最新美国发明专利
Document Document Title
US08670686B2 Image forming apparatus having registration designation for optional apparatus
The main body of the image forming system includes an image forming apparatus; an optional apparatus; and a communication unit configured to perform communication between the main body of the image forming apparatus and the optional apparatus. The optional apparatus includes one optional control unit for controlling multiple optional functions, and the main body of the image forming apparatus includes a registration designation unit configured to designate registration of an ID number to the one optional control unit of the optional apparatus by the communication unit to designate registration of an ID number to the one optional control unit of the optional apparatus. The one optional control unit assigns an ID number to each of the multiple optional functions according to the designation from the main body of the image forming apparatus.
US08670685B2 Mounting method of cleaning blade and image forming apparatus having cleaning blade
A cleaning blade mounting method includes the steps of: moving a toner image carrier on which a toner layer is formed so that the toner layer reaches a cleaning position by a cleaning device; after bringing a tip of a cleaning blade into contact with the toner layer, bringing the tip into contact with the toner image carrier, mounting the cleaning blade to a temporary position with a second load lower than a first load that is a contact load at a time of an image formation; moving the cleaning blade with the second load from the temporary position to a final position at which a cleaning operation is carried out; bringing the cleaning blade with the first load into contact with the toner image carrier; and mounting the cleaning blade to the final position at the time of the image formation.
US08670684B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus of the present disclosure includes: an image carrier configured to carry toner patches; a first sensor configured to irradiate S-polarized light to a low-density patch in a predetermined low density range among the toner patches, and to receive reflection light from the low-density patch; and a second sensor configured to irradiate P-polarized light to a high-density patch in a predetermined high density range among the toner patches, and to receive reflection light from the high-density patch.
US08670682B2 Image forming apparatus with paper presence and paper width sensor
An image forming apparatus realizes two functions using a single actuator to sense the width and presence of a printing medium and a single sensor to sense operation of the actuator, resulting in reduced manufacturing costs.
US08670679B2 Coherent optical receiving apparatus and optical signal processing method
Provided is a coherent optical receiving apparatus and an optical signal processing method. The coherent optical receiving apparatus may include an optical hybrid unit to generate an optical signal by combining a first optical signal inputted from an optical transmitting apparatus and a second optical signal inputted from a local oscillator, a polarization demuxer to demultiplex the optical signal outputted from the optical hybridizing unit, a frequency offset compensator to estimate a frequency offset of at least one of even-numbered samples and odd-numbered samples, and to compensate for a frequency offset of the even-numbered samples and a frequency offset of the odd-numbered samples using the at least one estimated frequency offset, and a carver distortion compensator to compensate for phase distortions of the samples for which the compensation for the frequency offset is performed, the phase distortions being generated by the optical transmitting apparatus.
US08670677B2 Remote control signal receiving circuit
The invention is directed to decreasing the power consumption of a remote control signal receiving circuit. A receiving circuit includes a timing signal generation circuit generating a timing signal, a power supply circuit intermittently operating a light receiving element receiving a remote control signal by supplying power to the light receiving element when the timing signal is at a first level and by halting supplying power to the light receiving element when the timing signal is at a second level, a sampling signal generation circuit generating a sampling signal during the operation of the light receiving element corresponding to the timing signal, a sampling circuit sampling an output signal from the light receiving element corresponding to the sampling signal, and a detection circuit detecting the output signal sent from the light receiving element and sampled by the sampling circuit.
US08670675B2 System and method for distortion compensation including configureable delay
A distortion compensation circuit including a configurable delay may be used with one or more non-linear elements, such as a laser, to compensate for distortion generated by the non-linear element(s), for example, in broadband RF applications. Embodiments of the distortion compensation circuit may include a primary signal path with a configurable delay segment and a secondary signal path including at least one distortion generator. The configurable delay segment may be selectively configured to provide different delay settings to accommodate different RF loading conditions such that the delayed RF signal on the primary signal path is aligned with the distortion products generated on the secondary signal path when combined to form an RF signal with distortion compensation.
US08670667B1 Access multiplexers and methods for multiplexing telecommunication signals using an arrayed media converter
The present disclosure generally pertains to an arrayed media converter (AMC) that has an array of Wavelength Division Multiplexing-Passive Optical Network (WDM-PON) Optical Network Units (ONUs) for terminating an optical channel in the feeder or distribution portion of a telecommunication network. The ONU converts an optical signal from the optical channel into at least one electrical signal for transmission to a customer premises. Thus, the AMC serves as an interface between at least one WDM-PON link and at least one conductive connection, such as a twisted pair. In one exemplary embodiment, the AMC comprises a sealed housing that is environmentally hardened to protect the AMC from environmental conditions, including changes in weather. Such an AMC may be used to provide a robust, cost effective Fiber To The Curb (FTTC) solution, but the AMC may be used at other points within the network, if desired.
US08670665B2 Optical apparatus using polarized orthogonal control
An optical apparatus comprising, converting units converting electrical signals into signal lights with different wavelength, polarization control units controlling polarizing states of the signal lights into polarization controlled lights respectively, an optical multiplexer multiplexing the polarization controlled lights into a multiplexed light, an optical branching unit branching the multiplexed light and outputting a branched light, a polarizing unit extracting only signal lights of the specified polarizing state from the branched light into an extracted light, and a control unit detecting intensity of the extracted light. Pilot signals are applied to modulate the electrical signals or the polarization controls. The polarization control units controls the polarizing states of the signal lights based on the pilot signal frequencies of the detection result by the control unit.
US08670664B2 System and method for managing the selection of ghost channels for mitigating polarization hole burning
A system and method for managing the selection of ghost channels in an optical communication system, including components configured to collect one or more first data values indicating the validity of an optical communication channel within a first degree of a node in the optical communication system, collect one or more second data values indicating the optical power level of the optical communication channel, transmit the first and second data values to a second degree of the node, receive the first and second data values at the first degree, and aggregate the first and second data values for the first degree and the second degree at the first degree.
US08670662B2 Evaluating the position of an optical fiber disturbance
The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for evaluating the position of a time-varying disturbance on an optical waveguide. The steps include: transmitting sensing signals onto the optical waveguide, which sensing signals have imposed thereon a modulation which is dependent, at least in part, on their time of transmission; receiving returned sensing signals, which signals have been exposed to the disturbance; and, from the previously imposed modulation on the returned sensing signals, evaluating the position of the disturbance. Because the sensing signals have a modulation that is dependent at least in part on their transmission time, the round-trip time for the signals to travel to and from a disturbance can be inferred. From this round trip time, or a value related thereto, it is possible to directly or indirectly evaluate the position of the disturbance.
US08670661B2 Method and system for passive optical network diagnostics
A method and system for identifying faults in a passive optical network (PON). The method comprises acquiring at an optical network terminal of the PON at least one parameter indicative of at least one malfunction in at least one optical network unit of the PON, and identifying each malfunction from the at least one parameter. The parameters measured include, for each ONU, laser power, sync-lock and -unlock time and bit error rates. The information at the OLT is acquired remotely and in digital form, without use of any physical probing of any point or element in the PON. The system includes a temporal measurement module and a power laser measurement module coupled to a central processing unit that can extract fault information from digital data processed in the two modules.
US08670658B2 Image capture apparatus and method of controlling the same
A subject is tracked during continuous shooting, and the degree of reliability of the tracking result is determined. When it is determined that the degree of reliability of the tracking result is high, control values of exposure used to capture an image of the previous frame are configured as those used to capture an image of the next frame, thereby omitting calculation of control values of exposure. Upon this operation, in an image capture apparatus having a continuous shooting function, and a method of controlling the same, suppression of exposure variations and shortening of the exposure calculation time during continuous shooting can be effectively achieved.
US08670657B2 Ranging apparatus, lens system, and imaging apparatus
The ranging apparatus of the present invention measures the distance to an object to be imaged by an imaging apparatus using the principle of triangulation ranging, and has a measurement unit in which a maximum distance that can be ranged to an object is not less than ½ of a maximum value of the hyper focal length of the imaging apparatus.
US08670656B2 Liquid heating unit, liquid processing apparatus including the same, and liquid processing method
Disclosed are a liquid heating unit capable of monitoring the temperature of the liquid storage tank or pipe in which liquid is heated by transmission of the radiated light, a liquid processing apparatus including the same, and a liquid processing method. The liquid heating unit includes: a lamp heater radiating light; a cylindrical member made of material transmitting the radiated light and having a cylindrical shape in which the lamp heater is able to be inserted and penetrated into an internal space thereof; a liquid pipe placed along an outer periphery of the cylindrical member and configured to heat liquid flowing therein using the radiated light; a reflection plate that covers the liquid pipe from the outside and reflects the radiated light; and a first temperature sensor attached to an outer surface of the reflection plate.
US08670655B2 Recording medium containing supplementary service information for audio/video contents, and method and apparatus of providing supplementary service information of the recording medium
The present invention relates to method and apparatus of providing supplementary service information for A/V contents written in a recording medium. This method has a recording medium containing Presentation Language data, which have to be included like as in a digital television signal for supplementary service information in accordance with Advanced TV Enhancement Forum or Digital TV Application Software Environment standard, and reproduces, if a disk reproduction is requested, the Presentation Language data as well as requested A/V data and provides them for a connected external device such as a digital television. As a result, various video information and functions provided with Presentation Language data by a recording medium can be realized at a digital television set being able to accept Presentation Language data.
US08670654B2 Image capturing device and image capturing method
An image capturing device (100) is provided with: an image capturing unit (102) which generates, by continuous image capturing, a plurality of pieces of image data which are continuous in the time direction; an image processing unit which corrects a compression rate of the image data on the basis of a correction factor for correcting the image data, and performs compression coding by use of an intra-frame predictive coding system; a data control unit (124) which stores the image data, which has been subjected to the compression coding, in an image storage unit; a current compression rate derivation unit (130) which derives a current compression rate which is an actual compression rate of the image data which has been subjected to the compression coding; a current compression rate holding unit (132) which holds a plurality of current compression rates continuous in the time direction; a subsequent compression rate prediction unit (134) which predicts a subject compression rate, which is a compression rate of image data to be subjected to the subsequent compression coding next time, from the plurality of current compression rates which are held, or from the plurality of current compression rates which are held and the compression rate of the image data to be subjected to the current compression coding this time; and a correction factor derivation unit which derives the correction factor on the basis of the subsequent compression rate.
US08670651B2 Editing device, editing method, and program
An editing device includes a setting unit which sets a role for each device as an editor, in a group of devices as a plurality of editors in which a hierarchical structure is constituted by a director and one or more workers, and an executing unit which executes editing processing corresponding to an editing operation, when each device as the plurality of editors performs the editing operation which has been defined in advance on the basis of the role set by the setting unit.
US08670650B2 Systems and methods for interrupted program recording
Program recording systems and methods are operable to adjust recording times of a program of interest in response to an occurrence of an interrupting program that alters the scheduled recording times of the program of interest. An exemplary embodiment receives an unscheduled program flag (UPF) corresponding to an occurrence of an unscheduled program; adjusts at least one of a scheduled recording start time associated with the program of interest to an updated record start time and a scheduled recording end time associated with the program of interest to an updated record end time in response to receiving the UPF; and records the program of interest based upon at least one of the updated record start time and the updated record end time.
US08670649B1 Scene detection using weighting function
In one embodiment, a method includes analyzing characteristics of a media program to label portions of the media program with a plurality of labels. Portions of the media program that are determined to be substantially similar are labeled with a same label. The method then analyzes different partitionings of a sequence of the labels to determine partitions for the media program based on a weighting function. A plurality of partitions of the media program are outputted based on comparing the different partitionings of the sequence of labels using the weighting function. The plurality of partitions partition the media program into a plurality of portions and provide points for insertion of information for a service in the media program.
US08670648B2 Video processing methods and systems
Video processing methods include correlating a video frame in a video stream with event data in a data stream based on a video frame time stamp and an event data time stamp, the time stamps being based on a time scale that is independent, and recording the correlation in a database. Other video processing methods include receiving a query for a video frame and searching for event data in a database. The database has an event data table and a video data table used in locating the video frame. Further video processing methods include receiving a query to retrieve a video clip for each of a plurality of plays, searching for event data in a database, locating the video clip for each of the plurality of plays, and compiling the video clips into a compiled video stream lacking video frames that do not satisfy the query.
US08670645B2 Electronic apparatus, content reproducing method, and content decoding method
[Object] To promptly decode and reproduce content of any encoding formats.[Solving Means] If a TV (1) judges that it cannot decode content to be viewed by a user, the TV (1) asks another apparatus such as a game apparatus (3) or PC (4) whether it can decode the content via a high-speed data line (150) capable of performing bidirectional IP communication in expanded HDMI and transmits the content and decoding request command thereof to an apparatus which has answered that it can perform decoding, via the high-speed data line (150). The game apparatus (3) or the PC (4) which has received the decoding request decodes the content and transmits the decoded content as a baseline signal to the TV (1) via TMDS channels in expanded HDMI so that the content is reproduced.
US08670641B2 Beam homogenizer, laser irradiation apparatus, and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
The present invention is to provide a beam homogenizer, a laser irradiation apparatus, and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, which can suppress the loss of a laser beam and form a beam spot having homogeneous energy distribution constantly on an irradiation surface without being affected by beam parameters of a laser beam. A deflector is provided at an entrance of an optical waveguide or a light pipe used for homogenizing a laser beam emitted from a laser oscillator. A pair of reflection planes of the deflector is provided so as to have a tilt angle to an optical axis of the laser beam, whereby the entrance of the optical waveguide or the light pipe is expanded. Accordingly, the loss of the laser beam can be suppressed. Moreover, by providing an angle adjusting mechanism to the deflector, a beam spot having homogeneous energy distribution can be formed at an exit of the optical waveguide.
US08670633B2 Distortion compensated imaging
Certain aspects can relate to responsive to the at least some input compensating information, imaging the at least the portion of the individual in a manner to limit at least some distorting effects of the at least the portion of the at least one distorting feature associated with the at least the portion of the individual at least partially by modifying a non-optical electromagnetic output from an imaging modality as applied to the at least the portion of the at least one distorting feature associated with the at least the portion of the individual. Certain aspects can relate to creating at least one conformal absence of a non-optical electromagnetic output to limit distortion to an imaging of an at least a portion of an individual resulting at least partially from at least one distorting feature associated with the at least the portion of the individual.
US08670630B1 Fast randomized multi-scale energy minimization for image processing
An image processing module performs efficient image enhancement according to a multi-scale energy minimization process. One or more input images are progressively downsampled to generate a pyramid of downsampled images of varying resolution. Starting with the coarsest downsampled image, a label map is generated that maps output pixel positions to pixel positions in the downsampled input images. The label map is then progressively upsampled. At each upsampling stage, the labels are refined according to an energy function configured to produce the desired enhancements. Using the multi-scale energy minimization, the image processing module enhances image via hole-filling and/or super-resolution.
US08670629B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program for converting an m-value into an n-value image
An apparatus capable of dividing an m-value image into a plurality of divided images and performing quantization into an n-value image (2≦n
US08670628B2 Multiply adaptive spatial spectral exploitation
A method of filtering hyperspectral image data associated with a hyperspectral image to produce a detection image data having a plurality of pixels, where the detection image data is associated with the degree to which a target may be present in a pixel. The method also includes adaptively processing the detection image data to determine a background variation in the plurality of pixels. The method additionally includes establishing a plurality of spatial filters for the detection image data, where each of the plurality of spatial filters are associated with energy being received at different locations on each of the plurality of pixels, and where the outputs of the plurality of spatial filters are weighted by the variation in background. The method further includes applying each of the plurality of spatial filers to the detection image data, such that each of the plurality of pixels are associated with a selected one of the plurality of spatial filters.
US08670627B2 Method for evaluating video quality
A method for evaluating video quality of a video stream comprising the steps of a) calculating, for at least a first frame of a series of frames from said video stream, a true value of at least one video quality-related parameter associated to said first frame; b) calculating a predicted value of said video quality-related parameter for at least a second frame from said series of frames based on said true value associated to said first frame; c) calculating a true value of said video quality-related parameter associated to said second frame; and d) judging the video quality of said second frame based on a difference between true and predicted values of the at least one video quality-related parameter associated to said second frame.
US08670625B2 Image coding method, image coding apparatus, image decoding method and image decoding apparatus
An image coding method including: binarizing a first component and a second component which are included in last position information, to generate a first binary signal and a second binary signal, respectively; coding, by first arithmetic coding, a first partial signal which is a part of the first binary signal and a second partial signal which a part of the second binary signal, and coding, by second arithmetic coding, a third partial signal which is another part of the first binary signal and a fourth partial signal which is another part of the second binary signal; and placing the coded first through fourth partial signals in a bit stream, wherein in the placing, (i) the coded second partial signal is placed next to the coded first partial signal, or (ii) the coded fourth partial signal is placed next to the coded third partial signal.
US08670622B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer-readable recording medium
An image processing apparatus includes a gradient magnitude calculating unit that calculates a gradient magnitude of each pixel on the basis of pixel values of a target image in which a predetermined target object is imaged; a candidate-edge detecting unit that detects contour-candidate edge positions on the basis of the gradient magnitude of each pixel; a reference-range setting unit that sets a reference range, which is to be referred to when a contour edge position is selected from among the contour-candidate edge positions, on the basis of the gradient magnitude of each pixel; and a contour-edge selecting unit that selects, as the contour edge position, one of the contour-candidate edge positions in the reference range.
US08670620B2 Decomposing hyperspectral or multispectral image data
The disclosure concerns processing of electronic images, such as hyperspectral or multispectral images. In particular, but is not limited to methods, software and computer systems for determining underlying spectra of an image of a scene. The image data comprises for each pixel location a sampled image spectrum that is a mixture of plural reflectance spectra. Processor 310 determines or accesses plural hyperplanes that each have plural linearly independent basis vectors. Each hyperplane represents an estimate of one of the plural reflectance spectra. The processor 310 then determines for each pixel location, a contribution of the plural basis vectors of each hyperplane to the image spectrum of that pixel location. The processor 310 determines or accesses plural hyperplanes and not plural endmembers directly. Hyperplanes are two-dimensional while endmembers are only one-dimensional. As a result, hyperplanes carry more information, such as the illumination spectrum and are therefore of greater use. The decomposition of the image data into hyperplanes is possible without knowing the illumination spectrum. This decomposition allows for a range of new applications such as endmember extraction and compact representation.
US08670618B2 Systems and methods for extracting pedigree and family relationship information from documents
A computer-implemented method for extracting information about individuals from a family history document includes applying optical character recognition (OCR) to a digital image of a family history document to create an OCR copy, identifying a person's name in the digital image, extracting name data and related information from the OCR copy representing the name, identifying a family relationship indicator corresponding to the identified person's name in the digital image, confirming accuracy of the extracted name data, and publishing the extracted name data and related information in a searchable format.
US08670617B2 Systems and methods for linking content to individual image features
A method, computer program, and system for linking content to individual image features are provided. A section of an image is identified. A plurality of features associated with the section of the image is determined. Each of the plurality of features corresponds to at least one position within the section of the image. Content associated with the plurality of features is retrieved from a content repository. The content is linked to the plurality of features based on at least one rule. The content is then presented.
US08670613B2 Lossless frame buffer color compression
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for lossless compression of color data. Color data for a packet including multiple sub-pixel samples is compressed using a predictor map that is selected based on the sampling format specified for the graphics surface storing the color data. The predictor map defines one of the samples as an anchor that is represented exactly and a transform indicating which neighboring samples are used to compute difference samples for the other samples in the packet. The difference samples are truncated and tested to determine if the difference samples can fit into one or more compressed data formats, i.e., if the color data can be compressed without loss. When compression can be performed without loss, the transformed packet is output. Otherwise, the original packet is output.
US08670609B2 Systems and methods for evaluating images
Systems and methods for evaluating images segment a computational image into sub-images based on spectral information in the computational image, generate respective morphological signatures for the sub-images, generate respective spectral signatures for the sub-images, and generate a resulting image signature based on the morphological signatures and the spectral signatures.
US08670608B2 3D atomic scale imaging methods
The present invention is directed generally toward atom probe and TEM data and associated systems and methods. Other aspects of the invention are directed toward combining APT data and TEM data into a unified data set. Other aspects of the invention are directed toward using the data from one instrument to improve the quality of data obtained from another instrument.
US08670607B2 Image processing method, image processing device and recording medium
An image processing method and an image processing device which can improve sharpness by producing a binocular rivalry intentionally are provided. An image processing device 100 includes a right eye image acquiring unit 101 which generates a right eye image by performing a correction processing on an input image, a left eye image acquiring unit 102 which generates a left eye image which produces a binocular rivalry with the right eye image by performing a correction processing which is different from the correction processing, and a multi-eye display unit which displays the right eye image and the left eye images to different viewpoints.
US08670602B2 Multiparameter perfusion imaging with leakage correction
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methodology is provided for simultaneous measurement of dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) MRI and dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI perfusion and permeability parameters using a combination of dual echo and spiral acquisition techniques with no contrast agent preload. T1 and T2/T2* leakage effects are eliminated, thereby permitting accurate measurement of blood volume, blood flow and vascular permeability which are used in evaluating tumor angiogenesis.
US08670599B2 Fingerprint authentication apparatus having a plurality of fingerprint sensors and method for same
A fingerprint authentication apparatus and method which processes fingerprint data input through a plurality of fingerprint sensors and uses the processed fingerprint data in authentication to thereby increase security and performance. The fingerprint authentication apparatus includes a first sensor configured to acquire first fingerprint data from a user; a second sensor configured to acquire second fingerprint data that is different from the first fingerprint data; and a control unit configured to determine whether or not to authenticate the user based on similarities obtained from the comparison of each of the first fingerprint data and the second fingerprint data with registered fingerprint data.
US08670596B2 Personal identification device and method
A personal identification apparatus includes a finger inlet into which a finger inserted; an interface where the finger is introduced through the finger inlet; a plurality of light sources provided inside the interface to irradiate light to the finger from a plurality of directions; image pick-up units being respectively arranged opposite to the plurality of light sources and respectively capturing an image from light transmitted from the plurality of light sources through the finger; a unit for adjusting when the plurality of light sources transmit light onto the finger; and a unit for extracting blood vessel patterns contained in images captured by the image pick-up units from the light transmitted though the finger and collating each of the extracted blood vessel patterns with a registered blood vessel pattern for personal identification.
US08670586B1 Combining and waterproofing headphone port exits
A plate attached to the back shell of an earphone includes an exit cavity corresponding in dimension to and aligned with a first opening through the back shell. A channel in the bottom surface of the plate begins at a point aligned with a second opening through the back shell and ends at an aperture through a side wall of the exit cavity. The channel and the outer surface of the back shell together form a reactive acoustic port from a back cavity enclosed by the back shell to the exit cavity, the first opening through the shell forms a resistive acoustic port from the back cavity to the exit cavity, and the exit cavity couples the reactive acoustic port and the resistive acoustic port to free space without introducing additional acoustic impedance. In some examples, a water-resistant screen covers the upper aperture of the exit cavity.
US08670585B2 Spherical sound source for acoustic measurements
Spherical sound source comprising two coaxial loudspeakers and two mid-high frequency compression drivers. Low frequencies are radiated by the two low-frequency sections of the coaxial loudspeakers. Mid-frequencies 500 Hz-2000 Hz are radiated by the two mid-high frequency compression drivers. High-frequencies 2 kHz-10 kHz are radiated in the horizontal plane by the same mid-high frequency arrangement together with two compression drivers of the coaxial loudspeakers in each vertical direction. Identical drivers form three pairs. One driver from each pair is enclosed in one of two symmetrically opposite half-embodiments, spaced at predetermined distance to create a common radially expanding horn for the two mid-high frequency compression drivers. All loudspeakers share the same vertical axis of rotational symmetry. The two half-embodiments might be used as separate standalone spherically radiating sources when installed on hard surface. The invention is appropriate for sine-swept acoustic measurements and sound isolation measurements in high sound transmission class buildings.
US08670584B2 Hearing device
Among other things, embodiments of systems for assisting hearing for individuals are disclosed. A hand-carryable transceiver having inputs for sound or other audio signals is provided, with a transmitter for transmitting digital packets or signals with identifying information relating to the transmitter. An earpiece is adapted to receive the packets or signals from the transmitter, and direct signals to a speaker on the earpiece for hearing by an individual user. Methods for making and using the system are also disclosed.
US08670583B2 Hearing aid system
Disclosed is a hearing aid system capable of increasing the clearness of sound spoken by a speaker while reproducing the incoming direction of the sound spoken by the speaker without using an inverse mapping rule. The hearing aid system includes a sound source input section which receives sounds coming from sound sources as input to convert the input sounds to first acoustic signals, a sound source separating section which separates the first acoustic signals converted by the sound source input section into sound source signals corresponding to the sound sources, a binaural microphone which is disposed on left and right ears, and receives the sounds coming from the sound sources as input to convert the input sounds to second acoustic signals, a directional sense component calculating section which calculates directional sense components representing the directional sense of the sound sources with the binaural microphone as a base point from the left and right second acoustic signals converted by the binaural microphone, an output signal generating section which generates left and right output acoustic signals on the basis of the sound source signals and the directional sense components, and a binaural speaker which outputs the left and right output acoustic signals generated by the output signal generating section.
US08670582B2 N band FM demodulation to aid cochlear hearing impaired persons
A signal processing device comprising a signal processing unit for processing an electrical SPU-input signal comprising frequencies in the audible frequency range between a minimum frequency and a maximum frequency, and providing a processed SPU output signal. An FM to AM transformation unit transforms an FM2AM input signal originating from the SPU-input signal and comprising at least a part of the frequency range of the SPU-input signal from a frequency modulated signal to an amplitude modulated signal to provide an FM2AM output signal, which is used in the generation of the processed SPU output signal.
US08670581B2 Electrostatic loudspeaker capable of dispersing sound both horizontally and vertically
An electrostatic loudspeaker (ESL) assembly providing curvature in two directions for improved dispersion of sound waves. The ESL comprises at least one stator panel, a flexible diaphragm and a spacer that impedes contact between the stator panel and the diaphragm. The stator is formed from a material that comprises an array of apertures. Furthermore, the material can be annealed. The material temper, along with the aperture geometry and patter, affect the stretchability of the material. The two-axis curved structure enables a compact form of ESL to be realized, including bookshelf type loudspeakers whereas all known commercial units are comparable in height to that of a human listener. The individual curved ESL panels can also be readily combined to create larger transducer assemblies including omni-directional units.
US08670577B2 Electronically-simulated live music
A method for producing an electronically-simulated live musical performance, the method comprising providing morph-friendly solo tracks, morphing the morph-friendly solo tracks to produce a morphed track, and post-processing the morphed track. The method may also include combining the post-processed morphed track with one or more supporting tracks to produce an acoustic image for playback.
US08670574B2 Sound volume adjusting apparatus
A sound volume adjuster includes: a storage which stores a first value of a volume setting value and an allowable maximum change amount; a receiver which receives a change request indicating a second value of the volume setting value; a determiner which, when a change amount of the volume setting value between the first value and the second value exceeds the allowable maximum change amount, determines that the change request is an excessive request; and an adjuster which, when the determiner determines that the change request is the excessive request: changes the first value stored in the storage by a change amount which is equal to or smaller than the allowable maximum change amount to set a third value of the volume setting value; and adjusts a sound volume by the third value.
