Document Document Title
US07991152B2 Speeding up Galois Counter Mode (GCM) computations
Methods and apparatus to speed up Galois Counter Mode (GCM) computations are described. In one embodiment, a carry-less multiplication instruction may be used to perform operations corresponding to verification of an encrypted message in accordance with GCM. Other embodiments are also described.
US07991145B2 Drive and positioning method and system for automated switch matrix
A method and system for automating a switch matrix board for cross-connecting any line in a set of input lines to any line in a set of output lines, to be used e.g. in automating cross-connects for line pairs in a central office main distribution frame (MDF) of a telecommunication network. The switch matrix (100) comprises a plurality of contact sledges (130) driven by a plurality of sledge positioning screws (120) that slidably engage a plurality of main contact pads (110) to cross-connect the lines. In an embodiment of the invention, two electric motors cooperate to position a lateral drive gear (158) to engage and rotate a selected sledge positioning screw (120), which moves the contact sledge. In another embodiment, a single electric motor operates together with a magnetic clutch assembly (180) to position the lateral drive gear to rotate the sledge positioning screw (120). A controller unit is connected to a position detection system and to the motors to accurately position the contact sledge (130) on the switch matrix board.
US07991144B2 Voice communication terminal
When an outgoing call is to be requested on a terminal, the terminal transmits a first outgoing call request containing the priority of outgoing call operation. When the terminal transmits the first outgoing call request, and then receives a second outgoing call request addressed to the terminal before it receives an incoming call response with respect to the first outgoing call request from a destination terminal, the terminal compares the priority contained in the second outgoing call request with the priority contained in the first outgoing call request. The terminal executes an incoming call response procedure corresponding to the second outgoing call request when the priority in the second outgoing call request is higher as the result of comparison between the priorities of outgoing call operation, and executes a outgoing call control following the first outgoing call request when the priority in the first outgoing call request is higher.
US07991143B2 Rapid response to user input at a telecommunications terminal
An apparatus and methods are disclosed for use by organizations that have PBXs at a plurality of sites. The invention pertains to cell phone calls from an affiliated terminal to her “home” private branch exchange. For example, an employee who works at the Chicago branch office might call the Chicago office's PBX to invoke a feature such as setting up call forwarding, retrieving voice mail, etc. Such calls might be automatically and transparently directed to another PBX when it is advantageous to do so. In the illustrative embodiment, the need or desirability to redirect such calls to another PBX is ascertained while the caller is still in the process of entering all of the required calling information. The effect of assessing whether to redirect the call in parallel with the caller entering the information is to reduce the delays otherwise experienced by the caller when placing calls outside of the enterprise area served by the home private branch exchange.
US07991141B2 Method and apparatus for personal call routing request and handling
A system includes a server including one or more databases for storing one or more handling rules specifying handling of incoming telephone calls; an intermediary routing control unit configured to access the one or more databases responsive to an incoming telephone call and provide the one or more handling rules to a switch control unit for handling routing of the incoming telephone call, said switch control unit being on a signaling path of the incoming telephone call; wherein the server and intermediary routing control unit are external said signaling path.
US07991140B2 Enhanced directory assistance system
An enhanced directory assistance system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from at least one caller desiring to receive directions. A direction module is configured to receive a desired destination information provided by the caller and the location of the caller. The direction module is further configured to provide directions to the caller based on the destination and the caller location information, where the system maintains a preferred destination listing configured to store a preferred destination information relating to a destination request frequently requested by the caller, such that when the system recognizes the caller, the desired destination is populated directly from the preferred destination information.
US07991138B2 Social error prevention
Inappropriate messages can be eliminated by an automatic etiquette agent which, based on prescribed etiquette rules, initially prevents a communication from being established unless it receives a further authorization from the user. The etiquette rules represent prescribed social characteristics and situations and they may be set by, or customized by the user, an organization to which the user belongs, or a communication service provider. The automatic etiquette agent may question the user on the advisability of establishing a communication, e.g., by presenting a dialog box or voice prompt to the user and receiving a simple affirmation if communication is to be established. Alternatively, the user may be prompted by the automatic etiquette agent to enter a password that clearly indicates the user's assent. In the event that the automatic etiquette agent does not receive the appropriate affirmation of the user's intent, the communication is not established.
US07991132B2 Billing method and system, and billing server
This invention relates to the field of communication technology, and provides a billing method and system, and a billing server. The method includes: generating, by a PBX, billing ticket information and reporting the billing ticket information to a billing server when an incoming call from an external user to an internal user of the PBX, an outgoing call from an internal user of the PBX, or a call between internal users of the PBX occurs; receiving and storing, by the billing server, the billing ticket information reported from the PBX; initiating, by the billing server, a service connection to a billing center through the PBX, or triggering, by the billing server, a fixed wireless station to initiate a service connection to a billing center directly when the PBX system is in an idle state; and sending, by the billing server, the stored billing ticket information to the billing center after the connection is established successfully. The present invention can implement billing for internal calls within the service scope of a wireless PBX without too many modifications to the existing network equipment, and has little adverse effect on the call.
US07991122B2 DSL system training
Existing and future standardized VDSL2 and other systems can be integrated into and used with a vectored DSLAM or other vectored or non-vectored DSL system, without a new user disrupting service to other users in the same or a nearby binder, in some cases by using transmit power, CARMASK and/or PSDMASK DSL capabilities to reduce both downstream and upstream training-signal levels so that training of a new DSL line is non-disruptive, despite a lack of knowledge of the pre-existing binder. For vectored systems, the crosstalk from that tone can be observed, learned and then added to the vectoring system so that any subsequent excitation on that tone would be eliminated by vector processing. A second tone then can be added in the same way, etc. In non-vectored DSLs that might be operating in a binder or line set, once these non-vectored lines are observed to be present, a vectored line set controller, such as a DSL optimizer, then can anticipate the potential interference from such non-vectored lines.
US07991117B2 Apparatus and method to facilitate dynamically adjusting radiation intensity for imaging purposes
An x-ray-based radiation imaging apparatus (200) for use in imaging an object (201) can comprise a source of x-rays (202) having an output radiation intensity control input and a radiation intensity controller (207) operably coupled thereto. This radiation intensity controller can have a control output (209, 210) that is operably coupled to the output radiation intensity control input and an object information input (209). So configured, the radiation intensity controller can dynamically adjust radiation intensity as output by the source of x-rays as a function of information regarding the object itself.
US07991116B2 Monochromatic x-ray micro beam for trace element mapping
An x-ray system or method for exciting a sample under x-ray analysis, using a curved monochromating optic for directing a monochromatic x-ray beam from an x-ray source towards a first focal area. A second optic is positioned within, and receives, the monochromatic x-ray beam, and directs a focused x-ray beam towards a second focal area on the sample. A detector is positioned near the sample to collect radiation from the sample as a result of the focused x-ray beam. The curved monochromating optic produces a beam spot size at the first focal area larger than a beam spot size produced by the second optic at the second focal area, therefore, a beam spot size on the sample is thereby reduced using the second optic. Doubly-curved monochromating optics, and polycapillary optics, are disclosed as possible implementations of the optics.
US07991115B2 Medical image diagnostic device
In a medical image diagnostic device, wherein X-Ray CT devices and PET devices are longitudinally disposed, and which has a tubular imaging part for positioning a subject who is placed on the top surface of a bed and collecting image data, an illumination part is provided for producing a suitable level of brightness to the display part, which is for providing information to the subject without having to adopt every imaging position within the tubular imaging part, and to the imaging part.
US07991113B2 Relocatable x-ray imaging system and method for inspecting commercial vehicles and cargo containers
The present specification discloses a readily relocatable X-ray imaging system for inspecting the contents of vehicles and containers, and a method for using the same. The system is relatively small in size, and is used for inspecting commercial vehicles, cargo containers, and other large objects. The X-ray imaging system has a substantially arch-shaped collapsible frame with an X-ray source and detectors disposed thereon. The frame is preferably collapsible via a plurality of hinges and may be deployed into an X-ray imaging position, and collapsed into a transport position.
US07991106B2 Multi-mode tomosynthesis/mammography gain calibration and image correction using gain map information from selected projection angles
A multi-mode tomosynthesis/mammography system and method in which a mammography gain map is used to gain correct mammographic images of a patient's breast but enhanced gain maps for respective projection angled are used to correct tomosynthesis images acquired with the same system.
US07991105B2 Visualization of 3D images in combination with 2D projection images
Original 2D rotational projections are combined preferably in an overlaying manner with corresponding viewings of a 3D reconstruction. By showing the 2D rotational projections in combination with the 3D reconstruction, 3D vessel information can be compared with the original 2D rotational image information over different rotational angles. In a clinical setup the combined visualization will allow for an easy check if findings in the 3D RA volume such as stenosis or aneurysms are not overestimated or underestimated due to e.g. an incomplete filling with contrast agent and/or a spectral beam hardening during the rotational scan.
US07991101B2 Multiple channel synchronized clock generation scheme
Multiple channel synchronized clock generation scheme. A novel approach is presented herein in which synchronized clock signals are generated that can be used in parallel processing of deserialized signals. When a serial input signal is received, it can be deserialized into a plurality of parallel signals, and each of these parallel signals can be processed at a frequency that is lower than the frequency of the serial signal. Overall, the frequency at which all of the parallel signals are processed can be the same or substantially close to the frequency of the serial signal, so that throughput within a communication system is not compromised or undesirably reduced. This novel approach is operable to perform independent adjustment of the operational parameters within an apparatus that is operable to perform multiple channel synchronized clock generation (e.g., phase rotation and/or division of signals within each of the individual channels can be adjusted independently).
US07991100B2 Method for the synchronization of a radio receiver, and adapted receiver for the implementation of said method
A method for the synchronization of a radio receiver, comprising an estimation of the moment when a pulse (11, 17) is received (11, 17), performed from the moment when a previous pulse was received. The estimated moment is compared with the real moment when the pulse (21, 27) is received in order to validate an association of pulses with values of a code recorded in the receiver (31, 37). A moment for the beginning of transmission of a symbol is thus deduced, enabling the receiver to be synchronized in relation to the transmitted radio pulse sequence.
US07991096B1 Data sampling method and apparatus using through-transition counts to reject worst sampling position
A data sampling circuit that employs an oversampling clock to oversample a data signal, a phase tracking circuit for use in such a sampling circuit, and a receiver and system including such a sampling circuit. Preferably, phase tracking is implemented by systematically identifying and rejecting at least one worst sampling position, and sampling the data signal at a non-rejected sampling position. Preferably, phase tracking is accomplished by counting through-transitions of edges of the sampled data signal through each oversampling position, and rejecting an oversampling position having a highest count of through-transitions. In some embodiments, different phase tracking methods (at least one of which includes the step of generating through-transition counts) are used for different types of input data. Other aspects of the invention are methods for determining an oversampling position for oversampling a data signal, and methods for oversampling a data signal including by generating through-transition counts.
US07991095B2 Sampling method, reconstruction method, and device for sampling and/or reconstructing signals
A reconstruction method for reconstructing a first signal from a set of sampled values generated by sampling a second signal at a sub-Nyquist rate and at uniform intervals, the method includes retrieving from the set of sampled values a set of shifts and weights with which the first signal can be reconstructed.
US07991092B2 Method for receiving a multicarrier signal using at least two estimates of a propagation channel and corresponding reception device
A method is provided for receiving a multicarrier signal including a time-based succession of symbols, each including a plurality of multicarriers bearing data, at least one of said symbols including at least one reference pilot. The method includes the following steps: a first estimation of a propagation channel, in accordance with a first estimating technique taking into account the or said reference pilots; at least one second estimation of said propagation channel, in accordance with a second estimating technique different from said first technique; comparing said first and second estimations, delivering an error signal; detecting at least one interfering signal in said propagation channel, by analyzing said error signal.
US07991091B2 Radio communication system, receiver, receiving method, transmitter, transmitting method, and device for and method of calculating delay times for multi-carrier transmission
Multi-carrier transmission is performed without inserting a repetitive signal into guard interval periods. A transmitter provides guard interval periods by using a null signal to save transmission power and prevent the deterioration of the SN ratio. Delayed waves at the head of each received symbol cause high-frequency waves to occur and carriers to interfere with one another. Accordingly, a receiver adds a component following each received symbol to a delayed-wave component at the head of the received symbol. As a result, the delayed-wave component at the head of the received symbol and the added component become continuous in wave form and subcarriers do not interfere with each other.
US07991086B2 System and method for improved carrier recovery
A system and method for carrier recovery includes a plurality of carrier recovery modules, each processing the same input symbols, and each having a gain input and an error output. A loop gain control receives errors from the carrier recovery modules and provides gains to the carrier recovery modules. Based upon the errors during a current period, the loop gain control determines which module produced lowest errors, and selects the gain associated with that module as a best gain which is applied to a module which outputs symbols for decoding during a next period.
US07991083B2 Method and system for detecting preambles in a multi-cell system
A method and system is provided for detecting preambles in a multi-cell communication system. The method detects preambles reliably even in the presence of interference caused by multiple cells reusing the same frequency in the multi-cell communication system. After receiving a signal in the receiving period, the time domain signal is sampled and transformed into the frequency domain vector. The correlation vector is calculated with the frequency domain vector and pseudonoise code of the wireless station. The presence of a preamble is verified if the value in the correlation vector exceeds a predetermined threshold.
US07991082B2 Maximum a posteriori probability decoder
A method is provided for performing a MAP probability decoding of a sequence R(n) including N bits of encoded data. The method includes the steps of: (a) generating a sequence rn of sot-values by processing the sequence R(n); (b) performing a forward recursion by computing alpha values αS,SG utilizing the soft-decision values; (c) performing a backward recursion by computing beta values βS,SG utilizing the soft-decision values; and (d) performing an extrinsic computation by computing probability values p′k. The alpha values αS,SG are relative log-likelihoods of an encoding process arriving at various states. The beta values βS,SG are relative log-likelihoods of the encoding process arriving at various states. The probability values p′k represent a set of probabilities indicating that each data bit of an input sequence dK had a value equal to zero or one. The sequence R(n) represents an encoded form of the input sequence dK.
US07991073B2 Distortion compensation apparatus and method
A distortion compensation apparatus includes a distortion compensation unit that performs distortion compensation processing on a transmission signal by a series operation, a coefficient update unit that updates a group of series operation coefficients used for the series operation based on a feedback signal of transmission signal output that is output after power amplification processing is performed on output of the distortion compensation unit and the transmission signal, an initial coefficient memory that stores the groups of series operation coefficients that become initial values for coefficient update processing by the coefficient update unit, and a power fluctuation detection unit that detects a power fluctuation of the transmission signal and, when the power fluctuation is detected, reads the groups of series operation coefficients from the initial coefficient memory and provides the groups of series operation coefficients to the coefficient update unit.
US07991071B2 AM to PM correction system for polar modulator
A transmitter includes a polar modulator that creates phase and amplitude signals which in turn drive a power amplifier. To compensate for AM to PM conversion of the amplitude signal into the amplified signal, a compensation signal is generated from the amplitude signal and combined with the phase signal such that when amplified, the compensation signal cancels the AM to PM conversion. The compensation signal may have an offset term, a linear term, a quadratic term, and a cubic term. A second embodiment comprises a technique by which AM to AM conversion may concurrently be addressed using a second compensation signal.
US07991064B2 Radio parameter group generating apparatus, transmitter and receiver
An apparatus for generating sets of radio parameters includes a first deriving unit deriving a set of radio parameters for specifying a symbol including an effective symbol part with the same period as the effective symbol part specified by another set of radio parameters and a guard interval part with a different period from the guard interval part specified by the other set of radio parameters. The apparatus further includes a second deriving unit deriving a set of radio parameters so that an occupancy proportion of the guard interval part in a single symbol specified by another set of radio parameters is equal to an occupancy proportion of the guard interval part in a single symbol specified by the other set of radio parameters.
US07991053B2 Method and apparatus to enable acquisition of media in streaming applications
Methods and apparatus for encoding and decoding multimedia frames are presented. The method comprises encoding a set of acquisition frames including a viewable frame, each frame comprising one or more intra-coded portions and one or more inter-coded portions, wherein the act of encoding the intra-coded portions comprises positioning the intra-coded portions such that when the intra-coded portions of the set of acquisition frames are combined, a complete intra-coded composite frame is formed. The act of encoding the inter-coded portions comprises predicting the inter-coded portions such that the viewable frame is comprised of intra-coded portions and inter-coded portions that are directly or indirectly predicted from the intra-coded portions of the set of acquisition frames.
US07991051B2 Interframe wavelet coding apparatus and method capable of adjusting computational complexity
Provided is an inter-frame wavelet coding apparatus that can reduce the computation complexity of a decoder by adjusting a decomposition level and a filter length based on the information amount of a frame during wavelet transform and a method therefor. The inter-frame wavelet coding apparatus includes: a Motion Compensated Temporal Filtering (MCTF) unit for computing a motion vectors of a group of pictures (GOP) and filtering the GOP with respect to the temporal axis, to thereby obtain filtered frame; a wavelet transforming unit for performing spatial wavelet transform on the filtered frame and outputting a wavelet coefficient; a quantization unit for quantizing the wavelet coefficient; an entropy coding unit for entropy-coding the motion vector computed in the MCTF unit and the quantized wavelet coefficient, to thereby generate an entropy-coded bit stream; and a wavelet filter managing unit for selecting a decomposition level and a filter length for the wavelet transforming unit based on motion estimation information of the GOP video computed in the MCTF unit, wherein the decomposition level and the filter length are included in the entropy-coded bit stream.
US07991044B1 System and method for automatic diagnosis of impairments in a digital quadrature amplitude modulated signal
A device and methods for automatically diagnosing impairments in a digital quadrature amplitude modulated signal is disclosed. The impairments include phase noise, compression, coherent interference, and non-coherent interference. The device comprises a phase noise detector, a compression detector, and an interference detector. The phase noise detector detects phase noise by analyzing data points of an amplitude quadrature modulated constellation for orthogonal deviations from ideal points. The compression detector detects compression by analyzing the magnitudes of vectors from the constellation's origin to data points of the constellation. The interference detector detects coherent and non-coherent interference by detecting error signals in the data points and then analyzing the distribution of the error signals.
US07991043B2 Hybrid polyphase and joint time-frequency detection
A demodulator in a receiver includes a correlator (240) for de-spreading a spread-spectrum signal, and a decision module (250) for detecting a preamble and for synchronizing to data frames of the spread spectrum signal. The demodulator includes symbol timers (231 and 233) that allow the demodulator to correlate to two preamble symbols simultaneously, where the two preamble symbols occur one-half a symbol period apart. The correlator includes a correlator structure having taps that correct for any frequency offset of a carrier signal. The correlator correlates to each of the two preamble symbols a plurality of times through oversampling, where each correlation compensates for a different amount of frequency offset. By analyzing occurrence of peaks in magnitude of the correlations, the decision module detects the preamble and selects weights for the taps to de-spread data frames received after the preamble.
US07991041B2 Iterative detection and cancellation for wireless communication
Techniques for recovering a desired transmission in the presence of interfering transmissions are described. For iterative detection and cancellation, multiple groups of code channels are formed for a plurality of code channels for at least one sector. Processing is performed for the multiple groups of code channels in multiple iterations. For each iteration, data detection and signal cancellation are performed for the multiple groups of code channels in multiple stages, e.g., in a sequential order starting with the strongest group to the weakest group. Each stage of each iteration may perform data detection, signal reconstruction, and signal cancellation. Each stage of each iteration may also perform equalization, data detection, signal reconstruction, and signal cancellation.
US07991039B2 Electric arc furnace monitoring system and method
A system and method for monitoring the operating parameters of an electric arc furnace having a primary electrical circuit comprising a primary current transformer. The method includes monitoring the furnace's primary current transformer; collecting data therefrom; transmitting the collected data to a server having an operatively connected monitor; and displaying the collected data on the monitor in substantially real-time. The server also collects information about the performance of the furnace from a programmable logic computer and information entered manually by an operator at a furnace monitoring viewer system, which may also be displayed in substantially real-time on the monitor.
US07991032B2 Laser drive
Disclosed herein is a laser driver including a light emission controlling section configured to stop generation of a control voltage by a control voltage generating section, causing a given voltage corresponding to a magnitude of a reference current to be outputted to an input node of a first emitter follower to operate the first emitter follower for a first time period from start of a light emission time period, release stop of the generation of the control voltage by the control voltage generating section, causing the control voltage to be outputted to the input node of the first emitter follower to operate the first emitter follower until end of the light emission time period of the laser, and operate a second emitter follower to discharge electric charges accumulated in the laser for a second time period after the end of the light emission time period of the laser.
US07991031B2 Injection seeded laser ratio loop control
In a method of controlling an injection-seeded laser, a response of the laser is sampled at a plurality of different laser current values. A threshold current and a slope efficiency of the sampled response are then estimated, and a bias current and a modulation current calculated based on the estimated threshold current and a slope efficiency.
US07991028B1 Tunable solid state laser system
A high-powered diffraction limited diode pumped solid-state source optically end pumps a compact, widely tunable solid state material. Imaging of the collimated pump beam into the tunable medium produces ideal volumetric overlap producing high conversion efficiencies. Fully integrated pump source provides pump energy at or near the peak absorption wavelength. Birefringent elements placed intracavity are used for linewidth narrowing and tuning of the laser wavelength. Tunable active medium is placed in linear cavity arrangement utilizing a confocal or hemispherical arrangement. Mode waist is minimized in crystal such that there is optimal overlap with pump source while simultaneously maximizing extraction efficiency.
US07991026B2 Intracavity frequency-converted optically-pumped semiconductor laser with red-light output
In a branched resonator OPS-laser arrangement, a combination of intra-cavity optical parametric generation and intra-cavity sum-frequency mixing provides output radiation in a range between about 550 nanometers about 700 nanometers from an OPS fundamental wavelength in a range between about 900 nm and about 1100 nm.
US07991024B2 External cavity wavelength tunable laser device and optical output module
In an external cavity wavelength tunable laser device including an external cavity (20) which includes a semiconductor optical amplifier (2) and performs laser oscillation operation by feeding back external light, a wavelength tunable mirror (7) having at least a single-peak reflection spectrum characteristic within a laser wavelength tuning range is placed on one end of the external cavity (20), and a Fabry-Perot mode interval determined by the effective length of the external cavity (20) is not less than 1/10 times and not more than 10 times the reflection band full width half maximum of the wavelength tunable mirror (7).
US07991005B2 Communication apparatus, communication method, program, and communication system
A communication apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives a data frame including a plurality of pieces of unit data and transmitted from a communication partner; a determining unit that determines whether there is data loss, for each piece of unit data included in the data frame received by the receiving unit; a transmission right acquiring unit that acquires a transmission right; and a generating unit that generates grant data for granting the transmission right acquired by the transmission right acquiring unit to the communication partner, when the determining unit determines that at least any one of the pieces of unit data has been lost.
US07990999B2 Starvation prevention scheme for a fixed priority PCE-express arbiter with grant counters using arbitration pools
Method and apparatus for arbitrating prioritized cycle streams in a manner that prevents starvation. High priority and low priority arbitration pools are employed for arbitrating multiple input cycle streams. Each cycle stream contains a stream of requests of a given type and associated priority. Under normal circumstances in which resource buffer availability for a destination device is not an issue, higher priority streams are provided grants over lower priority streams, with all streams receiving grants. However, when a resource buffer is not available for a lower priority stream, arbitration of high priority streams with available buffer resources are redirected to the low priority arbitration pool, resulting in generation of grant counts for both the higher and lower priority streams. When the resource buffer for the low priority stream becomes available and a corresponding request is arbitrated in the high priority arbitration pool, a grant for the request can be immediately made since grant counts for the stream already exist.
US07990988B2 Shared-management device
The invention concerns a scheduler for sharing a resource comprising a storage unit for storing user deadlines, FIFO storage units, associated each with a first increment value (d(j)) and, for some of them (c(j, i), with a second increment value (d(i)), for storing user-identifiers. The scheduler comprises a management unit selecting one of the FIFO storage units to serve the user designated as next to serve for the resource, recycling his user-identifier, and a recycling decision unit for redirecting, in accordance with conditions, which include a comparison between the second increment value of the FIFO where the user is going and the first increment value from where the user is coming.
US07990987B2 Network processor having bypass capability
A network processor having bypass capability in which some data units are diverted from being processed by the processor core of the network processor. In one embodiment, a network processor may include a receiver to receive data units, configuration information used to evaluate whether the data units require processing, a processor core to process data units that require processing, a bypass store to hold those data units which do not require processing by the processor core, and a transmitter to transmit the data units. In one embodiment, a method may include receiving a plurality of data units, receiving configuration information, evaluating whether each of the data units requires processing based on the configuration information, bypassing processing those of the data units that do not require processing based on the evaluating, processing those of the data units that require processing based on the evaluating, and transmitting the data units.
US07990983B2 Modular interconnect structure
Some embodiments of the invention include an interconnect structure to transfer data among a plurality of devices. The interconnect structure includes a crossbar and a number of interconnect branches coupled to the crossbar. Each of the interconnect branches includes a number of connector circuits coupled in series to transfer data in a group of devices of the plurality of devices. The crossbar includes a number of connector circuits coupled in series to allow one group of devices from one interconnect branch to exchange data with another group of devices from another interconnect branch. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07990981B2 Distributed connection-oriented services for switched communication networks
Connection-oriented services for packet switched data communications networks are provided, including distributed MAC and protocol alias addresses discovery. Link state topology exchanges provide each switch with network topology graphs to determine paths from source to destination end systems. Broadcast frames are resolved to unicast frames to reduce broadcast traffic. Policy restrictions may be applied prior to connection setup. Connection management includes source-routed mapping of connections on the desired path. Distributed call rerouting is provided so switches receive topology change notifications and unmap failed link connections. Broadcast/unknown services provide non-resolvable packet restricted flooding. Connection-oriented switching is provided based on source and destination MAC addresses. Resolution of networks outside the switch domain is enabled by listening for network and server route advertisements and maintaining best routes to the networks and servers. Route and path metrics may be combined to determine paths from access switches to egress switches connected to the external network.
US07990979B2 Recursively partitioned static IP router tables
A recursively partitioned static router-table, the data structure incorporating a first-level partition including subtries and an auxiliary trie. A node of the subtrie includes a path Q(N) from the root R of a trie T to a root N of the subtrie, a stride s for a next-level partition, a mask that characterizes a next-level perfect hash function, and a pointer to the hash table for the next-level partition. At least one of the trie T, the first-level partition, the auxiliary trie, and the next-level partition is represented by a base structure selected from the group consisting of MBT and HSST.
US07990978B1 Dynamic bandwidth queue allocation
In one of many possible embodiments, a system includes a plurality of queues configured to share an amount of bandwidth, the amount of bandwidth being allocated between the queues in accordance with a plurality of queue weighting factors associated with the queues. The system further includes an admission control subsystem configured to dynamically adjust the queue weighting factors when a predefined condition has been satisfied. In certain embodiments, the admission control subsystem is configured to adjust the queue weighting factors based on a ratio of bandwidth provisioned on the plurality of queues. In certain embodiments, each of the queues is associated with a different class of service.
US07990975B1 Method and system for using extended fabric features with fibre channel switch elements
A fibre channel switch element and method for routing fibre channel frames is provided. The switch element includes a receive segment that can add a virtual storage area network (“VSAN”) tagging header to frames that are received by the receive segment; and strip the VSAN tagging header before frames are sent to ports that do not support virtual fabric capability. The receive segment includes a table used for matching fabric extension parameters. An incoming frame's VSAN identity value is compared to a control word entry to generate a value used for routing the incoming frame. The table is used to determine if a frame is part of a virtual fabric. The routing table for each port is used to route frames and the routing table includes entries for supported virtual fabrics.
US07990973B2 Hash functions for applications such as network address lookup
In one embodiment, IP lookup into a routing table having prefixes of different prefix lengths is performed by hashing a candidate prefix value to generate a plurality of hash values, where m seed hash values are generated by applying m seed hash functions and one or more additional hash values are generated by combining two or more of the seed hash values in different ways, e.g., using a bit-wise XOR function. The hash values are used to perform membership probes into a Bloom filter programmed with the prefixes corresponding to all of the different prefix lengths in the routing table without having to expand any of the prefixes programmed into the Bloom filter.
US07990971B2 Packet processing apparatus and method codex
A packet processing apparatus and method are provided. The packet processing apparatus changes a size of an input packet, analyzes the input packet to perform a second layer associated process, generates basic delivery headers of the input packet, processes the input packet to which the basic delivery headers are inserted according to a type of the input packet, transforms the header of the input packet to which the basic delivery headers are inserted, and transitions the header-transformed input packet to delivers the packet. Accordingly, it is possible to process various packets without addition of separate process to the packet processing apparatus. In addition, a use efficiency of a network processing unit can be optimized, so that it is possible to increase a packet processing rate and performance.
US07990969B2 Multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) interface with virtual private network (VPN) application
A method comprising receiving, from a first node, a first packet at a network application server via a first local area network (LAN); receiving, from a second node, a second packet at the network application server via a second LAN; associating the first packet with a first VPN based on receiving the first packet via the first LAN; and associating the second packet with a second VPN based on reception of the second packet via the second LAN, wherein the first VPN and the second VPN include overlapping network address spaces.
US07990968B2 Method and apparatus for demultiplexing, merging, and duplicating packetized elementary stream/program stream/elementary stream data
Presented herein are method(s) and apparatus for demultiplexing, merging, and duplicating packetized elementary stream/program stream/elementary stream data. In one embodiment, there is presented a method for processing data. The method comprises receiving a bitstream wherein said bitstream comprises a plurality of streams; mapping the plurality of streams to a plurality of identifiers; packetizing the plurality of streams, thereby resulting in a plurality of packets, and wherein each packet further comprises: a portion of only one of the plurality of streams; and a particular one of the identifiers, wherein the particular one of the identifiers is mapped to the only one of the plurality of streams.
US07990964B2 System for message delivery to field personnel
System for message delivery to field personnel. The system includes a method for operating a server in a message delivery system. The method includes receiving a message for transmission to a recipient, and determining a message characteristic associated with the message. The method also includes obtaining contact information associated with the recipient based on the message characteristic, and transmitting the message to the recipient using a communication method indicated by the contact information.
US07990962B2 Data distribution apparatus and method
A systems management computer is provided, and comprises a processor configured to execute a set of stored instructions that implements a method for receiving data from a server over a first network and for distributing the data to a plurality of computers over a different second network. One instruction is for electing a computer from said plurality of computers of the second network to act as an active download master. Another instruction operates if the computer is elected as the active download master computer and initiates downloading of data over the first network to local data storage. A further instruction operates if the computer is elected as the active download master computer and multicasts, by a multicast distribution engine, the downloaded data over the second network to other computers of the second network.
US07990959B2 Packet transfer apparatus and packet transfer method
A network system includes a maintenance terminal and a switch that transfers a packet. Upon receiving a link-trace message packet, the switch transfers, when links to the destination constitute a link aggregation, the link-trace message packet to all physical links constituting the link aggregation. In response to the link-trace message packet, the switch receives a link-trace reply packet from each of the physical links, and generates link-trace result data. the link-trace result data is output to the maintenance terminal.
US07990958B2 Method and apparatus for a four-way hash table
A number of hash tables are accessed concurrently with a different computed index based on a single search key for each hash table. Each index identifies a location in one of the hash tables capable of storing at least one entry. If all indexed locations are used, the entries stored in the lookup table can be reordered so that the new entry can be inserted in one of the locations identified by the computed indexes.
US07990956B2 Voice communication system over IP phone system
A voice communication system configured over an IP phone system, with which users could establish voice calls between analog telephone devices and IP phones through an IP phone system without changing their conventional usage method is provided. To allow analog telephone devices to be able to login to the IP phone system, the communication mediation device is required to replace an analog telephone device by be an IP phone user in the IP phone system, and to process voice communications by using analog-digital signal conversion. Using the pre-established registration information, thus allowing the IP phone upon only determining the destination telephone number, it is then capable of automatic converting the telephone number to the corresponding IP phone account so as to proceed with a call through the IP phone system.
US07990954B2 Method and apparatus for controlling telephone calls using a computer assistant
Systems and methods for monitoring, making, managing and controlling telephone communications with a computer call assistant with an integrated voice/data communications system are disclosed. A call assistant computer application preferably runs on a personal computer (“PC”) coupled to the integrated system over a packet bus. The call assistant exchanges control and/or status packets with the integrated system preferably over a packet bus. The call assistant enables the user to make, receive and control telephone calls, monitor the status of the user's extension, voice mail, etc., and preferably operates with integrated systems capable of transmitting and receiving voice and data in multiple modes. In preferred embodiments, the computer call assistant operates with systems that are capable of multiple native mode voice and data transmissions and receptions with a communications system having a multi-bus structure, including, for example, a time division multiplexed (“TDM”) bus, a packet bus, and a control bus, and multi-protocol framing engines, preferably including subsystem functions such as PBX, voice mail, file server, web server, communications server, telephony server, LAN hub and data router.
US07990945B1 Method and apparatus for provisioning a label switched path across two or more networks
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for provisioning a label switched path (LSP) between two endpoints executing a first set of MPLS functions. The method and apparatus associates a first node with the first endpoint and a second node with the second endpoint. The first node is designated as the source. Both the first and second nodes execute a second set of MPLS functions, wherein the second set of MPLS functions include the first set of MPLS functions and additional MPLS functions. As the source, the first node provisions a first MPLS path (i.e., LSP) between itself and the first endpoint. The first node then provisions a second MPLS path (i.e., LSP) between the first node and the second node. The first node then transmits a message to the second node instructing the second node to provision a third MPLS path between the second node and the second endpoint. The three MPLS paths are bridged at the first and second nodes to complete the LSP between the two endpoints.
US07990943B2 Establishing channels between a domain manager and managed nodes
A device associated with a network receives a register request from a managed node connected to the network, where the register request requests registration of the managed node. The device also establishes a command channel, for sending one or more commands, with the managed node based on the register request, and establishes a notification channel, for sending one or more notifications, with the managed node based on the register request.
US07990942B2 Wireless data communication method for a base station using a common pilot channel and an individual pilot channel
Data transmission is performed using the most suitable data rate for the radiation pattern of an antenna. Using an individual pilot channel of a first slot, a base station transmits a pilot signal in a specified direction with a beam pattern having narrow directivity. A wireless terminal located in that direction receives the pilot signal and determines a data rate according to the reception quality of the pilot signal. The wireless terminal transmits to the base station a signal requesting the determined data rate. The base station receives that signal and, based on the requested data rate, transmits data to the wireless terminal with a beam pattern in the same direction as the direction in which the pilot signal was transmitted, using a data channel of a second slot, which occurs a predetermined number of slots after the first slot.
