| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07864789B2 |
Signaling methods for telecommunicaton system for exchanging frames over ethernet interfaces and devices for implementing such methods
A platform is connected over a synchronous network using a GFP encapsulation scheme to a provider device having a first Ethernet interface with a customer device, said platform being arranged for exchanging tagged frames including a virtual LAN identifier (VID) with a service unit over a second Ethernet interface. If an error condition is detected at a GFP port of the platform, a correspondence is retrieved between said GFP port and a VID and a deregistration message including said VID is forwarded to the service unit. If an error condition is detected at the second Ethernet interface responsive to reception of a deregistration message including a VID from the service unit, a correspondence is retrieved between said VID and a GFP port and said deregistration message is forwarded through said GFP port to the provider device in a GFP error message. When several Ethernet interfaces concentrated by a bridge face the provider device, another VID is taken into account in the correspondence retrieving. |
| US07864786B2 |
Repeater apparatus for supporting a plurality of protocols, and a method for controlling protocol conversion in the repeater apparatus
Disclosed is an Ethernet-IEEE 1394 repeater apparatus as a network transmission equipment for connecting between networks having the same or different protocols is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first protocol physical element for performing a modulation/demodulation process of a first protocol data; a second protocol physical element for performing a modulation/demodulation process of a second protocol data; an output interface for outputting the data through an output transmission, media; a first switch for switching the data input to one of the first protocol physical element and the second protocol physical element; a second switch, tuned with the first switch, for switching an output path to one of the first protocol physical element and the second protocol physical element, the output path being connected to the output interface; and a control unit for receiving a protocol information of data sent from one of the first protocol physical element and the second protocol physical element to control the first switch and the second switch based on the received protocol information, the one being selectively connected based on the current switching condition. |
| US07864784B2 |
Subscriber network system and method of setting information in concentrator thereof
A subscriber network system is provided that is capable of reducing response time and reducing device cost. In the subscriber network system, a control cell is received that includes an ID portion, a data portion, and a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) portion. The control cell is processed in cooperation with a virtual path identifier (VPI), where the processing obtains the ID portion and the CRC portion. The ID portion and the CRC portion are processed and the ID portion is compared to a first stored value and the CRC portion is compared to a second stored value to produce information. A cell is produced to include the information and the produced cell is used to facilitate a connection in a network. |
| US07864779B2 |
Internet service synchronization method for mobile communication terminal
A synchronization method between an application and Internet protocol included in a mobile terminal including determining whether or not an Internet Function can be performed by the Internet protocol and issuing a wait command from the Internet protocol to the application when it is determined the Internet function can not be performed so as to inform the application to wait a predetermined period of time before closing communication with the Internet protocol. |
| US07864774B2 |
ATM connection band control method and control system
An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) connection band control system, in an ATM network, may include a first memory, a second, different memory, and a connection-setting control portion. The first memory may store, in a buffer control memory, band acquiring data of a connection, the first memory preliminarily acquiring a connection band for the connection, irrespective of the connection being a switched virtual connection (SVC) or a permanent virtual connection (PVC). The second, different memory may store acquired band data of a currently established connection, irrespective of the currently established connection being a PVC or an SVC. The connection-setting control portion may control a setting of the currently established connection, where a band for the currently established connection, irrespective of the currently established connection being a PVC or an SVC, is preliminarily set as the band acquiring data. |
| US07864773B2 |
Virtual circuit auto-configuration for customer premises equipment
The present invention pertains to a method and device for automatically configuring a virtual circuit (VC) of a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) device and linking it to a software interface. In one embodiment, the CPE device configures its VC by obtaining a virtual path identifier (VPI) and virtual circuit identifier (VCI) from a first traffic bearing cell and linking its new VC to a protocol. In another embodiment, the method comprises receiving a cell and checks the cell to determine if it is of a particular type bearing a VPI and a VCI corresponding to the VC. Such types of cells may be used for self auto-configuration because they contain the information necessary to accomplish the self auto-configuration. |
| US07864771B2 |
Parsing out of order data packets at a content gateway of a network
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a local node of a network, a sequenced data packet of a flow made up of multiple sequenced data packets from a source node directed toward a destination node. The flow is to be parsed by the local node to describe the flow for administration of the network. Based on sequence data in the sequenced data packet, it is determined whether the sequenced data packet is out of order in the flow. If it is determined that the sequenced data packet is out of order, then the sequenced data packet is forwarded toward the destination node before parsing the sequenced data packet. The out of order sequenced data packet is also stored for subsequent parsing at the local node. |
| US07864769B1 |
Multicast packet replication
Techniques are described to replicate multicast packets in accordance with a hierarchical data structure. For example, upon receiving a multicast packet, a packet-forwarding engine may communicate the packet to packet-forwarding engines corresponding to starting nodes of the hierarchical data structure. The packet-forwarding engines corresponding to starting nodes of the hierarchical data structure may replicate the multicast packet for local interface cards, and forward the replicated packets to the network. Furthermore, the packet-forwarding engines may replicate the packet for packet-forwarding engines corresponding to downstream nodes. In this manner, the packet replication process is distributed throughout the router decreasing the complexity of necessary replication hardware. Furthermore, the packet replication process is highly scalable resulting in a latency of one fabric hop when the number of packet-forwarding engines doubles. Also, when the hierarchical data structure has more than one starting node, the packet replication process is less susceptible to a single point failure. |
| US07864766B2 |
Directory number mobility utilizing dynamic network distributed dial-peer updates
Methods, logic, apparatus, and systems are provided to support cross cluster directory number (DN) extension mobility (EM) using dynamic network distributed dial-peer updates in a communication networks, which includes a plurality of clusters or systems and each of the plurality of clusters including a call control agent (CCA). Identification data corresponding to an identity of an associated user is received into a first cluster of a multiple cluster telecommunication network. A directory number and associated first telecommunication device corresponding to the user are registered with a first call control agent of the first cluster in accordance with received identification data. Registration data corresponding to the registered directory number is communicated to at least a second cluster of the telecommunications network. An incoming connection request associated with the registered directory number is routed directly to the first CCA without redirection to any other CCAs within the multiple cluster telecommunication network. |
| US07864763B2 |
Method and device for implementing layer 1 virtual private network
A method for implementing Layer 1 Virtual Private Network (L1 VPN) includes creating on a Provider Edge (PE) at least one Virtual PE which performs signaling exchange and routing exchange with a Customer Edge (CE) to support at least one L1 VPN service mode. A device corresponding to the method is also provided. With the inventive solution, appropriate service modes may be selected according to different demands of a user for L1 VPN services required, and VPEs and VCEs may be created dynamically on a PE and a CE to support various service modes, so as to satisfy the demands of the user. Information security and effective resource usage can also be ensured in supporting the various service modes. |
| US07864760B2 |
Advanced processor with mechanism for enforcing ordering between information sent on two independent networks
An advanced processor comprises a plurality of multithreaded processor cores each having a data cache and instruction cache. A data switch interconnect is coupled to each of the processor cores and configured to pass information among the processor cores. A messaging network is coupled to each of the processor cores and a plurality of communication ports. In one aspect of an embodiment of the invention, the data switch interconnect is coupled to each of the processor cores by its respective data cache, and the messaging network is coupled to each of the processor cores by its respective message station. Advantages of the invention include the ability to provide high bandwidth communications between computer systems and memory in an efficient and cost-effective manner. |
| US07864757B2 |
Packet switching
A packet switch having plural input sectors and output sectors, each input sector being arranged to hold at least one queue per output sector, each output sector having plural output ports and being arranged to hold at least one queue per output port wherein the input sectors are connected to the output sectors via links configured to afford speed-up of data transfer, wherein the links comprise a set of links, and wherein the switch has means for cyclically connecting different subsets of the set of links between the input sectors and the output sectors, and means responsive to statistical variations in traffic applied to input ports of said input sectors to vary the set of links. |
| US07864755B2 |
Mobile node, base station, router and packet communication system that complies with an edge mobility scheme
A mobile node in a packet communication system including a node, a link and a base station that complies with an Edge Mobility scheme is disclosed. The mobile node includes: a route information reporting unit configured to report route information that is information of a route to the own mobile node; a route information registering unit configured to obtain route information to at least one of the base station and a default router, and register the route information in a route control table; a storing unit configured to store the route control table; and a packet transmission unit configured to transmit a packet based on the route information stored in the route control table. |
| US07864751B2 |
Traffic engineering method, system and computer program product for managing traffic over dynamic networks during both normal and unexpected traffic scenarios
A network traffic engineering method, system and computer program cope with dynamic and unpredictable changes in traffic demands and in the availability and quality of interdomain routes by monitoring traffic over a network having nodes and links, calculating a routing utilizing a convex-hull-based optimal traffic engineering algorithm with penalty envelope (COPE), and adjusting network traffic flow in accordance with the calculated routing. Aggregating collected historical traffic matrices to produce a predicted traffic matrix, the method optimizes for the expected traffic scenario while providing a worst-case guarantee for unexpected traffic scenarios and thereby advantageously achieves efficient resource utilization during normal traffic and avoids network congestion in a wide variety of scenarios. |
| US07864749B2 |
Method for the statistical estimation of the traffic dispersion in telecommunication network
A method for evaluating traffic dispersion at an exchange in a communications network, the exchange being arranged for applying a set of routing rules in allotting to a plurality of links (i.e., circuit groups) incoming traffic directed toward a given destination. The method includes the steps of incrementally generating traffic quantums representative of the traffic; producing a distribution of the traffic quantums over the circuit groups according to the set of routing rules; the distribution thus obtained being statistically representative of the dispersion of the incoming traffic over the plurality of circuit groups at the exchange. The steps of incrementally generating traffic quantums representative of the traffic and producing a distribution of the traffic quantums are performed in the absence of interference with operation of the exchanges/nodes in the communications network. |
| US07864748B2 |
Tunnelling TDM traffic over MPLS
The present invention provides a method for transporting TDM traffic through packet switched networks. The nodes of the packet switched network are MPLS adjusted, and the timeslots of a TDM connection are encapsulated in data frames in the transmitting circuit switched node, and added one or more MPLS label(s) by means of the MPLS label stacking concept to identify the fixed path through the packet switched network and to uniquely address the PCM system of the circuit switched receiving node. The present invention is particularly useful for transmission of real-time data traffic through IP network. |
| US07864738B2 |
Apparatus, method and computer program product providing hybrid ARQ feedback for HSDPA MIMO
A method includes generating automatic repeat request feedback information at a first device in response to a downlink transmission from a second device; encoding the feedback information to comprise an indication of a number of streams received in the downlink transmission and transmitting encoded feedback information to the second device. Another method includes transmitting a multi-stream downlink transmission from a first device to a second device; receiving encoded hybrid automatic repeat request feedback information from the second device; decoding the received hybrid automatic repeat request feedback information at the first device; and determining from the encoding of the hybrid automatic repeat request feedback information at least a number of streams that were actually received by the device from the downlink transmission. A wireless link between the devices can be a 2×2 MIMO link. Also disclosed are memory mediums for storing program instructions to implement the methods, and apparatus including user equipment and base stations constructed to carry out the methods. |
| US07864737B2 |
Method and device for transmitting data via a transmission link
The invention relates, inter alia, to a method in which, by reducing the spectral power density in an underfrequency range (UB) of a transmitting/receiving unit, the fact that the underfrequency range (UB) should not be used to send data is indirectly transmitted. This method is particularly suitable for xDSL processes. |
| US07864736B2 |
Packet communication roaming method and system
A method of roaming in a packet communication system during a call is disclosed. The method of roaming has a scanning process and a connection process. During the scanning process, one or more available access points (AP's) are scanned-for. The one or more available AP's are prioritized into a prioritized AP list based on at least one criterion in addition to a received signal strength indicator (RSSI). During the connection process, a decision is made to roam from an existing AP to a new AP. A connection is made to the new AP, wherein the new AP is selected from the prioritized AP list. Associated methods, systems, and data signals are also disclosed. |
| US07864728B2 |
Method of allocating subbands to streams of a multichannel link in a multicarrier modulation communications system
A method of allocating a plurality of subbands to a plurality of streams of a multichannel link in a multicarrier modulation communications system, each stream being successively defined in a communications frame of said multichannel link by a number Mj of bits to be transmitted and a noise margin Γj. Each subband is associated with a normalized signal-to-noise ratio on the multichannel link. The subbands are classified in a specific order of the normalized signal-to-noise ratios. An energy Ei per subband is determined by a binary allocation algorithm. For each stream taken in the order of said frame, a number Nj of consecutive subbands taken in the order of normalized signal-to-noise ratios is allocated so that the sum of the numbers nij of bits in each subband allocated to each stream is equal to Mj where: M j = ∑ i = 1 N j n ij and nij=log2(1+El·(SNR0)i/ΓJ). |
| US07864720B2 |
Power management for wireless devices
In some embodiments, a method to manage power in a wireless communication device, comprises in a wireless networking adaptor, changing an operational status of a wireless networking adaptor to a sleep mode and transmitting a sleep message from the wireless networking adaptor to a host driver in an electronic device coupled to the networking adaptor, in the electronic device, determining whether a sleep duration specified in the sleep message exceeds a threshold, in response to a determination that the sleep duration specified in the sleep message exceeds a threshold implementing a selective suspend operation on the electronic device, and monitoring for a wake event, and in response to a determination that the sleep duration specified in the sleep message does not exceed a threshold, flushing one or more bulk IN buffers, and monitoring for a wake event. |
| US07864719B2 |
Method of generating lower layer data block in wireless mobile communication system
A method of generating a data block including control information in a specific layer of a mobile communication apparatus having a hierarchical structure constructed with a plurality of layers is disclosed. The present invention includes the steps of inserting a control data block including control information into a first region of a lower layer data block if the lower layer has the control information to be transmitted to a receiving side and inserting at least one portion of the data block of an upper layer into a second region of the lower layer data block, wherein the first region is allocated to the control data block before the second region is allocated to the at least one portion of the upper layer data block. |
| US07864718B2 |
Echo cancellation device for full duplex communication systems
An apparatus for echo cancellation in a transceiver of a full duplex communication system, where the transceiver includes a transmitter for transmitting a transmit signal and a receiver for receiving a receive signal, includes: an echo cancellation signal generator, coupled to the transmitter, for receiving the transmit signal and for generating an echo cancellation signal according to the transmit signal, wherein the echo cancellation signal reflects an effect of an impedance of a channel and a parasitic capacitor of the transceiver; and a calculation module coupled to the transmitter, the receiver, and the echo cancellation signal generator for receiving the receive signal and for canceling the echo of the receive signal according to the echo cancellation signal to generate an echo-cancelled signal, wherein the effect of the impedance of the channel and the parasitic capacitor of the transceiver in the echo-cancelled signal is reduced. |
| US07864717B2 |
Modem for communicating data over a voice channel of a communications system
A modem used for communicating data. The modem may include a packet generator and modulator. The modulator may include an electronic device configured to select at least one frequency from at least three or more candidate frequencies. At least one oscillator may be in communication with the electronic device and configured to generate respective oscillation signals in response to receiving the frequency(s) from the electronic device. A computational element may be in communication with the oscillator(s) and be configured to receive the oscillation signal(s) and produce a modulated audio signal based on the oscillation signal(s). |
| US07864714B2 |
Capability management for automatic dialing of video and audio point to point/multipoint or cascaded multipoint calls
In various embodiments, a management system may query connection devices for their capabilities and store the information in a data structure. In some embodiments, the data structure may be in a form of a Deducible Capability Numbering (DCN) number. In some embodiments, the DCN number may describe the capabilities of a connection device using a series of representative numbers. After connecting the connection devices, the management system may continue monitoring capabilities of the connection devices and line failures. The management system may reconnect connection devices based on their capabilities if a line failure occurs. |
| US07864711B2 |
Rank order filtering for randomly sampled data points
A method of rank order filtering and a rank order filter apparatus is defined by an established rank order and accepts into a buffer, data points to be filtered, each data point having a data value and an associated time stamp. Data points are accepted until the buffer contains data points representing a minimum predefined time span. The filter calculating an amount of time the data values in the buffer are above an approximate filter value and adjusts the approximate filter value based upon the relationship of the amount of time to the rank order. The steps iterate to approach a value defined by the rank order and the approximate filtered value is output. |
| US07864709B2 |
Method and apparatus for looking up configuration information for a network node
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for looking up location-specific configuration information for a network node or a subnet. During system operation, a network node creates a query message containing a key that comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) prefix and a string, wherein the IP prefix identifies the network node or the subnet, and the string specifies the type of configuration information. The network node then sends the query message to a name server, which is part of a distributed system that provides a global naming service, wherein the name server additionally stores configuration information. Finally, the network node receives a response message from the name server, wherein the response message contains the requested configuration information. |
| US07864708B1 |
Method and apparatus for forwarding a tunneled packet in a data communications network
A method is described for forwarding a tunneled packet in a data communications network. A header of the tunneled packet is removed at a forwarding node neighboring the tunnel end point, and the payload is forwarded. |
| US07864707B2 |
Determination of network topology using flow-based traffic information
A method for determination of a network topology includes generating a list of device sets for a destination; removing any duplicate device sets from the list; creating a tree for the destination by introducing a root node into the tree; sorting the list of device sets for the destination by length; removing the shortest device set from the list; introducing a new node representing the shortest device set into the tree; determining whether a node in the tree represents a maximum length subset of the shortest device set, and in the event that a node is determined, connecting the new node to the determined node, or else connecting the new node to the root node; setting the identifier of the introduced node to a list of members of the shortest device set that are not included in the maximum length subset of the determined node. |
| US07864706B1 |
Border gateway protocol peer dampening
A method is disclosed for preventing an unstable BGP Peer from repeatedly initializing unstable BGP connections. In one embodiment, BGP speakers are penalized for causing errors that result in BGP restarts. When a speaker accumulates enough penalty points, its peer notifies it that it has been dampened (prevented from establishing a BGP connection). A memory decay function allows the speaker to automatically attempt a new connection once a given amount of time has passed. The method allows at least two, and possibly more, BGP speakers to avoid network and processor costs from servicing unstable BGP peerings. |
| US07864704B2 |
Intelligent automatic reconfiguration method and apparatus for network system
A method and apparatus for intelligent automatic reconfiguration of a network system basically implements an automatic reconfiguration apparatus to acquire the configuration of every network device and generates a topology of the network devices. Afterward, the automatic reconfiguration apparatus can detect the status of the network devices. When some network device is replaced by a new network device due to a breakdown or other factors, the automatic reconfiguration apparatus can detect the changed status and check the hardware version as well as the corresponding location in the topology of the former network device. If the hardware version of the new network device is identical to the hardware version of the corresponding former network device in the topology, the disclosed apparatus can automatically load the stored prime configuration into the new network device for performing automatic configuration to the network device. |
| US07864700B2 |
Discovering and merging network information
A method of merging a list of newly found network elements and a list of previously known network elements includes arranging the newly found network elements in a hierarchical structure, and determining one or more device matches between each network device in the list of newly found network elements and one or more network devices in the list of previously known network elements. The method further includes, for each of the one or more device matches, determining one or more network element matches between the newly found network element and the corresponding previously stored network device. The method also includes updating the previously found network device corresponding to each of the one or more device matches with the corresponding newly found network device. |
| US07864699B2 |
Method and device for information transfer
A method for information transfer includes: determining, by a source Mobility Management Network Element (MMNE) of a source Access Network (AN), version number of GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP) used between the source MMNE and a destination MMNE of a destination AN; and transmitting, by the source MMNE, user information corresponding to the version number of the GTP used between the source MMNE and the destination MMNE to the destination MMNE. The embodiment of the invention also provides a device for information transfer. With the embodiment of present invention, corresponding user information transfer may be realized. |
| US07864690B2 |
System and method for rerouting circuits on SONET and SDH rings without disrupting service
A system and method for rerouting circuits on a SONET, SDH or similar ring without disrupting service. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a route design subsystem adapted to identify, for the circuits, alternative routes that are subject to an alignment constraint and increase an objective value associated with the ring and (2) a path migration subsystem, associated with the route design subsystem, adapted to determine a hitless migration sequence that allows the alternative routes to be employed. |
| US07864689B2 |
Method and system for automatic media dependent interface reconfiguration and repair
Providing and configuring communication links may include determining a usable media pair from all existing media pairs and selecting any one channel from all existing channels. The selected channel may be assigned to any one of the media pairs. Any one or any combination of media pairs may be monitored in order to detect the existence of a communication signal on any of the media pairs. Some or all of the existing media pairs may be monitored to determine which of the media pair may be capable of facilitating communication at a maximum communication speed and if not, at a reduced speed. Any selected channel may be cross-connected to any one of the existing media pairs, which may be capable of facilitating communication at the maximum or reduced communication speed. |
| US07864688B2 |
Communication system, method of providing information therein and communication device
A communication system for a plurality of devices performing communications through a network is provided. The communication system includes a transmitter/receiver, a reception status detector, and a recorder. The transmitter/receiver is included in each of the plurality of devices and configured to alternately transmit a data packet with ID information indicating time to another device and receive the data packet from the device periodically in the plurality of devices. The reception status detector is included in each of the plurality of devices and configured to detect whether the data packet is periodically received based on the ID information added to the data packet received from another device. The recorder is configured to record a result detected by the reception status detector in each of the plurality of devices. |
| US07864683B2 |
Wireless communication method with air-interface encoder packets configured for more efficient use of network resources
A method is provided for communicating data belonging to at least one application flow (AF). In one aspect, the method involves mapping the data to payload bits of two or more encoder packets (EPs) such that each said EP carries a payload dedicated to only one AF, and transmitting the EPs concurrently. In a second aspect, the above said mapping is inverted at a receiver. |
| US07864679B2 |
System utilization rate managing apparatus and system utilization rate managing method to be employed for it, and its program
A system utilization rate managing device that realizes a management of a system performance and an optimization of the number of operating nodes of different performances and architectures is provided.A node maximum-performance setter of a processing device files a maximum performance of each node constituting an external system into a node maximum-performance memory section of a memory device. A resource utilization rate acquirer acquires a resource utilization rate of each node, and gives it to a virtual utilization rate calculation section. The virtual utilization rate calculation section calculates a virtual utilization rate of the system from the maximum performance of each node retained in a node maximum-performance memory section and the resource utilization rate of each node, and gives the virtual utilization rate to an output section. The output section outputs the virtual utilization rate to an output device. |
| US07864678B1 |
Rate adaptation in wireless systems
A transceiver in an ad hoc network may use a rate adaptation module to select an optimal data rate for a given wireless environment. The rate adaptation module may use a measured RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) from a receive section and a retry count from a transmit section to determine the optimal data rate. |
| US07864677B2 |
Policer device and bandwidth control
A frame input/output unit allows a frame to pass according to directions output by a flag judging unit while consuming resources. A resource managing unit manages amounts of resources supplied and consumed. A management information storage unit stores passing information indicating policers that have passed frames during each period and management information including flag information on skip flags and the like. A flag updating unit catalogs a resource surplus flag and a supply filled flag at the end of a previous period and a skip flag that indicates whether a self-policer skips consuming resources in the following period based on the passing information in the previous period and the current period. The flag judging unit refers to a latest skip flag and judges the presence or absence of frame passing in the following period. |
| US07864674B2 |
Tiered contention multiple access (TCMA): a method for priority-based shared channel access
Quality of Service (QoS) support is provided by means of a Tiered Contention Multiple Access (TCMA) distributed medium access protocol that schedules transmission of different types of traffic based on their service quality specifications. In one embodiment, a wireless station is supplied with data from a source having a lower QoS priority, such as file transfer data. Another wireless station is supplied with data from a source having a higher QoS priority, such as voice and video data. Each wireless station can determine the urgency class of its pending packets according to a scheduling algorithm. Pending packets in a given urgency class are transmitted before transmitting packets of a lower urgency class by relying on class-differentiated urgency arbitration times, which are the idle time intervals required before the random backoff counter is decreased. |
| US07864670B2 |
Dynamic cable assignment on Gigabit infrastructure
A method and corresponding network interface device for communicating between devices connected to a LAN includes attempting to communicate between the network devices over an initial subset of the network media wires. If the communication fails, a subsequent subset of media wires is selected. The wires of this subsequent subset differ from the wires of the initial subset. If the attempted communication succeeds, the current subset of network media wires is used as the media over which subsequent network data is transmitted. Attempting to communicate over the media may include sending an initialization sequence such as an Ethernet Auto-negotiate sequence. In one embodiment, the network media is implemented as 8 wires of CAT 5 cabling suitable for use with a Gigabit Ethernet. In this embodiment, any subsequent subsets of the network media wires may consist of 4 of the 8 wires over which 100 Mbps Ethernet operation may occur. |
| US07864668B2 |
Communication apparatus and path switching method
In a communication apparatus on a network having ring topology and connecting plural communication apparatuses such that adjacent communication apparatuses are connected through plural lines, a first detecting unit detects failure occurring in a line included in a relay path set between the communication apparatus and another communication apparatus on the network. When the first detecting unit detects failure, a switching unit switches the relay path to a relay path connecting the communication apparatuses on the network in a direction opposite to the relay path originally set. A second detecting unit detects failure occurring in a line included in the relay path switched to by the switching unit; and when the second detecting unit detects failure, a resetting unit resets the relay path using a line where no failure has been detected. |
| US07864666B2 |
Communication control apparatus, method and program thereof
A communication apparatus communicably connects a network of a plurality of apparatuses and a data relay apparatus to another network of the same manner as that of the network by detecting a failure occurring in the network, and determining a detour to assure communication between an apparatus connected to a network disconnected due to the failure detected and the other network. A tunneling is established serving as a virtual direct communication circuit to the determined detour. |
| US07864665B2 |
Methods and systems for detecting IP route failure and for dynamically re-routing VoIP sessions in response to failure
Methods and systems for detecting IP route failure using a request-reply protocol, such as address resolution protocol (ARP), and for dynamically re-routing VoIP sessions in a VoIP device in response to failure of an IP route are disclosed. A plurality of IP routes are established between a first VoIP device and a second VoIP device. VoIP sessions are assigned to the IP routes. ARP is used to detect a failure of an IP route. In response to detecting a failure of at least one IP route, VoIP sessions are rerouted from the failed IP route to an alternate IP route. |
| US07864664B2 |
Delay profile generator
A delay profile generator that includes a delay profile generating component, a delay profile extracting component, an integrating component, a comparing component and a correcting component, is provided. The integrating component, in the delay profile extracted by the delay profile extracting component, integrates a signal component of a delay profile of a first time period, and integrates a signal component of a delay profile of a second time period that does not overlap the first time period. The comparing component compares integration values of the two time periods obtained by the integrating component. The correcting component corrects a time position of the delay profile window on the basis of results of comparison of the comparing component. |
| US07864661B2 |
Time-switched preamble generator, method of generating and multiple-input, multiple-output communication system employing the generator and method
The present invention is directed to a time-switched preamble generator and method of generating a time-switched preamble for use with a multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) transmitter employing first and second transmit antennas. In one embodiment, the time-switched preamble generator includes an initial preamble formatter configured to provide a first preamble to the first transmit antenna and a second preamble to the second transmit antenna during an initial time interval. The time-switched preamble generator also includes a subsequent preamble formatter coupled to the initial preamble formatter and configured to provide the second preamble to the first transmit antenna and the first preamble to the second transmit antenna during a subsequent time interval. |
| US07864659B2 |
Quality control scheme for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems
A method and apparatus for optimizing the system capacity of an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system that uses with Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) antennas. In a receiver, a target quality of service (QoS) metric and reference data rate are set. The target QoS metric may be set to a predetermined value and/or may be adjusted dynamically with respect to packet error rate (PER) by a slow outer-loop control processor. The QoS of received signals are measured and compared to the target QoS. Depending on the comparison, the receiver generates a channel quality indicator (CQI) which is sent back to the transmitting transmitter. The CQI is a one or two bit indicator which indicates to the transmitter to disable, adjust or maintain data transmission rates of particular sub-carriers, groups of sub-carriers per transmit antenna, or groups of sub-carriers across all transmit antennas. At the transmitter, the transmitted data rate is disabled, adjusted or maintained. At the receiver, the target QoS metric and reference data rate are adjusted accordingly. This process is repeated for each data frame of each sub-carrier group. |
| US07864657B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing stream weighting in an SDMA communication system
A method and apparatus for performing stream weighting in a spatial-division multiple access communication system is provided herein. During operation the base station receiver receives channel information from mobiles (also known as users or nodes) and calculates transmit antenna weights that that maximize the power delivered to each mobile while allowing for a small amount of crosstalk to exist between users. Information or data is transmitted to the nodes utilizing the appropriate stream weights. By allowing tolerable amounts of cross talk, the coherent gain to the desired SDMA user can be increased, and thus the overall performance is improved. |
| US07864656B2 |
Optical storage medium and method of producing optical storage medium
An optical storage medium has a substrate and a cover layer that allows light to pass therethrough in recording or reproduction. Provided between the substrate and the cover layer are at least a reflective film, a first dielectric film, a recording film, and a second dielectric film formed in this order from the substrate side. Provided further between the second dielectric film and the cover layer is a damp-proof film that is at least partially an amorphous film and contains at least an indium oxide. |
| US07864655B2 |
Information recording medium and reproducing apparatus therefor
An environmental load information of an information recording medium is recorded on the information recording medium so as to recycle or dispose properly an information recording medium, which is not necessary any more. The information recording medium comprises a main information area (102) for recording or reproducing information and a recording area (101) for environmental load information, which is recorded with an environmental load information of the information recording medium. |
| US07864649B2 |
Information storage medium having additional data areas and method of recording/reproducing the same
An information storage medium has user data areas and additional data areas, and sync patterns to distinguish the additional data areas from the user data areas. The information storage medium includes a user data area in which user data is recorded and an additional data area located in at least one of areas before and after the user data area. Second sync patterns used in the additional data area are different from first sync patterns used in the user data area. |
| US07864646B2 |
Optical recording medium, optical recording device, and optical recording and reproducing device
An optical recording method and optical recording device using a multi-pulse write strategy to record on an optical disc by recording a signal (S152), reading the peak level of signals corresponding to spaces in the recorded signal (S153), comparing the peak levels of the signals corresponding to the spaces separately according to the length of the pattern corresponding to the immediately preceding mark (S156), and modifying the pulse width of the multi-pulses in the write strategy accordingly (S157-S159). An optical recording method and optical recording device can thereby be obtained that can adjust the pulse width of the multi-pulses in the write strategy to the optimum value and perform optimal recording on the optical disc. |
| US07864636B2 |
Multi-layered optical recording medium, address assignment method for multi-layered optical recording medium, apparatus and method of reproducing and method of recording
A optical recording medium wherein a sector address is assigned such that a sector address of a first recording layer is a complement of a sector address of a second recording layer adjacent to the first recording layer, and a sector address of each of the remaining recording layers is assigned such that the difference between the assigned sector address of one of the remaining recording layers and a sector address of another one of the remaining recording layers that is located two layers below the one of the remaining recording layers having an assigned sector address is the same as a predetermined offset value, and the first recording layer is any one of the bottom recording layer and the top recording layer from among the recording layers, and a different sector address is assigned to each recording layer is provided. |
| US07864634B2 |
Timepiece with a calendar mechanism
A timepiece with calendar function including a dial having a tens digit display aperture for displaying the tens digit of the date and a ones digit display aperture for displaying the ones digit of the date, and a calendar mechanism that displays the date by presenting specific numerals through the dial. The calendar mechanism includes a ones display wheel having ones markers whereby the ones digit is displayed through the ones digit display aperture, a tens display wheel having tens markers whereby the tens digit is displayed through the tens digit display aperture, a ones drive mechanism that drives the ones display wheel, and a tens drive mechanism that drives the tens display wheel. The tens markers include normal tens markers that display only the tens digit in the tens digit display aperture, and a two-digit display marker that displays a tens digit in the tens digit display aperture and a ones digit in the ones digit display aperture. |
| US07864632B2 |
Headtracking system
System and method for tracking of a head comprising generating and radiating at least one acoustical test signal; receiving the radiated acoustical test signal(s) at two locations at the head under investigation and generating electrical measurement signals therefrom; and evaluating the two measurement signals for determining the position and/or angle of rotation φ from the measurement signals; the evaluation step comprises a cross power spectrum operation of the test signal(s) and the signals from the receivers in the frequency domain. |
| US07864630B2 |
Method and apparatus for minimizing interference between seismic systems
A method and apparatus for minimizing interference between seismic systems. The method may generally include: (a) actuating a plurality of first sources associated with a first seismic system to generate a first plurality of phase-encoded vibratory signals; (b) actuating a plurality of second sources associated with a second seismic system to generate a second plurality of phase-encoded vibratory signals that are at least partially frequency separated from the first plurality of phase-encoded vibratory signals generated in (a); and (c) detecting the first and second plurality of phase-encoded vibratory signals utilizing a first receiver positioned at a location remote from the first and second sources. |
| US07864629B2 |
Monopole acoustic transmitter comprising a plurality of piezoelectric discs
A monopole acoustic transmitter with at least one disc assembly with a plurality of piezoelectric discs configured to optimized acoustic pressure output within a desired frequency range while meeting physical restrictions of LWD and MWD logging systems. The transmitter is disposed in a recess or “slot” in the perimeter of a logging tool housing to reduce acoustic pressure waves transmitted directly along the tool housing and to optimize acoustic energy transmission into the borehole environs. In order to increase acoustic pressure output at a desired logging frequency range, the plurality of piezoelectric discs in each of at least one disc assembly are connected electrically in parallel and fired simultaneously. The polarity of the discs and the wiring arrangement are such that each disc expands or contracts in a common direction during simultaneous firing by an applied voltage. The desired output frequency is obtained by selectively polarizing and dimensioning the discs within the one or more disc assemblies. Each disc assembly is preferably disposed within an oil filled pressure housing that is pressure and temperature compensated. The axis of the at least one disc assembly can be parallel or perpendicular to the major axis of the logging tool. |
