equal to or less than the area of the LED's light emitting surface. The light emitting device can comprise an array of LEDs and an array of lenses, in which at least one lens is associated with each member of the LED array and wherein the area of a cross-section of each lens projected onto the light emitting surface of its associated LED is substantially equal to or less than the area of the LED's light emitting surface. |
| US07737627B2 |
Fluorene-based compound and organic electroluminescent display device using the same
The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescent (OEL) compound that comprises at least one fluorene derivative and at least one carbazole derivative. The compound has good electrical properties, light emitting properties and charge transport ability, and thus is suitable as a host material suitable for fluorescent and phosphorescent dopants of all colors including red, green, blue, white, etc., and as a charge transport material. An OEL display device that uses an organic layer that includes the OEL compound has a high efficiency, a low voltage, a high luminance, and a long lifespan because it has superior current density. |
| US07737620B2 |
Light emission device, method of manufacturing electron emission unit for the light emission device, and display device having the light emission device
A light emission device and a display device having the light emission device are provided. The light emission device includes: a first substrate and a second substrate facing the first substrate; a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes on an inner surface of the first substrate, the first electrodes crossing the second electrodes; a plurality of electron emission regions electrically connected to the first electrodes at crossing regions where the first electrodes cross the second electrode; a light emission unit on an inner surface of the second substrate; and at least one spacer between the first and second substrates, Here, a shortest distance D between the spacer and the electron emission regions satisfies the following condition: 500 μm≦D≦0.2Dh, where, Dh is a diagonal length of at least one of the crossing regions. |
| US07737619B2 |
Display device, vent tube with glass ring, phosphate glass ring, and method of producing the same
The present invention reduces the amount of lead used in a display device and improves its long-term moisture resistance. This display device includes: a panel (1b) provided with a hole (11) formed therein; a phosphate glass member (13); and a tube (12) mounted on the panel (1b) via the glass member (13) so as to cover the hole (11). The glass member (13) is bonded to at least a partial area of the inner wall surface of the tube (12) and to a partial area of the panel (1b), so that the entire periphery of the end face of the tube (12) located on the side of the hole (13) is in contact with the panel (1b). |
| US07737616B2 |
Electron-emitting device, electron source, image display apparatus and television apparatus
An electron-emitting device comprises: (A) a first electrode; (B) an electron-emitting film which is provided on the first electrode; and (C) a second electrode which is provided above the electron-emitting film across a distance H from the electron-emitting film, and includes an opening which exposes at least a part of the electron-emitting film, wherein an area of the second electrode is at least four times larger than an area of the opening, and a ratio H/W of the distance H to a width W of the opening is not less than 0.07 but not more than 0.6. |
| US07737615B2 |
Light emitting composition, light source device, and display device
A light emitting composition, light source device, and display device are provided. The light emitting composition has a phosphor, including a glass layer containing at least silicon (Si) and oxygen (O) formed on the surface of the phosphor. Exposed regions of the phosphor are made discrete by the glass layer. |
| US07737614B2 |
Diamond electron emission cathode, electron emission source, electron microscope, and electron beam exposure device
An object is to provide an electron emission cathode and an electron emission source using diamond and having a high brightness and a small energy width that are suitable for electron ray and electron beam devices and vacuum tubes, in particular, electron microscopes and electron beam exposure devices, and also electronic devices using such cathode and source. A diamond electron emission cathode according to the present invention has single crystal diamond in at least part thereof, the diamond electron emission cathode having a columnar shape formed by a sharpened acute section and a heating section, being provided with one electron emitting portion in the sharpened acute section, and being constituted of at least two types of semiconductors that differ in electric properties. One of the types constituting the semiconductors is an n-type semiconductor containing n-type impurities at 2×1015 cm3 or higher, the other one is a p-type semiconductor containing p-type impurities at 2×1015 cm−3 or higher, the p-type semiconductor and the n-type semiconductor are joined together, the heating section is energized parallel to the junction surface and directly heated by a pair of current introducing terminals, and some of the introduced electrons are emitted from the electron emitting portion. |
| US07737612B1 |
BAW resonator bi-layer top electrode with zero etch undercut
A piezoelectric resonator includes a multi-layer top electrode configured such that a top most layer protects the underlying layers from subsequent etching, thereby preventing etch undercut of the top-most layer. In one embodiment, the multi-layer top electrode is configured as a bi-layer, so that the upper layer of the bi-layer stack protects all sides of the underlying layer from subsequent etch process steps. In an alternative embodiment, at least the perimeter of a multi-layer top electrode is completely covered with overlapping interconnect metal. |
| US07737609B2 |
Ultrasonic sensor
An ultrasonic sensor includes a cylindrical outer case with a bottom and a piezoelectric element fixed to the inner side of the bottom portion of the outer case. A ring-shaped inner case having a central hole extending in the axial direction in the central portion thereof is disposed inside the sidewall portion of the outer case. A flat or substantially flat portion is provided around the central hole of the inner case, and a viscoelastic filler is arranged so as to extend from the central hole to the flat or substantially flat portion of the inner case. A tabular member is disposed on the flat or substantially flat portion so as to face the flat or substantially flat portion with the filler interposed therebetween. When the inner case vibrates, shear deformation occurs in the filler interposed between the flat or substantially flat portion and the tabular member since the tabular member is not substantially deformed, and the vibration is reduced by the viscoelastic damping effect. |
| US07737604B2 |
Ultrasonic actuator
An ultrasonic actuator includes: an actuator body (5) including an actuator body (50); a control circuit (150) for setting a driving frequency; power supply sources (191, 192) for applying a driving voltage having the driving frequency to the actuator body; and a memory (170) for storing data related to a difference between antiresonance and resonance frequencies of the actuator body (50). The control circuit (150) determines, based on a reference frequency where a current value of a current fed to the piezoelectric element (50) is local minimum and the data stored in the memory (170), a lower limit of a control range of the driving frequency so that the lower limit is equal to or higher than a frequency where the current value of the current fed to the piezoelectric element (50) is local maximum and determines the driving frequency to be a frequency in the control range. |
| US07737598B2 |
Electric motor having a stator
A stator configured to rotate a rotor with a number of magnetic poles includes a yoke that includes a back portion and a first type and first quantity of integral teeth, and a second type and second quantity of insertable teeth coupled to the back portion. At least two coils are wound with a continuous electric wire. Each of the coils is placed around two different integral teeth to define a first winding section. At least two other coils are wound with a continuous electric wire. The other coils are placed around two different insertable teeth to define a second winding section. |
| US07737595B2 |
Hybrid vehicle
A hybrid vehicle implements a required traveling condition by generating a required driving force necessary to drive the vehicle even in the case where a supply source of a working fluid develops a malfunction. The hybrid vehicle is equipped with a motor which changes the phase difference between two rotors and an engaging/disengaging device which turns on/off the supply of a driving force of an internal combustion engine, the motor and the engaging/disengaging device being driven by a working fluid. The hybrid vehicle further includes a clutch which carries out the engagement/disengagement between a first drive shaft through which a driving force of an engine is transmitted and a second drive shaft through which a driving force of the motor is transmitted to wheels, an electrically-operated first pump capable of supplying hydraulic oil to a relative rotational force generator of the motor and the clutch, a mechanical second pump which is driven by the engine and which is capable of supplying the hydraulic oil to the clutch, and a solenoid selector valve for selectively switching the source of supply of the hydraulic oil to the clutch to the first pump or the second pump. |
| US07737594B2 |
Axial gap type motor
An axial gap type motor according to the present invention includes: a rotor; and a pair of stators which are arranged to face each other and hold the rotor from both sides thereof along a rotation axis. The rotor includes: electromagnets which are provided on the rotor as main magnets, and arranged along a circumferential direction so that directions of magnetic fluxes thereof are parallel to the rotation axis; and sub permanent magnets which are provided on the rotor, arranged in the vicinities of circumferential end portions of the main magnets, and are magnetized orthogonal to the rotation axis and a radial direction. |
| US07737590B2 |
Magnetic bearing device, rotating mechanism, and model identification method of rotating machinery main unit
Problem of the present invention is to enable elimination or reduction of a signal wire in a dedicated cable for a magnetic bearing device for supplied an electric power from a control device to a magnetic bearing main unit via the dedicated cable. A magnetic bearing device 100 according to the present invention has a magnetic bearing main unit 10 having an electromagnet 12M for magnetically levitating and rotatably supporting a magnetic rotating body 11 and functioning as a magnetic bearing, a control device 20 having a compensating circuit 25 for generating a control signal for controlling a levitation position of the magnetic rotating body 11, and an electricity supply line 30L for supplying an electric power from the control device 20 to the magnetic bearing main unit 10. The magnetic bearing main unit 10 has a modulation carrier circuit 22 for generating a modulated wave and a first alternating-current coupling section 23A for transmitting the generated modulated wave to the control device 20 by the alternating-current coupling with the electricity supply line 30L. The control device 20 has a second alternating-current coupling section 23B for separating the modulated wave alternating-current coupled from the electricity supply line 30L and a carrier wave demodulating circuit 24 for detecting the separated carrier signal wave. |
| US07737588B2 |
Three-phase induction motor
The preferred embodiment the invention proposes pertains to a three-phase induction motor, and operates on the premises of having the extension cords on two ends of the motor embedded with several balancing eccentric washers and a balancing eccentric block added, of which the eccentric block contains a sleeve bearing, and one end of the eccentric block is fitted with a bolt, with the bolt head covered with rubber; o-ring is fitted between the balancing eccentric washer and balancing eccentric block, whereby using the invention's frequency changer for controlling an AC 3-phase induction motor serves to generate multiple frequencies for generating different amplitudes, which can be use to control the speed and load emitted between the eccentric block and balancing eccentric washer. |
| US07737585B2 |
Electric machine with improved water cooling system
The aim of the invention is to provide a fluid-cooled electric machine in a simple manner. To achieve this, a housing (1) is configured in two parts, in such a way that each housing part (2, 3) comprises a bearing bracket (4, 5) and said housing parts are designed (2, 3) to form cooling channels once assembled. |
| US07737578B2 |
Method and device for supporting the alternating current frequency in an electricity network
The invention relates to a method and a device for supporting the frequency in an electricity network (5) during a sudden modification of the network load and/or generating power. According to the invention, modifications of the network load and/or generating power, which cause the network frequency to deviate from a predefined value, are compensated by a modification of an additional load (6). Said additional load (6) is preferably configured by a large number of hydrogen-producing electrolysis units (7), which can be activated or deactivated for the successive modification of the additional load. |
| US07737577B2 |
Power supply system and method on board an aircraft
A system and a power supply method, on board an aircraft, in which the power supply system of an aircraft includes several generators powering with 230 volts A.C. several distinct electrical cores, wherein the various loads of the aircraft are connected to each of these cores. Each core includes an input driver, several identical power modules, means of placing in parallel several power modules including interconnection inductances between power modules, and a switching matrix including a set of relays, means of piloting the relays of the switching matrix, so as to reconfigure all of these relays in the case of failure of a power module, several output filters, and relays of the switching matrix that may each be connected to at one load. |
| US07737576B2 |
Vehicle mounted accessory with multiplexing
A control for a vehicle mounted accessory that has an electrically operable device. The accessory is operated by a switch that is mounted on the vehicle remote from the accessory. The switch and the electrically operable device are electrically connected by programmable controllers and a communications bus. The control has the capability of automatically determining the presence of a vehicle DRL mode, and the accessory turn signal lights are automatically illuminated to provide an accessory DRL mode. The control can automatically detect different accessories and reprogram itself to control them. The control provides a secured communications link between it and the accessory to prevent accessory theft. |
| US07737573B2 |
Power over ethernet combiner
A system includes (a) an access point; (b) a switch providing power for use in the access point; and (c) a combiner disposed between the switch and the access point. The combiner receives at least two power supplies from the switch. The combiner is configured to combine the at least two power supplies to generate a third power supply. The third power supply is transferred to power the access point. |
| US07737572B2 |
Buoyancy pump power system
A system for generating electricity includes a pump operable to convert wave motion from a body of water into mechanical energy. The pump includes an input port through which an operating fluid can enter the pump and an output port through which the operating fluid can exit the pump. A first outlet line and a second outlet line are fluidly coupled to the output port of the pump. A first reservoir is fluidly connected to the first outlet line, and a second reservoir is fluidly connected to the second outlet line, both reservoirs being selectively capable of receiving operating fluid driven through the output port. |
| US07737570B2 |
Water turbine system and method of operation
A system for providing electrical power from a current turbine is provided. The system includes a floatation device and a mooring. A water turbine structure is provided having an upper and lower portion wherein the lower portion includes a water fillable chamber. A plurality of cables are used to couple the system where a first cable couples the water turbine to the mooring and a second cable couples the floatation device to the first cable. The system is arranged to allow the turbine structure to be deployed and retrieved for service, repair, maintenance and redeployment. |
| US07737563B2 |
Semiconductor chip with reinforcement structure
Various semiconductor chip reinforcement structures and methods of making the same are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes coupling a semiconductor chip to a substrate wherein the semiconductor chip has a first side facing toward but separated from a second of the substrate to define an interface region. An array of electrical interconnects is provided between the semiconductor chip and the substrate positioned in the interface region. A reinforcement structure is coupled to the first side of the semiconductor chip and the second side of the substrate and in the interface region while outside the array of electrical interconnects. An underfill is provided in the interface region. |
| US07737561B2 |
Dual damascene integration of ultra low dielectric constant porous materials
A dual damascene interconnect structure having a patterned multilayer of spun-on dielectrics on a substrate is provided. The structure includes: a patterned multilayer of spun-on dielectrics on a substrate, including: a cap layer; a first non-porous via level low-k dielectric layer having thereon metal via conductors with a bottom portion and sidewalls; an etch stop layer; a first porous line level low-k dielectric layer having thereon metal line conductors with a bottom portion and sidewalls; a polish stop layer over the first porous line level low-k dielectric; a second thin non-porous via level low-k dielectric layer for coating and planarizing the line and via sidewalls; and a liner material between the metal via and line conductors and the dielectric layers. Also provided is a method of forming the dual damascene interconnect structure. |
| US07737560B2 |
Metallization layer for a power semiconductor device
A power semiconductor IC device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the device includes a substrate, and a layer structure formed on the substrate. The layer structure includes a metallization layer including copper, wherein the metallization layer is formed as a stack structure including at least two copper layers and a stabilization layer between the two copper layers. |
| US07737556B2 |
Encapsulated damascene with improved overlayer adhesion