US07990941B2 Adaptive antenna system signal detection
A system and method for processing signals in a communication system is disclosed herein. The system and method comprises processing steps and processing logic for generating a downlink subframe comprising a preamble and a plurality of data bursts within a predetermined frequency band; embedding first and second sets of downlink subframe parameters in the downlink subframe; transmitting the downlink subframe; receiving the downlink subframe; processing data in the preamble to obtain channel quality indicator (CQI) information; and using the CQI information to select either the first set or set second set of downlink subframe parameters to process the data bursts in the downlink subframe.
US07990934B2 Low power digital media broadcast receiver with time division
Systems and methods for providing a low power receiver device using fine grained time division are provided. In one embodiment, the receiver device comprises a tuner, a demodulator configured to demodulate at least one sampled signal, a payload processor configured to process at least one demodulated signal into an output format, and a time division control logic configured to generate a control signal to switch at least one component within the receiver device between modes to conserve power. The at least one component may be switched between an active mode, a standby mode, a power off mode, and a low power mode. In further embodiments, the at least one component may be switched between staggered modes.
US07990929B2 Wireless communications device including rake finger stage providing frequency correction and related methods
A wireless communications device may include a path searcher for detecting signal peak locations in a received spread-spectrum signal, and a RAKE finger stage. The RAKE finger stage may include a plurality of RAKE fingers for determining symbol values from the received spread-spectrum signal based upon the detected peak locations. Each RAKE finger may include at least one de-spreader for de-spreading time-staggered versions of the received spread-spectrum signal and operating at a signal rate of the received spread-spectrum signal, and a frequency corrector downstream from the at least one de-spreader comprising a phase lock loop (PLL) operating at a rate that is less than the signal rate.
US07990927B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting data in a communication system
An apparatus and method of grouping and assigning a plurality of random access sequences, including assigning each random access sequence to one or a plurality of user equipments, to a plurality of users, type of users or types of communication connection.
US07990926B2 Conversion of voice-over-IP media control messaging into mobile control channel signaling using a voice-over IP gateway
A gateway serving as an interface between a mobile network and a wireless network can be configured to send a signal strength indicator to the mobile network thereby causing the mobile network to recognize the gateway as a valid path for handing off a call. The wireless network can be configured according to one of the 802.11 wireless communications protocols. The gateway can route the call from the mobile network to a wireless access point of the wireless network via a packet-switched network, such that the call is conducted via a wireless communications link with the wireless access point.
US07990925B2 Method and apparatus for communication handoff
Seamless communication handoff is achieved by establishing a protocol tunnel to route leftover packets between network access nodes during the handoff. For example, in a mobile IP-based system, a mobile node may perform a handoff from a first access node that is associated with a first routing node to a second access node that is associated with a second routing node. To prevent the loss of any packets that may be in route for delivery to or from the first routing node during the handoff, the mobile node establishes a protocol tunnel with the first access node via the second access node. On the forward-link, packets being delivered from the first routing node are routed over the protocol tunnel to the second access node and then to the mobile node. On the reverse-link, packets being sent to the first routing node are routed over the protocol tunnel from the mobile node to the second access node and then to the first routing node. In conjunction with these operations, the mobile node concurrently maintains separate IP interfaces for the routing nodes. In addition, steps are taken to ensure that packets are routed to the appropriate IP interface during the handoff.
US07990924B2 Delayed mobile node registration with home agent
Mobile node registration with the home network of the mobile node is delayed when the mobile node moves to a foreign network. The mobile node has a home network in which the mobile node has a home address. In response to the mobile node moving to a foreign network (such as by being turned on in the foreign network), the mobile node receives a care-of address. Where the mobile node has no ongoing communication sessions, the mobile node waits to register its care-of address with its home agent in the home network until the mobile node initiates a communication session within the foreign network, which may not ever occur. The mobile node by registering the care-of address with the home agent informs the home agent where to forward data sent to the mobile node's home address.
US07990920B2 Transmit diversity for acknowledgement and category 0 bits in a wireless communication system
A method of transmitting acknowledgement/nonacknowledgement (ACK/NACK) signals including multiplexing ACK/NACK signals; and repeatedly transmitting for predetermined times the multiplexed signal with each of repetitions of transmitting the multiplexed signal being spread in a frequency domain and being mapped to a plurality of discrete resource units each having a pair of neighboring subcarriers and a predetermined number of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) control symbols.A method for transmitting Category 0 bits, including modulating the Category 0 bits; repeatedly transmitting the modulated Category 0 bits with each of repetitions of transmitting the modulated Category 0 bits being spread in a frequency domain and being mapped to a plurality of discrete resource units each having a pair of subcarriers and a predetermined number of OFDM control symbols; and mapping the modulated Category 0 bits by a frequency selective transmit diversity (FSTD).
US07990919B2 Techniques for reducing communication errors in a wireless communication system
A technique for operating a wireless communication device includes transmitting a scheduling request from the wireless communication device and receiving, following the scheduling request, an uplink grant that assigns an uplink channel to the wireless communication device. A time period between the scheduling request and the uplink grant is determined. Only channel quality information is transmitted in the uplink channel when the uplink grant requests the channel quality information and the time period is less than a predetermined time period.
US07990912B2 VoIP enabled femtocell with a USB transceiver station
Telephone calls between a mobile station (MS) and the mobile network or PSTN are routed through the Internet via VoIP using a femtocell, as opposed to the traditional macrocellular network. The femtocell can comprise a USB Transceiver Station that is connected to a personal computer through a universal serial bus port, which provides both power and a multi-megabit per second connection between the personal computer and the USB transceiver station. The USB transceiver station can comprise a microcontroller to manage signaling between the RF front end/baseband processor and the personal computer, as well as a precise timing mechanism to assist the synchronization of femtocell timing with the surrounding macrocellular network, if it is present. The USB transceiver station can have a compact form factor that facilitates a high degree of portability by the subscriber, such as being readily attachable to their keychain.
US07990903B2 Communication terminal device, communication system, communication method, and program
A communication terminal device, a communication system, a communication method, and a program which can realize the functions of joining and exiting from a network in the middle of communication, detecting disappearance of stations (communication terminals), and/or changing over a coordinator function. The communication terminal has the capabilities of: detecting disappearance of a coordinator in the network by lack of reception of beacons and frames from other terminals, and, if its transmission timing at a certain TBTT is the shortest within a network, serving as a new coordinator itself to transmit beacons; and serving as a communication-holding coordinator having entered a predetermined mode, and transmitting a change request frame to a communication terminal to which changeover of a coordinator function is requested, thereby transferring the coordinator function to a communication terminal not functioning as the coordinator.
US07990901B2 Cell search scheduling in a wireless cellular communication network
A method performed by a mobile communication unit (10) when operating in stand-by mode in a wireless cellular communication network. The receiver is activated in periods of relatively short duration (τ0) to receive paging indicators (21) from the serving base station (20) and to receive identifying signals from the remote base station (30). After the first period a likelihood is assessed that a remote cell has been detected, and following the first period the receiver is activated in a second period of a duration (τ1) depending an the assessed likelihood. If a remote cell has likely been detected, the second duration is longer than the first duration. Most of its stand-by time the mobile terminal will not detect a new cell, and most of the periods with the receiver activated will therefore be of the short first duration, the Power consumption of the receiver will be correspondingly reduced, and the stand-by time is correspondingly increased.
US07990898B2 IEEE 1394 network for deterministic and/or fault-tolerant communication
In one embodiment, a system comprises a plurality of nodes and an IEEE 1394 bus. Each of the plurality of nodes comprises at least one IEEE 1394 interface for communicating over the IEEE 1394 bus. The plurality of nodes communicates over the IEEE 1394 bus in accordance with a rooted, half-binary tree topology. In another embodiment, a node comprises an IEEE 1394 interface to communicate over an IEEE 1394 bus. The node encapsulates logical data packets into IEEE 1394 data packets and maps a traffic class associated with each logical data packet to an IEEE 1394 class of service for the IEEE 1394 data packet into which that logical data packet is encapsulated.
US07990897B2 Method and apparatus for a wireless home mesh network with network topology visualizer
An apparatus and method for a wireless home mesh network with a network topology visualizer is described. In one embodiment, the method may include displaying the network topology of a wireless home mesh network. The mobile nodes and stationary nodes of the wireless home mesh network may wirelessly communicate to share topology information regarding the wireless home mesh network. The topology information may include local connectivity information of a node, such as the direct neighbors of the node and the neighbors' neighbor information. In one embodiment, the local connectivity information is combined with the received node information to form an interactive global topology map of the wireless home mesh network to display for a user. In another embodiment, the combined topology information may be stored for offline processing. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07990895B2 Method and apparatus for configuring and establishing a secure credential-based network link between a client and a service over a data-packet-network
A system for establishing a direct network connection between a first and a second node over a data-packet-network includes a third network node having connection to the data-packet-network for providing an electronic interface accessible to the first node; a navigation agent directed by the third network node for navigating over the network to the second node to gather information; and at least one machine-readable instruction containing the instruction for directing and implementing the direct network connection. The electronic interface may be a Web page providing bill consolidation and payment services to a client operating the first node and wherein the connection established via the instruction enables transparent login payment of a bill at the second node, which may be a direct billing party interface of the client registered and listed on the Web page.
US07990881B2 Methods and devices for computing paths to assure the inter-domain transport of QoS sensitive information
Information can be transported over domains operated by different service providers at required Quality-of-Service (QoS) levels without disclosing inter- and/or intra-domain information to ensure that the topology of a given service provider's domain (e.g., network) is not disclosed.
US07990879B2 Method, apparatus, system, and computer program product for interruption-free conference calling
The present invention relates to instability problems in circuit switched conferencing, and provides a method for establishing a backup “voice only” telephony link in parallel with a H.320 conference link. The two links between the calling parties is handled as one logical call entity. Audio is muted on the backup voice telephony link when status of the H.320 link is okay. If communication problems are detected on the H.320 link, audio is muted over the H.320 link and switched to the backup voice telephony link instead.
US07990877B2 Method and apparatus for dynamically runtime adjustable path computation
A method and apparatus for performing a dynamically runtime adjustable constrained shortest path first (CSPF) computation of a label switched path (LSP) is described. In one embodiment of the invention, a network element acting as a source of the LSP receives a request to compute the LSP which includes one or more traffic engineering constraints. If the request includes at least one additive constraint, the network element performs a CSPF calculation. If the request does not include an additive constraint, the network element prunes each link that does not satisfy each of the constraints, and prunes those links whose paths converge at an intermediary network element according to cost, calculates a path to the destination according to cost. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
US07990876B2 Method for selection of a strategy for re-routing of circuits in a communication network and network with said method
A method is described for identification in a communication network of a sequence of circuit movement steps therein to change with the movement of a single circuit at a time from an initial routing in which are satisfied a certain number of service demands to a feasible target routing that satisfies the same service demands with better utilization of the network resources and that is identified as the one which best approximates or identifies a new predetermined desired target routing. In accordance with the method the steps are made of calculating for each demand still to be processed a replacement circuit reducing the cost difference with the circuit that satisfies the same demand in the desired target routing, choosing from among all the calculated replacement circuits the one having less cost and replacing it, marking the corresponding demand as processed, and repeating the steps from the beginning until all the demands have been processed. Then the sequence with which the circuits were replaced is used as a sequence of steps in moving of circuits for re-routing the network.
US07990872B2 Wireless LAN system and transmission method of data thereof
The present invention relates to a frame transmission scheduling method of a wireless communication considering frame transmission delay time information. The present invention provides a wireless communication system, which comprises a transmitting station for storing a transmission time in a transmission frame, calculating a delay time using the transmission time when retransmission of the transmission frame is requested, and scheduling the transmission of the transmission frame using the delay time; and a receiving station for transmitting a response frame (ACK frame) to the transmitting station when receiving the transmission frame. According to the present invention so configured, since transmission delay time information of a frame is considered when scheduling a sequence of frame transmission, there is an advantage in that waste of wireless resources due to retransmission delay of frames can be prevented.
US07990870B2 Peer-to-peer traffic management based on key presence in peer-to-peer control transfers
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network element including: receiving a first plurality of packets transmitted between a peer-to-peer (P2P) client and a P2P central entity; performing deep packet inspection (DPI) to extract a key from one or more of the first plurality of packets, the key identifying a P2P content item; receiving a second plurality of packets; performing DPI to extract location information of at least one P2P peer from one or more of the second plurality of packets; detecting at least one subsequent IP flow between the P2P client and the at least one P2P peer using the extracted location information, the at least one subsequent IP flow relating to a transfer of the P2P content item; and performing a traffic management action on the at least one subsequent IP flow.
US07990868B1 Dynamic queue threshold extensions to random early detection
A buffer memory may be configured to temporarily store data in a number of queues. A processor may be configured to measure a fullness of the buffer memory. The processor may also be configured to assign sizes to the number of queues based on the fullness of the buffer memory. The processor may also adjust thresholds of drop profiles associated with the number of queues based on the sizes assigned to the number of queues.
US07990860B2 Method and system for rule-based sequencing for QoS
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method for communicating data over a network to provide Quality of Service. The method includes receiving data over a network, prioritizing the data, and communicating the data based at least in part on the priority. The step of prioritizing the data includes sequencing the data based at least in part on a user defined rule. Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for communicating data including a data prioritization component and a data communications component. The data prioritization component is adapted to prioritize data. The data prioritization component includes a sequencing component. The sequencing component is adapted to sequence the data based at least in part on a user defined rule. The data communications component is adapted to communicate the data based at least in part on the priority.
US07990859B2 Packet transmission control device and packet transmission control method
The present invention relates to a packet transmission control device which controls transmission of packets to a plurality of mobile stations. A scheduling unit of the packet transmission control device according to the present invention is configured to schedule the packets to each of the plurality of mobile stations, based on an average transmission rate, a minimum guaranteed transmission rate, a scheduling frequency and capability information.
US07990847B1 Method and system for managing servers in a server cluster
A method of managing servers in a server cluster is disclosed. The health of servers is detected through passive return traffic monitoring. Server failure can be detected through TCP information or HTTP return codes. Various settings affecting number of failure thresholds and the time period to detect failures can be configured. Servers can be mapped to URLs such that passive health monitoring can be performed for URLs instead of server clusters.
US07990840B2 Methods and apparatus for efficient digital broadcast signaling in a wireless communications system
First and second transmitters transmit signals communicating the same information, e.g., program segment, but at different times. Different carriers may, but need not be, used by the different transmitters. If a wireless terminal can not recover broadcast segment information from one carrier, the wireless terminal can switch to another transmitter and recover the information, e.g., on another carrier, since the broadcasts are intentionally offset in time. In some embodiments, the timing is offset such that a single channel receiver is able to recover signals corresponding to the same program segment from two sources, and perform a decoding and information recovery using input from both sources, where recovery using input from a single source is not possible. Symbol level timing synchronization of base stations is not required thereby allowing for simpler implementations and/or lower overhead, as compared to systems which require base stations to be synchronized to the symbol timing level.
US07990837B2 Optical disc comprising a watermark and a method and recorder for recording such a disc
A visible pattern is obtained by modulating the digital sum value. Because the digital sum value modulation allows the choice of several different channel bits groups between DC control points, the selection of a group of channel bits resulting in a change of reflection. This creation of a visible pattern is highly suitable for Blueray as the parity preserving property of the channel code guarantees disparity inversion by the DC-control bit, which keeps the DSV excursions between hard limits. As a result only small DSV deliberate variations are required to produce a visual watermark, which will not deteriorate the bit-detection margin of the optical disc.
US07990836B2 Optical pickup apparatus, focal-point adjusting method, and optical disc apparatus
An optical pickup apparatus is provided with an angle adjusting element. The angle adjusting element changes a propagation direction of luminous fluxes of four luminous flux regions set about an optical axis of the laser light, out of laser light reflected by a disc, and mutually disperses the luminous fluxes. A signal light region in which signal light only is present appears on a detecting surface of a photodetector. A sensor pattern for signal light is placed at a position irradiated with the signal light within this region. A sensor pattern for a coma aberration detection is placed on an inner side of this region.
US07990835B2 Optical pickup apparatus, focal-point adjusting method, and optical disc apparatus
An optical pickup apparatus is provided with an angle adjusting element. The angle adjusting element changes a propagation direction of luminous fluxes of four luminous flux regions set about an optical axis of the laser light, out of laser light reflected by a disc, and mutually disperses the luminous fluxes. A signal light region in which signal light only is present appears on a detecting surface of a photodetector. A sensor pattern for signal light is placed at a position irradiated with the signal light within this region. A sensor pattern for a spherical aberration detection is placed on an inner side of this region.
US07990829B2 Optical recording method, optical recording apparatus, optical recording medium, and optical reproducing method
There are provided: an optical recording method containing a focus point controlling step, and an interference image recording step; an optical recording apparatus containing a focus point controlling unit, and an interference image recording unit; an optical recording medium recorded in accordance with the optical recording method; and an optical reproducing method reproducing a recorded information recorded in accordance with the optical recording method.
US07990827B2 Optical disc device and optical disc determination method
An optical disc device includes a control part for causing processing of determining a type of an optical disc to be executed. The processing caused by the control part to be executed for determining the optical disc includes: signal acquisition processing of acquiring a pull-in signal (sum signal of reflected signal) and an RF signal (reproduced signal) by moving an objective lens in either of a direction approaching the optical disc and a direction separating from the optical disc; and determination processing of deciding whether or not to correct the pull-in signal acquired in the signal acquisition processing and determining the type of the optical disc by using either of amplitude of the acquired pull-in signal and a correction value with which the amplitude of the acquired pull-in signal is corrected by using a predetermined value obtained from the acquired RF signal.
US07990825B2 Drive device
A drive apparatus of the present invention includes a recording/reproduction section and a drive control section. The drive control section at least performs a process including: receiving a reproduction instruction; determining whether or not the reproduction of a latest replacement management information list has failed in response to the reproduction instruction; controlling the recording/reproduction section to reproduce location information before replacement recorded in the spare area and the user data area when the reproduction of the latest replacement management information list is determined to have failed; generating the latest replacement management information list based on the reproduced location information before replacement; and controlling the recording/reproduction section to record the latest replacement management information list at a predetermined location.
US07990824B2 Method for distinguishing unbalanced disc
A method for distinguishing unbalanced disc in an optical disc reproducing/recording apparatus, comprising following steps: moving an optical pickup head to a first position of an optical disc; rotating the optical disc to a predetermined rotating speed; transferring a focus error signal produced by the optical pickup head to a focus control voltage signal; controlling the optical pickup head by the focus control voltage signal to maintain a focus light spot produced by the optical pickup head on the optical disc; and distinguishing if the optical disc is an unbalanced disc according to the focus control voltage signal.
US07990822B2 Sound recording/reproducing method and apparatus
Recording/reproducing apparatus records attribute information on sound data of a music piece onto a recording medium, and creates a rule table associating the attribute information and DSP program parameters. The recording/reproducing apparatus acquires, from the table, any of DSP program parameters that corresponds to the attribute information, and sets the DSP program parameter in the amplifier apparatus. The recording/reproducing apparatus also detects a recorded level of each succession of sound data to be recorded onto the medium, and then records the detected recorded level onto the medium in association with the sound data. Also, the recording/reproducing apparatus acquires a recorded level corresponding to a succession of the sound data to be reproduced, and adjusts, on the basis of the acquired recorded level, an output level of the succession of the sound.
US07990821B2 Optical disk playback device
An optical disk playback device includes a control means (an LSI 5 for system control) for performing a track search according to contents information, comparing a current track start point position at the time after performing the track search with a target track start point position, when the comparison result shows that they differ from each other, setting up a new target track start point position by performing a predetermined arithmetic operation, then performing a track search again, and, when a new current track start point position at the time after performing the track search again matches the set-up new target track start point position, starting a playback from the new current track start point position.
US07990819B2 Optical head apparatus and optical information apparatus
An optical head apparatus is made to be downsized while obtaining an sufficient driving force of an objective lens actuator. The optical head apparatus includes a first optical system including a first objective lens for focusing a light beam upon an optical disc; a second optical system including a second objective lens for focusing a light beam upon an optical disc having an information recording density smaller than the optical disc which the first optical system irradiates upon, the second objective lens having a numerical aperture smaller than the first objective lens; and an up-orienting prism including a first reflecting surface for deflecting a light beam to an optical axis of the first objective lens in the first optical system, and a second reflecting surface for deflecting a light beam to an optical axis of the second objective lens in the second optical system.
US07990818B2 Cascaded control of a pick-up head for multi-layer optical data storage
A system and method of controlling position of a pick-up head of an optical drive, including manipulating the position of the pick-up head as a primary variable in a cascade control scheme, and manipulating current flowing through the pick-up head as a secondary variable in the cascade control scheme.
US07990815B2 Optical disc apparatus and method of driving the same
An optical disc apparatus, and a method of driving the same, includes a light focusing element disposed to focus light emitted from a light source onto a disc; an actuator to move the light focusing element toward or away from the disc according to a voltage applied to the actuator; a light intensity detection unit to detect the intensity of light reflected from the disc; a servo unit to generate a gap error signal and a third voltage, the third voltage being the sum of a first voltage and a second voltage, and to apply the generated third voltage to the actuator; and a control unit to control the servo unit to perform a gap pull-in operation when the light focusing element is moved toward the disc according to the gap error signal and the third voltage.
US07990814B2 Optical disk drive
An optical disk drive for recording information on a recording surface of an optical disk and reading information recorded in the optical disk is provided. The optical disk drive includes a spindle to rotate the optical disk and a carriage movable in parallel with a tracking direction of the optical disk. The carriage includes a laser light source to emit laser light, a collimator lens to convert divergent light into parallel light and is arranged with an optical center thereof being in a farther and offset position with respect to an optical axis of the laser light, a reflecting mirror to receive and deflect the laser light transmitted through the collimator lens in a direction perpendicular to the recording surface of the optical disk, and an objective lens to converge the laser light deflected by the reflecting mirror on a position corresponding to the recording surface of the optical disk.
US07990808B2 Performing error-free access operation on multi-layered disc
A method of reproducing information recorded on an optical disc having a plurality of recording layers inclusive of a first recording layer and a second recording layer includes the steps of referring to an order of recording of the first recording layer and the second recording layer according to which information is recorded in a prerecorded area of the optical disc, and selecting a scan path in response to the order of recording, from a first scan path including no seek operation preceding a focus jump and a second scan path including a seek operation preceding a focus jump, to scan an optical spot from a first address in the first recording layer to a second address in the second recording layer through scanning along the prerecorded area in at least one of the first recording layer and the second recording layer.
US07990807B2 Electronic device with an alarm clock function and method of controlling the function
An electronic device with an alarm clock function includes a storage unit storing at least one icon; a display unit including a plurality of display areas; an input unit including a plurality of input parts each of which corresponds to one of the display areas; a managing unit for enabling or disabling an alarm clock function; an area selection module for randomly selecting one of the display areas and outputting the icon on the selected display area; and a comparison module for determining whether the input part pressed by a user matches the selected display area. A method for controlling the alarm clock function is also provided.
US07990802B2 Selective edge phase mixing
Electronic apparatus, systems, and methods to implement selective edge phase mixing are disclosed. A selective edge phase mixing system includes a processor and memory device configured to perform operations in synchronization with transitions of an externally provided clock signal. A selective edge phase mixing unit for the memory device may operate to receive the clock signal and control signals. An output port of the selective edge phase mixing unit may be used to provide a duty cycle corrected clock signal to the memory device. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US07990799B2 Semiconductor memory device that includes an address coding method for a multi-word line test
Example embodiments relate to a semiconductor memory device that includes an address coding method for a multi-word line test, for example, an address coding method to test a semiconductor memory device having a cell block row selection circuit. The semiconductor memory device may include a plurality of memory cell blocks, where each memory cell block may include memory cells coupled to a bit line. The method may include coding row addresses of the memory cell block by dividing one or more row addresses corresponding to cell blocks of the memory cell block to create sub-cell blocks and adding the sub-cell blocs into the main cell blocks to create a logical memory block, which enables word lines of the main cell blocks and sub-cell blocks at the same time.
US07990798B2 Integrated circuit including a memory module having a plurality of memory banks
An integrated circuit including a memory module having a plurality of memory banks is disclosed. One embodiment provides an even number of at least four memory banks. Each memory bank has a plurality of memory cells. Each two of the memory bank form a memory bank region and being alternately connected to an m-bit data bus. The memory banks are classified into two groups, each group including a memory bank of each memory bank region. The memory module further includes a selection device connected to the memory banks and being responsive to selection bits. The selection device selects one of the two groups of memory banks and a group of i memory cells within the memory banks of the selected group of memory banks to access the selected i memory cells per one stroke via the associated m-bit data buses of the memory groups including the selected memory banks, m being equal to an integer multiple of i.
US07990796B2 Energy efficient memory access technique for single ended bit cells
A method for conserving power in a device. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating a polarity signal by analyzing a current one of a plurality of data items having a plurality of data bits, the polarity signal having an inversion bit indicating that the current data item is to be stored in one of (i) an inverted condition and (ii) a non-inverted condition relative to a normal condition such that a majority of the data bits have a first logic state, wherein reading one of the data bits having the first logic state consumes less power than reading one of the data bits having a second logic state, (B) selectively either (i) inverting the current data item or (ii) not inverting current the data item based on the inversion bit and (C) storing the current data item in a plurality of single-ended bit cells in the device.
US07990793B2 Semiconductor device having single-ended sensing amplifier
A semiconductor device has a DRAM cell configured from an information charge accumulating capacitor and a memory cell selecting transistor, the threshold voltage value of a MOS transistor that constitutes a sense circuit is monitored, and the monitored threshold voltage value of the MOS transistor is converted through the use of a transfer ratio that is determined based on the capacitance of the information charge accumulating capacitor and the parasitic capacitance of the bit line. The converted voltage value is level-shifted so that the pre-charge voltage of a pre-charge circuit is a pre-set voltage, a current feeding capability is added to the level-shifted voltage value, and the voltage is fed as the pre-charge voltage.
US07990792B2 Hybrid sense amplifier and method, and memory device using same
Sense circuits, devices and methods are disclosed, including a sense amplifier circuit that has first and second complementary data lines and a sensing circuit. One of the data lines can be coupled to a memory cell for data sensing and the other data line can be used as reference. The sensing circuit has first and second complementary output nodes and is coupled to the data lines. In a first mode, the sensing circuit can sense a difference between a voltage on the first digit line and a voltage on the second digit line to generate a first voltage differential between the first and second output nodes. In a second mode, the sensing circuit can sense a difference between a current flow in the first digit line and a current flow in the second digit line to generate a second voltage differential between the first and second output nodes. Other sense circuits, devices and methods are also provided.
US07990787B2 Memory compiler redundancy
An improved redundancy architecture for embedded memories in an ASIC chip includes one or more compiler-generated embedded memory instances. Each embedded memory instance has a universal register for storing an address of a defective subunit of the memory instance from a variety of sources. A control block is located on the ASIC chip outside of the memory instances. The control block has a defective memory register for storing an address of a defective memory subunit. The address of a defective memory subunit from the defective memory register in the control block is transferred to the universal interface register in the memory instance. In one embodiment, the control block includes fuses for storing a defective subunit address in binary form. A fuse array is located outside of the memory instances and contains laser fuses that represent address of defective subunits for each memory instance. Alternatively, the control block includes a BISTDR (built-in, self-test, diagnostic, and repair) system that provides an address of a defective memory subunit. Means are provided in the memory instances for comparing incoming memory addresses to address bits for defective memory subunits stored in each memory-instance register.
US07990784B2 Clock signal generating circuit and data output apparatus using the same
A semiconductor memory device having a clock signal generating circuit which is capable of controlling a data output in compliance with PVT fluctuation by controlling a output timing of rising and falling clock signal based on a fuse cutting is described. The clock signal generating circuit includes a fuse unit for generating first and second fuse signals based on fuse cutting of fuses, a control signal generating unit for generating first and second fuse signals in response to the fuse signals, a clock signal delaying unit for generating a delayed clock signal by delaying the external clock signal by a delay section specified by the control signals, and a clock generating unit for generating a first internal clock signal in synchronization with a rising edge of the delayed clock signal and for generating a second internal clock signal in synchronization with a falling edge of the delayed clock signal.
US07990783B1 Postamble timing for DDR memories
Circuits, methods, and apparatus that isolate an input register from spurious transitions on a DQS signal. One example receives an enable signal from a core. A logic circuit, which may be referred to as a one-half period circuit, shortens enable pulses at their front end by one-half a period. The shortened enable signal is passed to a storage element such as a register. Active pulses of the shortened enable signal clear the register, which provides a control signal closing a switch, such as an AND gate. The switch passes the DQS signal to the input register when closed and isolates the input register from the DQS signal when open. The shortened enable signal prevents the switch from opening early and passing spurious transitions on the DQS signal, for example during back-to-back non-consecutive read cycles.
US07990782B2 Data strobe signal noise protection apparatus and semiconductor integrated circuit
A data strobe signal noise prevention apparatus and semiconductor integrated circuit includes a transition protection unit configured to protect a transition of a data strobe signal in response to a control signal and a controller configured to determine when a burst operation completes and to generate the control signal.
US07990779B2 Method of operating semiconductor devices
A method of operating a semiconductor device including a memory cell of a 1-T DRAM is provided in which a gate voltage level in a hold mode is adjusted to adjust a data sensing margin of the semiconductor device.
US07990778B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory and method for testing the same
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes a nonvolatile memory array, a voltage generator circuit that generates a drive voltage which changes depending on a supply voltage and a trimming code, a control circuit that applies the generated drive voltage to the nonvolatile memory array, and a trimming code output circuit that outputs any one of plural trimming codes to the voltage generator circuit. The plural trimming codes include a test trimming code in addition to an appropriate trimming code for generating a desired drive voltage. The test trimming code is different from the appropriate trimming code, and used only in the test state. In the test state, the trimming code output circuit outputs the test trimming code to the voltage generator circuit, and the voltage generator circuit generates the drive voltage according to the test trimming code. In states other than the test state, the trimming code output circuit outputs the appropriate trimming code to the voltage generator circuit, and the voltage generator circuit generates the drive voltage according to the appropriate trimming code.
US07990776B2 Semiconductor memory device with optimum refresh cycle according to temperature variation
A semiconductor memory device, which performs a refresh operation, includes: a temperature sensing unit for measuring temperature and for generating a temperature controlled voltage and a reference current based on the measured temperature; an analog-digital conversion unit for converting the temperature controlled voltage to an N-bit digital signal; a refresh control unit for generating a refresh signal in response to the N-bit digital signal, wherein, a period of the refresh signal is controlled based on the N-bit digital signal.
US07990770B2 Method of programming nonvolatile memory device
In a method of programming a nonvolatile memory device, when a program is performed, a program voltage is applied to a first word line selected for the program. A first pass voltage is applied to three second word lines neighboring the first word line toward a source select line. First and second voltages are applied to third and fourth word lines neighboring the first word line toward the source select line. A second pass voltage is applied to the remaining word lines other than the first to fourth word lines.
US07990767B2 Flash memory system having cross-coupling compensation during read operation
A method for reading an addressed cell of a memory system comprises applying at least two different voltage levels to a control gate of a memory cell in an array of memory cells, wherein the memory cell is adjacent to and in electrical field communication with the addressed memory cell. A threshold voltage of the addressed memory cell is measured at each of the at least two different applied voltage levels. At least two of the measured threshold voltages of the addressed memory cell are converted to one or more bit values stored in the addressed memory cell. The bit values are provided to a host of the memory system. An apparatus implementing the method is also disclosed.
US07990764B2 Post-facto correction for cross coupling in a flash memory
A method of storing and reading data, using a memory that includes a plurality of cells (e.g. flash cells), such that data are stored in the cells by setting respective values of a physical parameter of the cells (e.g. threshold voltage) to be indicative of the data, and such that data are read from the cells by measuring those values. One of the cells and its neighbors are read. The data stored in the cell are estimated, based on the measurements and on respective extents to which the neighbors disturb the reading. Preferably, the method also includes determining those respective extents to which the neighbors disturb the reading, for example based on the measurements themselves.
US07990763B2 Memory with weighted multi-page read
A memory device provides increased output data to help evaluate data errors arising from bit line coupling and floating gate coupling during a read operation. Multiple rows, or pages, of data are read to allow an internal or external decoder to evaluate memory cell data.
US07990762B2 Integrated circuits to control access to multiple layers of memory
Circuits to control access to memory; for example, third dimension memory are provided. An integrated circuit (IC) may be configured to control access to memory cells. For example, the IC may include a memory having memory cells that are vertically disposed in multiple layers of memory. The IC may include a memory access circuit configured to control access to a first subset of the memory cells in response to access control data in a second subset of the memory cells. Each memory cell may include a non-volatile two-terminal memory element that stores data as a plurality of conductivity profiles that can be non-destructively sensed by applying a read voltage across the two terminals of the memory element. New data can be written by applying a write voltage across the two terminals of the memory element. The two-terminal memory elements can be arranged in a two-terminal cross-point array configuration.
US07990761B2 Immunity of phase change material to disturb in the amorphous phase
Disturb from the reset to the set state may be reduced by creating an amorphous phase that is substantially free of crystal nuclei when programming the reset state in a phase change memory. In some embodiments, this can be achieved by using a current or a voltage to program that exceeds the threshold voltage of the phase change memory element, but does not exceed a safe current voltage which would cause a disturb.
US07990760B2 Semiconductor SRAM with alternatively arranged P-well and N-well regions
A semiconductor memory device comprises a cell array having a plurality of SRAM cells arranged in a bit line direction and a word line direction orthogonal to said bit line direction in a matrix; and a peripheral circuit arranged adjacent to the cell array in the bit line direction. The cell array includes first P-well regions and first N-well regions shaped in stripes extending in the bit line direction and arranged alternately in the word line direction. The SRAM cell is formed point-symmetrically in the first P-well region and the first N-well regions located on both sides thereof. The peripheral circuit includes second P-well regions and second N-well regions extending in the bit line direction and arranged alternately in the word line direction.
US07990758B2 Power saving semiconductor memory
A semiconductor memory, such as an SRAM, is described that accommodates smaller read/write accesses in one mode of operation and larger read/write accesses in a second mode of operation, wherein power is conserved during the smaller accesses. Methods of using such a semiconductor memory are also described.