US08670568B2 Methods and systems for utilizing cryptographic functions of a cryptographic co-processor
A computer platform is provided that comprises a processor and a cryptographic co-processor coupled to the processor. The computer platform further comprises a platform entity coupled to the processor. The platform entity establishes a secure relationship with the cryptographic co-processor that enables the platform entity to utilize cryptographic functions provided by the cryptographic co-processor.
US08670567B2 Recovery of expired decryption keys
At least one expired decryption key intended to be used for asymmetrical decryption of encrypted data is recovered in a terminal after generation of a cryptographic encryption key/decryption key pair stored in a cryptographic medium such as a microchip card. The expired decryption key is stored in a database accessible to a user of the terminal and encrypted beforehand as a function of the new generated encryption key. In the terminal connected to the cryptographic medium, the encrypted expired encryption key is decrypted as a function of the decryption key stored in the cryptographic medium so that the encrypted data is decrypted as a function of the thus decrypted expired decryption key.
US08670566B2 System and method for exchanging encryption keys between a mobile device and a peripheral output device
Systems and methods for providing additional security for data being transmitted across a wireless connection that has been established using a known wireless protocol (e.g. Bluetooth) are described. An encryption key is exchanged between a computing device (e.g. a mobile device) and a wireless peripheral output device (e.g. a printer, a headset). In some embodiments, the encryption key is generated at the peripheral output device. Data associated with the encryption key is output at the peripheral output device, which can be input by the user at the computing device. The encryption key is then recovered at the computing device from the input, thereby completing the key exchange. The encryption key can then be used to encrypt and decrypt data transmitted over the established wireless connection, providing additional security.
US08670561B1 Method and apparatus for limiting use of IP
Use of a megafunction, IP core or other IP in a configurable device is controlled by a combination of a protection circuit implemented in the configurable device with the IP and a secure device. The protection circuit includes an authorization code generator having a sequence generator and an encryption core implementing an encryption algorithm. The secure device uses an identical sequence generator and encryption core in its own authorization code generator. The sequence generators in the devices generate identical streams of values that are encrypted using the encryption algorithm. The encrypted values are compared in the protection circuit. When the streams of encrypted values are not identical, the IP and/or configurable device are prevented from operating. Where the period of the sequence generated by the sequence generators is long, the output of the encryption cores will contain that many different encrypted values, a substantial amount of highly randomized output used as authorization code for the protection of the electronic design. The run time of the IP core can be limited and/or set in various ways.
US08670560B2 Encryption method
There is described a method of encrypting a set of 2D input data, preferably image data. The method comprises obtaining the hash value of a password and re-sizing the hash value to fit the size of the 2D input data. The re-sized data is transformed using an irreversible transform, and the output of the transform is then used to encode the 2D data.
US08670557B2 Cryptographic system with modular randomization of exponentiation
Systems and/or methods that facilitate secure electronic communication of data are presented. A cryptographic component facilitates securing data associated with messages in accordance with a cryptographic protocol. The cryptographic component includes a randomized exponentiation component that facilitates decryption of data and generation of digital signatures by exponentiating exponents associated with messages. An exponent is divided into more than one subexponent at an exponent bit that corresponds to a random number. Exponentiation of the first subexponent can be performed based on a left-to-right-type of exponentiation algorithm, and exponentiation of the second subexponent can be performed based on a right-to-left square-and-multiply-type of exponentiation algorithm. The final value is based on the exponentiations of the subexponents and can be decrypted data or a digital signature, which can be provided as an output.
US08670554B2 Method for encoding multiple microphone signals into a source-separable audio signal for network transmission and an apparatus for directed source separation
A method is provided for encoding multiple microphone signals into a composite source-separable audio (SSA) signal, conducive for transmission over a voice network. The embodiments enable the processing of source separation of the target voice signal from its ambient sound to be performed at any point in the voice communication network, including the internet cloud. A multiplicity of processing is possible over the SSA signal, based on the intended voice application. The level of processing is adapted with the availability of the processing power at the chosen processing node in the network in one embodiment. An apparatus for separating out the target source voice from its ambient sound is also provided. The apparatus includes a directed source separation (DSS) unit, which processes the two virtual microphone signals in the SSA representation, to generate a new SSA signal including the enhanced target voice and the enhanced ambient noise.
US08670553B1 Real-time monitoring of agent adherence
A method, a system, and computer readable medium comprising instructions for real-time monitoring of agent adherence. The method comprises collecting events and data for an agent from at least one phone router, collecting time keeping data from a time clock system, collecting data and events from a scheduling system, normalizing the events, data, time keeping data and generating at least one user interface comprising normalized data, presenting at least one view of the at least one user interface to at least one application, and refreshing the at least one view with updated events and data.
US08670552B2 System and method for integrated display of multiple types of call agent data
Method and systems are presented for presenting multiple activities associated with one of a plurality of call center agents correlated in time. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of: determining at least one of the agents to be displayed; and displaying activity information in visual correlation with a timeline. The activity information includes a first plurality of activities originating from a first source and a second plurality of activities originating from a second source. Each of the activities is associated with the at least one agent.
US08670549B2 Method and system for improved routing of repair calls to a call center
Processing a communication received at a communications center over a communications network includes determining whether a sender of the communication sent previous communications to a communications center based on identification information obtained from the communication. Communication is routed to an agent, from a first group of agents, when it is determined that the sender did not send previous communications to the communications center. The communication is processed by generating a report by the agent from the first group of agents. Communication is routed to an agent, from a second group of agents, when it is determined that the sender sent send previous communications to the communications center. The communication is re-processed by retrieving an existing report by the agent from the second group of agents.
US08670547B2 Direct route ISDN primary route interface
A method of operating a telecommunications network includes, in one embodiment, detecting a call at an originating switch of the telecommunications network and, when a destination for the call matches a predetermined destination, routing the call on designated data trunks. When traffic on the designated data trunks exceeds a capacity threshold, the method further includes routing the call to a terminating switch using interoffice trunks and completing the call to the destination from the terminating switch.
US08670544B2 Directory features in a distributed telephony system
A telephony system is presented that enables a phone to access a directory and use the directory in conjunction with other phone functions. The system includes a server with a telephony management software (TMS) unit, a telephony application programming interface (TAPI) unit, and an application unit. The application unit includes a control module, a function module, a filter module, a presentation module, a phone interface module, and a storage interface module. A server sends a signal to a phone regarding the contents of a directory. A server also enables a user to navigate through the directory, filter the directory, and perform call functions on phone numbers associated with directory entries.
US08670540B1 Call redirect via centralized bridges
A system, method, and computer readable medium for redirecting a call via centralized bridges comprises a first conferencing platform based in a first country, a second conferencing platform based in a second country, and a third conferencing platform based in a third country, wherein the first conferencing platform dials the second conferencing platform and the third conferencing platform to provide a conference call between the second conferencing platform and the third conferencing platform.
US08670539B2 Delegate unit for a conference system, conference system, method for operating the delegate unit and computer program
Conference Systems usually comprise a plurality of delegate units, whereby each delegate unit provides a speaking place for a person attending the Conference. A delegate unit (1) for a Conference System is disclosed with a microphone (4) and a signal means (6, 7, 9) whereby the signal means (9) comprise a possible-to-speak indicator (9) operable to indicate a possible-to-speak Status of the microphone (4), whereby the microphone is ready to be activated by a user of the delegate unit (1), thus indicating the user floor status.
US08670538B1 International conferencing via globally distributed cascading servers
A method, a computer readable medium and a system for international conferencing via globally distributed cascading media servers that comprises, receiving a local participant audio packet at a local conferencing media server in a conference call, summing the local participant audio packet by the local conferencing media server, receiving a distal participant audio packet at a distal conferencing media server, summing the distal participant audio packet by the distal conferencing media server, and interfacing the local conferencing media server with the distal conferencing media server.
US08670537B2 Adjusting audio volume in a conference call environment
A method of and system for adjusting audio volume in a conference call environment are disclosed. The method comprises associating respective gain factors with each source of a plurality of incoming audio streams. The method further comprises automatically adjusting the volume of each incoming audio stream in accordance with the associated gain factor. In accordance with example embodiments, the method may be performed either at a telephony endpoint such as a VoIP telephone or at a conference bridge.
US08670534B2 Initiating a telephonic connection
A solution for initiating a telephonic connection is provided. A calling user can provide data identifying a receiving device and corresponding to a call message. In response to requesting initiation of the telephonic connection, the length of the call message can be determined, and a transmission solution for the call message can be selected based on the length. When the length is sufficiently short, the call message can be included in caller ID information for the telephonic connection. When the length is longer, the call message can be transmitted as a data message and initiation of the telephonic connection can subsequently take place after a delay.
US08670533B1 Systems and methods for management and dissemination of information from a controlled environment facility
Dissemination of information from a controlled environment facility employs facility information management functionality managing resident information and facility information, and call manager functionality selectively providing at least a portion of the resident information and/or the facility information to an outside party and/or professionals associated with the facility in an automated manner. The invention may employ outgoing IVR functionality to provide select portions of the resident information to appropriate professionals at the time of intake of a new resident. The invention may conduct a reverse auction among professionals offering a particular good or service, manage information related to providers of services or goods for residents of a facility, provide an outside party this information including results of a reverse auction, and notify a selected provider of selection of that provider by the outside party to provide goods or services for a resident.
US08670532B2 Information processing apparatus, property setting method, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus stores the received FAX data as a document in a storage unit. The information processing apparatus receives a FAX reception notification which is a notification indicating the reception of FAX data from the image forming apparatus and includes at least a telephone number of a transmission source of the FAX data. Then, the image forming apparatus determines whether or not a new arrival document is present in the storage unit, and sets the telephone number included the FAX reception notification as a property of the new arrival document when the image forming apparatus determines that the new arrival document is present in the storage unit.
US08670527B2 Method and system for detecting voice mail spam
A method can include detecting an incoming voice mail message and accessing information associated with the incoming voice mail message. The information associated with the incoming voice message may then be compared with some other information, which may comprise one or more of these attributes associated with each message: a caller ID; a time stamp; a user extension; a message length; a caller identification; message content; and whether a user has tagged each message as spam.
US08670524B2 Arrangement of analyzer measuring window
The invention relates to an arrangement of a measuring window in a continuously operated X-ray analyzer (1), said analyzer being is used particularly for analyzing elemental contents in solid, liquid or slurry-like materials; which measuring window (2) separates the sampling space (3) containing the sample material to be measured and the measurement space (4) containing the measuring probe (11), and is sealed by a lid structure (6) arranged in the sampling space, said lid structure defining the measurement aperture (7) of the sampling space, in which case the lid structure defining the measurement aperture of the sampling space is provided with a sealing surface (8) of the measuring window, so that said surface is at least partly planar and at least partly curved.
US08670522B2 Stereo X-ray inspection apparatus and method for forming three-dimensional image through volume reconstruction of image acquired from the same
A stereo x-ray inspection apparatus and a method for forming a three-dimensional image through volume reconstruction of an image acquired from the same are disclosed. The apparatus includes one x-ray generator and two detectors to acquire two images. The x-ray generator and detectors are arranged in the form of a right-angled triangle, to easily achieve mathematical development and analysis. One of the detectors, which does not just oppose the x-ray generator, is movable and rotatable, to acquire images under the condition that only one detector is moved in accordance with the size of an object, and thus to simplify control operation for the apparatus, so that a more accurate image from an object moving at high speed is acquired.
US08670521B2 Method for generating an intraoral volume image
A method for obtaining an intraoral x-ray image determines an initial spatial position and angular orientation of an x-ray source relative to a detector. A first x-ray image is obtained with the x-ray source at the initial spatial position and angular orientation and stored, associating the initial spatial position and angular orientation to the first x-ray image. A sequence repeats that calculates a next spatial position and angular orientation for the x-ray source, provides positional adjustment information between the x-ray source and detector for obtaining a next x-ray image, measures and records the actual spatial position and angular orientation of the x-ray source relative to the detector and obtains and stores the next x-ray image at the measured spatial position and angular orientation, and forms a composite image using image data from the first and from the one or more next x-ray images.
US08670519B2 Nuclear fuel assembly hold down spring
A nuclear fuel assembly having a plurality of multi-leaf hold down spring sets extending from a top nozzle. Each spring set consists of a multiple number of springs leafs in order to provide a large working range of spring deflection. Each spring leaf has a straight, flat base section followed by a straight, flat tapered beam with a secondary spring set having a curvature at its peripheral end.
US08670513B2 Particle beam target with improved heat transfer and related apparatus and methods
A particle beam target for producing radionuclides includes a target body, a target cavity, parallel grooves, peripheral bores, and radial outflow bores. The parallel grooves are formed in a back side of the target body and include respective first and second groove ends. The peripheral bores extend through the target body from the plurality of grooves generally toward the front side that receives a particle beam. Each groove communicates with a peripheral bore at the first groove end and another peripheral bore at the second groove end. The radial outflow bores extend radially from the plurality of peripheral bores. The target body defines a plurality of liquid coolant flow paths. Each liquid coolant flow path runs from a respective groove to at least one of the first groove end and the second groove end of the respective groove, through at least one peripheral bore, and through at least one radial outflow bore.
US08670512B1 Acceleration of phase and frequency tracking for low-latency timing recovery
Circuit and methods accelerate jitter tracking and reduce or eliminate the processing delay of loop filtering in timing recovery. A timing recovery circuit incorporates a phase tracking accelerator and a frequency tracking accelerator to compute the phase and frequency variation of incoming signal during the delay period of a loop filter. In one embodiment, phase and frequency tracking accelerators are realized in direct forms. In another embodiment, pre-computed look-up tables are employed in phase and frequency tracking accelerators to ease timing closure and simplify accelerator circuit. The phase tracking accelerator and the frequency tracking accelerator together compensate the estimated phase at the output of a loop filter and eliminate the processing delay of loop filtering. The loop bandwidth and jitter tolerance of timing recovery are increased.
US08670507B2 Concatentation-assisted symbol-level combining for MIMO systems with HARQ and/or repetition coding
Systems and methods are provided for decoding signal vectors in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, where the receiver has received one or more signal vectors from the same transmitted vector. The receiver combines the received vectors by vector concatenation The concatenated vector may then be decoded using, for example, maximum-likelihood decoding. In some embodiments, the combined signal vector is equalized before decoding.
US08670501B2 Digital pre-distortion of non-linear systems with reduced bandwidth feedback
Embodiments of the invention provide a DPD system where the transmit reference signal is transformed, including sub-sampling, frequency translation, and the like, to match the feedback signal, which goes thru a similar transformation process, to obtain an error signal. The same transformation is applied to a system model, which may be Jacobian, Hessian, Gradient, or the like, in an adaptation algorithm to minimize error.
US08670498B2 Method and apparatus for reducing interference in space frequency block coding communication
A method and apparatus of reducing interference in space frequency block coding (SFBC) communication are disclosed. SFBC encoding is performed on at least one pair of symbols. The symbols are assigned to subcarriers in accordance with a frequency assignment pattern assigned to a cell. Different frequency assignment patterns are assigned to neighboring cells. Cells in the network may be divided into a plurality of groups and a different frequency assignment pattern may be assigned to each group of cells. The frequency assignment pattern may be defined such that subcarriers mapped to a pair of symbols in one cell are interlaced to subcarriers mapped to a pair of symbols in a neighbor cell. Alternatively, the frequency assignment pattern may be defined such that subcarriers mapped to a pair of symbols in one cell are shifted in a neighbor cell.
US08670497B2 Method and apparatus for impairment correlation estimation in a wireless communication receiver
A wireless communication receiver improves signal impairment correlation estimation in MIMO/MISO systems by considering different transmit power allocations and different transmit antenna power distributions in its impairment correlation calculations. The receiver may be implemented in according to a variety of architectures, including, but not limited to, Successive Interference Cancellation (SIC) Generalized RAKE (G-RAKE), Joint Detection (JD) G-RAKE, and Minimum Mean Squared Error (MMSE) G-RAKE. Regardless of the particular receiver architecture adopted, the improved impairment correlations may be used to calculate improved (RAKE) signal combining weights and/or improve channel quality estimates for reporting by receivers operating in Wideband CDMA (W-CDMA) systems transmitting HSDPA channels via MIMO or MISO transmitters. A transmitter may be configured to facilitate impairment correlation determinations by wireless communication receivers operating in MIMO/MISO environments, by signaling one or more values, e.g., data-to-pilot signal transmit power ratios and/or transmit antenna power distributions for the data and pilot signals.
US08670495B2 Multi-mode receiver with adaptive mode selection
Receivers and methods are provided that include multiple modes of processing signals from multiple antennas. These include legacy, SAIC (single antenna interference cancellation) and MSRD. Various methods are provided for selecting an appropriate receiver processing function. These include looking at correlation and gain imbalance between antennas, looking at the processing gain resulting from one or more of the receiver processing functions, and looking at the equalization quality of at least two receiver processing functions.
US08670490B2 Signal transmission apparatus
A signal transmission apparatus that transmits a 1-bit signal obtained by delta-sigma modulation is provided. In the signal transmission apparatus, a pseudo-random noise pattern having a data rate equal to that of the delta-sigma modulated 1-bit signal is generated, and the 1-bit signal is code-modulated using the generated pseudo-random noise pattern. The generated pseudo-random noise pattern and the code-modulated signal obtained through code modulation are transmitted via a transmission line. The transmitted code-modulated signal is demodulated using the transmitted pseudo-random noise pattern.
US08670486B2 Parameter for receiving and buffering pictures
The invention relates to a method for buffering multimedia information, wherein a parameter is defined indicative of the maximum amount of transmission units comprising multimedia data that precede any transmission unit comprising multimedia data in the packet stream in transmission unit transmission order and follow the transmission unit comprising multimedia data in decoding order. The invention also relates to a system, a transmitting device, a receiving device, a computer program product, a signal and a module.
US08670485B2 Context adaptive position and amplitude coding of coefficients for video compression
A coding method, apparatus, and medium with software encoded thereon to implement a coding method. The coding method includes encoding the position of non-zero-valued coefficients in an ordered series of quantized transform coefficients of a block of image data, including encoding events using variable length coding using a plurality of variable length code mappings that each maps events to codewords, the position encoding including switching between the code mappings based on the context. The coding method further includes encoding amplitudes of the non-zero-valued coefficients using variable dimensional amplitude coding in the reverse order of the original ordering of the series.
US08670470B2 Tunable Laser
A tunable laser includes an optical cavity comprising a first and second mirror. A gain medium is positioned in the optical cavity that generates stimulated emission in the optical cavity when biased. A thermally tunable optical filter is positioned in the optical cavity that is heated to a temperature that selects a desired optical mode of the optical cavity. A thermally tunable optical phase retarder is positioned in the optical cavity that is heated to a temperature which changes an optical path length in the optical cavity by an amount corresponding to a resonant frequency of the tunable optical filter so that a phase-matching condition of the optical cavity is shifted to the desired optical mode of the optical cavity selected by the thermally tunable optical filter.
US08670465B2 Radio communication method and a base station and user terminal thereof
A user terminal in a radio communication system, in which each of user terminals performs multiplexing of a data signal and a pilot signal and transmits the multiplexed signal to a base station using different data transmission band frequencies that are assigned by the base station, the user terminal includes a receiving unit that receives uplink resource information from a base station. A pilot generation unit that generates a pilot signal based on the uplink resource information and a transmitting unit that transmits the pilot signal generated by the pilot generation unit to the base station where the pilot generation unit includes a sequence generation unit that generates a Zadoff-Chu sequence as a pilot signal based on the uplink resource information and a subcarrier mapping unit that performs mapping of a sequence generated by cyclically copying the Zadoff-Chu sequence.
US08670463B2 Digital broadcast system for transmitting/receiving digital broadcast data, and data processing method for use in the same
A method of processing broadcast data in a broadcast transmitter includes performing Reed-Solomon (RS) encoding and Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) encoding on mobile service data to build at least one RS frame including the mobile service data and dividing the at least one RS frame into a plurality of portions; dividing each of the plurality of portions into several Serial Concatenated Convolutional Code (SCCC) blocks according to SCCC block mode information, encoding data in the SCCC blocks, and mapping the SCCC blocks including the encoded data to data blocks according to the SCCC block mode information; encoding signaling data including fast information channel (FIC) data and transmission parameter channel (TPC) data; and modulating a broadcast signal including data in the data blocks and the encoded signaling data.
US08670459B2 Apparatus and method of scheduling timing packets to enhance time distribution in telecommunication networks
An apparatus and method of scheduling timing packets to enhance time distribution includes an improved apparatus in a system in which at least one of time and frequency information is derived based on information distributed in timing packets, at least some of the timing packets being transmitted by or received by the apparatus. The improvement includes a scheduling module that determines a first packet transmission time offset of a first timing packet based on a first predetermined identifier associated with the apparatus, and a second packet transmission time offset of a second timing packet based on the first packet transmission time offset and a timing packet spacing that is independent of the first predetermined identifier. The improvement further includes a transmission module that transmits the first timing packet based on the first packet transmission time offset, and the second timing packet based on the second packet transmission time offset.
US08670458B2 Slotted channel access techniques in network communications
Systems and methods for designing, using, and/or implementing slotted channel access techniques in network communications are described. In some embodiments, a method may include selecting one of a plurality of time slots within a contention access period (CAP), each of the plurality of time slots having a predetermined duration, and transmitting a packet during the selected time slot. For example, the time slot may be selected randomly or based on a round-robin algorithm. In some implementations, the duration of each of the plurality of time slots may correspond and/or be equal to: (a) a duration of a data packet of maximum size, (b) a sum of durations of a request-to-send packet, an interframe space, and a clear-to-send packet, and/or (c) a duration of a guaranteed time slot (GTS) or contention free period (CFP) request packet, as prescribed by a given communication protocol or standard.
US08670447B2 Method and equipment for determining the transmission resource of channel quality indicator
A method and equipment for determining the transmission resource of channel quality indicator are disclosed. They are applied in Time Division Duplex TDD system and Half Duplex-Frequency Division Duplex HD-FDD system when Discontinuous Reception DRX operation is adopted. The method includes the following steps: determining the location of the downlink subframe where the start point of monitoring Physical Downlink Control Channel PDCCH in DRX cycle is located; determining whether the transmission resource used for transmitting the Channel Quality Indicator CQI is an uplink subframe previous to the determined location or one or more uplink subframes after the determined location. Availability of the CQI information when performing downlink schedule is guaranteed, and the transmission resource used for transmitting CQI can be effectively saved.
US08670446B2 Technique for Ethernet access to packet-based services
An Ethernet Metropolitan Area Network (10) provides connectivity to one or more customer premises (161, 162, 163) to packet-bases services, such as ATM, Frame Relay, or IP while advantageously providing a mechanism for assuring security and regulation of customer traffic. Upon receipt of each customer-generated information frame (20), an ingress Multi-Service Platform (MSP) (122) “tags” the frame with a customer descriptor (22′) that specifically identifies the recipient customer. In practice, the MSP tags each frame by overwriting the Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) identifier (22) with the routing descriptor. Using the customer descriptor in each frame, a recipient Provider Edge Router (PER) (18) or ATM switch can map the information as appropriate to direct the information to the specific customer. In addition, the customer descriptor (22′) may also include Quality of Service (QoS) allowing the recipient Provider Edge Router (PER) (18) or ATM switch to vary the QoS level accordingly.
US08670443B2 Communication system, femto-cell base station, and communication method
A femto-cell base station acquires an IP address of a CS-dedicated relay device from a first management device, connects to the CS-dedicated relay device based on the acquired IP address of the CS-dedicated relay device, and establishes a first IPsec Tunnel between the femto-cell base station and the CS-dedicated relay device. The femto-cell base station also acquires an IP address of a PS-dedicated relay device from a second management device through the first IPsec Tunnel, connects to the PS-dedicated relay device based on the acquired IP address of the PS-dedicated relay device, and establishes a second IPsec Tunnel between the femto-cell base station and the PS-dedicated relay device.
US08670440B2 Data transceiving apparatus and method in centralized MAC-based wireless communication system
A data transceiving apparatus and method in a centralized MAC-based wireless communication system are provided. The data transceiving method of a centralized MAC-based device may include: setting a direct path to a device and a relay path to a piconet coordinator (PNC); selecting any one of the direct path and the relay path; and transceiving data via the selected path.
US08670438B2 Communication system, base station apparatus, and mobile station apparatus
Utilizing a frequency-bandwidth limited IMT frequency band of 3 GHz, requirements of IMT-Advanced; that is, 100 Mbps for high speed movement and 1 Gbps for low speed movement in the downlink are satisfied. A communication system performs radio communication between a base station apparatus 40a and a mobile station apparatus 50 using a plurality of frequency layers having frequency bands different from each other, wherein the base station apparatus 40a assigns a downlink cell common control channel and a downlink cell common traffic channel to a low-frequency layer, and assigns a downlink cell dedicated control channel and a downlink cell dedicated traffic channel to a low-frequency layer and/or a high-frequency layer according to a downlink channel status and a communication requirement of the mobile station apparatus 50.
US08670435B2 Access and power management for centralized networks
A system and method for managing power in a subnet having a hub in communication with one or more nodes is disclosed. The hub and nodes communicate using one or more non-contention access methods, such as scheduled, polled or posted access. The node may enter a sleep or hibernation state while no scheduled, polled or posted allocation interval is pending. The hibernation state allows the node to hibernate through one or more entire beacon periods. In the sleep state, the node may be asleep between any scheduled, polled and posted allocation intervals for the node or during another node's scheduled allocation interval in a current beacon period. By selecting which access scheme is in use, the node and hub can increase the node's chances to be in hibernation or sleep state and minimize power consumption.
US08670434B2 Dynamic CTA adjustment across superframes in a wireless network
In a wireless communications network, various embodiments of the invention provide a technique for requesting an extension or truncation of the previously assigned channel time allocation (CTA), and extending that extension or truncation across multiple superframes without having to make further requests. The request may be made by transmitting an Information Element (IE) that indicates how many superframes the request applies to.
US08670429B2 Process for blind detection of a synchronization signal for LTE
To detect a cell-specific synchronization signal, a modified correlation approach is used, which removes the need for channel estimation.
US08670428B2 Signal acquisition in peer-to-peer communications
Methods and mobile stations for transmitting, receiving and processing peer-to-peer communication signals without a base station or network element. A transmitting mobile station may alternate two or more long code masks to generate one or more pseudorandom noise (PN) codes to spread data for transmission. A receiving mobile station receives the spread data and achieves synchronization with the transmitting mobile station.
US08670427B2 Network time reservation cancellation
Methods and systems that support, for example, canceling or trimming reservations of a shared communication medium are described. In one embodiment, a method that adapts a network time reservation in a communication network may include, for example, one or more of the following: transmitting a preamble field; transmitting a legacy signal field; transmitting at least one paired field, each paired field comprising a signal field and a protocol data unit; and generating an interframe gap.
US08670423B2 Automatic partner selection in the coooperative MAC protocol
The present invention provides a system (600), device (500) and method (400) for automatic partner selection in an existing Cooperative MAC (CMAC) protocol, which uses the Ready-to-Send (RTS), Clear-to-Send (CTS) and Partner-Clear-to-Send (PCTS) handshaking to establish cooperation. The present invention enables a “best” partner/relay (500.R.k) who is also willing to cooperate to relay information to a destination (500.D.J) for the transmitting device (i.e., the source), without the source (500.S.i) making a decision on partner selection. That is, the present invention provides a new mechanism by which the best partner/relay (500.R.k) that is also willing to cooperate will “step in” automatically without the source's involvement in selection of the partner/relay (500.R.k). This mechanism is contention-based and the partner is “selected” using local information only in a fully distributed manner.