An integrated circuit device comprising a partially embedded and encapsulated damascene structure and method for forming the same to improve adhesion to an overlying dielectric layer, the integrated circuit device including a conductive material partially embedded in an opening formed in a dielectric layer; wherein said conductive material is encapsulated with a first barrier layer comprising sidewall and bottom portions and a second barrier layer covering a top portion, said conductive material and first barrier layer sidewall portions extending to a predetermined height above an upper surface of the dielectric layer to form a partially embedded damascene. |
| US07737554B2 |
Pitch by splitting bottom metallization layer
An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate; a first bottom metallization (M1) layer over the semiconductor substrate; a second M1 layer over the first M1 layer, wherein metal lines in the first and the second M1 layer have widths of greater than about a minimum feature size; and vias connecting the first and the second M1 layers. |
| US07737551B2 |
Semiconductor power module with SiC power diodes and method for its production
A semiconductor power module has at least one power semiconductor chip (2) which can be controlled by the field effect and has a plurality of fail-safe, small-area SiC power diodes (D1 to D8). The function of a large-area SiC power diode chip which is susceptible to failure is distributed over these small-area, parallel-connected SiC power diode chips (D1 to D8) in such a way that their total area of active SiC diode areas (F1 to F8) corresponds to an area extent of a large-area non-fail-safe SiC power diode chip. |
| US07737542B1 |
Stackable semiconductor package
A stackable semiconductor package includes a substrate with a first side surface that includes circuit patterns. Each circuit pattern includes a pad. A semiconductor die is electrically coupled to the circuit patterns. An encapsulant covers the semiconductor die and the first side surface of the substrate inward of the pads. A layer of a solder is fused to each of the pads. A lateral distance between immediately adjacent pads is selected to be greater than a lateral distance between sidewalls of the encapsulant and immediately adjacent pads, and a height of the solder layers relative to the first side surface is selected to be less than a height of the sidewalls of the encapsulant, so that misalignment of a semiconductor package stacked on the solder layers/pads is self-correcting when juxtaposed ones of the solder layers and respective solder balls of the second semiconductor package are ref lowed and fused together. |
| US07737541B2 |
Semiconductor chip package structure
A semiconductor chip package structure is described. The semiconductor chip package structure comprises a first chip, which is operated through a first power connection, having a central region and a marginal region. The first chip comprises a plurality of first and second power bonding pads disposed in a marginal region on the top of the first chip. A first power ring and a second power ring are disposed on the first chip, wherein the first and second power rings are respectively electrically connected to the first and second power bonding pads. A second chip, which is operated through a second power connection, is mounted on the central region of the first chip, wherein the second chip comprises a plurality of power bonding pads thereon. A plurality of second bonding wires are electrically connected to the power bonding pads and the second power bonding pads, respectively. |
| US07737536B2 |
Capacitive techniques to reduce noise in high speed interconnections
Structures, in various embodiments, are provided using capacitive techniques to reduce noise in high speed interconnections, such as in CMOS integrated circuits. In an embodiment, a transmission line is disposed on a first layer of insulating material, where the first layer of insulating has a thickness equal to or less than 1.0 micrometer. The transmission line may be structured with a thickness and a width of approximately 1.0 micrometers. A second layer of insulating material is disposed on the transmission line. |
| US07737533B2 |
Low voltage transient voltage suppressor with tapered recess extending into substrate of device allowing for reduced breakdown voltage
A semiconductor junction device includes a substrate of low resistivity semiconductor material having a preselected polarity. A tapered recess extends into the substrate and tapers inward as it extends downward from an upper surface of the substrate. A semiconductor layer is disposed within the recess and extends above the upper surface of the substrate. The semiconductor layer has a polarity opposite from that of the substrate. A metal layer overlies the semiconductor layer. |
| US07737530B2 |
Semiconductor device structures for bipolar junction transistors and methods of fabricating such structures
Semiconductor device structures for use with bipolar junction transistors and methods of fabricating such semiconductor device structures. The semiconductor device structure includes a semiconductor body having a top surface and sidewalls extending from the top surface to an insulating layer, a first region including a first semiconductor material with a first conductivity type, and a second region including a second semiconductor material with a second conductivity type. The first and second regions each extend across the top surface and the sidewalls of the semiconductor body. The device structure further includes a junction defined between the first and second regions and extending across the top surface and the sidewalls of the semiconductor body. |
| US07737524B2 |
Lateral thin-film SOI device having a field plate with isolated metallic regions
In a lateral thin-film Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) device, a field plate is provided to extend substantially over a lateral drift region to protect the device from package and surface charge effects. In particular, the field plate comprises a layer of plural metallic regions which are isolated laterally from one another by spacing so as to assume a lateral electric field profile which is established by a volume doping gradient in the silicon drift region. |
| US07737521B2 |
Field effect power transistor
A power transistor is disclosed. In one embodiment, the power transistor has a cell array including a semiconductor body having a plurality of transistor cells with gate electrodes and with body and source electrode regions and at least one temperature sensing device integrated in the semiconductor body. The temperature sensing device is formed in a selected sense zone within the cell array, and the transistor cells lying in at least one zone of the cell array that is directly adjacent to the sense zone have an increased W/L ratio of their channel width (W) to their channel length (L) compared with the other transistor cells of the cell array. |
| US07737507B2 |
Insulated gate field effect transistors
The invention relates to FETs with stripe cells (6). Some of the cells have alternating low and high threshold regions (10, 8) along their length. In a linear operations regime, the low threshold regions conduct preferentially and increase the current density, thereby reducing the risk of thermal runaway. By distributing the low threshold regions (10) along the length of the cells (6), the risk of current crowding is reduced. |
| US07737500B2 |
CMOS diodes with dual gate conductors, and methods for forming the same
The present invention provides an improved CMOS diode structure with dual gate conductors. Specifically, a substrate comprising a first n-doped region and a second p-doped region is formed. A third region of either n-type or p-type conductivity is located between the first and second regions. A first gate conductor of n-type conductivity and a second gate conductor of p-type conductivity are located over the substrate and adjacent to the first and second regions, respectively. Further, the second gate conductor is spaced apart and isolated from the first gate conductor by a dielectric isolation structure. An accumulation region with an underlying depletion region can be formed in such a diode structure between the third region and the second or the first region, and such an accumulation region preferably has a width that is positively correlated with that of the second or the first gate conductor. |
| US07737499B2 |
SRAM device having a common contact
Embodiments relate to a SRAM, in which a well isolation method may be applied so that an N-well and a P-well are separated from each other and that well walls of opposite conductive types are formed on facing sides. Also, the active regions of NMOS and PMOS may be connected to each other and the contacts of a PMOS drain and an NMOS source may be united to one so that the contacts are moved to the active regions of wide parts. A size of the common contact may be one to two times the size of a contact defined by a design rule. The active region may have a round bent part. The common contacts are arranged to be asymmetrical with each other. Therefore, it may be possible to secure the process margins of the active regions and the contacts, to improve a leakage current characteristic, and to improve yield. Also, it may be possible to prevent the dislocation of the active region and to omit a conventional thermal treatment process so that it may be possible to simplify processes and to reduce manufacturing cost. |
| US07737498B2 |
Enhanced stress-retention silicon-on-insulator devices and methods of fabricating enhanced stress retention silicon-on-insulator devices
Field effect transistor and methods of fabricating field effect transistors. The field effect transistors includes: a semiconductor substrate; a silicon oxide layer on the substrate; a stiffening layer on the silicon oxide layer; a single crystal silicon layer on the stiffening layer; a source and a drain on opposite sides of a channel region of the silicon layer; a gate electrode over the channel region and a gate dielectric between the gate electrode and the channel region. |
| US07737497B2 |
Silver nanoparticle compositions
A silver nanoparticle composition is formed by the process comprising: providing a solution of silver-containing nanoparticles and an initial stabilizer on the surface of the silver-containing nanoparticles; and mixing the solution with a carboxylic acid so as to replace at least a portion of the initial stabilizer with the carboxylic acid, resulting in a composition comprising the silver-containing nanoparticles and the carboxylic acid on the surface of the silver-containing nanoparticles. Methods of using the silver nanoparticle composition and devices comprising the silver nanoparticle composition are also disclosed. |
| US07737490B2 |
Vertical and trench type insulated gate MOS semiconductor device
A vertical and trench type insulated gate MOS semiconductor device is provided in which the surfaces of p-type channel regions and the surfaces of portions of an n-type semiconductor substrate alternate in the longitudinal direction of the trench between the trenches arranged in parallel, and an n+-type emitter region selectively formed on the surface of the p-type channel region is wide by the side of the trench and becomes narrow toward the center point between the trenches. This enables the device to achieve low on-resistance and enhanced turn-off capability. |
| US07737489B2 |
Printed electronic device and transistor device and manufacturing method thereof
An electronic device, e.g., a printed transistor device, comprises a substrate, a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer and a semiconductor layer. The substrate has a first platform and a second platform embossing on the surface thereof, and the first and second platforms are separated by a gap whose width is equivalent to the channel length of the transistor. The first and second conductive layers serving as the source and the drain, respectively, of the transistor device are formed on surfaces of the first and second platforms. The semiconductor layer is formed on the surface of the substrate in the gap. |
| US07737487B2 |
Nonvolatile memories with tunnel dielectric with chlorine
In a nonvolatile memory cell with charge trapping dielectric (150), the tunnel dielectric (140) includes chlorine adjacent to the charge trapping dielectric but no chlorine (or less chlorine) adjacent to the cell's channel region (120). The chlorine adjacent to the charge trapping dielectric serves to improve the programming and/or erase speed. The low chlorine concentration adjacent to the channel region prevents chlorine from degrading the data retention. Other features are also provided. |
| US07737486B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor storage device and method for manufacturing the same
A non-volatile semiconductor storage device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a source region and a drain region formed in the semiconductor substrate so as to be separated from each other; a first insulating film formed between the source region and the drain region, on the semiconductor substrate; a floating electrode formed on the first insulating film and including a semiconductor conductive material layer having extension strain; a second insulating film formed on the floating electrode; and a control electrode formed on the second insulating film. The extension strain of the floating electrode becomes gradually small as the location advances from the second insulating film toward the first insulating film, and the floating electrode has extension strain of 0.01% or more at an interface between the floating electrode and the second insulating film, and has extension strain less than 0.01% at an interface between the floating electrode and the first insulating film. |
| US07737485B2 |
Non-volatile memory cells including fin structures
A method of forming a non-volatile memory device may include forming a fin protruding from a substrate, forming a tunnel insulating layer on portions of the fin, and forming a floating gate on the tunnel insulting layer so that the tunnel insulating layer is between the floating gate and the fin. A dielectric layer may be formed on the floating gate so that the floating gate is between the dielectric layer and the fin, and a control gate electrode may be formed on the dielectric layer so that the dielectric layer is between the control gate and the fin. Related devices are also discussed. |
| US07737481B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device has bit lines, capacitors, bit contacts and capacitor contacts, wherein the bit lines are provided over a semiconductor substrate, the bit lines are connected to the semiconductor substrate through the bit contacts, the capacitors are connected to the semiconductor substrate through the capacitor contacts, and wherein in two adjacent bit lines, pitch d2 (first pitch) representing a pitch of portions provided with the capacitor contacts is larger than pitch d3 (second pitch) representing a pitch of portions provided with the bit contacts, and distance d4 between two such bit lines in the portions provided with the bit contacts is larger than width d5 of the bit lines in the portions provided with the bit contacts. |
| US07737480B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor memory device includes: a transistor formed in a substrate; a capacitor formed above one of source/drain regions of the transistor; a bit line formed above the substrate and extending in the gate length direction of the transistor; a first conductive plug connecting one of the source/drain regions and the capacitor; a second conductive plug connected to the other source/drain region that is not connected to the first conductive plug; and a third conductive plug formed on the second conductive plug and connected to the bit line. The central axis of the third conductive plug is displaced from the central axis of the second conductive plug in the gate width direction of the transistor. |
| US07737478B2 |
Photoelectric conversion device and electronic device provided with the photoelectric conversion device
An output terminal of a photoelectric conversion element included in the photoelectric conversion device is connected to a drain terminal and a gate terminal of a MOS transistor which is diode-connected, and a voltage Vout generated at the gate terminal of the MOS transistor is detected in accordance with a current Ip which is generated at the photoelectric conversion element. The voltage Vout generated at the gate terminal of the MOS transistor can be directly detected, so that the range of output can be widened than a method in which an output voltage is converted into a current by connecting a load resistor, and so on. |
| US07737476B2 |
Metal-semiconductor field effect transistors (MESFETs) having self-aligned structures
Metal-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MESFETS) are provided. A MESFET is provided having a source region, a drain region and a gate. The gate is between the source region and the drain region. A p-type conductivity layer is provided beneath the source region, the p-type conductivity layer being self-aligned to the gate. Related methods of fabricating MESFETs are also provided herein. |
| US07737473B2 |
Integrated circuit device and method for forming the same
In an integrated circuit device, element power supply lines connected to a circuit containing a plurality of cells, element ground lines connected thereto, a trunk power supply line connected to each of the element power supply lines, and a trunk ground line connected to each of the element ground lines are provided in a first wiring layer. A branch power supply line connected to the trunk power supply line and a branch ground line connected to the trunk ground line are provided in an upper wiring layer located above the first wiring layer. A wiring structure is determined based on a wiring structure equation expressing the relations among a voltage drop in the lines, the area occupied thereby, and a current consumed thereby and on a circuit characteristic equation expressing, when the circuit is subdivided while the ratio between the area of the circuit and a current consumed thereby is held constant, the relation between an area occupied by a circuit resulting from subdivision and a current consumed thereby. |
| US07737466B1 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a first area and a second area adjacent to the first area, a first silicon layer provided on the substrate in the first area, a relaxed layer which is provided on the substrate in the second area and which has a lattice constant greater than a lattice constant of the first silicon layer, and a strained-Si layer which is provided on the relaxed layer and which has a lattice constant substantially equivalent to the lattice constant of the relaxed layer. |
| US07737463B2 |
Light emitting diode package with a heat sink support ring and having multiple molding resins, wherein secondary molding resin with higher hardness than primary molding resin and which covers primary molding resin that covers LED die
Disclosed is a light emitting diode (LED) package having multiple molding resins. The LED package includes a pair of lead terminals and a heat sink inserted into a heat sink support ring. At least portions of the pair of lead terminals and the heat sink are embedded in a package main body. The package main body has an opening through which the pair of lead terminals is exposed. An LED die is mounted in the opening and electrically connected to the pair of lead terminals. A first molding resin covers the LED die. A second molding resin with higher hardness than the first molding covers the first molding resin. Therefore, stress to be imposed on the LED die can be reduced and the deformation of the molding resins can be prevented. |
| US07737462B2 |