| US07864624B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method for operating the same
A semiconductor memory device includes a first buffering unit configured to buffer a first clock for an address signal and a command to be input in synchronization with the first clock, a second buffering unit configured to buffer a second clock for a data signal to be in synchronization with the second clock to output a buffered second clock having the same frequency as the first clock, a data output circuit configured to output an internal data in response to the buffered second clock, a delay unit configured to delay the buffered second clock by a predetermined time, and a phase detector configured to detect a phase difference of an output clock of the delay unit and the output clock of the first buffering unit, and to output the detection result. |
| US07864623B2 |
Semiconductor device having latency counter
A semiconductor device includes a latency setting circuit setting the latency, an input command circuit outputting a normal-phase (reverse-phase) command signal obtained by capturing an input command signal using a normal-phase (reverse-phase) clock, first and second counter circuits each including latch circuits sequentially shifting the normal-phase (reverse-phase) command signal based on the normal-phase (reverse-phase) clock, a selector circuit controlling a signal path so that the normal-phase (reverse-phase) command signal is transmitted through the first (second) counter circuit when an even latency is set and the normal-phase (reverse-phase) command signal is transmitted so as to be shifted from the first (second) counter circuit to the second (first) counter circuit when an odd latency is set, and a control circuit controlling so that the latch circuits of the first (second) counter circuit are activated in response to the input command signal and stopped after an operation period is elapsed. |
| US07864620B1 |
Partially reconfigurable memory cell arrays
Partial reconfiguration techniques and reconfiguration circuitry are provided that allow portions of a memory cell array to be reconfigured with new reconfiguration data without disturbing other portions of the memory cell array. The memory cells may be loaded with configuration data on an integrated circuit such as a programmable logic device. Memory cell outputs may configure programmable logic. To avoid disturbing programmable logic operations for programmable logic that is unaffected by the reconfigured cells during reconfiguration, unaffected memory cells are not unnecessarily cleared. Only those memory cells that need to be cleared to conform to the new configuration data that is being loaded into the array need to be loaded with logic zero values during reconfiguration operations. After these clearing operations are complete, set operations may be performed to convert appropriate memory cells to logic one values to match the new configuration data. |
| US07864613B2 |
Thermal code transmission circuit and semiconductor memory device using the same
Disclosed are a thermal code transmission circuit and a semiconductor memory device using the same. The thermal code transmission circuit includes a select signal generator which generates a select signal in response to a first enable signal, a level signal generator which receives the first enable signal to generate a level signal, an update signal generator which receives the level signal and a first update signal to generate a second update signal, a latch unit which receives a thermal code in response to the second update signal and outputs the thermal code as an output thermal code, and a thermal code output unit which selectively outputs the output thermal code in response to the select signal. |
| US07864609B2 |
Methods for determining resistance of phase change memory elements
Methods for measuring the resistance of multiple memory elements are disclosed. The memory elements may be multi-bit memory and through precise measurement of resistance of the multi-bit memory elements, determination of how many and which memory elements fall into specific memory ranges can be accomplished. Furthermore, storage and/or display of this information may allow for the creation of resistance distribution histograms for modeling of one or more memory arrays. |
| US07864608B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a DRAM cell configured to store a data; and a sense amplifier activated in response to supply of power supply voltages and configured to sense the data stored in the DRAM cell. A power supply circuit supplies the power supply voltages to the sense amplifier. A sense amplifier dummy circuit provides a replica of a state of the sense amplifier immediately after the activation of the sense amplifier; and a power supply control circuit controls the power supply circuit based on the replica such that the power supply voltages are varied with time. |
| US07864606B2 |
Method, device and system for regulating access to an integrated circuit (IC) device
A circuit block access module (ICAM) residing on an integrated circuit and adapted to access a circuit block on the integrated circuit, the module comprising control logic adapted to extract data from a serial data line into two or more parallel data lines, wherein at least one of the parallel data lines is associated with a circuit block address line; and the control logic is further adapted to override or bypass at least a portion of a primary control circuit of said integrated circuit. |
| US07864605B2 |
Apparatus for removing crosstalk in semiconductor memory device
An apparatus for removing crosstalk in a semiconductor memory device includes pads for receiving externally provided signals, transmission lines for delivering the signals received by each of the pads to corresponding elements in the apparatus, and capacitors, coupled between adjacent ones of the lines, for adjusting the transmission delay of the signals depending on a signal transmission mode between the adjacent lines. |
| US07864603B1 |
Memory elements with leakage compensation
Integrated circuits with memory elements are provided. The memory elements may be arranged in an array. Data lines may be used to load data into the memory elements and may be used to read data from the memory elements. The memory elements may be used to store configuration data on a programmable logic device integrated circuit. Each memory element may have an output that supplies a programmable transistor gate with a static control signal. Data reading circuitry may be coupled to each data line to read data from an addressed memory element on that data line. The data reading circuitry for each data line may include a precharge transistor and an output latch. The output latch may contain cross-coupled inverters. An inwardly-directed inverter in the output latch may have a pull-up transistor that is connected in series with a current source. |
| US07864601B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method for generating pipe-in signal thereof
A semiconductor memory device includes a preliminary signal generator configured to output a preliminary pipe-in signal enabled when a read command is applied. A delay unit is configured to delay the preliminary pipe-in signal and output the delayed preliminary pipe-in signal to match the timing of output data. A pipe-in signal generator generates a pipe-in signals that are enabled between a predetermined enable point and a next enable point of the delayed preliminary pipe-in signal output. |
| US07864600B2 |
Memory cell employing reduced voltage
A memory array is provided having a memory cell coupled to a read word line and a write word line of the memory array and peripheral circuits for reading and writing to the memory cell. The memory cell comprises a storage element for storing a logical state of the memory cell powered at a reduced voltage during at least one functional operation and a write access circuit configured to connect the storage element to at least a first write bit line in the memory array in response to a write signal on the write word line for writing the logical state to the memory cell. The memory cell further comprises a read access circuit including an input node connected to the storage element and an output node connected to a read bit line of the memory array. The read access circuit is enabled and configured to read the logic state of the storage element in response to a read signal on the read word line. The reduced voltage is a voltage that is reduced relative to a peripheral operating voltage of at least one peripheral circuit associated with reading and/or writing of the memory cell. |
| US07864599B2 |
Device and method generating internal voltage in semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device and a method of generating an internal voltage in the semiconductor memory device are provided. The semiconductor memory device includes a controller configured to activate a sensing enable signal when an active command is applied from outside, inactivate the sensing enable signal when a precharge command is applied, and output the sensing enable signal, and an array internal voltage generator configured to output an active array power supply voltage as an array power supply voltage when the sensing enable signal is activated, output an external array power supply voltage and a standby array power supply voltage as the array power supply voltage when the sensing enable signal is inactivated, and output the standby array power supply voltage alone as the array power supply voltage when the sensing enable signal is inactivated for at least a specific period. |
| US07864596B2 |
Sector configure registers for a flash device generating multiple virtual ground decoding schemes
Flash memory systems and methodologies are provided for providing multiple virtual ground decoding schemes in a flash device. The flash device can include sector configure registers for selecting a specific ground scheme at sector level. The sector configure registers can select a decoding scheme from multiple virtual ground decoding schemes including a conventional dual bit decoding scheme and a single program and erase entity decoding scheme. Since the single program and erase entity decoding scheme can emulate EEPROM functionality in a flash device, the combination of the conventional dual bit decoding scheme and the single program and erase entity decoding scheme can provide both dual bit high density storage and EEPROM emulation in a single flash device. |
| US07864589B2 |
Mitigation of runaway programming of a memory device
Methods for mitigating runaway programming in a memory device, methods for program verifying a memory device, a memory device, and a memory system are provided. In one such method, a ramp voltage signal is generated by a digital count signal. A memory cell being program verified is turned on by a particular verify voltage of the ramp voltage signal in response to a digital count of the digital count signal. The memory cell turning on generates a bit line indication that causes the digital count to be compared to a representation of the target data to be programmed in the memory cell. The comparator circuit generates an indication when the digital count is greater than or equal to the target data. |
| US07864586B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor memory device
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes: a memory cell array with electrically rewritable and non-volatile memory cells arranged therein; a first register group configured to store control data used for controlling memory operations; an adjusting data storage area defined in the memory cell array so as to store adjusting data used for adjusting the control data; and a second register group configured to store the adjusting data read from the adjusting data storage area. |
| US07864582B2 |
Nonvolatile memory devices and methods of operating same to inhibit parasitic charge accumulation therein
Methods of operating a charge trap nonvolatile memory device include operations to erase a first string of nonvolatile memory cells by selectively erasing a first plurality of nonvolatile memory cells in the first string and then selectively erasing a second plurality of nonvolatile memory cells in the first string, which may be interleaved with the first plurality of nonvolatile memory cells. This operation to selectively erase the first plurality of nonvolatile memory cells may include erasing the first plurality of nonvolatile memory cells while simultaneously biasing the second plurality of nonvolatile memory cells in a blocking condition that inhibits erasure of the second plurality of nonvolatile memory cells. The operation to selectively erase the second plurality of nonvolatile memory cells may include erasing the second plurality of nonvolatile memory cells while simultaneously biasing the first plurality of nonvolatile memory cells in a blocking condition that inhibits erasure of the first plurality of nonvolatile memory cells. |
| US07864581B2 |
Recovery method of NAND flash memory device
A NAND flash memory device is recovered by applying a predetermined bias to a drain or a source. A negative bias is applied to a cell gate so that electrons are injected into a floating gate of a cell. This narrows the distribution of an erase threshold voltage and minimizes interference from states of peripheral cells. |
| US07864580B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor storage device, nonvolatile semiconductor storage system and method of managing of defective column in nonvolatile semiconductor storage system
A nonvolatile semiconductor storage device is disclosed, which includes a memory cell array in which nonvolatile memory cells are arranged, a first data holding circuit which temporarily holds a collective processing unit of read or write data to be simultaneously read from or written to the memory cells, a circuit which takes out the data held in the first data holding circuit from the device, and a second data holding circuit in which data is automatically set at a time when power supply is turned on and in which the data is changeable based on a command input to the device, wherein the collective processing unit is equal to a sum of the number of units used within the device and the maximum number of units continuously output from the device to outside or input to the device from outside. |
| US07864579B2 |
Integrated circuits having a controller to control a read operation and methods for operating the same
In an embodiment, an integrated circuit having a memory cell arrangement is provided. The memory cell arrangement may include a memory cell block having a plurality of memory cells, a storage portion configured to store information about a quality characteristic of the memory cells of the memory cell block, and a controller configured to control a read operation, and to change the information about the quality characteristic depending on a quality of a read operation. |
| US07864576B2 |
Nonvolatile memory cell array architecture for high speed reading
When different word lines are accessed sequentially, to perform access operations in parallel, a word decoder overlaps a part of activation periods of those word lines. That is, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory is capable of pipeline processing for performing access operations in parallel. All the combinations of bit lines and source lines that are connected to the drains and the sources of nonvolatile memory cells are different from each other. Therefore, even when plural word lines are activated to perform plural read operations in parallel, a memory cell current is allowed to flow only between the drain and the source of a nonvolatile memory cell concerned. As a result, random access in which desired nonvolatile memory cells are accessed sequentially is enabled in a nonvolatile semiconductor memory having a pipeline function for performing plural read operations in parallel. |
| US07864575B2 |
Non-volatile multilevel memory cell programming
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, devices, modules, and systems for programming an array of non-volatile multilevel memory cells to a number of threshold voltage ranges. One method includes programming a lower page of a first wordline cell to increase a threshold voltage (Vt) of the first wordline cell to a first Vt within a lowermost Vt range. The method includes programming a lower page of a second wordline cell prior to programming an upper page of the first wordline cell. The method includes programming the upper page of the first wordline cell such that the first Vt is increased to a second Vt, wherein the second Vt is within a Vt range which is then a lowermost Vt range and is positive. |
| US07864573B2 |
Programming analog memory cells for reduced variance after retention
A method includes defining a nominal level of a physical quantity to be stored in analog memory cells for representing a given data value. The given data value is written to the cells in first and second groups of the cells, which have respective first and second programming responsiveness such that the second responsiveness is different from the first responsiveness, by applying to the cells in the first and second groups respective, different first and second patterns of programming pulses that are selected so as to cause the cells in the first and second groups to store respective levels of the physical quantity that fall respectively in first and second ranges, such that the first range is higher than and the second range is lower than the nominal level. The given data value is read from the cells at a later time. |
| US07864572B2 |
Flash memory storage apparatus, flash memory controller, and switching method thereof
A flash memory storage apparatus including a multi level cell (MLC) NAND flash memory, a flash memory controller, and a host transmission bus is provided. The MLC NAND flash memory includes a plurality of blocks for storing data, wherein each of the blocks has an upper page and a lower page, and the writing speed of the lower page is faster than that of the upper page. The flash memory controller is electrically connected to the MLC NAND flash memory and is used for executing storage mode switching steps. The host transmission bus is electrically connected to the flash memory controller and is used for communicating with a host. The flash memory storage apparatus provided by the present invention can provide multiple storage modes in order to store different data. |
| US07864566B2 |
Phase change memory programming method without reset over-write
A method for programming a phase change memory device that avoids RESET overwrite. The method partially comprised of applying a reset write current pulse through the phase change memory element such that the reset write current pulse produces a voltage drop across the phase change memory element less than a reset threshold voltage and greater than a set threshold voltage. The reset write current pulse writing a RESET state to the phase change memory cell. The method additionally comprised of applying a set write current pulse through the phase change memory element such that the set write current pulse produces a voltage drop across the phase change memory element that is equal to or greater than the reset threshold voltage. The set write current pulse writing a SET state to the phase change memory cell. |
| US07864564B2 |
Magnetic random access memory having improved read disturb suppression and thermal disturbance resistance
Between the value of an electric current and the supply duration for which the electric current is supplied that cause magnetization reversal, there is the relation of monotonous decrease. This means that, as the supply duration is shortened, the threshold current value for causing the magnetization reversal is larger. Therefore, in terms of suppressing occurrence of read disturb, the read current supply duration may be shortened to increase the threshold value of the current causing the magnetization reversal and thereby ensure a sufficient read disturb margin. Therefore, the read current supply duration may be shortened relative to the write current supply duration ensure the read disturb margin and suppress occurrence of read disturb. |
| US07864561B2 |
Cell structure with buried capacitor for soft error rate improvement
A semiconductor memory device with an improved protection against soft errors includes a bi-stable flip-flop cell having a data storage node and a data bar storage node. A first capacitor electrically couples the data storage node to a predefined voltage and a second capacitor electrically couples the data bar storage node to the predefined voltage. Each one of the first and second capacitors includes a top conductive electrode overlying a bottom contact electrode with a dielectric layer disposed in-between. The bottom contact electrode overlays at least two different active regions forming the data and data bar storage nodes. |
| US07864558B2 |
Method for nondestructively reading information in ferroelectric memory elements
The method of nondestructive data reading from the ferroelectric memory cell supplied with the electrodes was developed. This method implies supply of reading electric voltage to the memory element electrodes with the view of generation of resilience in the ferroelectric memory cell and registration of the resilience by the field transistor with the floating gate and/or by the conductive channel made from the material with the piezoelectric properties, and according to the value of the current running through the transistor degree and character of ferroelectric cell polarization are identified.Ferroelectric memory element contains field transistor with extra piezoelement, being the memory cell. Floating gate is based on the piezoelectric material. The memory“ ”cell has three layer structure consisting of two electrodes, with the piezoelectric made from the ferroelectric material placed between the electrodes over the floating gate and transistor.Proposed method of information exchange thorough the acoustical channel allows to create fast method of information exchange not only between the memory cell and reading transistor but can become the base of the method of information exchange in the multiplayer schemes of microprocessors and/or between memory array and microprocessor. |
| US07864553B2 |
Power supply circuit and portable device
In a power supply circuit, a first switching transistor and a second switching transistor are serially connected between another-side terminal GND and a one-side terminal VCC of an input power supply, and a third switching transistor and a fourth switching transistor are serially connected between the one-side terminal VCC of the input power supply and a boosted output terminal OUT. A shift capacitor is provided between a connection point of the first and second switching transistors and a connection point of the third and fourth switching transistors, and a holding capacitor is connected to the boosted output terminal OUT. A back gate switching circuit for switching a voltage to be applied to the back gate is provided for the third switching transistor. |
| US07864548B2 |
Synchronous rectifier control device and forward synchronous rectifier circuit
Disclosed are a synchronous rectifier control device and a forward synchronous rectifier circuit. The synchronous rectifier control device is coupled with the secondary side of the forward synchronous rectifier circuit, comprising a condition detecting unit, a reference time circuit and a synchronous signal generator. The condition detecting unit receives at least one reference signal and a detecting signal in response to the condition of the secondary side of the forward synchronous rectifier circuit, and accordingly generates a first synchronous control signal. The reference time circuit is coupled with the condition detecting unit, and generates a reference time signal in response to the first synchronous control signal. The synchronous signal generator generates a second synchronous control signal in response to the first synchronous control signal and the reference time signal. |
| US07864545B2 |
Chassis base assembly and plasma display panel (PDP) assembly including the chassis base assembly
A chassis base assembly includes a chassis base in which a plurality of slots are formed, and a reinforcing member coupled to the chassis base to protrude through the slots from a surface of the chassis base to the opposite side thereof. A plasma display device assembly includes a panel assembly having a plurality of discharge electrodes formed thereon and forming an image during discharge, a chassis base supporting the panel assembly and having a plurality of slots formed herein, a drive circuit portion coupled to a rear side of the chassis base, a flexible printed cable having end portions respectively connected to each of ports of the panel assembly and each of ports of the drive circuit portion, and a reinforcing member disposed between the panel assembly and the chassis base and reinforcing the chassis base. |
| US07864544B2 |
Printed circuit board assembly
A printed circuit board assembly includes a first printed circuit board having a plurality of electrical traces that is attached to a second printed circuit board having a plurality of electrical traces in a substantially perpendicular fashion. The first printed circuit board has a plurality of male terminal tabs that fit into a plurality of female terminal slots of the second printed circuit board to make a plurality of electrical connections between the electrical traces of the first printed circuit board and the electrical traces of the second printed circuit board. The assembly has at least two mechanical connections between the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board comprising connector blades that are substantially perpendicular to the first printed circuit board and to the second printed circuit board. The connector blades may also make electrical connections between electrical traces of the first and second printed circuit boards. A method of making an alternate printed circuit board for the assembly involves punching or drilling the alternate printed circuit board to provide a plurality of female terminals in an elongate slot. |
| US07864542B2 |
Printed circuit board
A chip capacitor 20 is provided in a core substrate 30 of a printed circuit board 10. This makes it possible to shorten a distance between an IC chip 90 and the chip capacitor 20 and to reduce loop inductance. Since the core substrate 30 id constituted by provided a first resin substrate 30a, a second resin substrate 30b and a third resin substrate 30c in a multilayer manner, the core substrate 30 can obtain sufficient strength. |
| US07864538B2 |
Slider support arrangement
A slide apparatus that provides horizontal support to a disc drive blade is described. The slide apparatus essentially includes a slider beam, a guide rail, a chassis and a retaining member. The slider beam possesses a slotted feature that extends at least partially along the length of the slider beam. The guide rail, which is adapted to be attached to a frame, constrains the slider beam to move only along the length of the guide rail. A retaining member is anchored to the chassis and extends into said slotted feature. The chassis, which supports the disc drive blade, is confined by the retaining member to move essentially only along the slotted feature in the slider beam. |
| US07864537B2 |
Socket for testing main board having water-cooled cooler fixing structure
Provided is a socket for testing a main board having a water-cooled cooler fixing structure that fixes a water-cooled cooler to the top surface of a central processing unit (CPU) mounted to a main board for a computer during testing of the fraction defective of the main board. The socket for testing a main board includes a socket body having a size larger than a CPU mounted on a main board and having a cooler positioning recess of a predetermined size into which a water-cooled cooler is inserted to be positioned therein, the socket body being installed over the CPU mounted on the main board, a cooler fixing unit installed across an upper portion of the cooler positioning recess of the socket body, and having one end pivotally coupled to a top end of the socket body using a hinge to fix the water-cooled cooler inserted into and positioned in the cooler positioning recess, a cooler pressing unit, a bottom surface of which is attached to a top surface of the CPU mounted on the main board by resiliently pressing a top surface of the water-cooled cooler positioned in the cooler positioning recess of the socket body through fixation of the cooler fixing unit, and a socket fixing unit fixing the socket body onto the main board. |
| US07864534B2 |
Apparatus for mounting a module and enabling heat conduction from the module to the mounting surface
An electronics enclosure is provided. The electronics enclosure includes a heat dissipating body comprising: a heat conducting surface, a first flange adjacent to the heat conducting surface, and a first part of a latch mechanism adjacent to the heat conducting surface. The first part of the latch mechanism is adjacent an edge of the heat conducting surface opposite to the first flange, such that a portion of the heat conducting surface is between the first flange and the first part of the latch mechanism. The electronics enclosure also includes a plurality of electronic modules configured to mount to the heat dissipating body. Each of the plurality of electronic modules comprises: a plurality of electronic components, a heat conducting side configured to contact the heat conducting surface of the heat dissipating body, a second flange adjacent the heat conducting side, the second flange configured to couple with the first flange, and a second part of the latch mechanism adjacent the heat conducting side, the second part of the latch mechanism configured to couple with the first part of the latch mechanism. The second flange and the second part of the latch mechanism are on opposite edges of the heat conducting side. |
| US07864529B2 |
Electronic unit with sealed coolant passage
To improve coolant sealing or reduce the risks in the event of leakage for an electronic unit, e.g. an engine control unit, containing electric and/or electronic components which are disposed on an upper side of a thermally conductive electronic base plate and thermally coupled to the base plate, the base plate in turn being thermally coupled to a coolant passage, there is provided a particular configuration and arrangement of the components delimiting a coolant passage. Advantageously, the underside of the base plate can come into direct contact with a coolant (“direct cooling”). By making a ridge running in an annularly closed manner and being formed in one-piece with the base plate, coolant escaping from the coolant passage is prevented from passing directly to the underside of the base plate. Accordingly, the coolant passage may be sealed by a “double sealing arrangement” on the underside of the base plate. |
| US07864528B2 |
Liquid cooled high-frequency filter
The invention refers to a high-frequency filter (1), comprising a filter housing (2), the filter housing (2) having at least one cover element (2a) with at least one resonator (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) positioned therein and at least one signal input (3), through which a high frequency signal is coupled to the first resonator (5) and a signal output (4), through which a high frequency signal is coupled from the last resonator (10) to downstream appliances wherein the cover element (2a) is made from a thermally conductive material and the resonator (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) is arranged to be in thermal connection with the cover element (2a). The cover element (2a) has at least one recess (23) arranged therein, along with a liquid coolant is guided in order to absorb thermal energy resulting from feeding the high frequency signal to the resonator (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12). The liquid cooled high-frequency filter according to the invention allows for an increased input power while retaining the physical dimensions of the filter assembly constant, thus, omitting resonator instabilities due to the development of higher TEM modes. |
| US07864527B1 |
Systems and methods for close coupled cooling
Systems and methods for close coupled cooling of electrical system components such as computer systems are disclosed. The system may include a structure defining spaces each having an inlet and an outlet and being otherwise generally enclosed in which the electronic components are mounted, a heat exchanger either adjoining the structure at the inlets of the spaces or disposed within the spaces at the inlets and configured to channel a heat exchange fluid to cool air as air flows therethrough, a fan disposed in each space to pull air through the inlet via the heat exchanger, to direct air past the electronic components mounted therein to cool the electronic components, and to exhaust the air through the outlet, and a cooling module located remote to the spaces and in fluid communication with the heat exchanger for cooling the heat exchange fluid. The system may include rack mount computer system structures. |
| US07864523B2 |
Cooling device for accommodated printed circuit board in a chassis
A cooling device includes a chassis that partitions a first space, a second space, and a third space sandwiched between the first space and the second space, a printed circuit board accommodated in the chassis that extends from the first space to the second space while traversing the third space, a fan occupying the third space outside a predetermined space that produces an air flow from the first space toward the second space by rotation of a rotor blade, wherein the predetermined space is ensured between the printed circuit board and the fan in the third space and an air duct member that occupies the predetermined space to form a flow passage of the air flow from an intake port to an exhaust port on the printed circuit board, wherein the intake port is opened to the second space and the exhaust port is opened to the first space. |
| US07864519B2 |
Storage system adapted for receiving a plurality of hard disk drives of different dimensions
A storage system adapted for receiving HDDs of different dimensions, including a casing, a backplane, at least one power supply module, and at least one storage controller is disclosed. The internal space of the casing forms at least one HDD receiving chamber. The HDD receiving chamber can be used for selectively receiving first type HDD devices or second type HDD devices. The two types of HDD devices are of different dimensions, for example, 2.5″ and 3.5″ HDDs. The backplane, the power supply module, and the storage controller are provided in the internal space of the casing. The backplane has a plurality of first connectors for electrically connecting to the HDD devices. The storage controller is electrically connected to the backplane and power supply module. A storage system capable of receiving mixed HDD devices of different dimensions is formed thereby. |
| US07864517B2 |
Mobile computer device binding feedback
Embodiments of mobile computer device binding feedback are described. In embodiments, an application interface for a device application is displayed on a first display that is integrated in a first housing of a dual-display mobile computer device. The application interface can also be displayed on a second display that is integrated in a second housing of the dual-display mobile computer device. Binding position data is received that is associated with a binding system that movably connects the first housing and the second housing. Application context data that is associated with the device application is also received. Feedback can then be generated that correlates to the binding position data and to the application context data. |
| US07864515B2 |
Image display apparatus
An image display apparatus includes a casing, a stand, and an image display section. The stand is formed of a single rod. The image display apparatus further includes a link mechanism that links the rod and a portion of the rear surface, supports the rod so as to be pivotal between a falling-down position where the rod falls down on the rear surface and a standing position where the rod stands from the rear surface, and locks and holds the rod to the falling-down position and the standing position. The rod is located at the standing position and one of two long sides of the casing and the leading end of the rod are placed onto a placing surface, whereby a first posture in which the casing stands with a first angle with respect to the placing surface is formed. The rod is located at the standing position and one of two short sides of the casing and the leading end of the rod are placed onto the placing surface, whereby a second posture in which the casing stands with a second angle with respect to the placing surface is formed. |
| US07864514B2 |
Display device
A display device allows an auxiliary unit, such as a sub display panel or a memo clip, to be easily mounted by a user to or separated from the display device. The display device includes a display panel, a support unit to support the display panel, and at least one coupling groove formed at an edge of the display panel to allow at least one auxiliary unit to be mounted to or separated from the display panel. |
| US07864512B2 |
Thin screen enclosure
A modular container (2) for a flat display panel (3) has a mounting shelf (55) for the panel and power means (48) for selectively raising and lowering the mounting shelf and vertical channels (108) or geared tracks in the container positioned to receive side edges of the panel and adjustable laterally to accommodate panels of different widths. A modular container for a flat display panel has a mounting shelf for the panel and power means for selectively raising and lowering the mounting shelf and remotely controlled power means (32, 76), for moving said container with respect to a seated or recumbent person. |
| US07864510B2 |
Clothes dryer with wiring safeguard
A clothes dryer cabinet has a rear wall with a wire entry opening through which wiring enters into the dryer cabinet. A fuse supporting block is mounted closely adjacent to the wire entry opening and supports fuses which are connected directly to the wiring entering through the wire opening so as to limit or minimize the length of wiring contained in the dryer drum that is not protected by the fuses. This safety feature reduces the chance of fires occurring in the dryer as a result of arcing between wires due to mishandling of the wires, malmanufacturing of the wires or a fire occurring in the dryer. |
| US07864507B2 |
Capacitors with low equivalent series resistance
An electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) in a coin or button cell configuration having low equivalent series resistance (ESR). The capacitor comprises mesh or other porous metal that is attached via conducting adhesive to one or both the current collectors. The mesh is embedded into the surface of the adjacent electrode, thereby reducing the interfacial resistance between the electrode and the current collector, thus reducing the ESR of the capacitor. |
| US07864505B1 |
Structural capacitors and components thereof
A structural capacitor includes at least one pair of electrodes comprising a positive electrode and a negative electrode, with a body of dielectric material disposed therebetween. The combination of the electrodes and dielectric has a stiffness which can be between 10 1000 GPa, and in some instances between 50 MPa-100 GPa. Failure strength of the combination can be between 1 MPa-10 GPa, and in specific instances between 10 MPa-1 GPa. The capacitor may include a plurality of electrode pairs. The dielectric may include a reinforcing material therein, and the capacitors may be configured in a variety of shapes so as to function as structural elements for articles of construction. |
| US07864502B2 |
In situ monitoring of wafer charge distribution in plasma processing
A processing system and method. The processing system includes a processing tool, an electrostatic chuck (ESC) arranged within the processing tool, and a system that at least one of detects at least one of an ESC bias spike and an ESC current spike of the ESC and determines when an ESC bias voltage is zero or exceeds a threshold value. The method includes at least one of detecting at least one of an ESC bias spike and an ESC current spike of the ESC, and determining when an ESC bias voltage is zero or exceeds a threshold value. The system and method can be used in real time ESC and plasma processing diagnostics to minimize yield loss and wafer scrap. |
| US07864501B2 |
Electrical connects for charge distribution applique
A lightning strike protection system for protecting composite structures, an improved lightning strike appliqué (LSA) for such a lightning strike protection system, and a method of protecting composite structures, such as an aircraft fuselage. The LSA is electrically connected to adjacent conductive surfaces, e.g., by a fuzz button or a wire bond inserted in the bottom of the LSA. An adjacent conductive surface may be another LSA, a lightning diverter overlay, or a current return network. Charge, e.g., from a lightning strike to the LSA, flows to the conductive layer through the electrical connector. |
| US07864500B2 |
Method and apparatus for remotely operating AC powered appliances from video interphones or shopping terminals
A method for adding and connecting a remotely operated SPDT relay to an electric power circuit of an AC appliance connected to a manually actuated electrical SPDT switch for integrating said AC appliance into an home automation network, each said relay and said SPDT switch includes a pole terminal and dual traveler terminals and said relay is similar to a shape and a size of an AC switch fit for installation into a standard electrical box. |
| US07864496B2 |
Load dump protection for power FET device
A load dump protection system is operable to provide protection for power transistors used to drive a blower motor of a vehicle. The load dump protection system includes circuitry for detecting an over-voltage transient. The circuitry adjusts a drive transistor into a saturation mode in response to a detection of an over-voltage transient. The circuitry lowers the power dissipated by the drive transistor when the drive transistor is in the saturation mode. |
| US07864493B2 |
Electric circuit with protection against overvoltages
An electric circuit includes a supply terminal to receive an outer supply voltage and a voltage regulator coupled to the supply terminal and to provide supply and resting voltages. A lock-out circuit is switchable between active and inactive states and receives the supply voltage at a supply node to generate, in the active state, an output voltage on a output terminal thereof. A protection circuit protects against electrostatic discharge, having at least one first diode coupled between the supply node and the output terminal. A cut-off electronic lock couples, in the inactive state, the supply node to the supply terminal by reverse biasing the at least one first diode to make a voltage of the output terminal float. |
| US07864489B2 |
Thin-film magnetic head having an antistatic layer preventing a protective coat from being electrostatically charged
Provided is a thin-film magnetic head in which a noise due to the voltage potential difference between the read head element and the protective coat surface is suppressed. The thin-film magnetic head comprises: a read head element, one end surface of the read head element reaching an head end surface on the ABS side; a protective coat formed on the head end surface in such a way to cover at least the one end surface of the read head element; and at least one antistatic means for preventing the protective coat from being electrostatically charged, formed on/above the element formation surface, one end surface of the at least one antistatic means reaching the head end surface, the protective coat covering a portion, not the whole, of the one end surface of the at least one antistatic means on the head end surface. |
| US07864485B2 |
Magnetic recording medium, recording and reproducing device, magnetic recording medium-magnetizing method, and magnetic recording medium-magnetizing device
A magnetic recording medium enhances the quality of a reproducing signal. The magnetic recording medium has a servo pattern formed in a servo pattern area on at least one surface of a disk-shaped substrate by a concave/convex pattern having convex portions (recording areas) and concave portions (non-recording areas), and a data track pattern formed by the concave/convex pattern in a data recording area on the at least one surface of the disk-shaped substrate. In a state where recording data is not recorded in the data recording area, the convex portions in the servo pattern area are DC-magnetized, and the convex portions in the data recording area are AC-magnetized. |
| US07864483B2 |
Method and apparatus for adaptive gain balancing of at least one of two rotational sensors in a hard disk drive
A hard disk drive and its circuit board and an integrated circuit are disclosed using two piezoelectric devices each having one terminal used to generate signal. The first signal goes to one input of a differential amplifier. The second signal goes to an amplifier whose gain is controlled to create an amplified second signal for the differential amplifier whose output and the first and second signals create a selected signal received by an A/D converter to create a sampled signal used to create a linear disturbance signal and/or a rotational compensation signal, which in turn are used to control the gain of the amplifier to minimize a PES envelope and/or a harmonic PES envelope either in calibration or normal operation of the hard disk drive. |
| US07864481B1 |
Evaluating distribution of peak signals representing reference track crossings to compensate for thermal expansion when writing spiral tracks to a disk
A method of writing a spiral track on a disk of a disk drive is disclosed. A plurality of reference tracks are written on the disk. A head is moved over the reference tracks to generate a read signal comprising a plurality of peak signals, wherein each peak signal corresponds to a reference track crossing. At least one of a starting radial location and a velocity profile is adjusted in response to a distribution of the peak signals, and the spiral track is written on the disk using the starting radial location and the velocity profile. In one embodiment, the distribution of the peak signals represents a uniform and a non-uniform expansion of a mechanical component. |
| US07864480B2 |
Control system and method for loading actuator arm of rotating storage device
A system includes a control module and an estimating module. The control module controls a speed of an actuator arm when the actuator arm moves from a parked position to an edge of a rotating storage medium and generates an arm control signal. The estimating module estimates a force to move the actuator arm based on the arm control signal and the speed, and generates an estimated force signal that adjusts the arm control signal. |
| US07864476B2 |
Low track-per-inch (TPI) zone with reduced need for adjacent-track-erasure (ATE) refresh
Methods and systems are shown that specify at least one low track-per-inch (TPI) region and at least one normal TPI region on a disk. The low TPI region may be used to store information that may be rewritten frequently. The normal TPI region may be used to store information that may be rewritten less frequently. The low TPI region may reduce the need for adjacent-track-erasure (ATE) refresh. |
| US07864462B2 |
Interchangeable lens incorporating a lens drive motor
An interchangeable lens includes a lens drive mechanism for driving a movable lens group provided in the interchangeable lens; a lens-motor for driving the movable lens group via the lens drive mechanism; and a power transmission mechanism for transmitting a driving force of a body-motor provided in a camera body to the lens drive mechanism with the interchangeable lens being mounted to the camera body. |
| US07864458B2 |
Lens barrel