US08670422B2 System and method for sending and receiving packets
A system and method for sending and receiving packets is provided. An embodiment includes a system comprising a wireless communication device configured to communicate with at least one application server via device access node and a wireless local area network. The wireless communication device is configured to communicate with the device access node through the wireless local area network using at least one protocol layer that is native to the wireless local area network, and using at least one protocol layer that is native to the device access node. The device access node is configured to send and receive application information carried over above-described protocol layers.
US08670421B2 System and method for cohesive radio operation
Described is a system which includes a first radio transceiver operating in accordance with a first communication protocol and a second radio transceiver operating in accordance with a second communication protocol. The first radio transceiver transmits a first signal to the second transceiver, the first signal including data related to operation of the first radio transceiver. The second radio transceiver adjusts operation as a function of the data.
US08670410B2 Uplink control channel resource mapping for carrier aggregation
In a multi-carrier wireless communication system, component carrier configuration and reconfiguration uses uplink control channel resource mapping with fallback configurations to maintain alignment between a user equipment and a base station during reconfiguration.
US08670407B2 Proxy mobile IP
A system and method for route optimization in PMIP having a first mobile node having a local mobility anchor and anchored at an access router and a second mobile node anchored at an access router is presented. The method includes establishing a binding cache at one access router comprising a mapping of mobile node addresses to access router addresses, populating the binding cache, and updating the mapping of the mobile node addresses in response to a handoff of a mobile node from one access router to another access router, so that a packet is transmitted from the first mobile node to the second mobile node using the mapping in the binding cache. The second access router address is obtained by either transmitting the packet from the first mobile node to the local mobility anchor, or querying neighboring access routers, or broadcasting access router addresses from the local mobility anchor.
US08670405B1 Mobile internet protocol square
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for network access for consumers in both wired and wireless environments. Multiple-interface/multiple-connections are used to support high-speed handoff and seamless roaming between different networks (wired and wireless). The present invention is implemented by using multiple interfaces and connections to interface a mobile PC unit, providing additional functions, and enhancing current PC device drivers and software.
US08670398B2 Method for performing bandwidth request process in wireless communication system
A method for performing a bandwidth request procedure in a wireless communication system includes receiving a bandwidth request sequence, which has been selected from a sequence set including a plurality of sequences, via a bandwidth request channel, and selecting a bandwidth request procedure to be performed from among a general bandwidth request procedure and a quick bandwidth request procedure, wherein the sequence set is divided into a plurality of sub-sets corresponding to the general bandwidth request procedure and the quick bandwidth request procedure. The bandwidth request procedure can be quickly and effectively performed.
US08670395B2 System and method for priority driven contention scheme for supporting enhanced QoS in a wireless communication network
A system and method for priority driven contention in a wireless communication network is disclosed. In one particular embodiment, the system comprises an access point configured to transmit a beacon indicative of available channel resources and a partitioning of a contention period into a plurality of superslots, each superslot associated with a priority, and a station configured to contend for the channel by transmitting, during a superslot associated with the identified priority or a superslot associated with a priority lower than the identified priority, data indicative of an allocation of available channel resources.
US08670394B2 Uplink requests
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate generating uplink requests that account for bit rates of multiple radio bearers. In particular, one or more radio bearers serviced by a user equipment are assigned priorities. In addition, each radio bearer is assigned a prioritized bit rate and a maximum bit rate. The prioritized bit rates and maximum bit rates of at least one bearer are utilized to determine a high priority queue size and a total queue size. The queue sizes are incorporated into an uplink resource request transmitted to an access point.
US08670382B2 Control apparatus, wireless communication apparatus, communication system, and control method
A mobile communication system has a mobile terminal, basestations, and a Radio Network Controller (RNC). In the case where drop of a frame occurs during data communication in Iub/Iur (between the basestations and the RNC), the RNC executes retransmission of an EDCH FP frame between the RNC and the basestations by transmitting a TN frame to the basestations to repair the drop of the frame without executing retransmission with the terminal device.
US08670379B2 Uplink control information multiplexing on the physical uplink control channel for LTE-A
A method for reporting uplink control information (UCI) on a user equipment (UE) is described. It is determined whether a collision between a hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) and a channel quality indicator/precoding matrix index/rank indication (CQI/PMI/RI) is detected. It is also determined whether a simultaneousAckNackAndCQI parameter provided by higher layers is set to TRUE. The UCI is generated with the HARQ-ACK using physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) Format 3.
US08670375B2 Tracking area setting apparatus, user equipment, and tracking area setting method
A tracking area setting apparatus is disclosed that includes a service request measurement unit measuring a frequency of occurrence of a service request transmitted by a user equipment terminal to a cell where the user equipment terminal is located based on a paging channel transmitted in all cells belonging to a tracking area where the user equipment terminal is located, the user equipment terminal being a target user equipment terminal to receive a call, the tracking area including one or more cells and a tracking area determination unit determining whether a number of the frequency of occurrence of the service request in a predetermined cell is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value based on the frequency of occurrence of the service request and, when determining yes, separate the predetermined cell from the tracking area to which the predetermined cell belongs.
US08670372B2 System and method for scheduling and transferring data through a transmission system
A system and method for dynamically dividing the capacity of a fixed time division multiplexing (TDM) frame between physical channels for data transmission. According to various embodiments, a time frequency frame is divided into a plurality of subframes, and each of the plurality of subframes are divided into a plurality of corresponding slots. The plurality of slots are then selectively time shifted such that a defined time shift exists between corresponding slots in each subframe within the time frequency frame. For any slots or slot portions which have been selectively shifted beyond the end of the time frequency frame, such slots or slot portions are cyclically shifted to the beginning of the frame. Service data is then written into the slots of the time frequency frame, and the frame containing the service data can then be transmitted. Initialization and service access processes for a receiver are also provided.
US08670371B2 Systems and methods for indicating buffered data at an access point using an embedded traffic indication map
Stations in standby mode periodically wake up to check for buffered data at the access points. Traditionally, the information is available by checking the periodic beacon frame for a traffic indication map (TIM). Unfortunately, the length of beacons has steadily increased with the progression of the various wireless standards requiring stations to wake up for longer periods to merely check for buffered data. Several approaches are disclosed which address this shortcoming, including the broadcast of TIM frames, the partial reception of beacon frames and the use of an embedded TIM frame within a beacon frame.
US08670369B2 Method, relay node, and system for processing data on relay link
A method, a device, and a system for processing data in a relay link are provided. A method for processing data in a relay link includes: processing, by a relay node by using a first protocol stack, data received by the relay node, where the first protocol stack includes a first MAC layer that is configured to define a media access protocol and an RLC layer that is configured to define a radio link layer, and the first MAC layer is configured to perform tunnel processing on the data. Processing data by using the protocol stacks provided in embodiments of the present invention implements flexible scheduling in the relay link and reduces scheduling overhead in the relay link.
US08670367B2 Mobile terminal, method and program of notifying incoming call for mobile terminal
Counting of time is started when a housing of a foldable type of mobile terminal changes from an open state to a close state, and it is detected whether it is during counting or not when there is an incoming call. In the case where it is during counting, count time is acquired to check whether it is less than predetermined time or not. In the case where it is not during counting, operating states of a display section 4 and a backlight 5 are detected to check whether they are coincident with operating states registered in advance or not. In the case where the count time is less than the predetermined time, or in the case where the operating states of the display section 4 and the backlight 5 are coincident with them, a ring tone is outputted with first sound volume. In the case where the count time is the predetermined time or more, or in the case where the operating states of the display section 4 and the backlight 5 are not coincident with them, a ring tone is outputted with second sound volume.
US08670362B2 Power state and medium access coordination in coexisting wireless networks
Apparatus and method for improving throughput in a wireless device accessing coexisting networks. In one embodiment, a wireless device includes first and second wireless transceivers, a power state controller, and an access controller. The first wireless transceiver is configured to access a first wireless network. The second wireless transceiver is configured to access a second wireless network. The power state controller is configured to switch the first wireless transceiver between an active state and a sleep state. The power consumed by the first wireless transceiver while in the sleep state is reduced relative to the active state. The access controller is configured to alternately allocate a wireless medium to the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver. The power state controller and the medium access controller are configured to coordinate power state switching of the first wireless transceiver and wireless medium access by the second wireless transceiver.
US08670356B1 Fast frequency hopping full-duplex radio
A system for radio communication is disclosed. The radio system includes a plurality of radio transceivers and a switch. Each transceiver cannot be used alone to meet an operational requirement. The switch configured to switch between the plurality of transceivers to provide the operational requirement.
US08670353B2 Systems and methods for delayed message delivery
A system for delayed message delivery can include an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network that is in communication with at least one of a first user equipment and a second user equipment, and a message application server. The message application server can be configured to receive a message sent from the first user equipment, store the message temporarily in accordance with a time parameter, and send the message to a gateway when the time parameter is satisfied. The gateway can be configured to receive a message formatted in accordance with a first protocol used by the IMS network and convert the message into a format in accordance with a second protocol used by a message center. The message center can be configured to receive the message formatted in accordance with the second protocol and forward the message to the second user equipment. Other systems for delayed message delivery and corresponding methods are disclosed.
US08670351B2 Methods and apparatus to implement scalable routing in network communication systems
An example method involves for a first virtual private network (VPN) installed on a candidate hub router, selecting a first spoke-to-hub assignment solution having a first least memory utilization cost to assign the candidate hub router a quantity of first virtual private edge (VPE) routers serving the first VPN; for a second VPN installed on the candidate hub router, selecting a second spoke-to-hub assignment solution having a second least memory utilization cost to assign the candidate hub router a quantity of second VPE routers serving the second VPN; determining third least memory utilization costs to assign the candidate hub router to a quantity of the first VPE routers, and fourth least memory utilization costs to assign the candidate hub router to a quantity of the second VPE routers; and selecting the first or second spoke-to-hub assignment solution for the candidate hub router based on the least memory utilization costs.
US08670350B2 Apparatus for discovering devices in a wireless network
A Bluetooth-enabled computing device includes a user interface for displaying a prompt to specify a descriptive identifier for a network device prior to performance of a Bluetooth Device Discovery Routine, the descriptive identifier being different from Bluetooth Device Discovery Routine Identifiers. A system memory has entries including descriptive identifiers, each descriptive identifier corresponding to a network device pre-configured with a connection profile. A connection manager determines if a specified descriptive identifier is a match to any entry in the system memory and to implements a connection to a network device corresponding to a matching entry. Otherwise the connection manager performs a discovery routine to locate and establish a connection to at least one available network device corresponding to the specified descriptive identifier. A Bluetooth compatible wireless transceiver is operable to transmit and receive signals associated with the connection to the network device and the discovery routine.
US08670349B2 System and method for floating port configuration
A system and method automatically configures the interfaces of an intermediate network device. A discovery process operating at the device detects the identity or type of network entities actually coupled to the device's interfaces. Utilizing the identity or type of detected entities, a look-up is performed to obtain a configuration macro specially defined for each detected network entity. The retrieved configuration macros are executed and applied at the respective interfaces. During operation, the intermediate network device continues to monitor the identity and type of entities actually coupled to its interfaces. If a change is detected, such as an entity moving from a first to a second interface, the specially defined configuration macro for that entity floats from the first to the second interface where it is executed and applied.
US08670346B2 Packet classification method and apparatus
Apparatus for performing packet classification of data packets belonging to a packet flow through a packet data network. The apparatus comprises an ingress interface for receiving packets of said packet flow, and an active filter for disturbing one or more of said packets or for otherwise disturbing a characteristic of said flow. An egress interface is provided for sending the packets including a disturbance towards a destination. A monitor is also provided for monitoring said packet flow and/or one or more associated packet flows received by the apparatus to detect subsequent reactions in the flow/s to the disturbance, while a flow classifier is provided for attempting to classify the flow into one of a set of defined classes according to a detected reaction.
US08670344B2 Methods and arrangements for cell stability in a cellular communication system
A method for assisting load scheduling in a wireless communication system comprises computing of an estimate of a noise floor measure for received uplink radio signals and a neighbor cell interference power is estimated. An interference whitening of the received uplink radio signals is performed based on frequency domain equalizing or frequency domain pre-equalizing. A useful signal power after interference whitening is determined and a first user noise floor compensation factor is derived. A noise rise measure is calculated based at least on the useful signal power after interference whitening, the noise floor compensation factor, the noise floor measure and the estimated neighbor cell interference power.
US08670342B2 Methods and arrangements in a wireless communication network for handling at least one primary tracking area
A method and arrangement in a data collection network node (130, 140) for gathering information to be used for identification of at least one primary tracking area associated with a user equipment and a method and arrangement in a core network node (101) for selecting at least one tracking area identity identifying at least one tracking area to be used as at least one primary tracking area for a UE are provided. A tracking area identity is retrieved. Information about usage of a tracking area identified by the retrieved tracking area identity is registered. A measure for the user equipment being located in the tracking area is determined. Said at least one tracking area identity identifying at least one tracking area to be used as a primary tracking area is determined, if the measure exceeds a threshold. A method and an arrangement in a second network node (130) for paging a user equipment are provided. When paging the user equipment (140), the second network node first pages the user equipment (140) in the primary tracking area and, if the first page fails, then pages the user equipment (140) in other tracking areas.
US08670333B2 Policy enforcement within an IP network
A method and network node for generating and applying policy rules in an IP network. A Policy Enforcement Function (PEF) is implemented in a node such as a Gateway GPRS Service Node (GGSN) routing packet flows to and from network users. An Application Function (AF) determines source and destination addressing information for a packet flow and sends the information to a Policy and Charging Decision Function in a Policy and Charging Control Function (PCRF) having access to service and mobility policies for network users. The PCRF generates policy rules based on the addressing information and the appropriate service and mobility policies. The PCRF sends the policies rules to the PEF for application to the traffic flow.
US08670331B2 Method and apparatus for detecting Ethernet operation, administration and maintenance (OAM)
A method for detecting OAM includes: sending a detection maintenance entity OAM command to a network element equipment board after a user activating an established maintenance entity; receiving a reply message sent by the network element equipment board and acquiring replying board information and monitoring ID information matched with the maintenance entity; and starting a timer, and detecting whether preconfigured heartbeat detection time is reached, if not reached, detecting whether a OAM detection result which is reported by the network element equipment board and is matched with a monitoring ID is received, if received, transferring the OAM detection result to a network management interface to be displayed; and if reached, sending the heartbeat detection message, and detecting whether the OAM detection result which is reported by the network element equipment board and is matched with the monitoring ID is received after receiving a heartbeat reply message.
US08670330B2 Methods and apparatus to perform reference signal measurements in a TDD-LTE system from a TD-SCDMA system
Methods and apparatus are provided for performing measurement of reference signals in the proper subframes of a first radio access technology (RAT) while operating in a second RAT. For certain aspects, the first and second RATs may be Time Division Duplex Long Term Evolution (TDD-LTE) and Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA), respectively. By knowing the correct TDD-LTE downlink and uplink subframe configurations, a user equipment device (UE) may temporarily leave the TD-SCDMA network during an idle interval and perform expedited and accurate measurement of TDD-LTE reference signals without errors from trying to measure reference signals during uplink subframes.
US08670322B2 Single transmission line for connecting radio frequency modules in an electronic device
A millimeter-wave radio frequency (RF) system, and method thereof for transferring multiple signals over a single transmission line connected between modules of a millimeter-wave RF system. The system comprises a single transmission line for connecting a first part of the RF system and a second part of the RF system, the single transmission line transfers a multiplexed signal between the first part and second part, wherein the multiplexed signal includes intermediate frequency (IF) signal, a local oscillator (LO) signal, a control signal, and a power signal; the first part includes a baseband module and a chip-to-line interface module for interfacing between the baseband module and the single transmission line; and the second part includes a RF module and a line-to-chip interface module for interfacing between the RF module and the single transmission line, wherein the first part and the second part are located away from each other.
US08670320B2 Quality of service routing architecture
A quality of service routing architecture is provided which includes a network router configured to route network data traffic. The architecture may further include a routing communication protocol for to sending router control information from the network router to other network routers, the routing communication protocol having a quality of service level attribute. There may be a routing communication protocol decoding module on the network router. The routing communication protocol decoding module may identify incoming routing control communications and determine the quality of service level attribute of the incoming routing control communications. The network router can also include a quality of service forwarding module for determining a next hop router value based on the quality of service level attribute and forwarding data according to the next hop value determination.
US08670318B2 Communication method and transmitting apparatus utilizing the same
An IF unit to an RF unit generate a packet signal containing a control signal and a data signal and transmits the thus generated packet signal. A radio control unit performs a first retransmission control or a second retransmission control on the packet signal transmitted. The radio control unit causes the IF unit to the RF unit to have first control information for the first retransmission control contained in the control signal and have second control information for the second retransmission control contained in the data signal.
US08670316B2 Method and apparatus to control application messages between client and a server having a private network address
A method to control communication traffic in a communication network. The traffic includes application-level messages between a client and a server having a private network address. The method includes the steps of: sending by the client a request message requesting a service to the server using a first public network address associated with the server; processing the request message at an intermediate logic unit logically positioned between the client and the server; and receiving an alert signal at the intermediate unit. Upon receipt of said alert signal, the method provides for: mapping the private network address of the server to a second public network address associated with the server; and instructing the client to send the request message to the second public network address of the server, routing to the server only request messages directed to the second public network address.
US08670315B1 Method and apparatus for estimating end-to-end packet delay
A method for estimating an end-to-end delay in a transmission network is described along with a number of embodiments. The method may use a variety of measured delay characteristics associated with domains spanning the network as inputs to a function which provides an estimation of delay. The function is not computationally complex, and thus accurate estimates of end-to-end delay may be obtained more quickly and therefore be made more useful in real-time network administration.
US08670307B2 Flow based fair scheduling in multi-hop wireless networks
Embodiments describe flow based fair scheduling in a wireless multi-hop network. The scheduling can be rate controlled multi-hop scheduling or power controlled multi-hop scheduling. The scheduling chosen is intended to provide maxmin fairness over all flows within the wireless network.
US08670306B2 Method and system for service protection
A method for service protection is disclosed, which is applied to a 1:n switching technique. The method includes the following steps. A source end sends a service to a work transmission entity, the work transmission entity performs performance monitoring through the transmitted service, a sink end receives the service from the work transmission entity; when a Signal Degrade (SD) fault occurs at the work transmission entity, the source end sends the service to the work transmission entity and a protection transmission entity simultaneously, and the sink end selects to receive the service from the protection transmission entity; the protection transmission entity performs the performance monitoring through the transmitted service; when the SD fault occurs at both the work transmission entity and the protection transmission entity, the sink end still receives the service from the protection transmission entity. A system for service protection is also disclosed. Technical solutions enable the service to get valid protection during the transmission process, and avoid frequent switching of the service, thereby improving the service quality.
US08670305B2 Ethernet switch ring (ESR) protection method and transit node
An Ethernet Switch Ring (ESR) protection method for introducing the pre-up state for the transit node, includes, after a loop failure is recovered, the transit node on the loop entering the pre-up state if not receiving the loop failure protocol message within a set time. And when the transit node is in the pre-up state and the loop fails again, i.e., the transit node receives the loop failure protocol message in the pre-up state, the transit node opens the master and slave ports and refreshes the MAC address. Effectively, the transit node is an ESR transit node.
US08670303B2 Multiple-fault-tolerant ethernet network for industrial control
Fault-tolerant Ethernet is provided through the use of special interfaces providing end-devices with duplicate ports that may be alternatively enabled with the same network address in the event of a fault detected by loss of the message from a beacon device. Unidirectional network errors in the direction from the end-device to the beacon devices are detected through a path check message from the end-device to the beacon device. Multiple faults may be accommodated without network interruption by adding top-level switches without increasing the number of ports on the end-devices by cross connecting a lowest level of switch.
US08670300B2 Network device relating to digital subscriber line
A network device relating to a digital subscriber line (DSL) such as an asymmetrical DSL (ADSL) or a very high bit rate DSL (VDSL) is provided. In the present invention, the capacitors equipped into the network device are separated and grouped into two independent groups. When the network device runs out of power, the energy of one of the two independent groups is provided for generating the dying gasp signal, and the energy of the other of the two independent groups is provided for amplifying and transmitting the dying gasp signal to a Central Office (CO). Accordingly, the CO can be accurately known whether the network device runs out of power or not, and the respective capacitances of the two independent groups can be significantly reduced so as to reduce the cost of the network device.
US08670290B2 Method for determining the location of an impact on a surface of an object
The invention relates to a method for determining the location of an impact on a surface of an object based on the analysis of an acoustic signal generated by the impact. This method further comprises a signal treatment step of weighting the acoustic signal to take into account spurious contributions in particular due to reflections at the border of the object.
US08670289B2 Distance sensor and method for determining a distance
A distance sensor has an ultrasound transceiver for transmitting ultrasound pulses and for receiving reflected ultrasound pulses from an object. A discriminator unit is configured for determining a center of distribution of the received reflected ultrasound pulse on the basis of the received reflected ultrasound pulse exceeding a first threshold value and subsequently dropping below a second threshold value. A propagation time analyzer device, is designed for determining, based on the determined center of distribution, the distance to the object.
US08670285B2 Reducing weak-erase type read disturb in 3D non-volatile memory
A read process for a 3D stacked memory device provides an optimum level of channel boosting for unselected memory strings, to repress both normal and weak-erase types of read disturbs. The channel is boosted by controlling of voltages of bit lines (Vbl), drain-side select gates (Vsgd_unsel), source-side select gates (Vsgs_unsel), a selected level (word line layer) of the memory device (Vcg_sel), and unselected levels of the memory device (Vcg_unsel). A channel can be boosted by initially making the drain-side and source-side select gates non-conductive, to allow capacitive coupling from an increasing Vcg_unsel. The drain-side and/or source-side select gates are then made conductive by raising Vsgd_unsel and/or Vsgs_unsel, interrupting the boosting. Additionally boosting can occur by making the drain-side and/or source-side select gates non-conductive again while Vcg_unsel is still increasing. Or, the channel can be driven at Vbl. Two-step boosting drives the channel at Vbl, then provides boosting by capacitive coupling.
US08670282B2 Redundancy circuits and operating methods thereof
A memory circuit includes a group of memory arrays and at least one redundancy bit line. The group of memory arrays includes a first memory array coupled with a first input/output (IO) interface and a second memory array coupled with a second IO interface. The at least one redundancy bit line is configured to selectively repair the group of memory arrays.
US08670281B2 Circuit for memory cell recovery
An apparatus and method for combating the effects of bias temperature instability (BTI) and other variability in a memory cell. Bit lines connecting to a memory cell contain two alternate paths that criss-cross to connect a lower portion of a first bit line to an upper portion of a second bit line, and to connect a lower portion of the second bit line to an upper portion of the first bit line. Alternative to activating transistors on the bit lines to read and write to the memory cell, transistors on the alternative paths may be activated to read and write to the memory cell from the opposite bit line. In this fashion, the memory cell may be read through the bit lines to a sense amplifier where the bit values are latched. While the bit values remain latched in the sense amplifier, the transistors on the bit lines are deactivated and the transistors on the alternate paths are activated. When the word line is accessed, the bit values will be written into the opposite sides of the memory cell, reversing the biases.
US08670279B2 Non-volatile memory device and program method thereof
A method for programming a non-volatile memory device including a plurality of memory cells includes verifying whether the memory cells are programmed or not by applying a program verification bias voltage, which is calculated and stored during an initialization operation preformed before the programming of the memory cells, after a program voltage is applied to word lines of the memory cells.
US08670278B1 Method and apparatus for extending the lifetime of a non-volatile trapped-charge memory
Disclosed herein are a method and apparatus for extending the lifetime of a non-volatile trapped-charge memory. A method includes setting limits of a memory sense window between an intrinsic threshold voltage of a non-volatile trapped-charge memory device and one of an end-of-life (EOL) value of a threshold voltage of a programmed state of the memory device and an EOL value of a threshold voltage of an erased state of the memory device. The data state of the memory device is then sensed.
US08670277B2 Memory and method for programming memory cells
A memory includes a memory cell including a first terminal, a second terminal and a channel extending between the first terminal and the second terminal. The memory further includes an energy storage element configured to support a programming of the memory cell, the energy storage element being coupled to the first terminal, an energy supply coupled to the energy storage element, and a controller. The controller is configured to activate the energy supply and to bring the channel of the memory cell into a non-conductive state for energizing the energy storage element, and to subsequently bring the channel of the memory cell into a conductive state for programming the memory cell based on the energy stored in the energy storage element.
US08670276B1 Host-managed logical mass storage device using magnetic random access memory (MRAM)
A mass storage device includes a storage media with magnetic random access memory (MRAM) devices and a NAND flash interface and NAND flash memory devices that are coupled to the MRAM devices. The storage media has partitions (Logical Units (LUNs)) made of a combination of MRAM and NAND flash memory and further includes a controller with a host interface and a NAND flash interface coupled to the MRAM and NAND flash memory devices through a flash interface. A host is coupled to the controller through the host interface and the storage media communicates attributes to the host, an attribute being associated with one of the partitions, where the host uses the partition based on their attributes to optimize its performance.
US08670269B2 Resistive memory device and method of writing data using multi-mode switching current
A method of writing data in a resistive memory device includes performing a test operation to distinguish normal memory cells from weak memory cells, during a write operation directed to normal memory cells using a write current and during a weak write operation directed to weak memory cells using a higher write current.
US08670266B2 Non-volatile flip-flop
A flip-flop has an output control node and an isolation switch selectively couples a retention sense node to the output control node. A sense circuit selectively couples an external sense current source to the retention sense node and to magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) elements. Optionally a write circuit selectively injects a write current through one MTJ element and then another MTJ element. Optionally, a write circuit injects a write current through a first MTJ element concurrently with injecting a write current through a second MTJ element.
US08670265B2 Reducing power in SRAM using supply voltage control
An embodiment of the invention provides a method for decreasing power in a static random access memory (SRAM). A first voltage is applied between latch sourcing and latch sinking supply lines for columns of memory cells that are column addressed during a read cycle. A second voltage is applied between latch sourcing and latch sinking supply lines for columns of memory cells that are not column addressed during a read cycle. Because the second voltage is less than the first voltage, power in the SRAM is reduced. In this embodiment, a memory cell in the SRAM includes at least one read buffer and a latch connected between the latch sourcing and latch sinking supply lines.
US08670263B2 Data holding device
A data holding device according to the present invention includes a loop structure portion LOOP for holding data using a plurality of logic gates (NAND3 and NAND4) connected in a loop, a nonvolatile storage portion (NVM) for storing in a nonvolatile manner the data held in the loop structure portion (LOOP) by using the hysteresis characteristics of ferroelectric elements, a circuit separating portion (SEP) for electrically separating the loop structure portion (LOOP) and the nonvolatile storage portion (NVM), and a set/reset controller (SRC) for generating a set signal (SNL) and reset signal (RNL) based on data stored in the nonvolatile storage portion (NVM), wherein the plurality of logic gates are each set and reset to an arbitrary output logic level in accordance with the set signal (SNL) and reset signal (RNL).