Light emitting diode and light emitting diode device including the light emitting diode element and method for manufacturing the light emitting diode
A light emitting diode has a base made of heat conductive material, a wire plate made of an insulation material and secured to an upper surface of the base. Conductive patterns are secured to the wire plate, and a light emitting diode element is secured to the base at an exposed mounting area. The light emitting diode element is electrically connected to the conductive patterns. |
| US07737460B2 |
White LED and manufacturing method therefor
A white LED includes an LED chip formed on one main surface of a sapphire substrate, the LED chip being formed in a semiconductor stack structure including a light emitting layer and emitting light of a predetermined wavelength, a light extracting film applied on the other main surface of the substrate, the light extracting film being formed of a material having a refractive index within a range of ±5% of a refractive index of the substrate and a surface of the light extracting film that is located on an opposite side to the substrate being processed into a recess and projection shape, and a phosphor member provided on an opposite side of the substrate with respect to the light extracting film, and generating white light as light is incident thereon. |
| US07737457B2 |
Phosphor down converting element for an LED package and fabrication method
There is provided a phosphor down converting element based on fluoropolymer resin and a method for fabricating the same. There is further provided a method for using said phosphor down converting element to generate white light from a radiation source. The method for fabricating phosphor down converting element includes preparing an appropriate phosphor powder mixture that is capable of absorbing a first band of wavelengths and emitting a second band of wavelengths being greater in length than the first bands, incorporating the phosphor powder mixture into or on a phosphor carrier element comprising a fluoropolymer material, and molding the phosphor down converting elements into useful shapes. Fluoropolymers are the most chemically inert of all plastics, can withstand both extremely high and low temperatures, and show a resistance to weavering and UV degradation, making fluoropolymers optimal for use as a phosphor carrier. |
| US07737455B2 |
Electrode structures for LEDs with increased active area
An electrode structure is disclosed for enhancing the brightness and/or efficiency of an LED. The electrode structure can have a metal electrode and an optically transmissive thick dielectric material formed intermediate the electrode and a light emitting semiconductor material. The electrode and the thick dielectric cooperate to reflect light from the semiconductor material back into the semiconductor so as to enhance the likelihood of the light ultimately being transmitted from the semiconductor material. Such LED can have enhanced utility and can be suitable for uses such as general illumination. The semiconductor material can have a cutout formed therein and a portion of the electrode can be formed outside of the cutout and a portion of the electrode can be formed inside of the cutout. The portion of the electrode outside the cutout can be electrically isolated from the semiconductor material by the dielectric material. |
| US07737449B2 |
Light emitting device and method of manufacturing thereof
The present invention provides a highly stable light emitting device having high light-emitting efficiency (light-extraction efficiency) with high luminance and low power consumption, and a method of manufacturing thereof. A partition wall and a heat-resistant planarizing film are formed of a same material so as to be well-adhered to each other, thereby reducing material costs. Either an anode or a cathode is formed on the heat-resistant planarizing film. The partition wall and the heat-resistant planarizing film is adhered to each other without inserting a film having different refractive index therebetween, and therefore reflection of light is not caused in an interface. |
| US07737443B2 |
Light emitting device and method of manufacturing the same
A light emitting device comprises an anode electrode layer disposed in a first direction, a cathode electrode layer disposed in a second direction different from the first direction, an emitting area with a pixel forming on an area crossed by the anode electrode layer and the cathode electrode layer and a sub-electrode layer disposed outside of the emitting area and electrically connected with at least two the anode electrode layers. |
| US07737442B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device of the present invention has a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, an insulating layer which is formed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer and which has a contact hole, and a third conductive layer which is connected to the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer and of which at least a part of an end portion is formed inside the contact hole. Near a contact hole where the second conductive layer is connected to the third conductive layer, the third conductive layer does not overlap with the second conductive layer with the first insulating layer interposed therebetween and an end portion of the third conductive layer is not formed over the first insulating layer. This allows suppression of depression and projection of the third conductive layer. |
| US07737441B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
By providing appropriate TFT structures arranged in various circuits of the semiconductor device in response to the functions required by the circuits, it is made possible to improve the operating performances and the reliability of a semiconductor device, reduce power consumption as well as realizing reduced manufacturing cost and increase in yield by lessening the number of processing steps. An LDD region of a TFT is formed to have a concentration gradient of an impurity element for controlling conductivity which becomes higher as the distance from a drain region decreases. In order to form such an LDD region having a concentration gradient of an impurity element, the present invention uses a method in which a gate electrode having a taper portion is provided to thereby dope an ionized impurity element for controlling conductivity accelerated in the electric field so that it penetrates through the gate electrode and a gate insulating film into a semiconductor layer. |
| US07737439B2 |
Semiconductor component having test pads and method and apparatus for testing same
A semiconductor component having test pads and a method and apparatus for testing the same is described. In an example, an un-bumped substrate is obtained having a pattern of bond pads configured to support bumped contacts and a plurality of test pads. Each of the plurality of test pads is in electrical communication with a respective one of the bond pads. The substrate is tested using the plurality of test pads. In another example, a substrate is fabricated having a pattern of bond pads configured to support bumped contacts and a plurality of test pads. Each of the plurality of test pads is in electrical communication with a respective one of the bond pads. The substrate is tested using the plurality of test pads. An insulating layer is formed over the plurality of test pads. |
| US07737437B2 |
Light emitting device
A triplet light emitting device which has high efficiency and improved stability and which can be fabricated by a simpler process is provided by simplifying the device structure and avoiding use of an unstable material. In a multilayer device structure using no hole blocking layer conventionally used in a triplet light emitting device, that is, a device structure in which on a substrate, there are formed an anode, a hole transporting layer constituted by a hole transporting material, an electron transporting and light emitting layer constituted by an electron transporting material and a dopant capable of triplet light emission, and a cathode, which are laminated in the stated order, the combination of the hole transporting material and the electron transporting material and the combination of the electron transporting material and the dopant material are optimized. |
| US07737435B2 |
Organic semiconductor composition comprising oligomer compounds, composition for patterning organic semiconductor layer comprising the same, organic semiconductor thin film using the same and organic electronic device employing the thin film
Example embodiments pertain to an organic semiconductor composition, in which low-molecular-weight oligomer compounds are distributed in the spaces of a polymer compound so that the free spaces of the organic semiconductor polymer compound are filled with the low-molecular-weight oligomer compounds upon the formation of an organic semiconductor thin film, thereby increasing π-π stacking effects, and to an organic semiconductor thin film using the same and an organic electronic device employing the thin film. Using the organic semiconductor composition according to example embodiments, a semiconductor thin film and an organic electronic device having improved electrical properties may be manufactured. |
| US07737431B2 |
Group III nitride compound semiconductor light-emitting device
A group III nitride compound semiconductor light-emitting device according to the present invention includes: an active layer (105) comprised of a group III nitride compound semiconductor; a current blocking layer (108) which is formed on the active layer (105) and has a striped aperture (108a); a superlattice layer (p-type layer 109) which buries the aperture (108a) and is comprised of a group III nitride compound semiconductor including Al; and a cladding layer (110) which is formed on the superlattice layer and is comprised of a group III nitride compound semiconductor including Al. When an average Al composition ratio of the superlattice layer is represented as x1 and an average Al composition ratio of the cladding layer (110) is represented as x2, it is represented as x1 |
| US07737421B2 |
Electron beam exposure apparatus and method for cleaning the same
Provided is an electron beam exposure apparatus for forming a desired pattern on a sample mounted on a wafer stage by exposure with an electron beam generated form an electron gun. The electron beam exposure apparatus includes: supplying device of injecting a reducing gas into a column in which the electron gun and the wafer stage are housed; and control unit of performing control so that the injection of the reducing gas into the column is continued for a predetermined period of time. Organic contamination is combined with H generated from the reducing gas by irradiation of an electron beam, and then evaporates. Further included is supplying device of injecting an ozone gas into the column. The control unit may perform control so that the injection of the ozone gas into the column in addition to the injection of the reducing gas is continued for a predetermined period of time. |
| US07737420B2 |
Pixelated modulation of illumination pupil image
The present invention describes a method of conditioning radiation upstream from a reticle including: pixelating the radiation, the pixelating involving partitioning into pixels; modulating a first set of the pixels to configure for openings; modulating a second set of the pixels to outline for specific features of the openings; modulating a third set of the pixels to correct for local non-uniformities; modulating a fourth set of the pixels to compensate for global non-uniformities; and modulating a fifth set of the pixels to establish for gray scale. |
| US07737413B2 |
Corrector for charged-particle beam aberration and charged-particle beam apparatus
In a charged-particle beam apparatus having a high-accuracy and high-resolution focusing optical system for charged-particle beam, a group of coils are arranged along a beam emission axis to extend through the contour of radial planes each radiating from the beam emission axis representing a rotary axis and each having a circular arc which subtends a divisional angle resulting from division of a circumferential plane by a natural number larger than 2 so that a superposed magnetic field may be generated on the incident axis of the charged-particle beam and the trajectory of the charged-particle beam may be controlled by the superposed magnetic field. |
| US07737411B2 |
nBn and pBp infrared detectors with graded barrier layer, graded absorption layer, or chirped strained layer super lattice absorption layer
An nBn detector is described where for some embodiments the barrier layer has a concentration gradient, for some embodiments the absorption layer has a concentration gradient, and for some embodiments the absorption layer is a chirped strained layer super lattice. The use of a graded barrier or absorption layer, or the use of a chirped strained layer super lattice for the absorption layer, allows for design of the energy bands so that the valence band may be aligned across the device. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07737410B2 |
Apparatus and method for detection of radiation
Digital images or the charge from pixels in light sensitive semiconductor based imagers may be used to detect gamma rays and energetic particles emitted by radioactive materials. Methods may be used to identify pixel-scale artifacts introduced into digital images and video images by high energy gamma rays. Statistical tests and other comparisons on the artifacts in the images or pixels may be used to prevent false-positive detection of gamma rays. The sensitivity of the system may be used to detect radiological material at distances in excess of 50 meters. Advanced processing techniques allow for gradient searches to more accurately determine the source's location, while other acts may be used to identify the specific isotope. Coordination of different imagers and network alerts permit the system to separate non-radioactive objects from radioactive objects. |
| US07737406B2 |
Compensating for truncated CT images for use as attenuation maps in emission tomography
A process for obtaining an attenuation map from a truncated transmission scan of an imaged object, by compensating for missing emission data as a result of truncation by using non-truncated emission data of the imaged object to derive “fill-in” emission data. The truncation-compensated emission data then is used to generate an attenuation map for correcting a reconstructed emission image for effects of attenuation. |
| US07737403B2 |
Detector arrangement for electromagnetic radiation and method for measuring electromagnetic radiation
A detector arrangement for electromagnetic radiation has at least an absorbing element and a cantilever sensor which are in operational connection with each other, so that the sensor is bendable in response to electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the absorbing element. The arrangement further includes an interferometer for measuring bending of the cantilever sensor. In a method for measuring electromagnetic radiation, electromagnetic radiation is directed on to the absorbing element and thereby bending of the cantilever sensor is caused. Bending of the cantilever sensor is measured with an interferometer. The cantilever sensor can be a door-like flap made of silicon, attached to one side of a frame of silicon. |
| US07737394B2 |
Ambient infrared detection in solid state sensors
A solid state imaging device includes an array of active pixels and an infrared cut filter formed over the sensor. Optionally, a slot in the infrared cut filter allows infrared illumination to reach the sensor to be detected by pixels covered by a visually opaque filter and surrounded by pixels of special types that limit charge leakage and enable high dynamic range sensing of infrared illumination. A ratio of average infrared signal to average brightness indicates an amount of infrared illumination reaching the imaging device. |
| US07737390B2 |
Horizontal row drivers for CMOS image sensor with tiling on three edges
A large image sensor structure is created by tiling a plurality of image sensor dies, wherein each of the image sensor dies includes a pixel array that extends to three edges of the die, and control circuitry located along a fourth edge of the die. None of the control circuitry required to access the pixel array (e.g., none of the row driver circuitry) is located in the pixel array, thereby enabling consistent spacing of pixels across the pixel array. Because the pixel array of each image sensor die extends to three edges of the die, the pixel array of each image sensor die can abut up to three pixel arrays in other image sensor dies to form a large image sensor structure having 2×N tiled image sensor dies. |
| US07737385B2 |
Selective reflectivity process chamber with customized wavelength response and method
A customizable chamber spectral response is described which can be used at least to tailor chamber performance for wafer heating, wafer cooling, temperature measurement, and stray light. In one aspect, a system is described for processing a treatment object having a given emission spectrum at a treatment object temperature which causes the treatment object to produce a treatment object radiated energy. The chamber responds in a first way to the heating arrangement radiated energy and in a second way to the treatment object radiated energy that is incident thereon. The chamber may respond in the first way by reflecting the majority of the heat source radiated energy and in the second way by absorbing the majority of the treatment object radiated energy. Different portions of the chamber may be treated with selectively reflectivity based on design considerations to achieve objectives with respect to a particular chamber performance parameter. |
| US07737384B2 |
Heating device and sanitary washing device using the same
Linear-type sheathed heaters are arranged substantially in parallel with each other in a case body. Regions near the ends of the outer peripheral surface of each of the sheathed heaters are held by elastic holding members so as to move in the axial direction. A cylindrical space is formed between the outer peripheral surface of each of the sheathed heater and the case body. A space is provided that communicates the cylindrical spaces. |
| US07737370B2 |
Electromagnetic shielding filter
An electromagnetic shielding filter has two transparent boards and a conductive mesh with plural wires, where the conductive mesh is sandwiched between the two transparent boards. The plural wires are formed of a Cu—Sn—In alloy or a Cu—Ag alloy. |
| US07737364B2 |
Flame retardant composition for cable covering material and ocean cable using the same
Disclosed are a flame retardant composition for a cable covering material and an ocean cable using the same. The flame retardant composition of the present invention includes 100 parts by weight of a base resin; 30˜150 parts by weight of a flame retardant; 1-30 parts by weight of a cold resistant plasticizer; 0.5˜10 parts by weight of a silane coupling agent; 0.5-8 parts by weight of a co-crosslinking agent; and 3-20 parts by weight of a crosslinking agent, and the ocean cable using the same. The composition for a cable covering material according to present invention has an excellent oil resistance to oil components without deteriorating mechanical properties, and has a superior durability such as a cold resistance at −40° C. as well as minimally generates toxic gases upon firing and has an excellent flame retardancy. |