US07990757B2 Method of operating a memory circuit using memory cells with independent-gate controlled access devices
A memory cell includes double-gate first and second access devices configured to selectively interconnect cross-coupled inverters with true and complementary bit lines. Each access device has a first gate connected to a READ word line and a second gate connected to a WRITE word line. During a READ operation, the first and second access devices are configured to operate in a single-gate mode with the READ word line “ON” and the WRITE word line “OFF” while the double-gate pull-down devices are configured to operate in a double gate mode. During a WRITE operation, the first and second access devices are configured to operate in a double-gate mode with the READ word line “ON” and the WRITE word line also “ON.”
US07990756B2 Semiconductor memory device and method for manufacturing same
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor memory device including a plurality of memory cells including first and second inverters each having first and second driver transistors and first and second load transistors and including first and second memory node, and first and second transfer transistors. The of the first and second transfer transistors is connected to each of the first and memory nodes respectively. The memory cell is connected to a bit line and complementary bit line via the first and second transfer transistors respectively wherein a supply voltage applied to the bit line and the complementary bit line is lower than a supply voltage applied to the load transistors, and at least a memory-node-side end of a gate insulating film of the first driver transistor, second driver transistor, first load transistor, and the second load transistor have a thickness larger than a thickness of a gate insulating film of the other part.
US07990753B2 Semiconductor memory device
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device having a plurality of unit cell arrays having memory cells each containing a first wiring and a second wiring intersecting each other, and a variable resistive element arranged at each intersection of said first wiring and said second wiring and electrically rewritable to nonvolatilely store a resistance value as data, characterized by comprising: a control circuit for applying a predetermined voltage to said memory cell in selectively accessing said memory cell; wherein said control circuit accumulates a predetermined electric charge in a parasitic capacitance of said memory cell included in a first unit cell array that is said specific unit cell array and not accessed at the first time, while on the other hand, accumulates a predetermined electric charge in a parasitic capacitance of said memory cell included in a second unit cell array that is said specific unit cell array other than said first unit cell array and not accessed at the second time after the passage of a predetermined time from said first time.
US07990752B2 Semiconductor memory
A semiconductor memory of an aspect of the present invention including a main bit line, a first and second sub-bit line, a first resistive memory element which has a first terminal being connected with the main bit line, a first select transistor which has one end of a first current path being connected with the second terminal of the first resistive memory element and the other end of the first current path being connected with the first sub-bit line, a second resistive memory element which has a third terminal being connected with the main bit line, and a second select transistor which has one end of a second current path being connected with the fourth terminal of the second resistive memory element and the other end of the second current path being connected with the second sub-bit line.
US07990751B2 Drive method of nanogap switching element and storage apparatus equipped with nanogap switching element
A nanogap switching element is equipped with an inter-electrode gap portion including a gap of a nanometer order between a first electrode and a second electrode. A switching phenomenon is caused in the inter-electrode gap portion by applying a voltage between the first and second electrodes. The nanogap switching element is shifted from its low resistance state to its high resistance state by receiving a voltage pulse application of a first voltage value, and shifted from its high resistance state to its low resistance state by receiving a voltage pulse application of a second voltage value lower than the first voltage value. When the nanogap switching element is shifted from the high resistance state to the low resistance state, a voltage pulse of an intermediate voltage value between the first and second voltage values is applied thereto before the voltage pulse application of the second voltage value thereto.
US07990749B2 Variable impedance circuit controlled by a ferroelectric capacitor
A memory cell comprising a ferroelectric capacitor, a variable impedance element and a conductive load is disclosed. The ferroelectric capacitor, characterized by first and second polarization states, is connected between a control terminal and a first switch terminal. The variable impedance element has an impedance between the first and second switch terminals that is determined by a signal on a control terminal. The conductive load is connected between a first power terminal and the first switch terminal. The second switch terminal is connected to a second power terminal. When a potential difference is applied between the first and second power terminals, a potential on the first switch terminal varies in a manner determined by the state of polarization of the ferroelectric capacitor.
US07990744B2 Power supply saving system for an electronic device
A power supply saving system includes a power input interface, a power output interface, an alternating current/direct current (AC/DC) converter, a relay, a relay driving circuit, a trigger, and a timing sequence circuit. The AC/DC converter is capable of transforming the AC power signal to direct current (DC) power to supply to the relay, the relay driving circuit, the trigger, and the timing sequence circuit. The timing sequence circuit is capable of controlling the relay driving circuit via the trigger to turn on the relay to connect the power input interface to the power output interface when the timing sequence circuit receives a power-on signal. The timing sequence circuit is capable of controlling the relay driving circuit via the trigger to turn off the relay to cut off connection between the power input interface and the power output interface when the timing sequence circuit receives a power-off signal.
US07990742B2 Charge pump circuit and methods of operation thereof
A charge pump circuit, and associated method and apparatuses, for providing a split-rail voltage supply, the circuit having a network of switches that is operable in a number of different states and a controller for operating the switches in a sequence of said states so as to generate positive and negative output voltages together spanning a voltage approximately equal to the input voltage and centered on the voltage at the common terminal.
US07990737B2 Memory systems with memory chips down and up
In some embodiments, a system includes a memory controller chip, memory chips on a first substrate, and a module connector. A first group of conductors is included to provide read data signals from at least some of the memory chips to the memory controller chip, and a second group of conductors to provide read data signals from the connector to the memory controller chip. The module connector may receive a continuity card or memory module. Other embodiments are described.
US07990733B2 Mounting apparatus for PCI card
A mounting apparatus for a PCI card includes a mounting bracket, a mounting piece for attaching the PCI card to the mounting bracket, and a securing member. The mounting bracket has a base and a blocking plate bent from the base. The mounting piece includes an elongated body and a mounting end bent from the elongated body. The elongated body adjoins the base and the mounting end abuts on the blocking plate. The securing member includes a first pivoting portion pivotably attached to the mounting bracket, a pressing portion extending from the pivoting portion, and a securing portion extending from the pressing portion. The pressing portion elastically abuts against the mounting end, thereby sandwiching the mounting end between the blocking plate and the pressing portion. The securing portion is for driving the pressing portion to move away from the mounting end by handling the securing portion.
US07990732B2 Bracket and electronic device utilizing the bracket
A bracket is used for retaining an expansion card. The expansion card includes a slot cover. The bracket includes a top and a back and a retaining member. The top is perpendicular to the back. The back defines at least one expansion slot. The retaining member comprises an elongated body. The retaining member is pivotally attached to the top about a pivot axis. The pivot axis is substantially perpendicular to the back. The retaining member is capable of securing the slot cover to the mounting flange of the back at a locked position.
US07990730B2 Imaging device
An imaging device includes a lens module and a printed circuit board. The lens module includes a substrate with a lens unit and an imaging sensor mounted on a same side thereof. The substrate defines a groove therein. The printed circuit board defines a recessed portion accommodating the substrate therein, and includes a locking member engaging in the groove to detachably secure the lens module thereto.
US07990726B2 Tray-type structure device
A tray-type structure device includes a side plate, a front plate attached to a forward end of the side plate, having the functions of opening and closing, and positioned on the front side of a housing, a top plate attached to an upper end of the side plate, with a plurality of openings formed therein, and having the function of variably setting a ventilation resistance, a bottom plate attached to a lower end of the side plate, with a plurality of openings formed therein, and having the function of variably setting a ventilation resistance, and a back plate attached to a rearward end of the side plate, having the functions of opening and closing, and positioned on a side of the housing toward a backboard. The device has a tray structure having a tray-like shape formed by the front plate, top plate, bottom plate, side plate and back plate.
US07990720B2 Electronic system with heat dissipation structure
An electronic system such as a computer system includes a casing defining an opening at a side thereof, a motherboard arranged in the casing, a hard disk located at a side of the motherboard and a heat dissipation structure covering the opening of the casing. The motherboard includes a printed circuit board facing toward the opening of the casing, first electronic components and second electronic components mounted on the printed circuit board and facing toward the opening. The heat dissipation structure includes a base engaging with the casing and fins extending from the base and outside of the casing. The base includes a first engaging portion contacting the first and second electronic components and a second engaging portion contacting the hard disk. The first engaging portion and the second engaging portion are in different levels from each other.
US07990717B2 Heat sink and electronic device using same
An electronic device includes a shell, an electronic component received in the shell, and a heat sink arranged between the electronic component and the shell. The heat sink includes a first heat spreader attaching to the electronic component, a second heat spreader spaced from the first heat spreader, and a plurality of fins between the first and second heat spreaders. Each fin includes a pair of contacting portions, a pair of bending portions and a connecting portion each of which being flat. The contacting portions are respectively connected to the two heat spreaders. The bending portions respectively extend from the contacting portions towards each other. Each bending portion forms a rear end adjacent to the other bending portion. The connecting portion interconnects the rear ends of the bending portions at opposite ends thereof.
US07990714B2 Heat dissipation device and fasteners thereof
A heat dissipation device includes a heat sink, a heat absorbing plate, a heat pipe thermally connecting the heat sink and the absorbing plate, a pressing plate secured to the heat absorbing plate and pressing an end of the heat pipe to the heat absorbing plate, and a plurality of fasteners extending through the pressing plate to secure the end of the heat pipe, the heat absorbing plate and the pressing plate to a printed circuit board. Each of the fasteners includes a connecting portion extending through the pressing plate, a first operating portion extending from the connecting portion, and a second operating portion formed at an end face of the first operating portion. The first and second operating portions are configured to be operated by different tools.
US07990713B2 Heat dissipation device and method for manufacturing the same
A heat dissipation device for dissipating heat from an electronic component mounted on a printed circuit board, includes a fin unit, a centrifugal fan located adjacent to the fin unit, a heat-conducting board attached to the electronic component and a heat pipe thermally connecting the fin unit and the electronic component. An engaging portion protrudes upwardly from a top face of the heat-conducting board. The heat pipe has an evaporating section extending through the engaging portion and being fixed to the top face of the heat-conducting board, and a condensing section attached to the fin unit.
US07990712B2 Heat sink used in interface card
A heat sink used in an interface card includes a supporting base, a first heat-dissipating body and a second heat-dissipating body. The supporting base has a side. The first heat-dissipating body is mounted on the supporting base. The first heat-dissipating body is constituted of a plurality of overlapping heat-dissipating pieces. The heat-dissipating pieces are arranged obliquely with respect to the side. The second heat-dissipating body overlaps on the first heat-dissipating body. The second heat-dissipating body comprises a plurality of heat-dissipating pieces. Via the above arrangement, the heat-dissipating efficiency of the interface card can be increased and the lifetime thereof can be extended.
US07990708B2 Blower for electronic device and electronic device
A blower for an electronic device includes a fan frame having an opening through which air passes for cooling the electronic device; a blade arranged in the opening of the fan frame; a motor configured to rotationally drive the blade; an attachment portion provided outside the opening of the fan frame, the attachment portion causing the fan frame to be attached to the electronic device; and a holder fixed to the electronic device and holding the attachment portion in a direction perpendicular to a rotational axis of the blade.
US07990706B2 Cooling duct and electronic apparatus
A cooling duct for cooling heat generating elements inside a casing with outside air includes an intake vent through which outside air taken in from outside the casing is drawn, a guiding unit configured to guide the outside air drawn through the intake vent to a first target element being a heat generating element to be cooled, a discharge vent through which the outside air guided by the guiding unit is discharged to the first target element, and a branch pipe provided in the guiding unit and configured to guide part of the outside air flowing in the guiding unit to a second target element being another heat generating element to be cooled.
US07990705B2 Systems and methods for synthetic jet enhanced natural cooling
A method and system for increasing cooling of an enclosure is provided. The component enclosure includes one or more sidewalls defining a volume, the sidewalls are configured to substantially surround a heat generating component positioned within the volume. The component enclosure further includes a synthetic jet assembly positioned adjacent at least one of the sidewalls. The synthetic jet assembly includes at least one synthetic jet ejector having a jet port. The jet port is aligned at least one of perpendicularly, parallelly, and obliquely with a surface of the at least one sidewall. The synthetic jet assembly is configured to direct a jet of fluid through the port at least one of substantially parallel to the surface, perpendicularly onto the surface, and obliquely toward the surface.
US07990703B2 Electronic device with support legs
An electronic device includes a housing and two supporting mechanisms. The housing includes a base plate and two sloping slide portions. The sloping slide portions are formed at two adjacent corners of the base plate. Each sloping slide portion has a sloping plate being oblique to the base plate. Each supporting mechanism includes a support leg. Each of the support legs is slidably connected to the sloping plate. An altitude of each of the support legs relative to the base plate is capable of being changed when the support leg moves relative to the sloping plate.
US07990702B2 Configurable input in a portable computing device
A configurable portable computing device having a first display panel and a second display panel, a first user input device and a second user input device. Where the second user input device is incorporated into the second display panel and the first user input device being selectively mountable over the second display panel or detached from the computing device.
US07990701B2 Computer device with low acoustic noise
A computer system includes a chassis with a fan installed therein, a cover plate adapted to be attached to the chassis, and a noise absorber attached to the cover plate. The fan is capable of generating an amount of air flow for cooling at least a component in the chassis. The noise absorber includes a plurality of protrusions facing the fan and capable of damping the air flow that impacts the cover plate and decreasing an acoustic noise level of the computer system.
US07990693B2 Electronic apparatus
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus is provided with a housing including a top wall and a side portion extending from an edge of the top wall, a keyboard, and a keyboard placing portion on which the keyboard is placed, the keyboard placing portion including a bottom surface provided in the top wall. At least part of the bottom surface extends to the side portion of the housing.
US07990689B2 Power distribution unit and methods of making and use including modular construction and assemblies
Described herein are various embodiments of a power distribution unit having modular components. For example, according to one embodiment, a power distribution unit can include a component portion that comprises at least two modules including outlet modules, circuit protection modules, power input modules, communications I/O modules, and display modules. Each of the at least two modules of the component portion can comprise at least one connection element and can be removably secured to one or more other of the at least two modules via the connection elements. The power distribution unit can also include a housing that defines an interior cavity. The component portion can be removably secured to the housing at least partially within the interior cavity.
US07990682B2 Anode element, method of manufacturing the same, and solid electrolytic capacitor
An anode element of a solid electrolytic capacitor and a method of fabricating the anode element are improved, so that the step of manufacturing the solid electrolytic capacitor is simplified, reliability is improved, and a withstand voltage of the solid electrolytic capacitor is increased. An anode element including a metal and a coating layer formed on a surface thereof, the coating layer being composed of a hydrated oxide shown as MOx.yH2O in chemical formula (1), where M represents a valve metal and x and y represent an integer or a decimal fraction from 1 to 6, a hydroxide shown as M(OH)n in chemical formula (2), where M represents a valve metal and n represents an integer or a decimal fraction from 1 to 6, or a composite thereof, a method of manufacturing the anode element, and a solid electrolytic capacitor employing the anode element are provided.
US07990677B2 Multilayer chip capacitor
A multilayer chip capacitor includes: a capacitor body having first and second side surfaces and a bottom surface; a plurality of first and second internal electrodes in the capacitor body; first and second external electrodes having a first polarity and formed on the first and second side surfaces, respectively, to cover a respective lower edge of the side surfaces and to partially extend to the bottom surface; and a third external electrode having a second polarity and formed on the bottom surface. The internal electrodes are disposed in perpendicular to the bottom surface. Each of the first internal electrodes has a first lead drawn to the first side and bottom surfaces and a second lead drawn to the second side and bottom surfaces. Each of the second internal electrodes has a third lead drawn to the bottom surface.
US07990675B2 Monolithic solid state relay circuit for telecom wireline applications
Methods and apparatus for utilizing a solid state relay arrangement as a part of a protection scheme for a telecom wireline card suitable are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a line card that is suitable for use in an optical network device includes an electrical port, a plurality of input lines, an output line, and protection circuitry. The protection circuitry switches or multiplexes the plurality of input lines into the output line, and includes a solid state relay arrangement and power isolation circuitry. The power isolation circuitry provides a high impedance to power rails associated with the solid state relay arrangement, and the solid state relay arrangement includes at least one N-channel field effect transistor (FET), at least one protection diode, and at least one charge pump.
US07990670B2 Protective circuitry for electronic device
A protective circuitry (20) is connected between a power input port (11) and an electronic component (12) of an electronic device. The protective circuitry includes a field effect transistor (21) and a detection unit (25). The field effect transistor has a gate and a drain both electrically connected to an anode of the power input port, and a source electrically connected to a cathode of the power input port via the electronic component. The detection unit has two conductive pads spaced to each other. One pad is electrically connected to the gate and the other pad is electrically connected to the cathode of the power input port.
US07990668B2 Device protection using temperature compensation
Device protection using temperature compensation. A logic module associated with groups of capacitors adjusts complex impedance planes associated with the capacitor groups to account for ambient temperature variations. In particular, the logic module is configured to adjust a center of a circle of each complex impedance plane based on an average impedance. The average impedance for a selected capacitor group includes impedance measurements for groups other than the selected group, to prevent capacitor failures in that group from skewing the average. The logic module can adjust the circle center in response to changes in average impedance over periods of time. For example, the logic module can filter measured differences in average impedance using a low pass filter, to distinguish slow impedance changes caused by temperature variations and rapid impedance changes caused by capacitor failures. The logic module can adjust the circle center in accordance with the filtered difference value.
US07990667B2 Semiconductor device including esd protection field effect transistor with adjustable back gate potential
A semiconductor device includes a first circuit block powered by voltages at first and second power supply terminals, a second circuit block powered by voltages at third and fourth power supply terminals, a first ESD (electrostatic discharge) protection circuit including a first field effect transistor having a source, a drain, and a gate, where the gate and one of the source and the drain are connected to the first power supply terminal, the other of the source and the drain is connected to the third power supply terminal, and a first back gate potential adjusting circuit adapted to adjust a potential at a back gate of the first field effect transistor. The first field effect transistor includes a first conductivity type transistor formed in a first well of a second conductivity type serving as the back gate of the first field effect transistor.
US07990666B2 Threshold voltage method and apparatus for ESD protection
An electrostatic discharge protection circuit comprises a comparator coupled between a power supply terminal and ground. The comparator responds to an electrostatic discharge event producing a trigger signal at a comparator output. The comparator comprises a first and second current mirror. The first and second current mirrors each comprise a sense device and a mirror device. The mirror devices are coupled in series between the power supply terminal and ground. The first mirror device produces an incident current and the second mirror device receives an absorption current. With a supply voltage on the power supply terminal equal to or greater than a trigger supply voltage, the absorption current exceeds the incident current and produces a trigger signal at the comparator output. The trigger signal activates a shunt device that shunts current from the power supply terminal to ground.
US07990665B2 Electro-magnetic pulse protection circuit with a counter
An EMP protection circuit with a counter has a surge protection circuit capable of suppressing EMP, and also use an extra counting circuit for sensing light emission or variation of magnetic force of the surge protection circuit to count the action times of the surge protection circuit, thereby warning that the surge protection circuit has reached its time-limit of use and has to be replaced. In this way, various kinds of electronic products can be more perfectly protected to avoid higher loss.
US07990662B2 Systems, methods, and apparatus for superconducting magnetic shielding
A localized area is at least partially contained within a perimeter of a shield ring formed by a closed superconducting current path of a material that is superconductive below a critical temperature. The shield ring is at least partially within a perimeter of a compensation coil that is coupled to a current source. One or more measurement devices are responsive to magnetic fields in the vicinity of the localized area, allowing compensation by controlling current to the compensation coil. A heater can raise temperature of the shield ring out of a superconducting condition.
US07990659B2 Magnetic head with protective films
A magnetic head according to one embodiment includes a substrate; a sensor formed above the substrate; a second shield formed above the sensor and the substrate; a first insulation layer positioned between the substrate and the sensor; a second insulation layer positioned between the sensor and the second shield; and a nonmagnetic, non-electrically insulative layer formed between the substrate and the sensor.
US07990658B2 Voice coil motor and disk drive unit with the same
A voice coil motor for a disk drive includes a permanent magnet, a voice coil adapted to move in an arc proximate to the permanent magnet, a top plate positioned above the voice coil, and a bottom plate positioned below the voice coil. The permanent magnet has two halves that are magnetized in opposite direction. The two halves of the magnet are split into a right half magnet portion and a left half magnet portion. The right half magnet portion and the left half magnet portion are attached to the top plate and the bottom plate respectively at opposite sides of the voice coil motor. The invention also discloses a disk drive unit with such VCM.
US07990653B2 Perpendicular recording magnetic head with a main magnetic pole piece and an auxiliary magnetic pole piece
Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a perpendicular recording magnetic head whose dimensional dependency on the nonuniformity of magnetic field strength and distribution during manufacture is minimized, with narrowed tracks and without attenuation or erasure of adjacent track data while maintaining high magnetic field strength. According to one embodiment, a magnetic material (trailing/side shield) for creating a steep gradient of magnetic field strength is provided at a trailing side of a pole tip of a main magnetic pole piece and in a direction of the track width. The magnetic head is formed so that a gap (side gap length “gl”) between a side shield and a throat height portion of the pole tip progressively decreases with an increasing distance from an air-bearing surface, in a direction of an element height. That is, side gap length “gl” (2) at an element height position P2 is made smaller than side gap length “gl” (1) at an air-bearing surface position P1 so as to satisfy a relationship of gl(1)>gl(2).
US07990651B2 Method of manufacturing a perpendicular magnetic write head with stepped trailing magnetic shield with electrical lapping guide control
A method for manufacturing a magnetic write head having a stepped trailing shield. The stepped trailing shield is formed by forming a non-magnetic bump over a write pole prior to electroplating a wrap-around magnetic shield. The method allows the location of the front edge of the bump relative to the back edge of the wrap-around shield to be monitored by measuring the electrical resistance of an electrical lapping guide formed concurrently with these features. This concurrent formation of a lapping guide can be used to define the relative location of other features as well, such as the location of a back edge of a wrap-around shield relative to a flare point of a write pole.
US07990649B2 Method and apparatus to set a wrap angle of a read/write head
A method is presented for setting a wrap angle of a read/write head having a servo element and multiple read elements, where the servo element and the read elements can detect a servo signal. The method includes moving a sequential information storage medium having a longitudinal axis and a servo band encoded therein adjacent to the read/write head. The longitudinal axis and a flat upper surface of the read write head define the wrap angle. The method further includes detecting the servo signal using one of the read elements. If the read element is unable to detect the servo signal, then the remaining read elements are sensed to detect the servo signal.
US07990647B2 Thermally assisted recording head control means for protrusion management
Methods and structures for improving fly height control for thin film write heads utilized in thermally assisted recording are disclosed. Methods include the use of the TAR near field light source to provide a preheating pulse to improve the transient response when moving from one fly height to another prior to writing data. Methods and structures having an additional auxiliary optical heating source to avoid media overheating and replacement of embedded resistive heaters are also disclosed.
US07990642B2 Systems and methods for storage channel testing
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for validating elements of storage devices. A an example, various embodiments of the present invention provide semiconductor devices that include a write path circuit, a read path circuit and a validation circuit. The write path circuit is operable to receive a data input and to convert the data input into write data suitable for storage to a storage medium. The read path circuit is operable to receive read data and to convert the read data into a data output. The validation circuit is operable to: receive the write data, augment the write data with a first noise sequence to yield a first augmented data series; and augment a derivative of the first augmented data series with a second noise sequence to yield the read data.
US07990638B2 Lens module
A lens module includes a lens barrel and a lens holder. The lens barrel includes a barrel. The barrel includes an outer surface and an outer thread portion formed on the outer surface. The lens holder includes a main body. The main body defines a receiving space to receive the lens barrel. An inner thread portion matching the outer thread portion is formed on an inner surface of the receiving space. The angle between the outer surface of the lens barrel and an optical axis of the lens module is different from the angle between the inner surface of the receiving space and the optical axis of the lens module.
US07990635B2 Camera module
A lens holding member (30) is molded by filling a molten synthetic resin from a gate of a mold into a product cavity, and a portion corresponding to the gate of the mold for molding remains thereon as a gate portion (72). By mounting a coil (52) on a rear cylindrical face (60), an adhesive filling recess (70) that opens in a direction parallel to an optical axis of an image pickup optical system (28) is defined by a center face (66), side faces (68) standing from both sides of the center face (66), an outer face (58), and an inner peripheral surface of the coil (52). The gate portion (72) is provided on the center face (66) of the adhesive filling recess (70). By filling the adhesive filling recess (74) with adhesive B, an outer peripheral portion of the lens holding member (30) and an inner peripheral portion of the coil (52) are bonded together, and the gate portion (72) is buried in the adhesive B. These provide a camera module that is advantageous in effectively preventing dust from being generated from the gate portion without necessitating any special treatment process.
US07990631B2 Lens drive device, spring member and manufacturing methods therefor
A lens drive device may include a movable body movable in an optical axis direction, a support body supporting the movable body through a spring member which may include spring pieces electrically separated from each other, formed with a coil connecting part to which one of a winding start part and a winding end part of the coil is electrically connected. The movable body is provided with an accommodating part for accommodating the coil connecting part. The spring member may include a plate spring-shaped arm part connecting a support body side fixing part with a movable body side fixing part and the arm part is provided with a laser cut portion formed by a laser in a part of an edge part of the arm part. An edge part of the arm part except the laser cut portion may be a cut portion formed by press working or etching processing.
US07990628B1 Planar flexure system with high pitch stiffness
A flexure system for miniature camera and the like is disclosed. The flexure system can include a frame and a stage that is configured to move with respect to the frame. One or more flexures can interconnect the frame and the stage. Each flexure can have one or more film hinges formed thereon. The film hinges can be widely spaced and/or extended in length so as to substantially mitigate undesirable pitching of the stage.
US07990626B2 Lens barrel and image capturing apparatus
Provided is a lens barrel comprising: an optical system including an optical component that moves relative to a fixed cylinder; a holding frame that holds the optical component; a guide axle that is connected to the holding frame and that extends in a direction parallel to an optical axis of the optical system; a scaling drive unit that can move relative to the fixed cylinder and that moves the holding frame in the direction of the optical axis when the optical system scales; and a focusing drive unit that has at least a portion thereof fixed to the fixed cylinder and that moves the guide axle in the direction of the optical axis while facing at least a portion of the guide axle.
US07990624B2 Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus having the same
A zoom lens includes a first, third and fourth lens group of positive refracting power, a second lens group of negative refracting power, wherein, during zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, at least the first lens group moves, wherein the third lens group includes, a first lens sub-group of positive refracting power and a second lens sub-group of negative refracting power, wherein the second lens sub-group includes a single negative lens, wherein the first lens sub-group of the third lens group is moved to keep a perpendicular component relative to an optical axis to correct image blur to be produced when the zoom lens vibrates, and wherein, when a focal length of the first lens group is denoted by f1 and the focal length of the whole system at the wide-angle end is denoted by fw, a conditional expression 10.0
US07990623B2 Zoom lens and imaging capturing device
An object is to reduce the effect of defocusing due to the movement of an image plane when a shifting lens group movable in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis for correcting hand jiggling is positionally deviated along the optical axis, thereby maintaining high optical performance at the time of correcting hand jiggling. A zoom lens 1 includes a plurality of lens groups with distances between the lens groups being changed for variable power. A final lens group L5 which is positioned most closely to an image side has a sub lens group GS (G8) having a positive refractive power and a sub lens group GR (G9) disposed adjacent to the sub lens group GS (G8) on the image side and having a positive refractive power. The sub lens group GS is shiftable in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis for correcting image blurs. The sub lens group GS has a lateral magnification βs and the sub lens group GR has a lateral magnification βR, the lateral magnifications satisfying the following conditional expressions (1), (2): βs<1  (1) 0<βR<1  (2)
US07990622B2 Projection objective of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus
A projection objective of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus comprises a manipulator for reducing rotationally asymmetric image errors. The manipulator in turn contains a lens, an optical element and an interspace formed between the lens and the optical element, which can be filled with a liquid. At least one actuator acting exclusively on the lens is furthermore provided, which can generate a rotationally asymmetric deformation of the lens.
US07990618B2 Light-diffusing film and screen including the same
A light-diffusing film and screen including same are provided. The light-diffusing film having anisotropy in the diffusion angle includes a translucent support, and a translucent resin layer having irregularities on the surface thereof and being provided on the translucent support. In the light-diffusing film, the maximal value of the loss tangent (tan δ) determined from a dynamic viscoelasticity of the light-diffusing film lies in a temperature range of 0° C. to 60° C.
US07990613B2 Depth enhancing screen
The present disclosure relates to a depth-enhancing screen for producing a simulated 3D image. The screen comprises a multi-curved Fresnel lens which when viewed in cross-section along the or each longest line linking two points on the edge of the lens, has a curved cross-section with an apex in the central region of the lens, and wherein each end of the curve flattens before it reaches the edge of the lens.
US07990611B2 Optical lattice microscopy using periodic interference patterns of coherent waves
A microscope includes a source of electromagnetic radiation, having a wavelength, λ1 and dividing optical elements configured for dividing the radiation from the source into multiple excitation beams. The microscope also includes a detector and directing optical elements, which are configured for directing each excitation beam in unique directions, such that the beams intersect in an excitation region within a sample to create a two-dimensional or three-dimensional interference pattern of multiple excitation maxima within the sample. The detector has individual detector elements, where the detector elements are configured for detecting light resulting from an interaction of an individual excitation maximum and the sample.
US07990609B2 Catadioptric imaging system with prolate spheroidal-shaped mirrors
A catadioptric imaging optical system of a high numerical aperture in which various aberrations are properly corrected without using a reflection surface having an aspherical shape of high order or a reciprocal optical element. The catadioptric imaging optical system forms an image of a first plane on a second plane and includes a first imaging system for forming a first intermediate image of the first plane based on light from the first plane, a second imaging system having two concave reflection mirrors for forming a second intermediate image of the first plane based on light from the first intermediate image, and a third imaging system for forming a final image of the first plane on the second plane based on light from the second intermediate image. The two concave reflection mirrors have prolate spheroidal-shaped reflection surfaces.
US07990605B2 Illumination device, display device, and method of manufacturing light modulator
An illumination device is provided and has a light guide plate, a light source and a light modulator, wherein the light modulator has a pair of transparent substrates a pair of electrodes and a light modulator layer. The light modulator layer includes a first region being changed between a transparent state and a scatterable state depending on intensity of an electric field, and a second region being more transparent than the first region in a scatterable state at an electric field having a certain intensity, the electric field being applied when the first region is changed between the transparent state and the scatterable state, and an occupancy rate of the first region in the light modulator layer is increased with increase in distance from the light source.
US07990602B2 Display medium and display device
A display medium includes: a pair of substrates; an electrode arranged between the pair of substrates and on one substrate of the pair of substrates; a multilayered structure including plural color-forming layers arranged between one substrate of the pair of substrates and the electrode, each of the plural color-forming layers containing an electroconductive sheet-like porous body and an electrochromic dye which is retained by the porous body and is reversibly colored or decolored by at least one of an electrochemical oxidation reaction or a reduction reaction, and the colors when the electrochromic dyes in the respective plural color-forming layers are colored being different from one another; and an electrolytic material included in a region between the pair of substrates.
US07990600B2 Transmissive, optically addressed, photosensitive spatial light modulators and color display systems incorporating same
An optically addressed, photoconductive spatial light modulator (SLM) operates in a transmissive mode and is capable of modulating a wide spectrum of visible light. There is no pixel structure or native pixel resolution in the SLM. The SLM has no photodiodes and does not rectify. A light projection system (100) in which one or more SLMs (128, 130, 132) are placed includes a write (image definition) UV light path (102) and a read (illumination) visible light path (104) to form a color image projection display. The write UV light propagates from an image display pattern source (120) and either sequentially or continuously writes image patterns on the photoconductive SLMs. The read visible light propagates through the SLM and is modulated by an electro-optical material, the optical properties of which change in response to the image structure carried by the write light. The result is a high efficiency display system that delivers high resolution color images through a projection lens (190) onto a display screen.
US07990598B2 Scan-type image display device
A scan-type image display device which displays an image by scan of laser beam emitted from a light source in one direction and another direction of a light receiving surface includes: a first scan unit which performs scan of the laser beam in the one direction by deflecting the laser beam; a second scan unit which performs scan of the laser beam in the another direction by deflecting the laser beam; and a scan control unit which equalizes the scan width of the laser beam scan in the one direction by using the first scan unit performed at each position in the another direction within the light receiving surface.
US07990595B1 Optical multi-ring scanner
An optical multi-ring scanner is disclosed, which comprises: a substrate; an outer ring driving element, disposed inside the substrate and configured symmetrically at two sides thereof with a pair of first arms that are connected respectively to the substrate; at least one inner ring driving element, each configured with a first inner ring driver in a manner that the first inner ring driver has a pair of second arms symmetrically disposed at a top side and a bottom side thereof while being connected to the outer ring driving element; and a mirror element, disposed inside the first inner ring driver and having a pair of third arms symmetrically disposed at a top side of a bottom side thereof; wherein, the third arm is disposed coaxial with the second arm while enabling the first arm to be disposed perpendicular to the second arm and the third arm.
US07990594B2 Phase mask for holographic data storage
The present invention relates to a phase mask for holographic data storage, and to a method and an apparatus for reading from and/or writing to holographic storage media using such a phase mask.According to the invention, the phase mask has a plurality of phase cells, whose size is equal to an integer multiple of the size of the pixels of a spatial light modulator of the apparatus. The phase cells have a phase variation on sub-cell scale, which is inverse for essentially half the number of phase cells.
US07990593B2 Holographic storage material
The invention relates to holographic storage material (1) comprising at least one polymer film (3) and one metallic first layer (4) which is applied to the polymer film (3). In order to provide a storage material (1) having improved optical properties, a non-metallic second layer (5) and a metallic third layer (6) are provided. The second layer (5) is arranged between the first (4) and the third (6) layers. The total thickness of the first, second and third layers (4,5,6) is less than the wavelength of the radiation used for reading out.
US07990592B2 Methods and systems to produce consistent spot colors for multi-color print engines
This disclosure provides methods, systems and apparatus to manage spot colors for an image marking device. Specifically, disclosed is a spot color control method including selecting a gain matrix K from a plurality of gain matrices, the gain matrix K being selected to satisfy performance criteria associated with the rendering of the target spot color, the performance criteria including an acceptable spot color error associated with the rendered spot color relative to the target color, an acceptable actuator energy utilized to achieve the acceptable spot color error and a total toner/ink usage acceptable to render the spot color.
US07990590B2 Image forming apparatus, image quality control method
A technique that can perform appropriate image quality control processing corresponding to fluctuation in a printing environment is provided. An image forming apparatus that forms, on a sheet, a test pattern formed by a color obtained by mixing toners of plural colors, scans a test pattern image formed on the sheet with a color sensor, and performs predetermined image quality control processing on the basis of information scanned, the image forming apparatus including a media sensor that acquires information for discriminating a type of a sheet to be an object of image formation processing, a control-information acquiring unit that acquires, on the basis of the information acquired by the media sensor, information for control used in the image quality control processing, and a color sensor that is arranged further on a downstream side than a fixing device in a sheet conveying direction and scans the test pattern formed on the sheet.