US08670262B2 Hybrid solid-state memory system having volatile and non-volatile memory
A hybrid solid-state memory system is provided for storing data. The solid-state memory system comprises a volatile solid-state memory, a non-volatile solid-state memory, and a memory controller. Further, a method is provided for storing data in the solid-state memory system. The method comprises the following steps. A write command is received by the memory controller. Write data is stored in the volatile memory in response to the write command. Data is transferred from the volatile memory to the non-volatile memory in response to a data transfer request.
US08670261B2 Stub minimization using duplicate sets of signal terminals
A microelectronic structure has active elements defining a storage array, and address inputs for receipt of address information specifying locations within the storage array. The structure has a first surface and can have terminals exposed at the first surface. The terminals may include first terminals and the structure may be configured to transfer address information received at the first terminals to the address inputs. Each first terminal can have a signal assignment which includes one or more of the address inputs. The first terminals are disposed on first and second opposite sides of a theoretical plane normal to the first surface, wherein the signal assignments of the first terminals disposed on the first side are a mirror image of the signal assignments of the first terminals disposed on the second side of the theoretical plane.
US08670260B2 Multiple inverter and active power filter system
A multiple inverter and an active power filter system are disclosed in the invention, said multiple inverter can decrease the volume and harmonics, increase the efficiency and decrease the cost, and can be applied to various occasions. The technical scheme is: the filter assembly in the multiple inverter is installed at the output inductor of the multiple inverter for filtering the harmonics.
US08670257B2 Power conversion apparatus
A power conversion apparatus includes a power converter, a voltage detector, a current detector, a detection voltage adjustor, and a controller. The power converter is configured to convert power from a power source into alternating-current power and is configured to output the alternating-current power to a power system. The voltage detector is configured to detect a voltage of the power system. The current detector is configured to detect a direct-current component of a current between the power converter and the power system. The detection voltage adjustor is configured to add a bias corresponding to the direct-current component to the voltage detected by the voltage detector, so as to generate a voltage detection signal, and is configured to output the voltage detection signal. The controller is configured to control the power converter to output an alternating-current voltage corresponding to the voltage detection signal.
US08670255B2 Utilization of a multifunctional pin combining voltage sensing and zero current detection to control a switched-mode power converter
An embodiment of the invention relates to a power converter including an inductor coupled in series with a power switch and a resistor coupled to a winding of the inductor. Input and output power converter voltages including an input brownout condition or an output overvoltage condition are estimated, and the output voltage may be regulated, by sensing a current in the resistor. An input current waveform can thereby be controlled to replicate substantially the input voltage waveform. The controller adjusts an on time and terminates an off time of the power switch by sensing respectively a current and a change of current in the resistor. The controller may sense a current flowing in the resistor to select a line voltage range of the input voltage to the power converter. The controller may estimate an input current to the power converter employing the current flowing in the resistor.
US08670252B2 Switch controller, switch control method, converter using the same, and driving method thereof
Disclosed are a switch controller, a switch control method, a converter using the same, and a driving method thereof. A first voltage is generated by using a voltage that is input to an input terminal, and a soft start signal is generated by using the first voltage during a soft start duration. A switching operation is controlled by using the soft start signal during the soft start duration.
US08670248B2 Primary-side controlled power converter with an RC network and method thereof
This invention provides a primary-side controlled power converter comprising: an RC network coupled to an auxiliary winding of a transformer of the primary-side controlled power converter to detect a reflected voltage of the transformer for generating a reflected signal, and a controller coupled to the RC network to receive the reflected signal for generating a switching signal; wherein the RC network develops a zero to provide a high-frequency path for shortening a rising time and a settling time of the reflected signal.
US08670246B2 Computers including an undiced semiconductor wafer with Faraday Cages and internal flexibility sipes
A computer including an undiced semiconductor wafer having a multitude of microchips. The computer also including an outer chamber and at least one inner chamber inside the outer chamber. The outer chamber and the inner chamber being separated at least in part by an internal sipe, and at least a portion of a surface of the outer chamber forming at least a portion of a surface of the internal sipe. The internal sipe has opposing surfaces that are separate from each other and therefore can move relative to each other, and at least a portion of the opposing surfaces are in contact with each other in a unloaded condition. The outer chamber including a Faraday Cage. The multitude of microchips on the wafer are configured to allow the microchip to function independently and including independent communication capabilities.
US08670232B2 Modular flat-panel monitor stand
A flat-panel display stand in accordance with the present invention includes a modular assembly for supporting a display on a horizontal surface so that the display tilt can be adjusted by the user. The stand has a modular design with only two modules: a retainer clip and supporting leg that are uniquely hinged together and connected to the rear of the display.
US08670223B2 Case mold type capacitor
A case mold type capacitor is formed of multiple metalized film capacitors connected together in parallel and rigidly accommodated with molding resin within a case. The multiple metalized film capacitors are divided into a first block and a second block, and P-poles of each block confront each other, and N-poles thereof also confront each other. Bus-bars including a connection terminal for external connection at an end are connected to respective P-poles and N-poles of each block. The bus-bars connected to the P-poles are coupled together, and the bus-bars connected to the N-poles are coupled together. Each one of the bus-bars includes a section located on the opening side of the case with respect to the blocks. The bus-bars connected to the P-poles overlap in part, and the bus-bars connected to the N-poles also overlap in part.
US08670220B2 Protection circuit for a cascode switch, and a method of protecting a cascode switch
A circuit arrangement is disclosed comprising: a normally-on transistor (such as a HEMT) having first and second transistor main terminals and a non-insulated control terminal, the non-insulated control terminal being electrically coupled to a ground; a normally-off switch having first and second switch main terminals and a switch control terminal, the normally-off switch being arranged in a cascode configuration with the normally-on transistor, the first switch main terminal being electrically coupled to the second transistor main terminal, the switch control terminal being electrically coupled to the second switch main terminal and to the ground; and a control circuit configured to switch on the normally-off switch in response to the voltage at the first switch main terminal being negative relative to the ground.A method of controlling such a circuit is also disclosed.
US08670218B1 Current-perpendicular-to-the-plane (CPP) magnetoresistive (MR) sensor with hard magnet biasing structure having a MgO insulating layer
A hard magnet biasing structure for a CPP-GMR or CPP-TMR read head for a magnetic recording disk drive is located between the two sensor shields and abutting the side edges of the sensor free layer. The biasing structure includes a crystalline MgO insulating layer on the lower shield and the side edges of the free layer, a seed layer of either Ir or Ru on and in contact with the MgO layer, a layer of at least partially chemically-ordered ferromagnetic FePt alloy hard bias layer on the seed layer, and a capping layer on the FePt alloy hard bias layer. The MgO layer may be a single layer on and in contact with the side edges of the free layer, or an upper layer on and in contact with a base insulating layer selected from an aluminum oxide, a tantalum oxide, a titanium oxide, and a silicon nitride.
US08670217B1 Scissoring-type current-perpendicular-to-the-plane (CPP) magnetoresistive sensor with free layers having shape anisotropy
A scissoring-type CPP-MR sensor has the two free ferromagnetic layers formed as exchange-coupled structures. Each exchange-coupled structure includes a patterned layer formed of alternating stripes of ferromagnetic stripes and nonmagnetic stripes, and a continuous unpatterned ferromagnetic layer in contact with and exchange-coupled to the ferromagnetic stripes of the patterned layer. The ferromagnetic stripes have a length-to-width aspect ratio of at least 2, which results in increased uniaxial anisotropy of the exchange-coupled unpatterned ferromagnetic layer. The stripes are oriented at an acute angle relative to the disk-facing surface of the sensor, and the stripes of the first free layer are generally orthogonal to the stripes of the second free layers. A hard magnet layer is magnetized in a direction orthogonal to the disk-facing surface for biasing the magnetization directions of the unpatterned ferromagnetic layers in the first and second free layers generally orthogonal to one another.
US08670214B1 Method and system for providing enhanced thermal expansion for hard disk drives
A method and system provide a magnetic read and/or write transducer for use in disk drive. A read transducer has an air-bearing surface (ABS) and includes a read sensor, a nonmagnetic gap, a heater, and an expander. The nonmagnetic gap is adjacent to a portion of the read sensor and has a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). The heater heats a portion of the magnetic read transducer. The expander is adjacent to a portion of the nonmagnetic gap and has a second CTE greater than the first CTE. The write transducer includes a pole, a coil, an insulator adjacent to and for insulating the coil, a heater and an expander. The expander has a CTE greater than the insulator's CTE.
US08670212B2 PMR writer device with multi-level tapered write pole
A perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) head is fabricated with a multi-level tapered write pole. The write pole comprises a main pole with a tapered tip on a leading edge or a trailing edge, on which is formed at least one yoke that has a tapered edge. The edge of the yoke is recessed from the ABS of the main pole, giving the head a stepped profile. The yoke can be a single yoke formed on one side of the main pole or it can be two yokes formed on both the leading and trailing sides of the main pole. The write pole structure creates an efficient channeling of magnetic flux to the ABS surface of the pole tip which produces magnetic recording field at high area densities.
US08670202B2 Magnetic head and disk drive with the same
According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a main pole, a write shield pole on a trailing side of the main pole, a recording coil, and a temperature control element unit. The temperature control element unit includes a first electrode on a leading side of the main pole and on both sides of a track of the main pole, a second electrode on the leading side of the main pole and on a track center of the main pole, an N-type semiconductor and a P-type semiconductor connected to the first and second electrodes, and a wiring portion which applies a current via the second electrode, N-type semiconductor, first electrode, P-type semiconductor, and second electrode. The first and second electrodes form a heat absorbing portion and a heat radiating portion.
US08670199B2 Data-dependent noise-predictive maximum likelihood detection (DD-NPML) for magnetic recording
In one embodiment, a method includes applying one or more whitening filters to an input stream of digitized samples from a magnetic data channel to produce a filtered sequence, performing one or more branch metric calculations to the filtered sequence to produce a branch metric, and applying a multi-state data-dependent noise-predictive maximum likelihood (DD-NPML) detector to the branch metric to produce an output stream. In another embodiment, a multi-channel data storage system includes a head for reading data from a storage medium, logic for applying one or more whitening filters to an input stream of digitized samples from a magnetic data channel to produce a filtered sequence, logic for performing one or more branch metric calculations to the filtered sequence to produce a branch metric, and logic for applying a multi-state DD-NPML detector to the branch metric to produce an output stream. Other systems and methods are described as well.
US08670196B2 Lens barrel
A lens barrel includes a first lens holding member holding a first lens group, a second lens holding member holding a second lens group and an adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting the position of the first lens holding member relative to the second lens holding member. On a first plane of the second lens holding member, provided are at least three positioning parts abutting on the first lens holding member at positions surrounding the second lens group, and a sheet member attached to the first plane at a position surrounding the three positioning parts. The sheet member is pressed against the first lens holding member in the photographing optical axis direction while surrounding the first lens group throughout, between the adjustment mechanism and the first plane when viewed in the photographing optical axis direction.
US08670194B2 Single focal length lens system, interchangeable lens apparatus and camera system
A single focal length lens system comprising a front lens unit, an aperture diaphragm, and a rear lens unit, wherein the front lens unit is composed of three or less lenses including a negative lens located closest to the object side and a positive lens located on the image side relative to the negative lens, and does not move along an axis in focusing, the rear lens unit includes a focusing lens unit moving along the axis and a fixed lens unit not moving along the axis in focusing, and the conditions: 0.4
US08670183B2 Augmented view of advertisements
A head-mounted display (HMD) provides an augmented view of advertisements to an HMD wearer. In some embodiments, when an advertisement is within an HMD wearer's field of view, the HMD may augment the HMD wearer's view of the advertisement to provide additional information and/or to personalize the advertisement to the HMD wearer. In other embodiments, when an advertisement is within an HMD wearer's field of view, the HMD may augment the HMD wearer's view of the advertisement to remove the advertisement from the HMD wearer's view or to replace the content of the advertisement with non-advertising content.
US08670175B2 Method and system for compact and efficient high energy pulsed laser amplifier
An optical amplifier system includes an input aperture operable to receive light propagating along an optical path in a first direction and a first polarizer disposed along the optical path. The first polarizer is operable to pass light having a polarization state aligned with a first polarization axis. The system also includes a first Pockels cell operable to receive light passing through the first polarizer, an optical gain element disposed along the optical path, a second Pockels cell disposed along the optical path, and a second polarizer disposed along the optical path. The second polarizer is operable to pass light having a polarization state aligned with the first polarization axis. The system further includes a first mirror operable to receive light reflected from the second polarizer, a second mirror operable to receive light reflected from the first polarizer, and an output aperture operable to transmit light passing through the second polarizer.
US08670173B2 SPD films and light valve laminates with improved durability
A moisture-resistant suspended particle device film comprising a cured suspended particle device emulsion having a plurality of uncrosslinked droplets of a liquid light valve suspension distributed throughout the cured emulsion; first and second glass or plastic sheets located outwardly from and sandwiching the cured emulsion, wherein located on an inner aspect of each sheet, adjacent the cured emulsion, is a thin, transparent, electrically conductive coating, the coating serving as an electrode to permit passage of an applied electric field through the cured emulsion; and a moisture-resistant barrier located around an entire outer peripheral edge portion of the film, wherein the barrier is comprised of a barrier material that eliminates or at least reduces passage of moisture from outside the film into the cured emulsion, thus preventing development of a light-frame pattern in the film that would otherwise be caused by the moisture. The disclosure also discloses forming a laminate comprising the above-described film, as well as methods of forming such films and laminates.
US08670172B2 Variable length imaging method using electronically registered and stitched single-pass imaging
An imaging method for generating a substantially one-dimensional scan line image using multiple spatial light modulators, to modulate a homogenous light field, and then anamorphically imaging and concentrating the modulated light to form the scan line image. The spatial light modulators include light modulating elements that are arranged in two-dimensional array and are individually adjustable to either pass/reflect received homogenous light portions to the anamorphic optical systems, or to block/redirect the homogenous light portions, thereby generating two-dimensional modulated light fields. Anamorphic optical systems are used to image and focus received modulated light field onto an associated substantially one-dimensional scan line portion on the scan structure. An image stitching controller modifies the image data sent to each spatial light modulator such that selected light modulating elements are enabled or disabled, thereby electronically stitching the scan line portions to form a seamlessly stitched scan line image.
US08670171B2 Display having an embedded microlens array
The present disclosure provides methods, systems, and apparatus for directing incident light toward central regions of interferometric modulator displays. In one aspect, a display includes an array of microlenses embedded in a substrate adjacent a first surface of the substrate. An array of light modulators can be disposed over the first surface of the substrate. A light modulator can be disposed over a corresponding microlens. The microlenses can converge or concentrate incident light onto central regions of the corresponding light modulators. The microlenses may include single-element lenses, compound lenses, and/or graded-index lenses. Various methods of manufacturing such displays are also disclosed.
US08670170B2 Optical scanning projection system
An optical scanning projection system includes a scanning light source component, a second reflecting element, a transparent element, a scanning element, a photosensitive element and a control module. The transparent element receives a main light beam emitted by the scanning light source component and reflects a part of the main light beam to be a reflected light. The reflected light is reflected by the second reflecting element, and the scanning element reflects the reflected light from the second reflecting element in a scanning manner. The photosensitive element receives the reflected light from the scanning element and outputs a sensing signal, and the control module actuates or stops actuating the scanning light source component according to the sensing signal. Therefore, when the scanning element is damaged, the control module may instantly stop actuating the scanning light source component, thereby enhancing the using safety of the optical scanning projection system.
US08670169B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method for selecting an image for monochromatic output
An image processing apparatus and an image processing method are provided which are capable of selecting an image to be printed in a user's intended color. The image processing apparatus of the present invention includes: a selecting condition setting unit configured to prepare an image selecting condition depending on set output color in printing; a selection DB specifying unit configured to specify a group of images for image selection based on the image selecting condition; and further an image selecting unit configured to select an image from the specified group of images based on the image selecting condition.
US08670167B2 Color gamut determination with neugebauer-primary area coverages for a print system
Method of determining a color gamut of a predetermined print system, comprising determining ink restrictions of the print system, generating all NP states of the print system, generating a convex hull of area coverages of NPs that do not exceed said ink restrictions, determining which NP states are outside of the convex hull, mapping NP states that are outside of the convex hull onto the convex hull, re-expressing the mapped NP states as area coverages of NPs, and sampling the convex hull in a colorimetrically predetermined way.
US08670164B2 Scanner
The present invention relates to a scanner with a real-time image auto-cutting function. The scanner includes a positioning element, a scanning scope determining unit and a scanning unit. The scanning scope determining unit is configured on the positioning element, has a specific pattern and is provided to determine a scanning scope. The scanning unit scans the specific pattern to determine the scanning scope.
US08670163B2 Image reader and image forming apparatus using same using multiple image sensors and which corrects misalignment
An image reader includes an original transport device to transport an original, and an image reading device including multiple image sensor arrays having image reading areas staggered relative to the transport direction of the original in such a manner that the multiple image sensor arrays are offset at least partially, in the main scanning direction of the original with a predetermined gap therebetween in the transport direction. There is at least one original transport speed detector to detect the transport speed of the original transported by the original transport device, a storing device to store a reference delay time period which is between when the image sensor arrays on the upstream side read a predetermined position relative to the transport direction and when the image sensor arrays on the downstream side read the predetermined position. Further, there is a misalignment amount calculator, and an image synthesizer to synthesize an image read by the image sensor arrays.
US08670160B2 Printing device for printing conceal pattern on character string printed on printed object based on said character string, and printing method and recording medium for the same
The printing device includes a reading unit, a printing unit, an operation mode setting unit, a personal information determining unit that determines the kind of the personal information, such as an address, a personal name, or a telephone number, from image data read by the reading unit when the operation mode setting unit sets the operation mode to be a reading mode, a printing data setting unit, a concealing-pattern-data generating unit that generates concealing pattern data, and a printing control unit that activates the printing unit to perform printing on the printed object based on the concealing pattern data generated by the concealing-pattern-data generating unit when the operation mode setting unit sets the operation mode to be a printing mode.
US08670158B2 Image processing apparatus and method for reducing gradation level of image
An image processing apparatus includes a first generation portion that generates a first low-gradation image by performing a first process on an input image to reduce the number of gradations of the input image, a second generation portion that generates a second low-gradation image by performing a second process on the input image to reduce the number of gradations of the input image, a density detector that detects a density of the input image, a determination portion that determines, based on the density, a ratio at which the first low-gradation image and the second low-gradation image are blended together, and a mixing portion that blends the first low-gradation image and the second low-gradation image in accordance with the ratio.
US08670157B2 Dot growth system and method
The present disclosure relates to a method and system for processing isolated dots of an image to be printed by a printer. The method includes detecting whether pixels corresponding to an isolated dot in the image are in an on state. A first sum of pixels that are in an on state in a first pixel ring surrounding the pixels corresponding to the isolated dot when the pixels in the isolated dot are detected to be in the on state is determined. The first sum of pixels in the first pixel ring that are in the on state is compared with a first threshold sum. A first number of pixels in at least a second pixel ring either comprising of or surrounding the pixels corresponding to the isolated dot are turned on when the first sum of pixels in the on state is less than the first threshold sum.
US08670152B2 Print controller and method for reducing memory usage in determining candidate pixels for bleed suppression
A print controller controls a printing unit to print an image on a recording medium by using a black ink and M chromatic color inks. The print controller stores a part of image data having a plurality of sets of pixel data and determines whether one pixel data set is subject pixel data to be subjected to bleed suppression and includes: setting the one pixel data set as target pixel data; setting, as peripheral pixel data, pixel data set corresponding to a pixel located within a prescribed range from a target pixel; acquiring the N color value set of the target pixel data; acquiring the N color value set of the peripheral pixel data; and determining whether the target pixel data is the subject pixel data based on the N color value sets.
US08670149B2 Apparatus and methods for image processing optimization for variable data printing
Apparatus and methods for providing a pre-rasterized print job for variable data printing are disclosed. In one embodiment, a set of printer characteristics may be determined and then transferred to a typesetting system. The typesetting system may then pre-rasterize objects of the print job based in part on the received printer characteristics. A pre-rasterized print job, including the pre-rasterized objects and print layout instructions may then be generated, such as in the form of a PostScript file, which may then be transferred to a raster image processor (RIP) for generation of printed output. In another embodiment, a printer characterization file may be used for execution on a printing system to determine the set of printer characteristics, that may include native resolution, rotation angle, compression data and/or other data or information characterizing the printing system.
US08670148B2 Image processing apparatus, job management method for the same, and recording medium having recorded thereon job management program
Upon reception of a job, a control unit of an image processing apparatus executes processing for judging whether any cancellation factor exists. If there is no cancellation factor, the control unit outputs pages relating to the job, stores page information thereof, and updates execution history information after outputting all the pages. If there is any cancellation factor, the control unit performs only preparation for output of the pages, stores page information obtained through the preparation, and updates cancellation history information after storing the page information of all the pages. A message as a result of evaluation of the cancellation history information is displayed on an operation panel. The message prompts an administrator to change management condition as needed.
US08670146B1 Using bit arrays in incremental scanning of content for sensitive data
A method for incremental scanning of documents may include identifying documents to be scanned for sensitive information according to at least one data loss prevention (DLP) policy, the documents being associated with a bit array. The method may further include generating a key of a documents and applying, for each document, a set of functions to the key of the document, where outputs of the functions map the key to positions in the bit array. The method further includes identifying a subset of the positions in the bit array that correspond to the outputs of the functions in the set of functions, the subset of the positions to indicate whether the document has been scanned.
US08670141B2 Printer management system working with integrated management system
A printing system including: a print management system that includes a first type of printer, and a printer management client device that periodically reads data about first type of printer from the first type of printer; and an environment management system that includes an integration device that periodically retrieves the data about the first type of printer from the printer management system, a data storage unit that receives the data about the first type of printer from the integration device, and a second type of printer that provides data about the second type of printer to the data storage unit, wherein the second type of printer has a management function that is configured to provide the data about the second type of printer to the data storage unit in the environment management system, and the first type of printer does not have the management function.
US08670135B2 Information processing apparatus and control method when installing a printer driver
An installer of the driver B according to the present invention searches a print queue of the driver A corresponding to a printer controlled by the install target driver B, determines whether an output destination of the searched print queue is a remote printer, and if it is determined that the output destination of the print queue is the remote printer, ends install processing without making an update request for the print queue to the operating system.
US08670133B2 Document reading apparatus and method with selection mode
A print mode selecting unit configured to select a print mode based on user input to be either a normal print mode or a saving print mode including print settings associated with less paper consumption than the normal print mode, a document reading unit configured to read documents in a document containing unit and to generate read images, a document detecting unit configured to detect documents in the document containing unit, a confirmation window displaying unit configured to display a confirmation window having a mode change button based on a detection result from the document detecting unit, and an image forming unit configured to form output images from the read images based on the print mode. The confirmation window displaying unit determines whether the confirmation window is to be displayed based on the print mode, and the print mode selecting unit selects the normal print mode in response to an input through the mode change button.
US08670132B2 Image processing apparatus, device cooperation system, and recording medium
An image processing apparatus is connected to an apparatus including a layout data storage unit storing layout data, a display part data storage unit storing part data, and a customization data storage unit storing customization data, the image processing apparatus including a menu construction unit that generates the menu based on at least the part data, a menu generation unit that modifies the menu based on the customization data, a display unit that displays the menu modified based on the customization data and accepts an operation for the display part, and a device cooperation unit that requests the apparatus to provide the function and setting information of the function, the function having been accepted via a second display unit.
US08670117B2 Inspection apparatus
An inspection apparatus includes a work stage part, an optical module, and an optical module moving part. The work stage part receives a board. The work stage part includes work stages disposed in parallel. The optical module includes a projecting part disposed over the board, an image capturing part disposed at a side portion of the projecting part to receive the grating pattern light and capture a reflection image, and an optical path changing part changing a path of the grating pattern light and guiding the grating pattern light to the image capturing part so that the grating pattern light is downwardly incident into the image capturing part. The optical module moving part is disposed over and coupled to the optical module to move the optical module. Thus, time may be reduced and a space may be secured, required for inspecting a board.
US08670110B2 Array connector test harness for single-ended optical test instruments
A system, apparatus and method for testing optical fiber systems by providing a near-end and far-end harness that loops the set of fibers in the fiber system together. The near-end harness has an interface to connect to the tester. The tester then effects testing on the entire set of fibers, which are looped together by the configuration of the two harnesses creating a single optical path that traverses the entire set or subset of fibers in the network, so a launched test signal propagates through the entire set of looped fibers, providing measurement results for the fibers.
US08670108B2 High resolution time-of-flight distance measurement device based on femtosecond laser
Disclosed is a high resolution time-of-flight distance measurement device based on a femtosecond laser, including a femtosecond laser light source, a polarization beam splitter, a balanced optical cross-correlator in which second harmonic pulses are generated using reference light and measurement light, wherein the second harmonic pulse that was primarily generated is incident on a first photodetector and the second harmonic pulse that was secondarily generated is incident on a second photodetector, so that a difference in intensity of the second harmonic pulses is output, thus resolving the time interval of the pulse laser, a controller for controlling the repetition rate of the femtosecond laser, and a converter for measuring the repetition rate of the femtosecond laser controlled so that the pulses uniformly overlap by means of the controller, using a frequency counter traceable to a time/frequency standard, so that a measured value is converted into distance information.
US08670107B2 Maskless exposure apparatus and control method thereof
Disclosed herein is a mask-less exposure apparatus to enlarge or reduce an exposure area in a scan direction and a control method thereof. The mask-less exposure apparatus includes a light source unit configured to supply light, a spatial light modulation unit configured to selectively transmit the light to a substrate, a drive pulse generation unit configured to generate a drive pulse signal and adjust an operation beginning time of the spatial light modulation unit, a substrate shape measurement unit configured to measure a scan-direction length of the substrate, and a drive pulse correction unit configured to correct a drive pulse signal interval so as to enlarge or reduce an exposure area of the substrate according to the scan-direction length of the substrate.
US08670090B2 Liquid crystal display device and production method thereof
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device capable of improving display qualities in a frame region and a production method thereof. The present invention is a liquid crystal display device including: first and second substrates facing each other; a liquid crystal layer arranged between the first and second substrates; first and second alignment films arranged on liquid crystal layer side-surfaces of the first and second substrates, respectively; and first and second polarization plates, the first polarization plate being arranged on a side opposite to the liquid crystal layer side of the first substrate, the second polarization plate being arranged on a side opposite to the liquid crystal layer side of the second substrate, wherein the first alignment film has an alignment portion in a frame region, an alignment direction of the alignment portion being in accordance with a polarization axis direction of the first polarization plate, and the second alignment film has a non-alignment portion for which an alignment treatment is not provided, the non-alignment portion of the second alignment film is positioned in a region corresponding to the alignment portion of the first alignment film.
US08670089B2 Display device, manufacturing method thereof, and color adjusting method used thereon
A display device, a manufacturing method thereof, and a color adjusting method used thereon are provided. The display device includes a blue light source and a display panel which includes a substrate having a color adjusting layer, a blue filter layer, and an inner polarizer disposed thereon. The color adjusting layer includes a plurality of color excitation units, wherein each color excitation unit contains a plurality of wavelength transformation materials. The blue filter layer allows only blue light to pass therethrough and absorbs other color light. The blue light passes through the inner polarizer and the blue filter layer to reach the color excitation units. The blue light further excites the wavelength transformation materials to generate different color light. A part of the different color light is transmitted to and absorbed by the blue filter layer.