| US07737362B2 |
Multi-layer shielded wire
A multilayer shielded wire includes an inner conductor, a first conductor which covers the inner conductor through a first insulating layer, and a second conductor which covers the first conductor through a second insulating layer. A predetermined interlayer distance between the first conductor and the second conductor are set. A conductive portion is provided between the first conductor and the second conductor to electrically connect the first conductor to the second conductor. |
| US07737350B2 |
Universal ligature suitable for many instruments
A mouthpiece assembly includes a tubular member and a ligature for attaching a reed to the tubular member. The ligature is structured to be infinitely adjustable in size as selected by a musician to fit many different sized woodwind mouthpieces. |
| US07737345B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH246180
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH246180. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH246180, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH246180 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH246180. |
| US07737339B1 |
Inbred corn line G07-NPIC3423
Basically, this invention provides for an inbred corn line designated G07-NPIC3423, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line G07-NPIC3423 with plants of another corn plants. The invention relates to the various parts of inbred G07-NPIC3423 including culturable cells. This invention also relates to methods for introducing transgenic transgenes into inbred corn line G07-NPIC3423 and plants produced by said methods. |
| US07737338B1 |
Inbred corn line NPAF4467
Basically, this invention provides for an inbred corn line designated NPAF4467, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line NPAF4467 with plants of another corn plants. The invention relates to the various parts of inbred NPAF4467 including culturable cells. This invention also relates to methods for introducing transgenic transgenes into inbred corn line NPAF4467 and plants produced by said methods. |
| US07737333B2 |
Cotton variety 00H29
The invention relates to the novel cotton variety designated 00H29. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants, plant parts and derivatives of the cotton variety 00H29. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the cotton variety 00H29 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing cotton plants by crossing the cotton variety 00H29 with itself or another cotton variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US07737332B2 |
Cotton variety 05Z855
The invention relates to the novel cotton variety designated 05Z855. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants, plant parts and derivatives of the cotton variety 05Z855. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the cotton variety 05Z855 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing cotton plants by crossing the cotton variety 05Z855 with itself or another cotton variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US07737330B2 |
Plant farnesyltransferases
This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a farnesyltransferase subunit. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the farnesyltransferase subunit, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the farnesyltransferase subunit in a transformed host cell. |
| US07737328B2 |
Transformation and regeneration of Allium plants
The invention relates to a novel transformation method for plants of the genus Allium. Plants transformed by the method are also provided. The method preferably involves an Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation, involving the transformation of immature embryos as the explant source and wherein the method is carried out without passage through the callus phase. |
| US07737324B2 |
Disposable absorbent article having deployable chassis ears
A simple disposable absorbent article including a chassis and an absorbent assembly. The chassis includes laterally opposing side flaps formed by laterally inwardly folded portions of the chassis and deployable chassis ears formed by other laterally inwardly folded portions of the chassis. Each chassis ear is held laterally inwardly folded until being deployed by being released and unfolded laterally outward so as to project laterally outward beyond the adjacent side flap. Fastening elements may be disposed on at least two of the chassis ears, the fastening elements being adapted for fastening the front waist region to the back waist region to encircle a waist and legs of a wearer. The chassis may be extensible. The absorbent assembly may be attached in a cruciform pattern to the chassis to allow portions of the chassis underlying the absorbent assembly and lying outside the cruciform attachment pattern to extend laterally. |
| US07737322B2 |
Personal care products with microchemical sensors for odor detection
Absorbent articles comprising one or more sensors capable of detecting the presence of a body waste in the absorbent article are described. In particular, the absorbent articles comprise at least one chemiresistor capable of detecting the presence of volatile organic compounds associated with a body waste. When a body waste is detected, an indicator means signals a caregiver and/or a user of the absorbent article that an insult has occurred. |
| US07737320B1 |
Composition suitable for decontaminating a porous surface contaminated with cesium
A method of decontaminating porous surfaces contaminated with water soluble radionuclides by contacting the contaminated porous surfaces with an ionic solution capable of solubilizing radionuclides present in the porous surfaces followed by contacting the solubilized radionuclides with a gel containing a radionuclide chelator to bind the radionuclides to the gel, and physically removing the gel from the porous surfaces. A dry mix is also disclosed of a cross-linked ionic polymer salt, a linear ionic polymer salt, a radionuclide chelator, and a gel formation controller present in the range of from 0% to about 40% by weight of the dry mix, wherein the ionic polymer salts are granular and the non cross-linked ionic polymer salt is present as a minor constituent. |
| US07737319B2 |
Treating radioactive materials
Methods of treating radioactive materials are disclosed. In one aspect, a method may include mixing a radioactive isotope diluted in a filler material with a radioactive material treatment composition to form a resulting material. The radioactive material treatment composition may include mostly salt, and from 0.5 to 15 wt % sorbent. The method may further include mixing the resulting material with one or more inorganic binding agents. Other methods of treating radioactive materials are also disclosed, as well as compositions for treating radioactive materials. |
| US07737316B2 |
Method of flocculation and formulation of crystalline materials
A method for determining an amount of flocculant effective to recover a molecular sieve crystalline product that comprises the steps of (a) preparing a molecular sieve crystalline product mixture; (b) separating the molecular sieve crystalline product mixture into a plurality of samples; (c) mixing at least two of the plurality of samples with a quantity of flocculant to produce a plurality of flocculated samples, wherein at least two of the plurality of flocculated samples have a different ratio of flocculant to molecular sieve crystalline product mixture; (d) measuring the viscosity or zeta potential of at least two of the plurality of flocculated samples having a different ratio of flocculant to molecular sieve crystalline product mixture; (e) establishing a relationship between the quantity of flocculant and the viscosity or zeta potential measurements; and (f) determining from the relationship the amount of flocculant effective to recover the molecular sieve crystalline product. |
| US07737315B2 |
Oligomerization of isobutene-containing feedstocks
The invention relates to the use of isobutene-containing olefin feedstock in oligomerization reactions, particularly in the production of octenes as feedstock for the manufacture of plasticizer alcohols, the process comprising contacting a feed comprising isobutene with a molecular sieve at a temperature in excess of 240° C. to produce a product low in triple-branched octenes. |
| US07737314B2 |
Production of high purity ethylbenzene from non-extracted feed and non-extracted reformate useful therein
A process for producing an ethylbenzene product having a purity of at least 99.50 percent based on the weight of ethylbenzene present in the product by the ethylation of the benzene present in non-extracted feed, e.g., non-extracted hydrocarbon composition. The non-extracted feed is substantially free of both C4− hydrocarbons and the C7+ aromatic hydrocarbons and contains benzene and benzene coboilers. The process is carried out in the liquid phase, in the presence of an acid-active catalyst containing MCM-22 family molecular sieve, and under specified conditions. |
| US07737313B2 |
Catalyst composition, the method of manufacturing, and the process of using thereof in hydrocarbon conversions
A catalyst composition comprises (a) a MCM-22 family molecular sieve; and (b) a binder, wherein the MCM-22 family molecular sieve is characterized by an average crystal agglomerate size of less than or equal to 16 microns. The catalyst composition may further have a second molecular sieve having a Constraint Index of less than 12, e.g., less than 2. Examples of molecular sieve useful for this disclosure are a MCM-22 family molecular sieve, zeolite Y, and zeolite Beta. The catalyst composition may be used for the process of alkylation or transalkylation of an alkylatable aromatic compound with an alkylating agent. |
| US07737310B2 |
Method for producing biphenols from monophenols
A process for preparing biphenols of the general formula I by reaction of monophenols of the general formula II where the radicals R1, R2 and R3 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, alkyl, aryl or arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, in the presence of an oxidant in a reactor, wherein a) the reactor comprises no stationary internals which act as baffles, b) a total of not more than 0.6 mol of oxidant is used per one mol of monophenol, and c) the oxidant is introduced either continuously or discontinuously in a plurality of portions over a period of from 10 minutes to 24 hours, with the amount of oxidant introduced per unit time not being constant over the total period of time but instead being varied. |
| US07737307B2 |
Fluorinated nonionic surfactants
A compound comprising Formula I, or a mixture thereof, Rf—OCFHCF2O—[CH2CH2O]x—[C3H7O]y-A Formula I wherein Rf is CnF2n+1, n is 1 to about 6, x is a mixture of positive integers and is 4 or greater, y is 0 to about 4, provided that the ratio of y to x is equal to or less than 0.25, A is RfOCHFCF2 or CmH2m+1, and m is 1 to about 24 and its use in lowering surface tension and imparting improved surface effects is disclosed. |
| US07737306B2 |
Synthetic navel orangeworm pheromone composition and methods relating to production of same
One or more embodiments of the invention are directed to the synthetic methods for making lepidopteran pheromones including navel orangeworm pheromones. The synthetic methods involve novel, efficient, and environmentally benign steps and procedures. |
| US07737305B2 |
Sulfonic acid polyol compound, polyurethane resin, polyurethane resin for magnetic recording medium, and magnetic recording medium
A compound represented by the Formula (1) below is provided: wherein X denotes a divalent linking group, R1 and R2 independently denote an alkyl group having 3 or more carbons and having at least one hydroxy group or an aralkyl group having 8 or more carbons and having at least one hydroxy group, the alkyl group and aralkyl group may have a substituent, and M denotes a hydrogen atom or a cation. There is also provided a polyurethane resin obtained by polymerization of a polyisocyanate and a polyol that includes the compound. There is also provided a magnetic recording medium that includes a non-magnetic support and, above the support, at least one magnetic layer including a ferromagnetic powder dispersed in a binder that includes the polyurethane resin. There is also provided a magnetic recording medium that includes a non-magnetic support, above the support at least one non-magnetic layer including a non-magnetic powder dispersed in a binder (1), and, above the non-magnetic layer, at least one magnetic layer having a ferromagnetic powder dispersed in a binder (2), in which binder (1) and/or binder (2) is the polyurethane resin. |
| US07737302B2 |
Process for preparing bupropion hydrochloride
This invention described a synthesis method of bupropion hydrochloride. m-chloropropiophenone was brominated directly with bromine, then aminated with t-butylamine and finally reacted with HCl to obtain crude product of bupropion hydrochloride. Pure product was obtained after recrystallization. This method is convenient and suitable for commercial manufacturing because of low cost of production, high yield, less byproducts and being environmental friendly. |
| US07737300B2 |
Processes and intermediates preparing cysteine protease inhibitors
The present invention is directed to a process for preparing certain cysteine protease inhibitors. |
| US07737294B2 |
Process of hydrocyanation of unsaturated carboxylic acid derivatives
The present invention is directed to compositions of specific carboxylic acid, fatty acid or oil derivatives containing nitrile groups and methods of their preparation. The preparation involves a hydrocyanation reaction. A method of hydrgenating the nitrile containing carboxylic acid acids obtained by above hydrocyanation to produce amine containing carbixylic acids is also disclosed in this invention. |
| US07737292B2 |
Process for the preparation of organopolysiloxanes
A continuous process for the preparation of organopolysiloxanes involves, in a first step, reacting chlorosilanes with from 0.01 to 0.7 mol of water per mole of hydrolyzable chlorine and with from 0.2 to 1.7 mol of alcohol per mole of hydrolyzable chlorine, the molar ratio of water to alcohol being from 0.005 to 3.5; in a second step, the reaction mixture obtained in the first step is optionally mixed continuously with a water-insoluble organic solvent having a density of less than 0.9 kg/l, and water is metered in continuously in amounts of from 0.2 to 100 mol of water per mole of silicon component; and in a third step, the aqueous alcoholic phase is separated off. |
| US07737286B2 |
α-Hydroxy-benzeneacetic acid derivatives, and compounds having two 5-membered latone rings fused to central cyclohexa-1,4-diene nucleus based upon the same, and uses of the compounds
The present invention provides α-hydroxy benzeneacetic acid derivatives of the formula as defined in the specification which is a precursor indispensable for synthesis of compounds having two 5-membered lactone rings fused to central cyclohexa-1,4-diene nucleus, and a process of easily preparing the same. According to the preparation process of the present invention, the α-hydroxy benzeneacetic acid derivative can be readily prepared at high purity and yield without using toxic materials or producing toxic by-products. Some novel compounds, synthesized by using such a α-hydroxy benzeneacetic acid derivative, have excellent fastness properties, dye fixing rate and leveling property to general synthetic fiber materials such as polyester fibers and their blends with other fibers, especially to micro fibers, and also can be used as a coloring agent for plastic resins, color tonors, color filters, etc. |
| US07737283B2 |
Anti-inflammatory medicaments
Novel compounds and methods of using those compounds for the treatment of inflammatory conditions are provided. In a preferred embodiment, modulation of the activation state of p38 kinase protein comprises the step of contacting the kinase protein with the novel compounds. |
| US07737279B2 |
1,6-dihydro-1,3,5,6-tetraaza-as-indacene based tricyclic compounds and pharmaceutical compositions comprising same
The present invention provides for tricyclic compounds having the formula (I), wherein R1, R2, R5, R6, R7, and R8 are as described herein. The present invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, as well as the use of such compounds for treating inflammatory and immune diseases. |
| US07737276B2 |
Method for producing highly purified, tris-and bis-ortho-metallated organometallic compounds
The present invention relates to a process for preparing highly pure tris-ortho-metalated organometallic compounds and to pure organometallic compounds of this type, especially compounds of the d8 metals, which may find use as coloring components in the near future as active components (=functional materials) in a series of different types of applications which can be classified within the electronics industry in the widest sense. |
| US07737271B2 |
Inkjet ink comprising metal-cyanine dye with improved water-solubility
An inkjet ink comprising an IR-absorbing dye. The dye is a metal-cyanine complex of formula (I): wherein Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 are the same or different and are independently selected from a C3-20 arylene group or a C3-20 heteroarylene group; M is selected from Ti(A1)(A2), Zr(A1)(A2), V(A1)(A2), Si(A1)(A2), Ge(A1)(A2), Ga(A1), Al(A1), Mn(A1), Fe(A1), Sn(A1)(A2), or Pb(A1)(A2); and A1 and A2 may be the same or different and are axial ligands of formula (IIIa) wherein: C1 represents a core unit having two or more branching positions; each P1 is independently selected from H, a hydrophilic moiety or a branched moiety; g1 is an integer from 2 to 8; q1 is 0 or an integer from 1 to 6; and each p1 is independently selected from 0 or an integer from 1 to 6. |
| US07737267B2 |
siRNA targeting hypoxia-inducible factor 1
Efficient sequence specific gene silencing is possible through the use of siRNA technology. By selecting particular siRNAs by rational design, one can maximize the generation of an effective gene silencing reagent, as well as methods for silencing genes. Methods, compositions, and kits generated through rational design of siRNAs are disclosed. |
| US07737264B2 |
Oligomeric compounds for the modulation HIF-1α expression
Oligonucleotides directed against the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) gene are provided for modulating the expression of HIF-1α. The compositions comprise oligonucleotides, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acids encoding the HIF-1α. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of HIF-1α expression and for the treatment of diseases associated with the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α are provided. Examples of diseases are cancer and pre-eclampsia. The oligonucleotides may be composed of deoxyribonucleosides, a nucleic acid analogue, or Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) or a combination thereof. |
| US07737260B2 |
Protein complex using an immunoglobulin fragment and method for the preparation thereof
Disclosed are a protein conjugate with improved in vivo duration and stability and the use thereof. The protein conjugate includes a physiologically active polypeptide, a non-peptide polymer and an immunoglobulin Fc fragment. Since the three components are covalently linked, the protein conjugate has extended in vivo duration and enhanced stability for the physiologically active polypeptide. The protein conjugate maintains the in vivo activity at relatively high levels and remarkably increases the serum half-life for the physiologically active polypeptide, with less risk of inducing undesirable immune responses. Thus, the protein conjugate is useful for developing long-acting formulations of various polypeptide drugs. |