US07990585B2 Circuit module integrating a light driver and an optical sensor
A circuit module integrating a light driver and an optical scanner is capable of sensing an image of a document and driving a light source. The circuit module comprises a printed circuit board, an optical sensor and a light driver. Both the optical sensor and the light driver are mounted on and electrically connected with the printed circuit board. The optical sensor is capable of sensing the image and the light driver is capable of driving the light source.
US07990577B2 Dynamic early preparation of presentation objects for efficient printing
A command is provided as a means to instruct a printer to pre-rasterize and store presentation objects according to specified presentation parameters. The stored rasterized objects are available to the printer for use during printing when a print job is submitted to the printer which includes a presentation object already rasterized, saving significant processing at print time. The rasterized objects are stored with information identifying the object and the parameters used in the rasterization process and the printer is enabled to identify the appropriate rasterized object for inclusion in the print job. Objects may also be selected by a printer at print time as most closely matching the required parameters and then adjusted as needed at print time to completely conform with the requirements of inclusion in the job. This capability allows the printer to perform trimming-on-the-fly or other real-time operations while enjoying the time-saving benefits of a pre-rasterized object.
US07990574B2 Method and system for converting a document
A printing system includes a converter for replacing graphic elements of a color matched document (104). Conversion replaces original elements (2-4) with replacement elements (21-24, 40-42) having modified transparency attributes so that overprinting elements that overlap areas (10-15) appear as intended when subjected to color matching.
US07990573B2 User-adjustable mechanism for extracting full color information from two-color ink definitions
The present invention is a method for taking a named, two-color definition and converting that two-color definition from the form used in highlight-color page composition and print systems into a full-color representation in order to enable the use of the two-color definitions on full-color printers. The method further contemplates the use of an extensible markup language schema to represent and store the equivalent, converted color definitions.
US07990568B2 Apparatus and method for setting printing options using preview image
An apparatus and method are provided for setting a printing option using a preview image. Setting the printing option includes an image preview unit displaying a preview image corresponding to printing data and enabling the preview image to be manipulated for setting a printing setting, a control unit controlling printing of the preview image according to the printing setting of the manipulated preview image, and a printing option setting unit setting a printing option, wherein the control unit applies the printing setting of the preview image to the printing option of the printing option setting unit.
US07990560B2 IP communication apparatus, IP communication system, and data transmission method thereof
An IFAX has a call controller that transmits and receives a SIP message to and from a destination apparatus via a SIP server, a file transmitter/receiver that transmits and receives image data to and from a Web server, and a communication manager that exchanges information for managing the image data transfer to and from the destination apparatus, by adding predetermined information to the SIP message. Thereby, the IFAX transfers the image data via the Web server while performing SIP-based communication with the destination apparatus.
US07990545B2 Surface measurement of in-vivo subjects using spot projector
The invention provides for surface mapping of in-vivo imaging subjects using a single camera and an illuminator that projects a plurality of targets such as spots on the subject. By limiting the depth-of-field of the camera lens, or of the illuminator optics, or both, a spatial plane is defined in which the spots are most sharply in focus. Controlled displacement of this plane relative to the subject is achieved through movement of the mechanical stage on which a subject is placed; or through movement of the best-focus plane by adjustment of the camera, lens, or illuminator optics. Images are taken at several relative positions of the best-focus plane and the subject, and the height of individual points on the subject is determined through analysis of focus, given the known displacements. A mesh or other surface can be constructed from individual point locations, to provide a surface map of the subject. Accuracy of 0.5 mm can be readily attained for mice and similarly sized subjects.
US07990538B2 Signal processing for optical computing system
The present subject matter relates to methods of high-speed analysis of product samples during production of the product. Light is directed to a portion of a product under analysis and reflected from or transmitted through the product toward optical detectors. Signals from the optical detectors are compared to determine characteristics of the product under analysis. Temperature within the monitoring system may be monitored in order to provide compensation for the signals produced by the optical detectors. The products under analysis may be stationary, moved by an inspection point by conveyor or other means, or may be contained within a container, the container including a window portion through which the product illuminating light may pass.
US07990537B2 Color-measuring method for body and color-measuring apparatus
A reference-color measurement step of obtaining a reference-color measurement value by measuring a spectroscopic-radiation luminance of a light being emitted from a reference-color portion in a measurement direction, or a tristimulus value thereof, using a light-source-color measuring instrument, without irradiating the reference-color portion with a light source for measurement, in a predetermined measurement environment, is disclosed. An objective-portion measurement step of obtaining an objective-portion measurement value by measuring a spectroscopic-radiation luminance of a light being emitted from a measurement-objective portion in the measurement direction, or a tristimulus value thereof, using the light-source-color measuring instrument, without irradiating the measurement-objective portion with a light source for measurement, in the measurement environment, is also disclosed.
US07990535B2 Surface state detecting apparatus
A surface inspection apparatus includes units illuminating repetitive patterns formed on a surface of a suspected substance and measuring a variation in an intensity of regular reflection light caused by a change in shapes of the repetitive patterns, units illuminating the repetitive patterns with linearly polarized light, setting an angle formed between a repetitive direction of the repetitive patterns and a direction of a plane of vibration of the linearly polarized light at a tilt angle, and measuring a variation in a polarized state of the regular reflection light caused by the change in the shapes of the repetitive patterns, and a unit detecting a defect of the repetitive patterns based on the variation in the intensity and the variation in the polarized state of the regular reflection light.
US07990534B2 System and method for azimuth angle calibration
An improved procedure for calibrating the azimuth angle in a metrology module for use in a metrology system that is used for measuring a target on a wafer, and the metrology modules can include oblique Spectroscopic Ellipsometry (SE) and unpolarized or polarized spectroscopic reflectometer devices.
US07990531B2 Multi-imaging automated inspection methods and systems for wet ophthalmic lenses
A method for inspecting lenses, especially wet contact lenses provided in a volume of liquid inside a container is described. A first image of the lens at a first position in the container is obtained, the lens then being moved to a second position within the container where a second image is obtained. A computer algorithm processes the first and second images to compare features that have moved with the lens to those features that have not moved with the lens whereby lenses are rejected if a feature has moved with the lens but is not a normal feature of the lens.
US07990528B2 High resolution linear image sensing using multi-row low resolution image sensor
A photosensitive chip, including: at least one set of photosensors substantially aligned in a Y direction; and a layer of non-transmissive material including a plurality of openings. Each opening in the plurality of openings includes a respective center line and overlaps only a portion of a respective photosensor so that only the portion of the respective photosensor is photosensitive. The respective center lines for openings for each set of photosensors are not collinear in the Y direction. In an example embodiment, the plurality of openings includes at least one row of openings substantially aligned in an X direction, orthogonal to the Y direction. In an example embodiment, each opening has an equal width in an X direction, orthogonal to the Y direction.
US07990526B2 Method of taking an image of an object residing in a transparent, colored container
A method of producing an image of an object residing inside a transparent container of a first color includes: illuminating the container and the object with light of a second color, the second color being substantially the inverse of the first color; and producing an image of the object through the container. An image produced by this method can exhibit substantially the same color as the object itself, even when the image is taken through a colored transparent wall.
US07990521B2 Distance/speed meter and distance/speed measuring method
In a distance/speed meter, first and second semiconductor lasers emit parallel laser light beams to a measurement target. A first laser driver drives the first semiconductor laser such that the oscillation interval in which at least the oscillation wavelength monotonically increases repeatedly exists. A second laser driver drives the second semiconductor laser such that the oscillation wavelength increases/decreases inversely to the oscillation wavelength of the first semiconductor laser. First and second light-receiving devices convert optical outputs from the first and second semiconductor lasers into electrical signals. A counting unit counts the numbers of interference waveforms generated by the first and second laser light beams and return light beams of the first and second laser light beams. A computing device computes the distance to the measurement target and the speed of the measurement target from the minimum and maximum oscillation wavelengths of the first and second semiconductor lasers and the counting result obtained by the counting unit.
US07990519B2 Exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method
An exposure apparatus is configured to project a pattern of an original onto a substrate using a projection optical system, thereby exposing the substrate, and comprises a substrate stage configured to hold the substrate, a first detector configured to detect positions of marks on the substrate in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to each other in a plane perpendicular to an optical-axis direction of the projection optical system, and a controller configured to control the first detector to detect the position of a mark on the substrate while moving the substrate stage substantially along the first direction, and control the first detector to detect the position of a mark on the substrate while moving the substrate stage substantially along the second direction, thereby controlling positioning and exposure of the substrate based on the detection results obtained by the first detector.
US07990515B2 Bistable display
A bistable display having one or more permanent hideable mark, and a method of forming the permanent hideable mark, are described. The permanent hideable mark can be hidden and revealed numerous times without loss of information.
US07990514B2 Liquid crystal display panel
A laminated spacer portion formed by laminating various thin films that constitute thin-film transistors is disposed in peripheral driver circuits. As a result, even in a structure in which part of a sealing member is disposed above the peripheral driver circuits, pressure exerted from spacers in the sealing member is concentrated on the laminated spacer portion, whereby destruction of a thin-film transistor of the peripheral driver circuits can be prevented caused by the pressure from the sealing portion.
US07990513B2 Display and method thereof
A flexible display including a first flexible substrate and a second flexible substrate, a plurality of electrodes and control microcircuits disposed on inner surfaces of both substrates, first channels disposed on the inner surface of the first flexible substrate and extending in a first direction, second channels disposed on the inner surface of the second flexible substrate and extending in a second direction, and a plurality of spacers disposed between the substrates. The inner surfaces of the substrates are substantially parallel and facing each other. The first direction and the second direction of the channels are inclined relative to each other. The spacers are disposed between the substrates in cross-points of the first channels and the second channels.
US07990511B2 Display apparatus including signal lines arranged for curing a seal line
A display apparatus includes a display substrate, an opposite substrate, a seal line, a driver chip, a gate insulating layer disposed on the display substrate, a first signal line disposed on a first side of the gate insulating layer, and a second signal line disposed on a second side of the gate insulating layer, wherein portions of the first signal line and the second signal line overlap each other along at least a portion of the seal line.
US07990507B2 Liquid crystal display having a modified electrode array
A liquid crystal display having electrodes on a single substrate. A transparent planar electrode elongated in the transverse direction is formed on the inner surface of a substrate, and an insulating film is deposited thereon. A plurality of linear electrodes, which are elongated in the longitudinal direction and either transparent or opaque, are formed on the insulating film. Potential difference between the planar and the linear electrodes generated by applying voltages to the electrodes yields an electric field. The electric field is symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal central line of the linear electrodes, and has parabolic or semi-elliptical lines of force having a center on a boundary line between the planar and the linear electrodes. The line of force on the planar and the linear electrodes and on the boundary line between the planar and the linear electrodes has the vertical and the horizontal components, and the liquid crystal molecules are re-arranged to have a twist angle and a tilt angle. The polarization of the incident light varies due to the rearrangement of the liquid crystal molecules.
US07990505B2 Liquid crystal device and electronic apparatus having the same
A liquid crystal device includes a first substrate; a second substrate arranged to face the first substrate; a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, a pixel electrode disposed over the substrate; and a common electrode overlapping the pixel electrode,, and the common electrode having curved portions between slits in the common electrode.
US07990502B2 Liquid-crystal display device
A liquid-crystal display device comprising a liquid-crystal cell, a first polarizing element and a second polarizing element disposed on either side of the liquid-crystal cell respectively, a first retardation layer between the first polarizing element and the liquid-crystal cell, and a second retardation layer between the second polarizing element and the liquid-crystal cell, wherein a transmission axis of the first polarizing element is perpendicular to the slow axis of the first retardation layer; and a transmission axis of the second polarizing element is parallel to the slow axis of the second retardation layer; and the first retardation layer and the second retardation layer satisfy the formula (1) 0 nm<ΔRe1(548)−ΔRe2(548)≦50 nm.
US07990498B2 Multi-view display device having particular color filter arrays
A multi-view image display device adapted to display images different from each other using one screen of a display panel is disclosed. The multi-view image display device includes a display panel inclusive of a first color filter array having a first red sub-pixel, a first green sub-pixel and a first blue sub-pixel that constitute a first image, and a second red sub-pixel, a second green sub-pixel and a second blue sub-pixel that constitute a second image; and a color filter barrier substrate inclusive of a second color filter array that is separated from the display panel with a fixed distance and has red, green and blue color filters. The red color filter of the second color filter array corresponds to the first blue sub-pixel and the second green sub-pixel of the first color filter array. The green color filter of the second color filter array corresponds to the first red sub-pixel and the second blue sub-pixel of the first color filter array. The blue color filter of the second color filter array corresponds to the first green sub-pixel and the second red-sub-pixel of the first color filter array.
US07990497B2 Active matrix type display device with different distances from pixel electrodes and gate lines
An active matrix type display device is disclosed, to reduce a fabrication cost, which comprises first to third gate lines arranged at one direction; first and second data lines arranged orthogonally to the first to third gate lines; a first pixel cell connected to the first gate line and the first data line; a second pixel cell connected to the first gate line and the second data line; a third pixel cell connected to the second gate line and the first data line; a fourth pixel cell connected to the second gate line and the second data line; a fifth pixel cell connected to the third gate line and the first data line; and a sixth pixel cell connected to the third gate line and the second data line, wherein the three predetermined pixel cells of displaying the different colors among the first to sixth pixel cells constitute a first unit pixel for displaying a first unit image; and the three other pixel cells except the pixel cells included in the first unit pixel constitute a second unit pixel for displaying a second unit image.
US07990496B2 Pixel structure for flat panel display apparatus
A pixel structure for a flat panel display apparatus displaying images using a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels including six or more sub-pixels. The flat panel display apparatus including the pixel structure is free from a color fringe error, and the pixel can include three or more primary colors. Thus, a color representation range of the flat panel display apparatus can be widened. In addition, since the sub-pixels of the pixel can be controlled by sub-pixel rendering, a resolution of the apparatus can be improved. Moreover, high resolution can be obtained in every direction on the display due to superior rotational symmetry of the pixels.
US07990492B2 Liquid crystal display and display device with light source assembly
An exemplary light source assembly includes a light guide plate, a printed circuit board facing the light guide plate, and at least two light emitting elements. The at least two light emitting elements are angled on the printed circuit board. Light emitted from the at least two light emitting elements is obliquely transmitted onto the light guide plate.
US07990485B2 Pixel structure
A pixel structure electrically connected to a scan line and a data line is provided. The pixel structure includes an active device, a first pixel electrode, a mean potential equilibrium circuit, and a second pixel electrode. The active device is electrically connected to the scan line and the data line. The first pixel electrode is electrically connected to the active device. The mean potential equilibrium circuit is electrically connected to the scan line and the data line. The second pixel electrode is electrically connected to the mean potential equilibrium circuit.
US07990482B2 Electro-optical device, method of manufacturing electro-optical device, and electronic apparatus
An electro-optical device that displays a multiple viewing point image includes an electro-optical panel that has a plurality of pixels and includes at least a first substrate having transparency, a touch panel that detects contact in accordance with a change in electrostatic capacitance and includes a second substrate having transparency, a barrier layer that is formed on a face of the second substrate which is located on the first substrate side, has an opening part disposed in correspondence with an area between the adjacent pixels, and has a light shielding property, and a detection electrode that is formed on a face of the second substrate which is located on a side apart from the first substrate, has transparency, is used for detecting contact depending on a change in electrostatic capacitance. The second substrate and the first substrate are fixed with the barrier layer interposed therebetween.
US07990481B2 Display device having particular touch sensor protrusion facing sensing electrode
The present invention relates to a display device. A display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a sensing electrode disposed on the first substrate or the second substrate, and at least one touch sensor protrusion facing the sensing electrode. The touch sensor protrusion includes an organic material and carbon nanotubes.
US07990478B2 Information presentation apparatus and information presentation method
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information presentation apparatus including: video/audio signal input terminals to be connected to video/audio signal output terminals of a signal output apparatus; a receiving section that receives an apparatus information transmitted from a remote controller, the apparatus information being related to the signal output apparatus; a determination section that determines a compatible terminal combination among combinations of all the input terminals and all the output terminals based on the received apparatus information; and a presentation section that presents the determined compatible terminal combination.
US07990476B2 System and method for detecting visual occlusion based on motion vector density
A method of processing image data, comprising providing image data configured to display a first frame comprising a plurality of blocks, each block having a motion vector indicative of a change of location of the block between the first frame and a successive second frame and determining a change in state of occlusion of a first block of the plurality of blocks by reference to motion vectors having a destination in the first block.
US07990475B1 Methods and apparatus for automated representative image selection
A system determines a plurality of frames. The plurality of frames is a subset of a set of frames comprising at least a portion of a video clip. The frames are candidates to represent the set of frames. The system calculates a motion vector for each of the frames within the plurality of frames. The motion vector indicates an amount of motion in each of the frames with respect to at least one other frame from the plurality of frames. The system assesses a strength value for each of the frames. The strength value indicates an assessment of pictorial quality of each of the frames. The system selects a representative frame from the plurality of frames based on the motion vector and strength value. The representative frame indicates a most favorable representation of the plurality of frames.
US07990470B2 Image sensor module for camera device
An image sensor module includes a circuit board (20), an image sensor (10) and a supporting board (30). The circuit board has a plurality of circuits formed thereon. The image sensor is arranged on one side of the circuit board and is electrically connected to the circuit board. The circuit board defines at least one through opening (22) therein. The supporting board is arranged on an opposite side of the circuit board. A protrusion (31) extends outwardly from the supporting board through the at least one through opening of the circuit board. The image sensor is mounted on the protrusion.
US07990465B2 Imaging apparatus, imaging method, storage medium, and integrated circuit
An imaging apparatus for capturing a moving image performs backlight correction of an image and outputs a natural image. The imaging apparatus electronically captures an image of a subject. An optical system has a light amount adjustment function. An imaging unit reads an optical image of the subject that is formed by the optical system. An A/D converter subjects an output of the imaging unit to A/D conversion. A backlight correction unit converts the tones of an image read by the A/D converter using a conversion characteristic selected differently according to a spatial position and at least increases the luminance level of a dark region of the image. An instruction unit instructs to start backlight correction. A control unit operates the backlight correction unit based on an instruction signal output from the instruction unit, and decreases an exposure light amount of the optical system by a predetermined amount.
US07990460B2 System and method for focusing a digital camera
A method of focusing a digital camera module with an image sensor including capturing an image of a test target with the digital camera module, determining a focus quality of the image with the image sensor, outputting a signal related to the focus quality of the image from the digital camera module to a focusing station external to the digital camera module, and determining whether a position of a lens from the image sensor within the digital camera module should be altered to improve a focus quality of subsequently captured images.
US07990456B2 Image quality selecting method and digital camera
Selection candidates for number of imaging pixels and for an image compression rate are displayed in a two-dimensional arrangement on a setting screen for setting an image quality, and combinations of selectable number of image pixels and a compression rate can be presented to a user. An instruction for moving a cursor which displays a selected position on the screen is received, and a setting can be changed to a number of pixels and a compression rate which are pointed by the cursor after a position of the cursor is designated. More specifically, numbers of pixels to be selected are 2400×1800, 1280×960, and 640×480, and compression rates to be selected are Fine, Normal, and Basic. When the user selects the number of pixels, candidates of the selectable compression rate for the number of pixels are displayed. A number of photographable images and remaining time for recording a moving image which are calculated from a capacity of a storage medium are preferably displayed in combination in accordance with combinations of the number of pixels and the compression rate.
US07990454B2 Phase adjustment device capable of high speed operation and digital camera utilizing the same
In a phase adjustment device according to the present invention, a first luminance level detector detects a luminance level of a digital imaging signal in a first pixel region, a second luminance level detector detects a luminance level of the digital imaging signal in a second pixel region, a data comparator compares detection results by the first and second luminance level detectors, an adjustment judger judges if it is necessary to adjust a phase of a pulse based on a result of the comparison by the data comparator, a timing adjuster shifts the phase of the pulse in the second pixel region when the luminance levels are detected, and further, the timing adjuster adjusts the phase of the pulse when the judgment by the adjustment judger indicates that the phase adjustment is necessary.
US07990453B2 Solid-state image sensor and signal processing method thereof
A solid-state image sensor includes a pixel section that outputs a signal charge subjected to photoelectric conversion by each of a plurality of photoelectric transducers, a conversion circuit that converts an output signal from the pixel section into a digital signal by using a triangular wave, and a saturation signal level calculation circuit that calculates a saturation signal level of each photoelectric transducer based on the digital signal from the conversion circuit. The solid-state image sensor further includes a setting circuit which sets a maximum signal level of the triangular wave in accordance with the saturation signal level from the saturation signal level calculation circuit.
US07990452B2 Apparatus, methods and systems for amplifier
Various embodiments comprise apparatus, methods, and systems that include an amplification apparatus comprising a first input, a second input, and an output, a first plurality of series-connected transistors including a first transistor having a first channel ratio and a first gate coupled to the first input, and a second plurality of series-connected transistors including a second transistor having a second channel ratio that is greater than the first channel ratio, the second transistor including a second gate coupled to the second input.
US07990448B2 Solid-state image pickup apparatus and method for driving the same
A solid-state image pickup apparatus includes pixels arranged in a matrix, each pixel converting incident light into an analog electrical signal and outputting the analog electrical signal; AD converters in correspondence with individual columns, each AD converter converting the analog electrical signal from a corresponding pixel into a digital signal and outputting the digital signal from an output terminal; register circuits in correspondence with the individual columns, each register circuit receiving at an input terminal the digital signal output from the output terminal of a corresponding AD converter and storing the digital signal; and connection units, each of which connects the output terminal of a corresponding AD converter for one column to the input terminal of a corresponding register circuit for a different column or to connect the output terminal of a corresponding register circuit for one column to the input terminal of a corresponding register circuit for a different column.
US07990447B2 Solid-state image sensor
A solid-state image sensor has a plurality of pixels, a read-out circuit and a signal processing section. The plurality of pixels includes a plurality of first pixels, a plurality of second pixels, a plurality of third pixels and a plurality of fourth pixels. The signal processing section includes a color acquisition section, a first judgment section configured to determine whether or not the white data value W in the target pixel block is smaller than a predetermined first set value, and a white color correction section configured to perform correction processing of the white color data value W in the target pixel block based on the following Expression (1) when the judgment result of the first judgment section is NO, and to output the white data value W by itself without performing the correction processing based on the Expression (1) when the judgment result of the first determination section is YES; W′=S1C1+S2C2+S3C3  (1) where each of S1, S2, and S3 is a coefficient that is determined based on a color balance.
US07990445B2 Image sensor having differing wavelength filters
An image sensor includes filters formed over a portion of an array of photosensitive elements in a predetermined pattern. The pattern can be such that the exposure of a matrix (such as a 2-by-2 square of pixels) to light (such as blue light) is improved, while maintaining acceptable capability to capture light across the entire spectrum. The pattern can be such that two blue filters, one red, and one green filter is used by a 2-by-2 square matrix of pixels. The pattern can also include cyan, yellow, and magenta (CYM) filters.
US07990442B2 Image pickup device and noise reduction method thereof
An image pickup device having an electron multiplying-charge coupled device includes a control unit for controlling an electron multiplication factor of the electron multiplying-charge coupled device; an obtaining unit for obtaining signals output from predetermined pixels of the electron multiplying-charge coupled device; and an averaging unit for performing an inter-line averaging process of the signals obtained by the obtaining unit. The device further includes a suppression unit for performing low-level and high-level suppressions on the signal averaged by the averaging unit based on the electron multiplication factor of the electron multiplication factor control unit; an acquisition unit for acquiring image signals output from the pixels other than the predetermined pixels of the electron multiplying-charge coupled device; and a subtractor for subtracting the signal suppressed by the suppression unit from the image signals acquired by the acquisition unit.
US07990434B2 Digital camera for recording a still image while shooting a moving image
In a digital camera, when snapshot shooting is instructed during recording of a moving image, a shot still image is temporarily pushed aside in a memory area for use in pushing aside (7a) in a frame buffer (7). A currently shooting motion image and a still image are displayed in parallel on a display (9), so that a user can confirm a content of a snapshot. The moving image continues to be recorded even during a push-aside operation. After a moving image processing is completed, the still image is processed by an image correcting circuit (4). The frame buffer (7) comprises a plurality of frame recording areas, and is shared on the occasions of a moving image processing and a still image processing. In a normal moving image processing, these areas are utilized in a cyclic manner, and when the still image is shot, any of areas will be utilized. Thereafter, the rest of areas are utilized in the cyclic manner for the moving images. The recording function for the moving image and still image is improved at low cost, it becomes easy to take a snapshot, and the merchandise size is not increased.
US07990432B2 Photographing apparatus having first and second operation devices
A photographing apparatus comprises an imaging sensor, a controller, and an exposure-mode-selecting device. The controller performs a photometric operation on a photographing subject and obtains a luminance value of the photographing subject based on the photometric operation. The exposure-mode-selecting device is used for selecting an exposure mode of the photographing apparatus that has a shutter speed and aperture priority AE mode. The photographing operation is performed with a shutter speed and an aperture value that are set by a user and a sensitivity of the imaging sensor that is calculated based on the luminance value and the shutter speed and the aperture value, while the photographing apparatus is in the shutter speed and aperture priority AE mode.
US07990431B2 Calculation method for the correction of white balance
A calculation method for calculating a white balance correction value is disclosed. When an image capture device utilizes an auxiliary light to capture an image, the weightings of the image color impacted by the color temperature of each light source are obtained by the brightness-rate which is provided by the environment light and the flash, and then the weightings of the color temperatures of the two light sources are balanced to obtain a white balance correction value. At last, the white balance correction value is applied to correct the white balance of the image.
US07990430B2 Time-lapse photographing device
By comparing an image of an observation object (S) acquired at each photographing timing with a previous image acquired at a photographing timing that immediately precedes the photographing timing at which each image has been acquired, the determination as to whether or not there is a change from the previous image in the observation object (S) is performed for each image acquired at each photographing timing. Then, by adding predetermined identification information to either an image for which a change from the previous image in the observation object (S) has been determined to be present, or an image for which a change from the previous image in the observation object (S) has been determined to be absent, it is possible to extract only an image in which a change from the previous image in the observation object (S) is present from among the saved images, on the basis on the identification information.
US07990429B2 Imaging device with blur enhancement
An imaging device includes an imaging section, an image segmenting section, and a blur enhancement section. The imaging section images a field to generate photographic image data. The image segmenting section partitions an image of the photographic image data into a first region that is a main subject region and a second region where the main subject is not included. The blur detecting section detects degree of blur of an image of the second region of the image of the photographic image data. The blur enhancement section performs blur enhancement processing on the image of the second region to enlarge the degree of blur of the image after image processing in proportion to the magnitude of the detected degree of blur of the image.
US07990428B2 Imaging device and high-resolution processing method of image
An optical system, imaging device and high-resolution processing method precisely generate a high-resolution image by using image data with few pixels. The optical system images an optical image in an imaging unit, the imaged image is spatially discretized so as to be sampled and converted into an image signal, thereby being recorded in a recording unit. A timing at which the image is imaged by the imaging unit is recorded in an imaging timing recording unit. A weight coefficient for the image is calculated by a weight calculating unit by utilizing the timing information obtained by the imaging timing recording unit. A high-resolution processing unit generates a high-resolution image by using the weighted information of the image generated by the weight calculating unit.
US07990427B2 Method and apparatus for applying tonal correction to images
A method and apparatus for applying tonal correction to images to obtain a more pleasing photographic image by redistributing low-key, mid-tone and high-key tones. Luminance is calculated by using formulas appropriate for the color space or directly inputted. Two color-difference components are computed for the original image. Luminance is subjected to a tonal correction function to obtain a tonal corrected luminance. Luminance gain is calculated and applied to the color-difference components to obtain two tonal corrected color-difference components. The tonal corrected luminance and two tonal corrected color-difference components can be directly output or used to calculate three color component signals for the desired color space.
US07990426B2 Phase adjusting device and digital camera
The timing adjustment unit gives a phase adjustment instruction of the pulse to the imaging device so as to converge to an optimum phase of the pulse set based on the calculation results of the luminance level detecting unit and the variance calculating unit. Furthermore, the timing adjustment unit controls the imaging device so that an exposure state of the analog imaged signal is suited for a luminance level detection process by the luminance level detecting unit and the variance calculation process by the variance calculating unit.
US07990421B2 Arrangement and method relating to an image recording device
An input system for a digital camera may include a portion for taking at least one image to be used as a control image; and a controller to control at least one operation of the digital camera based on a control command recognized from the control image, the control command controlling a function of the camera.
US07990420B2 Image capturing device and auto-photographing method thereof
A method of auto-photographing for an image capturing device is disclosed. A predetermined time for auto-photographing is counted down. Consecutive preview images of a scene to be photographed are acquired after the predetermined time begins to be counted. Whether a moving object bursts into the scene to be photographed is detected by comparing the consecutive preview images. If the moving object bursts into the scene to be photographed, the predetermined time for auto-photographing is recounted down again.
US07990415B2 Image input device and calibration method
Provided is an image input device which includes a laser range finder and a camera, and is capable of automatically calibrating the laser range finder and the camera at an appropriate timing without using special equipment. The image input device includes the laser range finder which measures distance information of an object by using invisible light and the camera which measures color information of the object. In order to detect a calibration error between the laser range finder and the camera, an invisible light filter which blocks visible light and transmits invisible light is automatically attached to a lens of the camera by a switching operation between two kinds of lenses. By the camera to which the invisible light filter is being attached, a pattern of the invisible light projected onto the object from the laser range finder is photographed as a visible image. By the comparison between the thus obtained invisible light pattern image and a reference image, the calibration error between the laser range finder and the camera is calculated. When the calibration error exceeds a predetermined value, a relative position and a relative posture between the laser range finder and the camera are automatically calibrated by control of a platform or the like.
US07990413B2 Camera sensor job selection method
Systems and methods are disclosed that facilitate permitting a user to select one of a plurality of job setups stored in a camera sensor. The plurality of job setups can be pre-programmed into the sensor utilizing conventional methods. During sensor operation, a user can select a particular application, and a simple signal can be generated for transmission over existing input/output lines to the camera sensor, upon receipt of which the camera sensor can initiate the particular job setup associated with the signal. Job setup signals can be formatted in binary utilizing HIGH and LOW voltages or can be transmitted as a simple Morse Code message and/or integer value.
US07990405B2 Thermal head and thermal printer
A thermal head is provided with increased contact pressure between a heat generating portion and a printing medium to increase printing quality with a low heat loss. The thermal head includes: a plurality of heat generating resistors formed via an insulating layer; a driver circuit unit for driving the plurality of heat generating resistors to generate a heat; a wiring for connecting the driver circuit unit to the plurality of heat generating resistors; a protecting film formed to cover the plurality of heat generating resistors, the driver circuit unit and the wiring. The plurality of heat generating resistors, the driver circuit unit, the wiring and the protecting film are formed on a substrate. A thermal insulating layer having a thermal conductivity smaller than 0.5 W/m·K and having a maximum thickness of larger than 10 μm is provided between the heat generating resistor and the substrate.
US07990404B2 Method for automatically detecting and switching video signals on a monitor
A method for automatically detecting and switching video signals on a monitor has steps of storing multiple menu groups in the monitor and executing a resolution identifying mode. Each menu group has multiple similarly public resolutions. The resolution identifying mode has acts of determining whether the video resolution of the video signal matches one of the resolutions in one of the menu groups and creating a launch menu to show all the resolutions in the menu group having the resolution matched to the video resolution of the video signal when the video resolution of the video signal matches one of the resolutions in one of the menu groups. Therefore, the method solves the problem of misapplying resolutions on the conventional monitor.
US07990400B2 Method for displaying images on display screen
Method, apparatus and program product for efficient display of an image at a targeted position in an image on a display screen by displaying, on the display screen, an image on which the targeted position is not displayed; setting a first position specified on the image displayed on the display screen, and a second position having a point symmetry with respect to a center of the displayed image; displaying the image while reducing a display magnification of the displayed image to a certain magnification to a degree with which the targeted position can be identified in the image, employing the second position as a center; and displaying the image while enlarging the displayed image to a certain magnification, employing the targeted position or a designated neighboring point as a center on the image obtained after the magnification change.
US07990399B2 Mobile communication terminal having wide display unit and method of controlling wide display unit
A mobile communication terminal having a wide display unit and a method of controlling a wide display unit are provided. The method of controlling a wide display unit having a standard area and an extension area in a mobile communication terminal includes displaying data in the standard area and user's additional information in the extension area; and repartitioning, if a rotation of the wide display unit is detected, the standard area and the extension area, and rotating and displaying the data and user's additional information in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the wide display unit. Therefore, by displaying data in a standard area of the wide display unit and displaying user's additional information in an extension area of the wide display unit, the wide display unit can be effectively used.
US07990392B2 White balancing that uses values of white-balanced colors on the visible gamut's boundary
White balancing is performed using a mapping that maps the visible gamut's boundary into itself. A predefined color Win is mapped into a color Wout which is a white color or a color perceived as white under some viewing conditions. If Sin is some other color, a corresponding color Pin is determined on the visible gamut's boundary. Pin can be on the intersection of the visible gamut's boundary with a plane containing Sin and Win in a linear color coordinate system. Sin is mapped into a color Sout obtained from Wout and a value of the mapping on Pin.
US07990391B2 Memory system having multiple address allocation formats and method for use thereof
A memory system having multiple address allocation methods for graphics data in a computer graphics processing system. The memory system includes a plurality of memory arrays, and a format register having a programmable format flag. The status of the format flag indicates the memory address allocation format in which the memory addresses for each of the memory arrays are allocated. An address decoder is coupled to the format register to obtain the status of the format flag in order to determine the address allocation method for an array being accessed. The address decoder is further coupled to receive a requested address for a memory location in one of the memory arrays and then provide a requested memory address to the memory arrays to access. The requested address is translated by the address decoder to the requested memory address according to the memory address allocation format indicated by the format flag status for the memory array.
US07990389B2 Graphic system comprising a pipelined graphic engine, pipelining method and computer program product
A graphic system includes a pipelined graphic engine for generating image frames for display. The pipelined graphic engine includes a geometric processing stage for performing motion extraction, and a rendering stage for generating full image frames at a first frame rate for display at a second frame rate. The second frame rate is higher than the first frame rate. A motion encoder stage receives motion information from the geometric processing stage, and produces an interpolated frame signal representative of interpolated frames. A motion compensation stage receives the interpolated frame signal from the motion encoder stage, and the full image frames from the rendering stage for generating the interpolated frames. A preferred application is in graphic systems that operate in association with smart displays through a wireless connection, such as in mobile phones.