US08670088B2 Optical sheet comprising a base composed of a stack of transmissive sheets, and a back-light device and liquid crystal device incorporating the optical sheet
An optical sheet is provided. The optical sheet includes: a light-transmissive base; and an optical functional layer provided to at least one surface of the base, in which the base is composed of a stack of transmissive sheets bonded while placing an adhesive material layer in between.
US08670084B2 Method of forming a liquid crystal display device having two liquid crystal display panels
A liquid crystal display device including a first liquid crystal display panel disposed between a first cover and a second cover, a second liquid crystal display panel disposed between the first cover and the second cover, wherein a rear face of the second liquid crystal display panel faces a rear face of the first liquid crystal display panel, a main frame disposed between the first and second liquid crystal display panels, and a plate to connect the second liquid crystal display panel to the main frame.
US08670083B2 In-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device
An IPS mode LCD device is disclosed in which a common voltage drop and delay is decreased. The LCD includes gate and data lines crossing each other to define pixel regions. Thin film transistors are formed at crossing portions of the gate and data lines. Common lines are parallel with the gate lines and common electrodes project from the common lines parallel with the data lines. Pixel electrodes connected with drain electrodes of the thin film transistors are formed in the pixel regions between the parallel common electrodes. A first common voltage supplying line applies a first common voltage or a second common voltage to a closed circuit formed by grouping the adjacent odd numbered common lines. A second common voltage supplying line applies the second common voltage or the first common voltage to a closed circuit formed by grouping the adjacent even numbered common lines.
US08670082B2 Thin film transistor, display device and liquid crystal display device
A thin film transistor, a display device and a liquid crystal display device are provided. The thin film transistor includes a gate electrode film onto which light from a light source is irradiated, a semiconductor film formed on the gate electrode film and on an opposite side to the light source side through an insulating film, first and second electrode films formed to be in electrical contact with the semiconductor film, and a first shielding film formed in a same layer as the gate electrode film and electrically isolated from the gate electrode film, wherein the first shielding film overlaps a part of the semiconductor film as seen from the light irradiation direction and also overlaps at least a part of the first electrode film as seen from the light irradiation direction.
US08670080B2 Liquid crystal display device
The drain lines are such that one drain line is formed for every two pixels adjacent to each other within the same pixel row, the gate lines are formed of a first gate line connected to one of the two pixels connected to the same drain line within the same pixel row and a second gate line connected to the other pixel, the pixel electrode is formed of a first linear electrode inclined in a plus direction from the first direction, and a second linear electrode inclined in a minus direction from the first direction, in a region in which the pixel electrode is superimposed over the common electrode, and each pixel has the first and second gate lines and thin film transistor formed in a region between the region of the first linear electrode and the region of the second linear electrode.
US08670079B2 Video display device
A video display device displays an image of an input video signal. In the video display device, the video signal is supplied to a frequency component analyzing device, and the frequency component analyzing device extracts a frequency of each of frequency bands from video information of one screen with respect to the image. An image quality control circuit of the video display device performs an image quality control of the image based on the extracted frequencies of the respective frequency bands.
US08670078B2 Two-sided remote control
A remote control is described that with at least two faces that have at least one touch-based input. The remote control also includes an orientation sensor that determines the orientation of the remote control. A processor on the remote ignores signals from inputs on certain faces of the remote based upon the orientation of the remote control.
US08670077B2 Fast service scan
A method of performing a service scan for available channels across a bandwidth of an input signal, the method comprising the steps of: acquiring a power spectrum of the input signal bandwidth; analyzing the power spectrum to identify a list of candidate channels, each candidate channel being identified by at least a center frequency; processing each of the candidate channels in a receiver unit to extract service information, if present, relating to the candidate channel; and storing the service information for the channel in a memory.
US08670074B2 Projector, projection method, and storage medium storing program
A projector includes an input unit which inputs an image signal, a projection unit which projects an achromatic luminance image and a chromatic image on the basis of the image signal input by the input unit, an image processing unit which performs a sharpening processing to emphasize a high-frequency component in the image signal in accordance with a sharpening parameter to the image signal input by the input unit, and a projection control unit which controls a luminance image projection time of the luminance image for the chromatic image projected in the projection unit, a value of the sharpening parameter and the luminance image projection time being associated with each other.
US08670073B2 Method and system for video noise filtering
A video processing device may compare a pixel or group of pixels of a current video picture to a pixel or group of pixels of a previous video picture. The video processing device may generate a motion vector for the pixel or group of pixels of the current video picture based on the comparison. The video processing device may determine an amount of filtering to be applied to the pixel or group of pixels of the current video picture. The video processing device may adjust the determined amount of filtering to be applied to the pixel or group of pixels based on the generated motion vector and based on a brightness value.
US08670069B2 Imaging device having an angle adjusting device for an image sensor
The present invention relates to a digital camera which comprises a sensor holder on which an image sensor is mounted and at least one adjustment ring. The adjustment ring is configured to rotate around an optical axis (OA) of the camera. The sensor holder and the at least one adjustment ring are configured to interact via at least one cam surface such that when the at least one adjustment ring is rotated with respect to the sensor holder, a normal direction of the sensor is adjusted in relation to a direction of the optical axis.
US08670067B2 Camera apparatus including supporting block with filling groove for adhesive agent
Disclosed herein is a camera apparatus, including: a lens block having an image capturing lens provided therein; a substrate having an image pickup element mounted thereto; a housing for accommodating therein the lens block and the substrate; and a supporting block for supporting the substrate so that the image pickup element and the image capturing lens face each other by bonding thereto the substrate by using an adhesive agent, wherein the supporting block has a side surface making a right angle with an adhesion surface to which the substrate is bonded, and a bottom surface parallel with the adhesion surface on the adhesion surface, and a filling groove which is filled with the adhesive agent is formed in the supporting block.
US08670063B2 Focus detection apparatus and focus detection method
A focus detection apparatus comprises: an image sensor that receives images that are formed by light that passes through different pupil regions of a photographing optical system including a focus lens, and outputs a pair of image signals; a control unit that controls to acquire a pair of image signals from the image sensor at first and second lens positions of the focus lens; a conversion unit that, by multiplying a shift amount between a pair of images representing the pair of image signals by a conversion coefficient, converts the shift amount to a defocus amount; and a calculation unit that calculates the conversion coefficient based on displacement amounts of respective ones of the pair of images representing the pair of image signals acquired at the first and second lens positions, and a displacement amount of the focus lens from the first lens position to the second lens position.
US08670060B2 Image capturing device with touch screen for adjusting camera settings
Several methods for operating a built-in digital camera of a portable, handheld electronic device are described. In one embodiment, the device receives a user selection (e.g., tap, tap and hold, gesture) of a region displayed on the display screen (e.g., touch sensitive screen). A touch to focus mode may then be initiated in response to the user selection and exposure and focus parameters determined and adjusted. Then, an automatic scene detection mechanism can determine whether a scene has changed. If the scene has changed, then the touch to focus mode ends and a default automatic focus mode initiates. This mode sets a new exposure metering area and focus area prior to determining and adjusting exposure and focus parameters, respectively.
US08670059B2 Photoelectric conversion device having an n-type buried layer, and camera
A photoelectric conversion device comprises a p-type region, an n-type buried layer formed under the p-type region, an element isolation region, and a channel stop region which covers at least a lower portion of the element isolation region, wherein the p-type region and the buried layer form a photodiode, and a diffusion coefficient of a dominant impurity of the channel stop region is smaller than a diffusion coefficient of a dominant impurity of the buried layer.
US08670056B2 Solid-state imaging apparatus
A solid-state imaging apparatus capable of suppressing blooming and color mixing includes a plurality of pixels, each including a photoelectric converting portion and a transferring portion for transferring signal electrons from the photoelectric converting portion, wherein a plurality of the photoelectric converting portions is formed in a first conductivity type well region formed on the semiconductor substrate; a second conductivity type first impurity region is arranged between the adjacent photoelectric converting portions; a first conductivity type second impurity region having an impurity concentration higher than that of the well region is arranged between the first impurity region and each of the photoelectric converting portions; and a first conductivity type third impurity region having an impurity concentration higher than that of the well region and decreasing from the semiconductor substrate toward the surface direction of the apparatus between the semiconductor substrate and the first impurity region.
US08670054B2 Solid-state image pickup device with isolated organic photoelectric conversion film portions, method for manufacturing the same, and image pickup apparatus
A solid-state image pickup device is provided which includes a plurality of pixels provided in a semiconductor substrate, the pixels including a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions and MOS transistors which selectively read out signals therefrom, at least one organic photoelectric conversion film on the photoelectric conversion portions, and an isolation region provided in the organic photoelectric conversion film at a position corresponding to between the pixels to perform optical and electrical isolation.
US08670053B2 Solid-state imaging device, manufacturing method of solid-state imaging device and electronic apparatus
A solid-state imaging device, includes: plural unit pixels including a photoelectric conversion portion converting incident light into an electrical signal, and a waveguide having a quadratic curve surface at an inner surface and introducing the incident light to the photoelectric conversion portion.
US08670050B2 Image processing device and method for determining similarities between two images
A computerized method determines similarities between a first image and a second image. The first image is converted into a first grayscale image, and the second image is converted into a second grayscale image, where a number of pixels of the second image is not less than a number of pixels of the first image. Each pixel of the first grayscale image is matched with a pixel of the second grayscale image to create a pixel pair sequence. A similarity value indicating the similarities between the first image and the second image is calculated according to the grayscale value of each pixel in the pixel pair sequence S.
US08670047B2 Image processing apparatus, imaging apparatus, image processing method, and program
An image processing apparatus includes an imaging operation state acquiring unit that acquires imaging operation state information representing imaging operation states at the time of an imaging operation for a plurality of images that are consecutively generated in a time series, an image processing unit that performs image processing, which is used for generating a synthesized image representing transition in a specific operation of an observed subject included in the plurality of images, based on the acquired imaging state information for the plurality of images, and an image synthesis unit that generates a synthesized image by synthesizing the plurality of images for which the image processing has been performed.
US08670043B2 Image processing apparatus for detecting a color flicker in an image
Disclosed herein is an image processing apparatus including a color-flicker detection processing section configured to detect generation of color flickers from a plurality of images taken at different exposure times, wherein the color-flicker detection processing section: acquires a ratio of any specific one of a plurality of color signals of the taken images to another one of the color signals; obtains an evaluation value of the color flickers from the acquired ratio; and determines whether or not the color flickers have been generated on the basis of the magnitude of the evaluation value.
US08670039B2 Method and system for testing an image stabilizing device for an image capture apparatus
The disclosure relates to a test process of an image stabilization system in an image capture apparatus, comprising steps of: submitting the stabilization system to rotation vibratory movements around two distinct rotation axes, measuring characteristics of rotation vibratory movements, and setting the rotation vibratory movements to setpoint position values and, taking into consideration the measured characteristics of the vibratory movements, collecting images from the image capture apparatus submitted to vibration and analyzing the collected images.
US08670037B2 System and method for registration of imaging data
A method of obtaining imaging data from a tissue region is provided. The method is effected by associating imaging data with a surface contour of the tissue region and utilizing a model of contour changes in the tissue region to transform the data to reflect changes in the surface contour.
US08670036B2 Image-based vehicle maneuvering assistant method and system
An image-based vehicle maneuvering assistant method and system are provided in the present invention, in which images captured by a single image sensing device is processed to determine the changes with respect time by a controller having capability of image processing and identification and distance estimation in image space for providing a complete assisting image-information while the carrier is maneuvering. By means of the presented method of the presented invention, the system is capable of generating track of the carrier, view point transformation, and identifying the characteristic object in the image so as to performing the distance estimation. The present invention may be utilized and applied in different kinds of carrier type to solve the problem of guiding of carrier maneuvering, and assist the carrier lane changing, parking assistance and blind spot detection.
US08670027B1 Modified scanner pen
A modified scanner pen comprising a microprocessor; a scanner with an on/off button, an audio recorder with an on/off button, an audio speaker, a video camera recorder with an on/off button; a secure digital (SD) slot; and a universal serial bus (USB) slot which stores date which can be reviewed.
US08670026B2 Video display apparatus capable of viewing videos by a plurality of persons using a plurality of shutter eyeglasses and method for controlling same
The video display apparatus is provided that the breaking up of the video image should not be viewed by users when the frame rate of video content items is changed in association with the change in the number of viewed content items. The video display apparatus, which is capable of viewing a plurality of video content items using the shutter eyeglasses, controls the plurality of video content items by time-division, and performs the shutter control of the shutter eyeglasses in association with the display videos. When the number of video content items which are to be viewed is changed, the control section controls the shutters of all of the shutter eyeglasses so that they close for the frame period of the video content items that are first output after a change of the frame rate.
US08670021B2 Method for stand off inspection of target in monitored space
This invention addresses remote inspection of target in monitored space. A three dimensional (3D) microwave image of the space is obtained using at least two emitters. The data undergoes coherent processing to obtain maximum intensity of the objects in the area. This image is combined with a 3D video image obtained using two or more video cameras synchronized with the microwave emitters. The images are converted into digital format and transferred into one coordinate system. The distance l is determined between the microwave and the video image. If llo then the presence of cavities is analyzed. If the cavity depth h is greater than the threshold value ho a concealed dielectric object at the target is ascertained: h 0 = l 0 ⁢ ɛ - 1 √ ɛ where ∈ is dielectric permeability of the sought dielectric object.
US08670018B2 Detecting reactions and providing feedback to an interaction
Reaction information of participants to an interaction may be sensed and analyzed to determine one or more reactions or dispositions of the participants. Feedback may be provided based on the determined reactions. The participants may be given an opportunity to opt in to having their reaction information collected, and may be provided complete control over how their reaction information is shared or used.
US08670016B2 Exposure device and image forming device having a fixing member for fixing an optical system member
An exposure device includes: an optical system member that causes light irradiated from a light emitting element to converge; an optical system support part that supports the optical system member; and a fixing member for fixing the optical system member to the optical system holding part. An elongation of the fixing member is in a range of 40% to 80% inclusive.
US08670015B2 Semiconductor member, semiconductor article manufacturing method, and LED array using the manufacturing method
A novel semiconductor article manufacturing method and the like are provided. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor article having a compound semiconductor multilayer film formed on a semiconductor substrate includes: preparing a member including an etching sacrificial layer (1010), a compound semiconductor multilayer film (1020), an insulating film (2010), and a semiconductor substrate (2000) on a compound semiconductor substrate (1000), and having a first groove (2005) which passes through the semiconductor substrate and the insulating film, and a semiconductor substrate groove (1025) which is a second groove provided in the compound semiconductor multilayer film so as to be connected to the first groove, and bringing an etchant into contact with the etching sacrificial layer through the first groove and then the second groove and etching the etching sacrificial layer to separate the compound semiconductor substrate from the member.
US08670011B2 Erasing apparatus and image erasing method
In general, according to an embodiment, an erasing section erases the image on the sheet. A first conveying path conveys the sheet fed from a sheet feeding section and is provided with a reading section and a discharge section downstream of the reading section in a sheet conveying direction. A second conveying path is branched from the first conveying path downstream of the reading section in the sheet conveying direction and upstream of the discharge section in the sheet conveying direction. The second conveying path merges with the first conveying path upstream of the reading section in the sheet conveying direction and is provided with the erasing section. A sorting member, which is located at a branch point at which the second conveying path is branched from the first conveying path. A recording section is located on the first conveying path and records count information indicative of an erase count.
US08670009B2 Two-sided thermal print sensing
An apparatus and method for identifying a type of media installed in a two- or dual-sided thermal printer is provided. In one embodiment, one or more functions of the dual-sided thermal printer may be enabled or disabled depending on the identified media type.
US08670006B2 Local dimming driving method and device of liquid crystal display device
A local dimming driving method of the LCD device includes divisionally driving all of a plurality of blocks of a backlight unit using a maximum luminance signal and measuring luminance per block, setting one of the plurality of blocks as a reference block, detecting luminance deviations between the reference block and the residual blocks, and setting an offset value per block for compensating for the detected luminance deviations per block, analyzing an input image in units of blocks corresponding to the plurality of blocks of a backlight unit respectively, detecting a representative value per block, and determining a dimming value per block according to the representative value per block, correcting the dimming value per block using the offset value per block, and controlling the luminance of the backlight unit on a block-by-block basis using the corrected dimming value per block.
US08670005B2 Method and system for reducing dynamic false contour in the image of an alternating current plasma display
The present invention discloses a method for and a system for reducing the dynamic false contour in the image of an alternating current plasma display. The method includes the following steps: dividing each frame image into multiple subfields; accounting the number and the probability of the dynamic false contour appeared in each frame image; based on the result of the accounting, carrying out an optimized coding for the pixel data of each frame image, and if there is an error generated by the optimized coding, diffusing the error generated by the optimized coding into neighboring pixels.
US08670003B2 Method and apparatus for displaying screen of mobile terminal with touch screen
A method and apparatus for displaying a screen of a mobile terminal with a touch screen are provided. The method for displaying an edit screen of a mobile terminal with a touch screen, includes: displaying at least one item having the same size on an idle screen in an idle mode; receiving edit mode entry input for editing the at least one item; and setting sizes of respective items to different ones according to location of the items within the touch screen during an edit mode for display.
US08669998B1 Selection of colors
Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating the selection of colors. An initial set of colors from a color space is rendered in a user interface. A selection of at least one of the initial set of colors is received. A subsequent set of colors from the color space is rendered in the user interface in response to the selection. The subsequent set of colors is related to the selected colors.
US08669996B2 Image processing device and image processing method
An image processing device includes an image generation unit generating a computer graphics image on the basis of computer graphics description data, an image mapping unit texture-mapping an input image to a surface of a computer graphics object drawn by the image generation unit, and a coordinate setting unit undergoing a change manipulation of a texture coordinate and storing contents of the change manipulation, in which the image mapping unit performs texture mapping by a text coordinate which is changed on the basis of contents of the change manipulation which are stored in the coordinate setting unit when texture-mapping the input image to the surface of an object.
US08669995B2 Methods and apparatus for stroke grouping for high-level sketch editing
Attributes of a graphical element are compared to attributes of one or more groups of graphical elements. Responsive to identifying a similarity between the graphical element and a group of graphical elements among the one or more groups, the graphical element is added to the group of graphical elements. The adding enables editing operations performed with respect to the group of graphical elements to result in changes to the graphical element.
US08669991B2 Method macro expander
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method macro expander (MME) coupled to a driver and the processing pipeline of a graphics processing unit. In operation, the MME receives, from the driver, a first packet of work indicating a macro stored in an instruction memory that is to be executed. The MME then executes the commands of the macro in the instruction memory to generate a second packet of work, and the second packet of work is then transmitted to the processing pipeline for further execution.
US08669987B2 Memory management for systems for generating 3-dimensional computer images
Memory management system and method for use with systems for generating 3-dimensional computer generated images are provided. The system includes a) a device for subdividing the image into rectangular areas, b) a memory for storing object data for each rectangular area and depth data derived from the object data, c) a device for storing the object data in the memory, d) a device for deriving the depth data for each rectangular area from the object data, e) a device for storing the depth data for each rectangular area in the memory, f) a device for loading further object data into the memory to replace part of the existing contents, g) a device for retrieving the stored depth data, h) a device for deriving updated depth data for each picture element of each rectangular area from the new object and stored depth data, and storing the updated depth data to replace the previously stored depth data, i) a device for causing features e), f), g) and h) to repeatedly perform the functions until there is no further object data to load to the 1 memory, and j) a device for deriving image data and shading data from the depth data for display.
US08669984B2 Methods and apparatus for score-based tile placement
A preferred location and a preferred orientation of a tile shape are determined with respect to a current shape based on scores at multiple locations and orientations. A new shape is generated by subtracting from the current shape a tile area. The tile area includes the tile shape in the preferred orientation of the tile shape at the preferred location of the tile shape with respect to the current shape. The determining and generating are repeated with respect to the new shape.
US08669980B1 Procedural methods for editing hierarchical subdivision surface geometry
Methods and techniques are provided for procedurally editing hierarchical subdivision surfaces. A procedure set and a parameter set may be received. The procedure set may include one or more produces for generating detail coefficients. The parameter set may include one or more parameters, such as granularity and sharpness, while further specifying deltas or other jitter in parameter values or locations. A hierarchical subdivision surface description can be generated based on a mesh, the procedure set, and the parameter set.
US08669978B2 Animating a moving object in a three-dimensional coordinate system
A method for modeling and animating an object trajectory in three-dimensional (3D) space. The trajectory includes at least one course which represents a 3D model mesh. A course includes at least one segment which is a display unit of the 3D model mesh. A segment includes two 3D points. Multiple vertices are generated for a first 3D point of the segment to specify a plane such that a normal vector of the specified plane is parallel to a vector directed from the first 3D point of the segment to a second 3D point of the segment. The generated vertices are added to the 3D model mesh so that the generated vertices can be subsequently displayed as an extension of the 3D model mesh.
US08669976B1 Selecting and verifying textures in image-based three-dimensional modeling, and applications thereof
Embodiments relate to selecting and verifying textures in image-based three-dimensional modeling. In a first embodiment, a computer-implemented method for texturing a three-dimensional model. In the method, a polygon orientation of a polygon defining a face of a three-dimensional model is determined. A first camera orientation corresponding to a camera that took a first photographic image in a set of photographic images is also determined. The first photographic image is unconstrained to the three-dimensional model. The polygon orientation is compared with the first camera orientation to determine whether the first photographic image is directed toward the face of the three-dimensional model. If the first photographic image is directed toward the face of the three-dimensional model, a notification is provided for display to a user indicating that the first photographic image could be texture mapped to the three-dimensional model if the first photographic image is constrained to the three-dimensional model.
US08669971B2 Display device and electronic apparatus
Disclosed herein is a display device including: a switching element configured to be formed for each of pixels; a gate line configured to be connected to the switching element; and a scanning line drive circuit configured to be connected to the gate line.
US08669969B2 Scan driver and flat panel display device including the same
A scan driver includes a plurality of stages. Each of the plurality of stages includes an odd-numbered scan unit, an even-numbered scan unit, and a signal shift unit. The scan driver can selectively perform progressive scan and interlaced scan by varying logic levels of mode signals and clock signals applied to the stages.
US08669967B2 Digitizer, stylus and method of synchronization therewith
A method for operating a digitizer with an autonomous asynchronous stylus includes sampling outputs from a digitizer, detecting from the outputs at least one pulsed signal transmitted from an autonomous asynchronous stylus at a defined rate, determining a location of the stylus interaction with respect to the digitizer, and tracking stylus interaction with the digitizer over subsequent pulsed signals transmitted from the stylus.
US08669966B2 Touchscreen displays incorporating dynamic transmitters
Systems and methods for implementing touchscreen displays that utilize a transmitter system to dynamically scan at least one light beam across a surface of interest such that substantially every point in a region above the surface of interest is dynamically scanned by a light beam from two directions, a receiver system to receive and detect the at least one dynamically scanned light beams, and a processor configured to determine locations of contact are provided. The systems and methods may utilize a transmitter system that includes dynamic transmitters, which may be in the form MEMS micromirrors used in conjunction with infrared semiconductor lasers.
US08669964B2 Piezoresistive device, method of manufacturing the same and piezoresistive-type touch panel having the same
A method of manufacturing a piezoresistive device includes the steps of: producing a polymer structure with an elastically deformable upper surface by processing a polymer material; applying a carbon nanotube solution on the upper surface of the polymer structure in conformity with a predetermined pattern; and drying the carbon nanotube solution to form a carbon nanotube pattern on the upper surface of the polymer structure. A piezoresistive device manufactured by the above method and a piezoresistive-type touch panel provided with the piezoresistive device are also provided.
US08669963B2 Sensor system
A sensor system includes a touch screen and a force sensor. The touch screen has a first and second surface and detects a first surface touch and converts it to data indicative of an X, Y coordinate position upon the touch screen first surface. The force sensor contacts the touch screen second surface and substantially extends around the perimeter of the touch screen second surface. The force sensor measures the force exerted by the first surface touch in the form of force data.
US08669961B2 Bending threshold and release for a flexible display device
A flexible display device and a method for accurately recognizing a user's flex input bending of the flexible display device is described. The present invention is able to discard unintentional flexing of the flexible display device while being able to accurately recognize a user's intended flex input command based on a number of bending degree thresholds. A first bending threshold must be overcome in order to initially recognize a user's flex input as a valid flex input command. Then the user's flex input must fall below a second bending threshold in order to cease the recognition of the user's flex input as a valid flex input.
US08669958B2 Method and apparatus continuing action of user gestures performed upon a touch sensitive interactive display in simulation of inertia
A method and apparatus for identifying user gestures to control an interactive display identifies gestures based on a bounding box enclosing points at which a user contacts a touch sensor corresponding with the display surface and permits use of inexpensive and highly reliable grid-based touch sensors that provide a bounding box to describe contact information. In identifying gestures, position, motion, shape, and deformation of the bounding box may be considered. Center, width, height, aspect ratio, length and orientation of the bounding box diagonal may be determined. A stretch factor, defined as the maximum of the ratio of the height of the bounding box to the width of the bounding box and the ratio of the width of the bounding box to the height of the bounding box, may also be computed. Gestures may be identified based on the changes in time of these characteristics and quantities.
US08669957B2 Information processing apparatus, input control method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium
An information processing apparatus accepts an input onto a display screen displayed on a display device. The information processing apparatus determines an input method of a first input using a first time and/or a first trajectory information from a start point to an end point of the accepted first input. The information processing apparatus stores the first trajectory information of the first input in a storage unit for storing therein the trajectory information of an input of which the input method has been determined. The information processing apparatus restores trajectory information of the input that was accepted by accepting, using the first trajectory information stored in the storage unit and trajectory information of a second input if a result of determination with respect to the second input accepted within a predetermined time since the first input is input is different from the input method of the first input.
US08669955B2 Portable display device, method of controlling portable display device, program, and recording medium
Provided is a portable display device sufficiently small to be held with one hand that enters a state for accepting a gesture when a fixed coordinate position near a central portion between a left display unit (14a) and a right display unit (14b) is pressed with a thumb Ftl of one hand holding the device, and accepts a command for performing such as page flipping processing based on a gesture inputted with an index finger Ffr of the other hand. Thus, it is possible to achieve an interface for input operations suitable for a two-screen display screen, where holding a two-screen portable display device naturally causes the device to enter a command accepting state to allow gesture recognition, and to enter a command non-accepting state when the portable display device is not held, in order to prevent a command from being falsely executed due to an unintended contact and such to the display screen.
US08669954B2 Touch panel
A touch panel includes a substrate, scan lines, data output lines, a signal processing unit and touch sensing units. Each touch sensing unit includes a sensing electrode, a reference capacitor, an output circuit and a reset circuit. The sensing electrode is disposed in a breach of the sensing electrode. The reference capacitor, the output circuit and the reset circuit are disposed on the substrate and in the breach. The output circuit, the reset circuit, the reference capacitor and the sensing electrode are electrically coupled to a reference point. The output circuit is configured to output touch signals to the corresponding data output line. The signal processing unit is configured to obtain electric potential of the data output line and perform a corresponding processing step. When the touch sensing unit is out of working, the reference point is reset to a predetermined electric potential.
US08669941B2 Method and apparatus for text entry
A method and apparatus for text input is provided. The method includes the steps of dividing the letters of a keyboard into a plurality of zones, each zone including one or more letters and designating a jumper key associated with each of the plurality of zones from the letters in each zone. A user indication of a selected jumper key is received, and all of the keys in the zone associated with the selected jumper key are then selected.