A lens barrel includes a support ring movable in an optical axis direction; a displaceable optical element supported by the support ring movable between a photographing position and a radially-displaced position in which the displaceable optical element is eccentrically displaced from the optical axis; and an advancing/retracting optical element supported by the support ring. When the lens barrel is in a ready-to-photograph state, the displaceable optical element is held at the photographing position, and the displaceable optical element and the advancing/retracting optical element are aligned in the optical axis direction. When the lens barrel moves from the ready-to-photograph state to an accommodated state, the displaceable optical element is held at the radially-displaced position, and the displaceable optical element and the advancing/retracting optical element are relatively moved so as to at least partially coincide with each other in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis. |
| US07864455B2 |
Imaging lens
Disclosed is an imaging lens. The imaging lens includes a first lens having positive (+) power, a second lens having negative (−) power, and a third lens having positive (+) power and an inflection point on an imaging surface thereof facing an image side, wherein the first to third lenses are sequentially arranged from an object, and the second lens has power stronger than power of the first and third lenses. |
| US07864451B2 |
Imaging lens and image pickup apparatus including the same
An imaging lens includes first to fourth lens units in order from the object side to the image side. The first, third, and fourth lens units have a positive refractive power. The second and fifth lens units have a negative refractive power. During focusing from an object at infinity to a close object, the first, third, and fifth lens units do not move, and the second and fourth lens units respectively move toward the image side and the object side. The fifth lens unit includes a fifth-a lens unit having a negative refractive power which moves in a direction having a component perpendicular to an optical axis to shift a image position, and a fifth-b lens unit having a positive refractive power. Focal lengths of the third lens unit, the entire system of the imaging lens, the fifth-a lens unit, and the fifth-b lens unit are adequately set. |
| US07864443B2 |
Zoom lens, imaging apparatus, and personal data assistant
A zoom lens includes a first optical system having a positive focal length, the first optical system, a second optical system having a negative focal length, a third optical system having a positive focal length, a fourth optical system having a negative focal length, and a fifth optical system having a positive focal length, which are arranged in order from an object side to an image side and an aperture stop provided at an object side of the third optical system. The following condition is satisfied: 0.5<(T23w/Y′)/(ft/fw)<1.0 where T23w is an interval between the second optical system and the third optical system at the short focus end, Y′ is a maximum image height of the zoom lens, ft is a focal length of the zoom lens at the long focus end, and fw is a focal length of the zoom lens at the short focus end. |
| US07864440B2 |
Optical lens with variable focal length
The invention concerns an optical lens comprising a cavity formed by two transparent windows and a peripheral frame positioned in between, said cavity containing first and second liquids, non miscible, forming an interface, said interface being movable by electrowetting on a wall of said peripheral frame by application of a voltage between first and second electrodes, wherein said wall has a non symmetrical revolution surface, the geometrical shape of which is calculated such that said interface is of a predetermined shape, for example substantially spherical, for at least one value of said voltage. |
| US07864437B2 |
Adaptor for microscope and microscope apparatus (microscope-use adaptor and microscope device)
A microscope apparatus efficiently supplies and collects a liquid for observation by local liquid immersion. The apparatus includes an objective of a liquid immersion system, a discharging member for discharging the liquid between a front edge of the objective and a substrate, and a sucking member for sucking the liquid. Inclined faces are provided respectively in two positions adjacent to the front edge in the periphery of the objective, and protruded portions are provided in positions adjacent to the inclined faces. An aperture portion bounded by the protruded portions and the substrate is formed at the side face. The discharging member includes a tubular member provided on the inclined face for discharging the liquid. The sucking member includes another tubular member for sucking the liquid while taking in air via the aperture portion. |
| US07864436B2 |
Rear projection type display apparatus
A projection unit is mounted on a projection magnification correcting member, and the projection magnification correcting member includes a first member and a second member. The first member includes a first correction mechanism for correction in a direction parallel to a central light ray, and is supported by a housing. The second member includes a second correction mechanism for correction in a direction parallel to a normal line to an image plane enlarged and projected from the projection unit without passing through a reflection mirror, and is supported by the first member. |
| US07864433B1 |
Free-space optical hybrid
An exemplary optical hybrid includes a 50/50 un-polarized beam splitter, a folding prism, a beam shifter, a spacer and a phase shifter such that from an input S-beam (signal) and an L-beam (reference), four outputs, S+L, S−L, S+jL and S−jL, are produced. The phase difference between the two components of each output beam produced by the S and L beams in the optical hybrid is θ+0, θ+90, θ+180, or θ+270 degrees, where θ is the phase difference of the signal beam with respect to the reference beam. In an alternative embodiment, the phase difference between the two components of each output beam produced by the S and L beams in the optical hybrid is θ+0, θ+X, θ+180, or θ+180+X degrees, where X is an arbitrary number of degrees greater than 0 and smaller than 180. |
| US07864432B2 |
Fusion night vision system
A fusion night vision system having image intensification and thermal imaging capabilities includes an edge detection filter circuit to aid in acquiring and identifying targets. An outline of the thermal image is generated and combined with the image intensification image without obscuration of the image intensification image. The fusion night vision system may also include a parallax compensation circuit to overcome parallax problems as a result of the image intensification channel being spaced from the thermal channel. The fusion night vision system may also include a control circuit configured to maintain a perceived brightness through an eyepiece over a mix of image intensification information and thermal information. The fusion night vision system may incorporate a targeting mode that allows an operator to acquire a target without having the scene saturated by a laser pointer. The night vision system may also include a detector, an image combiner for forming a fused image from the detector and a display, and a camera aligned with image combiner for recording scene information processed by the first detector. |
| US07864431B2 |
Windshield for use with head-up display and/or method of making the same
Certain example embodiments relate to a head-up display system for a vehicle having a windshield. First and second substantially parallel spaced-apart substrates sandwich a polymer-inclusive interlayer. An anti-reflective coating is provided on a surface of one of the first and second substrates. The anti-reflective coating is arranged so as to optically remove or block at least some of light rays produced by an image source of the head-up display system so as to reduce the occurrence of multiple images being produced by the image source. The anti-reflective coating is provided on a surface of the first or second substrate opposite the polymer-inclusive interlayer. In certain example embodiments, the polymer-inclusive interlayer may include polyvinyl butyral and/or may have a substantially uniform thickness. |
| US07864425B2 |
Composite material and optical component using the same
A composite material (10) includes a resin (12), and first inorganic particles (11) dispersed in the resin and containing at least zirconium oxide. The composite material has a refractive index at the d line nCOMd of not less than 1.60 and an Abbe's number νCOM of not less than 20, and satisfies a relationship nCOMd≧1.8−0.005 νCOM. This composite material exhibits both a high refractive index and low dispersion in good balance, and has excellent workability. Accordingly, using this composite material makes it possible to realize a small optical component having favorable wavelength characteristics. |
| US07864424B2 |
Zero order pigments (ZOP)
One or more zero-order diffractive pigments (ZOP) having both a particle distribution matrix material, and a layer of material in or on such a matrix material and having an index of refraction higher than that of the matrix material, and having a diffractive grating structure with a period in the range of 100 to 600 nm, which is smaller than the wavelength of light reflectable thereby in the zeroth reflection order. In such ZOPs the index of refraction of the matrix material is usually at least 0.25 less than that of the material of the layer, and the layer is typically of a thickness between 30 and 500 nm. |
| US07864421B2 |
Symmetrical projection screen
Disclosed herein is a symmetrical projection screen. The screen includes a front screen member and a rear screen member. The front and rear screen members are made of a hard material, such as metal, or a hard film. Between the front and rear screen members is disposed a shock-absorbing member. The shock-absorbing member is made of a soft film having physical properties and material quality different from those of the front and rear screen members, such as compressed sponge, plastic foam, or poly vinyl chloride (PVC). The front screen member and the rear screen member are arranged in a front-and-rear symmetrical structure about the shock-absorbing member. Consequently, the deformation factors, such as external pressure or the change in the weather, are extinguished or cut off by the shock-absorbing member, whereby the flatness of the screen is maintained. |
| US07864419B2 |
Optical scanning assembly
An image scanning assembly comprising at least two optics wherein at least one of the optics is movable relative to the other. An embodiment may be used to scan images for a 3D display. |
| US07864418B2 |
Screen
A screen includes a screen main body, having flexibility, onto which an image light is projected; a first support and a second support which, extending one along each of a pair of opposed edges of the screen main body, each support one of the pair of edges; an auxiliary support which, being disposed between the first support and the second support, extends parallel to the first support and the second support, and supports a pair of intersecting edges intersecting with the pair of edges of the screen main body; and linkage mechanisms which, bridging adjacent supports, among the first support, second support, and auxiliary support, as well as regulating a movement of the adjacent supports in an out-of-plane direction of a projection surface of the screen main body, extend and contract in a direction in which the adjacent supports face each other, bringing the adjacent supports closer to and away from each other. |
| US07864415B2 |
Use of a focusing vortex lens as the objective in spiral phase contrast microscopy
A method and objective apparatus are provided for implementing an enhanced phase contrast microscope. A focusing vortex lens, defined by a diffractive spiral zone plate (SZP) lens, is used for the objective for the phase contrast microscope. The SZP lens focuses and imparts a helical phase to incident illumination to image the specimen with spiral phase contrast. The spiral phase contrast microscope is sensitive to phase gradients in all sample axes. Replacing the objective of a microscope with the diffractive SZP lens of the invention immediately provides existing instruments with spiral phase contrast capability. |
| US07864412B2 |
Semiconductor optical amplifier device amplifying external light signal and driving apparatus therefor
An active layer has a quantum well structure formed of InGaAsP, and includes a saturable absorption region and optical amplification regions. To the saturable absorption region, a voltage is applied through a p-electrode, independent from the optical amplification region. To the optical amplification regions, currents are injected through p-electrodes, respectively. An input light Pin entering through a plane of incidence is generated by adding optical noise of white noise, to a light signal assuming binary optical intensity of “1” or “0”. The saturable absorption region and optical amplification regions are formed satisfying conditions that a waveform converting element provides a semiconductor laser of bistable state. |
| US07864407B2 |
Display element
A display element which has an electrolyte layer containing silver or a compound containing silver in the chemical structure thereof and an electrolytic solvent between opposed electrodes, and also contains a porous white scattering material between said opposed electrodes, wherein said opposed electrodes can be operated so as to dissolve silver or deposit silver, characterized in that said porous white scattering material is incorporated through a step of imparting an aqueous intimate mixture containing a water-soluble polymer substantially insoluble in said electrolytic solvent and a white pigment onto a component between said opposed electrodes, followed by drying. The above display element is composed of simple and easily available members, can be operated with a low voltage, exhibits high display contrast and satisfactorily high reflectance for the white display, and is reduced in the fluctuation of the white reflectance. |
| US07864405B2 |
Electrophoretic display sheet, electrophoretic display device and electronic apparatus
An electrophoretic display sheet capable of increasing pressure resistance and bleed resistance of microcapsules and constructing an electrophoretic display device stably operable for a long period of time, a highly reliable electrophoretic display device and a highly reliable electronic apparatus are provided. The electrophoretic display sheet includes a base substrate having one major surface, and a microcapsule-containing layer provided on the side of the one major surface of the base substrate and having one major surface, the microcapsule-containing layer including a plurality of microcapsules, each of the microcapsules having a shell and an electrophoretic dispersion liquid containing at least one kind of electrophoretic particles and encapsulated into the shell, wherein the microcapsules exist in a generally spherical shape within the microcapsule-containing layer. |
| US07864401B2 |
Optical phase shifting plate
An optical phase shifting plate includes: an optical substrate configured to change a refractive index for light which passes through the optical substrate by a thermooptical effect; a thin-film heater formed on a surface of the optical substrate; a wiring member disposed to be substantially perpendicular to the surface of the optical substrate; an intermediate member disposed between the optical substrate and the wiring member, the intermediate member having: a first surface that is substantially flush with a surface of the thin-film heater; and a second surface that is substantially flush with a surface of the wiring member and that is perpendicularly adjacent to the first surface, a first bonding wire which electrically connects the surface of the thin-film heater to the first surface of the intermediate member; and a second bonding wire which electrically connects the surface of wiring member to the second surface of the intermediate member. |
| US07864399B2 |
Reflective mirror assembly
An interior rearview mirror reflective element includes a front substrate connected with a rear substrate via a perimeter seal, whereby, when so connected, at least a portion of a circumferential outer edge of the rear substrate is inward of a circumferential outer edge of the front substrate and no portion of the rear substrate substantially protrudes beyond the front substrate. A first electrical connection establishes electrical connection to an electrically conductive layer at the second surface of the front substrate and a second electrical connection establishes electrical connection to a mirror reflector at the third surface of the rear substrate. A perimeter band is disposed around a border region of the front substrate and substantially hides the seal and the electrical connections from view by a driver normally operating the vehicle and viewing the reflective element when the interior rearview mirror assembly is normally mounted in the vehicle. |
| US07864380B2 |
Slide-borne imaging instructions
In a scanning microscope, slides are fed automatically from a magazine to the imaging system. Each slide is labeled in some fashion with information for selecting the appropriate modality of operation of the scanner for that slide and the modality is implemented automatically. The information is preferably tied to and defined by a laboratory information system (LIS). For example, the instructions may regard the type of microscopy (i.e., trans- or epi-illumination), multi-spectral imaging with particular spectral bands combined with a particular set of z-positions, alternative filters, settings for the numerical aperture of the condenser, alternative detector operation for different resolutions, and alternative post-scan analyses of the data, as deemed optimal for the scan. The label may also contain the slide's identity, a pathologist's name, desired post-scan handling protocol, etc. The preferred array microscope to carry out the invention is also described. |
| US07864378B2 |
Image reader
An image reader includes a lamp that irradiates light onto a document, a first carriage that moves the lamp along the document to optically scan the document, a CCD that receives light reflected from the document and prepares an image data indicative of an image of the document. A size sensor detects a length of the document in an auxiliary scanning direction, and an IPU that detects a length of the document in the main scanning direction from the image data. A CPU monitors whether a size of the document has changed, based on the detected by the size sensor, and controls irradiation of the light by the lamp based on the result of monitoring. |
| US07864375B2 |
Print-image forming apparatus, print-image forming method, and program
A print-image forming apparatus which forms a print image for printing on a print sheet a two-dimensional code whose size is defined based on an error correction rate, the apparatus including: a storage device which stores a plurality of levels of error correction rates; a setting device which sets an arbitrary error correction rate from among the plurality of error correction rates; an image forming device which forms the print image based on the error correction rate thus set; a determining device which determines whether or not the formed print image lies off a code printing area of the print sheet where the two-dimensional code is printed; and a setting changing device which changes the setting of the error correction rate such that the print image can lie in the code printing area when it is determined that the print image lies off the code printing area. |
| US07864374B2 |
Image forming method and image forming apparatus
An image forming method that forms an image by using inks of secondary chromatic colors based on an input image, the method including: forming a test pattern that uses a color chart with the entire secondary chromatic colors of the used inks by using a normal color conversion table for converting a first color space of the input image into a second color space of the formed image; comparing data obtained by scanning the formed test pattern with second color space data of the test pattern, and identifying a non-matching color portion as a non-ejection color and a line position containing a non-ejection nozzle thereof; preparing a special color conversion table, the special color conversion table being provided for each omission ink; and setting and using the special color conversion table for an omission ink corresponding to the non-ejection color at the line position containing the identified non-ejection nozzle. |
| US07864373B2 |
Method and system for toner reproduction curve linearization using least squares solution of monotone spline functions
Methods are presented for calibrating or characterizing a printing system with respect to at least one color, in which a toner reproduction curve (TRC) is measured and curve-fitted according to a least squares solution using a set of spline basis functions having high spline density in regions of high TRC curvature and/or high measurement noise, with the weights of the spline functions being restricted to positive values to maintain monotonicity of the TRC. |
| US07864372B2 |
Color conversion apparatus and color conversion method
A color conversion method including the steps of a) generating output values corresponding to a body-center of each cubic lattice block included in a three-dimensional input space, and interpolating between the output values generated in step a) and the LUT values. The cubic lattice block is divided into six quadrangular pyramids. Each of the quadrangular pyramids is divided into two tetrahedron blocks by a side parallel to a predetermined straight line and by a plane including a diagonal line of a bottom plane that intersects the side parallel to the predetermined axis. Corrected output values are determined by performing linear interpolation on output values corresponding to body-center points of each of the tetrahedron blocks and using LUT values corresponding to three lattice points of each of the tetrahedron blocks and three correction coefficients based on a positional relationship of input color signals inside each of the tetrahedron blocks. |
| US07864371B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer product
An image processing apparatus includes a first storage unit, a second storage unit, a selecting unit, a first converting unit, a second converting unit, and a compressing unit. The second storage unit stores therein data on a color reproduction area of an output device. The first storage unit stores therein data on virtual color reproduction areas. The selecting unit selects one of the virtual color reproduction areas similar to the color reproduction area of the output device. The first converting unit compresses and maps image data to a virtual color reproduction range based on the selected one of the virtual color reproduction areas. The compressing unit compresses and maps the image data to a color reproduction range of an output device. The second converting unit converts the image data to a control signal. |
| US07864370B2 |
Copy machine with image rotation and back surface reading based on memory capacity required
A copy machine including: an original reading apparatus having a front and back surface image reading sensors, being capable of setting plural original documents, feeding out one by one, and simultaneously reading both surfaces of the documents; an image forming apparatus; a post processing apparatus for stapling and/or punching; an image processing section which rotates an image; wherein, a control section controls such that: when the memory capacity for image rotation is enough, the documents are read by the front surface image reading sensor; the obtained image data is rotated; and an image is formed on the recording sheet based on the rotated image data; whereas, when the memory capacity is not enough, an indication to re-set the documents is displayed; the re-set documents are fed out to be read by the back surface image reading sensor; an image is formed based on the image data obtained; and the post processing is executed. |
| US07864367B2 |
Image processing system and image processing method
A printer divides an input image into a plurality of blocks and extracts a block image corresponding to each of the blocks. The colors of the block image are reduced to, for example, four colors. Index numbers are given to pixels of the color-reduced image, and the four colors are assigned. To a color palette in which color information of the four colors is described in correspondence with the index numbers, object information indicative of the kinds of images (for example, a character, a chart, and a photographic image) is added. Consequently, the handling performance of object information for use in an image processing such as a color conversion process is improved. |
| US07864366B2 |
Method and system for improved space filling interpolation
Document processing systems and methods are presented for transforming color image data from an input color space to output color space using space filling interpolation to mitigate loss of color information at the corners of color gamuts. An initial interpolation of the input color space pixel values for each pixel is performed to compute initial output color space pixel values, and these are converted into luminance-chrominance color space pixel values. An adjustment value λ is then computed according to the luminance-chrominance color space pixel values, and final output color space pixel values are computed according to the initial output color space pixel values and the adjustment value λ. |
| US07864362B2 |
Color image and monochrome image imaging process
The following processes are performed when generating new image data by modifying the color tones of images in image data: First the user is allowed to select a parameter from a plurality of modification candidate parameters corresponding to mutually differing modification details; then, according to the selected parameter, modified image data in which the colors of at least a portion of the pixels differ from those in the subject image data, is generated. Note that when the subject image data is color image data, then the selection can be made from Nc color image modification candidate parameters, and when monochrome image data, the selection can be made from Nm (where Nm is an integer larger than Nc) monochrome image modification candidate parameters. This type of process can provide image processing that fulfill the needs of some users with the strict requirement while not complicating the operations performed by typical users. |
| US07864355B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting image
A printing apparatus creates and prints an order sheet on which a list of image data is placed. By filling in marking fields on the order sheet a user can select image data for transmission. Once the order sheet has been scanned by the scanner, the printing apparatus creates an e-mail having attached to it the image data selected by the user, and sends this to a computer or the like via a mail server. It is possible in this way to easily select image data for transmission through a prescribed communications network. |
| US07864349B2 |
Immediate verification of printed copy
Print verification is done by scanning the printed copies, thereby forming a stream of scanned images of the specific pages. Digitized images from the stream are then spatially aligned page by page, line by line and pixel (pel) by pixel (pel) with corresponding digitized images in a stream of source images. The source and scanned images are compared to find pel sequences that are different. These differences represent defects in the printed copies. |
| US07864348B2 |
Printing apparatus printing based on a degree of urgency
A printing apparatus having a standby mode and an energy saving mode, the standby mode being capable of receiving data to be printed and of starting printing processing for the received data without requiring warming-up and the energy saving mode being capable of receiving the data and of starting the printing processing after warming-up, the printing apparatus including: a print data receiving section for receiving print data from outside as the data to be printed, the print data being provided with a degree of urgency; a printing control section for changing modes between the standby mode and the energy saving mode for receiving the data and for performing control of the printing processing for the received data; and a printing section; wherein, upon the reception of the print data in the energy saving mode, the printing control section changes the mode to the standby mode for starting the printing processing or keeps the energy saving mode for suspending the printing processing based on the degree of urgency provided with the received print data. |
| US07864344B1 |
Method and system for measuring patterned structures
A method and system are presented for determining a line profile in a patterned structure, aimed at controlling a process of manufacture of the structure. The patterned structure comprises a plurality of different layers, the pattern in the structure being formed by patterned regions and un-patterned regions. At least first and second measurements are carried out, each utilizing illumination of the structure with a broad wavelengths band of incident light directed on the structure at a certain angle of incidence, detection of spectral characteristics of light returned from the structure, and generation of measured data representative thereof. The measured data obtained with the first measurement is analyzed, and at least one parameter of the structure is thereby determined. Then, this determined parameter is utilized, while analyzing the measured data obtained with the second measurements enabling the determination of the profile of the structure. |
| US07864343B2 |
Method and system for measuring patterned structures
A method of preparation of reference data for measuring the profile of a patterned structure for use in control of a manufacturing process, the method including: providing a model for generating profiles based on the manufacturing process; generating the profiles by simulation of the manufacturing process; and preparing diffraction signal reference data corresponding to the generated profiles. |
| US07864342B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring displacement of a curved surface using dual laser beams
An apparatus measures displacement of a structure having a curved surface, such as a pipe, conduit, shaft or rod. The apparatus includes a support structure having opposing first and second ends, with a first laser distance measurement device at the first end and a second laser distance measurement device at the second end. The laser distance measurement devices generate dual laser beams that illuminate the curved surface of the structure, detect laser energy reflected from the curved surface of the structure, and generate distance signals based on the detected laser energy. A measurement device on the support structure measures a spacing between the two laser beams. The support structure is pivotally attached to a stabilizing base, thereby providing for the tilting of the support structure and the laser beams. An inclinometer on the support structure measures an angle of tilt. A computer processor calculates position values indicating displacement of the curved surface based on the distance signals, the spacing between the laser beams, the radius of curvature of the curved surface, and the angle of tilt of the laser beams. Tripod-mounted and portable handheld versions of the apparatus are described. |
| US07864336B2 |
Compact Littrow encoder
A Littrow encoder is disclosed. The encoder includes first and second interferometers and a beam splitter assembly that splits a first instrument light beam into first and second interferometer input beams and directs these beams into the first and second interferometers, respectively. Each interferometer generates a measurement beam and a reference beam and directs the measurement beam toward a grating on a surface from which the measurement beam is diffracted, the measurement beam from the first interferometer striking the surface at a Littrow angle that is the negative of the angle at which the measurement beam from the second interferometers strikes that surface. Each interferometer includes at least one intensity detector that generates a signal related to an intensity of light in a combined light beam that includes the reference and measurement beams from that interferometer. |
| US07864332B2 |
Differential-phase interferometric system
A differential-phase interferometric system includes a polarized heterodyne interferometer for generating reference and signal beam that travel along reference and signal channels, respectively. The signal beam is directed to a specimen and contains measured information of the specimen. The interferometer further generates a first electrical signal output corresponding to first linear polarized waves of the reference and signal beams, and a second electrical signal output corresponding to second linear polarized waves of the reference and signal beams. A differential amplifier receives the first and second electrical signal outputs, and generates a differential signal output therefrom. A data acquisition unit is used to measure amplitudes of the first and second electrical signal outputs and the differential signal output. A computing unit computes the amplitudes measured by the data acquisition unit to determine a phase difference between the electrical signal outputs, which corresponds to the measured information of the specimen. |
| US07864326B2 |
Compact gas sensor using high reflectance terahertz mirror and related system and method
A system and method includes a tunable light source and a gas cell configured to detect the presence of gases at terahertz frequencies. The light source is operable to emit a light signal at terahertz frequencies. The gas cell includes at least two high frequency mirrors adapted to reflect signals at terahertz frequencies. The gas cell is adapted to be tuned based on the frequency of the emitted light to obtain a Fabry-Perot resonance of the reflected light signal. A pair of detectors are operable to detect the original light signal and the light signal reflected through absorption paths in the gas cell. The system and method are operable to determine a presence and identity of a gas present in the gas cell. |
| US07864322B2 |
Optical methods and systems for detecting a constituent in a gas containing oxygen in harsh environments
A method for detecting a gas phase constituent such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen, or hydrocarbons in a gas comprising oxygen such as air, includes providing a sensing material or film having a metal embedded in a catalytically active matrix such as gold embedded in a yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) matrix. The method may include annealing the sensing material at about 900° C., exposing the sensing material and gas to a temperature above 400° C., projecting light onto the sensing material, and detecting a change in the absorption spectrum of the sensing material due to the exposure of the sensing material to the gas in air at the temperature which causes a chemical reaction in the sensing material compared to the absorption spectrum of the sensing material in the absence of the gas. Systems employing such a method are also disclosed. |
| US07864321B2 |
Evanescent wave multimode optical waveguide sensor with continuous redistribution of optical power between the modes
There is provided an evanescent wave multimode optical waveguide sensitive to a chemical species or to a physical parameter. The optical waveguide comprises a core and a cladding having a cladding refractive index lower than that of the core for guiding light to be propagated in the optical waveguide. The cladding defines with the core an optical waveguide providing mode coupling. A chemical indicator is provided in the cladding for causing a variation of the optical absorption of the cladding as a function of the chemical species or the physical parameter. The cladding is interrogated by the evanescent wave of the propagated light. The mode coupling causes unabsorbed light power to be redistributed among the multiple modes while light propagates along the optical waveguide. |
| US07864317B2 |
Compact catadioptric spectrometer
An optical characterisation system is described for characterising optical material. The system typically comprises a diffractive element (104), a detector (106) and an optical element (102). The optical element (102) thereby typically is adapted for receiving an illumination beam, which may be an illumination response of the material. The optical element (102) typically has a refractive surface for refractively collimating the illumination beam on the diffractive element (104) and a reflective surface for reflecting the diffracted illumination beam on the detector (106). The optical element (102) furthermore is adapted for cooperating with the diffractive element (104) and the detector (106) being positioned at a same side of the optical element (102) opposite to the receiving side for receiving the illumination beam. |
| US07864315B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting embedded material within an interaction region of a structure
A system and method processes a structure comprising embedded material. The system includes a laser adapted to generate light and to irradiate an interaction region of the structure. The system further includes an optical system adapted to receive light from the interaction region and to generate a detection signal indicative of the presence of embedded material in the interaction region. The system further includes a controller operatively coupled to the laser and the optical system. The controller is adapted to receive the detection signal and to be responsive to the detection signal by selectively adjusting the laser. |
| US07864312B2 |
Substrates for Raman spectroscopy having discontinuous metal coatings
In one aspect, the present invention provides methods for fabricating substrates for use in a variety of analytical and/or diagnostic applications. Such a substrate can be generated by exposing a semiconductor surface (e.g., silicon surface) to a plurality of short laser pulses to generate micron-sized, and preferably submicron-sized, structures on the surface. The structured surface can then be coated with discontinuous metal coating characterized by one or more metalized surface region and a plurality of surface gaps. |
| US07864306B2 |
Personal identification system
A personal identification system, which uses a vein pattern of a finger, optimizes the amount of light of a light source based on a captured finger image and emphasizes the vein pattern during image processing for identification. |
| US07864303B1 |
Method for electronic measurement
According to the invention, the sensitivity of a method for electronic measurement may be improved, carried out by the principle of heterodyne reception with the steps of broadcast of pulsed electromagnetic radiation (ES) with at least one pulse repetition frequency, reception of back-scattered radiation (RS), whereby the back-scattered radiation (RS) is converted into a received signal, mixing of the received signals, determination of at least one time parameter from the at least one output signal, whereby on mixing the received signals at least two pulsed mixed signals are mixed to give at least two output signals and the at least two mixed signals are phase-shifted relative to each other. |
| US07864300B2 |
Door opening and closing unit to control door rotating speed and image forming apparatus having the same
A door opening and closing unit is provided for an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a main body, and a door rotatably mounted on the main body. The door opening and closing unit includes a door speed control unit coupling the door to the main body that includes a coupling boss; and a guide groove that engages the coupling boss and along which the coupling boss moves as the door rotates relative to the main body; wherein the door speed control unit controls a frictional force between the coupling boss and the guide groove according to a rotating angle of the door relative to the main body to control a rotating speed of the door as the door rotates relative to the main body. |
| US07864299B2 |
Apparatus for supporting a wafer, apparatus for exposing a wafer and method of supporting a wafer
In an apparatus for supporting a wafer, the apparatus may remove particles thereon. The apparatus may include a conductive support configured to support the wafer, and a power source electrically connected to the conductive support, the power source configured to provide at least one current to the conductive support to remove particles from the conductive support. |
| US07864297B2 |
Light blocking device and exposure apparatus
A light blocking device includes a deformable member deformable in a first direction and elongating in a second direction intersecting with the first direction, a plurality of light blocking plates arrayed along the second direction, each of the plurality of light blocking plates being connected to the deformable member, so that adjoining blocking plates of the plurality of light blocking plates partly overlap with each other, and a plurality of actuators arrayed along the second direction and which cause deformation of the deformable member. At least one of the plurality of light blocking plates is tiltable independently from the other light blocking plates in response to deformation of the deformable member. A light blocking region is thereby defined, based on edges of the plurality of light blocking plates. |
| US07864294B2 |
Focus sensitive lithographic apparatus, systems, and methods
A system includes an illuminator, a mask, and a measurement device. The illuminator includes a light source. The mask includes at least one focus determination pattern having a first pattern portion and an adjacent second pattern portion. The first pattern portion and the second pattern portion have substantially the same width but produce a phase difference in light transmitted through the pattern portions. The measurement device measures a first critical dimension and a second critical dimension of a feature produced on a target by the at least one focus determination pattern. The difference between the first critical dimension and the second critical dimension relates to an amount of defocus and is sensitive to the focus change. The system may also include a feedback control loop where a determination regarding an amount of defocus is used to focus the position of a wafer or a mask or both of them onto the target. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. |
| US07864278B2 |
Liquid crystal display device with a pair of discotic liquid crystal compensating films
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal layer which is arranged between first and second aligning films formed on inner sides of first and second substrates, has liquid crystal molecules twist-aligned in a direction from the first aligning film toward the second aligning film when an electric field is not applied between first and second electrodes, and generates retardation of substantially λ/2 with respect to transmitted light. First and second polarizing plates are arranged on outer sides of the first and second substrates. A Transmission axis or an absorption axis of the first polarizing plate is substantially matched with a direction along which the liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the first aligning film are aligned when a sufficiently intensive electric field is applied. |
| US07864277B2 |
Liquid crystal device and projector
A liquid crystal device includes a liquid crystal panel, a pair of polarizers and a phase plate. The phase plate is formed by a supply direction of an inorganic material to the substrate surface set such that a ratio of a front phase difference, which is produced when light is incident along a normal direction of the phase plate, and a first phase difference, which is produced when light is incident along a first direction different from the normal direction, falls within a predetermined range. |
| US07864269B2 |
Liquid crystal display device switchable between reflective mode and transmissive mode by employing active reflective polarizer
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device that is switchable between a transmissive mode and a reflective mode is provided. The LCD device includes a backlight; an active reflective polarizer which operates as a reflector that reflects incident light or as a reflective polarizer that reflects light of a first polarization and transmits light of a second polarization perpendicular to the first polarization, based on whether a magnetic field is applied; and a liquid crystal panel that modulates incident light to form images. The liquid crystal panel includes a liquid crystal layer, a first polarizer that is disposed on a rear surface of the liquid crystal layer and faces the active reflective polarizer, and a second polarizer that is disposed on a front surface of the liquid crystal layer. |
| US07864258B2 |
Liquid crystal panel assembly and liquid crystal display apparatus having the same
A liquid crystal panel assembly includes a liquid crystal panel, a backlight module having at least one light emitting diode (LED) light source to irradiate light to the liquid crystal panel, and a housing which surrounds the liquid crystal panel and the backlight module. At least a portion of the housing adjacent to the at least one LED light source is formed of a thermal-conductive material. |
| US07864254B2 |
Electrostatic discharge protection element comprising top gate thin film transistors with an auxiliary electrode between an organic insulating layer and a gate electrode
An electrostatic discharge protection element, a liquid crystal display device having the same, and a manufacturing method. A first ESD organic TFT, a second ESD organic TFT, a third ESD organic TFT each have a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode in which the source electrode and drain electrode of the first and second ESD organic TFTs and the gate electrode of the third ESD organic TFT are electrically connected. The gate electrode and the source electrode of the first ESD organic TFT are electrically connected to a first array line and the gate electrode and the drain electrode of the second ESD organic TFT are electrically connected to a second array line. The source electrode of the third ESD organic TFT is electrically connected to a data line or a gate line and the drain of the third ESD organic TFT are electrically connected to a common voltage line. |
| US07864252B2 |
Video signal processor capable of suppressing excessive heat generation, method using the same, display device and method using the same
A video signal processor for processing input video data in accordance with an input clock signal includes: an input section for changing the format of the video data and outputting resultant data; a logic section for decoding the data output from the input section and outputting decoded data; and a frequency detector for detecting that the clock signal has a frequency higher than a given frequency and outputting a result of the detection as a detection signal. When the frequency of the clock signal is higher than the given frequency, operation of at least part of circuits constituting the video signal processor is stopped in accordance with the detection signal. |
| US07864251B2 |
System and method for decreasing end-to-end delay during video conferencing session
A method for decreasing end-to-end delay in a video conferencing context is disclosed. At video conferencing system startup, a processor is initialized to receive either a top field or a bottom field of video frame data. If the first line of a new field arriving after initialization does not match a field state that the processor is initialized to, the present invention senses the state mismatch and adjusts a display buffer by one display line, and the field is stored in the display buffer. The display buffer is adjusted in order to preserve a vertical spatial relationship between the top and bottom fields. |
| US07864247B2 |
Method and apparatus for image scaling