| US07737252B2 |
Peptide-based compounds
This invention relates to new peptide-based compounds and their use in therapeutically effective treatments as well as for diagnostic imaging techniques. More specifically the invention relates to the use of such peptide-based compounds used as targeting vectors that bind to receptors associated with angiogenesis, in particular the αvβ3 integrin receptor. Such contrast agents may thus be used for diagnosis of for example malignant diseases, heart diseases, inflammation-related diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and Kaposi's sarcoma. Moreover such compounds may also be used in therapeutic treatment of these diseases. |
| US07737249B2 |
Devolatilization of anhydride polymers
The present invention relates to the formation of low volatile anhydride-containing aromatic vinyl polymers by polymerizing the half ester of the anhydride with a vinyl aromatic monomer followed by devolatilizing the half-ester and reforming the anhydride at elevated temperatures and reduced pressures. |
| US07737242B2 |
Crosslinkable siloxane urea copolymers
Crosslinkable polymers containing organopolysiloxane, polyurea, and/or polyurethane moieties further contain at least one photopolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated group and a photoinitiator which allows crosslinking upon exposure to radiation. |
| US07737236B2 |
Polymers based on fluoranthene and their use
Polymers comprising repeating units of the formula I where the variables are defined as follows: a is an integer from 0 to 3, R1, R2, R3 are identical or different and are selected independently from among hydrogen, C1-C20-alkyl, C1-C20-alkyl containing one or more Si, N, P, O or S atoms, C6-C30-aryl, preferably C6-C14-aryl, C4-C14-heteroaryl, —N(C6-C14-aryl)2, and Y1, where Y1 may be identical or different and are selected from among —CH═CH2, trans- or cis-CH═CH—C6H5, acryloyl, methacryloyl, methylstyryl, O—CH═CH2 and glycidyl, where Y2 is selected from among —CH═CH2, trans- or cis-CH═CH—C6H5, acryloyl, methacryloyl, methylstyryl, —O—CH═CH2 and glycidyl, and one or more groups Y1 or Y2 may be crosslinked to one another. |
| US07737235B2 |
Vinyl monomer and polymer derived from the monomer, and light emitting device using the polymer
It is an object of the present invention to provide a polymer that is soluble in an organic solvent with a low polarity and has a high hole injecting property without adding a dopant for enhancing a hole injecting property. For that object, the present invention provides a vinyl monomer represented by the following general formula (1). In the formula, X represents any one of an oxygen atom (O) and a sulfur atom (S). Y represents any one of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, aryl group, a silyl group having an alkyl group or an aryl group as a substituent. |
| US07737230B2 |
NMR method of determining and regulating the composition of polymer mixtures in polymerization
Method of determining the composition of polymer mixtures comprising defined polymer components of differing mean molar masses Mn, which comprises the steps (a) recording of at least one 1H-NMR relaxation curve of the polymer mixture and (b) calculating the proportions of the polymer components by matching the measured relaxation curve with the relaxation curves of the individual polymer components. In this way, the composition of polymer mixtures can be determined quickly and simply. Furthermore, process integration for regulating the polymerization is possible. |
| US07737228B2 |
Metallized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes as catalysts for polyurethanes
A method of using metallized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes as cure promoters and catalysts for polyurethanes. |
| US07737225B1 |
High performance elastomeric compound
An elastomer composition includes a polymer system made up of a majority of HNBR polymer and an optional polymer additive such as carboxylated nitrile, ethylene-propylene-diene rubber, isoprene rubber, chloroprene rubber, acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, isoprene rubber, natural rubber and hydrogenated carboxylated butadiene acrylonitrile terpolymer, and combinations thereof. The polymer system totals 100 parts by weight. A cure system for the elastomer composition includes 1.5 to 30 parts by weight of zinc, magnesium or calcium oxide, 15 to 50 parts by weight of an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and an organoperoxide. Under vulcanization conditions, the elastomer composition cures through the in situ formation of a metal carboxylate. A degradation inhibitor for an elastomer composition that includes an amine and an imidazole along with an optional polymerized quinoline is noted to be particularly effective. |
| US07737224B2 |
Sulfonated block copolymers, method for making same, and various uses for such block copolymers
The present invention is a, solid block copolymer comprising at least two polymer end blocks A and at least one polymer interior block B wherein each A block is a polymer block resistant to sulfonation and each B block is a polymer block susceptible to sulfonation, and wherein said A and B blocks do not contain any significant levels of olefinic unsaturation. Preferably, each A block comprising one or more segments selected from polymerized (i) para-substituted styrene monomers, (ii) ethylene, (iii) alpha olefins of 3 to 18 carbon atoms; (iv) hydrogenated 1,3-cyclodiene monomers, (v) hydrogenated monomers of conjugated dienes having a vinyl content less than 35 mol percent prior to hydrogenation, (vi) acrylic esters, (vii) methacrylic esters, and (viii) mixtures thereof; and each B block comprising segments of one or more polymerized vinyl aromatic monomers selected from (i) unsubstituted styrene monomers, (ii) ortho-substituted styrene monomers, (iii) meta-substituted styrene monomers, (iv) alpha-methylstyrene, (v) 1,1-diphenylethylene, (vi) 1,2-diphenylethylene and (vii) mixtures thereof. Also claimed are processes for making such block copolymers, and the various end uses and applications for such block copolymers. |
| US07737221B2 |
Polymer composition
Thermoplastic elastomer composition, comprising an thermoplastic polyolefin and an dynamically vulcanized elastomer comprising monomer units of ethylene, an α-olefin and optionally one or more non-conjugated polyenes and oil, having an oil/elastomer ratio of at least 2/1, having a content of thermoplastic polyolefin of less than 10 wt. % relative to the total weight of the thermoplastic elastomer composition, granulate of the composition having the capability of flowing out of a cylinder, held in vertical position, within 120 seconds, after being kept in that cylinder under a pressure of 465 kg/m2, at a temperature of 50° C., for a period of 1 hour, that cylinder having an internal diameter of 95.3 millimeter (mm) and a length of 356 mm and being filled for a length of between 326 and 338 mm. |
| US07737219B2 |
Pressure sensitive adhesive composition for electro-magnetic shielding film and electro-magnetic shielding filter using the same
The present invention relates to an adhesive composition for an electro-magnetic shielding film and an electro-magnetic shielding filter using the same, and more particularly to an adhesive composition for an electromagnetic shielding film comprising: a) an acrylic copolymer of i) (meth)acrylate ester monomers having C1, to C12 alkyl groups and ii) vinylic monomers having hydroxyl groups; and b) a multifunctional isocyanate crosslinking agent. The electro-magnetic shielding filter of the present invention offers good durability because transparentization is performed with an acrylic adhesive composition having no acidic groups, and thus oxidation of copper is prevented. |
| US07737217B2 |
Method of making cemented carbide or cermet agglomerated powder mixtures
The present invention relates to a method of making a ready-to-press agglomerated powder mixture by wet milling a powder mixture containing binder and spray drying said slurry to an agglomerated powder useful for making cutting tools for metal machining, tools for rock drilling and wear parts. If the binder is a baroplastic polymer having a pressure induced transformation from hard to soft well developed agglomerates with good flow properties and good plasticity are obtained. The hard property of the binder is used at normal pressures, during handling of the spray-dried powder and in the green body, whereas the softer properties are used at higher pressures during the pressing of the material when the pressure exceeds from about 10 to about 50 MPa. |
| US07737216B2 |
Monovinylarene conjugated diene block copolymer compositions for shrinkable films
The present invention relates generally to monovinylarene-conjugated diene block copolymers adapted for shrinkable film applications. In one embodiment, a block copolymer is provided wherein an oriented 2 mil film of the block copolymer oriented at 100° C. or less exhibits less than 10% shrinkage at 70° C., and at least 70% shrinkage at 100° C. |
| US07737214B2 |
Adhesion preventive material
An adhesion preventive material including a cross-linking polysaccharide derivative containing at least one active ester group introduced in a polysaccharide side chain, which is capable of reacting with an active hydrogen-containing group, and being capable of forming a crosslinked material due to covalent binding among the active ester group and an active hydrogen-containing group upon contact with water under an alkaline condition, is disclosed. The adhesion preventive material is able to reduce preparation works to be carried out while previously estimating the time of application and does not require a special device. |
| US07737213B2 |
Resin composition for water paint, water paint, and production method for resin composition for water paint
A resin composition for water paint, wherein the resin composition includes water and a vinyl-modified epoxy ester resin (A) which includes a fatty acid chain to which a vinyl polymer portion is combined, and the vinyl polymer portion comprises a structure which includes a carboxyl group at the terminal end represented by the general formula (I), and part of or all of the structure represented by general formula (I) is neutralized with a basic compound. (in the formula, n represents a number of 1 to 10, and R1 represents an alkylene group having 2 to 18 carbon atoms). |
| US07737211B2 |
Method for forming nanocomposite materials
A method for forming a nanocomposite material includes introducing a nanofiller material having polar end groups into an extruder having a polymeric material therein. An unsaturated shielding material is introduced into the extruder. The unsaturated shielding material reacts with the polar end groups, thereby forming a shielded nanofiller material. The shielded nanofiller material is grafted to the polymeric material, thereby forming the nanocomposite material. The nanofiller material therein is substantially exfoliated, and the nanocomposite material exhibits enhanced physical properties. |
| US07737209B2 |
Rubber composition and tire using same
The present invention provides a rubber composition with superior properties with respect to processability, low fuel consumption, complex modulus, and durability, and tires prepared by using the rubber composition. The rubber composition of the present invention comprises: 2 to 2.9 parts by weight of (B) sulfur, 0.6 to 10 parts by weight of (C) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a cresol resin, a resorcin condensate, and a modified resorcin condensate, and 10 to 55 parts by weight of (D) a carbon black and/or silica, based on 100 parts by weight of (A) a rubber component comprising a natural rubber and/or isoprene rubber and at least two kinds of synthetic rubbers selected from the group consisting of butadiene rubber, modified butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, and modified styrene-butadiene rubber. The tire of the present invention is prepared by using the rubber composition. |
| US07737208B2 |
Water base resin composition, process for producing the same, paint, ink, adhesive, sealant and primer
An aqueous resin composition obtained by dissolving 100 parts by mass of acid-modified polyolefin and 5 to 60 parts by mass of surfactant in 15 to 1900 parts by mass of polymerizable monomer, adding water in the presence of basic compound to perform phase inversion emulsification, and polymerizing the monomer; an aqueous resin composition obtained by dissolving 100 parts by mass of acid-modified polyolefin and 5 to 60 parts by mass of surfactant in a first polymerizable monomer, adding water in the presence of basic compound to perform phase inversion emulsification, polymerizing the first monomer to form a resin composition, adding and polymerizing a second polymerizable monomer to the resin composition; the monomers being used in a total amount of 15 to 1900 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the acid-modified polyolefin; and paints, inks, adhesives, sealants and primers containing such composition as an active ingredient. |
| US07737206B2 |
Polyolefin composition with high filler loading capacity
Disclosed are highly filled thermoplastic olefin compositions and, in particular, thermoplastic olefin compositions that comprise propylene/alpha-olefin copolymers and a high level of organic or inorganic filler. Specifically, the description addresses a filled polymer composition comprising: (a) a first polymer component comprising propylene copolymer having a heat of fusion |
| US07737205B2 |
Thermoplastic vulcanizates and process to prepare them
Highly oil-filled ethylene/alpha-olefin/diene (EAODM) polymers in a free flowing powder or pellet form, processes for preparing these polymers, and the use of these polymers to prepare thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV) are provided. Thermoplastic vulcanizate premixes can be prepared with the EAODM polymers and thermoplastic polymers, the premixes being easily converted into TPVs. |
| US07737201B2 |
Moulded mass for producing objects that are poorly inflammable, pigment therefor, and use of the same
A molding material for the production of highly flame resistant articles with a matrix formed from a thermoplastic and with a particulate flame retardant pigment dispersed therein, wherein under the influence of laser light the material changes color due to a change in color of the pigment or of the plastic matrix, and in that the pigment is a reaction product of at least one halogen-free flame retardant organic nitrogen base with a composition comprising at least one salt which can be reacted with the organic nitrogen base. The invention also includes a method for the preparation of a molding material as described above by the dispersion of a particulate flame retardant pigment to a plastic material, wherein under the influence of laser light the material changes color due to a change in color of the pigment or of the plastic matrix, and in that the pigment is a reaction product of at least one halogen-free flame retardant organic nitrogen base with a composition comprising at least one salt which can be reacted with the organic nitrogen base. The invention also includes a highly flame resistant and laser-writable plastic article comprising a formed material as described above. |
| US07737195B2 |
Anti-graffiti coating
A non-sacrificial, penetrating, anti-graffiti coating consisting essentially of the combination of alkali metal silicate, such as for example potassium, lithium or sodium silicate, deionized water, ethylene-glycol colloidal silica, aminopropyl oxysilane, fluorinated polyurethane, and alkali metal methyl siliconate, such as for example potassium, lithium or sodium siliconate. |
| US07737192B2 |
Process for producing flexible polyurethane foam
A flexible polyurethane foam is produced by blending a polyurethane raw material containing a polyol, a polyisocyanate, a blowing agent, and a catalyst with an inorganic compound hydrate having a specific gravity of 1.5 to 4.0 and reacting the above polyurethane raw material to effect foaming and curing. The inorganic compound hydrate is preferably an iron sulfate hydrate, a calcium sulfate hydrate, or a magnesium sulfate hydrate. The above inorganic compound hydrate preferably has decomposition temperature of from 100 to 170° C. Then, an increase in exothermic temperature owing to the above foaming and curing is diminished by evaporation of water formed through decomposition of the above inorganic compound hydrate. |
| US07737183B2 |
β-amyloid and neurofibrillary tangle imaging agents
Compounds, compositions and methods are contemplated in which senile plaques and/or neurofibrillary tangles are labeled using compounds with improved permeability across the blood brain barrier and improved selective binding to senile plaques and/or neurofibrillary tangles. Contemplated compounds are derivatives of FDDNP or curcumin, which most preferably have improved solubility in aqueous solvents. Labeling is typically performed using a PET detectable label, and especially 11C and 18F. |
| US07737182B2 |
Pharmaceuticals for xerosis
A method for or treating xerosis by applying a prostaglandin D receptor selective agonist to a mammal. |
| US07737181B2 |
Pharmaceutical compositions comprising 0.3% by weight of 6-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-methoxyphenyl]-2-naphthoic acid for the treatment of dermatological disorders
Dermatological disorders having an inflammatory or proliferative component, notably common acne, are treated with topically applicable pharmaceutical compositions containing about 0.3% by weight of 6-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-methoxyphenyl]-2-naphthanoic acid (adapalene) or salt thereof, formulated into pharmaceutically acceptable media therefor, advantageously formulated into topically applicable gels, preferably aqueous gels, creams, lotions or solutions. |
| US07737177B2 |
Processes for preparing crystalline and amorphous mupirocin calcium
Processes are provided for preparing mupirocin calcium dihydrate from pseudomonic acid in a two phase system by using an organic carboxylate. A highly pure composition of amorphous mupirocin calcium is provided, and processes for its preparation by solvent removal, lyophilization and precipitation with use of an anti-solvent. Pharmaceutical compositions of amorphous form, and methods of using them to treat infections are also provided. Also provided are combined processes for preparing mupirocin calcium dihydrate and amorphous, by producing amorphous form first, followed by conversion of amorphous form into the dihydrate through crystallization from an aqueous solution. Also provided are processes for removing the water of crystallization of the dihydrate to obtain mupirocin calcium anhydrate. |
| US07737174B2 |
Indole inhibitors of MDM2 and the uses thereof
The invention relates to small molecules which function as inhibitors of the interaction between p53 and MDM2. The invention also relates to the use of these compounds for inhibiting cell growth, inducing cell death, inducing cell cycle arrest and/or sensitizing cells to additional agent(s). |
| US07737171B2 |
Uses of 2-(1H-indolylsulfanyl)-benzyl amine derivatives as SSRIS
The present invention relates to uses of 2-(1H-indolylsulfanyl)-benzyl amine derivatives of general formula (I): in the treatment of affective disorders. |
| US07737168B2 |