US08669938B2 Approach for offset motion-based control of a computer
A system for controlling a computing device. The system includes, a plurality of sensed locations corresponding to a sensed object, a sensing apparatus to sense a position of the sensed locations relative to the sensing apparatus, and a motion control engine executable on a computing device, in response to the motion control engine receiving position data indicative of the position of the sensed locations from the sensing apparatus, the motion control engine to generate an adjusted position based on the position data, wherein the adjusted position is offset from the position of the sensed locations, and wherein the adjusted position is fixed relative to the position of the sensed locations.
US08669934B2 Driving circuit for light emitting device with overcurrent protection
A driving circuit is provided, which is configured to supply a driving voltage and a driving current to an LED string. A first detection resistor is arranged on a path of the LED string. A voltage source outputs a control voltage having a level that corresponds to the target luminance level of the LED string, and a first threshold voltage that is proportional to the control voltage. A controller generates a gate pulse signal having a duty ratio that is adjusted such that the voltage drop across the first detection resistor matches the control voltage. A first driver drives a switching transistor of a DC/DC converter according to the gate pulse signal. When the voltage drop across the first detection resistor exceeds the first threshold voltage, a first comparator stops the switching operation of the switching transistor.
US08669932B2 Liquid crystal display capable of adjusting brightness level in each of plural division areas and method of driving the same
A liquid crystal display and a driving method thereof are provided. The liquid crystal display comprises a liquid crystal panel; a gate driver; a data driver; a timing controller supplying a control signal of the gate driver and a control signal of the data driver and supplying a brightness variable signal depending on an average of gray levels of image data; and a backlight unit adjusting a brightness level of the lamp in response to a plurality of brightness variable signals, wherein the timing controller divides the liquid crystal panel into a first division area, which displays image data, equal to or smaller than an average of reference gray levels and dispersion of reference gray levels and a second division area comprising areas other than the first division area by calculating an average and dispersion of gray levels of the image data with a line unit, and supplies a first brightness variable signal adjusting a brightness level of the first division area and a second brightness variable signal adjusting a brightness level of the second division area.
US08669929B2 Module for determining the driving signal timing and a method for driving a liquid crystal display panel
Disclosed is a gate printed circuit board, a connector-free liquid crystal display (LCD) panel assembly, a driving-signal timing module included in the liquid crystal display (LCD) panel assembly, and a method of driving the liquid crystal display (LCD) panel assembly. According to the present invention, since a separate connector and a gate printed circuit board of a conventional LCD panel is not required for applying a gate-driving signal generated from an external information processing device, a thickness and the number of parts of the LCD device is reduced. Further, when the gate-driving signal is transmitted through the TFT substrate, the voltage Voff for maintaining a thin-film transistor (TFT) in a turned-off state is modified so that users may not recognize the imbalance in brightness.
US08669926B2 Drive scheme for a display
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for writing a display image to a display having an array of pixels according to a selected driving sequence. In one aspect, display elements in a row are driven using a tall and narrow voltage pulse. This allows display elements of a row to be driven in a shorter line time.
US08669924B2 Amoled display with optical feedback compensation
In one aspect, the present invention relates to a display. In one embodiment, the display has a substrate, and a plurality of pixels formed on the substrate and arranged in an array. Each pixel includes a driving transistor and a read-out transistor spatially formed on the substrate, where each transistor has a gate electrode, a drain electrode and a source electrode, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) having a cathode layer, a anode layer and an emissive layer formed between the cathode layer and the anode layer, and formed over the driving transistor and the read-out transistor such that the anode layer of the OLED is electrically connected to the source electrode of the driving transistor, and a photo sensor having a photosensitive layer formed between the anode layer of the OLED and the source electrode of the read-out transistor.
US08669922B2 Image display panel, image display device, and manufacturing method of the image display panel
An image display panel includes: a lower substrate; self-light emitting elements for image display that are arranged on the lower substrate in a matrix shape and form an image display unit; a self-light emitting element for monitoring that is arranged on the lower substrate and emits monitoring light for the image display unit; and an upper substrate that holds the self-light emitting elements for image display and the self-light emitting element for monitoring in conjunction with the lower substrate, wherein the self-light emitting elements for image display emit emission light to the lower substrate side or the upper substrate side, and the self-light emitting element for monitoring emits the monitoring light to at least the upper substrate side or the lower substrate side.
US08669920B2 Pixel array
A pixel array including scan lines, data lines and pixels is provided. The data lines and the scan lines are intersected so as to define sub-pixel regions arranged in array. Each pixel is disposed in a pixel region including (m×n) sub-pixel regions, wherein m is a positive integral and n is a positive integral larger than one. Each pixel includes a plurality of sub-pixels, wherein each sub-pixel includes an active device, a pixel electrode and a storage capacitor. At least a portion of the storage capacitors of the sub-pixels within the same pixel is concentrically disposed in one of the sub-pixel regions.
US08669918B2 Folding multimedia display device
Various configurations of an electronic display, and devices incorporating the display, are provided. The display may have multiple portions connected along one or more axes, lines, points, or other connecting areas. The portions are movable about the connections. In various configurations, the display portions emulate different media and/or communication and computing devices. Two or more of the display devices may be coupled in an array.
US08669917B1 Receivers and transmitters using dark matter waves
Here are described apparatus and methods for construction and operation of transmitters and receivers for sending and receiving signals. The signals are often low velocity and matter penetrating. The application describes a method of sending information by means of applying electrical signals to salt solution filled wood or other plant matrices. Receivers and transmitters utilize similar along the grain (as in the direction of a tree trunk) matrices. Trees or other plants with ordinary sap also are receivers and possible transmitters with the proper manipulation. Perhaps the chief advantages of the described transmitters and receivers are the matter penetrating qualities of the signals involved. These permit transmission of information through space, matter, and even mountains as found by the inventor.
US08669916B2 Vertically interleaved distributed antenna system
A vertically interleaved in-building distributed antenna system is described. The in-building distributed antenna system includes a multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) radio. The MIMO radio includes a first branch connector and a second branch connector. The in-building distributed antenna system further includes a first branch transport medium coupled to the first branch connector and a second branch transport medium coupled to the second branch connector. The in-building distributed antenna system further includes a plurality of antennas. The plurality of antennas includes one or more first branch antennas coupled to the first branch transport medium and one or more second branch antennas coupled to the second branch transport medium. The first branch antennas are vertically interleaved with the second branch antennas in the structure.
US08669915B2 Method and apparatus pertaining to an RFID tag reader antenna array
One or more frame components that each comprise 1/Xth of a 360 degree RFID tag reader antenna array can be physically coupled to one another to thereby form a multi-frame component. One or more RFID tag reader antenna mounts can comprise a part of such frame components and can be configured to aim a corresponding RFID tag reader antenna outwardly of the frame component. These teachings also accommodate disposing a plurality of RFID tag reader antenna units within a facility such that these antenna units are disposed higher than an expected location of, say, at least 90% of the RFID tags when the latter are in the facility. By one approach these antenna units can all be disposed at a substantially same height within the facility. These antenna units may, or may not, be visually concealed as desired.
US08669913B2 MIMO antenna system
A multiple input, multiple output (“MIMO”) antenna system is provided for operation on a radio frequency (“RF”) module that may be used in a wireless access device. The MIMO antenna system includes a plurality of multi-band antenna elements connected to a radio in a MIMO configuration. The multi-band antenna elements and the radio are configured to operate on a RF module. A reflector is formed on the RF module to contain the plurality of multi-band antenna elements and to concentrate signal communication in a sector, the plurality of multi-band antenna elements oriented to provide a sector coverage pattern formed by beam patterns generated by each of the multi-band antenna elements.
US08669910B2 Antenna arrangement for a chip card
An antenna arrangement for a chip card includes an antenna conductor structure that is formed from a surface conductor. The antenna conductor structure includes a dipole arrangement arranged on a card substrate and that has a first antenna strand and a second antenna strand. The antenna conductor structure includes a terminal arrangement connecting the antenna conductor structure to a chip and for forming a transponder including the antenna conductor structure and the chip. A surface of the card substrate is divided into a grasping zone for handling the chip card and a transponder zone for arranging the transponder in such a manner that the grasping zone extends beyond a center region of the substrate surface and at least one lateral edge of the grasping zone is formed by a lateral edge of the substrate surface.
US08669908B2 Wideband high gain 3G or 4G antenna
A broadband antenna element for RF transmission and reception over cellular frequencies. The antenna element is formed of conductive material on a substrate surface of conductive material in the form of a pair of half portions extending in opposite directions to distal tips defining the widest distance of a mouth of a cavity. The mouth converges to reduce in cross-section to a narrowest point at a plurality of different flare angles defined by the edges of the two half portions in between the pair of half portions forming the element. The resulting antenna element radiates and receives a wide band cellular frequencies enabling a single element to serve different providers operating on different frequency bands in the cellular spectrum between 680 MHz to 1900 MHz.
US08669906B2 Antenna and splitter for receiving radio and remote keyless entry signals
An antenna system may include a first antenna having a helical shaped portion, and configured to receive signals over a first frequency range. A second antenna may be positioned in proximate distance from the first antenna, and be configured to receive signals over a second frequency range. A splitter may be configured for separating signals received from radio and remote keyless entry antennas and may include a first branch including a first filter to filter AM band signals from communications signals received from an antenna, a second branch including a second filter to filter FM band signals from communications signals received from the antenna, a third branch including a third filter to filter remote keyless entry signals from communications signals received from the antenna, and an amplifier to amplify the remote keyless entry signals. The filters may be passive filters. The antenna may be a whip antenna or roof antenna.
US08669905B2 Portable communication device comprising an antenna
The invention relates to a communication device comprising a wireless interface for enabling wireless transmission and/or reception at a predefined wavelength λc to be established. The object of the present invention is to provide an antenna suitable for wireless communication in a portable communication device. The problem is solved in that the communication device comprises a housing having an electrically conductive part, the wireless interface comprising an antenna comprising a first quarter wavelength patch and a ground plane comprising an electrically conductive material, the first quarter wavelength patch being at least partially constituted by said electrically conductive part of the housing. This has the advantage of providing an alternative wireless interface for a communication device. The invention may e.g. be used in portable communication devices with a wireless interface for communication with another device, in particular in a headset or a headphone or an active earplug.
US08669902B2 Location estimation for wireless devices
In an example embodiment, there is disclosed herein, an apparatus comprising an interface and location determination logic coupled with the interface. The location determination logic receives data representative of measured signal strengths for a wireless device from a plurality of receiving devices at known locations via the interface. The location determination logic determines an estimated location based on the measured signal strengths and a first transmit power for the wireless device. The location determination logic determines a revised transmit power for the wireless device based on the measured signal strengths from the plurality of devices at known locations and the estimated location. The location determination logic determines a revised estimated location based on the measured signal strengths and the revised transmit power for the wireless device.
US08669899B2 Base station almanac assisted positioning
A database provides base station almanac information pertaining to more than one network mode of communication. A wireless device accesses this database through a centralized server or network, or via the base station, base station controller or the like, with which it is currently communicating.
US08669898B2 Ramp wave generation circuit and solid-state imaging device
Provided are a ramp wave generation circuit and a solid-state imaging device in which a pulse output unit includes a delay part including a plurality of delay units that delay and output an input signal, and a delay control part that controls a delay time by which the delay unit delays the signal, and outputs a plurality of signals having logic states corresponding to logic states of signals output by the delay units, a time difference between timings at which the logic states of the respective signals are changed being a time corresponding to the delay time.
US08669897B1 Asynchronous successive approximation register analog-to-digital converter and operating method thereof
An asynchronous successive approximation register analog-to-digital converter includes a clock generator, a logic control unit, a sample and hold circuit, a digital-to-analog converter and a comparator. The clock generator is used to generate a clock signal. The logic control unit is for generating a sample and hold clock according to the clock signal. The sample and hold circuit is for sampling an analog signal according to the sample and hold clock to obtain and hold a sampling signal. The digital-to-analog converter is for generating a reference value according to a digital value transmitted from the logic control unit. The comparator is for generating a comparison value according to the sampling signal and the reference value.
US08669892B2 Digital-to-analog converter resolution enhancement using circular buffer
A system and method for generating an analog signal is disclosed. In one embodiment, system includes a first-in, first-out (FIFO) buffer configured to receive and store a plurality of digital values written to the FIFO buffer. The system further includes a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) coupled to read the digital values from the FIFO buffer and configured to convert the digital values to an analog signal. The FIFO buffer is configured to operate in a first mode in which writes to the FIFO buffer are inhibited and current digital values stored in the FIFO buffer are provided to the DAC in a repeating sequence.
US08669888B2 Hangeul input keypad and method using the same
The present invention relates to a Hangeul input keypad and a method using the same. Basic consonants and basic vowels are assigned to the Hangeul input keypad, the number of the basic consonant-assigned keys is less than that of the basic vowel-assigned keys, the consonant keys and the vowel keys are disposed separately, and a shift key converting the basic consonants to extended consonants is disposed adjacent to the consonant keys to which the basic consonants convertible to the extended consonants are assigned.The Hangeul input keypad and method according to the present invention improves speed of Hangeul input, provides convenience in operation of consonant keys and a shift key, and ease of a user's learning of the Hangeul input method by optimizing the disposition of the consonants and vowels.
US08669884B2 Systems and methods for generating electronic map displays with points of-interest information
Methods and systems are provided for generating an electronic map display. In one implementation, a method is provided for determining a route distance based on information for a route, comparing the route distance with a distance threshold, generating a list of points of interest (POIs) when the route distance is less than the distance threshold, the list of POIs identifying POIs that are located along the route, grouping the POIs into one or more buckets based on location, calculating POI densities of the buckets based on the POIs included in each corresponding bucket, ranking the buckets based on the POI densities, providing POI information associated with the POIs included in the ranked buckets, wherein the POI information is provided based on the ranking of the buckets, and generating an electronic map display with the POI information.
US08669881B2 Container data center with earthquake protection function
A container data center includes a container, a plurality of power supplies, an electric switch system, a plurality of normally closed switches, an alarm device, and a controller. The electric switch system is received in the container. The plurality of normally closed switches are connected between the power supplies and the electric switch system. Each normally closed switch is connected with a corresponding one of the power supplies in series. The controller is connected to the normally closed switches and the alarm device, configured for receiving earthquake information containing an earthquake intensity, and configured for controlling the alarm device to activate alarms and controlling some of the normally closed switches or all the normally closed switches to open when the earthquake intensity is equal to or greater than a predetermined earthquake intensity.
US08669879B2 Medical device readiness alert including power conservation
Techniques are provided for alerting a person to check a medical device while conserving battery power. The medical device initiates a status alert if a readiness condition of the medical device is no longer being met. The status alert includes notification periods during which an audible sound is emitted alternating with off periods during which substantially no audible sound is emitted. The audible sounds may include certain tones or at least one spoken word. At least one of the duration of successive notification periods or the duration of successive off periods may be varied. In this manner, the medical device may provide audible sound at different times during the day in an attempt to get the attention of a person. In addition, the medical device may sense an activity to determine when to provide the audible sound.
US08669877B2 Oil level inspection system for railroad car truck using image processing
A system for inspecting an oil level in each part of a railroad car truck includes: an imaging unit that obtains an image of an oil level gauge; an oil level inspection unit that inspects whether or not the oil level in each part of the railroad car truck is within a predetermined range based on the image of the oil level gauge obtained by the imaging unit; a voice input unit adapted for an inspector to input, via voice, an inspection result; a voice processing unit that determines whether or not the inspection result inputted via the voice input unit is good based on the inputted inspection result, and converts a determination result into displayable data; a display unit that displays an oil level inspection result and the determination result; and a storage unit that stores, as data, the oil level inspection result and the determination result.
US08669870B2 Location dependent monitoring for stolen devices
A system and method for controlling the surveillance conducted by lost or stolen electronic devices dependent upon the location of such electronic devices is provided. A data repository contains data that specifies, for each of a plurality of geographic regions (e.g. legal jurisdictions), a set of surveillance methods that are permissible in the respective region. At least some of the geographic regions have different respective sets of permissible surveillance methods than others. A computer system is operable to communicate with the devices over a computer network, and programmed to use received information regarding a location of a potentially lost or stolen device, in combination with the data in the computer data repository, to cause the potentially lost or stolen device to initiate surveillance according to the set of permissible surveillance methods (and/or other actions) corresponding to the location.
US08669864B1 Methods for remote assistance of disabled persons
A mobile terminal is used to assist individuals with disabilities. A mobile terminal such as a “smartphone” or other commercially available wireless handheld device may be loaded with software. The software may be configured to: (i) store criteria for managing communications between a disabled user of the mobile terminal and a remote caregiver, (ii) determine whether a criterion is satisfied, and if so (iii) initiate a communication from the mobile terminal to the remote caregiver, and (iv) receive a response from the remote caregiver. Thus, through this software, the mobile terminal may dynamically facilitate communications with specific remote caregivers based on specific situations that may confront disabled individuals.
US08669863B2 Medical information band
The medical information band is an electronic control unit removably attached to a band that may be worn by a user or attached to a medication bottle. The electronic control unit displays all the information of drugs that the user takes, and provides an electronic alert to remind the user when to take the medication, or when the medication has reached its expiration date. The electronic control unit includes a temperature sensor, and alerts the user when the medication must be moved to a different location with a more appropriate storage temperature. Moreover, the electronic control unit may also display the personal information and the health status of the user.
US08669862B2 Communication device including local location information
A device includes a processing module and a radio section. The processing module obtains location information regarding the device and converts it into a location signal. The radio section converts the location signal into a location wireless signal and transmits it within a local coverage area. A handheld device may use the location wireless signal to determine its location within a building.
US08669859B2 Safety detection alarm device
A safety detection alarm device for a ladder includes a control alarm unit and a sensor unit. A load sensor module, a voltage detection sensor module or an angle detection sensor module of the sensor unit is installed on the ladder. The load sensor module of the sensor unit is to detect the weight of the load. The voltage detection sensor module is to detect and sense the load of the electricity and current. The angle detection sensor module is to detect the angle of the ladder. A light alarm module or a sound alarm module is used to send an alarm to warn the user that the load, electricity or current of the ladder is over or the ladder is unstable. The present invention is safe for use and provides a better function for use.
US08669858B2 Vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus
A vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus is basically provided with a sound emitting device and a notification sound control device. The sound emitting device is configured to emit a movement notification sound to an outside of a vehicle to inform a person in an area surrounding the vehicle that the vehicle will move. The notification sound control device is configured to operate the sound emitting device in response to occurrence of a vehicle condition. The notification sound control device setting the movement notification sound of the sound emitting device to a frequency in a range of 1.5 kHz to 6 kHz.
US08669855B2 Indicator apparatus for hybrid vehicle, hybrid vehicle, indicating method for hybrid vehicle
An indicator portion (55) includes a first indicator portion (110) and a second indicator portion (112). The first indicator portion (110) indicates an accelerator pedal opening degree that changes in accordance with an operated amount of the accelerator pedal by the driver. The second indicator portion (112) includes a division line (114) and regions (116, 118) divided by the division line (114). The division line (114) shows an accelerator pedal opening degree where traveling modes (EV mode and HV mode) are switched. The regions (116, 118) show the ranges of accelerator pedal opening degrees where traveling is performed in EV mode and HV mode, respectively.
US08669847B2 Method and device for identifying a tag based on the orientation of fibers
The directions of at least two fibers arranged at a tag are detected to identify the tag and an item intended to be attached thereto. The fibers have an impedance for high frequency electromagnetic waves, which impedance is dependent on a magnetic field at the fiber. Electromagnets generate a modulation magnetic field having an amplitude modulated magnetic component with a first frequency; and a bias magnetic field for counterbalancing any constant magnetic fields parallel to the direction of the fiber. A microwave transmitter directs a frequency modulated microwave signal towards the fiber via a transmitting antenna. The microwave reflected by the microfibers is received by a receiving antenna coaxial with the transmitting antenna and is used to identify tag by determining the orientation of the fibers.
US08669845B1 RFID skier monitoring systems and methods
A system and method monitor skier behavior. An identifier is read from a lift access product when the lift access product is in the vicinity of a lift boarding area and a scan record containing the identifier, location information of the lift boarding area and a time stamp if generated. The scan record is processed to generate a location event record that is stored within a location database. The location database is processed to determine skier behavior based upon the location event records.
US08669842B2 Apparatus and method for controlling contents player
Provided is a technology for controlling a contents player based on a grasping power information of a hand by measuring a change of the bundle shape of a tendons in an inside muscle of wrist, in which the device and method for controlling the contents player comprises a sensing unit that generates a grasping power information; a control state managing unit that manages a control state of the contents player; and a control order generating unit that generates a control order controlling the contents player based on the control state and the grasping power information, and transmits the control order, in which the control state can be changed or can be generates in response to the grasping power information, and the sensing unit can be existed in both hands, respectively.
US08669841B2 Semiconductor ceramic composition for NTC thermistors
A semiconductor ceramic composition for use as a component of the body of NTC thermistors contains at least manganese and cobalt as main ingredients and both aluminum and titanium as additional ingredients for resistance adjustment by annealing. It becomes easier to adjust the resistance of the composition by annealing when the titanium content is equal to or lower than about 9.2 parts by weight on a TiO2 basis relative to 100 parts by weight of the main ingredients.
US08669839B2 Laminated inductor
A laminated inductor includes: a laminate constituted by multiple insulator layers; external electrodes formed on the outside of the laminate; and a coil conductor formed spirally inside the laminate, wherein the coil conductor has leaders that electrically connect to the external electrodes and a coil body other than the leaders, wherein the coil conductor has conductive patterns formed on the insulator layers, and via hole conductors that penetrate through the insulator layers and electrically connect the multiple conductor patterns, wherein all of the conductor patterns constituting the coil body are either a C-shaped pattern or line-shaped pattern, wherein the coil body has a partial structure where two or more C-shaped pattern layers are stacked together successively, and wherein the number of C-shaped patterns in the coil body is greater than that of line-shaped patterns.
US08669835B2 Soft-start systems and methods for vehicle starters
Soft-start systems and methods for vehicle starters are provided. Embodiments provide a solenoid including: a first coil that receives power when an ignition switch is closed; a first plunger actuated when the first coil receives power; a first terminal configured to be abutted by a contact bar of the first plunger; a second coil that receives power when the contact bar of the first plunger abuts the first terminal; a second plunger actuated when the second coil receives power; and a second terminal configured to be abutted by a contact bar of the second plunger. Such a solenoid is configured to provide power at a first level to an attached motor when the contact bar of the first plunger abuts the first terminal and at a second level that is higher than the first level when the contact bar of the second plunger abuts the second terminal.
US08669827B2 Integrated circulators sharing a continuous circuit
The present invention is directed to a circuit assembly that includes an integrated circulator assembly. The circuit assembly has a first substrate, which contains a continuous circuit trace that includes a circulator component from the circulator assembly and at least one electrical component from the circuit assembly. A second substrate is disposed beneath the first substrate and includes a cladding on one surface. The second substrate contains an aperture that accepts a ferrite element, which is axially aligned with the circulator component of the circuit trace. A conductive material is placed across the ferrite element so that it forms a continuous ground plane with the cladding, which is common to the entire circuit trace. The circulator assembly also contains a magnet bonded to the ferrite element. The circulator assembly may also include a yoke disposed below the magnet to shield the circulator from external magnetic fields.
US08669826B2 Radio transmitter
A radio transmitter includes a signal processing circuit splitting a basic modulating signal into first and second modulating signals and outputting the first and second modulating signals. A PLL decides a fundamental wave. A VCO forms a portion of the PLL and modulates the fundamental wave decided by the PLL in accordance with a voltage of the first modulating signal outputted from the signal processing circuit. A PLL circuit forms a portion of the PLL and varies a frequency division ratio to modulate the fundamental wave decided by the PLL in accordance with the second modulating signal outputted from the signal processing circuit.
US08669822B2 Resonator
A method of manufacturing a MEMS resonator formed from a first material having a first Young's modulus and a first temperature coefficient of the first Young's modulus, and a second material having a second Young's modulus and a second temperature coefficient of the second Young's modulus, a sign of the second temperature coefficient being opposite to a sign of the first temperature coefficient at least within operating conditions of the resonator. The method includes the steps of forming the resonator from the first material; applying the second material to the resonator; and controlling the quantity of the second material applied to the resonator by the geometry of the resonator.
US08669821B2 Piezoelectric oscillator
Provided is a piezoelectric oscillator to attain high-frequency performance and frequency stabilization with the use of reflection characteristics of a reflective element. A piezoelectric oscillator is configured such that: a resonant circuit is connected to a gate of a field effect transistor; an output terminal is connected to a drain and a power supply voltage V is applied to the drain; a piezoelectric resonator is connected to a source, as a reflective element; and a resonance frequency of the resonant circuit and an oscillation frequency of the piezoelectric resonator as a reflective element are set to substantially the same frequency, and further, the piezoelectric oscillator may be configured such that a first matching circuit is provided between the resonant circuit and the gate, a second matching circuit is provided between the drain and the output terminal, and a third matching circuit is provided between the source and the reflective element.
US08669820B2 Oscillator circuit
An oscillator circuit includes a clock oscillator which outputs a main clock signal having an oscillating frequency switched between a high frequency and a low frequency in response to a frequency selection signal, and a frequency divider circuit which outputs a sub-clock signal having a divided frequency equivalent to a frequency division ratio of the oscillating frequency of the main clock signal, the frequency division ratio being switched in response to the frequency selection signal. The divided frequency of the sub-clock signal is predetermined for each of the high frequency and the low frequency to which the oscillating frequency is switched in response to the frequency selection signal.
US08669819B2 Electronic component package sealing member, electronic component package, and method for manufacturing electronic component package sealing member
An electronic component package sealing member that can be used as a first sealing member in an electronic component package in which an electrode of an electronic component element is hermetically sealed with the first sealing member and a second sealing member arranged so as to oppose each other, includes: a through hole that passes through a substrate of the electronic component package sealing member; an internal electrode that is formed on a face of the substrate opposing the second sealing member; an external electrode that is formed on a face of the substrate opposite the opposing face; and a through electrode that is formed on an inner side face of the through hole electrically connecting the internal electrode and the external electrode. In the electronic component package sealing member, at least one open face of the through hole is sealed with a resin material.
US08669818B2 Wave reversing system and method for a rotary traveling wave oscillator
Apparatus and methods for wave reversing in a travelling wave oscillator are disclosed. The travelling wave oscillator includes a differential transmission line and regeneration elements connected along the differential transmission line. The differential transmission line can be used to propagate a wave traveling in either a counterclockwise or a clockwise direction. Each of the regeneration elements includes a first gain portion operable to degenerate a wave travelling in the counterclockwise direction and to regenerate a wave travelling the clockwise direction, and a second gain portion operable to degenerate a wave travelling in a clockwise direction and to regenerate a wave travelling in a counterclockwise direction.
US08669813B2 Active neutralization device
The present invention relates to a device for neutralization of a signal obtained by transposition to a high frequency of a useful signal supplied by a unit of equipment, the said equipment having a spurious capacitance Cparasite that varies over time. The device comprises a neutralization capacitance Cneut and means with adjustable gain G, together with means for feedback controlling the gain G in such a manner that, continuously, G×Cneut=Cparasite.