A source image with an input vertical resolution and an input horizontal resolution is received using an input clock signal. An intermediate image with an output vertical resolution and the input horizontal resolution is generated using an intermediate clock signal by scaling the source image. An output image with the output vertical resolution and an output horizontal resolution is generated using an output clock signal by scaling the intermediate image. The frequency of the intermediate clock signal is equal to the frequency of the output clock signal multiplied by the ratio of the input horizontal resolution to the output horizontal resolution. |
| US07864243B2 |
Image pick-up apparatus with right and left microphones disposed on opposing arcuate sides of a front cabinet with a flash mechanism positioned therebetween
Microphone mechanisms are disposed on both sides of a flash mechanism provided in a video camera's front cabinet, and the microphone mechanisms are incorporated in the front cabinet. The video camera 1 includes: a camera body 2; a front cabinet 3 provided at the front of the camera body 2; a viewfinder 4 provided on an upper face 2a of the camera body 2; a grip belt 5 provided on a first side face 2b of the camera body 2; and a flash mechanism 8 provided in the camera body 2. In the front cabinet 3, microphone mechanisms 9 are provided on both the right and left sides sandwiching the flash mechanism 8. |
| US07864240B2 |
Imaging apparatus in which an enlargement of a live picture displayed is based on a determined in-focus evaluation value
There is disclosed an imaging apparatus for displaying a live view image, in which an enlargement ratio of the live view image dynamically changes according to changes in in-focus state of a subject. |
| US07864239B2 |
Lens barrel and imaging apparatus
An optical apparatus includes a focus adjustment unit which controls a focusing lens such that the focusing lens is driven to an in-focus position using a signal obtained by photoelectric conversion of an image of an object, the image being formed by an optical system including the focusing lens; and a color temperature detection unit which detects a color temperature of the object. The manner in which the focusing lens is driven differs depending on the color temperature. |
| US07864236B2 |
CMOS image sensor
The CMOS image sensor includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a matrix having a plurality of rows and columns. A plurality of floating junctions are provided, each of which is arranged between one of a plurality of pairs of the photoelectric conversion elements arranged in adjacent two rows and is connected to one of the pairs of the photoelectric conversion elements, so that output signals of the pair of the photoelectric conversion elements may be transferred. Output circuits are connected to a plurality of the floating junctions arranged in the column for reading in common the output signals of the photoelectric conversion elements transferred to these flowing junctions. Output signal lines are provided for each column so as to supply output signals of the output circuits. The output circuits are arranged between the pairs of photoelectric conversion elements adjacently arranged in the row.A CMOS image sensor has a plurality of pixels PD arranged two-dimensionally at predetermined pitches in the vertical direction and horizontal direction and a plurality of output circuits OUT for reading output signals from the pixels PD and the output circuits OUT are arranged between pairs of PD pixels arranged in the row (vertical) direction. The output circuits OUT read in common accumulated signals of pixels composed of the plurality of pixels PD and output them to signal output lines. By use of such a constitution, integration of the pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix in the horizontal direction can be improved. |
| US07864235B2 |
Imaging device and imaging method including generation of primary color signals
An imaging device has an image sensor, and a color filter that is located on said image sensor and has at least four color elements, a signal reading processor that reads at least four series of color signals corresponding to the at least four color elements from said image sensor, and a signal processor that generates primary color signals on the basis of at least one predetermined series of color signals and an adopted series of color signals that is obtained from the remaining series of color signals. The signal processor defines a series of color signals that corresponds to a spectral response distribution curve over wavelength range for which spectral values in the spectral distribution of the object are relatively large, as the adopted series of color signals. |
| US07864234B2 |
Digital camera having a display menu used to select either color photographing operation or a black/white photographing operation
A digital camera includes: an imaging unit that photoelectrically converts light to output a color image; a selecting unit that selects any one identifier from identifiers which are colored in different colors from each other; and a black/white image producing unit that produces a black/white image by weighting gradation values of respective colors for each of pixels of the output color image and adding the weighted gradation values to each other. When the light entered to the imaging unit is entered to a color filter having a color equal to a color of the selected identifier, a correlation between a light amount of light having a wavelength which penetrates the color filer and a light amount of the entered light becomes stronger than a correlation between a light amount of light having a wavelength which is absorbed by the color filter and the light amount of the entered light. |
| US07864231B2 |
Imaging apparatus and defective pixel correcting method
A disclosed imaging unit includes an image sensor in which plural light receiving elements are arranged in a matrix; a defective information storage unit configured to hold position information of a defective light receiving element in the image sensor; an imaging region moving unit configured to change an imaging region from a first imaging region corresponding to a desired imaging target region to a second imaging region, wherein the second imaging region is determined in such a manner that a position of a defective pixel corresponding to the defective light receiving element in an image of the second imaging region does not coincide with that in an image of the first imaging region; an imaging control unit configured to control the imaging unit and the imaging region moving unit in such a manner that a first imaging operation of picking up the image of the first imaging region and a second imaging operation of picking up the image of the second imaging region are performed in a single imaging operation; and a defective pixel correcting unit configured to correct defective pixel information created due to the defective light receiving element in image information obtained by the first imaging operation, with the use of pixel information obtained by the second imaging operation corresponding to a position of the defective pixel information in the image information obtained by the first imaging operation, according to the position information of the defective light receiving element held in the defective information storage unit. |
| US07864230B2 |
Inspection apparatus
An inspection apparatus for inspecting a microarray comprises an image sensor for imaging the microarray, a moving means for moving the image sensor relative to the microarray, a memory for memorizing the position of a defective picture element on the image sensor, and a controlling means which determines an overlap state of an imaging area of the defective picture element on reaction areas on the microarray and controls the moving means based on the result of the determination. |
| US07864229B2 |
Analog to digital converting device and image pickup device for canceling noise, and signal processing method thereof
An image pick-up device includes a first correlated double sampling circuit configured to generate a first sampling signal by performing correlated double sampling on an active pixel signal output from an active pixel and generating a first comparison signal by comparing the first sampling signal with a reference signal, and a second correlated double sampling circuit to generate a second sampling signal by performing correlated double sampling on an OB pixel signal output from an optical black pixel and generating a second comparison signal by comparing the second sampling signal with the reference signal. |
| US07864225B2 |
System and method for displaying image capture time
A system and method for displaying together images and an image capture time of captured images comprises a storage device and a viewer for displaying an image capture time. The storage device stores image data obtained from an image capture unit and environment data, which includes a storage medium, indicative of environment conditions where images are captured, and creates subtitle data based on the environment data to display a time of capturing the images as a subtitle. Also, The viewer receives the image data and subtitle data to play back the captured images based on the received data, and displays the image capture time using the subtitle data while the captured images are played back. |
| US07864223B2 |
Imaging apparatus, video signal processing circuit, video signal processing method and computer program product for converting a color image
A video signal processing circuit converting a color image represented using a plurality of primary color signals into a monocolor image is provided. The video signal processing circuit includes: a chroma adjustment unit adjusting the chroma of the plurality of input primary color signals; a gain correction unit provided for each of the primary color signals, correcting gain on the primary color signals whose chroma is adjusted in the chroma adjustment unit; and a control unit instructing the chroma adjustment unit to adjust the chroma and instructing each of the gain correction units to correct the gain. |
| US07864220B2 |
Photographing apparatus
A photographing apparatus comprises an operation unit and a controller. The operation unit has a direct key and an operation key. The operation key is used for setting a function regarding at least one of an image processing operation of an image data obtained by a photographing operation and a storing operation of the image data and is operated more than once for setting the function. The direct key is used for setting the function and is operated only once for setting the function. The controller sets the function corresponding to an operation of the operation key and that sets the function corresponding to one operation of the direct key. When the direct key is operated once, the function is set regardless of a prior function state set by operating the operation key. |
| US07864219B2 |
Video-signal layered coding and decoding methods, apparatuses, and programs with spatial-resolution enhancement
An input video signal is encoded at a plurality of coding layers exhibiting different spatial resolutions. The input video signal is spatially scaled down to a resolution-lowered video signal that exhibits a resolution lower than the video signal. The resolution-lowered video signal is encoded by using a quantization parameter, with a decoding procedure, thus obtaining first coded data and a decoded signal. The decoded signal is spatially scaled up through a high-resolution procedure for controlling high-frequency components estimation depending on the quantization parameter, thus obtaining a high-resolution scaled-up video signal. The input video signal is encoded through inter-spatial resolution prediction using the high-resolution scaled-up video signal as a predictive signal, thus obtaining second coded data that exhibits a resolution higher than the resolution-lowered video signal. |
| US07864216B2 |
Self-contained wireless camera device, wireless camera system and method
A self-contained wireless camera (10) and a wireless camera system (25) having such a device and a base station (20). Video processing (e.g. video compression) circuitry (200, 210) of the camera device receives video signals from a camera (130) and provides processed video signals. These are transmitted over a shared radio channel. A radio receiver (101) receives processed (e.g. compressed) video signals from the base station or another camera device. Images from the camera or the base station are displayed in a selected manner on a display or monitor (140). The base station device (20) receives processed (e.g. compressed) video signals, stores them and retransmits them. A command signal is received by the radio receiver to modify operation in such a manner as to control bandwidth usage. Wireless camera devices can adjust their operation to accommodate other wireless camera devices. Different transport protocol modules 230 and 240 can be selected according to the application that the user selects for operation. |
| US07864215B2 |
Method and device for generating wide image sequences
The invention relates to a video recording apparatus comprising: a microprocessor (130), a memory means (120) for storing program for generating a set of calibration parameters related to a device having at least two video cameras which are arranged in a predetermined relationship to each other, said parameters being unique for the at least two cameras and their current location as related to the object being recorded; said memory means (120) also storing program for recording of wide image video sequences; read and write memory means (140) for storing data relating to recorded video sequences from at least two video cameras; input means (300) for input of manual input of parameters, input of recorded video sequences, output means (300) for output of a wide image video sequence. The invention also relates to a method for generating a wide image video sequence, said method comprising the steps of generating a set of calibration parameters related to a device having at least two video cameras which are arranged in a predetermined relationship to each other, said parameters being unique for the at least two cameras and their current location as related to the object being recorded; recording synchronously video sequences using each of said at least two video cameras, and generating a wide image video sequence from each of said synchronously recorded video sequences. |
| US07864214B2 |
Signal processing device
A signal processing device includes a system of circuit processing in essence while avoiding large sized device under restoring fluctuated signals such as deterioration and the like. The signal processing unit includes a processing unit that restores one of a signal before fluctuation, a signal which should have been intrinsically obtained, and signal data which is approximated from these signals from an initial signal which has fluctuated like deterioration. A fluctuated data region storing fluctuated data and a restored data region storing signal data (restored data) restored every restoring process are installed. The processing unit repeats the following processes in order to produce data formed in the restored data region at the completion of processing as original signal data. The processing unit transfers energy of the fluctuated data from the fluctuated data region to the restored data region using fluctuation-factor information data, which is a fluctuation factor, and produces restored data; and substitutes residual data in the fluctuated data region remained through the data transfer for the fluctuated data. |
| US07864212B2 |
Image storing and printing device with replaceable casing
An image storage device comprising a chassis carrying a memory for storing at least one image, a pagewidth print head for printing said stored image, an ink supply means for supplying ink to the print head, a supply of print media on to which said stored image is printed, and a casing surrounding and encasing said chassis so that the supply of print media is unable to be accessed without destruction of the casing. The casing comprises a front shell and a back shell, the front and back shells adapted to be snap-on fitted to each other. The back shell comprises a clamp strip adapted to clamp to the cover a wrapper label. |
| US07864210B2 |
System and methods for video conferencing
A system for generating video images and corresponding audio of multiple parties engaged in a video conference is provided. The system includes multiple voice transducers for receiving voice signals from the multiple parties and a video camera for capturing moving images of one of the multiple parties who is speaking. The system further includes a processor in communication with the voice transducers and video camera. The processor determines respective distances and angles between the party who is speaking and each of the multiple voice transducers. Additionally, the processor identifies a location of the party who is speaking relative to the video camera based on the determined respective distances and angles. Based on the identified location, the processor selects a portion of a video frame produced by video camera and processes the selected portion to mitigate optical distortion and generate an overall picture in which the party speaking does not appear unnaturally small relative to the overall picture. |
| US07864209B2 |
Audio processing in a multi-participant conference
Some embodiments provide an architecture for establishing multi-participant audio conferences over a computer network. This architecture has a central distributor that receives audio signals from one or more participants. The central distributor mixes the received signals and transmits them back to participants. In some embodiments, the central distributor eliminates echo by removing each participant's audio signal from the mixed signal that the central distributor sends to the particular participant. |
| US07864207B2 |
Optical disk drawing apparatus
A system control unit writes image data received from a host apparatus into a first storage regions. Next, the system control unit produces duplication data from the image data written in the first storage region, and then, writes these produced duplication data into a second storage regions. Furthermore, the system control unit furthermore produces duplication data from the image data written in the second storage region, and writes these produced duplication data into a third storage region. As a result, 1 piece of the image data and 2 pieces of the duplication data can be prepared on a buffer memory. The optical disk drawing apparatus draws an image on a drawing layer of an optical disk by employing these image data and duplication data. |
| US07864200B1 |
Multiple backdrop compositing
Systems and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing techniques for compositing a digital image. The invention performs the steps of identifying a graphics element in a compositing order, the graphics element identifying a source image from among a plurality of images; copying the source image into a working buffer; using the element to modify the working buffer by applying a general filtering operation to data in the working buffer; and crossfading a first image with the modified working buffer. |
| US07864196B2 |
Image display system and server device
An image display system includes: a storage section that stores plural image data sets and layout information indicating layout of one or plural sub images forming, as a whole, a background image behind a main image; a main image select section that selects one image data as a main image data set expressing a main image, from the plural image data sets; a characteristic specify section that specifies a characteristic of the main image data set selected by the main image select section; a sub image extract section that extracts, as one or plural image data sets each expressing a sub image, one or plural image data sets each having a characteristic making a relationship with the characteristic specified by the characteristic specify section, among the plural image data sets stored in the storage section except the main image data set, whereby the relationship satisfies a predetermined condition; and an image display section that displays the main image selected by the main image select section and the one or plural sub images extracted by the sub image extract section, in accordance with the layout information stored in the storage section. |
| US07864194B2 |
Systems and methods for motion adaptive filtering
Methods and systems for motion adaptive filtering detect movement of text or areas of high spatial frequency in one frame to another frame of an image. When such movement is detected and meets a certain level or threshold, the subpixel rendering processing of such text or areas of high spatial frequency may be changed. |
| US07864191B2 |
Techniques for efficient dithering
A system comprising a storage including an image file associated with a plurality of pixels and processing logic coupled to the storage. The processing logic is adapted to determine an average of least significant bits associated with a maximum of two of the plurality of pixels, add the average to bits associated with a target pixel, and disassociate from the target pixel least significant bits of the target pixel. No pixels are disposed between the target pixel and each of the two of the plurality of pixels. |
| US07864190B2 |
Methods and apparatus for encoding and decoding images
Methods and apparatus for generating images, compressing image data, decompressing image data, and processing the decompressed image data so that it can be used by a rendering circuit of a device, e.g., a set top box, are described. Images are generated in the native format used by the rendering circuit of the device which will ultimately control the display of the image avoiding the need to perform processing associated with converting color component information from one format to another. Uncompressed image data is arranged in a file with color component values being grouped separately from alpha values to facilitate compression by a standard file compression technique. The file is compressed using a conventional file compression operation. The compressed image file is decompressed when needed and the alpha data and color component data is reorganized so that the color component values and alpha value(s) corresponding to individual pixels are grouped together. |
| US07864189B2 |
Converting color data to a color palette
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method to convert a pixel tuple in a red, green, blue (RGB) color space having R, G, and B color values into a human recognizable color name corresponding to a range of numerical values of a linear color palette scale based on application of the RGB color values to a predetermined set of hierarchical rules. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07864184B2 |
Image processing device, image processing system, image processing method, computer program, and semiconductor device
Provided is an image processing device for outputting a graphic image drawn into a frame memory after saving the image in a display memory. The image processing device is provided with a save processing section for saving frame data representing a predetermined image from a graphic memory in which the frame data is stored to a display memory, and an output interface for outputting the frame data saved in the display memory by transforming the frame data into a video output signal. The save processing section saves the frame data from the graphic memory to the display memory in equally divided units (partial data units). The partial data units of the frame data are outputted from the display memory. |
| US07864183B1 |
Dynamic switching of memory termination characteristics in a graphics system
A graphics system includes a graphics memory. The graphics system includes a high performance mode and at least one power savings mode. A termination impedance and switching threshold of the graphics memory are selected based on an operating mode of the graphics system. |
| US07864179B1 |
Fractional parametric polystar methods and apparatus
Methods and apparatus disclosed herein receive a non-integer star points input parameter value, create a star shape with a number of star points equal to an integer portion of the star points input parameter plus one, and store or render the star shape to an output device. A fractional star point is differentiated from integer star points by a differential radial length between the two. Some embodiments also receive a non-integer polygon sides input parameter value and render a modified polygon shape with a total number of sides equal to an integer portion of the polygon sides input parameter plus one. A number of sides equal to the integer portion of the polygon sides parameter minus one are rendered as regular polygon sides. Two sides are rendered as adjacent symmetrical bezier curves, and the modified polygon shape is stored or rendered to an output device. |
| US07864177B2 |
System and methods for real-time rendering with global and specular illumination
Frames of image data representative of a scene containing deformable geometry are computed for display on a display device. Frame animation data is computed for a series of frames representative, in animated sequence, of a scene containing deformable geometry. The frame animation data includes a control mesh descriptive of the three-dimensional surface of graphical elements occurring within the scene. Based on the frame animation data, respective illumination values are computed for the individual polygons of the control mesh to determine the global illumination of the scene. The computation is performed iteratively utilizing the directional light functionally emitted from source polygons to receiver polygons to determine global illumination. The directional light emitter values are further utilized, in combination with material properties, specular illumination contributions to the global illumination of the receiver polygons. |
| US07864173B2 |
Systems and methods for creating virtual objects in a sketch mode in a haptic virtual reality environment
A user of a modeling application modifies an initial virtual object using a sketch drawn on one or more construction planes. Typically, construction planes are connected by an axis that intersects the virtual object. The user can draw a sketch on each construction plane, and the modeling application interpolates a shape along the axis between the sketches to determine what material in the virtual object is to be removed from it. In this manner, material may be removed to create a recess or hole in the virtual object or otherwise to slice away material from the object. A user can use two or more axes and construction planes to produce complex shapes from the initial virtual object. A user can also select a portion of a virtual object and mirror the selected portion. Modifications that the user makes in the selected portion are made correspondingly in the mirrored portion. |
| US07864172B2 |
Cathode potential controller, self light emission display device, electronic apparatus, and cathode potential controlling method
A cathode potential controller for controlling a common cathode potential applied to a self light emission type display panel in which an emission state of each of pixels is driven and controlled in accordance with an active matrix drive system, the cathode potential controller including: a self light emitting element; a constant current source; an electrode-to-electrode voltage measuring portion; a cathode potential determining portion; and a cathode potential applying portion. |
| US07864166B2 |
Networked computer system with wireless pen interface
A networked computer system includes a printer configured to print media bearing visible graphic data and invisible coded data tags and receive transmitted sensed data associated with the data tags. A pen-type device includes an image sensor configured to sense the data tags and wirelessly transmit associated sensed data to the printer. One or more servers are interfaced to the printer, via a network, and are configured to receive the sensed data from the printer and process the sensed data. |
| US07864164B2 |
Haptic interface for palpation simulation
A method for interfacing a user with a computer running an application program, the computer generating a graphical environment comprising a graphical object and a graphical representation of at least a portion of a living body, comprises providing an object in communication with the computer, controlling the graphical object in relation to manipulation of at least a portion of the object by the user, and outputting a haptic sensation to the user when the graphical object interacts with a region within the graphical representation to provide the user with haptic feedback related to a simulated palpation of the region. |
| US07864163B2 |
Portable electronic device, method, and graphical user interface for displaying structured electronic documents
A computer-implemented method, for use in conjunction with a portable electronic device with a touch screen display, comprises displaying at least a portion of a structured electronic document on the touch screen display, wherein the structured electronic document comprises a plurality of boxes of content, and detecting a first gesture at a location on the displayed portion of the structured electronic document. A first box in the plurality of boxes at the location of the first gesture is determined. The first box on the touch screen display is enlarged and substantially centered. |
| US07864162B2 |
Product having encoded authentication writing areas
A product is provided which has a plurality of coded tags and at least one authentication writing area defined by at least some of the coded tags for receiving handwritten authentication information from a sensing device operated by a user. Each coded tag encodes coordinates for a point on a tag map and an orientation feature. The orientation features enable the sensing device to determine a planar orientation of each tag relative to a yaw of the sensing device. |
| US07864149B2 |
Display panel
In a display panel, main and sub pixel electrodes are connected to first and second drain electrodes of a thin film transistor, respectively, to receive a data voltage during a 1 H period as main and sub pixel voltages. A main storage electrode overlaps the main pixel electrode to receive a first common voltage that varies with the gate pulse and the polarity of the data voltage. A sub storage electrode overlaps the sub pixel electrode to receive a second common voltage that is uniformly maintained at a constant voltage level. The sub pixel voltage is uniformly maintained by the second common voltage, but the main pixel voltage is shifted up or down by the first common voltage. Thus, the main pixel voltage may have a voltage level higher than that of the sub pixel voltage. |
| US07864148B2 |
Bistable nematic liquid crystal display device and method for controlling such a device
The present invention relates to a display device comprising a bistable nematic liquid-crystal matrix screen with anchoring breaking, characterized in that it comprises: components (40) capable of switching between an off state and an on state, these components being placed respectively between a drive electrode (47) associated with each pixel and a display state control link (45); and means capable of applying, to the input of each aforementioned component (40), via the state control link (45), input signals comprising at least two phases separated by a controlled time interval, namely a first phase during which the input signal has an amplitude sufficient to permit breaking of the anchoring of the liquid crystal on the associated pixel, then a second phase during which the amplitude of the input signal is controlled in order to select one of the two bistable states of the liquid crystal, the time interval between the two phases being adapted in order to break the anchoring of the liquid crystal on the said associated pixel before the second input signal phase is applied. |
| US07864146B2 |
Gamma voltage output circuit having the same DC current voltage input for liquid crystal display
An exemplary gamma voltage output circuit (2) for a liquid crystal display includes a plurality of operational amplifiers (221) and a plurality of resistors (Rn1˜Rn2). Each of the operational amplifiers includes a high voltage input port, a low voltage input port, a non-inverting input port, an inverting input port, and an output port. The high voltage input port of each operational amplifier connects to a same electrical source, and the low voltage input port of each operational amplifier is grounded. The non-inverting input port of each operational amplifier receives a same direct-current voltage, and the output port of each operational amplifier outputs a gamma voltage configured for driving the liquid crystal display and is grounded via two respective of the resistors connected in series. A node between the two respective resistors connects to the inverting input port of the operational amplifier. |
| US07864145B2 |
Display units and display panels of light emitting display devices
A display unit and a display panel are provided. In the display panel, uneven images caused by the electrical difference between driving transistors within the display unit are prevented through increasing the number of switch elements within the display unit and the number of scan signals and controlling data signals. Moreover, unequal brightness resulted from the disposition of the power lines is also prevented. |
| US07864144B2 |
Light emission control device, display device, drive control device, and control device
A light emission control device has a drive current feeder supplying a drive current to a light-emitting element, a drive current controller controlling the current level of the drive current based on the number of pulses in an enable signal, and a resetter resetting the controlling of the current level of the drive current when the enable signal has remained in a predetermined logic state for a predetermined period. Thus configured, the light emission control device allows its turning-on and -off and drive current level to be controlled with a single-line interface. |
| US07864141B2 |
Display device and a driving method thereof
A display device and a driving method thereof are provided. The display device comprises a plurality of pixels, each pixel includes: a light emitting element; a storage capacitor; a driving transistor that has a control terminal, an input terminal, and an output terminal and supplies a current to the light emitting element to emit light; a first switching transistor for supplying a data voltage to the storage capacitor in response to a scanning signal; a second switching transistor for diode-connecting the driving transistor in response to a previous scanning signal; and a third switching transistor for supplying a driving voltage to the driving transistor in response to an emission signal, wherein the storage capacitor stores a control voltage depending on a threshold voltage of the driving transistor and a threshold voltage of the light emitting element through the diode-connected driving transistor, and transmits the control voltage and the data voltage to the control terminal of the driving transistor. |
| US07864140B2 |
Light-emitting display
A light-emitting display device includes a pixel circuit that transmits a data signal using switches responding to control signals. The pixel circuit of the light-emitting display device includes first and second switching transistors serially coupled to a data line. A capacitor is charged with charges in response to a data signal from the data line through the first and second switching transistors. A driving transistor outputs a current corresponding to the charges in the capacitor. A light-emitting diode emits light corresponding to the current. One of the first and second switching transistors is turned on in response to a select signal from a first scan line and the other one is turned on in response to a control signal for controlling an operation of a second pixel circuit. |
| US07864136B2 |
Tiled electronic display structure
A tiled display device is formed from display tiles having picture element (pixel) positions defined up to the edge of the tiles. Each tile includes a memory which stores display data, and pixel driving circuitry which controls the scanning and illumination of the pixels on the tile. The tiles are formed in two parts, an electronics section and a display section. Each of these parts includes connecting pads which cover several pixel positions. Each connecting pad makes an electrical connection to only one row electrode or column electrode. The connecting pads on the display section are electrically connected and physically joined to corresponding connecting pads on the electronics section to form a complete tile. |
| US07864129B2 |
Radio frequency medical treatment device and system and usage method thereof
Advanced RF therapeutic antenna probes, their systems and usage methods are disclosed. The therapeutic antenna probe comprising an RF power transmitting cable by which a dipole antenna assembly is formed and a sheath that includes the dipole antenna assembly therein. The RF power transmitting means comprises at least a central conductor, a cylindrical dielectric insulator formed around the central conductor and an outer conductor all of which are formed to be the dipole antenna assembly. A dipole antenna which is a member of the dipole antenna assembly is composed of the first and second electrodes which are formed by a part and another part of the outer conductor, respectively, and electrically connected to the one central conductor and an isolating means which is formed between the first and the second electrodes. The sheath is made of a hard material for at least a head element having a sharp edge. |
| US07864127B2 |
Broadband terminated discone antenna and associated methods
The discone antenna is a small communication antenna with broad voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) bandwidth. The discone antenna includes a conical antenna element and a disc antenna element adjacent the apex thereof and including a proximal electrically conductive planar member and a spaced apart distal electrically conductive planar member being electrically connected together at respective peripheries thereof defining a folded ground plane. An antenna feed structure is coupled to the disc and conical antenna elements and includes a first conductor coupled to the proximal electrically conductive planar member, and a second conductor coupled to the conical antenna element and to the distal electrically conductive planar member. An impedance element, such as a resistor, may be connected between the second conductor and the distal electrically conductive planar member. |
| US07864126B2 |
Transmitting/receiving antenna with radiation diversity
The present invention relates to a transmission/reception antenna with diversity of radiation comprising on a substrate at least a first and a second radiating elements connected by a network of feeder lines to a transmission/reception circuit of electromagnetic signals, wherein the network is constituted by a first feeder line connected to a first radiating element and by a set of two second feeder lines each connected by means of a switching element to the second radiating element in such a manner as to supply the two radiating elements in phase or in phase opposition, the set of the two second feeder lines being connected to the first feeder line by a third feeder line, the first and third feeder lines being connected by a feeder line common to the transmission/reception circuit of electromagnetic signals. |
| US07864124B2 |
Multi-band antenna for mobile phone
A mobile phone includes a multi-band antenna which is mutually connected in a dependent manner for operation according to a signal transmitted to and received from the mobile phone; and a resonance unit for generating resonance for multiple frequency bands as ends of the multi-band antenna are spaced apart at a predetermined interval, to improve mute performance, reduce SAR, and prevent a reduction in call performance due to an influence of a user's body and hand when holding the mobile phone to make a call. |
| US07864122B2 |
Electronic device
According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a housing, a storage mechanism, a printed wiring board, an antenna element and a component. The storage mechanism and printed wiring board are accommodated in the housing. The antenna element is mounted on the printed wiring board and executes wireless communication. The component adversely affects the wireless communication by the antenna element. The printed wiring board includes a first surface which is opposed to the component, and a second surface which is located on a side opposite to the first surface. The antenna element is mounted on the second surface. |
| US07864121B2 |
MIMO self-expandable antenna structure
Systems and methodologies are described that provide a low cost, compact and easily manufacturable multiple-input, multiple-output antenna structure suitable for portable radio equipment. Multiple antenna elements are printed on a folded flexible material. The flexible material expands when the antenna structure is deployed for operation and collapses when stowed. |
| US07864118B2 |
Dual circularly polarized antenna system and a method of communicating signals by the antenna system
An antenna system and a method for communicating signals by a dual circularly polarized antenna system are provided. The antenna system includes a substantially straight microstrip segment and a plurality of substantially straight microstrip projections. The plurality of microstrip projections extend from the microstrip segment in pairs at a predetermined angle, wherein each microstrip projection of the pair of microstrip projections extends from substantially the same location on the microstrip segment. A first microstrip projection extends from the microstrip segment on a first side of the microstrip segment and a second microstrip projection extends from the microstrip segment on a second side of the microstrip segment, such that the first and second microstrip projections at least one of emit and receive circularly polarized radiation in a first direction and circularly polarized radiation in a second direction simultaneously. |
| US07864116B2 |
Mounting structure of antenna device
A mounting structure of an antenna device for mounting the antenna device composed of a ground part and an element part on an electronic apparatus is disclosed. The ground part is mounted on the electronic apparatus so as to be substantially overlapped with a conductive part of the electronic apparatus. |
| US07864114B2 |
Negative permeability or negative permittivity meta material and surface wave waveguide
Each of unit cells constituting a negative permeability medium includes a metal patch formed on a surface of a dielectric substrate. The dielectric substrate has a rear surface having a ground conductor formed on its entire surface. A positive permeability medium is an existing micro strip line and each of unit cells has a two-dimensional structure having a metal strip connected in four directions. The dielectric substrate has a rear surface having a ground conductor formed on its entire surface. The negative permeability medium is arranged at the left side adjacent to the positive permeability medium formed by unit cells arranged at the right side so that the media oppose to each other. A waveguide formed by the positive/negative permittivity medium or the positive/negative permeability medium of the meta material for propagation of a surface wave is formed at the boundary of the two media. |
| US07864110B2 |
Method for beam formation by calculation, in particular adapted to the compensation of failures of active modules of a radar with electronic scanning
The invention relates to a method for beam formation by calculation. For each defective active module of rank ip, the missing samples of the microwave signal a(îp) are calculated by one or more non-adaptive interpolations using the samples coming from the active modules in nominal operating mode situated in the neighborhood of the defective active modules, the beam being formed as if the interpolated samples a(îp) were the real measurements. In particular, the invention is applicable to the compensation for the effects of failures of one or more active modules distributed over an antenna of a radar with electronic scanning. The method according to the invention can notably be implemented within an airborne weather radar. |
| US07864108B2 |
Present position estimation method, positioning method, program, and mobile terminal
A final located position when a GPS receiver section (positioning section) has finished positioning is determined to be the latest located position, and the combination of identification information (ID) of base stations (suspended base stations) with which a portable telephone wireless communication circuit section has performed wireless communication is stored in a flash ROM. The combination of base stations that currently perform wireless communication with the wireless communication section and the combination of the suspended base stations stored in the flash ROM are compared when the GPS receiver section again performs positioning. When it has been determined that the combinations coincide, the latest located position stored in the flash ROM is estimated to be the present position of a portable telephone. The estimated present position is used as the initial position during the first positioning when the GPS receiver section again performs positioning. |
| US07864100B2 |
Self-referencing radar pulse detector
An automatic pulse detector compares a radar video pulse to a delayed and amplified version of itself. The radar video pulse serves as an amplitude reference for a comparator. A delayed and amplified version of the same pulse serves as the pulse to be detected. Time of detection is amplitude independent and is not degraded by flat-topped pulses. Pulse detection occurs at a fixed, fractional point on the leading edge of a pulse where noise has less temporal influence than at the top of a pulse. Unlike a time-of-peak detector, the self-referencing pulse detector is well-suited to detecting wide, flat-topped pulses produced by expanded-time, pulse-echo radars operating in relatively narrow ISM bands. |
| US07864095B2 |
Wave absorber and manufacturing method of wave absorber
The problem of the present invention is to offer a wave absorber that has reflection attenuation capability sufficient to enable prevention of communication disturbances due to reflection and the like of EM waves, that enables greater thinness and lighter weight, and that has wide-band attenuation properties, as well as a manufacturing method of the wave absorber. The wave absorber of the present invention has a structure which sequentially laminates a grid-like conductor layer composed of an electric conductor, a first dielectric layer, a high-resistance conductor layer having a surface resistivity within a prescribed range, a second dielectric layer, and a pattern layer having multiple patterns composed of an electric conductor, wherein each pattern in said pattern layer differs in either or both of size and form relative to another adjacent pattern. |
| US07864094B2 |
Solid-state image sensing device, imaging method, and imaging apparatus
A solid-state image sensing device includes: a pixel unit that has plural pixels and outputs analog pixel signals; a ramp signal generator unit that generates a ramp signal having a predetermined initial voltage and a fixed gradient; and an analog-digital converter unit that compares the analog pixel signals output by the pixel unit to the ramp signal generated by the ramp signal generator unit and digitally converts the analog pixel signals based on a comparison time, wherein the analog-digital converter unit can perform operation in a digital addition mode of adding the analog pixel signals output from the plural pixels of the pixel unit among plural pixels and outputting the signals as digital pixel signals, and the ramp signal generator unit can set the initial voltage of the ramp signal to an arbitrary value after resetting a potential of the ramp signal in the digital addition mode. |
| US07864091B1 |
Interference detection using a moving window