Compounds, compositions, and methods for treatment and prevention of orthopoxvirus infections and associated diseases
Methods of using di, tri, and tetracyclic acylhydrazide derivatives and analogs, as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing the same, for the treatment or prophylaxis of viral infections and diseases associated therewith, particularly those viral infections and associated diseases cased by the orthopoxvirus. |
| US07737166B2 |
Antifungal bicyclic hetero ring compounds
A 1,6-β-glucan synthetase inhibitor is provided, having potent growth inhibition and having excellent safety. A compound is provided, capable of expressing in a wide spectral range and specifically or selectively, an antifungal effect based on its functional mechanism of 1,6-β-glucan synthesis inhibition. Also provided is a drug, a salt or hydrate thereof, especially an antifungal that contains the compound. Concretely, provided is a compound of the following formula (I), its salt or hydrate, and a drug or antifungal containing, as the active ingredient, the compound, its salt or hydrate: |
| US07737159B2 |
Antibacterial compounds
Bacterial protein synthesis-inhibiting compounds having formula (I) and salts, prodrugs, and salts of prodrugs thereof, processes for making the compounds and intermediates in the processes, compositions containing the compounds, and methods of using the compounds are disclosed. |
| US07737158B2 |
Processes for regulating blood glucose in a mammal
The present invention relates to processes for regulating the blood glucose concentration of a mammal. |
| US07737157B2 |
Pyrimidine compounds
Pyrimidine compounds of the following formula: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, X, Q1, Q2, and Q3 are defined herein. Also disclosed is a method of treating cancer with one of these compounds. |
| US07737150B2 |
Furo[3, 2-b] pyrrol derivatives
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein: R3 is tert-butylmethyl, sec-butyl or tert-butyl; X is CH or N; and R4 is optionally substituted C1-8 alkyl or optionally substituted C3-8 cycloalkyl. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of formula (I), and the use of such compounds in the treatment of a disease selected from osteoporosis, Paget's disease, Chagas's disease, malaria, gingival diseases, hypercalaemia, metabolic bone disease, diseases involving matrix or cartilage degradation, and bone cancer disorders such as bone metastases and associated pain. |
| US07737142B2 |
(Thio) carbamoyl-cyclohexane derivatives as D3/D2 receptor antagonists
The present invention relates to new D3 and D2 dopamine receptor subtype preferring ligands of formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 represent independently a substituent selected from hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, aroyl, or R1 and R2 may form a heterocyclic ring with the adjacent nitrogen atom; X represents an oxygen or sulphur atom; n is an integer of from 1 to 2, and/or geometric isomers and/or stereoisomers and/or diastereomers and/or salts and/or hydrates and/or solvates thereof, to the processes for producing the same, to pharmaceutical compositions containing the same and to their use in therapy and/or prevention of a condition which requires modulation of dopamine receptors. |
| US07737137B2 |
Inhibitors of the 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase Type 1 enzyme
Methods for treating a mammal suffering from glucocorticoid-related diseases and conditions, comprising administering to the mammal an effective amount of a selective inhibitor of 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase Type 1 enzyme activity, wherein the inhibitor is a compound of formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug, salt of a prodrug, or a combination thereof. Methods of inhibiting 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase Type 1 enzyme. Methods of treating neuronal degeneration, dysfunction, acute psychosis, anxiety, dementia, depression, non-insulin dependent type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity, lipid disorders, metabolic syndrome and other diseases and conditions that are mediated by excessive glucocorticoid action. |
| US07737133B2 |
Formulations and methods of treating inflammatory bowel disease
Methods and formulations for treating inflammatory bowel disease are disclosed. The methods and formulations include, but are not limited to, methods and formulations for delivering effective concentrations of 4-aminosalicylic acid and/or 5-aminosalicylic acid to affected areas of the intestine. The methods and formulations comprise modified-release elements, providing for drug delivery to the affected or desired area. Diseases and conditions treatable with the present invention include Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. |
| US07737117B2 |
Bacillus thuringiensis crystal polypeptides, polynucleotides, and compositions thereof
The present invention provides insecticidal polypeptides related to Bacillus Cry2 polypeptides. Nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides of the invention are also provided. Methods for using the polypeptides and nucleic acids of the invention to enhance resistance of plants to insect predation are encompassed. |
| US07737115B2 |
HGF beta chain variants
The invention provides HGF/Met modulators comprising HGF having mutations in regions that affect HGF function, and antagonists that target said regions. The invention further provides methods of identifying, making and using these modulators. |
| US07737103B2 |
Multicomponent thin-to-thick system
The invention relates to an aqueous multicomponent system comprising a hydrophobe modified polymer which forms a high-viscosity liquid during mixing and to the use of said multicomponent system, in particular, in the form of a cosmetic component or a washing and/or rinsing and/or cleaning agent. |
| US07737102B2 |
Ionic liquids derived from functionalized anionic surfactants
A novel class of ionic liquids and methods for their preparation are disclosed. Specifically, these novel ionic liquids can be derived from anionic surfactants, such as alkyl aryl sulfonates, and mid-chain branched derivatives of alkyl sulfates, alkyl alkoxy sulfates, and alkyl aryl sulfonates. In addition, novel ionic liquids can be derived from other anionic surfactants, such as methyl ester sulfonates (MES), alkyl glycerol ether sulfonates, and alpha olefin sulfonates. Anions may be paired with a variety of cations to achieve various advantageous properties. The present invention also relates to compositions containing these novel ionic liquids and method of using the same. |
| US07737101B2 |
Method of cleaning and disinfecting beverage dispensing systems
A detergent and disinfectant in which water-soluble permanganates are used in an alkaline solution in order to initiate the oxidation of organic substances and simultaneously a chemical oxidant, preferably a peroxodisulfate, is used which is capable of producing radical reactions with catalytic support by manganates originating from the supplied permanganate, which reactions produce the oxidation of organic substances. All components are present in powder form and a respective powder mixture can be dissolved rapidly and free from residues in water. It thus represents a universally applicable, highly effective detergent and disinfectant. |
| US07737099B2 |
Compositions and methods for preventing and treating corrosion of metal surfaces
Environmentally safe, cost effective, VOC-free compositions and methods for the prevention and treatment of corrosive processes in and on metal such as rust, flash rust and scale in a wide variety of industry sectors is provided. Compositions particularly well suited for preventing and treating flash rust may include an organic acid or salt thereof, a natural gum and/or wax and/or wax extract, and water. Such compositions do not substantially affect the adhesive quality of coatings subsequently applied to the metal surface and provide excellent solvent and spray resistance. |
| US07737098B2 |
Method for dissolving oil at low temperature
The present invention relates to the field of solvents. It relates more particularly to a process for the dissolution of oil at low temperature. Another subject matter of the invention is a novel composition based on 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane (HFC-365mfc) and on 1,1,1,2,3,4,4,5,5,5-decafluoropentane (HFC-43-10mee). |
| US07737097B2 |
Method for removing contamination from a substrate and for making a cleaning solution
A method is provided for removing contamination from a substrate. The method includes applying a cleaning solution having a dispersed phase, a continuous phase and particles dispersed within the continuous phase to a surface of the substrate. The method includes forcing one of the particles dispersed within the continuous phase proximate to one of the surface contaminants. The forcing is sufficient to overcome any repulsive forces between the particles and the surface contaminants so that the one of the particles and the one of the surface contaminants are engaged. The method also includes removing the engaged particle and surface contaminant from the surface of the substrate. A process to manufacture the cleaning material is also provided. |
| US07737095B2 |
Hydrodynamic bearing device, and spindle motor and information device using the same
A hydrodynamic bearing device comprises at least one of a rotating component and a fixed component having a dynamic pressure-generating mechanism, and a lubricant present in a gap between the rotating component and the fixed component; wherein the lubricant contains at least one compound selected from the group consisting of aliphatic ethers having one or more ether bonds and a total carbon number of 24 to 39. |
| US07737093B2 |
Liquid processing device including gas trap, and system and method
A device is provided that can include at least one gas trap that can be arranged in fluid communication with a sample-containment feature formed in or on the device. The gas trap can be arranged to trap gas or air displaced from the sample-containment feature as the sample-containment feature is loaded with a liquid. The trapped gas in the gas trap can assist in breaking-up and expelling the liquid from the sample-containment feature during a subsequent liquid transfer operation, for example, to an adjacent sample-containment feature. Systems for processing such a device and methods using such a device are also provided. |
| US07737092B2 |
Continuously variable transmission fluids comprising a combination of calcium-and magnesium-overbased detergents
A composition suitable for use as a lubricant for a transmission includes an oil of lubricating viscosity; a dispersant; a calcium detergent; a magnesium detergent; and an inorganic phosphorus compound. At least one of the dispersant or detergent components is borated. |
| US07737091B2 |
Proppants and anti-flowback additives made from sillimanite minerals, methods of manufacture, and methods of use
Spherical and rod-shaped proppants and anti-flowback agents made from sillimanite minerals possess high strength and high conductivity. The sillimanite minerals may be selected from the group consisting of kyanite, sillimanite, and andalusite and may be used alone or in combination with other materials, such as bauxite, kaolin, meta-kaolin, pure or technical grade alumina (about 98%-99.9% alumina by weight), alumina-containing slag, zirconia, silica, iron, alkali elements (such as calcium, magnesium, and sodium), and virtually any other mineral containing alumina. The starting material may optionally be milled to achieve better compacity and crush resistance in the final proppant or anti-flowback agent. A fracturing fluid may comprise the rods or spheres alone, or in combination with each other or other proppants or anti-flowback agents of different shapes. |
| US07737090B2 |
Aloe derived scale inhibitor
A method is provided for inhibiting scale in a liquid hydrocarbon system, including the steps of: providing a liquid hydrocarbon system; providing an aloe-derived scale inhibitor; and mixing the aloe-derived scale inhibitor with the liquid hydrocarbon system in amounts effective to inhibit formation of scale. The scale inhibitor is aloe gel dissolved in water at a concentration of between about 5 and about 50% wt/wt, which includes polysaccharides having a hydrocarbon chain structure having carboxyl and alcohol functional groups that interact with divalent ions. |
| US07737087B2 |
Enhanced pinning in YBCO films with BaZrO3 nanoparticles
A process and composition of matter are provided and involve flux pinning in thin films of high temperature superconductive oxides such as YBCO by inclusion of particles including barium and a group 4 or group 5 metal, such as zirconium, in the thin film. |
| US07737085B2 |
Coated conductors
Articles are provided including a base substrate having a layer of an IBAD oriented material thereon, and, a layer of barium-containing material selected from the group consisting of barium zirconate, barium hafnate, barium titanate, barium strontium titanate, barium dysprosium zirconate, barium neodymium zirconate and barium samarium zirconate, or a cubic metal oxide material selected from the group consisting of rare earth zirconates and rare earth hafnates upon the layer of an IBAD oriented material. Such articles can further include thin films of high temperature superconductive oxides such as YBCO upon the layer of barium-containing material selected from the group consisting of barium zirconate, barium hafnate, barium titanate, barium strontium titanate, barium dysprosium zirconate, barium neodymium zirconate and barium samarium zirconate, or a cubic metal oxide material selected from the group consisting of rare earth zirconates and rare earth hafnates. |
| US07737082B2 |
Siloxane composition, agglomerate, and method of preparing
A siloxane composition, comprising from 70 to 99 parts by weight of a solid particulate having a median particle size of from 0.1 to 3000 μm and from 1 to 30 parts by weight of a binder having a median particle size of from 5 to 250 μm, wherein the composition is a powder and the binder comprises a siloxane resin having the formula: (R13SiO1/2)w(R12SiO2/2)x(R1SiO3/2)y(SiO4/2)z, wherein each R1 is independently selected from hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, —O═NR2R3, —OR2, —O—R4—OR2, and an epoxy-substituted organic group, wherein R2 is C1 to C8 hydrocarbyl, R3 is R2 or —H, R4 is hydrocarbylene, w+x+y+z=1, y/(w+x+y+z) is at least 0.67, and the siloxane resin has a softening point of from 30 to 115° C.; an agglomerate, and a method preparing the agglomerate. |
| US07737080B2 |
Substrate, in particular glass substrate, supporting at least one stack of a photocatalytic layer and a sublayer for the heteroepitaxial growth of said layer
The invention relates to a structure, comprising a substrate supporting a layer with a photocatalytic and anti-soiling property on at least part of the surface thereof, said layer being based on titanium dioxide (TiO2) which is at least partially crystallized in the anatase form thereof. Said structure is characterised in comprising a sublayer (SC) directly under at least one TiO2 layer, said sublayer having a crystallographic structure which provides assistance to crystallization by heteroepitaxial growth in the anatase form of the TiO2-based upper layer, the photocatalytic property being obtained without any heating step. |
| US07737079B2 |
Ni catalyst, process for making catalysts and selective hydrogenation process
More selective and efficient Ni hydrotreating catalysts are those which contain more than about 60% of the Ni content on the peripheral surface of porous supports, such as extruded alumina, which may be obtained by spraying an atomized solution of a Ni compound onto the support and drying it at a temperature in the range of from 200 to 600° C. When used, for example, to remove acetylenic compounds from butadiene streams, higher recovery of the desired butadiene with lower acetylenic content and low heavy polymer deposition is obtained than was possible with prior catalysts. |
| US07737075B2 |
Ni catalyst, process for making catalysts and selective hydrogenation process
More selective and efficient Ni hydrotreating catalysts are those which contain more than about 60% of the Ni content on the peripheral surface of porous supports, such as extruded alumina, which may be obtained by spraying an atomized solution of a Ni compound onto the support and drying it at a temperature in the range of from 200 to 600° C. When used, for example, to remove acetylenic compounds from butadiene streams, higher recovery of the desired butadiene with lower acetylenic content and low heavy polymer deposition is obtained than was possible with prior catalysts. |
| US07737074B2 |
Sulfur tolerant noble metal containing aromatics hydrogenation catalyst and a method of making and using such catalyst
An aromatics hydrogenation catalyst composition which comprises a noble metal component and a support comprising zirconia, silica, and, optionally, alumina. The catalyst composition is manufactured by co-mulling silica, a zirconium compound, and, optionally, alumina to form a mixture that is formed into a shape, such as by extrusion to form an extrudate, with the shape being calcined and noble metal being incorporated into the shape. The catalyst composition may be used in the saturation of aromatic compounds. |
| US07737064B2 |
Optical glass containing bismuth oxide
Optical glass having a refractive index (nd) of 1.75 or greater, and an Abbe number (νd) falling within the range of 15 to 40, which is suitable for molding by precision mold press is provided. The optical glass is characterized by including B2O3+SiO2 in an amount of 10 to 70%, Bi2O3 in an amount of 5% or more and less than 25%, RO+Rn2O in an amount of 5 to 60% (wherein R represents one or more selected from a group consisting of Zn, Ba, Sr, Ca, and Mg; and Rn represents one or more selected from a group consisting of Li, Na, K, and Cs), with each component in the range expressed in oxide-based mole, and is characterized in that transparency in the visible region is high, and that the transition point (Tg) is 520° C. or lower. The optical glass is characterized by having a spectral transmittance of 70% or greater at a wavelength of 550 nm, for a thickness of 10 mm. |
| US07737057B2 |
Release coating containing thermoplastic silicone-containing polymer
An article including: a porous substrate that includes a fibrous material; and a release coating disposed on the fibrous material of the porous substrate; wherein the release coating includes a thermoplastic silicone-containing polymer. A method of making an article, which method includes: providing a porous backing having a first major surface and a second major surface; applying a pressure sensitive adhesive to the first major surface of the porous backing; and applying an aqueous dispersion including a thermoplastic silicone-containing polymer to the second major surface of the porous backing to form a low adhesion backsize. |
| US07737056B2 |
Moisture-wicking and fast drying cloth
A moisture-wicking and fast drying cloth has an outer layer and an inner layer. The outer layer is made of hydrophilic synthetic fiber and has multiple meshes. The meshes are defined through the outer layer. The inner layer is made of hydrophobic synthetic fiber and is bonded to the outer layer. The inner layer exposed by the meshes pulls away from a person's skin and protrudes into the meshes when perspiration exceeds evaporating moisture from the outer layer, so area of the inner layer contacting the person's skin will be reduced to make the person comfortable. |