US08669808B2 Bias circuit and phase-locked loop circuit using the same
A bias circuit for generating an output bias current includes a first transistor, a passive component, a second transistor, and a bias current generator. The first transistor has a first node coupled to a first reference voltage, a second node, and a control node. The passive component is coupled between the first reference voltage and the control node of the first transistor. The second transistor has a first node coupled to the control node of the first transistor, a control node coupled to the second node of the first transistor, and a second node for providing the output bias current according to a current passing through the passive component. The bias current generator is coupled to the second node of the first transistor, and implemented for providing the first transistor with a bias current.
US08669803B2 High speed level shifter for converting low input voltage into wide-range high output voltage
A high speed level shifter is provided for converting a low input voltage into a wide-range high output voltage. By utilizing two switching units to improve the latching speed of the latching unit of the level shifter, the duty cycle of the input signal is nearly equal to the duty cycle of the output signal.
US08669802B2 Wide range level shift system
A wide range level shift system receives an input signal with a first voltage level and a second voltage level. The wide range level shift system transforms the input signal to an output signal with a third voltage level and a fourth voltage level, wherein the first voltage level is smaller than the second voltage level, the second voltage level is smaller than the third voltage level, and the fourth voltage level is smaller than the first voltage level. The wide range level shift system reduces the number of transistors required, the layout area of the transistors, and the power consumption.
US08669798B2 Digital phase locked loop circuits
Designs of devices having digital phase locked loop (DPLL) circuits that include multiple digital feedback loops to generate high frequency clock signals by a digitally controlled oscillator (DCO). A time-to-digital converter (TDC) module is provided in such a DPLL circuit to receive an input reference clock signal and a first feedback clock signal from a first digital feedback loop and produces a digital TDC output indicative of a first phase error caused by a difference in time between the input reference clock signal and the first feedback clock signal. A second digital feedback loop is provided to generate a second digital feedback signal indicative of a second phase error caused by a difference in frequency between a desired clock signal and a generated clock signal generated by the DCO. The first and second digital feedback loops are coupled to the DCO to generate the high frequency clock signals.
US08669797B2 Phase locked loop and phase comparison method
In a phase locked loop, a first frequency divider divides the frequency of an input signal. A low-pass filter receives a frequency-divided signal output from the first frequency divider and having an average phase difference calculated by a calculation unit, cuts off high-frequency components of the received signal, and outputs a resultant signal. A voltage controlled oscillator varies the frequency of a signal to be output based on the signal output from the low-pass filter. A second frequency divider divides the frequency of the signal output from the voltage controlled oscillator. The calculation unit calculates a phase difference between signals individually output from the first frequency divider and the second frequency divider for each phase in one cycle of the signal output from the first frequency divider, and calculates an average phase difference based on the calculated phase differences.
US08669796B2 Clock generator, semiconductor device, and clock generating method
There is provided a clock generator for generating a modulation waveform which is high in the effect of suppressing a spectrum and making a circuit scale smaller than a modulation system using the Hershey-kiss waveform. More specifically, a modulation waveform generation unit generates a tangent waveform or a tangent+triangular waveform as an SSCG modulation waveform and provides an oscillator with a signal in which the SSCG modulation waveform is combined with the output of a low pass filter of a PLL loop.
US08669791B2 Semiconductor device and electronic apparatus using the same
The transistor suffers the variation caused in threshold voltage or mobility due to gathering of the factors of the variation in gate insulator film resulting from a difference in manufacture process or substrate used and of the variation in channel-region crystal state. The present invention provides an electric circuit having an arrangement such that both electrodes of a capacitance element can hold a gate-to-source voltage of a particular transistor. The invention provides an electric circuit having a function capable of setting a potential difference at between the both electrodes of the capacitance element by the use of a constant-current source.
US08669790B2 Control circuit arrangement for pulse-width modulated DC/DC converters and method for controlling a pulse-width modulated converter
A control circuit arrangement for pulse-width modulated DC/DC converters includes a phase generator for a complementary driver which provides respective gate signals to a first and second driver transistor in response to a control signal. A clock control circuit receives a clock signal and a pulse-width modulated signal and provides the control signal in response to a signal edge of the pulse-width modulated signal and the clock signal applied thereto. A mode selection input terminal receives a mode selection signal to select a first mode or a second mode of operation. The phase generator provides in the first mode each of the gate signals the control signal and the respective other gate signal. In the second mode of operation, it provides each gate signal in response to the control signal.
US08669788B2 Multi-level output comparator
The present document relates to a method and system for determining the voltage level of an input signal compared to a reference voltage, providing a plurality of level indications regarding an input voltage with respect to a reference voltage. The multi-level comparator comprises an input stage converting the input voltage into a first current and converting the reference voltage into a second current; and a plurality of comparator stages, each comprising a first current amplification unit amplifying the first current with a first gain, a second current amplification unit amplifying the second current with a second gain, and an output port providing an indication whether the first comparator current is smaller or larger than the second comparator current; wherein respective ratios of the first gain and the second gain of the plurality of comparator stages are different.
US08669787B2 Zero-crossing detector for industrial control with low heat dissipation
An I/O circuit for use with an industrial controller provides a zero-crossing detector circuit with low power dissipation through the use of a zero-crossing circuit that activates a light emitting diode of a photo coupler only for a very brief period of time at the zero-crossing (as opposed to at all times other than the zero-crossing). The circuit is coupled with a power supply circuit that uses a reactive element for voltage dropping as opposed to a resistive voltage drop element further reducing power consumption possible with the low power consumption of the photo coupler.
US08669782B1 Active biasing in metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) differential pairs
Apparatus and methods advantageously maintain transistors of open-drain differential pairs biased in the saturation region when “active,” rather in than the triode or linear region. The biasing techniques are effective over a broad range of process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) variations. By controlling a high voltage level used to drive the gate of a transistor of the differential pair, the biasing of the transistor in the saturation region is maintained. In one embodiment, the low voltage level used to cut off the transistor of the differential pair is also controlled. These techniques advantageously permit differential drivers to exhibit relatively large output swings, relatively high edge rates, relatively high return loss, and relatively good efficiency.
US08669781B2 Semiconductor device
A programmable analog device and an analog device that can retain data even when supply of a power supply potential is interrupted and consumes less power. In a semiconductor device, first to fourth transistors are used as switches in a unit cell including an analog element, and the output of the unit cell switches between a conducting state, a non-conducting state, and a conducting state through the analog element by controlling the potential of a first node where the first transistor and the second transistor are connected and the potential of a second node where the third transistor and the fourth transistor are connected.
US08669780B2 Three dimensional integrated circuit connection structure and method
The embodiments described provide connection structures for dies in an integrated circuit die stack. Each die in the die stack includes a functional circuitry, a programmable array and a programmable array control unit. By triggering the programmable array control unit to program corresponding programmable array in each die of the die stack, signal routes are orchestrated to connect to corresponding functional circuitry in each die of the die stack to enable the entire die stack to meet functional goals. In addition, specific die(s) in the die stack may be bypassed by issuing control command to the programmable array control unit. Die(s) may be bypassed to meet functional goals and to improve yield, and reliability.
US08669779B2 Systems, pipeline stages, and computer readable media for advanced asynchronous pipeline circuits
Systems, pipeline stages, and computer readable media for advanced asynchronous pipeline circuits are disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a configurable system for constructing asynchronous application specific integrated data pipeline circuits. The system includes multiple modular circuit stages that are connectable with each other using transitional signaling and with other circuit elements to form multi-stage asynchronous application-specific integrated data pipeline circuits for asynchronously passing data through a series of stages based on a behavior implemented by each stage. The modular circuit stages each include sets of logic gates connected to each other for implementing the behaviors, the behaviors including at least one of conditional split, conditional select, conditional join, merge without arbitration, and stage arbitration.
US08669768B2 High-voltage pulse test system
The present invention relates to a device for system components of a high-voltage impulse test system, preferably for quality assurance of power transformers. According to the invention, a common base frame having only one main electrode common to the system components is proposed for the spatial collection of the system components.
US08669766B2 Carbon aerogel based electrode for electric field measurements in water
The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for detecting electric potential difference in water. A first electrode comprising a first electrode body is configured to be in electrical contact with the water when the device is disposed in the water. A second electrode comprising a second electrode body is configured to be in electrical contact with the water when the device is disposed in the water. An electrical connection exists amongst the first electrode, the second electrode, and a voltage measuring device. At least one of the first electrode body and the second electrode body is formed at least partially of a carbon aerogel material.
US08669764B2 Microfluidic cell and a spin resonance device for use therewith
A microfluidic cell comprising: a microfluidic channel (32) for receiving a fluid sample; and a sensor (30) located adjacent the microfluidic channel; wherein the sensor comprises a diamond material comprising one or more quantum spin defects (34). In use, a fluid sample is loaded into the microfluidic cell and the fluid is analyzed via magnetic resonance using the quantum spin defects.
US08669762B2 Electromagnetic wave detection methods and apparatus
Methods and apparatus for detecting an electromagnetic wave are provided. A device for use in an electromagnetic wave detector includes a first device layer having a first contact, a second device layer having a second contact, and a tunnel barrier layer and a resonating magnetic layer formed between the first and second device layers. The resonating magnetic layer produces a spin current responsive to an electromagnetic wave that extends into the first and second device layers. A charge differential present between the first and second contacts is dependent on the spin current.
US08669758B2 AC voltage measurement circuit
A voltage measurement circuit is operative to measure a high voltage AC signal and includes a capacitive divider circuit and a compensator circuit. The capacitive divider circuit includes first and second inputs, across which, in use, is received a high voltage AC signal and also includes second and third capacitors. First and second plates of each of the first, second and third capacitors are defined by conductive layers of a printed circuit board and the dielectric of each of the first, second and third capacitors being defined by a non-conducting part of the printed circuit board. A compensator circuit has a configurable transfer function and includes an input connected across the first and second plates of the third capacitor and an output. The compensator circuit is operative to change a voltage received at its input in accordance with the transfer function and to provide the changed voltage at its output.
US08669755B2 Geometry sensor and information input device
A geometry sensor includes: a detection surface including a plurality of polymer sensor elements and configured to detect an external object, the polymer sensor elements being arranged side-by-side along one or more directions and each generating a voltage according to a deformation; and a detecting section detecting a surface geometry of a region in the external object that is in contact with the detection surface, based on the voltage obtained from each of the polymer sensor elements in the detection surface.
US08669744B1 Adaptive control of switching losses in power converters
A zero voltage switching (ZVS) technique for use in isolated and non-isolated switching power converters and regulators, e.g. based upon buck, boost, buck-boost, and double-clamped topologies is disclosed. During a reverse energy phase of the converter operating cycle, energy is transferred in reverse from the load or the clamp capacitor to the inductor, allowing the current in the inductor to increase in magnitude with a reverse polarity, building up reverse energy. The reverse energy may be used for charging and discharging parasitic and other circuit capacitances for ZVS. The reverse energy phase is adjusted based upon circuit operating conditions, so that the amount of energy stored in the inductor L at the end of the reverse energy phase is approximately equal to, but preferably no greater than, that required to turn the switches ON at substantially zero voltage. Thus full ZVS may be achieved under a wide variety of operating conditions without incurring unnecessary losses. The reverse energy phase may be adjusted on the fly in response to changing operating conditions, e.g. using feedback control, or a look-up table. Alternatively, the reverse energy phase may be factory or field programmed for operation under specific conditions.
US08669740B2 Vehicle charging system
A vehicle charging system includes: a vehicle (14) provided with a battery (13) and a charging control unit (53); an external power source (11); a charging cable (12) provided with an electric power line (12L) and a first communication control unit (33); an external power source line (11L); a second communication control unit (24); a consumed power acquiring unit (23) acquiring consumed power (PIF); a charging-allowable power calculating unit (23) calculating charging-allowable power (PEV), and transmitting unit (43) and a control unit (34) provided at the charging cable.
US08669739B2 Electric charging system, electric vehicle and electric charger
There are provided an electric charging system, an electric vehicle and an electric charger. Upon charging a battery, power supply lines of an electric charger are connected to the power receiving lines of an electric vehicle 12. The power receiving lines have a relay. The electric charger has a voltage sensor that measures a voltage between the power supply lines. The electric charger has a voltage processing portion that applies filtering to the voltage. Upon charging when charging power is supplied from the electric controller, a filtering process with a stability-oriented first filter is applied to the voltage. Upon a relay failure diagnosis that performs a failure diagnosis of the relay based on a change in the voltage due to opening and closing of the relays, a filtering process with a second filter that has a higher responsiveness is applied to the voltage.
US08669730B2 Ventilation device
A ventilating system that can make an air flow rate variable includes a DC motor that drives blades and a control circuit that controls the DC motor. The control circuit includes a first current detecting unit that detects a current flowing in the DC motor, a rotating speed detecting unit that detects a rotating speed of the DC motor, and a control unit that controls the DC motor based on a rotating speed detected by the rotating speed detecting unit and a current detected by the first current detecting unit. The current detecting unit includes a plurality of low-resistance resistors, detects a motor current by using divided voltages of the low-resistance resistors, and calculates a ventilation air flow rate based on the rotating speed detected by the rotating speed detecting unit and the current detected by the first current detecting unit.
US08669727B2 Detection device for detecting magnetic pole position of synchronous motor, and control apparatus equipped therewith
A detection device for detecting a magnetic pole position of a synchronous motor includes a generating unit for generating a magnetic pole correction value based on the difference between a forward rotation d-phase voltage command and a reverse rotation d-phase voltage command, the d-phase voltage commands being used for rotating the synchronous motor and generated when the synchronous motor is driven in forward and reverse directions, respectively, by applying a prescribed d-phase current command after detecting a magnetic pole initial position at power-on of the synchronous motor, and a correcting unit for correcting the magnetic pole initial position based on the magnetic pole correction value and on a sensor reference position which defines a reference position of a sensor attached to the synchronous motor, and a control apparatus equipped with the detection device controls the rotation of the synchronous motor based on the corrected magnetic pole initial position.
US08669724B2 Method and apparatus for load dependent speed control of a motor
A variable speed power converter controls the speed of a load in a material handling system as a function of the torque required to move the load. While the power converter is running, the torque being produced in the motor is determined. The power converter then determines the maximum rotational speed of the motor as a function of the torque currently being produced and of the torque-speed curve of the motor. The power converter then commands the motor to rotate at this maximum rotational speed. The power converter periodically monitors the torque being produced and adjusts the maximum rotational speed of the motor throughout the run.
US08669721B2 Solid state light source based lighting device and lighting system
A lighting device is capable of realizing a stable dimming control in a wide range of light output. The lighting device includes a DC power circuit for providing power to a switching element of the lighting device. A current controller switches the switching element to enable a current to flow from the DC power circuit through a solid state light source and maintain the current from the DC power circuit through the solid state light source current controller at a predetermined current. The current controller includes a first switching controller operable to change a width of an on-pulse provided to the switching element and a second switching controller operable to determine a burst-on time during which the on-pulses determined by the first switching controller are provided to the switching element. The burst-on time is longer than an on-pulse period of the first switching controller.
US08669720B2 Method and apparatus for a switch having a light pipe for combined LED display and light level sensing
An electrical wiring device includes a manually adjustable switch, a light emitting diode (LED), a light level sensor, and a microcontroller. The wiring device also optionally includes an occupancy sensor. Light level is sensed through a light pipe and light is emitted by the LED through the same light pipe. When the manually adjustable switch is positioned to energize a load, the LED is deactivated and ambient light level is sensed by light sensors through the light pipe. The ambient light level is compared to a minimum ambient light level to determine if the load will be energized. Alternatively, the LED is deactivated and the ambient light level is sensed through the light pipe when the switch is positioned to de-energize the load. This ambient light level is stored and compared to the minimum ambient light level at a time when the switch is later positioned to energize the load.
US08669719B2 Light-emitting system having a luminous flux control device
A light-emitting system includes first and second solid-state light-emitting components, a current source providing a constant current through the second solid-state light-emitting component, a first instrumentation amplifier detecting a second forward voltage across the second solid-state light-emitting component so as to generate a first detection voltage having a magnitude dependent on the second forward voltage, a compensation voltage module operable to generate a compensation voltage having a magnitude related to the second forward voltage according to the first detection voltage and two reference voltages, and a power control module detecting a first forward voltage across the first solid-state light-emitting component and providing a driving current therethrough that is dependent on the compensation voltage and the first forward voltage and that varies according to ambient temperature.
US08669717B2 Exterior illumination and emergency signaling system and related methods
LEDs that provide street illumination are used to create emergency signals. This facilitates simple retrofitting of existing streetlighting infrastructure. In one embodiment, a streetlight comprises an LED set that itself comprises or consists of a plurality of LEDs collectively producing a white light output. The streetlight also includes a receiver for receiving a signal of an alarm condition, and a controller for (i) disabling the LED set during a daylight period, (ii) maintaining the normal operating mode during a lighting period distinct from the daylight period, and (iii) in response to the alarm condition detected by the receiver, de-activating at least one of the LEDs to produce a non-white (e.g., red or amber) output signaling the alarm condition.
US08669706B2 Integrated circuits, control methods and lighting systems
Integrated circuits, control methods, and related lighting systems are provided. One integrated circuit controls the currents flowing through light-emitting-diode chains, each having several light emitting diodes forward-connected between a main cathode and a main anode while all the main anodes are connected to a power node. The integrated circuit has a short detection node, a constant current source, a voltage clamping circuit, and a short-circuit comparator. The short detection node detects the highest cathode voltage of the main cathodes. The constant current source provides a constant current to the short detection node. While the light-emitting-diode chains are unlit, the voltage clamping circuit clamps the short detection node at a predetermined voltage. When the voltage of the short detection node exceeds a threshold voltage, the short-circuit comparator asserts a fault signal, indicating a short circuit of a light emitting diode.
US08669705B2 Stable surface wave plasma source
A surface wave plasma (SWP) source is described. The SWP source comprises an electromagnetic (EM) wave launcher configured to couple EM energy in a desired EM wave mode to a plasma by generating a surface wave on a plasma surface of the EM wave launcher adjacent the plasma. The EM wave launcher comprises a slot antenna having at least one slot. The SWP source further comprises a first recess configuration and a second recess configuration formed in the plasma surface, wherein at least one first recess of the first recess configuration differs in size and/or shape from at least one second recess of the second recess configurations. A power coupling system is coupled to the EM wave launcher and configured to provide the EM energy to the EM wave launcher for forming the plasma.
US08669698B2 Wavelength converter and semiconductor light emitting device
According to an embodiment, a wavelength converter includes a resin allowing light emitted from a light source to pass through, a plurality of particle-shaped fluorescent substances dispersed in the resin, and fillers dispersed in the resin with a particle diameter smaller than the fluorescent substance. The fluorescent substances absorb the light emitted from the light source and emits fluorescence having a wavelength different from a wavelength of the light emitted from the light source; and a distribution of the fillers has higher density near the fluorescent substance than a density at a middle position between the fluorescent substances adjacent to each other.
US08669696B1 Field emission electron source array and field emission device
A field emission electron source array includes a number of field emission electron sources aligned side by side. Each field emission electron source includes a linear carbon nanotube structure, an insulating layer and a conductive ring. The linear carbon nanotube structure has a first end and a second end. The insulating layer is coated on an outer surface of the linear carbon nanotube structure. The first conductive ring includes a first ring face and a second ring face, and the first ring face is coplanar with an end surface of the first end of the linear carbon nanotube structure.
US08669695B2 Piezoelectric generating element and method for estimating power generation amount of piezoelectric generating element
Provided is a piezoelectric generating element having an electrode on an outer surface of a piezoelectric ceramic body, wherein the piezoelectric ceramic body has a relative permittivity of 110 to 1700, an elastic compliance of 15 to 150 pm2/N, and a void ratio of 20 to 75%. Preferably, the void ratio is 50 to 75% in the piezoelectric generating element. A crystal particle is modeled as a cube with a length X on a side, a virtual void portion is provided in cube, a void ratio x is calculated based on a thickness t of a frame excluding void portion, a relative permittivity εr and an elastic compliance s are calculated based on void ratio x, and a power generation amount P is estimated. Thereby, a piezoelectric generating element capable of significantly increasing a power generation amount more than before, and a method for estimating a power generation amount of the piezoelectric generating element can be obtained.
US08669692B2 Pressure power recovery device
A power recovery device, including an electroactive polymer membrane; an actuator capable of moving along a first direction non-parallel to the mid-plane of the membrane; a member for converting the motion of the actuator into a stretching of the membrane along at least one second direction of the mid-plane of the membrane; and means for biasing the membrane including an electret.
US08669690B2 Piezolelectric sound-generating device
Provided is a piezoelectric sound generating device capable of obtaining a stable connection state of lead-out conductors constituted of a conductive resin layer. A piezoelectric sound generating device 10, wherein lead-out conductors 18a, 18b are so flatly formed as to extend from surface electrodes 11a, 11b1 of a piezoelectric element 11 exposed to first openings 13a1, 13b1 to terminal electrodes 15a, 15b of a terminal portion 15 exposed to second openings 13a2, 13b2 on one main surface side of a diaphragm 12, respectively. As a result, the surface electrode 11a1 of the piezoelectric element 11 and the terminal electrode 15a of the terminal portion 15, and also the surface electrode 11b1 and a surface electrode 11c of the piezoelectric element 11, and the terminal electrode 15b of the terminal portion 15 are conductively connected. Hence, poor connection caused by cracks or the like is not likely to occur in the lead-out conductors.
US08669689B2 Mountable arm smart material actuator and energy harvesting apparatus
A smart material actuator comprising a mechanical amplifier with a fixed supporting member, at least one mountable actuating arm, and mechanical web having at least one compliant member attached to the mountable arm and a movable supporting member. A piezoelectric stack is affixed between a first mounting surface on the fixed supporting member and a second mounting surface on the movable supporting member. With the fixed supporting member being substantially rigid, and the piezoelectric stack being affixed between the first mounting surface and the second mounting surface, which are substantially parallel, applying an appropriate electric potential to the piezoelectric stack will cause it to expand substantially without angular movement. The expansion urges the second mounting surface away from the first, thereby causing the compliant members of the mechanical web to flex, thereby moving the mountable actuating arm. The configuration of the web and the length of the mountable arm cause the actuating end of the arm to move across a distance greater than the expansion of the piezoelectric stack. In this way, the expansion of the stack is effectively amplified by the mechanical amplifier. Actuators of this type may be used both to create mechanical motion from electrical energy and to harvest electrical energy from mechanical motion, or sense the degree of such motion. A number of arm designs and means of attachment to external components are disclosed, in addition to methods of generating electricity from mechanical motion and generating vibration using such actuators and methods of tuning the resonant frequency and increasing the efficiency of energy harvesting through resonant operation.
US08669688B1 High-frequency shear-horizontal surface acoustic wave sensor
A Love wave sensor uses a single-phase unidirectional interdigital transducer (IDT) on a piezoelectric substrate for leaky surface acoustic wave generation. The IDT design minimizes propagation losses, bulk wave interferences, provides a highly linear phase response, and eliminates the need for impedance matching. As an example, a high frequency (˜300-400 MHz) surface acoustic wave (SAW) transducer enables efficient excitation of shear-horizontal waves on 36° Y-cut lithium tantalate (LTO) giving a highly linear phase response (2.8° P-P). The sensor has the ability to detect at the pg/mm2 level and can perform multi-analyte detection in real-time. The sensor can be used for rapid autonomous detection of pathogenic microorganisms and bioagents by field deployable platforms.
US08669687B2 Method of adjusting the resonance frequency of a micro-machined vibrating element
The present disclosure relates to a method of adjusting the resonance frequency of a vibrating element, comprising measuring the resonance frequency of the vibrating element, determining, using abacuses and as a function of the resonance frequency measured, a dimension and a position of at least one area of modified thickness to be formed on the vibrating element so that the resonance frequency thereof corresponds to a setpoint frequency, and forming on the vibrating element, an area of modified thickness of the determined dimension and position.
US08669685B2 Wind power turbine for producing electric energy
An electric generator of a wind power turbine has a stator having a cylindrical shell; a number of segments arranged, along the inner face of the cylindrical shell, in a circumferential configuration; and a number of adjustable locking devices located between the segments to press the segments together circumferentially and lock the segments in a given position.
US08669681B2 Conductive connection for bar-wound stators
A bar-wound stator, which is connectable to a plurality of fixed terminal points, includes a plurality of stator teeth and a plurality of magnet wires. Each of the plurality of magnet wires has a winding portion wound about at least one of the plurality of stator teeth and a junction portion extending away therefrom. A plurality of flexible leads each have a first portion ultrasonically welded directly to a respective one of the junction portions of the plurality of magnet wires. A second portion of each of the plurality of flexible leads extends flexibly away from the first portion and is configured for attachment to a respective one of the fixed terminal points.
US08669680B2 Rotating electrical machines
A torsional vibration damper is integrated into a rotating electrical machine. A rotatable assembly of the electrical machine includes a rotor core pack having a first end and a second end, The integrated torsional vibration damper consists of a torsional elastic coupling and a torsional elastic damper and provides mechanical damping. The integrated torsional vibration damper is mounted to the rotatable shaft of the electrical machine by a flange. The rotor core pack is mounted at the first end to the integrated torsional vibration damper by suitable structure members such as a mounting flange and is not fixedly mounted directly to the rotatable shaft. In the case where the rotor core pack is cooled by circulating coolant fluid (e.g. MIDEL) then the integrated torsional vibration damper may be a viscous damper that uses the coolant fluid as a viscous working, fluid.
US08669677B2 Wireless power feeder, wireless power receiver, and wireless power transmission system
A wireless power feeder which performs power feed to a wireless power receiver having a power receive resonance circuit including a power receive coil and a power receive capacitor, this wireless power feeder including: a power feed coil; a resonance current detector; and a control circuit; wherein the power feed coil does not substantially constitute a resonance circuit; the current detector has a detection resonance circuit including a detection coil and a detection capacitor, and detects a resonance current of the power receive resonance circuit; the winding region of the detection coil in the current detector is smaller than the winding region of the power feed coil; and the detection coil in the current detector is disposed such that the central winding axis thereof forms an angle of not less than 80° and not more than 100° with respect to magnetic field vectors generated by the power feed coil.
US08669674B2 Power supply circuit with shared functionality and method for operating the power supply circuit
A power supply circuit and a method for operating the power supply circuit are described. In one embodiment, a power supply circuit includes at least one input terminal to receive at least one input voltage, a power element including multiple power element components configured to convert the at least one input voltage to at least one output voltage, multiple regulator controllers configured to control the power element components for the conversion of the at least one input voltage to the at least one output voltage, at least one first switch coupled to the regulator controllers and the power element components, and multiple output terminals to output the at least one output voltage. The at least one first switch is used to configure the power supply circuit to function as either one voltage regulator or multiple independent voltage regulators. Other embodiments are also described.
US08669670B2 Gas turbine engine configurations
A system of dense packaging of turbomachinery in a gas turbine engine by means of close-coupling of components and by the ability to rotate various engine components with respect to other engine components is disclosed. In addition, spool shaft rotational direction may be reversed to suit the application. In multiple engine configurations, the same ability to close-couple and rotate components and to reverse shaft rotational direction in order to rearrange the engine geometry package is used for packaging two or more gas turbine engines to achieve high power density. Dense-packing is possible because of a number of features of the basic engine. These features include: the use of compact centrifugal compressors and radial turbine assemblies; the close coupling of turbomachinery for a dense packaging; the ability to rotate certain key components so as to facilitate ducting and preferred placement of other components; the ability to control spool shaft rotational direction; and operation at high overall pressure ratios.