A system comprises a gain control module that selectively generates a gain locked signal based on a wireless input signal. A sync detect module that selectively generates a sync detect signal based on the wireless input signal. An interference detection module that selectively generates a wireless interference detection signal based on the gain locked signal and the sync detect signal. |
| US07864088B2 |
Integrated DSP for a DC offset cancellation loop
Processes and apparatuses for direct current (DC) offset cancellation using digital signal processing. Some embodiments of the invention are summarized in this section. In one embodiment, a circuit includes: an analog receiver; and a feedback circuit comprising a digital signal processor coupled with the analog receiver to generate a feedback signal to the analog receiver. |
| US07864086B2 |
Mode switched adaptive combinatorial coding/decoding for electrical computers and digital data processing systems
Embodiments described herein may include example embodiments of a method, article and apparatus for compressing data utilizing adaptive combinatorial encoding with either specified occurrences or specified data length which may be used for communicating between two or more components connected to an interconnection medium (e.g., a bus) within a single computer or digital data processing system, and/or for communication between computing platforms via a network or other interconnection medium. |
| US07864085B2 |
Data compression method and apparatus
Embodiments of the invention include a dictionary based data compression method, apparatus and system that is not based on either the LZ77 compression algorithm or the LZ78 compression algorithm, but includes many features of the LZW compression algorithm. The data compression method includes creating a mapping table of the messages in the alphabet of messages to a corresponding plurality of codewords, maintaining a dictionary including a mapping table of a first codeword and a second codeword to a new codeword, reading an input ensemble including a plurality of messages, converting the messages to an input codeword using the mapping table, and outputting the converted codewords as an output ensemble of compressed data. Unlike conventional data compression methods, the dictionary is generated from the output ensemble only, and is not based on any input messages. Therefore, the dictionary more quickly builds to define longer sequences of messages compared to conventional data compression methods. |
| US07864079B1 |
Ternary and higher multi-value digital scramblers/descramblers
Ternary (3-value) and higher, multi-value digital scramblers/descramblers in digital communications. The method and apparatus of the present invention includes the creation of ternary (3-value) and higher value truth tables that establish ternary and higher value scrambling functions which are its own descrambling functions. The invention directly codes by scrambling ternary and higher-value digital signals and directly decodes by descrambling with the same function. A disclosed application of the invention is the creation of composite ternary and higher-value scrambling devices and methods consisting of single scrambling devices or functions combined with ternary or higher value shift registers. Another disclosed application is the creation of ternary and higher-value spread spectrum digital signals. Another disclosed application is a composite ternary or higher value scrambling system, comprising an odd number of scrambling functions and the ability to be its own descrambler. |
| US07864078B2 |
Method and device for decoding a signal
A method and a device for decoding a signal transmitted via at least one transmission line of a data transmission system, in a user of the data transmission system receiving the signal. Instead of at discrete instants, as currently done, sampling at a specific sampling instant does not take place. To this end, a potential-edge position (PEP) for an imminent edge is estimated first. Then, given n-fold oversampling, maximally n sampling values before the PEP and maximally n sampling values after the PEP are determined and compared with previously recorded and stored sampling values. The stored sampling values are preferably stored in an edge-acceptance vector (EAV) and correspond to an edge change of the signal to be decoded at a particular point in time. Preferably not all detected 2n sampling values are compared to the content of the EAVs, but the comparison is limited to a portion, combined to a sensitivity range, of the 2n sampling values of each EAV. |
| US07864074B2 |
Data driver used in a current-driving display device
A data driver used in a current-driving display device for receiving a digital signal and for outputting a gray-scaled current signal to a data line. The data driver includes a digital-to-analog current converter for transforming the digital signal into an analog current signal, a current-copying/reproducing module, and a control circuit. The current-copying/reproducing module is used to store a predetermined voltage for conducting the analog current signal in a transforming/storing status and to conduct a reproducing current signal to the data line in a reproducing/sustaining status. The control circuit is electrically connected between the digital-to-analog current converter and the current-copying/reproducing module for providing a switch between the transforming/storing status and the reproducing/sustaining status. The reproducing current signal is the gray-scaled current signal and is almost equivalent to the analog current signal. |
| US07864066B2 |
Automated lost load response system
An automated lost load response system for work machines is disclosed. The response system has a container supported by the machine to retain material. It also has a sensor situated to detect material lost from the container. The sensor generates a signal corresponding to detection of material lost. Additionally, the response system has a controller that is in communication with the sensor. The controller is configured to provide a load loss warning based on the signal generated by the sensor. |
| US07864063B2 |
Sensor arrangement for detecting moisture on a window
An especially simple and economical moisture sensor with temperature compensation is provided. To this end, in addition to a measuring capacitor, a second capacitor is arranged on a window of a motor vehicle, wherein the second capacitor is not affected by the moisture and/or water droplets. For analysis, a differential measurement of the capacitances of the measuring capacitor and of the second capacitor is carried out, from which is determined a degree of wetting of the window not influenced by the window temperature. |
| US07864061B2 |
Multi-stage system for verification of container contents
A multi-stage process utilizing one or more radiation sensors on a distributed network for the detection and identification of radiation, explosives, and special materials within a shipping container. The sensors are configured as nodes on the network. The system collects radiation data from one or more nodes. The collected radiation data is dynamically adjusted according to at least one of a plurality of background radiation data based on a determined background environment about the container. The collected and adjusted radiation data is compared to one or more stored spectral images representing one or more isotopes to identify one or more isotopes present. The identified one or more isotopes present are corresponded to possible materials or goods that they represent. |
| US07864060B2 |
Wetness detection device
The teachings herein are directed to devices for detecting and signaling the presence of urine or another electrically conducive liquid in an undergarment, fabric, or other thin material. Preferred devices include a clip configured to safely and releasably secure a liquid detecting sensor to a fabric or undergarment, wherein said sensor is operably coupled to a detection device that emits a notification signal when liquid is present in the fabric. |
| US07864058B2 |
Danger determining device, method, danger notifying device, and program for determining danger based on identification information of a person in a watched environment and identification information of an article in the watched environment
A sensing history database for storing ID and position information of an article detected by an article detecting unit and ID and position information of a person detected by a person detecting unit, a dangerous article database in which an article having a possibility of posing danger in an environment to be watched over is defined for each individual, an accessible location database for storing accessible locations in the environment for each individual, an article-leaving-operation determining unit for determining that the person has left the article from the position information of the article and the position information of the person stored in the sensing history database, and a left-article danger degree determining unit for determining as dangerous when determined that combination of the ID of the person and the ID of the left article in the environment is dangerous from information defined in the dangerous article database and determined that the person present in the environment can access the position of the left article in the article-leaving-operation determining unit. |
| US07864057B2 |
Pet locating device
A pet location system having a pet locator with GPS capabilities in communication with a wireless network such that a user interface accessible on a common computer network or by telephone is provided. The pet location system includes access to the user interface via a computer on the common computer network or via a telecommunications network. |
| US07864054B2 |
Apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag and cartridge for including at least a RFID tag
An apparatus for communicating with a RFID tag comprises: a container holder configured to detachably attach a container for including at least a RFID tag which contains a tag medium on which a RFID circuit element is arranged; and an apparatus magnetic-path forming portion configured to form a magnetic path for a communication magnetic flux in a feeding path of said tag medium in said container for including at least a RFID tag when said container for including at least a RFID tag is attached to said container holder. |
| US07864053B2 |
Visibility radio cap and network
A pedigree tag for tracking and validating authenticity of contents in a container includes: a radio frequency modem operable at a low radio frequency, not exceeding one megahertz, and including a full duplex transmitter and receiver; an antenna operatively coupled with the radio frequency modem; a programmable microprocessor operatively coupled with the radio frequency modem; a memory operatively coupled with the programmable microprocessor; a clock; and a connector for connecting a power source for providing power to the microprocessor; wherein the pedigree tag is in a form factor conformable to the container to which it is affixed. |
| US07864040B2 |
Localization system and localization method and mobile position data transmitter
There is described a localization system with a mobile position data transmitter having a position-detecting device for detecting a position of the position data transmitter and for deriving position data from the position detected. The position data transmitter also has a radio tag writing device for wirelessly emitting the derived position data with a write signal for writing to radio tags. The localization system also has radio tags which are to be spatially distributed and each have a memory for storing an item of localization information which is taken from the position data received with the write signal. A radio tag reading device is used to retrieve and output the stored read information from the radio tags that are situated in the retrieval range. |
| US07864032B2 |
Collision determination device and vehicle behavior control device
A control unit 5 calculates, by a statistical processing, the current front/rear-directional acceleration, the current front/rear-directional velocity, and the current front/rear-directional position of the three-dimensional object to be determined while considering an error caused by a camera. These values are used in the statistical processing so as to calculate the front/rear-directional acceleration after Δt seconds, the front/rear-directional velocity after Δt seconds, and the front/rear-directional position after Δt seconds, and so as to obtain a probability of contact after Δt seconds based on the front/rear-directional position after Δt seconds. |
| US07864028B2 |
In-vehicle emergency call apparatus
An in-vehicle emergency call apparatus capable of performing an emergency call operation when electric power supply from a vehicle battery is cut is provided. The in-vehicle emergency call apparatus includes a first electric power supply line system causing an electric power supply unit to supply electric power to an emergency notification detection unit and an control unit. A second electric power supply line system is provided that causes the electric power supply unit to supply the electric power to the radio-communication unit. The second electric power supply line system is provided independently of the first electric power supply line system. A first capacitor coupled with the first electric power supply line system is capable of being configured to have a small capacitance. |
| US07864025B2 |
Component with countermeasure to static electricity
There is provided a static electricity countermeasure component including a varistor layer having a plurality of inner electrodes of a planer shape, embedded therein a board including alumina laminated with the varistor layer, and a terminal connected to the inner electrode of the varistor layer and formed at a side face of the varistor layer, in which the varistor layer and the board are sintered to thereby diffuse bismuth oxide of the varistor layer in the board and provide a bismuth oxide diffusing layer at the board. In this way, the static electricity countermeasure component achieving thin-sized formation while maintaining a varistor characteristic against a small surge voltage can be realized. |
| US07864024B2 |
Electronic assembly having spring-loaded contact bridge with fuse function
An electronic assembly includes an electronic circuit on a circuit board. The circuit includes a conductor path on the circuit board, and at least one SMD component, electronic component and/or electromechanical component that is mounted on the circuit board and connected to the conductor path. A circuit connection between any two of the conductor paths and/or the components is established via a soldered joint and a spring-loaded contact bridge. In the event of excessive power dissipation, the soldered joint melts or weakens and the contact bridge opens due to the spring force. |
| US07864022B2 |
Wear indicator for a circuit interrupter exhaust control device
An exhaust control device includes a wear indicator disposed within a housing of the exhaust control device. The wear indicator is arranged to be exposed to a flow of exhaust gas through the exhaust control device. The wear indicator has a first observable state indicative of remaining useful life of the exhaust control device. The wear indicator is responsive to a flow of exhaust gas through the exhaust control device to assume a second observable state indicative of the exhaust control device having reached the end of its useful life. |
| US07864019B2 |
Wiring assembly and method of forming a channel in a wiring assembly for receiving conductor
A conductor assembly and method for constructing an assembly of the type which, when conducting current, generates a magnetic field or which, in the presence of a changing magnetic field, induces a voltage. In one embodiment the method provides a first layer that is tubular in shape with an outer surface along which a conductor may be positioned. A channel defining a first conductor path is formed in the first layer outer surface to create a pattern extending along the first layer. A first segment of conductor is placed in the first channel and defines a shape about an aperture region. After placing the first segment of conductor in the first channel, at least part of the first layer outer surface and at least part of the first segment of conductor are coated with a second layer. A second channel is formed along an outer surface of the second layer to define a second conductor path extending about the aperture region for placement of a second segment of conductor. |
| US07864016B1 |
Method for making magnetic components with N-phase coupling, and related inductor structures
Methods and structures for constructing a magnetic core of a coupled inductor. The method provides for constructing N-phase coupled inductors as both single and scalable magnetic structures, where N is an integer greater than 1. The method additionally describes how such a construction of the magnetic core may enhance the benefits of using the scalable N-phase coupled inductor. The first and second magnetic cores may be formed into shapes that, when coupled together, may form a single scalable magnetic core. For example, the cores can be fashioned into shapes such as a U, an I, an H, a ring, a rectangle, and a comb, that cooperatively form the single magnetic core. |
| US07864015B2 |
Flux channeled, high current inductor
A flux-channeled high current inductor includes an inductor body having a first end and an opposite second end and a conductor extending through the inductor body. The conductor includes a plurality of separate channels through a cross-sectional area of the inductor body thereby directing magnetic flux inducted by a current flowing through the conductor into two or more cross-sectional areas and reducing flux density of a given single area. The inductor body may be formed of a first ferromagnetic plate and a second ferromagnetic plate. The inductor may be formed from a single component magnetic core and have one or more slits to define inductance. The inductor may be formed of a magnetic powder. A method is provided for manufacturing flux-channeled high current inductors. |
| US07864011B2 |
System and method for balancing concentric circular field emission structures
An improved field emission system and method is provided that involves field emission structures having electric or magnetic field sources. The magnitudes, polarities, and positions of the magnetic or electric field sources are configured to have desirable correlation properties, which may be in accordance with a code. The correlation properties correspond to a desired spatial force function where spatial forces between field emission structures correspond to relative alignment, separation distance, and the spatial force function. |
| US07864010B2 |
Method for coding field emission structures
An improved field emission system and method is provided that involves field emission structures having electric or magnetic field sources. The magnitudes, polarities, and positions of the magnetic or electric field sources are configured to have desirable correlation properties, which may be in accordance with a code. The correlation properties correspond to a desired spatial force function where spatial forces between field emission structures correspond to relative alignment, separation distance, and the spatial force function. |
| US07863999B2 |
Low-loss tunable radio frequency filter
A tunable RF filter comprises a signal transmission path having an input and output, a plurality of resonant elements disposed along the signal transmission path between the input and output, and a set of non-resonant elements coupling the resonant elements together to form a stop band having a plurality of transmission zeroes corresponding to respective frequencies of the resonant elements, and at least one sub-band between the transmission zeroes. The set of non-resonant elements comprises a first plurality of non-resonant elements respectively coupled in parallel with the resonant elements, and a second plurality of non-resonant elements respectively coupled in series with the resonant elements. The first plurality of non-resonant elements comprises at least one variable non-resonant element for selectively introducing at least one reflection zero within the stop band to create a pass band in one of the one sub-band(s) without varying any of the second plurality of non-resonant elements. |
| US07863998B2 |
Method and system for processing signals via directional couplers embedded in an integrated circuit package
Methods and systems for processing signals via directional couplers embedded in an integrated circuit package are disclosed and may include generating via a directional coupler, one or more output RF signals that may be proportional to a received RF signal. The directional coupler may be integrated in a multi-layer package. The generated RF signal may be processed by an integrated circuit electrically coupled to the multi-layer package. The directional coupler may include quarter wavelength transmission lines, which may include microstrip or coplanar structures. The directional coupler may be electrically coupled to one or more variable capacitances in the integrated circuit. The variable capacitance may include CMOS devices in the integrated circuit. The directional coupler may include discrete devices, which may be surface mount devices coupled to the multi-layer package or may be devices integrated in the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit may be flip-chip bonded to the multi-layer package. |
| US07863994B2 |
System and method for increasing radio frequency (RF) microwave inductor-capacitor (LC) oscillator frequency tuning range
System and method for increasing the frequency tuning range of a RF/microwave LC oscillator. A preferred embodiment comprises a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) configured to generate an output signal at a frequency that is dependent upon a magnitude of an input voltage level and an effective inductance of an inductive load and a variable inductor coupled to the VCO. The variable inductor comprises a primary inductor coupled to the VCO to produce a magnetic field based upon a current flowing through the primary inductor and a secondary inductor magnetically coupled to the primary inductor, the secondary inductor to affect the magnitude of the effective inductance of the primary inductor. |
| US07863990B2 |
Oscillation circuit, test apparatus and electronic device
Provided is an oscillation circuit for generating an oscillation signal synchronized with a supplied reference clock, including: a voltage control oscillation section that, when triggered by each edge of the reference clock, stops oscillation of the oscillation signal having a frequency in accordance with a supplied control voltage to start new oscillation; a phase comparing section that compares a phase of a comparison signal that is in accordance with the oscillation signal outputted from the voltage control oscillation section and a phase of a signal that is in accordance with the reference clock; and a voltage control section that supplies the control voltage in accordance with a comparison result of the phase comparing section, to the voltage control oscillation section. |
| US07863988B2 |
Microwave signal generator
A microwave signal generator includes a magnetron to generate a microwave signal, a coupler to receive the microwave signal generated by the magnetron and to send the microwave signal to a load; and a band-pass filter to receive the microwave signal from the coupler and to filter the microwave signal to obtain a signal from an oscillation frequency band of the magnetron. The band-pass filter feeds the signal from the oscillation frequency band back to the magnetron in order to fix an oscillation frequency of the magnetron and is a DR (Dielectric Resonator) filter. |
| US07863987B2 |
Clock signal generating and distributing apparatus
LC resonant voltage control oscillators are adopted as voltage control oscillators for the purpose of providing a clock generating and distributing apparatus that can generate and distribute a clock signal of high precision even in a high-frequency region of several giga hertz or higher, and of providing a distributive VCO-type clock generating and distributing apparatus in which voltage control oscillators oscillate in the same phase, and which can generate a clock signal of a desired frequency and distributes a high-frequency clock signal to each part within a chip more stably even in a high-frequency region reaching 20 GHz. Furthermore, an inductor component of a wire connecting the oscillation nodes of the oscillators is made relatively small, or the LC resonant oscillators are oscillated in synchronization by using injection locking, whereby the LC resonant voltage control oscillators stably oscillate in the same phase. |
| US07863985B1 |
High frequency amplifier linearization technique
An output stage for an amplifier is provided. The amplifier generally provides for compensation of an error current generated by the base-collector (or gate-drain) capacitance of a common base (or gate) amplifier transistor. The stage accomplishes this by utilizing a three transistor Wilson current mirror to combine the error current with a mirrored bias current to reduce the load current on the common base (or gate) amplifier transistor. |
| US07863982B2 |
Driving circuit capable of enhancing response speed and related method
A driving circuit of enhancing response speed is disclosed. The driving circuit includes an operational amplifier and a slew rate enhancement unit. The operational amplifier is utilized for generating a driving voltage according to an input voltage. The slew rate enhancement unit is coupled to the operational amplifier, and is utilized for generating a compensation current to the operational amplifier to enlarge a bias current of the operational amplifier according to voltage difference between the input voltage and the driving voltage when variation of the input voltage occurs. |
| US07863980B2 |
Amplifiers with negative capacitance circuits
Provided herein are amplifiers including negative capacitance circuits for reducing distortion resulting from a gate-source (or base-emitter) capacitance of output stages of such amplifiers. Such a negative capacitance circuit is connected in parallel with the gate-source (or base-emitter) capacitance of the output stage to shunt the gate-source (or base-emitter) capacitance and thereby reduce distortion. Also provided herein are methods for use with amplifiers including an output stage, including connecting a negative capacitance circuit in parallel with a base-emitter capacitance of the output stage. |
| US07863978B1 |
RF amplifier system for neutralizing internal capacitance in a cavity
An RF amplifier system having closed cavity containing an amplifying device that includes at least a cathode, an anode and a grid and wherein the amplifying device exhibits an internal grid-to-anode capacitance. Apparatus is presented for use in neutralizing the internal capacitance. This includes a feedback circuit including an external capacitor of fixed value and a phase inverting transformer having a transformer primary winding connected in series with the capacitor to the cathode. The transformer has a secondary winding connected between the cathode and the grid for supplying a phase inverted negative feedback voltage to the grid for neutralizing the cavity by the feedback voltage. The transformer coupling is adjustable to vary the magnitude of the feedback voltage. |
| US07863976B1 |
Adjustable segmented power amplifier
An adjustable stage in an amplifier. The adjustable stage generally comprises a first common node, a second common node and a plurality of independently selectable parallel amplifier segments. Each of the parallel segments may have an input at the first common node and an output at the second common node, a transistor and an inductor to resonate with a capacitance at a base of the transistor. The present invention advantageously provides a relatively compact power amplifier with an extended output power range at which the amplifier is highly efficient. In preferred embodiments, the input and output matching characteristics are generally independent of the number of selected output amplifier segments. |
| US07863975B2 |
Method for calibrating a power amplifier and device using the same
A calibration device for a power amplifier includes a calculation unit, a first storage unit and a multiplier. The calculation unit is utilized for generating a calibration factor according to a value of a characteristic parameter of the power amplifier. The first storage unit coupled to the calculation unit, for storing the calibration factor. The multiplier is coupled to the first storage unit and a baseband unit, for multiplying a baseband signal outputted from the baseband unit by the calibration factor for generating an input signal to the power amplifier. |
| US07863974B2 |
Selectable intermediate frequency demodulator
A method and apparatus for demodulating an input signal in a selectable intermediate frequency system is disclosed. The apparatus includes a front end module, a filter, and a phase lock loop (PLL). The front end module mixes the input signal with an oscillating signal. The filter includes at least one characteristic that is selectable to configure an intermediate frequency. The PLL demodulates an output frequency based on the output of the filter. |
| US07863973B2 |
Operating panel arrangement for domestic appliances and method for manufacturing an operating panel arrangement
The invention relates to an operating panel arrangement, in particular for domestic appliances such as washing machines and tumble dryers. An operating panel has formed on its outside actuating sections and display sections for operating or monitoring purposes. An electrical circuit arrangement is coupled to the actuating sections and the display sections and is arranged in the region of the inside of the operating panel.In this case, the circuit arrangement has at least three electrodes, which are arranged in a manner distributed approximately parallel to the operating panel. The circuit arrangement has evaluation means which are designed to calculate the spatial position of an operating means in relation to the position of the three electrodes, to be precise by evaluating the fields between the electrodes and the operator. The actuating sections can be freely defined as positions of the operating means in the region of the outside of the operating panel. |
| US07863968B1 |
Variable-output current-load-independent negative-voltage regulator
Methods and circuits for implementing negative voltage regulators are provided. The negative voltage regulator circuit includes an operational amplifier (op-amp), a PMOS transistor, and two resistors. The op-amp is powered by positive and negative voltages, and the PMOS transistor has a gate in electrical communication with the op-amp. A first resistor is disposed between a positive reference voltage and a tap point, while the second resistor is disposed between the tap point and the output of the negative voltage regulator circuit. The use of the PMOS transistor facilitates a common drain output stage making the loop gain load independent, resulting in a stable system independent of current load. |
| US07863966B1 |
Readout circuit for touch panel
A readout circuit for touch panel includes first and second switches, an operational amplifier (OP-AMP), a feedback capacitor, a comparison unit, and a counter. A first input terminal and an output terminal of the OP-AMP are respectively coupled to a second terminal of the first switch and an input terminal of the comparison unit. A second input terminal of the OP-AMP receives a reference voltage. Two terminals of the feedback capacitor and the second switch are respectively coupled to the first input terminal and the output terminal of the OP-AMP. The comparison unit selects first or second threshold voltages to compare with an output of the OP-AMP according to a output of the comparison unit. An input terminal of the counter receives the output of the comparison unit. |
| US07863965B2 |
Temperature sensor circuit and method for controlling the same
A temperature sensor circuit comprises a first reference voltage generator configured to generate a first signal that linearly varies with temperature and a first reference voltage signal that maintains a certain level irrespective of temperature, a second reference voltage generator configured to generate a second reference voltage signal by using the first reference voltage signal, and a controller configured to compare the first signal with the second reference voltage signal and control a voltage level of the first signal according to a comparison result. |
| US07863962B2 |
High voltage CMOS output buffer constructed from low voltage CMOS transistors
A high voltage CMOS output buffer is constructed from low voltage CMOS transistors. The output buffer employs a series of unique CMOS inverter stages, each of which contains a switched PMOS transistor, one or more voltage drop blocks, and a switched NMOS transistor. The voltage drop blocks are composed of stacked PMOS transistors that are diode-connected—i.e., the PMOS gate terminal is connected to the PMOS drain terminal, and the PMOS body (N-well) terminal is connected to the PMOS source terminal. The diode-connected PMOS transistors reduce the voltage across the transistor gate oxide to a safe value, for all internal PMOS/NMOS transistors inside the CMOS output buffer. |
| US07863961B2 |
Vehicle communication system
An ECU serving as a transmission side and an ECU serving as a reception side are coupled to each other through communication lines and junction connectors. A diode in which a direction directed from a negative-side output terminal of the ECU serving as the transmission side to a positive-side output terminal thereof becomes a forward direction is provided between the positive-side output terminal and the negative-side output terminal. |
| US07863954B2 |
Timing vernier using a delay locked loop
A method for synchronizing a plurality of programmable timing verniers with a reference pulse signal, each of the verniers being programmable to one of a plurality of timing steps within a delay range determined by a control signal applied to a bias input. A first and second control vernier is selected from the plurality of verniers, the first control vernier is programmed to a first delay, and the second control vernier is programmed to a second delay. The first and second control verniers are triggered together to generate respective first and second delay signals. A difference pulse signal is generated with a duty cycle corresponding to a difference between the generated first delay signal and second delay signal. The duty cycle of the pulse signal is compared to a duty cycle of the reference pulse signal to generate a difference signal pulse. The difference signal pulse is coupled to the bias input of the verniers to adjust the delay range, such that the duty cycle of the difference signal approaches the duty cycle of the reference pulse signal. In one embodiment there is provided a circuit for implementing the method. |
| US07863944B2 |
Passive clock detector
A clock detector is provided. The clock detector generally comprises a filter, a first branch, a second branch, a latch, and logic. The filter is adapted to receive a clock signal and is coupled to a low threshold inverter in the first branch and a high threshold inverter in the second branch. The latch is adapted to receive the clock signal and is coupled to the first branch, while the logic is coupled to the node between the first branch and the latch, an output of the latch, and the second branch so that it can output a clock detection signal. |
| US07863943B2 |
Sampling device and circuit having a single voltage supply
In embodiments of the present invention a device, circuit, and method are described for sampling input signal voltages, which may include voltages below a negative supply voltage for the device or circuit, without requiring static current from the input. Various embodiments of the invention obviate the requirement of an external negative supply voltage or attenuation resistors to allow sampling between a positive and negative voltage range. These embodiments result in a lower power sampling solution as well as simplifying any driver circuitry required by the sampler. The embodiments of the invention may be applied to sampling processes within analog-to-digital converters and may also be applicable to various other types of circuits in which a sampling input having input voltages that are lower than its negative supply voltage. |
| US07863939B2 |
Signal detecting apparatus, signal receiving apparatus, and signal detecting method
A signal detecting apparatus detects a signal received based on a current received and includes a detecting unit that detects, in the current received, a peak equal to or higher than a threshold and a time counting unit that counts a given period of time from a point in time of detection of the peak by the detecting unit. The signal detecting apparatus further includes a determining unit that determines whether the detecting unit has detected the peak again within the given period of time counted by the time counting unit. An output unit of the signal detecting apparatus outputs information indicating detection of the signal received when the determining unit determines that the peak has been detected again. |
| US07863935B2 |
Line driver architecture for 10/100/1000 BASE-T Ethernet
A multimode line driver circuit is provided having improved performance. The multimode line driver comprises at least first and second driver circuits that, when “active,” respectively transmit data using first and second modes. The multimode line driver further comprises a circuit arrangement including a voltage regulator and an associated set of switches. In operation, at least some of the switches are coupled to the second driver circuit and are turned on when the first driver circuit is active. The voltage regulator supplies a direct current to at least some of the turned-on switches in order to decrease a common mode voltage at the second driver circuit while the first driver circuit transmits data using the first mode. As such, components of the second driver circuit can be powered off while the first driver circuit is active, thus reducing power consumption in the first mode. |
| US07863934B2 |
Adjusting method and circuit using the same
A method adjusts driving ability of an output buffer. The output buffer has multiple driving ability classes. The method includes the following steps. First, the driving ability of the output buffer is initialized as an initial class among the driving ability classes. Next, a voltage at an output terminal of the output buffer is initialized to an initial voltage. Then, an input voltage is inputted via the input terminal at a first time instant. Next, an output voltage outputted from the output terminal is sampled to obtain a voltage value at a second time instant. Then, whether the voltage value satisfies a predetermined condition is judged. Next, if the voltage value satisfies the predetermined condition, the driving ability class of the output buffer is recorded and set. |
| US07863933B2 |
Tri-state I/O port
The present invention discloses a tri-state I/O port. The tri-state I/O port comprises a tri-state logic block, a weak buffer and a delay block. The input terminals of the tri-state logic block are connected to data and OE (output enable) signals. When OE signal is enabled, the output terminal of the tri-state I/O block is pulled high when the data is high while the output terminal is pulled low when the data is low. The input terminal and the output terminal of the weak buffer are connected to the output terminal of the tri-state logic block. And the input terminal of the delay block is connected to the output terminal of the tri-state logic block while the output terminal of the delay block is fed back to the tri-state logic block. When the output terminal of the tri-state logic block is low to high/high to low, the weak buffer is active and maintains the output terminal of the tri-state logic block weak high/low while the delay block turns off the pull high/low function of the tri-state logic block. |
| US07863928B2 |
Data line termination circuit
A data line termination circuit includes a swing-width sensing unit configured to sense a swing width of a voltage of a data line and output a sensed signal, and a variable termination unit configured to adjust a termination resistance value of the data line in response to the sensed signal. The swing-width sensing unit can sense if the swing width is less than or greater than a predetermined swing width, and the swing width of the voltage of the data line can be reduced or increased to maintain the voltage of the data line within a predetermined range. |
| US07863917B2 |
Semiconductor chip having a crack test circuit and method of testing a crack of a semiconductor chip using the same
A semiconductor chip includes a line structure arranged along a peripheral region of the semiconductor chip region in order to inspect a crack, a first pad and second pad arranged on different end portions of the line structure, a second pad arranged on another end portion of the line structure, an inspection device activated during a crack test mode to electrically connect the first pad, the line structure and the second pad. The inspection device may include a first switching circuit connected between the first pad and the line structure, the first switching circuit being deactivated during a normal operation mode and being activated a crack test mode; and a second switching circuit connected between the second pad and the line structure, the second switching circuit being deactivated during the normal operation mode and being activated during the crack test mode. |
| US07863915B2 |
Probe card cooling assembly with direct cooling of active electronic components
A probe card cooling assembly for use in a test system includes a package with one or more dies cooled by direct cooling. The cooled package includes one or more dies with active electronic components and at least one coolant port that allows a coolant to enter the high-density package and directly cool the active electronic components of the dies during a testing operation. |
| US07863911B2 |
Test device and method for measurement of tunneling magnetoresistance properties of a manufacturable wafer by the current-in-plane-tunneling technique
A combined manufacturable wafer and test device for measuring a tunneling-magnetoresistance property of a tunneling-magnetoresistance, sensor-layer structure. The combined manufacturable wafer and test device comprises a tunneling-magnetoresistance, sensor-layer structure disposed on a substrate. The combined manufacturable wafer and test device also comprises a plurality of partially fabricated tunneling-magnetoresistance sensors; at least one of the partially fabricated tunneling-magnetoresistance sensors is disposed at one of a plurality of first locations. The test device is disposed on the substrate at a second location different from the plurality of first locations. The test device allows measurement of the tunneling-magnetoresistance property of the tunneling-magnetoresistance, sensor-layer structure using a current-in-plane-tunneling technique. |
| US07863909B2 |
System and method for measuring a capacitance by transferring charge from a fixed source
A touch sensor device and method is provided that determines measurable capacitances for object detection. The systems and methods measure capacitance by controllably transferring charge from a storage capacitor, and determining the measurable capacitance by measuring the residual voltage remaining on the storage capacitor after the transfer. The systems and methods thus provide an accurate determination of the measurable capacitance that can be used for object proximity sensing. |
| US07863905B2 |
Detection and monitoring of partial discharge of a power line
There is provided a method that includes (a) acquiring a first spectral component of a single noise pulse on a power line, and a second spectral component of the single noise pulse, (b) determining that the single noise pulse is synchronous with a power voltage on the power line, (c) determining a first magnitude of the first spectral component, (d) determining a second magnitude of the second spectral component, and (e) determining a condition of the power line from the first and second magnitudes. There is also provided a system that employs the method. |
| US07863902B2 |
Coherent in-phase demodulation for resistivity image tools with spread spectrum continuous phase modulation stimulus
A method and system for measuring formation resisitivity is achieved by introducing one or more continuous phase modulated electrical signals into the formation, each signal introduced at a different location. The current of each introduced electrical signal is then sensed, producing an analog voltage signal as a measurement of the formation. Each introduced electrical signal is compared with its respective measured signal of the formation. Each comparison is made in a quadrature demodulation device, producing an in-phase demodulated signal. A quasi-direct-current signal is extracted from each in-phase demodulated signal, producing an analog measurement related to the resistivity of the formation. Each analog measurement is converted into a digital value for further processing. Successive measurements are digitally summed and averaged to increase the signal to noise ratio. |
| US07863899B2 |
Magnet structure for MRI apparatus and MRI apparatus
A magnet structure for an MRI apparatus utilizing a permanent magnet, which apparatus has an inverted U shape with two essentially parallel opposed pole pieces, which are supported at a predetermined distance from each other by an inverted U-shaped magnetic yoke, which pole pieces and/or at least a portion of which yoke delimit a cavity for receiving at least a part of the patient's body, whereas a partial volume is generated in the volume of said cavity, which has such magnetic field values as to provide MRI images of a sufficient quality to enable the use thereof as diagnostic images, i.e. a so-called imaging volume. According to the invention, the distance (D1) between the pole pieces (1, 2) of the magnet structure is of 36 to 42 cm, and the pole pieces (1, 2) have a surface area of 4500 to 5500 cm2. The invention also relates to an MRI imaging apparatus, particularly designed for the spine region, or a part thereof, and which has a magnet structure as described above. |
| US07863897B2 |
Method and apparatus for characterizing the temporal resolution of an imaging device
A system and method for determining the temporal resolution of a tomographic imaging device uses an apparatus to drive one or more dynamic phantoms composed of multiple materials. The apparatus is placed at or near the isocenter of the imaging device and the one or more phantoms are moved to produce a plurality of dynamic features, each having a specified frequency. The dynamic features are imaged with the device and the acquired image data corresponding to the dynamic features is analyzed to determine a temporal modulation transfer value at each of the known specified frequencies. The temporal resolution of the imaging device is determined using these temporal modulation transfer values. |
| US07863896B2 |
Systems and methods for calibrating functional magnetic resonance imaging of living tissue
Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for calibrating functional magnetic resonance imaging of living tissue. For example, a calibration method includes providing a contrast signal simulation device configured for generating one or more pre-determined contrast simulation signals selected from a group consisting of BOLD and BOSS contrast simulation signals that simulate at least one contrast signal generated by living tissue of a subject and positioning the contrast signal simulation device adjacent to the subject. The method includes using an imaging instrument to take first and second data sets from the subject's tissue while the contrast signal simulation device is disposed adjacent to the subject and while generating and not generating the one or more pre-determined contrast simulation signals, respectively. The method also includes using the first and second data sets to determine at least one figure of merit of the imaging instrument, the contrast simulation device, and/or the living tissue. |