| US07737049B2 |
Method for forming a structure on a substrate and device
In one aspect, a method of forming a structure on a substrate is disclosed. For example, the method includes forming a first mask layer and a second mask layer, modifying a material property in regions of the first and second mask layers, and forming the structure based on the modified regions. |
| US07737048B2 |
Method for controlling thickness distribution of a film
A method for forming an oxide film includes a first in-situ steam generation (ISSG) process using a 1%-H2 concentration in the ambient gas and a subsequent second ISSG process using a 5%-H2 concentration in the ambient gas, wherein the second ISSG process compensates an in-plane thickness distribution of the film formed by the first ISSG process. The time length for the first and second ISSG steps is determined based on a desired film thickness, a time length dependency of a film formed by the second ISSG process, and the oxidation rate of the first and second ISSG processes. |
| US07737046B2 |
Quantum dot array and production method therefor, and dot array element and production method therefor
The present invention is a method of manufacturing a quantum dot array having a plurality of columnar parts including a quantum dot on a substrate, the method comprising the steps of obliquely vapor-depositing a material constituting a first barrier layer to become an energy barrier against the quantum dot onto a surface of the substrate, so as to form a plurality of first barrier layers; obliquely vapor-depositing a material constituting the quantum dot with respect to the surface of the substrate, so as to form the quantum dots on the first barrier layers; and obliquely vapor-depositing a material constituting a second barrier layer to become an energy barrier against the quantum dot with respect to the surface of the substrate, so as to form the second barrier layers on the quantum dots. |
| US07737045B2 |
Microfabricated micro fluid channels
A fluid delivery system including a first substrate having a micro-channel and a well both formed through the first substrate. The fluid delivery system also includes a second substrate and a delivery channel. The second substrate is on the first substrate and the delivery channel is formed between the first and second substrates. The delivery channel provides fluid communication between the micro-channel and the well. |
| US07737042B2 |
Pulsed-plasma system for etching semiconductor structures
A pulsed plasma system for etching semiconductor structures is described. In one embodiment, a portion of a sample is removed by applying a pulsed plasma process, wherein the pulsed plasma process comprises a plurality of duty cycles. The ON state of a duty cycle is of a duration sufficiently short to substantially inhibit micro-loading in a reaction region adjacent to the sample, while the OFF state of the duty cycle is of a duration sufficiently long to substantially enable removal of a set of etch by-products from the reaction region. In another embodiment, a first portion of a sample is removed by applying a continuous plasma process. The continuous plasma process is then terminated and a second portion of the sample is removed by applying a pulsed plasma process. |
| US07737038B2 |
Method of fabricating semiconductor device including planarizing conductive layer using parameters of pattern density and depth of trenches
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a conductive layer on an insulating layer having a plurality of trenches on a semiconductor substrate, such that the conductive layer fills in the plurality of trenches formed in the insulating layer, and calculating a target eddy current value to measure an end point using parameters of a pattern density and a depth of the trenches. The method further includes planarizing the conductive layer and measuring eddy current values on the conductive layer using an eddy current monitoring system, and stopping the planarization when the measured eddy current value reaches the target eddy current value to form a planarized conductive layer having a target height on the insulating layer. |
| US07737036B2 |
Integrated circuit fabrication process with minimal post-laser annealing dopant deactivation
Post-laser annealing dopant deactivation is minimized by performing certain low temperature process steps prior to laser annealing. |
| US07737034B2 |
Substrate treating apparatus and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A support section (28) for supporting a wafer (1) is convexly formed in the center of a receiving section (26) of a support groove (25) of a boat 21. At the time of boat loading of the boat (21), in which wafers (1) respectively received by the supporting sections (28) are aligned, from a standby chamber (33) to a processing chamber (14), the pressure in the standby chamber (33) and processing chamber (14) is set to 200 pascals or more, and 3000 pascals or less. By supporting the wafer upwards from the receiving section with use of the support section, even if peeling of the film on the wafer occurs from a large frictional force between the supported surface of the wafer and the support section under a reduced pressure, the particles from the peeling are caught by the receiving section and therefore particles are prevented from adhering to the IC fabrication surface of the wafer directly below the receiving section. |
| US07737029B2 |
Methods of forming metal interconnect structures on semiconductor substrates using oxygen-removing plasmas and interconnect structures formed thereby
Methods of forming devices include forming a first electrically insulating layer having a metal interconnection therein, on a substrate and then forming a first electrically insulating barrier layer on an upper surface of the metal interconnection and on the first electrically insulating layer. The first electrically insulating barrier layer is exposed to a plasma that penetrates the first electrically insulating barrier and removes oxygen from an upper surface of the metal interconnection. The barrier layer may have a thickness in a range from about 5 Å to about 50 Å and the plasma may be a hydrogen-containing plasma that converts oxygen on the upper surface of the metal interconnection to water. |
| US07737028B2 |
Selective ruthenium deposition on copper materials
Embodiments of the invention provide processes for selectively forming a ruthenium-containing film on a copper surface over exposed dielectric surfaces. Thereafter, a copper bulk layer may be deposited on the ruthenium-containing film. In one embodiment, a method for forming layers on a substrate is provided which includes positioning a substrate within a processing chamber, wherein the substrate contains a copper-containing surface and a dielectric surface, exposing the substrate to a ruthenium precursor to selectively form a ruthenium-containing film over the copper-containing surface while leaving exposed the dielectric surface, and depositing a copper bulk layer over the ruthenium-containing film. |
| US07737027B2 |
Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device
Exuding of a interconnecting material to a substrate, which occurs because of a thinned state of and a beak in a barrier metal layer is prevented, irrespective of a laminated state of the barrier metal layer. In the present invention, a protective layer is formed on a side wall by using an insulating film or the like after the deposition of the barrier metal layer, whereby the interconnecting material can be prevented from exuding to the substrate due to influence of heat treatment such as alloying, irrespective of the laminated state of the side wall of the contact hole and the barrier metal layer. Further, the formation of the protective layer allows the side wall to be smoother to thereby improve coverage of the interconnecting material at the same time. |
| US07737026B2 |
Structure and method for low resistance interconnections
A method of forming an interconnection in a semiconductor device includes forming a first liner in a dielectric layer therein; depositing a tungsten filler on top of the first liner; performing chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) to smooth out and remove the first liner and tungsten filler from the semiconductor's exposed surface; selectively removing the first liner and tungsten filler in the via; wherein the selective removing results in the first liner and the tungsten filler being removed in an upper region of the via; forming a second liner in the upper region of the via and tungsten filler; selectively removing the second liner from the tungsten filler; forming a copper seed layer on top of the tungsten filler; depositing a copper filler on top of the copper seed layer; and performing chemical CMP to smooth out and remove the second liner and copper filler from the semiconductor's exposed surface. |
| US07737023B2 |
Method of manufacture of semiconductor integrated circuit device and semiconductor integrated circuit device
In a process for the manufacture of a semiconductor integrated circuit device having an inlaid interconnect structure by embedding a conductor film in a recess, such as a trench or hole, formed in an organic insulating film which constitutes an interlevel dielectric film and includes an organosiloxane as a main component, the recess, such as a trench or hole, is formed by subjecting the organic insulating film to plasma dry etching in a CF-based gas/N2/Ar gas in order to suppress the formation of an abnormal shape on the bottom of the recess, upon formation of a photoresist film over the organic insulating film, followed by formation of the recess therein with the photoresist film as an etching mask. |
| US07737020B1 |
Method of fabricating CMOS devices using fluid-based dielectric materials
Fluid-based dielectric material is used to backfill multiple patterned metal layers of an IC on a wafer. The patterned metal layers are fabricated using conventional CMOS techniques, and are IMD layers in particular embodiments. The dielectric material(s) are etched out of the IC to form a metal network, and fluid dielectric material precursor, such as a polyarylene ether-based resin, is applied to the wafer to backfill the metal network with low-k fluid-based dielectric material. |
| US07737018B2 |
Process of forming an electronic device including forming a gate electrode layer and forming a patterned masking layer
A process of forming an electronic device can include forming a gate electrode layer and forming a patterned masking layer. In a first aspect, a process operation is performed before removing substantially all of a lower portion of the gate electrode layer. In a second aspect, a gate dielectric layer is formed prior to forming the gate electrode layer, and a portion of the gate dielectric layer is exposed after removing the patterned masking layer and prior to forming another masking layer. A portion of the gate electrode layer remains covered during a process where some or all of the portion would be otherwise removed or consumed. By forming the electronic device using such a process, damage to the gate electrode structure while performing subsequent processing can be significantly reduced. |
| US07737017B2 |
Semiconductor device having recess gate and isolation structure and method for fabricating the same
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device including an isolation structure and a recess gate and a method for fabricating the same. The method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes: forming a trench by selectively etching an isolation region of a semiconductor substrate to define an active region; forming a first SOD partially filling the trench; forming a stress shielding layer, which is denser than the first SOD, over the first SOD; forming a second SOD that fills the trench over the first SOD including the stress shielding layer; forming a recess groove by selectively etching a portion of the active region, wherein an upper surface of the first SOD is spaced downwardly from a bottom of the recess groove, and an upper surface of the stress shielding layer is spaced upwardly from the bottom of the recessed groove; and forming a gate of a transistor that fills the recess groove. |
| US07737015B2 |
Formation of fully silicided gate with oxide barrier on the source/drain silicide regions
A simple and cost effective method of forming a fully silicided (FUSI) gate of a MOS transistor is disclosed. In one example, the method comprises forming a nitride hardmask overlying a polysilicon gate, forming an S/D silicide in source/drain regions of the transistor, oxidizing a portion of the S/D silicide to form an oxide barrier overlying the S/D silicide in the source/drain regions, removing the nitride hardmask from the polysilicon gate, and forming a gate silicide such as by deposition of a gate silicide metal over the polysilicon gate and the oxide barrier in the source/drain regions to form a fully silicided (FUSI) gate in the transistor. Thus, the oxide barrier protects the source/drain regions from additional silicide formation by the gate silicide metal formed thereafter. The method may further comprise selectively removing the oxide barrier in the source/drain regions after forming the fully silicided (FUSI) gate. |
| US07737013B2 |
Implantation of multiple species to address copper reliability
A first species and a second species are implanted into a conductor of a substrate, which may be copper. The first species and second species may be implanted sequentially or at least partly simultaneously. Diffusion of the first species within the conductor of the substrate is prevented by the presence of the second species. In one particular example, the first species is silicon and the second species is nitrogen, although other combinations are possible. |
| US07737001B2 |
Semiconductor manufacturing method
In a stealth dicing process for a semiconductor device with a low dielectric constant layer, the occurrence of poor appearance such as a defective shape or discoloration in the layer is reduced or prevented as follows. A low dielectric constant layer is formed in an interlayer insulating layer formed on the main surface of a semiconductor wafer. A laser beam is focused on the inside of the wafer from the reverse side of the wafer in order to form modified regions selectively. Each modified region is formed in a way to contact, or partially get into, the low dielectric constant layer. In this formation process, the semiconductor wafer is cooled by a cooling element. This reduces or prevents discoloration of the low dielectric constant layer which might occur due to the heat of a laser beam. |
| US07736998B2 |
Silicon-on insulator substrate and method for manufacturing the same
This SOI substrate includes a base substrate which includes a single-crystal semiconductor and an active layer which includes a single-crystal semiconductor and is bonded to the base substrate with an oxide film therebetween. The oxide film is formed only in the active layer. The active layer is formed with a thickness of 10 to 200 nm and a thickness variation throughout the active layer of 1.5 nm or less by etching a surface of the active layer while selectively using only the reactive radicals generated by a plasma etching process. |
| US07736994B2 |
Method for manufacturing compound material wafers and corresponding compound material wafer
The invention relates to a method for manufacturing compound material wafers, in particular, silicon on insulator type wafers, by providing an initial donor substrate, forming an insulating layer over the initial donor substrate, forming a predetermined splitting area in the initial donor substrate, attaching the initial donor substrate onto a handle substrate and detaching the donor substrate at the predetermined splitting area, thereby transferring a layer of the initial donor substrate onto the handle substrate to form a compound material wafer. In order to be able to reuse the donor substrate more often, the invention proposes to carry out the thermal treatment step to form the insulating layer at a temperature of less than 950° C., in particular, less than 900° C., and preferably at 850° C. The invention also relates to a silicon on insulator type wafer manufactured according to the inventive method. |
| US07736993B2 |
Composite substrate and method of fabricating the same
The invention specifically relates to methods of fabricating a composite substrate by providing a first insulating layer on a support substrate at a thickness of e1 and providing a second insulating layer on a source substrate at a thickness of e2, with each layer having an exposed face for bonding; providing plasma activation energy in an amount sufficient to activate a portion of the thickness of the face of the first insulating layer emp1 and a portion of the thickness of the face of the second insulating layer emp1; providing a final insulating layer by molecular bonding the activated face of the first insulating layer with the activated face of the second insulating layer; and removing a back portion of the source substrate while retaining an active layer comprising a remaining portion of the source substrate bonded to the support substrate with the final insulating layer interposed therein to form the composite substrate. The thicknesses e1, e2 of the first and second insulating layers are sufficient to provide the final insulating layer with a thickness of 50 nanometers or less, and the plasma activation energy and respective thicknesses e1, e2 of the first and second insulating layers are selected such that only respective thicknesses emp1 and emp2 of the faces of the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer are activated. |
| US07736990B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method for the same
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising the steps of: forming a first insulating film to be used as a mask for forming a trench region directly above a semiconductor substrate; forming the trench region on the semiconductor substrate using the mask; forming a second insulating film directly above the semiconductor substrate which includes the trench region and the first insulating film so that the second insulating film has a recess above the trench region and a protrusion above the first insulating film; removing the protrusion down to the bottom of the recess as a first removal step; and removing the first insulating film and the second insulating film in accordance with a chemical mechanical polishing method so that the step formed of the recess and protrusion is reduced to 20 nm or less as a second removal step. |
| US07736989B2 |
Method of forming semiconductor device
A method of forming a semiconductor device, where the method may include forming a first trench in a semiconductor substrate, forming first device isolation patterns that fill the first trench, forming spacers on sidewalls of the first device isolation patterns, forming a second trench in the semiconductor substrate between first device isolation patterns, and forming second device isolation patterns that fill the second trench. The second trench is formed using an etching process adopting the first device isolation pattern and the spacer as a mask. |
| US07736987B2 |
Methods of forming semiconductor constructions