US07990386B2 Method for correlating animation and video in a computer system
A method for correlating a video stream at a first speed and an animation sequence at a second speed that includes decoding the video stream to obtain a video frame, rendering the animation sequence to obtain an animation frame, wherein the first speed and the second speed are not equal, and correlating the animation frame with the video frame to obtain a correlated animation frame according to a frame index of the animation frame and a frame index of the video frame.
US07990376B2 Design support system, method and storage medium
An editing process including generation, modification, and deletion of pass points through which a linear structure such as a wire harness or the like should pass in a virtual space is performed in accordance with an operation of an input device by a user, a position of a pass point generated in the editing process is managed by using a plurality of position references to identify the position, and priority of the plurality of position references for each pass point are managed and a position of a pass point whose position has to be changed by an editing process is managed in accordance with the priority when the editing process is performed in accordance with an operation of the input device by a user.
US07990370B2 Display apparatus having a plurality of input terminals and method thereof
A display apparatus having a plurality of input terminals is provided. The display apparatus includes a plurality of input terminals, and an output unit for displaying on a screen a graphic image corresponding to the arrangement of the plurality of input terminals. Graphic images corresponding to an arrangement of the plurality of input terminals provided in the display apparatus are displayed on a screen so that a user can easily determine a connection state of the external apparatus. A method for displaying a graphic image corresponding to an arrangement of the input terminals of a display apparatus is also provided.
US07990362B2 Constant brightness control for electroluminescent lamp
A ballast (11) includes a variable output DC converter source (12) and an inverter circuit (14) arranged to provide AC output voltage to an electro-luminescent (EL) lamp (16). A Q factor of EL lamp can characterize the age of the EL lamp. A series resonance-parallel loaded circuit and two voltage detector (18, 20) are constructed to measure the Q factor. A processor (17) controls the output of DC voltage source in accordance with a look-up table containing constant brightness algorithm based on the derived voltage and Q relationship.
US07990359B2 Optical detection apparatus, liquid crystal display device using the same and driving method thereof
An optical detection apparatus includes an optical/electric converter to transduce light incident on the optical/electric converter into a current flowing to a ground potential; a current mirror to supply a mirror output voltage to a current mirror output node in response to an enable signal, the mirror output voltage having a magnitude proportional to the light intensity incident on the optical/electric converter; and a switch to connect a driving node of the current mirror to the ground potential through the optical/electric converter in response to the enable signal.
US07990355B2 Liquid crystal display device with influences of offset voltages reduced
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a first register, a second register, a gray scale voltage generator which outputs a plurality of gray scale voltages, a decoder which selects a gray scale voltage, and an amplifier including a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, and a fourth transistor. A first terminal of the first transistor and a first terminal of the second transistors are connected to a first voltage line, a first terminal of the third transistor and a first terminal of the fourth transistor are connected to a second voltage line, a second terminal of the first transistor is connected to a second terminal of the third transistor, and a second terminal of the second transistor is connected to a second terminal of the fourth transistor.
US07990352B2 Monochromatic liquid crystal display for colors
Techniques for providing backlight techniques in liquid crystal flat panel displays are disclosed. According to embodiment, the backlighting includes three color groups of light emitting diodes that are turned on successively. Pixels in an LCD are controlled in accordance with a display signal to transmit none, all or a determined amount of one or more of the colored lights from the three color groups of light emitting diodes in a cycle, resulting in an LCD with vivid colors and minimized tailing effects.
US07990348B2 Display device
The present invention is intended to suppress power consumption of an EL display. In accordance with the brightness of an image to be displayed in a pixel portion, the contrast of the image is determined whether to be inverted or not, and the number of bits of the digital video signal to be input into the pixel portion is reduced, and the magnitude of a current to flow through the EL element is allowed to be maintained at a constant level even when a temperature of an EL layer changes by providing the EL display with another EL element to be used for monitoring a temperature.
US07990347B2 Display device
In one embodiment, a display device of the present invention includes capacitors provided between a gate and a source of a driver TFT. During a select period, a voltage is fed to the gate terminal of the driver TFT, and a voltage is fed to the source terminal of the driver TFT. Thereafter, during a threshold correction period, the gate voltage of the driver TFT is retained to make the source voltage of the driver TFT equal to Vda−Vth (
US07990344B2 Plasma display panel driving method having a high temperature and low temperature driving mode and plasma display device thereof
A plasma display panel driving method and a plasma display device estimate the highest temperature and the lowest temperature the panel can have, according to the temperature detected by the thermal sensor, and appropriately drives the panel, to improve the image display quality. Provided are at least three driving modes having different sub-field structures: a low-temperature driving mode, an ordinary-temperature driving mode, and a high-temperature driving mode. To drive the panel, estimates of the highest temperature and the lowest temperature the panel can have are made from the temperature detected by the thermal sensor, the temperature condition of the panel is determined from the estimated highest temperature or lowest temperature, and the driving mode is switched appropriately for the panel temperature condition.
US07990342B2 Image display method and image display device
The present invention provides an image display method that allows displaying a full range of gradation levels while reducing dynamic false contours. In this method, emission pattern information generation circuit in image display device that displays gradation by dividing a single field into a plurality of subfields and combining an emitted state and a non-emitted state for each subfield, generates plural pieces of emission pattern information so that an average emission rate becomes a given value or greater for any subfield with its brightness weight smaller than the maximum brightness weight of the subfield where its average emission rate is not zero. Further, dither generation circuit in image display device performs a time-averaging process and a space-averaging process for the plurality of pieces of emission pattern information.
US07990341B2 Plasma display device
A technique which enables improvement of luminance and reduction of consumption power in a sustain discharge driving of a four-electrode structure PDP, particularly, by devising driving method to Z electrodes. In this plasma display device, a sustain discharge by a method to apply a narrow pulse to the Z electrode and a method to apply a fixed potential to the Z electrode are switched according to a judgment of range of display load ratio in driving sustain discharge from a controller and driver to the PDP and used.
US07990339B2 Deformable micromirror device
A micromirror device, which makes an image display with digital image data, comprises pixel elements each of which makes pulse width modulation for incident light depending on the deflection state of light and which are arranged in the form of a matrix. Each of the pixel elements has a mirror, and at least one memory cell comprising a transistor and a capacitor. In such a micromirror device, the total value of the propagation delay time of a ROW line, which connects all of transistors of memory cells arranged successively in a ROW direction, and the switching time of each transistor is smaller than the driving interval of the ROW line driven in the minimum display duration of the micromirror device.
US07990338B2 Electronic devices having complementary dual displays
Electronic devices having complementary dual displays are presented, the electronic devices including: a first display, wherein the first display is a refresh-based, high frame rate display; a first display controller for outputting an internal video signal to the first display; a second display, wherein the second display is a bistable, low frame rate display; and a second display controller for outputting the internal video signal to the second display. In some embodiments, the devices further include: a number of user input interfaces for receiving a user input, wherein the number of user input interfaces are configured to control the second display; and a user input controller for generating a control signal based on the user input, the user input controller in electronic communication with the number of user input interfaces and a processing unit of the electronic device.
US07990335B2 Antenna assemblies with antenna elements and reflectors
According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are provided of antenna assemblies. In an exemplary embodiment, an antenna assembly generally includes at least one tapered loop antenna element having a generally annular shape with an opening. An antenna assembly may also include a rotatably convertible support including a base and an upper portion coupled to a tapered loop antenna element in some embodiments. The upper portion is rotatable relative to the base between a first configuration for supporting the tapered loop antenna element on a horizontal surface and a second configuration for supporting the tapered loop antenna element from a vertical surface.
US07990333B2 Method and system for equalizing antenna circuit matching variations
A method for processing signals includes generating a frequency response adjusted signal of an antenna, and adjusting a gain of the antenna by varying a gain of a programmable amplifier that amplifies the frequency response adjusted signal. The generating of the frequency response adjusted signal may take place prior to the gain adjusting. A frequency response of the antenna may be dynamically adjusted during the generating. A programmable filter used for the generating may be autonomously adjusted. The gain of the antenna may be dynamically adjusted. The gain of the programmable amplifier may be autonomously varied. The programmable filter and the programmable amplifier may be adjusted sequentially.
US07990330B2 Slot antenna
A slot antenna is located on a substrate and includes a grounding portion, a radiating portion, and a feeding portion. The grounding portion is positioned on the substrate. The radiating portion is symmetrically octagonal-shaped and defines four trapezoidal-shaped slots on opposite sides. The radiating portion is parallel to the grounding portion. The feeding portion electrically connects the radiating portion to the grounding portion for feeding electromagnetic signals to the slot antenna.
US07990328B2 Conductor having two frequency-selective surfaces
An antenna having two frequency-selective surfaces is disclosed. The antenna includes a first frequency-selective surface (FSS) having multiple holes to form a mesh, a second FSS having a multiple holes to form a mesh, and a perfect electric conductor located between the first FSS and the second FSS.
US07990327B2 Cellular reflectarray antenna and method of making same
A method of manufacturing a cellular reflectarray antenna arranged in an m by n matrix of radiating elements for communication with a satellite includes steps of determining a delay φm,n for each of said m by n matrix of elements of said cellular reflectarray antenna using sub-steps of: determining the longitude and latitude of operation, determining elevation and azimuth angles of the reflectarray with respect to the satellite and converting theta0 (θ0) and phi0 (φ0), determining Δβm,n, the pointing vector correction, for a given inter-element spacing and wavelength, determining Δφm,n, the spherical wave front correction factor, for a given radius from the central element and/or from measured data from the feed horn; and, determining a delay φm,n for each of said m by n matrix of elements as a function of Δβm,n and Δφm,n.
US07990325B2 System and method for remote antenna positioning data acquisition
The present invention provides a remote antenna system employing digital imaging means by which the operator can view both the antenna pointing data and the coverage landscape from the antenna radome perspective. The present invention also provides a method for antenna positioning data acquisition and positioning control employing remotely acquired image data.
US07990322B1 Shortened HF and VHF antennas made with concentric ceramic cylinders
Electrically small shortened HF and VHF microstrip cylindrical antenna with a reduced antenna length are provided. The electrically small shortened HF and VHF microstrip cylindrical antennas are constructed with concentric, ceramic cylinders having copper coating that operate at low frequencies. The concentric, ceramic cylinders alternate with concentric copper layers in a corrugated alternating structure where certain copper layers function as the ground plane and others function as part of the radiating patch providing both a shortened antenna length and the ability to operate efficiently at low frequencies. It is now possible to provide a ten-fold size reduction with these antennas.
US07990321B2 Multiband antenna
A multiband antenna is located on a substrate and comprises a first radiator, a second radiator, a feeding portion, a grounding portion and a third radiation. The first radiator transmits at least two frequency band signals. The second radiator is connected to the first radiator, and is arranged so as to surround the first radiator. The feeding portion feeds electromagnetic signals to the first radiator and the second radiator. The third radiator is located between the grounding portion and the second radiator, and electrically connected to the grounding portion.
US07990320B2 Antenna with inner spring contact
One aspect of the invention relates to an antenna for a wireless device having spring contact elements based on strips (301, 302; 403; 503, 504; 602, 603; 612, 613; 622, 623; 632; 642; 652, 653; 682; 703, 704; 753, 754; 756; 802, 803; 1412, 1413; 1422, 1423) that, before bending, are housed in at least one gap (303, 601, 681, 804, 1411, 1421) in a main body (300, 402, 502, 600, 700, 750, 800 1400) of the antenna. The invention provides for a reduced stamping area overhead while allowing the spring contacts embodied by the strips to be placed close to the perimeter of the smallest possible rectangle that can house the main body. This can be helpful for mounting the antenna close to an edge of a printed circuit board (401, 501, 701, 801) while not extending beyond said edge.
US07990308B2 Mirror image target detection and recognition
There is disclosed a system and method for detecting targets. A transmitter may transmit a first inverse transform signal, the first inverse transform signal derived from a reference image of a first reference target at a first aspect angle. A receiver may receive a return signal reflected from a scene. A detector may determine, based on the return signal, if an object similar to the first target at the first aspect angle is detected within the scene.
US07990306B2 Radio control transmitter for models
A radio control transmitter for a model is disclosed wherein a control range is limited to not to exceed a maximum control range without using a mechanical means. In accordance with the transmitter, an added control range being a sum of two or more of the control ranges is calculated, whether the added control range exceeds a maximum control range set to correspond to the operating section of the object to be controlled is determined, and the control range is corrected when the added control range exceeds the maximum control range.
US07990299B2 Optical sampling method for analog to digital conversion
A method and apparatus for encoding data. A first pair of optical signals having a first phase difference is generated in response to receiving an input signal having a voltage. A second pair of optical signals having a second phase difference is generated in response to receiving an input signal having a voltage. The first pair of optical signals is combined to form a first optical signal having a first intensity. The second pair of optical signals is combined to form a second optical signal having a second intensity. The first intensity of the first optical signal reaches a peak at a different time from the second intensity of the second optical signal.
US07990295B2 Data transfer apparatus
A data transfer apparatus includes a clock generation unit to generate a clock signal, a control unit to output parallel data and a reset signal, and a plurality of transmission units. Each of the plurality of transmission units uses continuous rising edges of a bit clock to sample the reset signal multiple times so that a phase shift of the reset signal between the transmission units is reduced, and the phase of the frequency dividing clock is aligned in each transmission unit.
US07990292B2 Method for transmission of a digital message from a display to a handheld receiver
The invention relates to a method to efficiently transmit a digital message over a unidirectional optical link, such as the link between a computer screen and a security token equipped with photosensitive elements. It is an object of this invention to provide a source coding scheme that is optimized for transmissions of alphanumerical data containing frequent occurrences of numerals and less frequent occurrences of non-numerical data. This is achieved by using a modified Huffman code for source coding, consisting of a nibble-based prefix-free binary code. The output of the coder is efficiently mapped onto a 6B4T channel code, wherein unused ternary codewords can be used to signal data-link layer events. This efficient signalling of data-link layer events, in turn, allows for a synchronization scheme based on repeated transmissions of a finite-length message, combined with an out-of-band clock signal.
US07990290B1 Efficient rateless distributed compression of non-binary sources
A method, system and computer program product are disclosed for rateless compression of non-binary sources. In one embodiment, the method comprises representing a sequence of non-binary source symbols as a sequence of sets of binary values; selecting a code for compressing the sets of binary values; determining a puncturing pattern, based on the selected code; and puncturing the sets of binary values, in patterns based on the puncturing pattern, to form a sequence of unpunctured values. A sequence of computed syndromes is determined based on the sequence of non-binary source symbols; and the sequence of unpunctured values and the sequence of computed syndromes are combined to form an output stream of data representing said sequence of non-binary source symbols. In one embodiment, none of the sets of binary values is punctured completely, and, for example, each of the sets of binary values may be punctured only partially.
US07990286B2 Vehicle positioning system using location codes in passive tags
Vehicles driving on a roadway interrogate passive tags in or on lanes of the roadway. Codes in the tags represent locations along the highway and which lane the vehicle is traveling in. Units in the vehicles communicate longitudinal and lane positions derived from the codes among each other or with infrastructure units for purposes such as traffic management, alerts concerning other vehicles, alerts concerning external conditions, or traffic control. The units may also communicate vehicle lengths or other parameters or characteristics. Vehicle units may communicate with sensors and actuators in the vehicles for purposes such as updating the vehicles' positions between adjacent tags. Specific applications for intelligent transportation systems are described.
US07990285B2 Method and device for audible warning when an aircraft autopilot is deactivated
The invention relates to a method for producing an audible warning when an aircraft autopilot is deactivated. The method includes a) transmitting a first sound in the aircraft cockpit during a time ranging from a first predetermined value and a second predetermined value and b) transmitting a second sound in the aircraft cockpit. The invention also relates to an audible warning device having a monitoring unit for monitoring the deactivation of the aircraft autopilot and an activation unit for emitting an audible warning in the cockpit, where the activation unit is constructed such that it activates the first sound emission whose length ranges from the first predetermined value and a second predetermined value and a second sound when the monitoring unit detects the deactivation of the autopilot.
US07990282B2 Borehole telemetry system
An acoustic telemetry apparatus and methods for communicating digital data from a down-hole location through a borehole to the surface or between locations within the borehole are described including a receiver and a transmitter linked by an acoustic channel (210) wherein acoustic channel has a cross-sectional area of 58 cm2 or less and the transmitter comprises an electro-active transducer generating a modulated continuous waveform.
US07990281B2 Apparatus and method pertaining to a doorbell chime cover
A doorbell chime (100) can comprise a chassis (101), a cover (104) having a mechanical-cover identifier (105, 106), a mechanical-cover identifier detector (103) (to detect when the cover is at least substantially disposed in the installed position), and a chime (102) mounted in the chassis. This chime is configured to operate in a first mode of operation (302) when the mechanical-cover identifier detector detects the cover and in a second mode of operation (303) (that is different than the first mode of operation) when the mechanical-cover identifier detector does not detect the cover.
US07990280B2 Exit alarm escutcheon
An exit alarm system housed in an escutcheon for activating upon movement of an interior latch operator. The system is mounted to the interior side of a door with a latch assembly including an interior latch operator. The system may include an alarm, a trigger, and an electronic module. The trigger is responsive to movement of the interior latch operator. The electronic module may be electrically connected to a power source for providing an input signal to the alarm. Upon motion of the interior latch operator, the trigger may cause the electronic module to send an activating input signal to the alarm. The alarm may be a sound transducer. A switch may be provide to arm the system. A tamper switch may be provided to cause the electronic module to activate the alarm upon removal of the escutcheon. The system may be applied to retrofit an existing door.
US07990279B2 Emergency ingress/egress monitoring system
A system to monitor the entry and exit of individuals from a facility and to identify individuals who safely evacuated the facility and those who have entered, but apparently have not safely evacuated it and indicated safe evacuation by use of a card reader or similar device at an emergency reporting area. The system also indicates the most likely area of a facility in which an individual may be found. Such census information is made available to emergency workers and is of significant value in rescue efforts following facility evacuations. A modification of the systems allows an attendant to monitor the entry, exit, and re-entry of individuals traveling in two or more vehicles following stops. Finally, the system includes a head count census of individuals entering large facilities in which individual identity is effectively impossible to follow and a head count census of individuals evacuating the facility identified by specific parts of the facility.
US07990273B2 Inventory alarm and ink tag combination
An inventory control tag comprises a first component, a second component, and a fastening mechanism for fastening together the first component and the second component. The fastening mechanism is configured such that the first component and the second component can be easily locked together and can only be unlocked from each other in normal usage by an external tool. At least one chamber defined by at least one of the first and second components is provided. Further, an electronic device is located in one of the chambers for triggering a compatible sensor and alarm system external to the control tag. A dye container located in one of the chambers designed to fracture and spill dye when the first and second components are forced apart.
US07990268B2 Method and protocol for real time security system
A security system comprises one or more sensor devices configured to detect conditions at one or more sites; one or more checkpoints at each of said one or more sites configured to receive signals from the one or more sensor devices; and a central headquarters processor configured to receive signals indicative of the conditions detected at said one or more sites from the one or more checkpoints. The central headquarters processor is configured to process the signals to determine if an event has occurred.
US07990261B2 Speaker circuit resident notification appliances
Both notification appliances and speakers usable to broadcast verbal messages into a region can be coupled to common signal and power providing communication lines. Composite output modules can include speakers, horns, and strobe lights, all without limitation, which can be independently driven and controlled from a common pair of lines.
US07990259B2 Ignition key with recorded message
A vehicle ignition key includes a shank portion securely attached to a grip portion including a housing with an exterior housing surface. An actuation switch includes a switch contact surface complementary with the exterior housing surface, and is electrically coupled with a digital message controller and a power source. The housing defines a chamber which can hold the digital message controller, the power source, and/or a message generator. The message generator can transmit a message from the digital message controller. Actuation of the actuation switch upon rotation of the ignition key in the ignition switch is facilitated by the complementary surfaces, and initiates processing of stored data and transmission of the digitized data from the digital message controller to the message generator.
US07990258B2 Oil exchange timing indicating apparatus for vehicles
An oil exchange timing indicating apparatus for vehicles capable of informing a user of an exchange timing of oil on the basis of the degree of degradation of oil as quickly as possible. An oil exchange timing indicating apparatus includes an odometer for integrating vehicle travel distances, an operation time integrator for integrating operation times of an engine mounted on the vehicle, an oil exchange informing device for informing a user of an exchange timing of oil, and a controlling device for starting, when either an integrated value of the travel distances or an integrated value of the operation times, based on signals from the odometer and the operation time integrator exceeds a preset value, the oil exchange informing device to inform the user of the exchange timing of oil.
US07990253B2 Vehicular theft preventing device
Vehicular theft preventing device includes: an operation switch for switching between different displays on a display section, the operation switch being constructed to function also as a setting switch operable to set the preventing device in an alert mode; a main switch for turning on/off a power supply; and a control section for controlling the display section and an alarm unit, the controlling section setting the preventing device in the alert mode upon fulfillment of a condition that the operation switch has been operated while the main switch is in an OFF state.
US07990252B2 Safety system and method for conventional lighting fixtures
A safety device is incorporated within conventional lighting fixtures, such as table lamps, floor lamps, wall lighting fixtures, ceiling lighting fixtures, chandeliers, recessed lighting fixtures, and decorative lighting fixture structural members such as ceiling medallions. The safety device incorporates several safety function response mechanisms within conventional lighting fixtures to conceal or obfuscate their presence. The safety device provides power failure lighting, alert signals in response to gas, smoke, fire, intrusion, and any other externally generated alarm signal. It may also provide night lighting. The safety device may include a safety module having a light and/or audio source, a power sensing circuit, a control circuit, and a light sensing circuit.
US07990251B1 Drug management systems
A system to electronically assist health care professionals quickly and efficiently calculate dosages and infusion rates for emergency drugs. The system comprises a portable hand-held calculator incorporating user input keys dedicated to commonly prescribed drugs, quick entry of default drug values, and toggles between at least two operational modes, specifically between adult and pediatric modes. In addition, the system alarms on the entry of “out-of-range” drug values, titrates, immediately ascertains compatibilities between drugs, and allows the updating of stored drug parameters by means of physical or wireless data ports.
US07990248B2 Insulation alement and toroidal core throttle
A toroidal core choke includes a toroidal core and an insulating part. The insulating part includes a separating device for separating winding spaces on the toroidal core. The separating device includes a divider and a spacer on an end of the divider. A width of the divider is less than a width of the spacer.
US07990241B2 Encapsulated switches employing mercury substitute and methods of manufacture thereof
Encapsulated switches are disclosed which substitute non-toxic gallium alloy for mercury. In one embodiment, wetting of the interior surfaces of the housing is prevented by coating the surfaces with an electrically insulative inorganic non-metallic material, such as alumina or boron nitrate. According to another embodiment, a perfluorocarbon liquid is employed as the anti-wetting agent.
US07990233B2 MEMS resonator including main and sub movable beams, and exciting electrodes excited by alternating-current signal
A MEMS resonator includes a main movable beam, at least one sub movable beam, and at least one exciting electrode. The main movable beam is electrically insulated from a substrate and fixed to at least one fixed end, the sub movable beam is formed to extend from the main movable beam, and the exciting electrode is provided to be close to the sub movable beam. The sub movable beam is excited by an electrostatic force to oscillate by exciting the exciting electrode using an alternating-current signal, such that the MEMS resonator resonates with at least one of a fundamental resonant frequency and harmonic frequencies thereof. The resonant frequency is changed by changing at least one of number of the at least one exciting electrode and a position of the exciting electrode relative to the sub movable beam.
US07990232B1 Anchor/support design for MEMS resonators
Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) resonator designs having support structures that minimize or substantially reduce anchor losses, thereby improving a quality factor (Q) of the MEMS resonators, are provided. In general, a MEMS resonator includes a resonator body connected to anchors via support structures. The anchors are connected to or are part of a substrate on which the MEMS resonator is formed. The support structures operate to support the resonator body in free space to enable vibration. The support structures are designed to minimize or substantially reduce energy loss through the anchors into the substrate.
US07990230B2 Temperature compensation attenuator
A temperature compensation attenuator formed from a base, a serial film thermistor having two ends, a parallel film resistor, an input terminal, and an output terminal. The serial film thermistor and the parallel film resistor are disposed on the base, the input terminal and the output terminal are connected to the two ends of the serial film thermistor. The temperature compensation attenuator features a small size, good RF performance and simple production, and solves the problem of easy detachment of discrete components from the attenuator.
US07990229B2 Methods and devices for compensating a signal using resonators
Compensation of a signal using resonators as well as related methods and devices are described. Some embodiments include methods and devices for performing frequency compensation on a signal.
US07990225B1 Low-jitter phase-locked loop
A phase-locked loop (PLL) with a decreased frequency tuning gain KVCO and a loop filter using capacitor multiplication technique to get high chip area efficiency. To get decreased frequency tuning gain, KVCO, a voltage to current converter in a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) in the PLL may comprise a first voltage to current converter and a second voltage to current converter. The trans-conductance of the first voltage to current converter is 1/β of that of the second voltage to current converter, wherein β>1. The first voltage to current converter is controlled by an output voltage of a loop filter in the PLL, and the second voltage to current converter is controlled by a relative DC voltage, which may be the junction node between R1 and C1 in a loop filer of the PLL. Capacitor multiplication technique may use an auxiliary charge pump to charge or discharge the junction node between R1 and C1 inversely to the main charge pump. When the charge or discharge current unit of the auxiliary charge pump is α times of the main charge pump, the capacitance of C1 may be reduced to just (1−α) times of what it needed in a conventional loop stability compensation method, wherein α<1.
US07990222B2 Converter with parallel coupled differential input pairs
A circuit for converting first and second differential input signals into an output signal is provided with a first differential input stage comprising first and second inputs for receiving the first differential input signal and comprising first and second outputs and with a second differential input stage comprising third and fourth inputs for receiving the second differential input signal and comprising third and fourth outputs and with an output stage comprising a first terminal connected to the first output that is further connected to the third output and comprising a second terminal connected to the second output that is further connected to the fourth output and comprising a third terminal for providing the output signal, to avoid complex operational amplifiers. The differential input stages comprise two pairs of transistors and the output stage comprises a current mirror with a third pair of transistors. A regulator comprises the circuit and a modulator stage for in response to the output signal modulating a voltage supply signal.
US07990220B2 RF power amplifier
A reduction is achieved in the primary-side input impedance of a transformer (voltage transformer) as an output matching circuit without involving a reduction in Q-factor. An RF power amplifier includes transistors, and a transformer as the output matching circuit. The transformer has a primary coil and a secondary coil which are magnetically coupled to each other. To the input terminals of the transistors, respective input signals are supplied. The primary coil is coupled to each of the output terminals of the transistors. From the secondary coil, an output signal is generated. The primary coil includes a first coil and a second coil which are coupled in parallel between the respective output terminals of the transistors, and each magnetically coupled to the secondary coil. By the parallel coupling of the first and second coils of the primary coil, the input impedance of the primary coil is reduced.
US07990218B2 Db-linear process-independent variable gain amplifier
An amplifier is provided with continuously-variable analog control that exhibits a highly linear gain control curve in db/volts, while preserving high dynamic range, low third order distortion, and low noise. This amplifier has a control mechanism that preserves a varied linear or log linear curve over a wide range and is inherently insensitive to process variations thereby allowing more accurate gain control and higher signal fidelity for amplifying high dynamic range signals.
US07990216B2 Cross-coupled low noise amplifier for cellular applications
Cross-coupled low noise amplifier for cellular applications. A circuitry implementation that includes two pairs of metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) (either N-type of P-type) operates as an LNA, which can be used within any of a wide variety of communication devices. In one embodiment, this design is particularly adaptable to cellular telephone applications. A majority of the elements are integrated within the design and need not be implemented off-chip, and this can provide for a reduction in area required by the circuitry. A very high output impedance is provided by using two transistors (implemented in a triple well configuration) with resistive source degeneration. A higher than typical power supply voltage can be employed (if desired) to accommodate the voltage drops of the resistors and transistors.
US07990210B2 Amplifier, amplifying method, and filter
An amplifier is provided which includes: a first variable capacitance device of which capacitance is variable, a second variable capacitance device of which capacitance is variable, electrically connected to the first variable capacitance device, and of an inverse conductivity type from the first variable capacitance device, and a first input unit for selectively inputting a bias voltage and a voltage signal to the first variable capacitance device and the second variable capacitance device, wherein, in the event that the bias voltage and the voltage signal are input to the first variable capacitance device and the second variable capacitance device, the capacitance of the first variable capacitance device and the second variable capacitance device is taken as a first value, and wherein the voltage signal is amplified with the capacitance of the first variable capacitance device and the second variable capacitance device as a second value smaller than the first value.
US07990204B2 Voltage generator that prevents latch-up
A voltage generator that prevents latch-up includes: a charge pump circuit that is controlled by first through third enable signals, boosts an internal power voltage generated from an external power voltage, and generates first through fourth voltages; a detector that detects the first through third voltages and generates first through third flag signals that go logic high when the first through third voltages reach predetermined respective voltage levels and maintain logic low when the voltages do not reach the predetermined respective voltage levels; and a charge pump controller that receives the first through third flag signals, and generates the first through third enable signals to have the first through fourth voltages sequentially generated. The voltage generator can prevent latch-up that may occur in a boosting mode or in a normal operation mode.
US07990203B2 Internal voltage generation apparatus for semiconductor device
An internal voltage generation apparatus for a semiconductor device is disclosed. The internal voltage generation apparatus includes a power-up detector for receiving an external supply voltage and generating a power-up signal, an internal voltage generator for generating a plurality of internal voltages, and an initial level holder including a plurality of transistors for supplying the external supply voltage to the internal voltage generator in response to the power-up signal, and a plurality of passive elements connected in parallel with the transistors, respectively.
US07990199B1 Clock gater system
A clock gater includes a first circuit configured to receive a clock signal. The first circuit includes a first subcircuit and a second subcircuit. A latch is configured to receive the clock signal. The latch is connected to the first circuit at each of a first node and a second node. The latch includes a third subcircuit and a fourth subcircuit. The first subcircuit and the third subcircuit are configured to pull the first node and the second node, respectively, to a common precharge voltage in response to a first state of the clock signal in order to pass the clock signal. The second subcircuit and the fourth subcircuit are configured to pull the first node and the second node, respectively, to complementary voltages in response to a second state of the clock signal in order to pass the clock signal, the second state of the clock signal being different from the first state of the clock signal.
US07990196B2 Signal driver with first pulse boost
A driver boost signaling circuit provides a pulse boost to the first cycle of an output pulse wave applied to an associated load. The circuit includes a signal generator circuit generating a signal including a series of pulses, a determining circuit determining a high impedance state of a signal load line and a first one or more cycles of the series of pulses applied to the load line following the high impedance condition, and a receiving circuit receiving a control signal. A logic circuit generates first and second logical signals responsive to the control signal and to the determining circuit determining the first one or more cycles and other cycles of the series of pulses. A switchable impedance circuit coupling the signal generator with the associated load line is responsive to the first logical signal to provide a low impedance level between the signal generator circuit and the associated signal load line, and to the second logical signal to provide a high impedance level between the signal generator circuit and the associated signal load line.
US07990192B2 Phase locked loop and method for charging phase locked loop
A phase locked loop (PLL) and a method for charging the PLL are disclosed. The charge circuit includes: a threshold judging module, adapted to output a signal to a receiving module, and when the voltage of a filter reaches a preset threshold, output a valid signal to the receiving module; the receiving module, adapted to receive a trigger signal and output a first control signal to a charging module, and when the signal from the threshold judging module is a valid signal, adapted to output a second control signal to the charging module; the charging module, adapted to charge the filter when receiving the first control signal and stop charging the filter when receiving the second control signal. So that a better voltage may be provided to the PLL to shorten the locking time of the PLL.
US07990187B2 Partial switch gate driver
A power switch driver includes a top driver switch, a bottom driver switch, a driver node between them, and driver logic. The power switch driver can turn on the power switch by controlling a gate voltage of the power switch to a first voltage level and to turn off the power switch by controlling the gate voltage from a lower second voltage level. The driver logic may include a pulse width generator programmer and a pulse width generator. The pulse width generator is controlled by the pulse width generator programmer and an input signal. Some power switch drivers include a feedback loop, coupled to the driver node and to the driver logic. The feedback loop may include a track-and-hold circuit, coupled to the driver node, to the pulse width generator through an error amplifier and to the input terminal.
US07990180B2 Fast dynamic register
A fast dynamic register circuit including first and second precharge circuits, a keeper circuit and an output circuit. The first and second precharge circuits each precharge a corresponding one of a pair of precharge nodes and cooperate to minimize setup and hold times. If an input data node is low when the clock goes high, the first precharge node remains high causing the second precharge node to be discharged. Otherwise if the input node is high, the first precharge node is discharged and the second remains charged. Once either precharge node is discharged, the output state of the register remains fixed until the next rising clock edge independent of changes of the input data node. The fast dynamic register may be implemented with multiple inputs to perform common logic operations, such as OR, NOR, AND and NAND logic operations.
US07990177B2 Driver circuit for producing signal simulating transmission loss
In a driver circuit 10 for outputting a simulated signal simulating an input signal subjected to transmission loss, corresponding to the input signal, the driver circuit 10 comprises: a main driver 18 which receives the input signal and outputs an output signal corresponding to the input signal; a sub driver 20 which receives the input signal and outputs an output signal given by inverting the input signal; a high frequency emphasizing circuit 22 which receives the input signal of the sub driver 20 and outputs an output signal having the high frequency of the input signal of the sub driver 20 emphasized; and an addition unit 24 which outputs the simulated signal given by adding the output signal of the main driver 18 and the output signal of the high frequency emphasizing circuit 22.
US07990176B2 Low power line driver and method thereof
A line driver for a communications system requiring multiple power sources for different modes of operation comprises a current source and a voltage source coupled in parallel with the current source. The current source has a first terminal and a second terminal. The line driver further comprises a first source resistor coupled to the first terminal of the current source and a second source resistor coupled to the second terminal of the current source. The current source provides a driving current and the voltage source provides a driving voltage at the same time during operations of the communications system.
US07990175B2 Output buffer circuit and integrated circuit including same
An output buffer circuit includes a control unit and an output driver. The control unit generates a control signal in response to a mode signal applied from an internal circuit. The output driver selectively performs a driver operation, a termination operation or an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection operation in response to the control signal.