| US07863895B2 |
System, program product, and method of acquiring and processing MRI data for simultaneous determination of water, fat, and transverse relaxation time constants
A system, program product, and method to determine water, fat, and transverse relaxation time constants in MRI scanning are provided. A method includes initiating readout gradient pulses to collect echo signals with identical phase encoded gradients to thereby produce a plurality of images, instead of a single image with a single readout gradient. A receiver bandwidth used for collecting the echo signals can be determined responsive to an acquisition matrix size along the readout axis and a time duration for water and fat signals to evolve by a preselected phase angle. In a modified FSE implementation, for example, a method includes using readout gradient pulses that use substantially all of the echo spacing time periods between successive refocus RF pulses. By exploiting the phase and the amplitude relationship between the images, the method can include processing the images to generate separate water and fat images, as well as quantitative maps of transverse relaxation time constants. |
| US07863894B2 |
Small optics cell for miniature nuclear magnetic resonance gyroscope
A beamsplitter is arranged to split an incident laser beam into a pump beam and a detection beam. The pump beam passes through the beam splitter and then reflects from a pair of mirrors to a quarter waveplate into an NMR cell. After passing through the NMR cell, the pump beam reflects from a mirror to a first photodetector. The detection beam reflects from the beam splitter and propagates on a path perpendicular to the path of the pump beam through the NMR cell. After passing through the NMR cell, the detection beam is incident upon a polarizer. The polarized portion of the detection beam then is incident upon a photodetector. Electrical signals output from the first and second photodetectors may then be processed to determine the rotation rate of the NMR cell about a sensing axis. |
| US07863893B2 |
Dynamic pMRI using GRAPPA-operator with under-sampled time interleaved frames
Example systems, methods, and apparatus facilitate providing a k-space line that is missing in an under-sampled time frame. The missing line is computed by applying a GRAPPA-operator to a known k-space line in the under-sampled time frame. One example method includes controlling a dynamic parallel magnetic resonance imaging (DpMRI) apparatus to acquire a first under-sampled time interleaved frame having at least one first k-space line and controlling the DpMRI apparatus to acquire a second under-sampled time interleaved frame having at least one second k-space line that neighbors the first k-space line. The method includes assembling a reference data set from the first under-sampled time frame and the second under-sampled time frame and then determining the GRAPPA-operator from neighboring k-space lines in the reference data set. |
| US07863891B2 |
Collision detection device which uses variation of an inductance of a coil
A collision detection device is provided with a coil which is arranged at an inner side of an outer panel of a body portion of a vehicle and faces the outer panel to generate a magnetic field in a direction toward the outer panel, and a collision determining unit for determining a collision with the body portion of the vehicle based on a variation of an inductance of the coil. The collision determining unit includes a resonance circuit which is constructed of the coil. When there occurs a collision with the vehicle body portion, a distance between the outer panel and the coil will decrease so that an inductance of the coil can instantly decrease. Therefore, a resonance frequency of the resonance circuit will increase and be detected, thus shortening the response time. |
| US07863889B1 |
Component receptacle to segregate components
A component receptacle for coupling to a component tester that tests a component is disclosed. The component receptacle includes a plurality of trays mounted in a housing for receiving components, a tray access control system configured to control access to at least one of the plurality of trays, and circuitry configured to perform operations. In particular, the operations include: processing a component test result for a component to match the component with the at least one tray, and causing the tray access control system to enable access to the at least one tray. |
| US07863884B1 |
Sub-volt bandgap voltage reference with buffered CTAT bias
Circuits, methods, and apparatus that provide voltage references having a temperature independent output voltage that is less then the bandgap of silicon. The temperature coefficient and absolute voltage can be independently adjusted. One example generates two voltages, the first of which is proportional-to-absolute temperature and the second of which is complementary-to-absolute temperature. These voltages are placed across a first resistor. The first resistor is further connected to a second resistor to form a resistor divider. The resistor divider provides a reduced voltage that is below that bandgap of silicon. The temperature coefficient of the reference voltage provided by the resistor divider can be set by adjusting the first resistor. The absolute voltage provided can be set by adjusting the second resistor. |
| US07863880B1 |
Adaptive control loop
A controller comprises a duty cycle estimator to determine a nominal duty cycle. An adjustment determiner determines an adjustment value to combine with the nominal duty cycle to generate an adjusted duty cycle. A pulse width adjuster varies a pulse width signal based on the adjusted duty cycle. Transfer of energy between an input and a regulated output is based on the pulse width signal. |
| US07863878B2 |
Voltage regulator for write/read assist circuit
A push-pull voltage regulator configured to selectively provide power to used portions of a memory array is presented. The push-pull voltage regulator includes a voltage-up regulator, which provides a reference voltage to an SRAM array, and a voltage-down regulator, which controls removal of excess charge from the SRAM array. The voltage-down regulator consists of a plurality of amplifier stages with a plurality of inputs, a plurality of inverters, a gain amplifier, a biasing transistor, and a NMOS drainage transistor. The gate terminal of the NMOS drainage transistor is coupled to an output of the voltage-down regulator. A first output terminal of the NMOS drainage transistor coupled to an output node of the push-pull voltage regulator and a second output terminal of the NMOS drainage transistor coupled to ground. When activated, the NMOS drainage transistor transfers excess charge from the SRAM array to ground. |
| US07863876B2 |
Built-in self-calibration (BISC) technique for regulation circuits used in non-volatile memory
A reference voltage regulation circuit (143) is provided in which one or more input voltage signals (Vref, Vref′) are selectively coupled to a configurable amplifier (114) which is coupled through a sample and hold circuit (120) to a voltage follower circuit (122) which is coupled in feedback to the configurable amplifier (114) for generating an adjusted output voltage at a circuit output (130), where the voltage follow circuit comprises a resistor divider circuit (126) that is controlled by a calibration signal (Cal |
| US07863871B2 |
Apparatus and method for monitoring for a maintain power signature (MPS) of a powered device (PD) in a power source equipment (PSE) controller
Power over Ethernet (PoE) communication systems provide power and data communications over the same communications link, where a power source device (PSE) provides DC power (for example, 48 volts DC) to a powered device (PD). The DC power is transmitted simultaneously over the same communications medium with the high speed data from one node to the other node. The PSE typically includes a controller that controls the DC power provided to the PD at the second node of the communications link. The PSE controller measures the voltage, current, and temperature of the outgoing and incoming DC supply lines to characterize the power requirements of the PD. In addition, the PSE controller may detect and validate a compatible PD, determine a power classification signature for the validated PD, supply power to the PD, monitor the power, and reduce or remove the power from the PD when the power is no longer requested or required. The PSE controller also monitors for a Maintain Power Signature (MPS). The PSE controller removes power from the PD if the MPS condition is absent for longer than its related time limit. The MPS consists of two components: an AC MPS component and a DC MPS component. The PSE controller may optionally monitor the AC MPS component only, the DC MPS component only or both the AC and the DC MPS components. |
| US07863865B2 |
Systems and methods for pulse charging a battery
Embodiments of the present invention include techniques for charging a battery. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method comprising determining if a maximum current output of a power source is above a threshold, configuring a regulator coupled to the power source, wherein the regulator is configured in a pass mode if the maximum current output is above the threshold, and wherein the regulator is configured in a regulation mode if the maximum current output is below the threshold, and generating pulses to a battery, wherein an output of the regulator is coupled to the battery when a pulse is being generated, and the output of the regulator is decoupled from the battery when a pulse is not being generated. In other embodiments, the techniques may be embodied in a circuit including a detection circuit and a switching regulator coupled to a battery through a pulse circuit. |
| US07863863B2 |
Multi-cell battery pack charge balance circuit
A multi-cell battery pack charge balance circuit is connected to a recharge-discharge circuit to charge battery cells. The charge balance circuit includes a first balance circuit, a second balance circuit and a protection circuit. The first balance circuit is connected to a first node of the recharge-discharge circuit. The first balance circuit includes a plurality of controlling units, each of the controlling units includes a switch element and a resistor element connected with the switch element. The second balance circuit is connected to a second node of the recharge-discharge circuit and the first balance circuit. The second balance circuit has a first and second branch. The first branch includes a switch element. The second branch includes a switch element and a resistor element connected with each other. The protection circuit has a plurality of controlling points. The controlling points connect with the corresponding switch elements of the first and second balance circuits. |
| US07863861B2 |
Contact-less power transfer
There is disclosed a system and method for transferring power without requiring direct electrical conductive contacts. There is provided a primary unit having a power supply and a substantially laminar charging surface having at least one conductor that generates an electromagnetic field when a current flows therethrough and having an charging area defined within a perimeter of the surface, the at least one conductor being arranged such that electromagnetic field lines generated by the at least one conductor are substantially parallel to the plane of the surface or at least subtend an angle of 45° or less to the surface within the charging area; and at least one secondary device including at least one conductor that may be wound about a core. Because the electromagnetic field is spread over the charging area and is generally parallel or near-parallel thereto, coupling with flat secondary devices such as mobile telephones and the like is significantly improved in various orientations thereof. |
| US07863855B2 |
Electronic equipment and power management method for the electronic equipment, and power source unit
Electronic equipment and power management method for the power equipment and a power source unit are provided. The present invention provides a guideline associated with control content required to use a fuel cell as a power source in various kinds of electronic equipment, and perform appropriate power management according to loads. A notebook personal computer includes a hybrid pack which has a battery serving as a secondary battery, a battery protection IC for controlling this battery, a fuel cell for causing a predetermine fuel and air to electrochemically react with each other so as to cause a power generating unit to generate power, and a fuel cell controller for controlling this fuel cell, and a computer body at least having a CPU for executing various processes and consuming power. In the hybrid pack, the battery protection IC and the fuel cell controller mutually transfer at least remaining battery power information indicative of the amount of power remaining in the battery and fuel cell status information indicative of a status of the fuel cell, to each other via a bus. |
| US07863853B2 |
Electric motor control device
An excitation current processor of a current controller processes the excitation current corresponding to the magnetic flux instruction from the magnetic flux instruction processor. It multiplies this excitation current with a boost coefficient to obtain an excitation current instruction. Here, the boost coefficient is determined based on the difference obtained by subtracting the magnetic flux estimation value processed by the magnetic flux processor based on the excitation current feedback from the voltage conversion device from the magnetic flux instruction input from the magnetic flux instruction processor. Further, the boost coefficient can be found from the function of time from the start of the rise of the magnetic flux. |
| US07863847B2 |
Power unit
A power unit which makes it possible to reduce power transmitted from a prime mover to a driven part via an electrical path, to thereby increase the efficiency of driving the driven part. A first rotating machine of the power unit inputs and outputs energy between a stator and first and second rotors thereof, via magnetic circuits formed by generation of a rotating magnetic field, and the rotating magnetic field, and the rotors rotate while maintaining a linear relation in which respective differences in rotational speed between the rotating magnetic field and the second rotor, and between the second and first rotors are equal. The rotors are mechanically connected to a prime mover and a transmission, respectively. A second rotating machine of the power unit is mechanically connected to a drive part without via the transmission, and electrically connected to the stator. |
| US07863845B2 |
Electric power steering system apparatus
In a power supply apparatus, a power supply circuit includes a primary power supply circuit including a high-voltage battery and a step-down circuit for stepping down the voltage of the high-voltage battery, and a secondary power supply circuit including a low-voltage battery and a step-up circuit for stepping up the voltage of the low-voltage battery. The primary power supply circuit and the secondary power supply circuit are connected in parallel. An output voltage of the secondary power supply circuit is set to be lower than an output voltage of the primary power supply circuit. When the output voltage of the primary power supply circuit becomes lower than a target voltage of the secondary power supply circuit, the voltage stepped-up by the step-up circuit is supplied to a motor drive circuit. Accordingly, power supply backup of an electric power steering apparatus can be performed at low cost. |
| US07863840B2 |
Motor driving circuit
A motor driving circuit comprising: a synchronous rectification driving circuit to carry out synchronous rectification, to energize a driving coil connected between a first connection point at which a first source and first sink side transistors are connected in series and a second connection point at which a second source and second sink side transistors are connected in series; a backflow detecting resistor connected to electrodes of the first and second sink side transistors, the electrodes being on an opposite side of the first and second sink side transistors to the first and second connection points; a backflow detecting comparator to output a comparison signal indicating a result of comparison of voltage between a first and second terminals of the backflow detecting resistor; and a backflow prevention circuit to prohibit the synchronous rectification when the comparison signal indicates that the second terminal is higher in voltage than the first terminal. |
| US07863831B2 |
AC illumination apparatus with amplitude partitioning
A method includes rectifying AC power and controlling switching of first, second and third currents from and rectified power and a switching sequence that is locked to the AC cycle time by sensing an amplitude of at least one of the AC power and the rectified power. The first, second and third currents are conducted through corresponding first, second and third series of color light emitting devices of different colors. The switching sequence repeats at least twice each AC cycle time. |
| US07863830B2 |
Electronic ballast and method for operating an electric lamp
The invention relates to an electronic ballast device for operating an electric lamp (2), comprising a first (21) and a second lamp filament (22), wherein the lamp filaments (21, 22) are electrically connected to a heating circuit (3) during a pre-warming phase for the electric lamp (2) said heating circuit (3) being of such a form that the heating current generated by the heating circuit (3) during an operational phase of the electric lamp (2) amounts to between 20% and 60% of the lamp current of said electric lamp (2). The invention further relates to a method for operation of an electric lamp with an electronic ballast device. |
| US07863824B2 |
Light emitting device and production system of the same
To provide a light emitting device without nonuniformity of luminance, a correcting circuit for correcting a video signal supplied to each pixel to a light emitting device. The correcting circuit is stored with data of a dispersion of a characteristic of a driving TFT among pixels and data of a change over time of luminance of a light emitting element. Further, by correcting a video signal inputted to the light emitting device in conformity with a characteristic of the driving TFT of each pixel and a degree of a deterioration of the light emitting element based on the over-described two data, nonuniformity of luminance caused by a deterioration of an electroluminescent layer and nonuniformity of luminance caused by dispersion of a characteristic of the driving TFT are restrained. |
| US07863823B2 |
Method of improving uniformity of brightness between pixels in electron emission panel
A method of improving uniformity of brightness between pixels in an electron emission panel includes respectively applying a scan driving voltage and a data driving voltage to a scan electrode and a data electrode of each of a plurality of pixels, wherein one of the scan driving voltage and the data driving voltage is higher than the other; measuring a brightness of each of the pixels; and respectively applying a scan adjustment voltage and a data adjustment voltage to the scan electrode and the data electrode of each of the pixels based on the measured brightness of a respective one of the pixels, wherein a higher one of the scan adjustment voltage and the data adjustment voltage is applied to a same one of the scan electrode and the data electrode to which a lower one of the scan driving voltage and the data driving voltage is applied. |
| US07863821B1 |
Drop-in light emitting diode (LED) module, reflector, and flashlight including same
A drop-in light emitting diode (LED) module that can be used to increase the light output of a conventional flashlight includes a heat sink, a high power LED mounted on the heat sink, and an LED driver circuit. The driver circuit is designed to supply the LED with its maximum rated current so that its light output is brighter than the light output of conventional flashlights. The heat sink channels heat generated by the LED when receiving its maximum rated current into the body of the flashlight so the LED does not overheat and fail. The module is designed to be easily inserted into a conventional flashlight to increase its light output and removed when desired. The module can be used to create a modified flashlight by using the module with a conventional reflector that has been modified for use with the module. |
| US07863819B2 |
Metal halide lamp with adhesive layer sealing molybdenum/vandium alloy leadthrough
The invention relates to a metal halide lamp comprising a ceramic discharge vessel (10), characterized in that an MoV leadthrough is connected to a PCA element (Al2O3) by means of a specific adhesive layer containing Al and Mo. |
| US07863807B2 |
System for displaying images and method for fabricating the same
Systems for displaying images and fabrication method thereof are provided. A representative system incorporates an electroluminescent device including light emitting units emitting lights with different luminescent intensities along light emitting paths thereof, formed overlying a substrate. And a compensation layer is disposed along the light emitting paths to adjust the different luminescent intensities for outputting substantially uniform light. |
| US07863803B2 |
Tuning fork resonator element and tuning fork resonator
A tuning fork resonator element that has a base portion, first and second resonating arms extending from the base portion in a first direction, and a support frame sandwiching the first and second resonating arms and being connected to the base portion includes: a first excitation electrode, formed in an area close to a connection portion with the base portion of the support frame, being connected to a mount electrode with a conductive adhesive; a second excitation electrode, formed in at least one of an area sandwiching the first and second resonating arms of the support frame and an area positioned farther than the first and second resonating arms in the first direction, being connected to a mount electrode with the conductive adhesive; and a cut portion of the support frame formed on an external surface of the support frame. |
| US07863802B2 |
Quartz crystal element made of double-rotation Y-cut quartz crystal plate
A crystal element has a crystal blank which is cut from a crystal of quartz and has a principal plane orthogonal to a Y″-axis, where the Y- and Z-axes are rotated by an angle of α around the X-axis in the crystal to be designated as the Y′- and Z′-axes, and the X- and Y′-axes are rotated by an angle of β around the Z′-axis to be designated as the X′- and Y″-axes. The crystal blank has mutually orthogonal two null stress-sensitivity axes. In the crystal blank, the thickness of the center part at which two null stress-sensitivity axes intersect is increased, and a ridge line portion defining a quadrangular pyramid like shape from the center part toward the outer peripheral part is formed. The sectional thickness of the crystal blank along the base thereof is larger in the central region and becomes gradually smaller toward both ends. |
| US07863794B2 |
Armature winding of rotating electrical machine
There is provided a 3-phase 2-layer armature winding of a rotating electrical machine. The lead-out connection conductor connected to the output terminal is connected to a coil piece positioned at least farther than a first coil piece inside the phase belt counted from the end of the each phase belt, and a coil piece positioned at the end of the phase belt is connected to a coil piece positioned at least farther than the n-th (n is an integer larger than 1) inside the phase belt counted from the other end of the phase belt in the same parallel circuit, by a jumper wire. |
| US07863789B2 |
Brushless permanent magnet motor/generator with axial rotor decoupling to eliminate magnet induced torque losses
A permanent magnet motor/generator that includes a stator, a rotor provided with a plurality of permanent magnets at a peripheral surface thereof and having a central axis which coincides with the central axis of the stator, a rotatable shaft upon which the rotor is coupled, and an actuator for moving the rotor with respect to the stator axially along the rotatable shaft a sufficient distance to completely decouple the rotor from the stator so as to eliminate magnet induced torque drag. When the permanent magnet/generator is used in parallel hybrid vehicles, the ability to completely decouple the rotor from the stator greatly improves range and efficiency. In addition, by progressively engaging the rotor with the stator a desired voltage output can be obtained upon deceleration. |
| US07863787B2 |
Compact high power alternator
A compact, high power, power conversion apparatus including a rotor and a stator. The rotor includes a cylindrical casing, and a predetermined number of permanent magnets disposed on the casing, and is adapted for rotation about the axis of the casing. The stator includes a core and a plurality of sets of conductive windings, each set including a predetermined number of individual conductive windings and associated with an electrical phase. A respective collecting conductor is associated with each set of conductive windings, with each individual conductive winding of the set being electrically connected to the associated collecting conductor. The respective collecting conductors are disposed in a coolant flow path a coolant flow path directing coolant into contact with the stator windings, electrically isolated from each other and spaced apart from each other and from the windings. Collecting conductors in the form of continuous rings and in the form of a plurality of arcs are disclosed. |
| US07863782B2 |
Linear motor with differently configured secondary part sections
The aim of the invention is to better adapt the power range of a linear motor to specific applications. For this purpose, the secondary part (2) is subdivided into at least one first (3) and one second section (4) in the direction of travel (15) of the primary part (1). The secondary part (2), in the first section (3), has a different shape than in the second section (4) and/or is produced from a different material. In this manner, different speeds of the primary part (1) can be achieved on the traveled distance independent of the actuation of the primary part. Optionally, cage windings can be inserted in a section of the secondary part so that said secondary part can be used for passive breaking. |
| US07863777B2 |
Low power switching circuit
A method and apparatus are provided for operating a wall switch module using leakage current. In one embodiment, the wall switch module may be operable using leakage current. The wall switch control module may be provided to include a microcontroller, wireless receiver and triac. The wall switch control module may be configured to control power applied to a load. In another embodiment, one or more signals received by the wireless receiver may be useable to control power applied to a load coupled to the wall switch control module. According to another embodiment, the wall switch control module may be useable for home automated systems. |
| US07863773B2 |
Apparatus for the redundant power supply of at least one load
In order to provide an apparatus for the redundant power supply of at least one load having a first converter, which can be connected to a first AC voltage system via a first connection, a second converter, which can be connected to a second AC voltage system via a second connection, and a DC voltage intermediate circuit, which connects the first converter to the second converter on the DC voltage side, which apparatus makes a redundant power supply possible, the invention proposes that the DC voltage intermediate circuit has at least one load connection for the purpose of supplying power to a load. |
| US07863767B2 |
Turbine driven electric power production system and a method for control thereof
A turbine (2) driven electric power production system (1),—said turbine (2) arranged for being driven by a fluid (3) having a fluid speed (v) varying in time,—said turbine (2) connected to a hydrostatic displacement pump (6) further connected to a hydrostatic displacement motor (8) as part of a closed loop hydrostatic transmission system (7),—said motor (8) arranged for driving an electrical generator (9) supplying AC power (10) at a frequency (fg) near a given desired frequency (fdes), characterized by a closed loop system arranged for controlling a volumetric displacement (13) of the hydrostatic motor (8), comprising—a fluid speed meter (11m) arranged for producing a speed signal (11s) representing a speed (v) of said fluid (3), and—a rotational speed meter (12m) arranged for providing a rotational speed signal (12s) representing a rotational speed measurement (ω) of said turbine (2), —a motor displacement control system (15) for continuously receiving said speed signal (11s) and said rotational speed signal (12s) and arranged for calculating a control signal (16), —a volumetric displacement control actuator (17) on said hydrostatic motor, arranged for receiving said control signal (16) for continuously adjusting a volumetric displacement (d) of said hydrostatic motor (8) for maintaining a set turbine tip speed ratio (tsrset) and thereby providing an improved power efficiency of the power production system (1) during fluctuations in said fluid speed (v). |
| US07863764B2 |
Powertrain with torque converter-mounted generator for multiple voltage electrical power and method for assembling same
A torque converter-mounted generator is provided that, along with power electronics, offers at least two types of electrical power output and may be attached to a transmission without impacting the axial length of a powertrain in comparison to a powertrain with an identical transmission and a torque converter not having a generator mounted thereto. Different torque-converter mounted generators and power electronics configurations providing different combinations of electrical power voltages may be offered for use with a given transmission type, thus allowing flexibility in meeting customer needs without unduly impacting assembly of the powertrains. A method of assembling transmissions is also provided. |
| US07863759B2 |
Package structure and method for chip with two arrays of bonding pads on BGA substrate for preventing gold bonding wires from collapse
A package structure and method for preventing gold bonding wires from collapsing are disclosed. The structure is especially useful for those chips whose two n×1 arrays of bonding pads are on the chip center to be packaged on a BGA substrate. According to the first preferred embodiment, two dies having a redistribution layer formed thereon are introduced outer the bonding pad array on the chip so that the gold bonding wires can be divided into two sections each to connect the bonding pads with the redistribution layer and the redistribution layer with the gold fingers on the BGA substrate. According to the second embodiment, the gold bonding wires are fixed by the epoxy strips on the chips after bonding the bonding pads to the gold fingers but before pouring liquid encapsulated epoxy into a mold. |
| US07863758B2 |
Adhesive film composition, associated dicing die bonding film, and die package
An adhesive film composition includes a polyester-based thermoplastic resin, an elastomer resin containing at least one of a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, or an epoxy group, an epoxy resin, a phenol curing agent, one or more of a latent catalytic curing agent or a curing catalyst, a silane coupling agent, and a filler. |
| US07863754B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A technique for manufacturing a low-cost, small volume, and highly integrated semiconductor device is provided. A characteristic of the present invention is that a semiconductor element formed by using a semiconductor thin film is transferred over a semiconductor element formed by using a semiconductor substrate by a transfer technique in order to manufacture a semiconductor device. Compared with the conventional manufacturing method, mass production of semiconductor devices with lower cost and higher throughput can be realized, and production cost per semiconductor device can be reduced. |
| US07863750B2 |
Semiconductor device capable of suppressing warping in a wafer state and manufacturing method thereof
In this manufacturing method of a semiconductor device, after a sealing film is applied over an entire surface of a semiconductor wafer and hardened, a second groove for forming a side-section protective film is formed in the sealing film and on the top surface side of the semiconductor wafer. In other words, the sealing film is formed in a state where a groove that causes strength reduction has not been formed on the top surface side of the semiconductor wafer. Since the second groove is formed on the top surface side of the semiconductor wafer after the sealing film is formed, the semiconductor wafer is less likely to warp when the sealing film, made of liquid resin, is hardened. |
| US07863744B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing same
A semiconductor device includes an insulating interlayer formed above a silicon substrate and provided with a concave portion in a certain location, a barrier metal film covering an inner wall of the insulating interlayer, a lower layer copper interconnect provided so as to be in contact with the barrier metal film and buried in the interior of the concave portion, and a protective film provided so as to be in contact with the lower layer copper interconnect and also provided on substantially the entire top surface of the lower layer copper interconnect. An upper surface of the lower layer copper interconnect is provided so as to be retracted to be closer to the substrate than an upper surface of barrier metal film on the side wall of the concave portion. The protective film contains Co or Ni as constituent element, and Co concentration or Ni concentration in the protective film in vicinity of the side wall of the barrier metal film is higher than Co concentration or Ni concentration in the barrier metal film in the central region of the concave portion. |
| US07863743B1 |
Capactive connectors with enhanced capacitive coupling
A single-chip module (SCM) and a multi-chip module (MCM) that includes at least two instances of the SCM are described. The SCM includes a pad disposed on a substrate. This pad has a top surface that includes a pattern of features. A given feature in the pattern of features has a height that extends above a minimum thickness of the pad, thereby increasing a capacitance associated with the pad relative to a configuration in which the top surface is planar. Furthermore, pads disposed on the two instances of the SCM in the MCM may each have a corresponding pattern of features that increases the capacitive coupling between the pads relative to a configuration in which the top surfaces of either or both of the pads are planar. Note that the pads may be aligned such that features in the patterns of features on these pads are interdigited with each other. |
| US07863742B2 |
Back end integrated WLCSP structure without aluminum pads
An integrated circuit structure includes a passivation layer; a via opening in the passivation layer; a copper-containing via in the via opening; a polymer layer over the passivation layer, wherein the polymer layer comprises an aperture, and wherein the copper-containing via is exposed through the aperture; a post-passivation interconnect (PPI) line over the polymer layer, wherein the PPI line extends into the aperture and physically contacts the copper-via opening; and an under-bump metallurgy (UBM) over and electrically connected to the PPI line. |
| US07863740B2 |
Semiconductor device having conductive bumps, metallic layers, covering layers and fabrication method thereof
A semiconductor device having conductive bumps and a fabrication method thereof is proposed. The fabrication method includes the steps of forming a first metallic layer on a substrate having solder pads and a passivation layer formed thereon, and electrically connecting it to the solder pads; applying a second covering layer over exposed parts of the first metallic layer; subsequently, forming a second metallic layer on the second covering layer, and electrically connecting it to the exposed parts of the first metallic layer; applying a third covering layer, and forming openings for exposing parts of the second metallic layer to form thereon a conductive bump having a metallic standoff and a solder material. The covering layers and the metallic layers can provide a buffering effect for effectively absorbing the thermal stress imposed on the conductive bumps to prevent delamination caused by the UBM layers. |
| US07863739B2 |
Low fabrication cost, fine pitch and high reliability solder bump
A barrier layer is deposited over a layer of passivation including in an opening to a contact pad created in the layer of passivation. A column of three layers of metal is formed overlying the barrier layer and aligned with the contact pad and having a diameter that is about equal to the surface of the contact pad. The three metal layers of the column comprise, in succession when proceeding from the layer that is in contact with the barrier layer, a layer of pillar metal, a layer of under bump metal and a layer of solder metal. The layer of pillar metal is reduced in diameter, the barrier layer is selectively removed from the surface of the layer of passivation after which reflowing of the solder metal completes the solder bump of the invention. |
| US07863737B2 |
Integrated circuit package system with wire bond pattern
An integrated circuit package system including providing a plurality of substantially identical package leads formed in a single row, and attaching bond wires having an offset on adjacent locations of the package leads. |
| US07863734B2 |
Dual-sided chip attached modules
An electronic device and method of packaging an electronic device. The device including: a first substrate, a second substrate and an integrated circuit chip having a first side and an opposite second side, a first set of chip pads on the first side and a second set of chip pads on the second side of the integrated circuit chip, chip pads of the first set of chip pads physically and electrically connected to corresponding substrate pads on the first substrate and chip pads of the second set of chip pads physically and electrically connected to substrate pads of the substrate. |
| US07863732B2 |
Ball grid array package system
A ball grid array package system comprising: forming a package base including: fabricating a heat spreader having an access port, attaching an integrated circuit die to the heat spreader, mounting a substrate around the integrated circuit die, and coupling an electrical interconnect between the integrated circuit die and the substrate; and coupling a second integrated circuit package to the substrate through the access port. |
| US07863720B2 |
Method and system for stacking integrated circuits
A method and system for stacking integrated circuits is described. An integrated circuit stack is formed by stacking integrated circuit pairs. The integrated circuit pairs are formed by connecting an active surface of a first integrated circuit to an active surface of a second integrated circuit using flip chip bonding. The first integrated circuit pair is connected to a substrate using an adhesive. The other integrated circuit pairs are stacked sequentially on the first integrated circuit pair using an adhesive. Wire bonding is used to connect the second integrated circuit in each of the integrated circuit pairs to the substrate. |
| US07863717B2 |
Package structure of integrated circuit device and manufacturing method thereof
A package structure of an integrated circuit device comprises a copper foil substrate, an integrated circuit device, a plurality of metal wires and an encapsulation material. The copper foil substrate comprises an IC bonding area, a plurality of conductive areas and an insulating dielectric material. The integrated circuit device is mounted on the surface of the IC bonding area, and is electrically connected to the plurality of conductive areas through the metal wires. The insulating dielectric material is between the IC bonding area and the conductive areas, and is also between two adjacent conductive areas. In addition, the encapsulation material covers the IC bonding area, the conductive areas and the integrated circuit device. |
| US07863716B2 |
Method and apparatus of power ring positioning to minimize crosstalk
A method and/or an apparatus of power ring positioning to minimize crosstalk are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes generating an array of fingers between a power ring and a die, applying a signal wire between a bond pad of the die and a particular finger of the array of fingers, and applying a shielding wire between an adjacent bond pad and the power ring, such that the shielding wire is longer than the signal wire and does not couple to any of the array of fingers. The shielding wire may be placed between adjacent ones of the signal wire to minimize crosstalk between the adjacent ones of the signal wire. |
| US07863714B2 |
Monolithic MEMS and integrated circuit device having a barrier and method of fabricating the same
An integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor die, the semiconductor die including a semiconductor substrate, driving/control circuitry disposed along a peripheral region of the semiconductor die, a MEMS device disposed within a central region of the semiconductor die, and a barrier disposed between the driving/control circuitry and the MEMS device. |
| US07863709B1 |
Low base resistance bipolar junction transistor array
Methods and apparatuses directed to low base resistance bipolar junction transistor (BJT) devices are described herein. A low base resistance BJT device may include a collector layer, a base layer formed on the collector layer, a plurality of isolation trench lines formed in the base layer and extending into the collector layer, and a plurality of polysilicon lines formed on the base layer parallel to and overlapping the plurality of isolation trench lines. The base layer may be N-doped or P-doped. |
| US07863707B2 |
DC-DC converter
A semiconductor device includes, in one semiconductor substrate: a plurality of switching elements connected between a terminal of an input voltage and an inductor; a driver circuit connected to a gate electrode of the switching element and driving the switching element; a reference voltage line connected to a source electrode of the switching element; a power supply line of the driver circuit; and a capacitor connected between the power supply line and the reference voltage line. |
| US07863700B2 |
Magnetoresistive sensor with tunnel barrier and method
Magnetoresistive sensors with tunnel barrier and method. One embodiment provides a magnetoresistive sensor having a magnetic tunnel junction is provided. The magnetic tunnel junction includes a barrier layer. The barrier layer includes carbon, pyrolytic carbon, or graphene, or graphite. |
| US07863697B2 |
Method and apparatus for MEMS oscillator
A resonator includes a CMOS substrate having a first electrode and a second electrode. The CMOS substrate is configured to provide one or more control signals to the first electrode. The resonator also includes a resonator structure including a silicon material layer. The resonator structure is coupled to the CMOS substrate and configured to resonate in response to the one or more control signals. |
| US07863687B2 |
Semiconductor apparatus
A semiconductor apparatus includes an internal circuit, a CMOS composed of a P-channel MOS transistor with a source connected to a high-potential power supply line and a gate connected to the internal circuit, and an N-channel MOS transistor with a source connected to a low-potential power supply line and a gate connected to the internal circuit, an output terminal connected to a drain of the P-channel MOS transistor and a drain of the N-channel MOS transistor and a protection transistor with a source and a gate connected to one power supply line of the high-potential power supply line and the low-potential power supply line and a drain connected to the output terminal, a conductivity type of the protection transistor being the same as a conductivity type of one MOS transistor of the P-channel MOS transistor and the N-channel MOS transistor, the source of the one MOS transistor being connected to the one power supply line. Resistance of a current path extending from the output terminal through the one MOS transistor to the one power supply line has a value such that, when a voltage at which the protection transistor causes snapback is applied between the output terminal and the one power supply line, a current flowing through the current path is lower than a breakdown current of the one MOS transistor. |
| US07863686B2 |
Nonvolatile memory devices having a fin shaped active region
A nonvolatile memory device includes a semiconductor substrate and a device isolation layer on the semiconductor substrate. A fin-shaped active region is formed between portions of the device isolation layer. A sidewall protection layer is formed on the sidewall of the fin-shaped active region where source and drain regions are formed. Thus, it may be possible to reduce the likelihood of an undesirable connection between an interconnection layer connected to the source and drain regions and a lower sidewall of the active region so that charge leakage from the interconnection layer to a substrate can be prevented or reduced. The sidewall protection layer may be formed using the device isolation layer. Alternatively, an insulating layer having an etch selectivity with respect to an interlayer insulating layer may be formed on the device isolation layer so as to cover the sidewall of the active region. |
| US07863682B2 |
SIC semiconductor having junction barrier Schottky diode
A semiconductor device having a junction barrier Schottky diode includes: a SiC substrate; a drift layer on the substrate; an insulation film on the drift layer having an opening in a cell region; a Schottky barrier diode having a Schottky electrode contacting the drift layer through the opening of the insulation film and an ohmic electrode on the substrate; a terminal structure having a RESURF layer surrounding the cell region; and multiple second conductive type layers on an inner side of the RESURF layer. The second conductive type layers and the drift layer provide a PN diode. The Schottky electrode includes a first Schottky electrode contacting the second conductive type layers with ohmic contact and a second Schottky electrode contacting the drift layer with Schottky contact. |
| US07863678B2 |
Insulated-gate field-effect transistor
An IGFET that can be turned off when a reverse voltage is applied. Included is a semiconductor substrate having formed therein an n-type drain region, p-type first body region, p−-type second body region, n-type first source region, and n+-type second source region. Trenches etched in the substrate receive gate electrodes via gate insulators. The source electrode is in ohmic contact with both first and second source regions and in schottky barrier contact with the second body region. |
| US07863677B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of active regions which are defined in a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of gate lines which are formed as zigzag lines, extend across the active regions, are symmetrically arranged, and define a plurality of first regions and a plurality of second regions therebetween, and wherein the first regions being narrower than the second regions. The semiconductor device further includes an insulation layer which defines a plurality of contact regions by filling empty spaces in the first regions between the gate lines and, extending from the first regions, and surrounding sidewalls of portions of the gate lines in the second regions, and wherein the contact regions partially exposing the active regions and a plurality of contacts which respectively fill the contact regions. |
| US07863676B2 |
Semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes a device isolation layer in a semiconductor substrate, an active region defined by the device isolation layer, the active region including a main surface and a recess region including a bottom surface that is lower than the main surface, and a gate electrode formed over the recess region, wherein a top surface of the device isolation layer adjacent to the recess region is lower than the bottom surface of the recess region. |
| US07863674B2 |
Multiple-gate transistors formed on bulk substrates
In one aspect, the present invention teaches a multiple-gate transistor 130 that includes a semiconductor fin 134 formed in a portion of a bulk semiconductor substrate 132. A gate dielectric 144 overlies a portion of the semiconductor fin 134 and a gate electrode 146 overlies the gate dielectric 144. A source region 138 and a drain region 140 are formed in the semiconductor fin 134 oppositely adjacent the gate electrode 144. In the preferred embodiment, the bottom surface 150 of the gate electrode 146 is lower than either the source-substrate junction 154 or the drain-substrate junction 152. |
| US07863673B2 |
Non-volatile memory device and method of operating the same
A non-volatile memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, first and second control gates, and first and second charge storage patterns. The semiconductor substrate includes a protruding active pin having a source region, a drain region and a channel region located between the source and drain regions. The first control gate is located on a first sidewall of the channel region, and the second control gate is located on a second sidewall of the channel region. The second second control gate is separated from the first control gate. The first charge storage pattern is located between the first sidewall and the first control gate, and the second charge storage pattern is located between the second sidewall and the second control gate. |
| US07863667B2 |
Zirconium titanium oxide films
Dielectric layers having an atomic layer deposited oxide containing titanium and zirconium and a method of fabricating such a dielectric layer produce a reliable dielectric layer having an equivalent oxide thickness thinner than attainable using SiO2. Pulsing a titanium-containing precursor onto a substrate, and pulsing a zirconium-containing precursor to form an oxide containing Zr and Ti by atomic layer deposition provides a dielectric layer with a relatively high dielectric constant as compared with silicon oxide. A zirconium-containing precursor to form the oxide containing Zr and Ti can include zirconium tertiary-butoxide. |
| US07863663B2 |
Hybrid electrical contact
Techniques for manufacturing an electronic device. In certain embodiments, a substrate includes a lower patterned layer that has a target conductor. A hybrid-vertical contact may be disposed directly on the target conductor. The hybrid vertical contact may include a lower-vertical contact directly on the target conductor and an upper-vertical contact directly on the lower-vertical contact. The upper-vertical contact may have an upper width that is greater than a lower width of the lower-vertical contact. |
| US07863662B2 |
Capacitor to be incorporated in wiring substrate, method for manufacturing the capacitor, and wiring substrate
A wiring substrate in which a capacitor is provided, the capacitor comprising a capacitor body including a plurality of dielectric layers and internal electrode layers provided between the different dielectric layers, wherein said capacitor body has, in at least one side face of said capacitor body, recesses extending in a thickness direction of said capacitor body from at least one of a first principal face of said capacitor body and a second principal face positioned on the side opposite to the first principal face. |
| US07863660B2 |
Photodiode and display device
Disclosed is a photodiode having a silicon film (5) formed of a continuous grain silicon, where the silicon film (5) has a p-type semiconductor region (2), an intrinsic semiconductor region (3) and an n-type semiconductor region (4), which are arranged in this order along the surface of the silicon film (5). The intrinsic semiconductor region (3) is formed to be in contact with the p-type semiconductor region (2) and the n-type semiconductor region (4). The distance L from the boundary between the intrinsic semiconductor region (3) and the p-type semiconductor region (2) to the boundary between the intrinsic semiconductor region (3) and the n-type semiconductor region (4) is set to not less than 2.5 μm and not more than 10 μm. The distance L is preferably set to not less than 3 μm and not more than 7 μm. |
| US07863657B2 |
Efficient transistor structure
An integrated circuit comprises a first drain region having a symmetric shape across at least one of horizontal and vertical centerlines. A first gate region has a first shape that surrounds the first drain region. A second drain region has the symmetric shape. A second gate region has the first shape that surrounds the second drain region. A connecting gate region connects the first and second gate regions. A first source region is arranged adjacent to and on one side of the first gate region, the second gate region and the connecting gate region. A second source region is arranged adjacent to and on one side of side of the first gate region, the second gate region and the connecting gate region. |
| US07863651B2 |
Using multiple coulomb islands to reduce voltage stress
A substrate is levitated a first distance over a mother substrate when a first group of Coulomb islands are charged. A second group of Coulomb islands are charged and increase a separation to a second distance. When the magnitude of the potential of all Coulomb islands is decreased, the separation decreases from the second distance to the first distance. All potentials associated with the Coulomb islands have decreased yet the distance of separation equals to the first distance. Increasing the number of Coulomb islands in a substrate can reduce the magnitude of potentials applied to the Coulomb islands thereby reducing the concern of voltage stress. |
| US07863650B2 |
Multilayer structure and fabrication thereof
A process for fabricating a multilayer structure is provided as well as the structure itself. In accordance with one embodiment, the process includes growing a growth layer on a silicon substrate by epitaxial growth, forming at least one pattern from the growth layer, depositing an oxide layer on the silicon substrate, transferring a silicon active layer onto the oxide layer, forming a cavity in the silicon active layer oxide layer above the pattern, and growing a III-V material in the cavity. |
| US07863647B1 |
SiC avalanche photodiode with improved edge termination
An avalanche photodiode semiconductor device (20) for converting an impinging photon (22) includes a base n+ doped material layer (52) formed having a window section (72) for passing the photon (22). An n− doped material layer (30) is formed on the n+ doped material layer (52) having a portion of a lower surface (74) suitably exposed. An n+ doped material layer (32) is formed on the n− doped material (30). A p+ layer (24) formed on top of the n+ doped layer (32). At least one guard ring (26) is formed in the n− doped layer (30). |
| US07863645B2 |
High breakdown voltage double-gate semiconductor device
A double-gate semiconductor device provides a high breakdown voltage allowing for a large excursion of the output voltage that is useful for power applications. The double-gate semiconductor device may be considered a double-gate device including a MOS gate and a junction gate, in which the bias of the junction gate may be a function of the gate voltage of the MOS gate. The breakdown voltage of the double-gate semiconductor device is the sum of the breakdown voltages of the MOS gate and the junction gate. Because an individual junction gate has an intrinsically high breakdown voltage, the breakdown voltage of the double-gate semiconductor device is greater than the breakdown voltage of an individual MOS gate. The double-gate semiconductor device provides improved RF capability in addition to operability at higher power levels as compared to conventional transistor devices. The double-gate semiconductor device may also be fabricated in a higher spatial density configuration such that a common implantation between the MOS gate and the junction gate is eliminated. |
| US07863644B1 |
Bipolar transistor and method of forming the bipolar transistor with a backside contact
NPN and PNP bipolar junction transistors are formed on a wafer in a fabrication process that eliminates the heavily-doped buried layers and the lightly-doped epitaxial layer by forming back side collector contacts that are electrically connected to an interconnect structure on the top side of the wafer with through-the-wafer contacts. |
| US07863632B2 |
High performance light-emitting devices
An organic light emitting device consists of a layered structure including a top multilayer stack, a bottom multilayer stack, a cavity layer between the top multilayer stack and the bottom multilayer stack, and an organic light emitting region within the cavity layer. The layered structure is constructed such that the product of phase factors ξ1 and ξ2 is. greater than 80% at the center of at least one emitting wavelength region and for a normal viewing angle, wherein where Ra− and Rb+ are the reflectance of the top and bottom multilayer stacks respectively, φa− and φb+ are the phase changes on reflection for the top and bottom multilayer stacks respectively, α1 β1 are respectively the real and imaginary parts of the phase thickness of the cavity layer, α2 and β2 are respectively the real and imaginary parts of the phase thickness of the light-emitting region at the operating wavelength of the device, x is the mean distance of light emitting region from the bottom multilayer stack, n and k are the refractive index and absorption coefficient of the cavity layer, θcavity is the emitting angle inside the cavity layer, and d is the physical thickness of said cavity layer. This condition improves the light output efficiency of the device. |
| US07863626B2 |
Surface mountable chip
A surface mountable device having a circuit device and a base section. The circuit device includes top and bottom layers having a top contact and a bottom contact, respectively. The base section includes a substrate having a top base surface and a bottom base surface. The top base surface includes a top electrode bonded to the bottom contact, and the bottom base surface includes first and second bottom electrodes that are electrically isolated from one another. The top electrode is connected to the first bottom electrode, and the second bottom electrode is connected to the top contact by a vertical conductor. An insulating layer is bonded to a surface of the circuit device and covers a portion of a vertical surface of the bottom layer. The vertical conductor includes a layer of metal bonded to the insulating layer. |
| US07863623B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device
A semiconductor light emitting device includes a substrate 11 including a group III-V nitride semiconductor; a first-conductivity-type layer 12 formed on the substrate 11, the first-conductivity-type layer including a plurality of group III-V nitride semiconductor layers of first conductivity type; an active layer 13 formed on the first semiconductor layer 12; and a second-conductivity-type layer 14 formed on the active layer 13, the second-conductivity-type layer including a group III-V nitride semiconductor layer of second conductivity type. The first-conductivity-type layer 12 includes an intermediate layer 23 made of Ga1-xInxN (0 |
| US07863621B2 |
Thin film transistor
A thin film transistor includes a semiconductor layer formed on a polycrystalline silicon layer crystallized by a super grain silicon (SGS) crystallization method. The thin film transistor is patterned such that the semiconductor layer does not include a seed or a grain boundary created when forming the semiconductor layer on the polycrystalline silicon layer. |
| US07863619B2 |
Semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same
A thin film transistor of the present invention has an active layer including at least source, drain and channel regions formed on an insulating surface. A high resistivity region is formed between the channel region and each of the source and drain regions. A film capable of trapping positive charges therein is provided on at least the high resistivity region so that N-type conductivity is induced in the high resistivity region. Accordingly, the reliability of N-channel type TFT against hot electrons can be improved. |
| US07863618B2 |
Display device
The present invention provides an active matrix type display device having a high aperture ratio and a required auxiliary capacitor. A source line and a gate line are overlapped with part of a pixel electrode. This overlapped region functions to be a black matrix. Further, an electrode pattern made of the same material as the pixel electrode is disposed to form the auxiliary capacitor by utilizing the pixel electrode. It allows a required value of auxiliary capacitor to be obtained without dropping the aperture ratio. Also, it allows the electrode pattern to function as a electrically shielding film for suppressing the cross-talk between the source and gate lines and the pixel electrode. |
| US07863615B2 |
Display unit and method of manufacturing the same
A display unit includes, on an insulating substrate, a plurality of wirings formed to extend in different directions, a thin-film transistor, and a display element. At least one of the plurality of wirings is a divided wiring having a crossing portion formed at an intersection with the other of the plurality of wirings, and a main portion which is formed in a layer same as the other of the plurality of wirings with an insulating film in between and which is electrically connected to the crossing portion via an conductive connection provided in the insulating film. At least one of the main portion and the crossing portion includes a first layer and a second layer stacked in order from the insulating substrate side, the second layer being in direct contact with the first layer and made of a material of a higher melting point than the first layer. |
| US07863613B2 |
Thin film transistor array of horizontal electronic field applying type and method for fabricating the same
A thin film transistor array of a horizontal electronic field applying type enhances brightness. The thin film transistor array includes a gate line and common line separated from the gate line; a data line crossing with the gate line to define pixel region and insulated from the gate line by a gate insulating film; a TFT connected to the gate line and the data line in the pixel region; a pixel electrode on a passivation film overlapping with the common line in the pixel region and connected to the TFT; and a common electrode on the passivation film opposed to the pixel electrode in the pixel region and connected to the common line, wherein the width of the pixel electrode at the overlapping portion between the common line and the pixel electrode is narrower than the width of the common line, and the edge of one side of the pixel electrode adjacent to the common electrode is formed on the inside of the edge of one side of the common line adjacent to the common electrode. |
| US07863612B2 |
Display device and semiconductor device
An object is to provide a display device with a high aperture ratio or a semiconductor device in which the area of an element is large. A channel formation region of a TFT with a multi-gate structure is provided under a wiring that is provided between adjacent pixel electrodes (or electrodes of an element). In addition, a channel width direction of each of a plurality of channel formation regions is parallel to a longitudinal direction of the pixel electrode. In addition, when a channel width is longer than a channel length, the area of the channel formation region can be increased. |
| US07863609B2 |
Compound semiconductor substrate, semiconductor device, and processes for producing them
A compound semiconductor substrate 10 according to the present invention is comprised of a Group III nitride and has a surface layer 12 containing a chloride of not less than 200×1010 atoms/cm2 and not more than 12000×1010 atoms/cm2 in terms of Cl and an oxide of not less than 3.0 at % and not more than 15.0 at % in terms of O, at a surface. The inventors conducted elaborate research and newly discovered that when the surface layer 12 at the surface of the compound semiconductor substrate 10 contained the chloride of not less than 200×1010 atoms/cm2 and not more than 12000×1010 atoms/cm2 in terms of Cl and the oxide of not less than 3.0 at % and not more than 15.0 at % in terms of O, Si was reduced at an interface between the compound semiconductor substrate 10 and an epitaxial layer 14 formed thereon and, as a result, the electric resistance at the interface was reduced. |
| US07863607B2 |
Thin film transistor array panel and manufacturing method thereof
The disclosed thin film transistor array panel includes an insulating substrate, a channel layer including an oxide formed on the insulating substrate. A gate insulating is layer formed on the channel layer and a gate electrode is formed on the gate insulating layer. An interlayer insulating layer is formed on the gate electrode and a data line formed on the interlayer insulating layer and includes a source electrode, wherein the data line is made of a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer. A drain electrode formed on the interlayer insulating layer, and includes the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. A pixel electrode extends from the first conductive layer of the drain electrode and a passivation layer formed on the data line and the drain electrode. A spacer formed on the passivation layer. |
| US07863606B2 |
Semiconductor-on-diamond devices and methods of forming
The present invention provides semiconductor-on-diamond devices, and methods for the formation thereof. In one aspect, a mold is provided which has an interface surface configured to inversely match a configuration intended for the device surface of a diamond layer. An adynamic diamond layer is then deposited upon the diamond interface surface of the mold, and a substrate is joined to the growth surface of the adynamic diamond layer. At least a portion of the mold can then be removed to expose the device surface of the diamond which has received a shape which inversely corresponds to the configuration of the mold's diamond interface surface. The mold can be formed of a suitable semiconductor material which is thinned to produce a final device. Optionally, a semiconductor material can be coupled to the diamond layer subsequent to removal of the mold. |
| US07863599B2 |
Light emitting diode
A light emitting diode (LED) has an n-type semiconductor layer, an active layer, a p-type semiconductor layer, and a transparent electrode layer. The LED includes a tunnel layer interposed between the p-type semiconductor layer and the transparent electrode layer, an opening arranged in the transparent electrode layer so that the tunnel layer is exposed, a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) arranged in the opening, and an electrode pad arranged on the transparent electrode layer to cover the DBR in the opening. |
| US07863596B2 |
Ring heater for a phase change memory device
A ring shaped heater surrounds a chalcogenide region along the length of a cylindrical solid phase portion thereof defining a change phase memory element. The chalcogenide region is formed in a sub-lithographic pore, so that a relatively compact structure is achieved. Furthermore, the ring contact between the heater and the cylindrical solid phase portion results in a more gradual transition of resistance versus programming current, enabling multilevel memories to be formed. |
| US07863592B1 |
Optical night vision device with standard light intensifier
The disclosure relates to a compact optical device, intended for use in a night vision telescope, that includes an objective, a standard light intensifier that rotates the image through 180° between its entry and its exit, an eyepiece, and four optical deflections, one in the objective and three in the eyepiece. The eyepiece, producing a single intermediate image between its entry and its exit, includes a combiner whose deflection angle α depends on its optical index n and the half-field θ of the device. The field width of the device is at least 40°. The invention is applicable notably to night vision binoculars for aircraft or helicopter pilots. |
| US07863591B2 |
Radiation system and lithographic apparatus comprising the same
An optical sensor apparatus for use in an extreme ultraviolet lithographic system is disclosed. The apparatus includes an optical sensor comprising a sensor surface and a removal mechanism configured to remove debris from the sensor surface. Accordingly, dose and/or contamination measurements may be carried out conveniently for the lithographic system. |
| US07863587B2 |
Symmetrical shaper for an ion beam deposition and etching apparatus
A shaper for shaping an ion beam and that can be used for both deposition and etching is described. The shaper includes a plate that is placed between an ion beam grid and an ion beam source. The plate covers holes in the grid, and is shaped and dimensioned such that the plate does not partially cover any holes in the grid that are directly adjacent to the plate. A hole is configured to mount the shaper at a center of the grid and at least one other hole is configured to secure the shaper to the grid to prevent the shaper from rotating relative to the grid. A center mount portion covers holes in the grid. The plate has two axes of reflection symmetry. The uniformity of both deposition and etching is improved. |
| US07863586B2 |
Writing data creation method and charged particle beam writing apparatus
A method of creating writing data for writing a pattern on a target workpiece by using a writing apparatus provided with a plurality of columns that emit charged particle beams includes inputting information on distance between optical centers of the plurality of columns, inputting layout data and virtually dividing a writing region indicated by the layout data into a plurality of small regions, by a width of one integer-th of the distance indicated by the information on distance, converting, for each small region, the layout data to a format adaptable to the writing apparatus to create, for the each small region, the writing data whose writing region is divided into the small regions, and outputting the writing data. |
| US07863580B2 |
Electron beam apparatus and an aberration correction optical apparatus
An electron beam apparatus for providing an evaluation of a sample, such as a semiconductor wafer, that includes a micro-pattern with a minimum line width not greater than 0.1 μm with high throughput. A primary electron beam generated by an electron gun is irradiated onto a sample and secondary electrons emanating from the sample are formed into an image on a detector by an image projection optical system. An electron gun 61 has a cathode 1 and a drawing electrode 3, and an electron emission surface 1a of the cathode defines a concave surface. The drawing electrode 3 has a convex surface 3a composed of a partial outer surface of a second sphere facing the electron emission surface 1a of the cathode and an aperture 73 formed through the convex surface for passage of the electrons. An aberration correction optical apparatus comprises two identically sized multi-polar Wien filters arranged such that their centers are in alignment with a ¼ plane position and a ¾ plane position, respectively, along an object plane-image plane segment in the aberration correction optical apparatus, and optical elements having bidirectional focus disposed in an object plane position, an intermediate image-formation plane position and an image plane position, respectively, in the aberration correction optical apparatus. |
| US07863575B2 |
Radiographic imaging method and radiographic imaging system
A radiographic imaging method and system use a radiation solid state detector or a flat panel detector (FPD). The method and system enable radiographic imaging to be continued for a while after occurrence of pixel defects that may lower image quality and minimizing adverse effects of the pixel defects. The pixel defects are analyzed in the respective local regions on the detector. A pixel defect correction is not made on local regions where the pixel defect exceeds a given tolerance but these regions are marked on the radiographic image for recognition. |
| US07863573B2 |
Positron emission tomography imaging system, detector, data processing apparatus, computer readable program product having positron emission tomography imaging program for user terminal, and method for positron emission tomography diagnosis
A positron emission tomography imaging system includes a detector configured to detect radiation emitted from an object to be examined, a data processing apparatus configured to reconstruct image data for positron emission tomography diagnosis from detection data obtained from the detector, and a user terminal configured to obtain desired information by operating the detector and the data processing apparatus. The detector includes a detection part having a plurality of detection elements configured to detect the radiation emitted from the object to be examined for every designated timing, and an event information file generation part configured to generate an event information file based on the detection data obtained from the detector. |
| US07863571B2 |
Muon detector
An economical position-sensing muon detector for muon radiography is constructed using a pair of glass plates spaced apart by crossed parallel barriers. Smaller detector wires are interspersed between the barriers and an ionizing gas is used to fill the space between the plates. A muon striking near where detector wires cross causes a local momentary current flow. The current flow in two of the detector wires is sensed to determine the coordinates of the muon impact. Such muon detectors can be assembled in modular surface arrays and such arrays can be positioned on spatial surfaces for differential inspection and detection of muons transiting through and emanating from objects placed within the inspection space. Such a detector constitutes a novel and useful invention in providing an inspection device and means for cargo or cargo vehicles that detects muons transiting through and emanating from hazardous materials intended to cause malicious harm. |
| US07863569B2 |
Apparatus for analyzing cells in real-time
The present invention relates to an apparatus for analyzing cells in real-time which incorporates a wavelength-tunable light source/infrared ray (IR) sensor and can be used to observe and analyze the IR-related characteristics of adherent cells or non-adherent cells. The Apparatus for analyzing cells in real-time in accordance with the present invention can be used to quantify specific materials in a cell and measure the metabolism of a cell. In addition, the apparatus for analyzing cells in real-time in accordance with the present invention can be configured to have a visible light microscope coupled thereto, and in this configuration, it can be used to locate a cell of interest. |
| US07863568B2 |
Photosensitive sensor in the automotive field
A sensor that is photosensitive vis-à-vis at least part of the radiation in the visible range and/or in the near infrared range installed on a vehicle, the sensor being associated with an objective having a first zone that is focused to infinity and a second zone focused in near field. |
| US07863567B1 |
Multimodal radiation imager
According to one embodiment, generating image data includes receiving coded aperture imaging sensor data collected according to coded aperture imaging and receiving Compton imaging sensor data collected according to Compton imaging. The coded aperture imaging sensor data and the Compton imaging sensor data are generated by a sensor system sensing radiation from a radiation source. A coded aperture imaging pixel value and a Compton imaging pixel value are determined for each pixel of an image. A combining function comprising addition is applied to the coded aperture imaging pixel value and the Compton imaging pixel value to yield a combined pixel value for each pixel. Combined image data is generated from the combined pixel values. The combined image data is configured to yield a combined image of the radiation source. |
| US07863565B2 |
Electron beam inspection method and electron beam inspection apparatus
An electron beam inspection apparatus images reflected electrons and cancels negative charging derived from electron-beam irradiation. Ultraviolet rays are irradiated and an irradiated area of ultraviolet rays is displayed as a photoelectron image. The photoelectron image and a reflected-electron image are displayed on a monitor while being superposed on each other, to easily grasp the positional relationship between the images and the difference in size between them. Specifically, the shape of the irradiated area of an electron beam includes the shape of the irradiated area of ultraviolet rays on a display screen. The intensity of the ultraviolet rays in the irradiated area of the electron beam is adjusted while the reflected-electron imaging conditions for the reflected-electron image are sustained. Moreover, an amount-of-ultraviolet ray adjustment mechanism is controlled on the monitor so that an amount of the ultraviolet rays is adjusted while observing a reflected-electron image obtained during ultraviolet irradiation. |
| US07863561B2 |
Mass-spectrometer interface housing
An apparatus for performing chemical analyses includes a mass spectrometry module and an interface module that processes sample materials for delivery to the mass spectrometry module. The interface module includes a vessel having an opening to access a vessel chamber, a door to block the opening, a sealing member disposed between the door and the vessel, and an interlock. The interlock is actuated by the sealing member if the door is in the closed position and the sealing member is properly disposed between the door and the vessel to seal the vessel. The sealing member alternatively includes an indicator portion that is visible to an operator if the door is in the closed position and the sealing member is properly disposed. |
| US07863555B2 |
Illumination apparatus and projection display apparatus
An illumination apparatus includes; a first solid-state light source, a second solid-state light source, a first arrangement member provided with a first arrangement surface, a second arrangement member provided with a second arrangement surface, an optical unit configured to reduce a dispersion angle of a light beam. The first solid-state light source emits a light beam having a first directivity. The second solid-state light source emits a light beam having a second directivity greater than the first directivity. A distance from the second arrangement surface to the second light-entering surface is longer than a distance from the first arrangement surface to the first light-entering surface. |
| US07863554B2 |
Far ultraviolet with high luminance emitting high-purity hexagonal boron nitride monocrystalline powder and method of manufacturing the same
While high-purity hexagonal boron nitride monocrystal (hBN) obtained by way of a high temperature/high-pressure treatment in the presence of a high-purity solvent has excellent properties in terms of far-UV luminescence characteristics, it has drawbacks including that it can be easily adversely affected by mechanical vibrations and impetus, that monocrystal shows a poor morphological retentiveness and that the luminescence characteristics fluctuate to shift the selected and set wavelength. The present invention can overcome the drawbacks of being easily affected by vibrations and showing a poor morphological retentiveness by grinding down the monocrystal obtained by a solvent/refining process into powder and applying the powder to a light emitting surface. Thus, the present invention provides crystal powder to be used for a far-UV luminescence device showing excellent luminescence characteristics that are stable and do not fluctuate. |
| US07863552B2 |
Digital images and related methodologies
An imaging system, methodology, and various applications are provided to facilitate optical imaging performance. The system contains a sensor having one or more receptors and an image transfer medium to scale the sensor and receptors in accordance with resolvable characteristics of the medium, and as defined with certain ratios. Also provided are digital images that contain a plurality of image pixels, each image pixel containing information from about one sensor pixel, each sensor pixel containing substantially all information from about one associated diffraction limited spot in an object plane. Methods of making digital images are provided. |
| US07863551B2 |
System, method and medium tracking motion of subject using laser
A system, method and medium tracks a motion of a subject using a laser by synchronizing an incident axis of the input image with an exit axis of the laser in order to radiate the laser based on an input image. The system includes a half mirror to reflect a predetermined amount of incident light and to transmit a remaining amount of the incident light, an image input unit to input an image reflected from the half mirror, a position identifying unit to identify a position of a first subject included in the input image, and a target tracking unit to track the first subject with reference to the identified position by radiating a laser transmitted through the half mirror onto the first subject along an axis from the half mirror and onto the first subject. |
| US07863546B2 |
Automated preparation of infant formula and children's beverages
A beverage preparation machine is provided that is arranged and configured to dispense infant formula or children's beverages from a liquid concentrate with a consistent temperature in a receiving receptacle. In one form, the beverage preparation machine operates to provide a beverage in a receiving receptacle consistently and reliably at or near a predetermined final temperature based on the beverage type, such as formula or children's beverage, and independent of environmental conditions. |
| US07863544B2 |
Arrangement and method for the on-line monitoring of the quality of a laser process exerted on a workpiece
The invention relates to an arrangement (1) for the on-line monitoring of the quality of a laser process exerted on a workpiece (3), comprising a laser source transmitting a laser beam (4) to the workpiece (3), the thermal process of the laser beam (4) causing emission of electromagnetical radiation (7) from the process zone on the workpiece (3); a heat detection camera (8) for detecting the electromagnetical radiation emitted from the process zone of the workpiece (3), wherein the arrangement (1) is provided with a tilted non-focussing mirror (5) such that the laser beam (4) which is transmitted by the laser source is let through the tilted non-focussing mirror (5) towards the working piece (3), and the electromagnetical radiation (7) emitted from the process zone on the workpiece (3) is reflected by the tilted non-focussing mirror (5) towards the heat detection camera (8). The invention further relates to a method using such an arrangement (1). |
| US07863543B2 |
Apparatus and method for material processing using a transparent contact element
A method of preparing an apparatus for material processing by generating optical breakthroughs in an object. The apparatus includes a variable focus adjustment device. A contact element is mounted to the apparatus, the contact element has a curved contact surface having a previously known shape. The position of the contact surface is determined prior to processing the object, by focusing measurement laser radiation near or on the surface by the variable focus adjustment device, and the focus position is adjusted in a measurement surface intersecting the expected position of the contact surface. Radiation from the focus of the measurement laser radiation is confocally detected. The position of points of intersection between the measurement surface and the contact surface is determined from the confocally detected radiation to determine the position of the contact surface from the position of the points of intersection and the previously known shape of the contact surface. |
| US07863542B2 |
Laser processing apparatus and laser processing method as well as debris extraction mechanism and debris extraction method
A laser processing apparatus is provided. The laser processing apparatus is for performing pattern processing of a transparent conductive film that is formed on a multilayer film on a substrate by using laser light, includes debris extraction module having a vortex generation mechanism that generates a vortex flow by directing gas into the vicinity of a laser-irradiated portion of the transparent conductive film. The debris extraction module is disposed close to the substrate, and debris before deposition and after deposition on the substrate, which is generated by laser irradiation, is entrapped into the vortex flow to be extracted to the outside with the gas. |
| US07863539B2 |
Positioning method of spot welding robot
A positioning method of a spot welding robot, the spot welding robot having a movable electrode tip and an opposition electrode tip opposed to the movable electrode tip. The method sandwiches a work piece to be welded between the pair of electrode tips and includes driving the movable electrode tip towards the opposition electrode tip with a servo motor and stopping the movement upon contact based upon a prescribed current value. The method further includes measuring an open separation of two opposing tips between the movable electrode tip and the opposition electrode tip and moving the opposition electrode tip towards the moveable electrode tip based upon the preset value and the open separation of the two opposing tips. |
| US07863528B2 |
Housing with thermal bridge
A hermetically sealed and/or ignition protection housing is provided with heat bridges at discreet points. The heat bridges form mounting faces in the interior space of the housing and also on the outer side. Heat from the interior of the housing generated by an item on the interior mounting faces is dissipated outwardly at the corresponding points by means of the heat bridges. |
| US07863521B2 |
Cold shrink article and method of using cold shrink article
An article of manufacture includes a protective core having at least two end portions, a plurality of support cores, and at least one cold shrinkable material held in an expanded state over at least a portion of the protective core and at least a portion of each support core. One end of each support core interconnected with a corresponding end portion of the protective core. The support cores, the protective core, and the cold shrinkable material are collectively configured to circumferentially surround an apparatus such that the cold shrinkable material compresses over a portion of the apparatus in response to removal of one of the plurality of support cores from the corresponding end portion of the protective core. |
| US07863518B2 |
Photovoltaic device
A photovoltaic device capable of improving output characteristics is provided. This photovoltaic device comprises a crystalline semiconductor member, a substantially intrinsic first amorphous semiconductor layer formed on the front surface of the crystalline semiconductor member and a first conductivity type second amorphous semiconductor layer formed on the front surface of the first amorphous semiconductor layer, and has a hydrogen concentration peak in the first amorphous semiconductor layer. Thus, the quantity of hydrogen atoms in the first amorphous semiconductor layer is so increased that the hydrogen atoms increased in quantity can be bonded to dangling bonds of silicon atoms forming defects in the first amorphous semiconductor layer for inactivating the dangling bonds. |
| US07863514B2 |
Methods and apparatus for transmitting finger positions to stringed instruments having a light-system
The invention provides systems and methods of for displaying on a second instrument finger positions that were played on a first instrument. A teacher, for example, can play notes and/or chords on a first stringed instrument having a sensor. A processing having a decoder and a message generator can receive signals from the sensor and generate messages that are communicated to a light-system in the second instrument. The light-system displays the finger positions on the second instrument, each finger position corresponding to a finger position played on the first instrument. The processor can receive sensor information from the second information that can be used to determine whether a displayed finger position was correctly played on the second instrument. |
| US07863513B2 |
Synchronous playback system for reproducing music in good ensemble and recorder and player for the ensemble
A synchronous player system is used for recording an ensemble between an automatic player piano and an audio player and playback therebetween; while a user is playing on the automatic player piano in ensemble with the audio player, reference characteristic data of the performance is extracted from the audio music data, and are stored in a memory together with the event codes; when the user instructs the synchronous player system to reproduce the performance in ensemble with the same piece of music recorded in another compact disc, the synchronous player system extracts objective characteristic data from the audio data recorded in the other compact disc, finds differences through a correlation analysis, by way of example, and rescheduling the timing to reproduce the note events for synchronously controlling the automatic player piano and audio player. |
| US07863508B2 |
String alignment peg
A String Alignment Plate for stringed instruments to reduce the excess friction in that portion of the string in the head region, generated at the nut of the instrument as a string passes through a notch of the nut and then bends in order to align with the tuning pin or machine head. The additional friction is created at the point of the bend where the string rubs excessively against the nut. This friction impedes tuning and results in differential tension of the string on either side of the nut. The String Alignment Plate is affixed to the head of the instrument and keeps the portion of the string in the head area in-line or parallel with that portion of the same string as it extends from the bridge to the nut, thus removing the bend. Once the string reaches the String Alignment Plate, the string curves around the Peg on the String Alignment Plate to the tuning peg or machine head. |
| US07863506B2 |
Inbred corn line CB11
An inbred corn line, designated CB11, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line CB11, to the plants and plant parts of inbred corn line CB11 and to methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, by crossing the inbred line CB11 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to methods for producing a corn plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from the inbred corn line CB11. |
| US07863502B2 |
Delta-8 desaturases and their use in making polyunsaturated fatty acids
Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding delta-8 desaturases along with a method of making long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) using these delta-8 desaturases in plants and oleaginous yeast. |
| US07863501B2 |
B-type gene from oil palm
The present invention relates generally to genetic sequences and their complementary forms capable of facilitating the modification of a phenotype of a plant. More particularly, the present invention relates to polynucleotide sequences defining B-type genes, to the proteins encoded thereby, to methods for isolating such polynucleotides and to nucleic acid constructs for the expression thereof. The present invention further provides cells, particularly transformed bacterial or plant cells and to differentiated tissue including whole plants and their progeny comprising cells which contain these nucleic acid constructs or parts of the constructs. Plants and parts of plants, such as flowering and reproductive parts including seeds, also form part of the present invention. The genetic sequences of the present invention may be used inter alia for the production of plants and, in particular, oil palm plants, which have modified phenotypes and/or which exhibits more highly desired characteristics such as, for example, male sterility or plants in which the sex ratio may be manipulated, and for the diagnosis and, preferably, elimination of the mantled phenotype. |
| US07863500B2 |
Nucleotide sequences mediating plant male fertility and method of using same
Nucleotide sequences mediating male fertility in plants are described, with DNA molecule and amino acid sequences set forth. Promoter sequences and their essential regions are also identified. The nucleotide sequences are useful in mediating male fertility in plants. In one such method, the homozygous recessive condition of male sterility causing alleles is maintained after crossing with a second plant, where the second plant contains a restoring transgene construct having a nucleotide sequence which reverses the homozygous condition. The restoring sequence is linked with a hemizygous sequence encoding a product inhibiting formation or function of male gametes. The maintainer plant produces only viable male gametes which do not contain the restoring transgene construct. Increase of the maintainer plant is also provided by self-fertilization, and selection for seed or plants which contain the construct. |
| US07863497B2 |
Disposable absorbent article designed to facilitate an easy change
A disposable absorbent article to be worn about the lower torso of a wearer that facilitates an easy, intuitive change is provided. The disposable absorbent article includes at least one serviceable indicium that facilitates an easy change by providing alignment of the article relative to an anatomical feature of the wearer or by externally highlighting one or more components of the article thereby indicating alignment and fit about the wearer's lower torso. |
| US07863489B2 |
Direct and selective production of ethanol from acetic acid utilizing a platinum/tin catalyst
A process for the selective production of ethanol by vapor phase reaction of acetic acid over a hydrogenating catalyst composition to form ethanol is disclosed and claimed. In an embodiment of this invention reaction of acetic acid and hydrogen over a platinum and tin supported on silica, graphite, calcium silicate or silica-alumina selectively produces ethanol in a vapor phase at a temperature of about 250° C. |
| US07863483B2 |
Carboxylic acid production process
Disclosed are processes and apparatus for producing a carboxylic acid. The processes employ a concentration section disposed before and/or after a product isolation section, which allows for oxidation byproducts produced in the process to exit the product isolation section with the isolated carboxylic acid product and/or to be combined with the isolated carboxylic acid product downstream of the product isolation section at a rate of at least about 15 percent of the net make rate of the oxidation byproducts in the production process. |
| US07863481B2 |
Versatile oxidation byproduct purge process
Disclosed is a process and apparatus for treating a purge stream in a carboxylic acid production process. The process employs a purge process that allows for the separation of oxidation byproducts into benzoic acid and non-benzoic acid oxidation byproducts, thus providing flexibility in the treatment and use of such oxidation byproducts. |
| US07863480B2 |
Process for alkaline hydrolysis of carboxylic acid derivatives to carboxylic acids
The invention relates to a process for alkaline hydrolysis of carboxylic acid derivatives, especially carboxylic esters, to carboxylic acids, wherein, for the alkaline hydrolysis of the carboxylic acid derivatives, red mud which is produced by the Bayer process used for aluminum production is used as a reaction-promoting component, especially as a hydroxide ion source. |
| US07863472B2 |
Process for producing refined avocado oil rich in triglycerides, and oil obtainable by said process