The invention includes semiconductor constructions, and also includes methods of forming pluralities of capacitor devices. An exemplary method of the invention includes forming conductive storage node material within openings in an insulative material to form conductive containers. A retaining structure lattice is formed in physical contact with at least some of the containers, and subsequently the insulative material is removed to expose outer surfaces of the containers. The retaining structure can alleviate toppling or other loss of structural integrity of the container structures. The electrically conductive containers correspond to first capacitor electrodes. After the outer sidewalls of the containers are exposed, dielectric material is formed within the containers and along the exposed outer sidewalls. Subsequently, a second capacitor electrode is formed over the dielectric material. The first and second capacitor electrodes, together with the dielectric material, form a plurality of capacitor devices. |
| US07736984B2 |
Method of forming a low resistance semiconductor contact and structure therefor
In one embodiment, silicide layers are formed on two oppositely doped adjacent semiconductor regions. A conductor material is formed electrically contacting both of the two silicides. |
| US07736983B2 |
High threshold NMOS source-drain formation with As, P and C to reduce damage
Pipe defects in n-type lightly doped drain (NLDD) regions and n-type source/drain (NDS) regions are associated with arsenic implants, while excess diffusion in NLDD and NSD regions is mainly due to phosphorus interstitial movement. Carbon implantation is commonly used to reduce phosphorus diffusion in the NLDD, but contributes to gated diode leakage (GDL). In high threshold NMOS transistors GDL is commonly a dominant off-state leakage mechanism. This invention provides a method of forming an NMOS transistor in which no carbon is implanted into the NLDD, and the NSD is formed by a pre-amorphizing implant (PAI), a phosphorus implant and a carbon species implant. Use of carbon in the NDS allows a higher concentration of phosphorus, resulting in reduced series resistance and reduced pipe defects. An NMOS transistor with less than 1·1014 cm−2 arsenic in the NSD and a high threshold NMOS transistor formed with the inventive method are also disclosed. |
| US07736978B2 |
Method of manufacturing a trench transistor having a heavy body region
A trenched field effect transistor is provided that includes (a) a semiconductor substrate, (b) a trench extending a predetermined depth into the semiconductor substrate, (c) a pair of doped source junctions, positioned on opposite sides of the trench, (d) a doped heavy body positioned adjacent each source junction on the opposite side of the source junction from the trench, the deepest portion of the heavy body extending less deeply into said semiconductor substrate than the predetermined depth of the trench, and (e) a doped well surrounding the heavy body beneath the heavy body. |
| US07736976B2 |
Method for fabricating a power semiconductor device having a voltage sustaining layer with a terraced trench facilitating formation of floating islands
A method is provided for forming a power semiconductor device. The method begins by providing a substrate of a second conductivity type and then forming a voltage sustaining region on the substrate. The voltage sustaining region is formed by depositing an epitaxial layer of a first conductivity type on the substrate and forming at least one terraced trench in the epitaxial layer. The terraced trench has a plurality of portions that differ in width to define at least one annular ledge therebetween. A barrier material is deposited along the walls of the trench. A dopant of a second conductivity type is implanted through the barrier material lining the annular ledge and said trench bottom and into adjacent portions of the epitaxial layer. The dopant is diffused to form at least one annular doped region in the epitaxial layer and at least one other region located below the annular doped region. A filler material is deposited in the terraced trench to substantially fill the trench, thus completing the voltage sustaining region. At least one region of the second conductivity type is formed over the voltage sustaining region to define a junction therebetween. |
| US07736975B2 |
Method for manufacturing non-volatile memory device having charge trap layer
A method for manufacturing a non-volatile memory device having a charge trap layer comprises in one embodiment: forming a first dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate; forming a second dielectric layer having a higher dielectric constant than that of the first dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer; forming a nitride buffer layer for preventing an interfacial reaction over the second dielectric layer; forming a third dielectric layer by supplying a radical oxidation source onto the nitride buffer layer to oxidize the nitride buffer layer, thereby forming a tunneling layer comprising the first, second, and third dielectric layers; and forming a charge trap layer, a shielding layer, and a control gate electrode layer over the tunneling layer. |
| US07736974B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device to prevent defects due to insulation layer volume change
A semiconductor device is made by forming patterns on a semiconductor substrate. After forming the patterns, sequentially forming a spacer layer, an oxidation promotion layer and a buffer layer on the semiconductor substrate including the surfaces of the patterns previously formed. An insulation layer is then formed on the buffer layer to fill the patterns. The semiconductor substrate including the insulation layer is subsequently annealed such that the buffer layer is oxidized and the insulation layer is baked. |
| US07736972B2 |
Method for forming storage electrode of semiconductor memory device
In order to form a storage electrode of a semiconductor memory device, an interlayer dielectric layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate having a bit line thereon. A contact hole exposing the semiconductor substrate is formed by patterning the interlayer dielectric layer. A polysilicon layer is etched to a predetermined thickness using polysilicon etching gas after the polysilicon layer is deposited. An over-etch process is performed relative to the polysilicon layer, and then a storage node contact having a planarized surface is formed in the contact hole by performing an etching process for planarizing the surface of the polysilicon layer. A mold insulating layer is formed on the resultant structure, in which the mold insulating layer exposes an area where the storage node contact is formed. A storage electrode coupled to the storage node contact is formed. |
| US07736966B2 |
CMOS devices with hybrid channel orientations and method for fabricating the same
The present invention relates to a method of fabricating a semiconductor substrate that includes forming at least first and second device regions, wherein the first device region includes a first recess having interior surfaces oriented along a first set of equivalent crystal planes, and wherein the second device region includes a second recess having interior surfaces oriented along a second, different set of equivalent crystal planes. The semiconductor device structure formed using such a semiconductor substrate includes at least one n-channel field effect transistor (n-FET) formed at the first device region having a channel that extends along the interior surfaces of the first recess, and at least one p-channel field effect transistor (p-FET) formed at the second device region having a channel that extends along the interior surfaces of the second recess. |
| US07736961B2 |
High voltage depletion FET employing a channel stopping implant
A high voltage field effect transistor device is fabricated. A substrate is provided. Isolation structures and well regions are formed therein. Drain well regions are formed within the well regions. An n-type channel stop resist mask is formed. N-type channel stop regions and n-type surface channel regions are formed. A p-type channel stop resist mask is formed. P-type channel stop regions and p-type surface channel regions are then formed. A dielectric layer is formed over the surface channel regions. Source regions are formed within the well regions. Drain regions are formed within the drain well regions. Back gate regions are formed within the well regions. Top gates are formed on the dielectric layer overlying the surface channel regions. |
| US07736959B2 |
Integrated circuit device, and method of fabricating same
There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to integrated circuit device including SOI logic transistors and SOI memory transistors, and method for fabricating such a device. In one embodiment, integrated circuit device includes memory portion having, for example, PD or FD SOI memory cells, and logic portion having, for example, high performance transistors, such as Fin-FET, multiple gate transistors, and/or non-high performance transistors (such as single gate transistors that do not possess the performance characteristics of the high performance transistors). In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of manufacture of such integrated circuit device. |
| US07736958B2 |
Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
In the present application, is disclosed a method of manufacturing a flexible semiconductor device having an excellent reliability and tolerance to the loading of external pressure. The method includes the steps of: forming a separation layer over a substrate having an insulating surface; forming an element layer including a semiconductor element comprising a non-single crystal semiconductor layer, over the separation layer; forming an organic resin layer over the element layer; providing a fibrous body formed of an organic compound or an inorganic compound on the organic resin layer; heating the organic resin layer; and separating the element layer from the separation layer. This method allows the formation of a flexible semiconductor device having a sealing layer in which the fibrous body is impregnated with the organic resin. |
| US07736957B2 |
Method of making a semiconductor device with embedded stressor
A method for forming a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate dielectric over the semiconductor substrate; forming a gate electrode over the gate dielectric; forming an insulating layer over a sidewall of the gate electrode; defining source and drain regions in the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the insulating layer; implanting a dopant in the source and drain regions of the semiconductor substrate to form doped source and drain regions; forming a sidewall spacer adjacent to the insulating layer; forming a recess in the semiconductor substrate in the source and drain regions, wherein the recess extends directly underneath the spacer a predetermined distance from a channel regions; and forming a stressor material in the recess. The method allows the stressor material to be formed closer to a channel region, thus improving carrier mobility in the channel while not degrading short channel effects. |
| US07736955B2 |
Manufacture method of display device by using droplet discharge method
It is an object of the present invention to reduce the consumption of materials for manufacturing a display device, simplify the manufacturing process and the apparatus used for it, and lower the manufacturing costs. The present invention provides a technique to manufacture a display device, applying a means to form a pattern such as a contact hole formed in a semiconductor film, a wiring or an insulating film, or a mask pattern to form such a pattern by drawing directly, a means to remove a film, such as etching and ashing, and a film forming means to selectively form an insulating film, a semiconductor film and a metal film on a predetermined region. |
| US07736953B2 |
Semiconductor memory and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor memory includes first and second source regions that are formed in a semiconductor substrate and run in orthogonal directions. The first and second source regions are diffused regions and are electrically connected to each other at crossing portions thereof. The semiconductor device may further include drain regions formed in the semiconductor substrate, bit lines that run in the direction in which the second source region runs, and a source line formed above the second source region, wherein a contact between the source line and the second source region is aligned with contacts between the bit lines and drain regions formed in the semiconductor substrate. |
| US07736951B2 |
Circuit component and method of manufacture
An inductor, a semiconductor component including the inductor, and a method of manufacture. A leadframe has a plurality of conductive strips and a flag. A ferrite core is mounted on a die attach material disposed on the conductive strips and a semiconductor die is mounted on a die attach material disposed on the flag. Wire bonds are formed from the conductive strips on one side of the ferrite core to corresponding conductive strips on an opposing side of the ferrite core. The wire bonds and the conductive strips cooperate to form the coil of the inductor. Wire bonds electrically couple one end of the inductor to leadframe leads adjacent the semiconductor die. Wire bonds couple bond pads on the semiconductor die to the leadframe leads coupled to the inductor. An encapsulant is formed around the inductor and the semiconductor die. Alternatively, a stand-alone inductor is manufactured. |
| US07736950B2 |
Flip chip interconnection
Methods for forming flip chip interconnection, in which the bump interconnect is defined at least in part by an underfill. The underfill includes a material that is thermally cured; that is, raising the temperature of the underfill material can result in progressive curing of the underfill through stages including a gel stage and a fully cured stage. According to the invention, during at least an early stage in the process the semiconductor chip is carried by a thermode, which is employed to control the temperature of the assembly in a specified way. Also, flip chip interconnections and flip chip packages made according to the methods of invention. |
| US07736947B2 |
Method using a carrier for manufacturing a memory device and manufacturing method of a memory device using the same and memory device using the same
A carrier including a bottom plate, an intermediate cover, and a top cover for manufacturing a memory device is introduced herein. A printed circuit board is disposed on the bottom plate, and memory elements are arranged and disposed on the PCB. The intermediate cover is used to press peripheral regions of the printed circuit board, and to expose the regions where the memory elements are formed on the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board is closely attached to a surface of the bottom plate by fixing the intermediate cover. The top cover is used to cover the memory elements formed on the printed circuit board after some manufacturing processes, and by exerting an external force, the formed memory elements are clamped down, so as to protect the memory elements from being affected by the printed circuit board in the following thermal process due to the thermal stress deformation. |
| US07736945B2 |
LED assembly having maximum metal support for laser lift-off of growth substrate
Described is a process for forming an LED structure using a laser lift-off process to remove the growth substrate (e.g., sapphire) after the LED die is bonded to a submount. The underside of the LED die has formed on it anode and cathode electrodes that are substantially in the same plane, where the electrodes cover at least 85% of the back surface of the LED structure. The submount has a corresponding layout of anode and cathode electrodes substantially in the same plane. The LED die electrodes and submount electrodes are ultrasonically welded together such that virtually the entire surface of the LED die is supported by the electrodes and submount. Other bonding techniques may also be used. No underfill is used. The growth substrate, forming the top of the LED structure, is then removed from the LED layers using a laser lift-off process. The extremely high pressures created during the laser lift-off process do not damage the LED layers due to the large area support of the LED layers by the electrodes and submount. |
| US07736944B2 |
Semiconductor device with improved design freedom of external terminal
A semiconductor device comprises: a semiconductor chip having a first main surface, a second main surface, and a plurality of side surfaces; an extension portion which contacts and surrounds the side surfaces of the semiconductor chip; a base, which is capable of conducting heat generated by the semiconductor chip; an insulating film which is formed on the first face and the first main surface; a plurality of wiring patterns extended from electrode pads to the upper side of the first face of the extension portion; a sealing portion which is formed on the wiring patterns and insulating film; and a plurality of external terminals provided over the wiring patterns in a region including the upper side of the extension portion. |
| US07736943B2 |
Carbon nanotube transistor fabrication
During fabrication of single-walled carbon nanotube transistor devices, a porous template with numerous parallel pores is used to hold the single-walled carbon nanotubes. The porous template or porous structure may be anodized aluminum oxide or another material. A gate region may be provided one end or both ends of the porous structure. The gate electrode may be formed and extend into the porous structure. |
| US07736937B2 |
Manufacturing method of solid-state imaging device and solid-state imaging device
A manufacturing method of a solid-state imaging device, the device comprising: a semiconductor substrate; photodiodes each comprising a surface-side first conductivity type region formed adjacent to a surface of the semiconductor substrate and a second conductivity type region provided directly under the surface-side first conductivity type region; a second conductivity type vertical transfer region provided in the vicinity of the surface-side first conductivity type region; at least one first conductivity type inter-pixel isolation region provided under the vertical transfer region; and at least one first conductivity type overflow barrier region provided below the first conductivity type inter-pixel isolation region, the method comprising: a first step of forming the first conductivity type overflow barrier region in a semiconductor substrate; and a second step of ion-implanting first conductivity type impurity ions from a direction in which channeling tends to occur, to form at least one of the first conductivity type inter-pixel isolation region. |
| US07736936B2 |
Method of forming display device that includes removing mask to form opening in insulating film
To improve the use efficiency of materials and provide a technique of fabricating a display device by a simple process. The method includes the steps of providing a mask on a conductive layer, forming an insulating film over the conductive layer provided with the mask, removing the mask to form an insulating layer having an opening; and forming a conductive film in the opening so as to be in contact with the exposed conductive layer, whereby the conductive layer and the conductive film can be electrically connected through the insulating layer. The shape of the opening reflects the shape of the mask. A mask having a columnar shape (e.g., a prism, a cylinder, or a triangular prism), a needle shape, or the like can be used. |