US07990171B2 Stacked semiconductor apparatus with configurable vertical I/O
The present invention provides an apparatus including a stacked plurality of devices and a related method. The apparatus includes a stacked plurality of devices including a master device and at least one secondary device; a plurality of segments, each segment being associated with one of the stacked plurality of devices; and a plurality of N vertical connection paths traversing the stacked plurality of devices. The apparatus further includes a plurality of M vertical signal paths configured from the plurality of N vertical connections paths, wherein M is less than N, and at least one of the plurality of M vertical signal paths is a merged vertical signal path adaptively configured by the master device using at least one segment from each one of at least two of the plurality of N vertical connection paths.
US07990170B2 Electrostatic discharge withstand voltage evaluating device and electrostatic discharge withstand voltage evaluating method
In one embodiment of the present invention, an electrostatic discharge withstand voltage evaluating device includes: an application device, including a first connecting section and a second connecting section, for supplying pulse electric charge, the first connecting section being connectable to one or whole terminal (s) of one of input terminals and output terminals of a source driver, and supplying electric charge to the source driver, the second connecting section being connectable to one or whole terminal(s) of the other one of the input terminals and the output terminals, and enabling said one or whole terminal(s) of the other one of the input terminals and the output terminals to be grounded; and a common connecting section being connectable to the plurality of output terminals of the source driver, and causing the plurality of output terminals to be electrically connected to each other, wherein the output terminals of the source driver are connected, via the common connecting section, to one of the first connecting section and the second connecting section. Therefore, the electrostatic discharge withstand voltage evaluating device can more successfully recreate how a failure occurs in a semiconductor device and can evaluate an electrostatic discharge breakdown withstand of the semiconductor device.
US07990167B2 System and method for modulation mapping
An apparatus for providing modulation mapping is disclosed. The apparatus includes a laser source, a motion mechanism providing relative motion between the laser beam and the DUT, signal collection mechanism, which include a photodetector and appropriate electronics for collecting modulated laser light reflected from the DUT, and a display mechanism for displaying a spatial modulation map which consists of the collected modulated laser light over a selected time period and a selected area of the IC.
US07990165B2 Contact probe and method of making the same
To provide a contact probe which can easily be connected with a measurement apparatus electrically, can measure a high speed and high frequency signal with a fine pitch easily and correctly, and can easily cope with signal measurement for a plurality of channels, and a method of making the contact probe.It includes a first printed wiring board 3 having a signal electrode 10a and a ground electrode 10b used as a contact part with respect to a measuring object, in which the signal electrode 10a and ground electrode 10b are formed of a metal wiring pattern on a substrate, and a second printed wiring board 2 with a coaxial line structure having shield electrodes 12, 17, 18 which enclose a signal line 15a and the surroundings of the signal line 15a through an insulating layer. The signal electrode 10a of the first printed wiring board 3 and the signal line 15a of the second printed wiring board 2 are electrically connected together, and the ground electrode 10b of the first printed wiring board 3 and the shield electrodes 12, 17, 18 of the second printed wiring board 2 are electrically connected together.
US07990163B2 Systems and methods for defect testing of externally accessible integrated circuit interconnects
Apparatus and methods provide built-in testing enhancements in integrated circuits. These testing enhancements permit, for example, continuity testing to pads and/or leakage current testing for more than one pad. The disclosed techniques may permit more thorough testing of integrated circuits at the die level, thereby reducing the number of defective devices that are further processed, saving both time and money. In one embodiment, a test signal is routed in real time through a built-in path that includes an input buffer for a pad under test. This permits testing of continuity between the pad and the input buffer. An output buffer can also be tested as applicable. In another embodiment, two or more pads of a die are electronically coupled together such that leakage current testing applied by a probe connected to one pad can be used to test another pad.
US07990159B2 Potential measurement apparatus and image forming apparatus
A potential measurement apparatus for measuring a surface potential of an object of measurement detects a change in electric charge induced at a detection electrode due to electrostatic induction by changing a distance between the detection electrode and the object of measurement in accordance with a predetermined period, using a neutral distance as reference, as a signal representing a change in electric current. The potential measurement apparatus includes a first detection unit for detecting a signal representing a fundamental period of the change in electric current and a signal representing a second harmonic period, a second detection unit for detecting information representing a capacitance between the detection electrode at the neutral distance and the object of measurement and an arithmetic unit for computationally obtaining information on the surface potential of the object of measurement, with eliminating an influence of the neutral distance and the capacitance, according to an outcome of detection of the first detection unit and an outcome of detection of the second detection unit.
US07990155B2 Heavy duty battery system tester and method
A systematic method and system for testing the charging and starting systems of a vehicle, which requires each individual test to pass before proceeding is provided. In addition, the invention incorporates an improved alternator test that determines whether the alternator belt is slipping using data read using a vehicle data port. Further, the invention provides a battery bank test that correlates the voltage before and after a load is applied to the battery bank to the batteries' conditions. When testing the starter, the oil temperature is read via the vehicle data port, allowing for a determination of whether the current draw is abnormally high.
US07990153B2 Compensated directional resistivity measurements
A method for making directional resistivity measurements includes sequentially transmitting first and second axial and transverse electromagnetic waves in a borehole and receiving substantially pure axial and transverse components of each of the transmitted waves. A composite ratio of the received components is computed and may be utilized as an indicator of various formation parameters. The invention advantageously provides for the acquisition of compensated directional resistivity measurements.
US07990151B2 Tri-pod buried locator system
A portable self-standing electromagnetic (EM) field sensing locator system with attachments for finding and mapping buried objects such as utilities and with intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) displays. Accessories include a ground penetrating radar (GPR) system with a rotating Tx/Rx antenna assembly, a leak detection system, a multi-probe voltage mapping system, a man-portable laser-range finder system with embedded dipole beacon and other detachable accessory sensor systems are accepted for attachment to the locator system for simultaneous operation in cooperation with the basic locator system. The integration of the locator system with one or more additional devices, such as fault-finding, geophones and conductance sensors, facilitates the rapid detection and localization of many different types of buried objects.
US07990150B2 Multifrequency locating arrangement with frequency designation
In a system in which a transmitter is moved through the ground in a region, the system including a locating arrangement for tracking the position of and/or guiding the transmitter as the transmitter moves through the ground, a locating arrangement includes a configuration, forming part of the transmitter, for transmitting a locating signal at a current one of at least two locating frequencies and for transmitting a frequency designation identifying one of the frequencies of the locating signal. A locator receives the frequency designation and the locating signal for use in tracking the transmitter and a frequency tracking arrangement switches the locator between different ones of the locating frequencies, as the current locating frequency, based on said frequency designation. In one feature, the locating arrangement is configured for automatically switching between the frequencies based on the frequency designation.
US07990145B2 Digitized MR signal data encoding with dynamically variable bit rate
A digital receiver circuit includes an encoder (104) for encoding a digitized magnetic resonance signal is disclosed herein. The digitized magnetic resonance signal includes one or more data packets. Each data packet is representative of a portion of a magnetic resonance signal. The encoder (104) is configured to dynamically allocate a number of bits for each data packet based on a characteristic of at least the portion of the magnetic resonance signal represented by the particular data packet.
US07990137B2 Device of evaluating magnetic read head and method of evaluating magnetic read head
An MR element having a magnetically free layer and a magnetic bias layer that applies a bias magnetic field to the magnetically free layer are included. Furthermore, a measuring section that measures a ferromagnetic resonance frequency f0 of the magnetically free layer under a condition of applying a predetermined external magnetic field Hm to the magnetically free layer, and an operation section that computes the bias magnetic field Hb according to a following conditional expression (1): Hb={(2*π*f0/γ)2/Ms}−(Hk+Hm)  (1) where γ is a gyroscope constant, Ms is a saturation magnetic field of the magnetically free layer, and Hk is a shape anisotropy magnetic field of the magnetically free layer.
US07990136B2 Variable reluctance position sensor
A variable reluctance analog position device designed to determine the position variation of a target made from a ferromagnetic material. The device includes at least one magnet, the target and the magnet defining a gap therebetween. A magnetosensitive element detects induction variation produced in the gap by relative movement of the target relative to the magnet. The magnet is magnetized in a direction essentially perpendicular to the front surface of the magnet, which defines one edge of the gap. The magnet includes a cavity open at the front surface thereof and the magnetosensitive element is housed in the cavity. Moreover, the target is provided with a specific geometric configuration determined such that the induction variation according to the position of the target corresponds to a pre-defined function.
US07990133B2 Non-intrusive electric alternating current sensor
A method and a current sensor for measuring current in a conductor are provided. The current sensor has a flexible coil having a first end and a second end and a mounting ring. The flexible coil is wrapped within the mounting ring to form a closed loop. The mounting ring has a first hole and a second hole drilled tangentially to an inner diameter of the mounting ring. The first end of the flexible coil extends through the first hole of the mounting ring and the second end of the flexible coil extends through the second hole of the mounting ring. The mounting ring has a channel therethrough that provides an access point so that the mounting ring can be easily flexed open or closed.
US07990132B2 Current sensor including an integrated circuit die including a first and second coil
A current sensor includes a coils located within the integrated circuit die and inductively coupled to a conductor located in the integrated circuit package holding the die. The inductors sense the current in the conductor and supply the sensed signal to an integrator that supplies a voltage indicative of the current in the conductor.
US07990125B2 Method and apparatus to limit output power in a switching power supply
Techniques are disclosed to adjust a current limit in a switching regulator. One example switching regulator includes a comparator having first and second inputs and an output. The first input of the comparator is adapted to sense a current flow through a switch and the second input of the comparator is adapted to sense a variable current limit value. A controller is coupled to the output of the comparator and to the switch to control switching of the switch to regulate an output of a power supply in response a feedback signal. The controller disables the switch if the sensed current flow through the switch is greater than the sensed variable current limit value. The variable current limit value is set to a first variable current limit value by the controller in response to an input line voltage of the power supply if there is not an over current condition during a first switching cycle that occurs after a skipped switching cycle of the switch. The variable current limit value is set to a second variable current limit value by the controller in response to the input line voltage if there is the over current condition during the first switching cycle that occurs after the skipped switching cycle.
US07990123B2 DCDC converter with soft-startup and soft-transition for adjustable output voltage
A method and exemplary apparatus that incorporate soft-start circuit together with adjustable output voltage control are introduced. By implementing a gradual increment of voltage steps/fast decrement, it can totally eliminate overshoot and limit in-rush current significantly at the initial startup and output voltage transition that happens after startup.
US07990116B2 Modulator with linear period stretching capability
A modulator for use with a voltage regulator includes an input for receiving an input voltage, an output for providing a periodic triangular wave form and at least one input for receiving an indication that the voltage regulator is in a discontinuous current mode of operation. The circuitry within the modulator generates the periodic triangular wave form responsive to the input voltage and the indication that the voltage regulator is in the discontinuous current mode of operation. The circuitry further continuously increases a period of the periodic triangular wave form responsive to a decreased load in a discontinuous current mode of operation of the voltage regulator.
US07990115B2 High frequency generator without rotating diode rectifier
A high frequency starter-generator system uses an electric machine design that does not employ rotating rectifiers installed on the rotor. The output frequency of such a starter-generator is increased by about 200% as compared with a conventional starter-generator with the same number of poles operating in the same speed range. This design allows significant weight and volume reductions of the electric machine while its reliability is increased. The present invention may find application in any starter-generator application, including more electric architecture-type aircraft designs currently in development.
US07990113B2 Method for smoothing alternating electric current from a number of power generating units and wind power plant including a number of wind mills with variable rotational speed
A method and a wind power plant are provided for smoothing alternating electric current from a number of power generators. Generators are electrically connected to an electric network. Each power generator includes a transformer with pulse width modulation for converting direct current to pulse width modulated alternating current for feeding to the network. The time for feeding the pulses of the pulse width modulated alternating current is different for each generator in order to achieve a more even alternating current as a sum of respective outputs of alternating current from the generators.
US07990112B2 Adaptive field control of a variable frequency synchronous generator
A voltage regulator with an adaptive field discharge control system may use the rate of change of the POR voltage, the rate of change of the output current and rate of change of the field current, or any combination of these, as an input. The adaptive field discharge control system may process the inputs, identify an operating condition, such as unbalanced load, overcurrent and overload, and compare reference setpoints against that condition. Conventional field control circuits may be triggered by a fixed POR voltage setpoint for all operating conditions. In addition, conventional field control circuits may trigger field discharge to turn on and off continuously during systems oscillations. To avoid these issues, the adaptive field control circuit of the present invention may include a variable POR voltage setpoint, based upon one or more of the rate of change in the POR voltage, the DC bus voltage, or the percentage of unbalanced load. This invention can be extended for any More Electric Vehicle applications.
US07990109B2 Temperature and polarization voltage compensation system
A control module for a battery that powers a load includes a compensation module that adjusts a shutoff voltage based on voltage and impedance of the battery and current drawn by the load from the battery as time the load is drawing current increases. A discharge control module restricts power to the load based on the adjusted shutoff voltage.
US07990107B2 Electronic device and charging control circuit
An exemplary charging control circuit includes a signal shaping unit, a first switch unit, and a second switch unit. The signal shaping unit receives a control signal, and is capable of reshaping the received control signal to have a time interval transited from a first state to a second state. The first switch unit receives the shaped control signal, and generates a first switching signal. The second switch unit receives the first switching signal, and is capable of being turned on based on the first switching signal for allowing electrical power to be outputted to a battery.
US07990104B2 Mobile charger receptacle configured with universal serial bus (USB), cigarette lighter adapter (CLA) plug and control firmware
The present invention is a mobile charger receptacle configured with universal serial bus (USB), cigarette lighter adapter (CLA) plug, and control firmware, comprising a housing, a cigarette lighter adapter plug disposed on the one side of the housing, and a USB plug allocated on the other side of the housing. The USB plug and the CLA plug are electrically connected with a control firmware disposed inside the housing. The control firmware enables the present invention to charge any type of mobile phone.
US07990102B2 Cordless power supply
A cordless power supply comprising a battery, a power conversion unit, a first standard coupling half permanently affixed to the power conversion unit and a second standard coupling half which reciprocally mates with the first standard coupling half is disclosed and claimed. The second standard coupling half includes a first interengaging half and a second interengaging half. The first interengaging half being standardly engageable with the first standard coupling half permanently affixed to the power conversion unit. The second interengaging half is interengageable with a specific battery. The battery may be a dual use cordless tool battery or an original equipment battery. Alternatively, a cordless power supply comprising an interchangeable adapter may be mounted on the power conversion unit for interconnection with a plurality of batteries. Alternatively, a cordless power supply comprising an adapter integral with the power conversion unit may be used with a specific battery type.
US07990101B2 Multi-configurable, scalable, redundant battery module with multiple fault tolerance
An energy delivery system includes at least one string of two or more energy delivery modules electrically coupled in series. Each energy delivery module includes one or more energy delivery devices for storing and delivering electrical current, and a module monitor for monitoring and controlling each of the energy delivery devices. Each string of energy delivery modules includes a string communication path accessible to each of the energy delivery modules, wherein the module monitor of each energy delivery module is operable to communicate information associated with its energy delivery module through the string communication path. Each string also includes a string manager device for communicating with each module monitor in the string, through the string communication path. The energy delivery system also includes a system controller for communicating with each string manager device through a system communication path.
US07990096B2 Mobile operating device and method for using said device
There is described a method to operate a mobile operating device and a mobile operating device, with which machines within of effective ranges which are spanned by RFID transponders can be operated wirelessly. A safety module is provided in the operating device, with which both measured values assigned to the RFID transponders and also reference values of two reference transponders simulated in the operating device are checked in order to ensure the correct measurement and further processing in this way.
US07990092B2 Blower motor for HVAC systems
A blower motor assembly having a variable speed motor that is suitable for direct, drop-in replacement in a residential HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system that employs a PSC motor. The blower motor assembly includes at least a neutral input and two hot AC line connections, one for connection to the heating power source and the other to the cooling power source. A sensing circuit senses which of the inputs is energized by sensing either voltage or current on the inputs. The sensing circuit delivers a corresponding signal to a motor controller to control the speed of the variable speed motor. The blower motor assembly may also be equipped with additional hot AC inputs, more than one neutral line, and several sensing circuits for sensing current or voltage in the hot inputs and/or the neutral lines for controlling various aspects of the variable speed motor.
US07990090B2 Method for determining the position of a rotor of a synchronous machine having at least one excitation winding
A method for determining the position at rest of a rotor of a machine having at least one excitation winding. The invention provides a technique for detecting the position of the rotor at rest, from information contained in the voltages produced at the terminals of the stator windings, when the voltage applied to the rotor winding undergoes variations. The invention thus makes it possible to detect the rest position of the wound-rotor machine in the absence of ordinary position sensors such as magnetic, optical, resolving, mechanical, capacitive or other sensors.
US07990087B2 System and method for providing cooling fan characteristic feedback
A device comprising a fan controller, an encoder, a driver, a resistor/capacitor filter, and a baseboard management controller. The fan controller is configured to output a cooling fan status signal, and to output a cooling fan information data signal. The encoder is configured to encode the cooling fan status signal and the cooling fan information data signal together into a combined signal. The driver is configured to invert the combined signal and to output an inverted signal. The resistor/capacitor filter is configured to filter out the cooling fan information data signal from the inverted signal, and to output a filtered signal. The baseboard management controller is configured to determine a status of a cooling fan in response to the filtered signal, and to output a control signal to the fan controller module for the cooling fan based on the cooling fan information data signal within the inverted signal.
US07990081B2 Pulse width modulation based LED dimmer control
Methods and apparatus for implementing and operating pulse width modulation based LED dimmer controllers are described. A synchronization protocol is used to allow control information for the dimmer operations to be transferred to the PWM dimmer control clock domain from an external clock domain, such that visual artifacts are prevented when the control information is updated. Control information may be transferred to the LED dimmer controller via an I2C serial bus, and the synchronization protocol waits for an I2C STOP condition before updating control information across clock domain boundaries. The leading and trailing edges of an asserted group dimmer control signal are generated such that the active portion of the group dimmer control signal overlaps the active portion of individual LED pulse width modulated control signals. In this way, the pulse width modulation of the individual LED control signals is not cut off, or reduced in width by the group dimmer signal.
US07990080B2 System and method for controlling multiple light sources
A system for controlling multiple light sources is provided. The system includes a controller, a digital to analog converter (DAC), and at least one power amplifier. The controller is configured for receiving light control data for at least one light circuit, and for determining a digital luminance signal and an encoded address for each light circuit according to the light control data. The DAC is connected to the controller and configured for receiving the digital luminance signal and the encoded address for each light circuit, converting the digital luminance signal into an analog luminance signal, and for outputting the analog luminance signal according to the encoded address. Each power amplifier is connected to the DAC, and is configured for amplifying the analog luminance signal for the light circuit so as to drive the light circuit to control a corresponding light source.
US07990079B2 Method and apparatus for providing selectively colored light
An apparatus for providing selectively-colored light is disclosed. The apparatus includes a circuit having a plurality of diodes each including an anode and a cathode, wherein the plurality of diodes include a first diode that emits a first light defined by a first wavelength, a second diode that emits a second light defined by a second wavelength, and a third diode that emits a third light defined by a third wavelength, wherein a summation of one or more of the first, second and third light defines a selectively-colored light; and a controller including a first output connected to the anode of the first diode, and the cathode of the second diode, a second output connected to the cathode of the first diode, the anode of the second diode, and the anode of the third diode, and a third output connected to the cathode of the third diode. A method is also disclosed.
US07990076B2 Lamp driver circuit and method for driving a discharge lamp
A lamp driver circuit (400) comprises a feedback circuit for controlling stable operation of a discharge lamp (La), e.g. an inductively coupled discharge lamp such as a molecular radiation lamp, and for controlling a light output level of the discharge lamp (La). In particular, if the discharge lamp (La) is operated at a dimmed light output level, the light output is sensitive to changes in the lamp voltage (VLa), possibly resulting in flickering. In order to control stable lamp operation and prevent flickering, a high-sp feedback circuit is provided for controlling an operating frequency. In order to provide a relatively large dimming range for controlling the light output level, a low-speed feedback circuit is provided for controlling a DC supply voltage level (VDC).
US07990075B2 High intensity discharge lamp lighting device and lighting fixture
In order to optimally control power outputted from a high intensity discharge lamp lighting device for a difference among loads connected thereto, such as a difference in gas components contained in arc tubes and a difference in shape of the arc tubes individually in a plurality of discharge lamps 11, plural kinds of output power characteristics W1, W2 and W3 as data tables of lamp voltage-lamp power are provided for a rating lamp voltage range of each of the high intensity discharge lamps 1 and a lamp voltage range lower than the rating lamp voltage range, there is provided minimum lamp voltage detecting means 7 for allowing predetermined power to be outputted in an event of starting the high intensity discharge lamp 11, and detecting a minimum lamp voltage Vmin after the high intensity discharge lamp shifts to an arc discharge, and in response to that the detected minimum lamp voltage Vmin enters any range of a plurality of preset voltage ranges A, B and C, any of the data tables W1, W2 and W3 of the lamp voltage-lamp power, which correspond to the voltage ranges A, B and C, respectively, is selected.
US07990072B2 Balancing arrangement with reduced amount of balancing transformers
A backlighting arrangement constituted of: a driving transformer; at least one balancing transformer; a plurality of luminaires, a first end of each of the plurality of luminaires connected to a high voltage lead of the driving transformer and a second end of each of the plurality of luminaires connected to a unique end of a winding of the at least one balancing transformer, wherein each pair of the luminaires is associated with a particular winding of one of the at least one balancing transformers, and wherein the first end and the second end of each of the luminaires is in physical proximity of the driving transformer and the at least one balancing transformer, the constituent lamps of the luminaires arranged in parallel and generally extending axially away from the proximity of the driving transformer.
US07990068B2 Field emission light emitting device
In accordance with the invention, there are nanoscale electron emitters, field emission light emitting devices, and methods of forming them. The nanoscale electron emitter can include a first electrode electrically connected to a first power supply and a second electrode electrically connected to a second power supply. The nanoscale electron emitter can also include a nanocylinder electron emitter array disposed over the second electrode, the nanocylinder electron emitter array having a plurality of nanocylinder electron emitters disposed in a dielectric matrix, wherein each of the plurality of nanocylinder electron emitters can include a first end connected to the second electrode and a second end positioned to emit electrons, the first end being opposite to the second end.
US07990066B2 Plasma display panel and plasma display apparatus with phosphor including magnesium oxide
A plasma display panel and a plasma display apparatus are disclosed. The plasma display panel includes a front substrate, a rear substrate positioned to be opposite to the front substrate, a barrier rib positioned between the front substrate and the rear substrate to partition a discharge cell, and a phosphor layer positioned inside the discharge cell. The phosphor layer includes a first phosphor layer emitting red light, a second phosphor layer emitting blue light, and a third phosphor layer emitting green light. The first phosphor layer includes a red pigment. At least one of the first phosphor layer, the second phosphor layer or the third phosphor layer includes magnesium oxide (MgO) material.
US07990064B2 Photomultiplier
The present invention relates to a photomultiplier that realizes significant improvement of response time properties with a structure enabling mass production. In the sealed container, a photocathode, a dynode unit including at least one dynode set, and preferably dynode sets of two series, a focusing electrode unit arranged between the photocathode and the dynode unit are housed. The focusing electrode unit is set to the same potential as the second dynode arranged at a position where secondary electrons from said first dynode, which emits secondary electrons in response to incidence of photoelectrons, arrive, and is provided with partitioning plates partitioning the second dynode into two in a longitudinal direction of the second dynode.
US07990056B2 Display device comprising color filters and electronically aligned photo-emissive elements
A display device includes color filters and electronically aligned photo-emissive elements. The display device is achieved with a matrix of pixels. Each pixel includes a plurality of sub-pixels that are organized within the pixel in one or two directions. Each sub-pixel includes a color filter arranged facing a plurality of photo-emissive elements, an opaque area separating the color filters. In each of the organization directions of the pixel, the photo-emissive elements have a repetition pitch that is two times smaller than the pitch of the color filters. The size of each color filter is smaller than or equal to the size of the photo-emissive element in the organization direction. The display device includes a supply control circuit of the photo-emissive elements that selects the photo-emissive elements situated facing the color filter of each pixel.
US07990055B2 Electroluminescent arrangement having detached electrode and method of fabricating the same
An electroluminescent arrangement comprising a substrate (1), at least one layered structure applied to the substrate that comprises at least one organic electroluminescent layer (2) for emitting light (10) that is arranged between a first electrode (3) arranged on the side on which the substrate is situated and a second electrode (4) arranged on the side of the electroluminescent layer (2) remote from the substrate, and an electrically insulating layer (5) of a material that is chemically reactive with the organic electroluminescent layer (2), suitable for detaching the second electrode (4) from the organic electroluminescent layer (2) in a confined region around a hole defect.
US07990053B2 Cyclopentaphenanthrene-based compound and organic electroluminescent device using the same
Provided are a cyclopentaphenanthrene-based compound and an organic EL device using the same. The cyclopentaphenanthrene-based compound is easy to prepare and excellent in solubility, color purity, and color stability. The cyclopentaphenanthrene-based compound is useful as a material for forming an organic layer, in particular, a light-emitting layer in an organic EL device, and as an organic dye or an electronic material such as a nonlinear optical material.
US07990052B2 Organic electroluminescent device
An organic electroluminescent device that includes an effectively optical area including display pixels for display and a dummy area surrounding the effectively optical area, the dummy area including dummy pixels not for display. The device includes a first composite material on the first portion in the effectively optical area, the first portion corresponding to one of the display pixels, and a second composite material separate from the first composite material, the second composite material being coated on a second portion of the dummy area, the second portion corresponding to one of the dummy pixels, the first composite material including a first organic electroluminescent material that is dissolved or dispersed in a solvent and the second composite material including a second organic electroluminescent material that is dissolved or dispersed in a solvent.
US07990049B2 Organic electroluminescent device and production method of the device, and display apparatus
Provided are an organic electroluminescent device having high efficiency and a long lifetime, and a production method of the device. The organic electroluminescent device includes an anode, a cathode, and a stacked body interposed between the anode and the cathode and formed by sequentially stacking at least an inorganic compound layer and an organic emission layer, in which the inorganic compound layer has a hole-transporting ability and a work function of the inorganic compound layer changes continuously in a film thickness direction of the inorganic compound layer.
US07990046B2 Material for organic electroluminescent devices and organic electroluminescent devices made by using the same
A material for electroluminescent devices which comprises a compound in which a heterocyclic group having nitrogen is bonded to carbazolyl group and an organic electroluminescent device having at least one organic thin film layer which is sandwiched between the cathode and the anode and contains the above material in at least one layer, are provided. The material can provide organic electroluminescent devices emitting bluish light with a high purity of color. The organic electroluminescence device uses the material.
US07990044B2 Electrical processing apparatus and method for electrically processing display panel having organic light-emitting layer
The present invention provides an electrical processing apparatus and method for electrically processing a display panel having an organic light-emitting layer. The method for electrically processing a display panel having an organic light-emitting layer includes dividing a light-emitting region of the display panel into a plurality of regions; and applying a voltage to at least one region of the plurality of regions where an amplitude of the voltage exceeds an amplitude of a driving voltage of the display panel. The electrical processing apparatus includes a display panel comprising an organic light-emitting layer, a light emitting region, and a plurality of regions, the plurality of regions being defined by dividing the light emitting region; a jig for holding the display panel; and a current supplying portion, wherein the current supplying portion supplies a current individually to each of the plurality of regions.
US07990039B2 Liquid crystal display device with cold cathode fluorescent lamp having phosphor film
A cold cathode fluorescent lamp for a backlight of a liquid crystal display device includes a light-transmitting glass tube in which a rare gas and mercury are sealed, and a phosphor film which is formed on an inner peripheral surface of the glass tube. The phosphor film is formed such that a phosphor suspension is formed by mixing phosphors into a suspension produced by strongly stirring a mixed solvent made of butyl acetate and nitrocellulose and by re-stirring the mixture, and the phosphor suspension is applied to the inner peripheral surface of the glass tube by coating.
US07990037B2 Carbon nanotube circuit component structure
The present invention proposes a circuit component structure, which comprises a semiconductor substrate, a fine-line metallization structure formed over the semiconductor substrate and having at least one metal pad, a passivation layer formed over the fine-line metallization structure with the metal pads exposed by the openings of the passivation layer, at least one carbon nanotube layer formed over the fine-line metallization structure and the passivation layer and connecting with the metal pads. The present invention is to provide a carbon nanotube circuit component structure and a method for fabricating the same, wherein the circuit of a semiconductor element is made of an electrically conductive carbon nanotube, and the circuit of the semiconductor element can thus be made finer and denser via the superior electric conductivity, flexibility and strength of the carbon nanotube.
US07990034B2 Filter and plasma display device thereof
A filter for a display panel includes a base unit and an external light shielding sheet. The sheet includes a plurality of pattern units provided in spaced relation adjacent the base unit to absorb external light. The base unit includes a dye or pigment for absorbing light in a specific wavelength region, and refractive indexes of the pattern units are greater than a refractive index of the base unit. The pattern units may have the same or different refractive indexes.
US07990032B2 Electron multipliers and microchannel plates
An electron multiplier can be fabricated by depositing an electron emissive material on a reticulated substrate, and forming the reticulated substrate into the electron multiplier.
US07990030B2 Lamp assembly
A lamp assembly includes a storage tank, a lamp, a liquid inlet pipe, a liquid outlet pipe and an actuator. The storage tank contains liquid therein. The lamp includes a lighting portion and a lid located at a top of the lighting portion. A flume is defined between a top end of the lighting portion and the lid. The liquid inlet pipe connects a first end of the storage tank and a corresponding end of the flume. The liquid outlet pipe connects an opposite second end of the storage tank and a corresponding end of the flume of the lamp. The actuator drives the liquid to circulate between the storage tank and the flume of the lamp to thereby dissipate heat generated by the lamp.
US07990028B2 Transformer arrangement with a piezoelectric transformer
A transformer arrangement with a piezoelectric transformer and a carrier will be disclosed. The transformer has a body in the form of a board. The transformer operates with thickness mode vibrations. The body is rigidly connected to the carrier in at least one peripheral region in which anti-nodes of a horizontal oscillation of the body appear.
US07990026B2 Surface-mount type crystal unit
In a crystal unit, a crystal blank is accommodated in a container body composed of a bottom wall layer and a frame wall layer, and a metal cover is bonded to the container body by a eutectic alloy. The crystal blank is held by a pair of crystal connecting terminals formed at a position to be an inner bottom surface of a container body on one end portion side of the container body. A grounding external terminal is arranged at one corner of the outer bottom surface of the container body at the other end portion side of the container body. To connect the metal cover to the grounding external terminal, a first conduction metal film electrically connected to the metal cover through an end face metal film on an inner side surface of the frame wall layer is formed on a lower surface of the frame wall layer, and a second conduction metal film electrically connected to the grounding external terminal through an end face metal film on a container body outer side surface is formed on an upper surface of the bottom wall layer, corresponding to the positions where the grounding external terminals are formed.
US07990018B2 Brush holder apparatus, brush assembly, and method
Devices and methods of use for brush holder assemblies are disclosed. Brush holder assemblies including a mounting block and a brush holder are disclosed. Also illustrated is a brush holder assembly including a first portion in sliding engagement with a second portion. In some embodiments the brush holder includes a channel, such that at least a portion of the mounting block is disposed within the channel of the brush holder.
US07990017B2 DC motor having enhanced startability
A dc motor is provided which is equipped with brushes each of which is urged by a spring pressure into constant abutment with a commutator surface. A plurality of protrusions are arrayed on the commutator surface in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which a commutator is to be rotated and extend over a whole of a circumference of the commutator surface. Each of the protrusions is defined by two side walls arrayed adjacent each other. At least one of the two side walls of each of the protrusions is oriented to be inclined at a preselected angle to the orientation of the spring pressure. The preselected angle lies within a range of 20° to 70°. This ensures the stability of the abutment of the brush with the commutator surface, thus enhancing the startability of the dc motor.
US07990015B2 Pole tip attachment for a magnetic structure
Attachments are removably coupled to the magnetic core of a rotating electric machine, the magnetic core being shaped to include a plurality of coil-receiving slots that are separated by radial teeth. Each attachment is constructed as a unitary member and includes a base and a stem, the stem being dimensioned for fitted insertion within a recess formed in the distal end of a corresponding tooth. The base includes a convex bottom wall, a flattened top wall and a pair of non-planar sidewalls. The stem is integrally formed on the top wall of the base and includes a front end, a rear end, a flattened top wall and a pair of opposing sidewalls. A longitudinal groove is formed into each of the pair of opposing sidewalls of the stem. An outwardly protruding shoulder designed for engagement by a retention plate is formed into the front and rear ends of the stem.
US07990013B2 Slotless motor
A stator coil of a slotless motor is disclosed in which the stator coil is formed in such a manner that respective both distal ends of two unit coil bodies, each unit coil body arranged to face each other, are respectively coupled to form a plurality of circular coil bodies, each circular coil body having a different inner diameter, and a circular coil body having a smaller inner diameter is sequentially inserted into an inner side of a circular coil body having a larger inner diameter, whereby a horizontal width of the plurality of unit coil bodies of U, V and W phases is equal there among to cause the strength of the magnetic field of U, V and W phases to be equal, and to allow the stator to be accurately manufactured, thereby catering to a designer's intention and markedly simplifying the assembly processes.
US07990010B2 Small motor of polygonal external shape
A side wall of a motor casing is formed into a polygonal shape such that flat side portions and corner portions located at respective corners between the side portions are continuously joined together. A field magnet, which has an outer circumferential shape approximately coinciding with the inner circumferential shape of the motor casing, has magnet side portions and magnet corner portions, and has a rib provided on outer circumferential surfaces of the magnet side portions. The magnet is disposed, through press-fitting, within the motor casing such that at least the rib comes into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the motor casing, wherein the magnet side portions, excluding the rib, are formed such that small clearances are formed between the magnet side portions and the side portions of the motor casing.
US07990009B2 Electric machine
An electrical machine which has a moving part and a stationary part. The moving part is in the form of an inner rotor without windings, and the rotor which has at least two magnetic conductors, which are separated from one another axially such that impeller wheels are formed. The stationary part has a number of magnetically acting webs in the circumferential direction of the machine. The webs are operatively connected to the magnetic conductors of the rotor. The stationary part has at least one first winding structure which is likewise operatively connected to the axially separated magnetic conductors of the rotor. In addition, a second winding structure is included on the webs wherein either the first winding structure acts as an armature winding and the second winding structure acts as a field winding, or vice versa. The impeller wheels are radially innerly magnetically effectively connected by means of a further magnetic conductor.