The present invention concerns a process for producing refined avocado oil rich in triglycerides. The invention also pertains to refined avocado oil rich in triglycerides obtainable by said process. Advantageously, the refined avocado oil of the invention contains a sterols-enriched unsaponifiable fraction. Advantageously, the refined avocado oil of the invention is substantially free of acetogenins and furanic lipids. The invention also concerns compositions containing said oil. The invention also pertains to such compositions for use as a medication, as a dermatological agent, as a cosmetic agent, or as a nutriceutical, for human or animal use. |
| US07863470B2 |
Linear polyethylenimine-sterol conjugates for gene delivery
Linear polyethylenimine was modified with sterols, such as cholesterol, in three different geometries: linear shaped (L), T-shaped (T), and a combined linear- and T-shaped (LT), to result in linear polyethylenimine-sterol conjugates. These conjugates were mixed with nucleic acids to form complexes for delivery of the nucleic acids into cells. Mammalian cells transfected with these complexes showed protein expression levels higher than linear polyethylenimine alone, and twice that of branched polyethylenimine, but without any significant loss in cell viability. Methods of making these compositions and methods of using them for gene delivery are also described. |
| US07863469B2 |
Chemical process for preparation of intermediates
The present invention relates to compounds useful as pharmaceutical intermediates, to processes for preparing the intermediates, to intermediates used in the processes, and to the use of the intermediates in the preparation of pharmaceuticals. In particular, the present invention concerns enantiomerically pure trans-cyclopropane carboxylic acid derivatives, processes for preparing the carboxylic acid derivatives and their use in preparing pharmaceuticals. |
| US07863466B2 |
Method of producing proanthocyanidin-containing material
The method for producing proanthocyanidin-containing product of the present invention comprises the steps of providing a pine bark as a starting material, extracting the pine bark with at least one of water and an organic solvent, and treating the resultant extract with a synthetic resin adsorbent, wherein the pine bark has characteristics in that at least 7 wt % of solid material in terms of dry weight is obtained from a pine bark extract that is obtained by adding 10 parts by volume of an aqueous ethanol solution containing ethanol in the range of 50 to 80 volume % to one part by weight of the pine bark, and performing extraction at 80 to 85° C. for one hour. It is possible to conveniently and efficiently obtain proanthocyanidin-containing product that contains at least 10 wt % of OPCs. |
| US07863463B2 |
Method of purifying dianhydrides
Disclosed herein is a method for purification of dianhydrides comprising a substantial amount (10000 ppm or more) of at least one metal salt. In one aspect the method is useful for the purification of dianhydrides prepared by the reaction of a halophthalic anhydride with a metal carbonate and may be optionally catalyzed by a phase transfer catalyst. The purification of the dianhydrides may be accomplished by hydrolyzing the dianhydride metal salt mixture directly to a tetraacid with an inorganic acid, followed by separating the impurities from an aqueous phase, and subsequently heating the tetraacid to effect ring closure to form a purified dianhydride having less than 50 parts per million metal halide and lower levels of other residual impurities. In one aspect the method is highly effective in removing phase transfer catalyst impurities such as hexalkylguanidinium halides initially present in the dianhydride undergoing purification. |
| US07863462B2 |
Process for the purification of ropinirole hydrochloride
The present invention provides an improved process for the purification of ropinirole hydrochloride. The process includes (i) treating ropinirole hydrochloride with sodium dithionate and charcoal in suitable alcoholic solvent; (ii) triturating the ropinirole hydrochloride obtained in step (i) with ethanol; (iii) reacting the triturated solid with base in water immiscible solvent and isolating the free base; and (iv) treating the free base obtained in step (iii) with ethanolic HCl to give ropinirole hydrochloride. |
| US07863460B2 |
Process for producing 1-substituted-3-fluoroalkylpyrazole-4-carboxylate
In a process for producing 1-substituted-3-fluoroalkyl-pyrazole-4-carboxylate (3) by a reaction of 2-alkoxymethylenefluoroacylacetate (1) and hydrazine (2), the reaction is conducted in the presence of a base and water, to produce 1-substituted-3-fluoroalkylpyrazole-4-carboxylate (3) with high selectivity and yield. This novel process enables to produce 1-substituted-3-fluoroalkylpyrazole-4-carboxylate (3), which is useful as an intermediate for pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, with high selectivity and yield by simple and safe operations. |
| US07863453B2 |
Tartrate salt of isofagomine and methods of use
A novel tartaric acid salt of Isofagomine (Isofagomine tartrate) that can be used for the treatment of Gaucher disease is provided. The invention also provides a crystalline form of isofagomine tartrate, method for preparing the salt, a pharmaceutical composition containing the salt, and a method of treating Gaucher disease. |
| US07863448B2 |
Dye for photoelectronic device, photoanode comprising the dye and photoelectronic device employing the photoanode
Disclosed is a novel dye for use in a photoelectronic device, wherein the photoelectronic device is comprised of a photoanode comprising the dye. According to the novel dye, the dye is derived through the introduction of a group which narrows the dihedral angle of the dye ligand as well as through the introduction of conjugated groups. Since the dye has improved light sensitivity and absorption properties, it can be used to fabricate a photoelectronic device with high power conversion efficiency. |
| US07863447B2 |
Diphosphines and metal complexes
A compound of the formula I or I′, where the radicals R1 are each, independently of one another, a hydrogen atom or C1-C4-alkyl and R′1 is C1-C4-alkyl; X1 and X2 are each, independently of one another, a sec-phosphino group; R2 is (1) hydrogen, (2) R01R02R03Si—, (3) C1-C18-acyl substituted with halogen, hydroxyl, C1-C8-alkoxy or R04R05N—, or (4) R06—X01—C(O)—; R01, R02 and R03 are each, independently of one another, C1-C12-alkyl, unsubstituted or C1-C4-alkyl- or C1-C4-alkoxy-substituted C6-C10-aryl or C7-C12-aralkyl; R04 and R05 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, C1-C12-alkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C6-C10-aryl or C7-C12-aralkyl, or R04 and R05 together are trimethylene, tetramethylene, pentamethylene or 3-oxapentylene; R06 is C1-C18-alkyl, unsubstituted or C1-C4-alkyl- or C1-C4-alkoxy-substituted C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C6-C10-aryl or C7-C12-aralkyl; X01 is —O— or —NH—; T is C-bonded C3-C20-heteroarylene; v is 0 or an integer from 1 to 4; X1 in the heteroring of the heteroarylene is bound in the ortho position relative to the T—C* bond; and * indicates a mixture of racemic or enantiomerically pure diastereomers or pure racemic or enantiomerically pure diastereomers. |
| US07863441B2 |
Preparation of quetiapine
The present invention discloses a process for the preparation of quetiapine, which comprises the ring closure of a compound of the formula shown below, as well as novel intermediates in the process. |
| US07863438B2 |
Stable salt of 3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphosulfate
The present invention provides a stable salt of 3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphosulfate (PAPS) and a production method therefor.The present invention is directed to a stable salt of PAPS (amine salt), which is formed between PAPS and an amine compound, and to a method for producing a stable salt of PAPS, which includes adding an amine compound to an aqueous PAPS solution in an amount by mole equal to or greater than that of PAPS, and lyophilizing the resultant solution.The present invention has first realized production of a solid-form PAPS salt having considerably improved stability through a very simple technique. Since the thus-produced amine salt of PAPS is very stable, the salt can be stored or employed without taking much care about decomposition thereof at ambient temperature. |
| US07863437B2 |
RNA antagonist compounds for the modulation of PIK3CA expression
The invention relates to oligomeric compounds (oligomers), which target PIK3CA mRNA in a cell, leading to reduced expression of PIK3CA. Reduction of PIK3CA expression is beneficial for the treatment of certain medical disorders, such as hyperproliferative diseases (e.g., cancer). The invention provides therapeutic compositions that include the oligomers and methods for modulating the expression of PIK3CA using said oligomers, including methods of treatment. |
| US07863436B2 |
Induction of apoptosis by inhibition of sirtuin SIRT1 expression
The invention relates to the induction of apoptosis by inhibition of the sirtuin SIRT1 expression, in particular the induction of apoptosis in tumour cells. Materials and methods for inhibiting SIRT1 expression are provided, including RNA interference methods. In particular, the invention provides a method of treating a proliferative disease comprising administering to an individual in need thereof an effective amount of a SIRT1 inhibitor. |
| US07863434B2 |
Characterization of granulocytic Ehrlichia and methods of use
The present invention relates, in general, to granulocytic ehrlichia (GE) proteins. In particular, the present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules coding for GE S2, S7, S22, S23, C6.1, C6.2, S11, E8, E46#1, and E46#2 proteins; purified GE S2, S7, S22, S23, C6.1, C6.2, S11, E8, E46#1, and E46#2 proteins and polypeptides; recombinant nucleic acid molecules; cells containing the recombinant nucleic acid molecules; antibodies having binding affinity specifically to GE S2, S7, S22, S23, C6.1, C6.2, S11, E8, E46#1, and E46#2 proteins and polypeptides; hybridomas containing the antibodies; nucleic acid probes for the detection of nucleic acids encoding GE S2, S7, S22, S23, C6.1, C6.2, S11, E8, E46#1, and E46#2 proteins; a method of detecting nucleic acids encoding GE S2, S7, S22, S23, C6.1, C6.2, S11, E8, E46#1, and E46#2 proteins or polypeptides in a sample; kits containing nucleic acid probes or antibodies; bioassays using the nucleic acid sequence, protein or antibodies of this invention to diagnose, assess, or prognose a mammal afflicted with ehrlichiosis; therapeutic uses, specifically vaccines comprising S2, S7, S22, S23, C6.1, C6.2, S11, E8, E46#1, and E46#2 proteins or polypeptides or nucleic acids; and methods of preventing or inhibiting ehrlichiosis in an animal. |
| US07863425B2 |
Compositions and methods for inhibiting Yersinia pestis infection
The invention provides a gene transfer vector for inducing an immune response against Yersinia pestis in a mammal. The gene transfer vector comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding an immunogenic portion of one or more proteins of Yersinia pestis and/or a nucleic acid sequence encoding a monoclonal antibody directed against Yersinia pestis. The invention further provides a method of producing an immune response against Yersinia pestis in a mammal comprising administration of the gene transfer vector to the mammal. The invention also provides a monoclonal antibody directed against the Virulence (V) antigen of Y. pestis, as well as a hybridoma cell line producing same and a nucleic acid sequence encoding same. |
| US07863423B2 |
Pancreatic cancer genes
The present invention provides the art with the DNA coding sequences of polynucleotides that are up-or-down-regulated in cancer and dysplasia. These polynucleotides and encoded proteins or polypeptides can be used in the diagnosis or identification of cancer and dysplasia. Inhibitors of the up-regulated polynucleotides and proteins can decrease the abnormality of cancer and dysplasia. Enhancing the expression of down-regulated polynucleotides or introducing down-regulated proteins to cells can decrease the growth and/or abnormal characteristics of cancer and dysplasia. |
| US07863417B2 |
Tripeptides and derivatives thereof for cosmetic application in order to improve skin structure
The invention relates to compounds and to the cosmetically acceptable salts thereof, which correspond to general formula (I), wherein: R1 represents H, —C(O)—R6, —SO2—R6 or —C(O)—XR6; R2 and R4, independent of one another, represent (CH2)n—NH2 or (CH2)3—NHC(NH)NH2; n equals 1 4; R3 represents linear or branched C1-C4 alkyl that is optionally substituted by hydroxy; R5 and R6, independent of one another, represent hydrogen, optionally substituted (C1-C24) alkyl, optionally substituted C2-C24 alkenyl, optionally substituted phenyl, optionally substituted phenyl-C1-C4 alkyl or 9-fluorenyl-methyl; X represents oxygen (—O—) or —NH—; or XR5 with X═O also represents the esters of a-tocopherol, tocotrienol or retinol, with the provision that R1 and R5 do not represent hydrogen and X does not represent oxygen at the same time. The invention also relates to the production of the compounds of general formula (I) and to a cosmetically active composition that contains at least one compound of formula (I). |
| US07863409B2 |
Method of separating resin
A separation object including at least two types of resins with different glass transition temperatures (glass transition temperature of a first resin 1 |
| US07863408B2 |
Body fluid compatible and biocompatible resin
A body fluid compatible and biocompatible resin for use in a medical treatment involving a contact of said resin with at least one member selected from the group consisting of a body fluid and a biological tissue, which comprises at least one substituted oxyalkylene polymer having a weight average molecular weight of from 1,000 to 1,000,000 and represented by the following formula (1): wherein each of R1, R2 and R3 independently represents a hydrogen atom or a —CH2R4 group, and each R4 independently represents a hydroxyl group or a —OR5 group (wherein R5 represents a group selected from the group consisting of a C1-C10 aliphatic hydrocarbyl group, a C6-C10 aryl group, a —R6COOH group and a derivative thereof, and a —CH2—O—CH2—CH(OH)—CH2—OR7 group, wherein R6 represents a C1-C10 aliphatic hydrocarbylene group and R7 represents a C1-C10 aliphatic hydrocarbyl group or a C6-C10 aryl group), provided that all of R1, R2, and R3 are not simultaneously hydrogen atoms; and 10≦x≦10,000 and 0≦y≦10,000. |
| US07863405B2 |
Removal of residual acetaldehyde from polyester polymer particles
In one embodiment, there is provided a process comprising introducing polyester polymer particles containing residual acetaldehyde into a vessel at a temperature within a range of 130° C. to 195° C. to form a bed of particles within the vessel, flowing a gas through at least a portion of the particle bed, and withdrawing finished particles from the vessel having a reduced amount of residual acetaldehyde. In this process, it is not necessary to introduce a hot flow of gas at high flow rates otherwise required to heat up cool particles to a temperature sufficient to strip acetaldehyde. Rather, this process provides a benefit in that, if desired, gas introduced into the vessel at low flow rates and low temperatures can nevertheless effectively strip acetaldehyde in a reasonable time because the hot particles quickly heat a the gas to the particle temperature. |
| US07863404B2 |
Method of making isosorbide polycarbonate
A polycarbonate is provided that contains repeat units derived from isosorbide and a residue derived from an activated diaryl carbonate. The polycarbonate has 1H-NMR peaks associated with the repeat units derived from isosorbide. The polycarbonate contains no more than a maximum allowable amount of sorbitol-derived color bodies. If these color bodies are present in the polycarbonate it has a 1H-NMR peak associated with the color bodies. The maximum allowable amount of color bodies are present when the integrated area of the 1H-NMR peak associated with the color bodies divided by the integrated areas of the 1H-NMR peaks associated with the repeat units derived from isosorbide is 0.025. |
| US07863400B2 |
Deoxybenzoin-based anti-flammable polyphosphonate and poly(arylate-phosphonate) copolymer compounds, compositions and related methods of use
Deoxybenzoin-phosphonate and other copolymer compounds, compositions and related methods. |
| US07863394B2 |
Ni or Pd-catalyzed cationic polymerization of polycyclic olefins with silane chain transfer agents
A method of polymerizing poly(cyclic)olefin monomers encompassing (a) combining a monomer composition containing the poly(cyclic)olefin monomers, a non-olefinic chain transfer agent and an activator compound to form a mixture; (b) heating the mixture; and (c) adding a polymerization catalyst containing Ni and/or Pd. The non-olefinic chain transfer agent includes one or more compounds selected from H2, alkylsilanes, alkylalkoxysilanes, alkylgermanes, alkylalkoxygermanes, alkylstannanes, and alkylalkoxystannanes. The activator is characterized as having an active hydrogen with a pKa of at least 5. The resulting poly(cyclic)olefin polymers can be used in photoresist compositions. |
| US07863388B2 |
Preparation of functionalized cationic polymers and their application in personal care
Water-soluble functionalized cationic copolymers obtainable by a process which comprises reacting a cationic base polymer which contains amino groups with at least one functional compound reactive to at least a part of the amino groups on the base polymer, are useful in personal care and cosmetic formulations. |
| US07863387B2 |
Dehydrofluorination and surface modification of fluoropolymers for drug delivery applications
Fluoropolymers having a —CF adjacent to a —CH which are subsequently dehydrofluorinated to create a —C═C— can be used as controlled release carriers for therapeutic agent(s) by covalently conjugating the therapeutic agent(s) to the fluoropolymer at the —C═C—. |
| US07863386B2 |
Low density ethylenic polymer composition and method of making the same
The instant invention is an improved low-density ethylenic polymer composition and method of making the same. The polymer composition according to instant invention includes a major component, and a minor component. The major component is an LDPE resin having a melt index (I2) in the range of about 0.01 dg/min to about 100 dg/min, a MW(abs)/MW(GPC) ratio of about 2.6 or less, and a melt strength of less than (14.0 e(−1.05*log 10(MI)))cN Jj16 mmor component is an LDPE resin having a melt index (I2) of less than about 5 dg/min, a molecular weight distribution of greater than about 7, and a MW(abs)/MW(GPC) ratio of at least 2.7. The polymer composition of the instant invention may further include additional components. |
| US07863384B2 |
Fluoropolymers having improved whiteness
The present invention relates to the preparation of a fluoropolymer exhibiting improved whiteness upon fabrication. The fluoropolymer is a multiphase copolymer or blend of fluropolymers. Fluoropolymer compositions of this invention could have application in both melt processing and solvent casting operations for such products as pipes, tubes, sheets, rods, solvent-casted and melt-processed films. |
| US07863383B2 |
Polyolefin based peelable seals
The invention relates to a polyolefin-based heat sealable and peelable seal. The peelable seals comprise from 5 to 98 percent by weight of a propylene based plastomer or elastomer and from 2 to 95 percent by weight of a second polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polybutylene, and styrenic polymer and mixtures thereof. The invention also relates to tamper evident peelable seals. The invention also relates to methods of making and using the heat sealable, peelable seal. |
| US07863381B2 |
Polymer composites
Compositions comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes, a host polymer, and A block copolymer comprising a first block and a second block, wherein no block is compatible with the host polymer. In one aspect, the block copolymer is amphiphilic. In another aspect, the block copolymer may comprise a first block and a second block, wherein at least one of the first and second blocks comprises repeating units derived from a monomer having the general formula: (R)2C═C(R)(Rf) wherein Rf is selected from fluorine, a C1 to C10 fluorinated or perfluorinated alkyl group, and a C1 to C10 fluorinated or perfluorinated alkoxy group; each R is independently selected from F, H, Cl, Rf, a C1 to C10 alkyl group, and R2A, wherein R2 is a C1 to C10 alkylene group and A is selected from CO2M and SO3M, wherein M is selected from H, an ammonium and organo onium group. |
| US07863380B2 |
Erucamide-free closure and liner compositions
An exemplary erucamide-free composition for making container closures or closure sealants includes a matrix polymer, a silicone lubricant such as poly(dimethyl)siloxane, and a slip aid comprising a saturated amide, oxidized polyethylene, or combination thereof. |
| US07863374B2 |
Self-curable water-based solid adhesive and bonding method using the self-curable water-based solid adhesive
Self-curable water-based solid adhesives of this invention include the following components (A), (B), (C), and (D):(A) an anionic-group-containing polymer terminally having an alkoxysilyl group, the polymer being a reaction product of a compound (A1) containing no anionic group and having plural isocyanate-reactive groups, a compound (A2) having an anionic group and plural isocyanate-reactive groups, a polyisocyanate compound (A3), and an alkoxysilane compound (A4) containing an isocyanate-reactive group;(B) a basic compound;(C) water; and(D) a gelling agent.The self-curable water-based solid adhesives of the present invention can be applied with good workability, have good fitting after attachment, have good adhesion to plastics, metals and glass and exhibit excellent heat resistance and water resistance after curing. They are highly safe to humans and the environment. They also have excellent shape retention and slidability and can be easily applied. In addition, they can bond adherends by contact bonding despite that they are water-based solid adhesives. Accordingly, the self-curable water-based solid adhesives of this invention are very useful as stick adhesives. |
| US07863372B2 |
Aqueous copolymer dispersions with improved blocking resistance
The invention relates to new, aqueous secondary copolymer dispersions, to a process for preparing them and to their use for producing high-grade coatings, especially for wood. The dispersions comprise a copolymer (P) synthesized from a mixture of free-radically polymerizable monomers (M) comprising (M1) cycloaliphatic esters of acrylic and/or methylacrylic acid and also (M2) vinyl esters of aliphatic carboxylic acids. |
| US07863362B2 |
Density-matched polymer slurries
Polymer slurries of ultrahigh molecular weight polyalpha-olefins are made stable toward settling, separation and agglomeration by surface treatment with a combination of wax and optional relatively high-density particulates. The selection of the surface coating acts not only as an anti-blocking agent, or partitioning aid to keep the tacky polymer particles separated, but also provides the suspended polymer particle with a density that matches the carrier. This prevents separation of the slurry components over time. Such materials, ultimately used as pipeline additives to reduce the fluid drag and increase the volumetric throughput, can be stored and shipped for extended periods of time without degradation of the slurry quality. Upon injection into the pipeline, the polymer particle dissolves quickly, unhindered by the coating. |
| US07863360B2 |
Acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive compositions
The present invention relates to an acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive composition, specifically, an acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive composition having improved anti-static properties, comprising acrylic copolymers, chelating agent which may form a bond with metal ion; and alkali metal salts, and prevent whitening appearance under high temperature and humidity condition as well as static electricity without change of the durability, transparency, and adhesion. |
| US07863358B2 |
2-cyanoacrylate composition
There is provided a 2-cyanoacrylate composition useful as cyanoacrylate adhesives that maintain a high speed of adhesion to poorly adherent materials and porous materials and have an improved light stability. The 2-cyanoacrylate composition contains a 2-cyanoacrylate, (1) a hindered phenol compound having a specific structure and (2) a compound having a clathrating ability. |
| US07863355B2 |
Moulding material for the production of fire-retarding objects, pigment therefor and use thereof
A moulding material for the production of highly flame resistant articles with a matrix of a thermoplastic and a particulate pigment dispersed therein is characterized in that the pigment is light-sensitive and changes colour under the influence of laser light and in that the pigment is a reaction product of at least one halogen-free flame retardant organic nitrogen base with (i) at least one mixed salt with at least two different cations and/or with (ii) a mixture of salt type compounds which on heating can be transformed into at least one salt type compound with at least two different cations, as in (i); wherein in variations (i) and (ii), at least one of the cations is selected from a group (A) of elements Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ag, Sn, Sb, La, Pr, Ta, W and Ce and at least one further cation is selected from a group (B) of elements from periods 3 and 6 of groups II and III, periods 5 and 6 of group IV and periods 4 and 5 of groups III to VIII and the lanthanides of the periodic table of the elements. |
| US07863349B2 |
Compositions, kits and methods for initiating or accelerating curing of endodontic filler or sealer compositions placed on a root canal
Activating endodontic points and dental tools are sized and configured to be placed in the root canal of a tooth. The activating endodontic points or dental tools are coated or impregnated with a curing agent that initiates or accelerates polymerization of a sealer or filler composition when placed in contact with the sealer or filler material. Curing agents can include amines that can destabilize a peroxide in the sealer or filler material to initiate or accelerate polymerization, or they may comprise the peroxide. An implement can be dipped in a concentrated curing composition just prior to inserting the implement into a root canal to contact the filler or sealer composition. Kits may include a plurality of curing agent compositions having different concentrations and/or amounts of curing agent. Kits may also include a curable resin material that includes a first part of a multi-part curing system and a curing composition that includes, as curing agent a complementary part of the curing system. |
| US07863346B2 |
Mold compositions with high adhesion to metal substrates
The invention is based on the discovery that certain well-defined crosslinkable polyester compounds are useful as components in mold compositions having increased adhesion to substrates, compared to mold compositions that do not contain the crosslinkable polyester compounds described herein. |
| US07863341B2 |
Preparation of syngas
The present invention discloses a process for the preparation of syngas from two sources with different hydrogen: carbon ratios, the first source having a low hydrogen:carbon ratio including any one or a combination of coal, brown coal, peat, bitumen and tar sands, and the second source having a high hydrogen:carbon ratio including any one or a combination of natural gas, associated gas and coal bed methane. The sources are converted to syngas and then combined to provide syngas with an optimum hydrogen:carbon monoxide ratio for use in a Fischer-Tropsch process. |
| US07863337B2 |
Use of triacontanol in preparation of medicaments for treatment of cancers
Use of triacontanol in preparation of human medicaments for treatment of cancers, especially liver cancer, intestinal cancer, and lung cancer. Triacontanol can be formulated into many formulations, such as oral tablets, capsules, drop pills, sustained-released formulation, injectable solution, injectable powder, suspension, and emulsion. |
| US07863336B2 |
Continuous administration of dopa decarboxylase inhibitors and compositions for same
Disclosed herein are compositions that include for example the arginine salt of carbidopa, and methods for treating neurological or movement diseases or disorders such as restless leg syndrome, Parkinson's disease, secondary parkinsonism, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's like syndrome, PSP, MSA, ALS, Shy-Drager syndrome and conditions resulting from brain injury including carbon monoxide or manganese intoxication, using substantially continuous administration of carbidopa or salt thereof together with administration of levodopa. |
| US07863331B2 |
Pharmaceutical composition containing fenofibrate and method for the preparation thereof
Pharmaceutical compositions comprising micronized fenofibrate, a surfactant and a binding cellulose derivative as a solubilization adjuvant, wherein said compositions contain an amount of fenofibrate greater than or equal to 60% by weight and methods of producing fenofibrate compositions. |
| US07863330B2 |
Deloxiglumide and proton pump inhibitor combination in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders
Combination of dexloxiglumide and a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) for the treatment of patients suffering from functional dyspepsia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is disclosed. |
| US07863329B2 |
Glucagon receptor antagonists, preparation and therapeutic uses
The present invention discloses novel compounds of Formula I, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which have glucagon receptor antagonist or inverse agonist activity, as well as methods for preparing such compounds. In another embodiment, the invention discloses pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of Formula I as well as methods of using them to treat diabetic and other glucagon related metabolic disorders, and the like. |
| US07863327B2 |
Therapeutic compounds and methods of use
Compounds and methods useful for chemopreventative treatment of diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, and multiple sclerosis. |
| US07863324B2 |
Chroman-derived compounds for the treatment of cancer
The present invention provides methods for inhibiting the growth of androgen-independent prostate cancer tumor cells in a human comprising administering to the human. The invention further provides pharmaceutical and nutraceutical compositions containing chroman-derived compounds useful in the alleviation of cancer. |
| US07863322B2 |
Anti-cancer combinations
The present invention relates to synergistic combinations of the compound 5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid (DMXAA) and a compound selected from platinum compounds, vinca alkaloids, alkylating agents, anthracyclines, topoisomerase I inhibitors, antimetabolites and topoisomerase II inhibitors, which have anti-tumour activity. Preferably, the present invention relates to synergistic combinations of the compound 5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid (DMXAA) and a compound selected from carboplatin, gemcitabine, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, vincristine, doxorubicin and irinotecan. More particularly, the invention is concerned with the use of such combinations in the treatment of cancer and pharmaceutical compositions containing such combinations. The invention further provides for methods of preparing the combinations of the invention. |
| US07863321B2 |
Anti-cancer combinations
The present invention relates to synergistic combinations of the compound 5, 6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid (DMXAA) and a compound selected from anthracyclines and topisomerase II inhibitors, which have anti-tumor activity. Preferably, the present invention relates to synergistic combinations of the compound 5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid (DMXAA) and a compound selected from etoposide, and doxorubicin. More particularly, the invention is concerned with the use of such combinations in the treatment of cancer and pharmaceutical compositions containing such combinations. The invention further provides for methods of preparing the combinations of the invention. |
| US07863317B2 |
Lactams of alkylated acyclic diamine derivatives as modulators of chemokine receptor activity
The present application describes modulators of MCP-1 of formula (I): or pharmaceutically acceptable salt forms thereof, useful for the prevention of asthma, multiple sclerosis, artherosclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. |
| US07863316B2 |
Extended release formulation of Levetiracetam
The present invention relates to extended release pharmaceutical compositions of Levetiracetam and processes for preparing the same. The extended release tablet of Levetiracetam is with a core comprising of Levetiracetam and water dispersible rate controlling polymer, and the tablet core is optionally functional coated comprising a combination of water non-dispersible and/or water dispersible polymer. It provides extended therapeutically effective plasma levels over a twenty four hour period with diminished incidences of neuropsychiatric adverse events by eliminating the troughs and peaks of drug concentration in a patient's blood plasma. The composition also exhibits no food effect. |
| US07863315B2 |
2-indolinone derivatives as selective histone deacetylase inhibitors
Provided herein are isolated compounds of formula I: processes for their preparation and isolation, as well as pharmaceutical compositions which comprise these therapeutic agents, and methods of use therefore the treatment and/or control of conditions associated with or mediated by effects of histone deacetylase. |
| US07863314B2 |
5-membered heterocycle-based p38 kinase inhibitors
Provided are 5-membered heterocycle-based p38 kinase inhibitors. Further provided are pyrazole and imidazole-based p38 kinase, including p38α and p38β kinase, inhibitors. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds are also provided. Methods of use of the compounds and compositions are also provided, including methods of treatment, prevention, or amelioration of one or more symptoms of p38 kinase mediated diseases and disorders, including, but not limited to, inflammatory diseases and disorders. |
| US07863311B2 |
Transmucosal veterinary composition comprising detomidine
The present invention relates to a veterinary composition in a semisolid form adapted for transmucosal administration for providing sedation and analgesia in large animals such as horses and cattle. The semisolid transmucosal composition of the invention comprises detomidine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient. The composition provides a rapid onset of action while having low irritation potential in the oral mucosa. |
| US07863309B2 |
Dual-acting antihypertensive agents
In one aspect, the invention relates to compounds having the formula: wherein: Ar, r, Z, X, R3, and R5-7 are as defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. These compounds have AT1 receptor antagonist activity and neprilysin inhibition activity. In another aspect, the invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; methods of using such compounds; and process and intermediates for preparing such compounds. |
| US07863308B2 |
Substituted thiophenes
Disclosed herein are substituted pyrimidine-based endothelin modulators of Formula I, processes of preparation thereof, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of use thereof. |
| US07863297B2 |
Methods of using 4-(amino)-2-(2,6-dioxo(3-piperidly))-isoindoline-3-dione for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes
Methods of treating, preventing and/or managing myelodysplastic syndromes are disclosed. Specific methods encompass the administration of an immunomodulatory compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, stereoisomer, clathrate, or prodrug thereof, alone or in combination with a second active ingredient, and/or the transplantation of blood or cells. Specific second active ingredients are capable of affecting or blood cell production. Pharmaceutical compositions, single unit dosage forms, and kits suitable for use in methods of the invention are also disclosed. |
| US07863296B2 |
Selective serotonin receptor inverse agonists as therapeutics for disease
Disclosed herein are pharmaceutical compositions comprising an inverse serotonin receptor agonist or a serotonin receptor antagonist and an anti-insomnia agent. Disclosed herein are also methods of treating insomnia using the disclosed pharmaceutical compositions. |
| US07863288B2 |
Compounds and methods for kinase modulation, and indications therefor
Compounds active on protein kinases are described, as well as methods of using such compounds to treat diseases and conditions associated with aberrant activity of protein kinases. |
| US07863281B2 |
Bicyclic heterocycles, pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, their use and processes for the preparation thereof
The present invention relates to bicyclic heterocycles of general formula wherein Ra, Rb, Rc, A, B, C, D, E and X are defined as in claim 1, the tautomers, the stereoisomers, the mixtures and the salts thereof, particularly the physiologically acceptable salts thereof with inorganic or organic acids which have valuable pharmacological properties, particularly an inhibitory effect on signal transduction mediated by tyrosine kinases, the use thereof for treating diseases, particularly tumoral diseases, as well as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), diseases of the lungs and respiratory tract, and the preparation thereof. |
| US07863280B2 |
Substituted 2-pyridone derivatives, method for their preparation and their use as medicament
This invention relates to compounds of formula (I), wherein R1 and R3 independently represent fluorine, methoxy, —OCF3, C2-C3-alkenyl or C1-C4-alkyl which is optionally substituted by chlorine, methoxy or one, two or three fluorine atoms; R2 represents hydrogen, fluorine, methoxy, —OCF3, C2-C3-alkenyl or C1-C4-alkyl which is optionally substituted by chlorine, methoxy or one, two or three fluorine atoms; X represents O, S, NH or N(C1-C3-alkyl); and Ar represents an unsubstituted or at least monosubstituted aryl or heteroaryl. Said compounds are inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and may be used for the treatment of a variety of disorders. |
| US07863272B2 |
Sigma ligands for neuronal regeneration and functional recovery
The invention discloses methods and compositions useful for facilitating neuronal regeneration and functional recovery in neurodegenerative diseases. The methods and compositions utilize ligands for the sigma receptor, wherein the ligand is preferably SA-4503, or salts, or solvates thereof. These molecules can be delivered alone or in combination with agents which treat or prevent neurodegenerative diseases such as those caused by ischemic stroke, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, cancer therapy induced neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, Huntington's disease or Parkinson's disease. In other methods, the sigma receptor ligands are administered after stroke to facilitate functional recovery. The administration of the sigma receptor ligands effects faster functional recovery. |
| US07863266B2 |
Therapeutic pyrazoloquinoline urea derivatives
The invention provides a novel chemical series of formula I, as well as methods of use thereof for binding to the benzodiazepine site of the GABAA receptor and modulating GABAA, and use of the compound of formula I for the treatment of GABAA receptor associated disorders. The general structure of formula I is shown below: The invention further provides a method of modulation of one or more GABAA subtypes in an animal comprising administering to the animal an effective amount of a compound of formula (I). |
| US07863265B2 |
2-azetidinone derivatives and their use as cholesterol absorption inhibitors for the treatment of hyperlipidaemia
Compounds of formula (I) (wherein variable groups are as defined within) pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, solvates of such salts and prodrugs thereof and their use as cholesterol absorption inhibitors for the treatment of hyperlipidaemia are described. Processes for their manufacture and pharmaceutical compositions containing them are also described. |
| US07863259B1 |
Nanoparticles for protein drug delivery
The invention discloses the nanoparticles composed of chitosan, poly-glutamic acid, and at least one antibiotics or equivalent bioactive agent characterized with a positive surface charge and their enhanced permeability in oral drug delivery. |
| US07863253B2 |
Purine Derivatives and methods of use thereof
The invention relates to Purine Derivatives; compositions comprising an effective amount of a Purine Derivative; and methods for treating or preventing an ischemic condition, reperfusion injury, a cellular proliferative disorder, a cardiovascular disease, a neurological disorder, a skin disorder, a radiation-induced injury, a wound, or an inflammatory disease comprising administering an effective amount of a Purine Derivative to a subject in need thereof. The Purine Derivatives include compounds of the following formula: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein A is —C(O)NHR3; B and C are —OH; D is |
| US07863252B2 |
Modulation of C-reactive protein expression
Compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of C-reactive protein. The compositions comprise oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acid encoding C-reactive protein. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of C-reactive protein expression and for diagnosis and treatment of disease associated with expression of C-reactive protein are provided. |
| US07863251B2 |
Hepatic stellate cell specific promoter and uses thereof
Methods and reagents for effecting transgene expression in Hepatic Stellate Cells (HSC) comprising a 2.2 kb fragment of the promoter region of the Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) gene, said construct being up-regulated by pro-fÊbronetic cytokines such as TGF-beta 1 in a dose and time dependent manner, and uses thereof. |
| US07863250B2 |
Modulation of immunostimulatory properties of oligonucleotide-based compounds by utilizing modified immunostimulatory dinucleotides
The invention relates to the therapeutic use of oligonucleotides as immunostimulatory agents in immunotherapy applications. More particularly, the invention provides immunomers and an immunostimulatory oligonucleotides for use in methods for generating an immune response or for treating a patient in need of immunostimulation. The immunomers and an immunostimulatory oligonucleotides of the invention preferably comprise novel purines. The immunomers according to the invention further comprise at least two oligonucleotides linked at their 3′ ends, internucleoside linkages or functionalized nucleobase or sugar to a non-nucleotidic linker, at least one of the oligonucleotides being an immunomodulatory oligonucleotide and having an accessible 5′ end. |
| US07863248B2 |
Tyrosinase activity inhibitor and ameliorant for facial blood flow
A tyrosinase activity inhibitor and an ameliorant for facial blood flow that are excellent in terms of safety, and medicinal compositions, food compositions, and cosmetic preparations that contain the inhibitor and the ameliorant as active ingredients are provided. A tyrosinase activity inhibitor and an ameliorant for facial blood flow that contain anthocyan obtained by concentration or extraction of plant material, and medicinal compositions, food compositions, and cosmetic preparations that have an inhibitory action on tyrosinase activity and ameliorating action on facial blood flow are provided. |
| US07863246B2 |
Treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
The present invention relates to the treatment of motoneuron diseases. More particularly, the invention relates to the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It is found that the intracerebroventricular delivery of low amounts of vascular endothelial growth factor into a pre-clinical ALS animal model induces a significant motor performance and prolongation of survival time of the animals. |
| US07863244B2 |
Peptides
Isolated peptides that are fragments of protein products arising from frameshift mutations in genes associated with cancer are disclosed. The isolated peptides of the invention are capable of eliciting T cell immunity against cells harboring genes with such frameshift mutations. Cancer vaccines and therapeutically effective compositions containing the peptides of the invention are also described. |
| US07863241B2 |
Compositions for treatment and prevention of pulmonary conditions
The invention provides compositions and methods for treating pulmonary conditions and for reducing the negative effects of pulmonary inflammation. Such compositions and methods employ protease inhibitors and a lung surfactant mixture. The compositions and methods can also include lipase inhibitors (e.g. a phospholipase inhibitors) and anti-oxidants. |
| US07863237B2 |
Solid cleaning products
Solid cleaning products suitable for use as a floor cleaner are disclosed. Methods of making and using solid cleaning products are also disclosed. |
| US07863232B2 |
Treatment/cleaning of textile materials utilizing formulations of branched carboxylic acid diesters
Carboxylic acid diesters are employed for treating, in particular for cleaning textile materials, and more particularly for removing paint stains from textile fibers to improve the cleaning thereof; the subject dicarboxylic acid diesters have the formula (I), R1—OOC-A-COO—R2, in which R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, are each a linear or branched, cyclic or non-cyclic C1-C20 alkyl, aryl, alkyaryl, or arylalkyl radical, and the group A represents a branched divalent C3-C10 alkylene radical. |
| US07863231B2 |
Thinner composition and method of removing photoresist using the same
A thinner composition includes propylene glycol ether acetate, methyl 2-hydroxy-2-methyl propionate, and an ester compound such as ethyl lactate, ethyl 3-ethoxy propionate or a mixture thereof. |
| US07863229B2 |
Lubricating compositions
The pour point of a lubricating composition consisting essentially of from about 5 wt % to about 100 wt % of a Group III base stock and from 0 wt % to about 95 wt % of a Group IV base stock is reduced by incorporating in the lubricating composition an effective amount of a polyol ester represented by Formula I wherein x=OH or CH2OH; y=H, CH3, CH3CH2, or CH2OH; and R1 is an aliphatic hydrocarbyl group having from about 16 to about 30 carbon atoms. |
| US07863228B2 |
Additives for lubricants and fuels
A multi-functional composition for use as an additive for fuels and lubricants. The composition includes an amination product of a hydrocarbyl substituted succinic acylating agent and a mixture containing an aliphatic polyamine and an aromatic polyamine. The molar ratio of aliphatic polyamine to aromatic polyamine in the mixture ranges from about 10:0.1 to about 0.1:10. The amination product contains at least about 0.1 molar equivalent of the polyamine mixture to 1 molar equivalent of the hydrocarbyl substituted succinic acylating agent. |
| US07863224B2 |
Wellbore servicing compositions comprising a set retarding agent and methods of making and using same
A method of servicing a wellbore comprising preparing a composition comprising a calcium aluminate cement, water, a polyphosphate, a pozzolan, and a set retarding agent, wherein the set retarding agent comprises an alkali halide and a basic phosphate salt, placing the composition in the wellbore and allowing the composition to set. A composition comprising a calcium aluminate cement in an amount of from about 30 wt. % to about 60 wt. % and a set retarding agent in an amount of from about 0.1 wt. % to about 15 wt. % based upon the total weight of the composition, wherein the set retarding agent comprises an alkali halide and a basic phosphate salt in a ratio of from about 3:1 to about 1:3. |