US07990006B2 Generator and wind turbine
A generator for a wind turbine including a rotor arrangement and a stator arrangement is provided. The rotor arrangement includes a cylinder barrel or a sleeve enclosing a rotor element provided for the production of energy and having an outer cylinder barrel shaped surface in relation to a centre axis of the generator acting as a bearing surface of the rotor arrangement. The stator arrangement includes a cylinder barrel or a sleeve covering a stator element provided for the production of energy and having an inner cylinder barrel shaped surface in relation to the centre axis of the generator acting as a bearing surface of the stator arrangement. The bearing surfaces of the rotor arrangement and the stator arrangement are arranged oppositely to each other with a substantially cylinder barrel shaped air gap in-between, wherein the air gap comprises a lubricant. Also, a wind turbine including a generator is provided.
US07990005B2 Power transmission tool and system
An improved power tool system includes a power tool and an external power supply connected via a cable to provide utility and safety in a hazardous operation such as loading ammunition into a weapon in an environment of flammable materials and extreme environmental exposure. The power tool includes a sparkless motor, a sparkless controller and sparkless switches, in a sealed enclosure with improved heat transfer means. The power tool has improved torque controlling means to mitigate reaction torque to the operator and equipment when starting or stopping highly inertial loads. A sealed enclosure is provided to prevent liquids from entering the motor and controller cavity and includes a thermally conductive path to conduct heat from the motor and controller through the enclosure to cooling fins and a coolant path formed between the fins and an entrapment wall.
US07990002B2 Vibration motor
A vibration motor includes a rotary shaft, an armature core secured to the rotary shaft and having a plurality of salient poles, an armature coil wound around each of the salient poles except at least one salient pole, a frame serving as an outside cover, a plurality of magnets secured to the frame and having respective different polarities, and a weight adapted to rotate together with the rotary shaft and disposed eccentrically, wherein the weight is disposed inside the frame and secured to the armature core in such a manner that at least a part of the weight is inserted in a hollow provided in at least the one salient pole having no armature coil.
US07990000B2 Small diameter stepping motor, bobbin used therein and manufacturing method thereof
In a small diameter stepping motor including two stator units each including a bobbin formed of an insulating material, each bobbin includes: a circular hollow cylinder portion having a winding; two flanges disposed respectively at the both ends of the cylinder portion; and a terminal structure disposed at one of the two flanges and including two terminal blocks and a pair of electrical contact members at which the lead-out lines of the winding are terminated, wherein the two terminal blocks are circumferentially shifted in position from each other with respect to the cylinder portion axis extend axially outwardly, and the terminal blocks of one bobbin intermesh with the terminal blocks of the other bobbin such that the terminal blocks of the one bobbin overhang a part of the winding wound on the other bobbin and vice versa when the two stator units are coupled to each other.
US07989999B2 Starter
In a starter includes a motor provided with a motor contact for controlling electric power supply to an armature arranged inside a motor housing; a gear cover section, which is mounted on the motor, having a flange section formed on the outer circumference thereof; a switch terminal located on the outside of the gear cover section; and a magnet switch connected to the switch terminal. The switch terminal is installed in the vicinity of the flange section and in a region within the range of projection of the flange section . In the flange section, there are provided a rib and a motor terminal mounting section, and the switch terminal is arranged in a switch terminal containing section formed between the rib, the sidewall of the motor terminal mounting section and the flange section.
US07989994B2 Cylinder-type linear motor and moving part thereof
The present invention provides a cylinder-type linear motor capable of shortening the total motor length with respect to a predetermined stroke length and capable of being operated as a brushless DC motor without a sensor means for sensing the position of a moving part being added in the axial direction. The present invention also provides a moving part of said cylinder-type linear motor, which can improve the magnetic flux density distribution waveform near both end portions of the moving part assembly and can improve the thrust characteristic by bringing the magnetic flux density distribution waveform closer to a cosine waveform and by increasing the amplitude of cosine waveform.
US07989990B2 Automatic shut off apparatus for electronic device
An automatic shut off apparatus for an electronic device includes an input circuit, a timing circuit, a control circuit, and a switch circuit. The input circuit is to receive a designated power-off time delay for the electronic device. The control circuit is to receive the designated power-off time delay from the input circuit, and output a control signal. The timing circuit is to time according to the control signal, and output an instruction signal in response to designated power-off time being reached. The switch circuit is to shut off power of the electronic device according to the instruction signal.
US07989989B2 Circuit having a micro crush capacitor
A start-up circuit having a micro crush capacitor that is operatable with a small pressure. The crush capacitor may be connected to a silicon controlled rectifier or similar device. Applying the pressure to the crush capacitor may turn on the SCR which may in turn activate a sensor. The circuit may be fabricated on a flexible substrate which together may be regarded as a flexible circuit. The flexible circuit may be held down on a back plate with a form plate clamping the circuit at its perimeter edge. The flexible circuit may be held firm with the plates for component insertion and/or circuit testing.
US07989988B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit device
In a power phase period when in normal operation, switch portions SW2H and SW2L and switch portions SW3H and SW3L are turned ON, respectively, and switch portions SW1H and SW1L are turned OFF. And floating power supply is provided from an electrostatic capacitance element CS to buses A and B, a floating control circuit 4, a transmitter circuit 5, and a receiver circuit 6, respectively. In a data phase period, the switch portions SW1H and SW1L are turned ON, and the switch portions SW2H, SW2L, SW3H, and SW3L are turned OFF. By that manner, the electrostatic capacitance element CS is charged by the power supply of a battery B, and an electrostatic capacitance element CH provides the floating power supply to the floating control circuit 4, the transmitter circuit 5, and the receiver circuit 6, respectively. By this manner, a floating switch unit 7 in which the number of the switch portions is considerably reduced can be configured.
US07989987B2 Photon initiated marxed modulators
The features of this invention allow construction and operation of a variety of high voltage, high repetition rated pulse generators of the Marx type that are switched with photon initiated semiconductor switches of the closing type. The photon initiated semiconductor switches can be constructed with bulk materials or in layered devices such as thyristors. Variations on the invention permit the formation of shaped high voltage pulses; particularly those that are nearly rectangular: with controlled rise and fall times, minimal or no overshoot, and minimal voltage ripple.
US07989984B2 Underwater substation
An underwater substation pod (USP) adapted to collect and process the electrical outputs of an array of offshore power generating devices includes a voltage boosting transformer for combining and transmitting with increased efficiency an amplified version of the collected electrical outputs to an on shore facility. Combining the outputs and transmitting at a higher voltage reduces transmission losses and the number of cables required to transmit the electrical outputs. The USP is mounted on the seabed but operated at atmospheric pressure to accommodate standard components. The pod may be designed to include remotely controlled operation and to have a long service life since few, if any, moving parts are used. Also, the equipment may be designed to have a high degree of redundancy to provide greater reliability.
US07989977B2 Power distribution systems
A power distribution system that can be used in naval ships and submarines includes a first power generation system including at least one power source for supplying power to a first service distribution system that includes at least one dc distribution busbar for carrying a distribution voltage and a distribution current and at least one switchboard that includes protective switchgear with contacts. A zonal power distribution sub-system includes a zonal power supply unit for supplying power to at least one electrical load and a zonal energy store connected to the at least one switchboard of the first service distribution system for supplying power to the zonal power supply unit. The at least one power source is regulated according to a power source foldback and stabilizing characteristic and a power source starting characteristic. The at least one electrical load is regulated according to a load shedding and stabilizing characteristic.
US07989975B2 Apparatus for converting wave energy into electric power
The invention concerns an apparatus for converting wave energy into electric power, comprising a closed floating element (1) and a mass forming element (2), the mass forming element (2) being arranged inside the floating element (1) and mounted mobile relative to the floating element (1), the mass forming element (2) being adapted to be set in relative motion with respect to the floating element (1) under the action of the waves on the floating element (1). The invention is characterized in that it also comprises locking means (13) adapted to lock the movement of the mass forming element (2) and control means adapted to control the locking means (13) for selectively locking or releasing the mass element (2) so as to amplify the movement of the mass forming element (2) by constant adaptation to the dynamics of the apparatus to successive waves.
US07989974B2 Power control of a wind park
A method for regulating a wind energy installation including a rotor-driven generator, a converter connected to the generator, and a controller that regulates power emitted into an energy transmission system to within a limit value involves determining a maximum current value in a connection path, determining a current reserve value for power emitted into an energy transmission system, and determining a correction value for following a limit value of the emitted power from the maximum current value and the current reserve value. The wind energy installation and the method for its regulation also includes the use of a limitation device configured to set a phase angle between an emitted current and voltage of an electrical system in response to a selection signal in such a way that primarily active power or primarily reactive power is fed into the energy transmission system when the maximum current value is reached.
US07989973B2 Fluid-responsive oscillation power generation method and apparatus
Power generation apparatus includes a wing-shaped blade having opposite sides, opposite ends and leading and trailing edges extending between those ends. A lift differential producing device in the blade produces a lift differential at the opposite sides of the blade and that device is switched so that one blade side or the other produces the greater lift. A blade shaft extends along an axis in the blade that is in close parallel relation to the leading edge of the blade and that shaft is fixed to move with the blade. Supports support the blade shaft so that the blade can be positioned in a fluid stream with the leading edge facing upstream and swing about the axis between first and second extreme positions on opposite sides of a neutral position, the blade shaft oscillating with the blade. A coordinating device coordinates the switching of the lift differential producing device with the swinging of the blade so that the switching occurs at the extreme positions of the blade. A method of generating power using the apparatus is also disclosed.
US07989972B2 Electro-magnetic closed-loop speed control for air-turbine spindles
A method an apparatus for providing speed control in a spindle system are provided. The apparatus includes an air turbine spindle that rotates at a speed, an electromagnetic device coupled to the spindle for creating a torque to maintain a desired speed of the spindle, and a tachometer for generating a measurement of the rotational speed of the spindle. The electromagnetic device applies a torque to the spindle in response to the measurement to change the speed of the spindle to the desired speed.
US07989967B2 High-contrast laser mark on substrate surfaces
As part of a first configured laser operation, a smooth, more reflective marking area is formed at a surface of a substrate (e.g., integral heat spreader, or IHS). In a second configured laser operation, a mark is formed at the surface of the substrate within the marking area. The mark contrasts strongly with the reflective surface of the substrate in the marking area. As a result, the mark may be read with an optoelectronic imaging system with a higher rate of reliability than marks disposed at a substrate surface having a microtopographical profile with greater variation from a nominal surface plane. An IHS with a mark so disposed provides benefits when include as a portion of an integrated circuit package, which in turn provides benefits when included as a portion of an electronic system.
US07989963B2 Transistor circuit formation substrate
A specially designed mask controls the arrangement of conductive materials that form a source and drain of a transistor. Designing the mask can be costly and time-consuming, which means that the testing of a circuit involving a transistor can also be costly, time consuming and a barrier towards efficient circuit development and testing. Accordingly, the present invention provides a pre-fabricated, general-purpose pattern comprising an array of conductive islands. The pattern is used as a source and a drain terminal for the formation of a thin-film transistor and as a conductive source for the formation of other electrical components upon the array.
US07989955B2 Semiconductor device, electronic device, and method of producing semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first insulating film that includes a first opening reaching a substrate and that is provided on the substrate, a second insulating film that includes a second opening reaching the substrate through the first opening of the first insulating film and that covers the first insulating film, and a conductive pattern that is provided on the second insulating film so as to be in contact with the substrate through the second opening of the second insulating film.
US07989953B1 Flip chip power switch with under bump metallization stack
A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor substrate a semiconductor substrate having source and drain regions formed therein, an intermediate routing structure to provide electrical interconnects to the source and drain regions, a dielectric layer formed over the intermediate routing structure, and an under-bump-metallization (UBM) stack. The intermediate routing structure includes an outermost conductive layer, and the dielectric layer has an opening positioned over a portion of the intermediate layer routing structure. The UBM stack includes a conductive base layer formed over the dielectric layer and electrically connected to the outermost conductive layer through the opening, and a thick conductive layer formed on the base layer. A conductive bump is positioned on the UBM stack and laterally spaced from the opening.
US07989952B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device having macro circuit including a plurality of fine interconnections, an extension interconnection wider than the fine interconnections, having a first end connected to one or more of the fine interconnections and a second end located in an area of the semiconductor device external to the macro circuit, and one or more of the fine interconnections widened towards the connection to the extension wiring interconnection. The extension interconnection is formed in the same layer as one or more of the interconnections connected to the extension interconnection.
US07989949B2 Heat extraction from packaged semiconductor chips, scalable with chip area
A semiconductor device (100A) with plastic encapsulation compound (102) and metal sheets (103a and 104) on both surfaces, acting as heat spreaders. One or more thermal conductors (103a) of preferably uniform height connect one sheet (103b) and the chip surface (101a); the number of conductors is scalable with the chip size. Each conductor consists of an elongated wire loop (preferably copper) with the wire ends attached to a pad (105), preferably both ends to the same pad. The major loop diameter is approximately normal to the first surface and the loop vertex in contact with the sheet (103b). The substrate (104, preferably a second metal sheet) covers at least portions of the second package surface and is thermally conductively connected to the chip.
US07989947B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor element 1, a thermal conductor 91 located opposite a major surface of the semiconductor element 1, and a mold resin member 6 molding the semiconductor element 1 and at least a part of the thermal conductor 91, wherein at least a part of a top surface of the thermal conductor 91 has an exposed portion exposed from the mold resin member 6, the exposed portion of the thermal conductor 91 has an opening 11, and a periphery of the opening 11 forms a projecting portion 91b projecting toward an opposite side of the semiconductor element 1.
US07989942B2 IC package with capacitors disposed on an interposal layer
An integrated circuit (IC) package with a plurality of chip capacitors placed on a surface of a die is disclosed. The chip capacitors may be placed on top of the die with an interposal substrate layer. Placing chip capacitors on top of the die may reduce the size of the packaging substrate required. One or more wires may be used to connect the chip capacitors on the interposal layer to the packaging substrate. The IC package may include a lid and a thermal interface material (TIM) placed on top of the die. The lid may be shaped such that a protruding portion of the lid contacts the die directly through the TIM to improve heat dissipation.
US07989939B2 Semiconductor package which includes an insulating layer located between package substrates which may prevent an electrical short caused by a bonding wire
Provided is a semiconductor package. The semiconductor package includes a bonding wire electrically connecting a first package substrate and a second package substrate to each other and an insulating layer adhering the first package substrate and the second package substrate to each other and covering a portion of the bonding wire.
US07989938B2 Semiconductor device for fingerprint recognition
A semiconductor device is disclosed that performs fingerprint recognition on the electrostatic-capacity principle. A finger sweeping across a fingerprint recognition area of a semiconductor chip provides positive fingerprint recognition operations with improved reliability.The semiconductor device includes the semiconductor chip having a sensor unit that performs fingerprint recognition, and a substrate having an opening formed in the position corresponding to the sensor unit. The semiconductor chip is flip chip bonded to the substrate such that the sensor unit corresponds to the opening, and except for the formed position of the opening, an under-fill material is provided between the semiconductor chip and the substrate.
US07989937B2 Package structure and manufacturing method thereof
A package structure and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The package structure includes a substrate, a chip and a packing material layer. The substrate has a top surface and a lateral surface. The top surface is connected with the lateral surface. The chip is disposed on the top surface. The packing material layer comprises a body portion and an extending portion. The body portion covers at least a part of the chip and the substrate. The extending portion is connected with the body portion and covers at least a part of the substrate. The extending portion is projected to the lateral surface and made from a transparent material.
US07989931B2 Integrated circuit package system with under paddle leadfingers
An integrated circuit package system is provided including: forming a die paddle; forming an under paddle leadframe including lower leadfingers thereon; attaching the under paddle leadframe to the die paddle with the lower leadfingers extending under the die paddle; attaching a die to the die paddle; and planarizing the bottom surface of the under paddle leadframe to separate the lower leadfingers under the die paddle.
US07989925B2 Method for forming a group III nitride material on a silicon substrate
Semiconductor process technology and devices are provided, including a method for forming a high quality group III nitride layer on a silicon substrate and to a device obtainable therefrom. According to the method, a pre-dosing step is applied to a silicon substrate, wherein the substrate is exposed to at least 0.01 μmol/cm2 of one or more organometallic compounds containing Al, in a flow of less than 5 μmol/min. The preferred embodiments are equally related to the semiconductor structure obtained by the method, and to a device comprising said structure.
US07989924B2 Switching element, programmable logic integrated circuit and memory element
A switching element with a switching voltage set higher than conventional, which includes an ion conduction layer including tantalum oxide, a first electrode provided in contact with the ion conduction layer, and a second electrode provided in contact with the ion conduction layer and capable of supplying the ion conduction layer with metal ions.
US07989919B2 Capacitor arrangement and method for making same
One or more embodiments relate to a semiconductor chip including a capacitor arrangement, the capacitor arrangement comprising: a first capacitor; and a second capacitor stacked above the first capacitor, the first capacitor and the second capacitor coupled in series between a first metallization level and a second metallization level adjacent the first metallization level.
US07989916B2 Integrated capacitors in package-level structures, processes of making same, and systems containing same
An article includes a top electrode that is embedded in a solder mask. An article includes a top electrode that is on a core structure. A process of forming the top electrode includes reducing the solder mask thickness and forming the top electrode on the reduced-thickness solder mask. A process of forming the top electrode includes forming the top electrode over a high-K dielectric that is in a patterned portion of the core structure.
US07989914B2 Anti-fuse cell and its manufacturing process
An anti-fuse cell includes a standard MOS transistor of an integrated circuit, with source and drain regions covered with a metal silicide layer and at least one track of a resistive layer at least partially surrounding the MOS transistor, and adapted to pass a heating current such that the metal of said metal silicide diffuses across drain and/or source junctions.
US07989913B2 Semiconductor device and method for cutting electric fuse
An electric fuse includes: a first interconnect and a second interconnect, formed on a semiconductor substrate; a fuse link, formed on the semiconductor substrate and provided so that an end thereof is coupled to the first interconnect, the fuse link being capable of electrically cutting the second interconnect from the first interconnect; and an electric current inflow terminal and an electric current drain terminal for cutting the fuse link, formed on the semiconductor substrate and provided in one end and another end of the first interconnect, respectively.
US07989907B2 Backside-illuminated solid-state image pickup device
Provided is a backside-illuminated solid-state image pickup device capable of allowing peripheral circuits to produce stable waveforms and thereby achieving image characteristics with less noise, the device including: a first-conductivity-type semiconductor layer having a first principal surface and a second principal surface opposed to the first principal surface and also having a pixel area and an analog circuit area; a first P type area formed to lie between the second principal surface and the first principal surface in the analog circuit area; a metal layer formed at least partially on the second principal surface of the first P type area; a VSS electrode electrically connected to the metal layer; a photo-conversion area formed in the pixel area and used to accumulate electric charges generated by photoelectric conversion; and a microlens provided on the second principal surface in the pixel area so as to correspond to the photo-conversion area.
US07989902B2 Scavenging metal stack for a high-k gate dielectric
A stack of a high-k gate dielectric and a metal gate structure includes a lower metal layer, a scavenging metal layer, and an upper metal layer. The scavenging metal layer meets the following two criteria 1) a metal (M) for which the Gibbs free energy change of the reaction Si+2/y MxOy→2x/y M+SiO2 is positive 2) a metal that has a more negative Gibbs free energy per oxygen atom for formation of oxide than the material of the lower metal layer and the material of the upper metal layer. The scavenging metal layer meeting these criteria captures oxygen atoms as the oxygen atoms diffuse through the gate electrode toward the high-k gate dielectric. In addition, the scavenging metal layer remotely reduces the thickness of a silicon oxide interfacial layer underneath the high-k dielectric. As a result, the equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) of the total gate dielectric is reduced and the field effect transistor maintains a constant threshold voltage even after high temperature processes during CMOS integration.
US07989901B2 MOS devices with improved source/drain regions with SiGe
A semiconductor structure and methods for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; a gate stack on the semiconductor substrate; a SiGe region in the semiconductor substrate and adjacent the gate stack, wherein the SiGe region has a first atomic percentage of germanium to germanium and silicon; and a silicide region over the SiGe region. The silicide region has a second atomic percentage of germanium to germanium and silicon. The second atomic percentage is substantially lower than the first atomic percentage.
US07989899B2 Transistor, inverter including the same and methods of manufacturing transistor and inverter
A transistor, an inverter including the transistor, and methods of manufacturing the inverter and the transistor. A gate insulating layer of the transistor has a charge trap region. A threshold voltage may be moved in a positive (+) direction by trapping charges in the charge trap region. The transistor may be an enhancement mode oxide thin-film transistor (TFT) and may be used as an element of the inverter.
US07989898B2 Method for fabricating a dual workfunction semiconductor device and the device made thereof
A dual workfunction semiconductor device and a device made thereof is disclosed. In one aspect, the device includes a first gate stack in a first region and a second gate stack in a second region. The first gate stack has a first effective workfunction, and the second gate stack has a second effective workfunction different from the first effective workfunction. The first gate stack includes a first gate dielectric capping layer, a gate dielectric host layer, a first metal gate electrode layer, a barrier metal gate electrode, a second gate dielectric capping layer, and a second metal gate electrode. The second gate stack includes a gate dielectric host layer, a first metal gate electrode, a second gate dielectric capping layer, and a second metal gate electrode.
US07989888B2 Semiconductor device with a field stop zone and process of producing the same
Embodiments discussed herein relate to processes of producing a field stop zone within a semiconductor substrate by implanting dopant atoms into the substrate to form a field stop zone between a channel region and a surface of the substrate, at least some of the dopant atoms having energy levels of at least 0.15 eV below the energy level of the conduction band edge of semiconductor substrate; and laser annealing the field stop zone.
US07989885B2 Semiconductor device having means for diverting short circuit current arranged in trench and method for producing same
A semiconductor device has a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type and a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type complementary to the first conductivity type arranged in or on the first semiconductor layer. The semiconductor device has a region of the first conductivity type arranged in the second semiconductor layer. A first electrode contacts the region of the first conductivity type and the second semiconductor layer. A trench extends into the first semiconductor layer, and a voltage dependent short circuit diverter structure has a highly-doped diverter region of the second conductivity type. This diverter region is arranged via an end of a channel region and coupled to a diode arranged in the trench.
US07989884B2 Structure for making a top-side contact to a substrate
A semiconductor structure includes a starting semiconductor substrate having a recessed portion. A semiconductor material is formed in the recessed portion, and has a higher resistivity than the starting semiconductor substrate. A body region extends in the semiconductor material, and has a conductivity type opposite that of the semiconductor material. Source regions extend in the body region, and have a conductivity type opposite that of the body region. A gate electrode extends adjacent to but is insulated from the body region. A first interconnect layer extends over and is in contact with a non-recessed portion of the starting semiconductor substrate. The first interconnect layer and the non-recessed portion provide a top-side electrical contact to portions of the starting semiconductor substrate underlying the semiconductor material.
US07989882B2 Transistor with A-face conductive channel and trench protecting well region
A transistor structure optimizes current along the A-face of a silicon carbide body to form an AMOSFET that minimizes the JFET effect in the drift region during forward conduction in the on-state. The AMOSFET further shows high voltage blocking ability due to the addition of a highly doped well region that protects the gate corner region in a trench-gated device. The AMOSFET uses the A-face conduction along a trench sidewall in addition to a buried channel layer extending across portions of the semiconductor mesas defining the trench. A doped well extends from at least one of the mesas to a depth within the current spreading layer that is greater than the depth of the trench. A current spreading layer extends between the semiconductor mesas beneath the bottom of the trench to reduce junction resistance in the on-state. A buffer layer between the trench and the deep well further provides protection from field crowding at the trench corner.
US07989880B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method of manufacturing the same
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprises a memory string, and a wiring. The memory string comprises a semiconductor layer, a charge storage layer, and a plurality of first conductive layers. The plurality of first conductive layers comprises a stepped portion formed in a stepped shape such that positions of ends of the plurality of first conductive layers differ from one another. The wiring comprises a plurality of second conductive layers extending upwardly from an upper surface of the first conductive layers comprising the stepped portion. The plurality of second conductive layers are formed such that upper ends thereof are aligned with a surface parallel to the substrate, and such that a diameter thereof decreases from the upper end thereof to a lower end thereof. The plurality of second conductive layers are formed such that the greater a length thereof in the perpendicular direction, the larger a diameter of the upper end thereof.
US07989878B2 Cathode cell design
An n-channel insulated gate semiconductor device with an active cell (5) comprising a p channel well region (6) surrounded by an n type third layer (8), the device further comprising additional well regions (11) formed adjacent to the channel well region (6) outside the active semiconductor cell (5) has enhanced safe operating are capability. The additional well regions (11) outside the active cell (5) do not affect the active cell design in terms of cell pitch, i.e. the design rules for cell spacing, and hole drainage between the cells, hence resulting in optimum carrier profile at the emitter side for low on-state losses.
US07989877B2 Semiconductor devices including a dielectric layer
A semiconductor device includes a substrate and a doped hafnium oxide layer disposed on the substrate, the doped hafnium oxide layer including a hafnium oxide layer doped with doping atoms and having tetragonal unit lattices, an ion size of the doping atom being greater than an ion size of a hafnium atom.
US07989876B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
The present invention provides a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device including memory cells capable of electrically writing information, and each of the memory cells includes a first insulating film formed on the channel provided between source/drain diffusion layers, an electric charge accumulation layer formed on the first insulating film and is made of nitride or oxynitride containing at least one selected from Si, Ge, Ga, and Al, a donor layer containing n-type dopant impurity formed on the electric charge accumulation layer and is made of nitride or oxynitride containing at least one selected from among Si, Ge, Ga, and Al, a second insulating film formed on the donor layer, and a control gate electrode formed on the second insulating film.
US07989873B2 Nonvolatile memory and manufacturing method thereof
Memory elements, switching elements, and peripheral circuits to constitute a nonvolatile memory are integrally formed on a substrate by using TFTs. Since semiconductor active layers of memory element TFTs are thinner than those of other TFTs, impact ionization easily occurs in channel regions of the memory element TFTs. This enables low-voltage write/erase operations to be performed on the memory elements, and hence the memory elements are less prone to deteriorate. Therefore, a nonvolatile memory capable of miniaturization can be provided.
US07989869B2 Non-volatile memory devices having improved operational characteristics
Nonvolatile memory devices are provided. Devices include active regions that may be defined by device isolation layers formed on a semiconductor substrate and extend in a first direction. Devices may also include word lines that may cross over the active regions and extend in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The active regions have a first pitch and the word lines have a second pitch that is greater than the first pitch.
US07989867B2 Semiconductor memory device having a semiconductor layer disposed between first and second gate electrodes
A semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor layer, a source/drain layer, first and second insulating films, and first and second gate electrodes. The semiconductor layer of one conductivity type is formed on a principal surface of the semiconductor substrate. The source/drain layer is formed on the principal surface with being in contact with one end of the semiconductor layer, and has a conductivity type opposite to the one conductivity type. The first insulating film is formed on one side surface of the semiconductor layer. The second insulating film is formed on another side surface of the semiconductor layer. The first gate electrode is formed on the one side surface via the first insulating film. The second gate electrode is formed on the other side surface of the semiconductor layer via the second insulating film, and is opposed to the first gate electrode.
US07989862B2 Semiconductor device and its manufacturing method
A semiconductor device is equipped with a plug conductive layer formed in an interlayer dielectric film on a substrate, and a conductive member provided on the plug conductive layer. The semiconductor device further includes a spacer dielectric film formed on the interlayer dielectric film and having a hole section connecting to the plug conductive layer; and a spacer conductive section embedded in the hole section of the spacer dielectric film, connected to the plug conductive layer and connected to the conducive member, wherein the spacer conductive section is formed from a conductive material having self-orientation characteristic, and a top surface of the spacer dielectric film and a top surface of the spacer conductive section are planarized.
US07989860B2 Image sensor and method for manufacturing the same
An image sensor includes a circuitry, a substrate, an electrical junction region, a high concentration first conduction type region, and a photodiode. The circuitry includes a transistor and is formed on and/or over the substrate. The electrical junction region is formed in one side of the transistor. The high concentration first conduction type region is formed on and/or over the electrical junction region. The photodiode is formed over the circuitry.
US07989858B2 Image sensor and method of fabricating the same
Provided are an image sensor and a method of fabricating the same. The image sensor according to an embodiment includes a semiconductor substrate including a circuit region; a metal interconnection layer including a metal interconnection and an interlayer dielectric on the semiconductor substrate; a plurality of first pixel isolation layers on the interlayer dielectric, each of the first pixel isolation layers protruding above a top surface of the interlayer dielectric; and a light receiving portion between the first pixel isolation layers, the light receiving portion including protruding portions along sidewalls of the first pixel isolation layers.
US07989856B2 Fin transistor
A fin transistor includes: a substrate; a plurality of semiconductor fins formed on the substrate; a gate electrode covering a channel region of the semiconductor fins; and a member as a stress source for the semiconductor fins included in a region of the gate electrode and the region provided between the semiconductor fins, and the member being made of a different material from the gate electrode.
US07989854B2 Semiconductor devices having a support structure for an active layer pattern
Semiconductor devices include a semiconductor substrate with a stack structure protruding from the semiconductor substrate and surrounded by an isolation structure. The stack structure includes an active layer pattern and a gap-filling insulation layer between the semiconductor substrate and the active layer pattern. A gate electrode extends from the isolation structure around the stack structure. The gate electrode is configured to provide a support structure for the active layer pattern. The gate electrode may be a gate electrode of a silicon on insulator (SOI) device formed on the semiconductor wafer and the semiconductor device may further include a bulk silicon device formed on the semiconductor substrate in a region of the semiconductor substrate not including the gap-filing insulation layer.
US07989852B2 Integrated circuits and interconnect structure for integrated circuits
An integrated circuit includes N plane-like metal layers. A first plane-like metal layer includes M contact portions that communicate with the N plane-like metal layers, respectively. The first plane-like metal layer and the N plane-like metal layers are located separate planes. First and second drain regions have a symmetric shape across at least one of horizontal and vertical centerlines. First and second gate regions have a first shape that surrounds the first and second drain regions, respectively. First and second source regions are arranged adjacent to and on one side of the first gate region, the second gate region and the connecting region. The first source region, the second source region, the first drain region and the second drain region communicate with at least two of the N plane-like metal layers.
US07989851B2 Multifunctional biosensor based on ZnO nanostructures
The present invention provides the multifunctional biological and biochemical sensor technology based on the integration of ZnO nanotips with bulk acoustic wave (BAW) devices, particularly, quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and thin film bulk acoustic wave resonator (TFBAR). ZnO nanotips provide giant effective surface area and strong bonding sites. Furthermore, the controllable wettability of ZnO nanostructured surface dramatically reduces the liquid consumption and enhances the sensitivity of the biosensor device.
US07989847B2 Semiconductor device having linear-shaped gate electrodes of different transistor types with uniformity extending portions of different lengths
A restricted layout region includes a diffusion level layout that includes a number of diffusion region layout shapes to be formed within a portion of a substrate of a semiconductor device. The diffusion region layout shapes define at least one p-type diffusion region and at least one n-type diffusion region. The restricted layout region includes a gate electrode level layout defined to include rectangular-shaped layout features placed to extend in only a first parallel direction. Some of the rectangular-shaped layout features form gate electrodes of respective PMOS transistor devices, and some of the rectangular-shaped layout features form gate electrodes of respective NMOS transistor devices. A total number of the PMOS transistor devices and the NMOS transistor devices in the restricted layout region of the semiconductor device is greater than or equal to eight. Additionally, the restricted layout region corresponds to an entire gate electrode level of a cell layout.
US07989845B2 Semiconductor device having a hetero-junction bipolar transistor and manufacturing method thereof
The object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor device and the manufacturing method thereof which are capable of preventing decrease in the collector breakdown voltage and reducing the collector resistance. The semiconductor device according to the present invention includes: a HBT formed on a first region of a semiconductor substrate; and an HFET formed on a second region of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the HBT includes: an emitter layer of a first conductivity; a base layer of a second conductivity that has a band gap smaller than that of the emitter layer; a collector layer of the first conductivity or a non-doped collector layer; and a sub-collector layer of the first conductivity which are formed sequentially on the first region, and the HFET includes an electron donor layer including a part of the emitter layer, and a channel layer formed under the electron donor layer.
US07989843B2 Semiconductor and method for producing the same
A method produces a semiconductor by conducting superimposed doping of a plurality of dopants in a semiconductor substrate, which includes evaporating a (2×n) structure by a first dopant and forming its thin line structure on the substrate, then bringing the semiconductor substrate to a temperature capable of epitaxial growth, vapor depositing a second or third or subsequent dopants above the semiconductor substrate where the first dopant has been deposited, then epitaxially growing a semiconductor crystal layer over the semiconductor substrate, subsequently forming a superimposed doping layer composed of the first, second, or the third or subsequent dopants in the semiconductor substrate, and applying an annealing treatment to the superimposed doping layer at a high temperature, thereby activating the plurality of dopants electrically or optically. Superimposed doping of a plurality kinds of elements as dopants is performed to a predetermined depth in the case of an elemental semiconductor.
US07989840B2 Illumination apparatus having a plurality of semiconductor light-emitting devices
An illumination apparatus includes a plurality of semiconductor light-emitting devices, a reflective layer, a plurality of conductor parts and a translucent adhesive layer. Each of the semiconductor light-emitting devices has a translucent substrate, and a semiconductor light-emitting layer formed on the substrate. The reflective layer has a size on which semiconductor light-emitting devices are arranged at intervals. The conductor parts are provided on the reflective layer, and electrically connected to the semiconductor light-emitting devices. The adhesive layer bonds the substrates of the semiconductor light-emitting devices onto the reflective layer, and thereby holds the semiconductor light-emitting devices on the reflective layer.
US07989827B2 Multichip light emitting diode package
A multichip light emitting diode package is provided. The multichip light emitting diode (LED) package includes a substrate having a non-plane surface including a plurality of sectioned-surfaces, a plurality of light emitting diode chips and a transparent molding material. Each of the light emitting diode chips is disposed on one of the sectioned-surfaces of the substrate. The transparent molding material is formed on the substrate for encapsulating the light emitting diode chips. By way of the configurations of the non-plane surface of the substrate and the transparent molding material, the multichip light emitting diode package emits converging light in accordance with the Snell's law. The purposes of evenly mixing emitting lights and improving brightness are achieved. The present invention can provide a single color, multi-color or full-color multichip LED package with uniform brightness and hues.
US07989826B2 Semiconductor light emitting device
Embodiments provide a semiconductor light emitting device which comprises a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer on the first conductive semiconductor layer, a second conductive semiconductor layer on the active layer, and a plurality of third semiconductor structures spaced apart on the second conductive semiconductor layer.
US07989823B2 Light emitting system, light emitting apparatus and forming method thereof
A light emitting system, a light emitting apparatus and the forming method thereof, the light emitting system comprising a plurality of light emitting units (100) and a frame for connecting the light emitting units. Each light emitting unit comprises a substrate (102), one or a plurality of chips (104) disposed on the substrate, an annular member (110) disposed on the substrate and surrounding the chips, the annular member used for adjusting the direction of the light emitted from the chips, and a protective layer (108) covering the chips, wherein the height of the protective layer is not more than that of the annular member.
US07989821B2 Infrared source
A sealed infrared radiation source includes an emitter membrane stimulated by an electrical current conducted through the membrane, which acts like an electrical conductor, wherein the membrane is mounted between first and second housing parts, at least one being transparent in the IR range, each housing part defining a cavity between the membrane and the respective housing part of each side of the membrane. The housing parts are at least partially electrical conductive, and a first of the housing parts is electrically coupled to a first end of the electrical conductor and insulated from the second end of the electrical conductor, the second housing part being electrically coupled to a second end of the electrical conductor and being insulated from the first end of the electrical conductor, thus allowing a current applied from the first housing part to the second housing part to pass through and heat the membrane.
US07989812B2 EL display device and a method of manufacturing the same
To provide a high throughput film deposition means for film depositing an organic EL material made of polymer accurately and without any positional shift. A pixel portion is divided into a plurality of pixel rows by a bank, and a head portion of a thin film deposition apparatus is scanned along a pixel row to thereby simultaneously apply a red light emitting layer application liquid, a green light emitting layer application liquid, and a blue light emitting layer application liquid in stripe shapes. Heat treatment is then performed to thereby form light emitting layers luminescing each of the colors red, green, and blue.
US07989810B2 Semiconductor device, electrooptical apparatus, and electronic system
A semiconductor device on a flexible substrate includes a semiconductor layer constituting a plurality of bottom-gate thin-film transistors, first wiring lines, second wiring lines, a first insulating layer, and a gate insulating film. The first insulating layer and the gate insulating film are present below the semiconductor layer, the first wiring lines, and the second wiring lines and are partially removed in regions where the semiconductor layer, the first wiring lines, and the second wiring lines are not disposed.
US07989805B2 Electronic device improved in heat radiation performance for heat generated from active element
An electronic device of the present invention includes a first substrate provided with a thin film active element, having a thickness of 200 μm or lower, and a second substrate formed with a high thermal conductivity portion. The second substrate is applied to one surface of the two surfaces of the first substrate, i.e., the surface being the side other than the side that formed with the thin film active element. The thin film active element has a maximum power consumption of 0.01 to 1 mW. The high thermal conductivity portion is a region that corresponds to the position of the thin film active element and whose thermal conductivity falls within the range from 0.1 to 4 W/cm·deg.
US07989804B2 Test pattern structure
A test pattern structure including a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer is provided. The second conductive layer is directly disposed on the first conductive layer and connected to the first conductive layer through a plurality of connection interfaces. The test pattern structure of the present invention can detect the interconnection failure quickly and correctly without SEM identification.
US07989801B2 Organic light emitting display device and method of driving the same
Provided are an organic light emitting display device coupled to a photoelectric transistor. The organic light emitting display device includes an anode and a cathode separated from each other, a plurality of organic material layers formed between the anode and the cathode and including an organic light emitting layer, a light source applying an excitation pulse to the organic material layers, and a light receiving unit measuring changes in photoluminescence (PL) signals that are emitted from the organic material layers.
US07989799B2 Surface light emitting element
Provided is a surface light emitting element having a high productivity, a high light emission output and good response characteristics, as well as capable of suppressing an increase of a forward voltage necessary for light emission. A surface light emitting element according to the present invention is a vertical cavity surface light emitting element including: an active layer 5 in which a quantum well layer 51 and a barrier layer 52 are alternately laminated; and reflective layers disposed both above and below the active layer 5, wherein assuming that a center-to-center distance of a plurality of the quantum well layers is L, a light emission wavelength of the surface light emitting element is λ, and an average refractive index of an optical length of a resonator, being a distance between the reflective layers is n, a condition of λ/(15×n)≦L≦λ/(10×n) is satisfied.
US07989798B2 Fabricating arrays of metallic nanostructures
A patterned array of metallic nanostructures and fabrication thereof is described. A device comprises a patterned array of metallic columns vertically extending from a substrate. Each metallic column is formed by metallically coating one of an array of non-metallic nanowires catalytically grown from the substrate upon a predetermined lateral pattern of seed points placed thereon according to a nanoimprinting process. An apparatus for fabricating a patterned array of metallic nanostructures is also described.
US07989797B2 Connectible nanotube circuit
Carbon nanotube template arrays may be edited to form connections between proximate nanotubes and/or to delete undesired nanotubes or nanotube junctions.
US07989794B2 Resistance change memory device for storing information in a non-volatile manner by changing resistance of memory material
A resistance change memory device including a substrate, first and second wiring lines formed above the substrate to be insulated from each other, and memory cells disposed between the first and second wiring lines, wherein the memory cell includes: a variable resistance element for storing as information a resistance value; and a Schottky diode connected in series to the variable resistance element. The variable resistance element has: a recording layer formed of a composite compound containing at least one transition element and a cavity site for housing a cation ion; and electrodes formed on the opposite sides of the recording layer, one of which serves as a cation source in a write or erase mode for supplying a cation to the recording layer to be housed in the cavity site therein.
US07989792B2 Abrupt metal-insulator transition device with parallel MIT material layers
An abrupt MIT (metal-insulator transition) device with parallel MIT material layers is provided. The abrupt MIT device includes a first electrode disposed on a certain region of a substrate, a second electrode disposed so as to be spaced a predetermined distance apart from the first electrode, and at least one MIT material layer electrically connecting the first electrode with the second electrode and having a width that allows the entire region of the MIT material layer to be transformed into a metal layer due to an MIT. Due to this configuration, deterioration of the MIT material layer, which is typically caused by current flowing through the MIT material layer, is less likely to occur.
US07989789B2 Phase-change memory device that stores information in a non-volatile manner by changing states of a memory material
A phase-change memory device has a plurality of first wiring lines WL extending in parallel to each other, a plurality of second wiring lines BL which are disposed to cross the first wiring lines WL while being separated or isolated therefrom, and memory cells MC which are disposed at respective cross points of the first wiring lines WL and the second wiring lines BL and each of which has one end connected to a first wiring line WL and the other end connected to a second wiring line BL. The memory cell MC has a variable resistive element VR which stores as information a resistance value determined due to phase change between crystalline and amorphous states thereof, and a Schottky diode SD which is connected in series to the variable resistive element VR.
US07989788B2 Determining position of a media page using a slot in the imaging drum
A method for determining a position of a mechanical edge of a reference edge of a sheet of recording media relative to a first edge of a drum slot in a cylindrical surface of an imaging drum, the method includes mounting the sheet of recording media on the imaging drum in an orientation wherein the reference edge extends along the cylindrical surface of the imaging drum in a substantially axial direction and wherein the reference edge extends over the first edge of the drum slot; establishing at least one acute apex diffuse light source in the slot; capturing at least one digital camera image of the reference edge and the at least one acute apex diffuse light source; and determining from the at least one digital camera image a location of at least one point on the mechanical edge.
US07989787B2 Structure element, in particular for radiation shielding constructions
There is a structure element, in particular for radiation shielding constructions, having at least one floor plate and at least one wall section and/or at least one ceiling section. The structure element is characterized in that the at least one wall section and/or the at least one ceiling section comprise/comprises at least two shell elements made from metal, plastic and/or wood and a layer which lies in between and is made from radiation shielding materials. In addition, a construction, in particular a radiation shielding construction, is proposed having at least one floor plate and/or ceiling plate which delimits a storey and a structure element described above.
US07989784B2 Ion implantation apparatus and a method
A hydrogen ion implanter for the exfoliation of silicon from silicon wafers uses a large scan wheel carrying 50+ wafers around its periphery and rotating about an axis. In one embodiment, the axis of rotation of the wheel is fixed and a ribbon beam of hydrogen ions is directed down on a peripheral edge of the wheel. The ribbon beam extends over the full radial width of wafers on the wheel. The beam is generated by an ion source providing an extracted ribbon beam having at least 100 mm major cross-sectional diameter. The ribbon beam may be passed through a 90° bending magnet which bends the beam in the plane of the ribbon. The magnet provides intensity correction across the ribbon to compensate for the dependency on the radial distance from the wheel axis of the speed at which parts of the wafers pass through the ribbon beam.
US07989783B2 Nanolithography system
A nanolithography system comprising a novel optical printing head suitable for high throughput nanolithography. This optical head enables a super-resolution lithographic exposure tool that is otherwise compatible with the optical lithographic process infrastructure. The exposing light is transmitted through specially designed super-resolution apertures, of which the “C-aperture” is one example, that create small but bright images in the near-field transmission pattern. A printing head comprising an array of these apertures is held in close proximity to the wafer to be exposed. In one embodiment, an illumination source is divided into parallel channels that illuminate each of the apertures. Each of these channels can be individually modulated to provide the appropriate exposure for the particular location on the wafer corresponding to the current position of the aperture. A data processing system is provided to re-interpret the layout data into a modulation pattern used to drive the individual channels. In one embodiment of the invention, the exposure head remains stationary while the material to be exposed rotates beneath the head. Such an embodiment comprises a circular data fracturing system to process the layout data to determine the correct modulation pattern.
US07989782B2 Apparatus and method for specimen fabrication
A specimen fabricating apparatus comprises: a specimen stage, on which a specimen is placed; a charged particle beam optical system to irradiate a charged particle beam on the specimen; an etchant material supplying source to supply an etchant material, which contains fluorine and carbon in molecules thereof, does not contain oxygen in molecules thereof, and is solid or liquid in a standard state; and a vacuum chamber to house therein the specimen stage. A specimen fabricating method comprises the steps of: processing a hole in the vicinity of a requested region of a specimen by means of irradiation of a charged particle beam; exposing the requested region by means of irradiation of the charged particle beam; supplying an etchant material, which contains fluorine and carbon in molecules thereof, does not contain oxygen in molecules thereof, and is solid or liquid in a standard state, to the requested region as exposed; and irradiating the charged particle beam on the requested region as exposed.
US07989780B2 UV fluorometric sensor and method for using the same
An ultraviolet (UV) fluorometric sensor measures a chemical concentration in a sample based on the measured fluorescence of the sample. The sensor includes a controller, at least one UV light source, and at least one UV detector. The sensor emits UV light in a wavelength range of 245-265 nm from the light source through the sample in an analytical area. The UV detector measures the fluorescence emission from the sample. The controller transforms output signals from the UV detector into fluorescence values or optical densities for one or more wavelengths in the wavelength range of 265-340 nm. The controller calculates the chemical concentration of the chemical in the sample based on the measured fluorescence emissions.
US07989779B1 Universal door handle sanitizer device
A universal ultraviolet light sanitation device that can be mounted to existing doors and the like wherein the UV light sources are positioned for treatment of a door knob or handle. The device provides for opposing UV lights in a light emitting housing around the doorknob. Sensor means within the assembly determines the non-presence of the user's hand and activates the UV lights before and after handle contact assuring sanitation of the light exposed non-porous surfaces.
US07989778B2 Charged-particle optical system with dual loading options
A charged-particle optical system (100) such as an electron microscope has a vacuum chamber (102) with a space (104) for accommodating a specific one (114) of multiple specimens in operational use. The charged-particle optical system has a loader (106) with a part (108) that is moveable into and out of the space. The part is configured for attaching a specimen carrier (110), brought from outside the system, to a first holder (112) or to detach the carrier from the first holder and to remove the carrier from inside the system. The carrier accommodates a first specimen. The system has an interface (116) in a wall of the chamber for removably accommodating the first holder (112) or a second holder (118) with a second specimen (120) mounted thereon.
US07989776B2 Corrective for eliminating the third-order aperture aberration and the first-order, first-degree axial, chromatic aberration
A corrective for eliminating the third-order aperture aberration and the first-order, first-degree axial chromatic aberration includes two correction pieces, which are arranged one behind the other in the direction of the optical axis, in which each correction piece has a plurality of quadrupole fields (QP) and at least one octupole field (OP.) Each correction piece is constructed such that it is symmetrical with respect to its central plane (S, S′) with each correction piece having an uneven number of at least five quadrupole fields (QP) and at least one octupole field (OP). Each correction piece is further constructed so that it is symmetrical with respect to its central plane. The central quadrupole field is arranged so that it is centered with respect to the central plane of the correction piece and is electromagnetic. The quadrupole fields of the two correction pieces are antisymmetrical and a transfer lens system is arranged such that it is symmetrical with respect to the central plane of the corrective between the correction pieces. The transfer lens system has two round lenses and the setting of the transfer lens system takes place so that the two round lenses image the central plane of the two correction pieces anamorphically onto one another, in which the enlargement in one main section is the reciprocal of the enlargement in the other main section and with an octupole field superimposed on the central quadrupole field.
US07989775B2 Sensor systems and methods using entangled quanta
A sensor system comprises an entangled quantum generator operable to generate an entangled quanta signal including a plurality of entangled quanta. A carrier signal generator generates a carrier signal that includes electromagnetic field (EMF) pulses. The power of the carrier signal is less than the power required to ionize a propagating medium through which the carrier signal is traveling. A beam combiner is configured to output a combined signal that includes the entangled quanta signal in an EMF pulse of the carrier signal. A quantum detector is configured to detect a return signal based on the combined signal being reflected by a target.
US07989770B2 Control unit and control method for radiation source and radiation inspection system and method thereof
A radiation inspection system is disclosed. The radiation inspection system comprises: an inspection passage through which a moving object under inspection can pass, a radiation source disposed on a side of the inspection passage for emitting radiation, an array of detectors disposed on the other side of the inspection passage opposite to the radiation source for receiving the radiation emitted from the radiation source, a detector for detecting the moving object, and a controller for receiving a signal from the detector and controlling the radiation source to emit radiation when the detector detects the moving object for radiation imaging and inspection of the moving object. According to the radiation inspection system, the controller can control the radiation source to automatically emit radiation beam based on the detection signal from the detector for inspecting the moving object. As a result, inspection efficiency is improved, safety is increased, and misoperation of the radiation source is eliminated.
US07989769B2 In-cabinet thermal monitoring method and system
Thermographic imaging equipment is incorporated directly into cabinets housing electrical switchgear to provide for dedicated, nearly continuous monitoring of the contained equipment. A mechanical scanning technique may allow low-cost sensors to provide essentially continuous thermographic monitoring. Dedicated thermal imaging equipment allows automatic analysis through predefined temperature threshold maps.
US07989765B2 Method and apparatus for trapping ions
An ion trap comprising elongate rods, electrodes, a first circuit, and a second circuit. The rods are for defining the radial extent of a trapping volume. The first circuit is connected to the rods for applying thereto a first RF signal that generates adjacent the trapping volume a radial RF containment field that radially contains ions of different polarities within the trapping volume. The electrodes define the axial extent of the trapping volume. The second circuit is connected to the electrodes for applying thereto a second RF signal that generates adjacent the trapping volume an axial RF containment field that axially contains the ions of different polarities within the trapping volume. The axial RF containment field is independent of the radial RF containment field.
US07989764B2 Ion trap mass spectrometry method
According to an aspect of the present invention, there are provided an ion trap mass spectrometry method and an ion trap mass spectrometry device using a mass spectrometer, the mass spectrometer including: an ion source part for ionizing a sample; an ion trap part for trapping ions generated in the ion source; a main high frequency power source for applying a main high frequency voltage to the ion trap part, and an auxiliary high frequency power source for applying an auxiliary high frequency voltage thereto; and a detector for detecting the ions ejected from the ion trap. The ion trap mass spectrometry method and the ion trap mass spectrometry device includes the steps of: accumulating desired ions into the ion trap part by ejecting undesired ions while accumulating ions into the ion trap part; and ejecting undesired ions that remain in the ion trap part and leaving the desired ions in the ion trap part are repeated alternately.
US07989763B2 Electrospray systems and methods
Electrospray systems, electrospray structures, removable electrospray structures, methods of operating electrospray systems, and methods of fabricating electrospray systems, are disclosed.
US07989759B2 Cleaned daughter ion spectra from maldi ionization
In a mass spectrometer having an ion source in which analyte substances are ionized by matrix assisted laser desorption and form an ion beam that travels to a parent ion selector for selecting ions to form daughter ions, the ion beam is reflected in at least one reflector prior to the parent ion selector so that only ions that have both the mass of the parent ions and their kinetic energy are allowed to pass to the parent ion selector. By taking this measure, the mass resolution in the daughter ion spectra is also increased; the improved mass resolution and improved signal-to-noise ratio produce higher sensitivity, even though fewer ions are admitted for analysis in the daughter ion spectrum.
US07989757B2 Apparatus and method for wound diagnosis
A configurable scanner (1), for contactless measurement of the depth and perimeter of a wound on a target body part (9), has a scan head (4), and is configured to be controlled by a processor (3) for controlling a scanning procedure and analyzing the results. The scan head (4) projects a contour line onto a surface the target body part, and captures an image of the projected contour line. A series of captured images are analyzed to create a three dimensional model of the wound, and determine at least one of depth, perimeter and volume of the wound from the three dimensional model.
US07989755B2 Apparatus for photon detection including a sample cell with an outer surface with a curved bottom, and a pinhole created on a pinhole plate
The object of the present invention is to acquire the brightness of NA>1 while alleviating the requirement for the precision of positioning for the collection lens of the sample cell in a non-liquid immersion system. In order to achieve the object mentioned above, the bottom of the sample cell is formed in a curved surface, and an arrangement is made to ensure that the fluorescence irradiated from the focusing point would be parallel pencils when emitted by the cell, and in addition a pinhole is disposed at the focal point of the fluorescence collection lens.
US07989746B2 Rail-type solar tracking system with focusing function
The invention relates to a rail-type solar tracking system with a focusing function. The invention includes a plurality of support elements, a Fresnel lens, a rail platform, a load bearing platform and a pushing device. The system moves a solar cell on the load bearing platform to a focus position where sunlight is focused by the Fresnel lens to collect solar energy. Hence, the invention collects solar energy without moving heavy lens so as to reduce power consumption and improve the electric power generating efficiency of the solar cell.
US07989738B2 Grommet assembly for warming liquids on work surface
A liquid warming grommet assembly (400, 500) maintains liquids or other materials in a vessel (406) at a desired temperature. The grommet assembly (400, 500) includes a grommet (408) receivable within an aperture in a work surface (404). A heating element (440) is receivable within a casing (410) of the grommet (408), and an upper warmer plate (444) is positioned at the upper portion of the heating element (440) and is substantially flush with the work surface (404).
US07989737B2 Steam generator and heating cooking apparatus having the same
A heating cooking apparatus including a body, a steam container, a steam heater, and a heater covering portion. The body has a cooking compartment in which food is disposed. The steam container includes a chamber, a water supply portion to supply water into the chamber, and a steam discharge portion to discharge steam generated in the chamber into the cooking compartment. The steam heater has a chamber bottom forming portion that is coupled to a lower end of the steam container so as to cover a bottom of the chamber and adapted to heat water supplied into the chamber. The heater covering portion is configured to cover a rim of the steam heater. Covering the rim of the steam heater using the heater covering portion alleviates the risk of power leakage accidents caused when water at the outside of a steam generator comes into contact with the steam heater.
US07989734B2 Hair styling appliance
To prevent over-heating and moisture loss of hair being styled by the influence of heat and pressure such as by a straightener, a hair styling appliance with two clamping members at least one of which includes a heating member for clamping hair to be styled. At least one of the clamping members includes a cooling member, seen in operating direction, is behind the heating member. During the straightening process, the hair will be straightened by the hot plates and then subsequently be cooled down by the cold plates.
US07989733B2 Device for heating a cylindrical component and use in assembling an inter-shaft bearing in a turbomachine
A device for heating a cylindrical component of given diameter is disclosed. The device includes at least two heaters each delivering a stream of hot gas and emerging in an annular chamber. The inside diameter of the annular chamber is slightly greater than the diameter of the cylindrical component. The device may be used for heating a metal journal in which a bearing ring for an inter-shaft bearing in a double-body turbomachine is mounted.
US07989729B1 Detecting and repairing defects of photovoltaic devices
An apparatus for both detecting and repairing a shunt defect in a solar cell substrate. A shunt detection module detects the shunt defect in the substrate, using at least one of lock-in thermography and current-voltage testing. A process diagnostic module determines whether the substrate should be passed without further processing by the apparatus, rejected without further processing by the apparatus, or repaired by the apparatus. A shunt repair module electrically isolates the shunt defect in the substrate. In this manner, a single apparatus can quickly check for shunts and make a determination as to whether the substrate is worth repairing. If it is worth repairing, then the apparatus can make the repairs to the substrate.
US07989728B2 Method and device for producing a tear line in a vehicle interior trim part
A method and a device for producing a tear line in a vehicle interior trim part, in which a laser beam is guided along a tear line and a material ablation in the form of holes with a residual wall thickness is effected. On the side facing the laser beam, the complete extent of the tear line is detected by a stationary matrix camera. In the machining at a machining site, only pixels of a CMOS matrix camera that are known in advance, for which the incidence of a measurement radiation is expected at this machining site, are read out. The laser is preferably scanned and non-adjacent machining sites are machined successively.
US07989727B2 High visibility plasma arc torch
An improved torch providing high visibility of the work zone to the operator, an increased viewing angle, and a reduced obstruction angle. The high visibility torch includes consumables adapted to maintain torch and consumables performance while reducing visual obstruction to the user, by coordinating, balancing, and optimizing design requirements and stack up tolerances. The invention also includes a related low-profile safety switch that promotes workpiece visibility and minimizes view obstruction.
US07989726B2 Electrical device containing insulating gas under pressure and including a composite insulator provided with a window for observing contacts
The gas-tight, high or medium voltage electric switch device (1), containing an insulating gas under pressure, comprises switch contacts (2) capable of occupying an open position and a closed position and disposed inside a composite insulator formed by a rigid tube (3) surrounded by an elastomer casing (4) whose outside surface defines a succession of annular fins. The rigid tube and the elastomer casing are arranged so as to define an observation window (7) that is at least translucent, and through which the open or closed position of the switch contacts is visible.
US07989725B2 Proximity sensor for a vehicle
A proximity sensor for controlling a component that may be installed on a window, on an interior or exterior pillar of a vehicle, on a control panel or any suitable location on a vehicle or any other structure. The sensor includes a substrate and a conductive layer disposed on the substrate. The conductive layer is formed from a conductive ink composition with the conductive layer defining at least one circuit for controlling the component when a user is in proximity to the conductive layer. A protective layer is disposed over the conductive layer. At least one of the conductive layer and the protective layer defines a graphic formed through the layer for visual identification to the user.
US07989716B2 Keypad assembly and electronic device using same
A keypad assembly is used for an electronic device. The keypad assembly includes a support member, and a plurality of key strips. The support member defines a plurality of openings and a plurality of cantilever plates, each cantilever plate extending into a corresponding opening. The key strips are received in the openings. Each key strip defines a slot, and each cantilever plate is received in a slot. The cantilever plates provide force to extend one portion of the key strips from the receiving groove.
US07989715B2 Vehicular operation switch and method for controlling the same
An operation switch for a vehicle includes a light source and a grease. The light source is provided to illuminate a switch knob from a rear face side of the switch knob. The grease is applied to a sliding part. The light source is forcibly activated based on temperature information in a passenger compartment of the vehicle.
US07989714B2 High capacity and high resolution scale
A scale can include a low capacity sensing mechanism operatively coupled to a load, wherein the low capacity sensing mechanism may detect movement of the load. A transfer mechanism can be operatively coupled to the low capacity sensing mechanism, wherein the low capacity sensing mechanism may enable the scale to weigh both relatively heavy loads and relatively light loads to a minor division resolution associated with the low capacity sensing mechanism.
US07989710B2 Covered in-floor receptacle box
An in-floor receptacle or electrical conduit box with a compartment divider removably attached to a gang-plate divider, a gang-plate divider removably attached to a gang-unit holder, at least one gang-unit holder removably attached to the inside of the box, and at least one knockout located on each side or floor of the box. The in-floor electrical conduit box enables the connection of permanent cables, wires or cords to temporary cables, wires or cords.The in-floor electrical conduit box further comprises a lid with at least one removable door whereby the removal of the door permits cable access to the box while the box is still covered.
US07989708B2 Multi-layer wiring board
In a multi-layer wiring board in which board wirings are arranged in a plurality of wiring layers so as to be connected via a through hole, two through holes are provided in parallel, and two through holes are connected therebetween in both end portions of the respective through holes or one end portion thereof by the wiring board.
US07989706B2 Circuit board with embedded component and method of manufacturing same
A circuit board has an embedded electronic component such as an integrated circuit chip with a wafer level chip size package. A via hole extends through the electronic component. Another via hole extends through the substrate or prepreg on which the electronic component is mounted inside the circuit board. Conductors in the via holes enable a terminal on the surface of the electronic component to be electrically connected to a wiring pattern or another electronic component on the opposite side of the substrate or prepreg. Routing the connection through the electronic component itself saves space and reduces the length of the connection.
US07989704B2 Electric insulator and a method for the production thereof
An electrical insulator including a tube surrounded by an insulating sheath. The insulating sheath is composed of a filled, hardened, flexibilized, hydrophobic, cycloaliphatic epoxy resin containing from 25 to 75 percent by weight of mineral filler. The process for manufacturing this insulator includes the steps of installing the insulator tube or a precursor of the tube in an electrical insulator mold, feeding the filled unhardened hydrophobic cycloaliphatic epoxy resin in the mold so as to form the sheath, hardening the resin inserted in the mold so as to obtain the insulator, and extracting the insulator obtained from the mold.
US07989699B1 Electrical device mounting boxes
An electrical device mounting box assembly includes an electrical device mounting box and a removable mud cover coupled to the electrical device mounting box via at least one living hinge. The living hinge may be severed by fatiguing the living hinge or by mechanical severance. The removable mud cover may includes a latch to maintain the removable mud cover in a closed position. A rear face of the removable mud cover, which faces a front opening of the electrical device mounting box when the removable mud cover is in a closed position, may includes a cavity configured to receive a face of an electrical device mounted in the electrical device mounting box when the removable mud cover is in a closed position. The removable mud cover may includes a narrow imprinter configured to imprint drywall when drywall is pressed against the narrow imprinter.
US07989693B2 Substrate and collector grid structures for integrated series connected photovoltaic arrays and process of manufacture of such arrays
The invention teaches novel structure and methods for producing electrical current collectors and electrical interconnection structure. Such articles find particular use in facile production of modular arrays of photovoltaic cells. The current collector and interconnecting structures may be initially produced separately from the photovoltaic cells thereby allowing the use of unique materials and manufacture. Subsequent combination of the structures with photovoltaic cells allows facile and efficient completion of modular arrays. Methods for combining the collector and interconnection structures with cells and final interconnecting into modular arrays are taught.
US07989689B2 Electronic music stand performer subsystems and music communication methodologies
An electronic music stand system and methodologies relating thereto are presented. The electronic music stand system is comprised of a performer subsystem comprising a processing subsystem, librarian logic, performance logic, and communications management logic. The communications management logic provides management of communication via the communications interface with external apparatus responsive to the performance logic and the librarian logic. The user input apparatus and the display apparatus can be integrated into a touch-screen input display. The present invention also relates to a method for providing for video display of music responsive to the music data stored in a music database. The method is comprised of defining a page of music image data from the music database; defining ordered logical sections; storing the mapping in a memory for selective retrieval; and providing for the video display of the music responsive to the mapping and the storing.
US07989686B1 Maize variety PHV7Y
A novel maize variety designated PHV7Y and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHV7Y with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHV7Y through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHV7Y or a trait conversion of PHV7Y with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHV7Y, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHV7Y and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods.
US07989673B2 High energy disinfection of waste
An apparatus subjects fluid waste to waves from an RF plasma. This allows continuous production of “activated water” characterized by cluster sizes below about 4 molecules per cluster, water having pH below 4 or above 10, or water having ORP of less than −350 mV or more than +800 mV. The basic frequency of the plasma is preferably between 0.44 MHz and 40.68 MHz, and the plasma is preferably modulated at a frequency between 10 kHz and 34 kHz. Flow rates typically range from 20 1/hr to about 2000 1 hr.
US07989671B2 Process for the conversion of renewable oils to liquid transportation fuels
A method of producing a hydrocarbon product by hydrotreating a feedstock comprising triacylglyceride (TAG) in the presence of a nonsulfided hydrotreating catalyst to produce a first product comprising hydrocarbons. A method of producing a transportation fuel by selecting an undoped feedstock comprising virgin TAG, used TAG, or a combination thereof; hydrotreating the undoped feedstock in the presence of an unsulfided hydrotreating catalyst to produce a first product; and subjecting the first product to at least one process selected from aromatization, cyclization, and isomerization; to produce a second hydrocarbon product selected from gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel, and diesel fuels.
US07989668B2 Lowering nitrogen-containing Lewis bases in molecular sieve oligomerisation
Nitrogen-containing Lewis bases act as poisons for molecular sieve catalysts used in oligomerisation reactions. A lowering of their presence in the feed prior to the contacting thereof with the molecular sieve brings a significant extension of catalyst life. Excessive elimination of these poisons may be disadvantageous. Lowering the levels of these catalyst poisons to more manageable concentrations is therefore preferred.
US07989666B2 Method for preparing bisphenol A
The present invention discloses a method for preparing bisphenol A, comprising the following steps: transferring phenol and acetone into a reaction zone charged with condensation catalyst, obtaining a stream containing bisphenol A after reaction; transferring the obtained stream containing bisphenol A into a rectification zone, obtaining a product fraction primarily containing bisphenol A and phenol; and transferring the product fraction primarily containing bisphenol A and phenol into a crystallization zone to obtain a bisphenol A product; wherein a water-depleted fraction primarily containing phenol, bisphenol A and acetone is obtained from the rectification zone, and said water-depleted fraction is cooled and returned as a cycled stream to the reaction zone. Through cycling the water-depleted fraction to the reaction zone, the water content within the reaction zone can be reduced, the catalytic activity can be maintained and the reaction temperature rise can be controlled, thus the conversion of acetone and the selectivity of reaction can be improved accordingly.
US07989658B2 Process for the purification of gabapentin
The present invention relates to a process for the purification of gabapentin. The process relates to the addition of hydrochloric acid to an aqueous solution or suspension of gabapentin, before, during or after the concentration step of that solution, and the subsequent slurry of the gabapentin by the addition of an alcoholic solvent. The so obtained gabapentin has an high purity degree and, in particular, is characterized by a low content of lactam.
US07989657B2 Anthranilic acid derivatives
The invention is concerned with novel anthranilic acid derivatives of formula (I) wherein R1 to R14, m and n are as defined in the description and in the claims, as well as physiologically acceptable salts and esters thereof. These compounds are HM74A agonists and can be used as medicaments.
US07989655B2 Thiol ester compositions and processes for making and using same
Thiol ester compositions, methods of making the thiol ester compositions, and methods of using the thiol ester compositions are provided. In some embodiments, the thiol ester compositions include thiol esters, hydroxy thiol esters and cross-linked thiol esters. The thiol ester composition can be used to produce cross-linked thiol esters, sulfonic acid-containing esters, sulfonate containing esters and thioacrylate containing esters. The thiol ester compositions can be used to produce polythiourethanes. The polythiourethanes can be used in fertilizers and fertilizer coatings.
US07989650B2 Therapeutic delivery of carbon monoxide to extracorporeal and isolated organs
Metal carbonyls are used to deliver CO to organs to limit post-ischaemic damage. The organ may be extracorporeal, e.g. for use in a transplant, or may be an isolated organ inside or attached to the body but isolated from the blood flow. The carbonyl preferably has one or more other ligands other than CO, such as amino acids, to modulate the CO release property and solubility.
US07989647B2 Polyols derived from a vegetable oil using an oxidation process
A method for producing a vegetable oil-derived polyol having increased hydroxyl functionality by reacting a vegetable oil with an oxidizing agent in the presence of an organometallic catalyst is provided. The resulting higher functionality polyols derived from vegetable oil produced by the process are also provided. Also provided is a method for decreasing the acid value of a vegetable oil-derived polyol by reacting the vegetable oil-derived polyol with an epoxide component in the presence of a Lewis base catalyst. Urethane products produced using higher functional vegetable oil-derived polyols and/or lower acid vegetable oil-derived polyols are also provided.
US07989641B2 Methods of synthesizing N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbonates
The present disclosure relates to methods of synthesizing N-hydroxysuccinimidyl-carbonate intermediates from the corresponding sulfones useful in the preparation of 1-(acyloxy)-alkyl carbamate prodrugs.
US07989639B2 Process for making salts of N-hydroxy-3-[4-[[[2-(2-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]amino]methyl]phenyl]-2E-2-propenamide
Salts of N-hydroxy-3-[4-[[[2-(2-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]amino]methyl]phenyl]-2E-2-propenamide are prepared by various methods.
US07989637B2 Triazole-substituted arylamides as P2X3 and P2X2/3 antagonists
Compounds of the formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein, R1 is optionally substituted triazolyl, and R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 are as defined herein. Also disclosed are methods of using the compounds for treating diseases associated with P2X3 and/or a P2X2/3 receptor antagonists and methods of making the compounds.
US07989635B2 Method for producing purified ammonium salt of fluorinated bis-sulfonylimide
Methods for preparing an ammonium salt and a lithium salt of a fluorinated bis-sulfonylimide by a practical and efficient method with a high yield with a small number of steps. Further, a high purity ammonium salt of a fluorinated bis-sulfonylimide useful for the method for producing a lithium salt is provided.A method for producing a purified particulate solid (II) of a salt represented by the formula (1), which comprises suspending a particulate solid (I) of a salt represented by the formula (1) in a solvent comprising an etheric oxygen atom-containing compound, and separating the solvent by filtration: [HNR3]+[Q1-SO2—N—SO2-Q2]−  (1) wherein each of R's which may be the same or different, is a hydrogen atom or a C1-10 alkyl group, and each of Q1 and Q2 which are independent of each other, is a monovalent fluoroorganic group, or Q1 and Q2 together form a bivalent fluoroorganic group.