US08669668B2 Ocean swell energy conversion apparatus
An apparatus for the conversion of the energy of sea or ocean swells. The apparatus comprises: a frame including a vertical post and horizontal beam; a first generator slidably connected to the vertical post; a second generator slidably connected to the horizontal beam; a first pinion connected to the first generator; a second pinion connected to the second generator; a float; a connection mechanism for connecting the float to the generators; a horizontal first rack connected to the float for engaging the first pinion; a vertical second rack connected to the one float for engaging the second pinion, wherein all components connected to the float are disposed at or above sea level.
US08669664B2 Stacked die package for MEMS resonator system
A stacked die package for an electromechanical resonator system includes an electromechanical resonator die bonded or fixed to a control IC die for the electromechanical resonator by, for example, a thermally and/or electrically conductive epoxy. In various embodiments, the electromechanical resonator can be a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) resonator or a nano-electromechanical system (NEMS) resonator. Certain packaging configurations that may include the chip that contains the electromechanical resonator and the control chip include chip-on-lead (COL), chip-on-paddle (COP), and chip-on-tape (COT) packages. The stacked die package may provide small package footprint and/or low package thickness, and low thermal resistance and a robust conductive path between the dice.
US08669661B2 Metal line and via formation using hard masks
A device includes a dielectric layer, a metal line in the dielectric layer, and a via underlying and connected to the metal line. Two dummy metal patterns are adjacent to the metal line, and are aligned to a straight line. A dummy metal line interconnects the two dummy metal patterns. A width of the dummy metal line is smaller than lengths and widths of the two dummy metal patterns, wherein the width is measure in a direction perpendicular to the straight line. Bottoms of the two dummy metal patterns and the dummy metal line are substantially level with a bottom surface of the metal line.
US08669660B2 Solder interconnect pads with current spreading layers
Structure and methods of making the structures. The structures include a structure, comprising: an organic dielectric passivation layer extending over a substrate; an electrically conductive current spreading pad on a top surface of the organic dielectric passivation layer; an electrically conductive solder bump pad comprising one or more layers on a top surface of the current spreading pad; and an electrically conductive solder bump containing tin, the solder bump on a top surface of the solder bump pad, the current spreading pad comprising one or more layers, at least one of the one or more layers consisting of a material that will not form an intermetallic with tin or at least one of the one or more layers is a material that is a diffusion barrier to tin and adjacent to the solder bump pad.
US08669659B2 Semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes plural electrode pads arranged in an active region of a semiconductor chip, and wiring layers provided below the plural electrode pads wherein occupation rates of wirings arranged within the regions of the electrode pads are, respectively, made uniform for every wiring layer. To this end, in a region where an occupation rate of wiring is smaller than those in other regions, a dummy wiring is provided. On the contrary, when the occupation rate of wiring is larger than in other regions, slits are formed in the wiring to control the wiring occupation rate. In the respective wirings layers, the shapes, sizes and intervals of wirings below the respective electrode pads are made similar or equal to one another.
US08669658B2 Crosstalk-free WLCSP structure for high frequency application
A structure, a system, and a method for manufacture of crosstalk-free wafer level chip scale packaging (WLCSP) structure for high frequency applications is provided. An illustrative embodiment comprises a substrate on which various layers and structures form circuitry, a signal pin formed on the substrate and coupled with the circuitry, a ground ring encircling the signal pin, and a grounded solder bump coupled to the ground ring.
US08669653B2 Semiconductor device having electronic component in through part, electronic device, and manufacturing method of semiconductor
A semiconductor device includes: a wiring board which includes a first face and a second face and in which a conductor pattern and a through part are provided; an electronic component which includes an electrode pad forming face where an electrode pad is formed and which is housed in the through part so that the electrode pad forming face is provided on the first face side; a seal resin which is provided in the through part and the electrode pad forming face, seals the electronic component and includes a first plane exposing a connection face of the electrode pad; and a wiring pattern which is provided in the first face of the wiring board and the first plane of the seal resin and electrically connects the connection face of the electrode pad with a first connected face of the conductor pattern, and which includes a pad part.
US08669649B2 Integrated circuit packaging system with interlock and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: forming a package paddle; forming a lead adjacent the package paddle, the lead having a lead overhang protruding from a lead non-horizontal side and a lead ridge protruding from the lead non-horizontal side; mounting an integrated circuit over the package paddle; connecting an electrical connector to the lead and the integrated circuit; and forming an encapsulation over the integrated circuit, the lead, and the package paddle, the encapsulation under the lead overhang.
US08669641B2 Diffusion region routing for narrow scribe-line devices
The present disclosure provides a method of making an integrated circuit (IC) device. The method includes forming a first IC feature and a second IC feature in a semiconductor substrate, the first and second IC features being spaced from each other and separated by a scribe region; forming, in the semiconductor substrate, a doped routing feature at least partially within the scribe region and configured to connect the first and second IC features; forming a multilayer interconnect (MLI) structure and an interlayer dielectric (ILD) on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the MLI is configured to be absent within the scribe region; and etching the ILD and the semiconductor substrate within the scribe region to form a scribe-line trench.
US08669640B2 Bipolar transistor
An improved device (20) is provided, comprising, merged vertical (251) and lateral transistors (252), comprising thin collector regions (34) of a first conductivity type sandwiched between upper (362) and lower (30) base regions of opposite conductivity type that are Ohmically coupled via intermediate regions (32, 361) of the same conductivity type and to the base contact (38). The emitter (40) is provided in the upper base region (362) and the collector contact (42) is provided in outlying sinker regions (28) extending to the thin collector regions (34) and an underlying buried layer (28). As the collector voltage increases part of the thin collector regions (34) become depleted of carriers from the top by the upper (362) and from the bottom by the lower (30) base regions. This clamps the thin collector regions' (34) voltage well below the breakdown voltage of the PN junction formed between the buried layer (28) and the lower base region (30). The gain and Early Voltage are increased and decoupled and a higher breakdown voltage is obtained.
US08669638B2 High power semiconductor device for wireless applications and method of forming a high power semiconductor device
A high power semiconductor device for operation at powers greater than 5 watts for wireless applications comprises a semiconductor substrate including an active area of the high power semiconductor device, contact regions formed on the semiconductor substrate providing contacts to the active area of the high power semiconductor device, a dielectric layer formed over a part of the semiconductor substrate, a lead for providing an external connection to the high power semiconductor device and an impedance matching network formed on the semiconductor substrate between the active area of the high power semiconductor device and the lead. The impedance matching network includes conductor lines formed on the dielectric layer. The conductor lines are coupled to the contact regions for providing high power connections to the contact regions of the active area, and have a predetermined inductance for impedance matching.
US08669637B2 Integrated passive device system
An integrated passive device system is disclosed including forming a first dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate, depositing a metal capacitor layer on the first dielectric layer, forming a second dielectric layer over the metal capacitor layer, and depositing a metal layer over the second dielectric layer for forming the integrated capacitor, an integrated resistor, an integrated inductor, or a combination thereof.
US08669630B2 Detection matrix with improved biasing conditions and fabrication method
The detection device includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type. A matrix of photodiodes organized along a first organization axis is formed on the substrate. Each photodiode is at least partially formed in the substrate. A peripheral biasing ring is formed around the photodiode matrix. The biasing ring is connected to a bias voltage generator. An electrically conducting contact is connected to the substrate and arranged between two photodiodes on the first organization axis. The distance separating the contact from each of the two photodiodes is equal to the distance separating two adjacent photodiodes along the first organization axis. The contact is connected to the bias voltage generator.
US08669628B2 Magnetoresistive element and magnetic memory using the same
According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive element includes the following configuration. First nonmagnetic layer is provided between the first magnetic layer (storage layer) and the second magnetic layer (reference layer). Third magnetic layer is formed on a surface of the storage layer, which is opposite to a surface on which the first nonmagnetic layer is formed. Fourth magnetic layer is formed on a surface of the reference layer, which is opposite to a surface on which the first nonmagnetic layer is formed. The third and fourth magnetic layers have a magnetization antiparallel to the magnetization of the storage layer. Second nonmagnetic layer is located between the storage and third magnetic layers. Third nonmagnetic layer is located between the reference and fourth magnetic layers. The thickness of the fourth magnetic layer is smaller than that of the third magnetic layer.
US08669626B2 Optical sensor, optical sensor array, optical sensor driving method, and optical sensor array driving method
An optical sensor that is a transistor which includes a gate electrode including a semiconductor material where the carrier concentration is 1.0×1014/cm3 to 1.0×1017/cm3, an active layer including a semiconductor layer to form a channel by carriers of the same type as the gate electrode, a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a gate insulating film, wherein intensity of irradiated light is detected by a change in a value of current flowing between the source electrode and the drain electrode when the light is irradiated onto a depletion layer formed in the gate electrode; an optical sensor array, an optical sensor driving method, and an optical sensor array driving method are provided.
US08669624B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
Provided are a semiconductor device which enables reduction of diffusion of Si in the manufacturing process of an MIPS element and suppression of an increase in EOT, and a method of manufacturing the same. An embodiment of the present invention is a semiconductor device including a field effect transistor having a gate insulating film provided on a silicon substrate and a gate electrode provided on the gate insulating film. The gate electrode is a stack-type electrode including a conductive layer containing at least Ti, N, and O (oxygen) and a silicon layer provided on the conductive layer, and the concentration of oxygen in the conductive layer is highest in the side of the silicon layer.
US08669623B2 Structure related to a thick bottom dielectric (TBD) for trench-gate devices
A semiconductor structure which includes a shielded gate FET is formed as follows. A plurality of trenches is formed in a semiconductor region using a mask. The mask includes (i) a first insulating layer over a surface of the semiconductor region, (ii) a first oxidation barrier layer over the first insulating layer, and (iii) a second insulating layer over the first oxidation barrier layer. A shield dielectric is formed extending along at least lower sidewalls of each trench. A thick bottom dielectric (TBD) is formed along the bottom of each trench. The first oxidation barrier layer prevents formation of a dielectric layer along the surface of the semiconductor region during formation of the TBD. A shield electrode is formed in a bottom portion of each trench. A gate electrode is formed over the shield electrode in each trench.
US08669613B2 Semiconductor device die with integrated MOSFET and low forward voltage diode-connected enhancement mode JFET and method
A semiconductor die with integrated MOSFET and diode-connected enhancement mode JFET is disclosed. The MOSFET-JFET die includes common semiconductor substrate region (CSSR) of type-1 conductivity. A MOSFET device and a diode-connected enhancement mode JFET (DCE-JFET) device are located upon CSSR. The DCE-JFET device has the CSSR as its DCE-JFET drain. At least two DCE-JFET gate regions of type-2 conductivity located upon the DCE-JFET drain and laterally separated from each other with a DCE-JFET gate spacing. At least a DCE-JFET source of type-1 conductivity located upon the CSSR and between the DCE-JFET gates. A top DCE-JFET electrode, located atop and in contact with the DCE-JFET gate regions and DCE-JFET source regions. When properly configured, the DCE-JFET simultaneously exhibits a forward voltage Vf substantially lower than that of a PN junction diode while the reverse leakage current can be made comparable to that of a PN junction diode.
US08669612B2 Technique for forming the deep doped columns in superjunction
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is disclosed and starts with a semiconductor substrate having a heavily doped N region at the bottom main surface and having a lightly doped N region at the top main surface. There are a plurality of trenches in the substrate, with each trench having a first extending portion extending from the top main surface towards the heavily doped region. Each trench has two sidewall surfaces in parallel alignment with each other. A blocking layer is formed on the sidewalls and the bottom of each trench. Then a P type dopant is obliquely implanted into the sidewall surfaces to form P type doped regions. The blocking layer is then removed. The bottom of the trenches is then etched to remove any implanted P type dopants. The implants are diffused and the trenches are filled.
US08669600B2 Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a gate electrode formed on a substrate; a active pattern and an ohmic contact pattern formed to overlap with the gate electrode with a gate insulating film therebetween; a source electrode formed on the active pattern and the ohmic contact; a drain electrode formed to oppose the source electrode; a pixel electrode overlapped with the drain electrode and directly contacted with the drain electrode; a common electrode formed to overlap with the pixel electrode with a passivation film therebetween and having a plurality of holes; and wherein the plurality of holes of the common electrode are only formed on a region in which the pixel electrode is formed.
US08669599B2 Unit pixel of image sensor and photo detector thereof
A unit pixel of an image sensor and a photo detector are disclosed. The photo detector of the present invention configured to absorb light can include: a light-absorbing part configured to absorb light by being formed in a floated structure; an oxide film being in contact with one surface of the light-absorbing part; a source being in contact with one side of the other surface of the oxide film and separated from the light-absorbing part with the oxide film therebetween; a drain facing the source so as to be in contact with the other side of the other surface of the oxide film and separated from the light-absorbing part with the oxide film therebetween; and a channel interposed between the source and the drain and configured to form flow of an electric current between the source and the drain.
US08669596B2 Semiconductor device
In end portions of first and second gate patterns aligned in parallel relation to each other, and opposite end portions of third and fourth gate patterns aligned in parallel relation to each other, the end portion of the first gate pattern extends to be positioned closer to the third and fourth gate patterns than the end portion of the second gate pattern is, and the opposite end portion of the fourth gate pattern extends to be positioned closer to the first and second gate patterns than the opposite end portion of the third gate pattern is.
US08669594B2 Integrated circuit including cross-coupled transistors having gate electrodes formed within at least twelve gate level feature layout channels
First and second p-type diffusion regions, and first and second n-type diffusion regions are formed in a semiconductor device. Each diffusion region is electrically connected to a common node. Gate electrodes of cross-coupled transistors are defined to extend over the diffusion regions in only a first parallel direction, with each gate electrode fabricated from a respective originating rectangular-shaped layout feature. The first and second p-type diffusion regions are formed in a spaced apart manner relative to the first parallel direction, such that no single line of extent that extends across the substrate perpendicular to the first parallel direction intersects both the first and second p-type diffusion regions. At least a portion of the first n-type diffusion region and at least a portion of the second n-type diffusion region are formed over a common line of extent that extends across the substrate perpendicular to the first parallel direction.
US08669592B2 Compound semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A compound semiconductor multilayer structure is formed on a Si substrate. The compound semiconductor multilayer structure includes an electrode transit layer, an electrode donor layer formed above the electron transit layer, and a cap layer formed above the electron donor layer. The cap layer contains a first crystal polarized in the same direction as the electron transit layer and the electron donor layer and a second crystal polarized in the direction opposite to the polarization direction of the electron transit layer and the electron donor layer.
US08669591B2 E-mode HFET device
The present invention describes a transistor based on a Hetero junction FET structure, where the metal gate has been replaced by a stack formed by a highly doped compound semiconductor and an insulating layer in order to achieve enhancement mode operation and at the same time drastically reduce the gate current leakage. The combination of the insulating layer with a highly doped semiconductor allows the tuning of the threshold voltage of the device at the desired value by simply changing the composition of the semiconductor layer forming the gate region and/or its doping allowing a higher degree of freedom. In one of the embodiment, a back-barrier layer and a heavily doped threshold tuning layer are used to suppress Short Channel Effect phenomena and to adjust the threshold voltage of the device at the desired value. The present invention can be realized both with polar and non-polar (or semi-polar) materials.
US08669584B2 Light emitting device including a case having an accommodating recession
A light emitting device, comprises a LED chip, and a case having an accommodating recession accommodating the LED chip, wherein the light emitting device emits light from an opening portion of the accommodating recession, the case is monolithically formed by injection molding of a resin composition preparing by mixing fine grains of specular reflection material and glass fibers as diffusion reflecting material as fillers therein, an inner surface of a side wall portion of the case works as a reflector that reflects the light emitted from the LED chip so that the light is output from the opening portion, and a thickness of the side wall portion is selected to be smaller than an average length of the glass fibers.
US08669583B2 Heat-curable silicone resin composition for sealing optical semiconductors, and a sealed optical semiconductor using the same
A heat-curable silicone resin composition for sealing optical semiconductors including: component (A): 100 parts by mass of a silicon compound expressed by Formula (1) below; and component (B): from 0.001 to 10 parts by mass of a condensation catalyst. (R1SiO3/2)a((R2)2SiO2/2)b((R3)3SiO1/2)c(SiO4/2)d(XO1/2)e  (1) In this formula, R1, R2, and R3 are identical or differing monovalent organic groups, “X” is a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group, “a” is a positive number, “b” is 0 or a positive number, “c” is 0 or a positive number, “d” is 0 or a positive number, and “e” is 0 or a positive number; however “a” to “e” satisfy the following conditions: b/a is a number from 0 to 10, c/a is a number from 0 to 0.5, d/(a+b+c+d) is a number from 0 to 0.3, and e/(a+b+c+d) is a number from 0.01 to 1.5.
US08669579B2 Light-emitting element and display device
There has been a problem that difference in refractive index between an opposite substrate or a moisture barrier layer provided thereover, and air is maintained large, and light extraction efficiency is low. Further, there has been a problem that peeling or cracking due to the moisture barrier layer is easily generated, which leads to deteriorate the reliability and lifetime of a light-emitting element. A light-emitting element comprises a pixel electrode, an electroluminescent layer, a transparent electrode, a passivation film, a stress relieving layer, and a low refractive index layer, all of which are stacked sequentially. The stress relieving layer serves to prevent peeling of the passivation film. The low refractive index layer serves to reduce reflectivity of light generated in the electroluminescent layer in emitting to air. Therefore, a light-emitting element with high reliability and long lifetime and a display device using the light-emitting element can be provided.
US08669577B2 Light emitting diode
A light emitting diode is disclosed. The disclosed light emitting diode includes a light emitting structure including a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, and an active layer interposed between the first and second semiconductor layers, a first electrode electrically connected to the first semiconductor layer, a second electrode electrically connected to the second semiconductor layer, and a first reflection layer disposed on the second semiconductor layer. The first reflection layer includes at least a first layer having a first index of refraction and a second layer having a second index of refraction different from the first index of refraction. The first reflection layer is further disposed on a side surface of the second electrode and a portion of an upper surface of the second electrode.
US08669576B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, a second semiconductor layer formed in contact with the first semiconductor layer, and a third semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type formed in contact with the second semiconductor layer, the first semiconductor layer provided with a first semiconductor region at a given distance from an interface between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer, and an impurity concentration of the first semiconductor region higher than an impurity concentration of the first semiconductor layer except where the first semiconductor region is formed.
US08669572B2 Power lamp package
Adhesive-free assembly of the substrate and reflector components of a semiconductor die package is achieved by injection molding the reflector onto a surface of the substrate or by molding the reflector separate from the substrate and securing it in place on the substrate through deformation of a portion of the reflector. The reflector may be made reflective either by molding the reflector using a light scattering material or through the addition of a reflective element, such as a piece of foil material that is secured to the reflector. A variety of interchangeable reflective elements having different surface shapes, and thus different light reflecting properties, may be made.
US08669570B2 Individual light shields
A light emitting assembly (10) includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (28) (L.E.D.s) serially aligned along a mounting surface (14) and a light shield (40) is disposed adjacent each L.E.D. An exterior surface of one light shield (40) is exposed to light emitting from an adjacent light shield (40). A non-reflective film (52) comprising a black color is painted over the exterior surface and a reflective material (54) is disposed over an interior surface of each light shield (40). The light shields (40) comprise sections (44) defined by a triangular shape joining at a ridge (48) and extending upwardly from the mounting surface (14) at an angle to define an opening for emitting light. The light shields (40) are spaced from the L.E.D.s at desired locations and angles to achieve full cutoff light emissions.
US08669569B2 Light emitting diode package and method for fabricating the same
A method for fabricating light emitting diode packages includes: providing a light emitting diode wafer which has a plurality of light emitting diode chips, each of the light emitting diode chips including a semiconductor unit that has p-type and n-type electrode regions, and two electrodes; forming a light-transmissive insulating layer on the light emitting diode chips; forming a reflective metal layer on a portion of the light-transmissive insulating layer; forming a layer of insulating material on the light-transmissive insulating layer and the reflective metal layer, and performing exposing and developing treatments to form the layer of insulating material into a plurality of protective insulating structures; forming a conductor-receiving insulating layer on the light-transmissive insulating layer and the protective insulating structures; and performing a cutting process to obtain a plurality of light emitting diode packages each having at least one of the light emitting diode chips.
US08669568B2 Light emitting device usable for variable driving voltages
A light emitting device includes a light emitting unit and a submount. The light emitting unit has a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), and the submount has a plurality of conductive contacts on a side thereof. The LEDs are coupled to the conductive contacts in various electrical connection manners, such that the LEDs are connected in series or/and in parallel.
US08669560B2 Light-emitting device, light-emitting device package and lighting system
Disclosed is a light-emitting device including: a support member; and a light-emitting structure on the support member, the light-emitting structure including a first semiconductor layer, at least one intermediate layer, an active layer and a second semiconductor layer, wherein the intermediate layer is on at least one of upper and lower regions of the active layer and comprises at least four layers, wherein the layers have different band gaps, and wherein, among the layers, a layer having the largest band gap contacts a layer having the smallest band gap. Based on this configuration, it is possible to reduce crystal defects and improve brightness of the light-emitting device through effective diffusion of current.
US08669557B2 Thin film transistor substrate and method for fabricating the same
The present invention relates to a thin film transistor substrate and a method for fabricating the same which can reduce a number of steps. The method for fabricating a thin film transistor substrate includes the steps of a first mask step forming a first conductive pattern on a substrate to include a gate electrode and a gate line, a second mask step depositing a gate insulating film on the substrate having the first conductive pattern formed thereon and forming a second conductive pattern on the gate insulating film to include a semiconductor pattern, source and drain electrodes and data line, a third mask step depositing a first protective film on the substrate having the second conductive pattern formed thereon and forming a pixel contact hole for exposing the drain electrode passed through the first protective film, a fourth mask step forming a third conductive pattern on the first protective films to have a common electrode and a common line and a second protective film to form an undercut with the common electrode and to include a pixel contact hole which exposes the drain electrode on the common electrode, and a fifth mask step forming a fourth conductive pattern to include a pixel electrode spaced from the common electrode by a space provided by the undercut.
US08669555B2 Semiconductor device
Electrode pads respectively have a probe region permitting probe contact and a non-probe region. In each of the electrode pads arranged zigzag in two or more rows, a lead interconnect for connecting another electrode pad with an internal circuit is not placed directly under the probe region but placed directly under the non-probe region.
US08669548B2 Organic light-emitting display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a first insulating layer, a second insulating layer on the first insulating layer and including an unevenness portion, a third insulating layer on the second insulating layer, a pixel electrode on the third insulating layer, an opposite electrode facing the pixel electrode, and an organic emission layer between the pixel electrode and the opposite electrode; a thin film transistor including an active layer, a gate electrode, and source/drain electrodes connected to the active layer, the first insulating layer being between the active layer and the gate electrode and the second insulating layer being between the gate electrode, and the source/drain electrodes; and a capacitor including a lower electrode on a same layer as the gate electrode, a dielectric layer of a same material as the third insulating layer, and an upper electrode on a same layer as the pixel electrode.
US08669545B2 Light emitting device having sub barrier layers with varying energy bands, light emitting device package and lighting system including the light emitting device package
A light emitting device includes an active layer including a quantum barrier and a quantum well, a first conductive type semiconductor layer disposed at one side of the active layer, and a second conductive type semiconductor layer disposed at the other side of the active layer, wherein the first conductive type semiconductor layer or the second conductive type semiconductor layer includes a main barrier layer, and the main barrier layer includes a plurality of sub barrier layers and a basal layer disposed between the plurality of sub barrier layers. The plurality of sub barrier layers includes a first section in which energy band gaps of the plurality of sub barrier layers are increased and a second section in which energy band gaps of the plurality of sub barrier layers are decreased.
US08669538B1 Method of improving ion beam quality in an implant system
A system for improving ion beam quality is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the system comprises an ion source, having a chamber defined by a plurality of chamber walls; an RF antenna disposed on a first wall of the plurality of chamber walls; a second wall, opposite the first wall, the distance between the first wall and the second wall defining the height of the chamber; an aperture disposed on one of the plurality of chamber walls; a first gas inlet for introducing a first source gas to the chamber; and a second gas inlet for introducing a second source gas, different from the first source gas, to the chamber; wherein a first distance from the first gas inlet to the second wall is less than 35% of the height; and a second distance from the second gas inlet to the first wall is less than 35% of the height.
US08669535B2 Electron gun
The present invention has an object to provide a cold cathode field-emission electron gun with low aberration, to thereby provide a high-brightness electron gun even in the case of a large current. The present invention provides a field-emission electron gun which extracts an electron beam from a cathode and converges the extracted electron beam, the field-emission electron gun including: a magnetic field lens which is provided such that the cathode is disposed inside of a magnetic field of the lens; and an extraction electrode for extracting electrons from the cathode, the extraction electrode being formed into a cylindrical shape without an aperture structure. The present invention can provide an electron gun having a function of converging an electron beam using a magnetic field, the electron gun which is capable of reducing an incidental electrostatic lens action and has small aberration and high brightness.
US08669534B2 Electrostatic lens for charged particle radiation
Provided is an electrostatic lens for charged particle radiation with a lens performance relatively comparable to that of a magnetic type lens. A plurality of electrodes arranged on the incident side of charged particles form a first electric field area, wherein orbit radii of the charged particles are reduced without exceeding, on the way, the initial orbit radii that are orbit radii at the incident time, and a second electric field area, wherein force in the direction advancing in parallel with a central axis is applied to the charged particles that have passed through the first electric field area. A plurality of electrodes arranged on the projection side form a third electric field area, wherein the orbit radii of the charged particles do not exceed the initial orbit radii on the way and are curved to intersect with a central axis at angles larger than orbit angles defined with respect to the central axis of when the charged particles are projected from the second electric field area.
US08669533B2 Ion induced impact ionization detector and uses thereof
Disclosed are systems, devices and methodologies relating to an ion induced impact ionization detector and uses thereof. In certain implementations, the detector can include a dielectric layer having one or more wells. An anode layer defining apertures to accommodate the openings of the wells can be disposed on one side of the dielectric layer, and a cathode such as a solid resistive cathode can be disposed on the other side so as to provide an electric field in each of the wells. Various design parameters such as well dimensions and operating parameters such as pressure and high voltage are disclosed. In certain implementations, such an ion detector can be coupled to a low pressure gas volume to detect ionization products such as positive ions. Such a system can be configured to provide single ion counting capability. Various example applications where the ion detector can be implemented are also disclosed.
US08669530B1 Radiation detection element and radiographic imaging device
The present invention provides a radiation detection element and a radiographic imaging device that may provide optimal resolution that corresponds to the purpose of imaging and to imaging speed, and that may suppress increase in device size. Namely, TFTs of plural pixels in a column direction are connected to the same signal lines. When a moving image is imaged, a control signal is output via a control line, the TFTs of the pixels are turned on, and the charges are read-out from sensor sections. Since the two pixels×two pixels are operated as one pixel and the charges are extracted, resolution may be lowered when compared with a still image and a frame rate may be improved.
US08669529B2 Radiation detection apparatus and radiation detection system
A radiation detection apparatus includes a scintillator, a photoelectric conversion unit, and a grid for removing scattered radiation. The photoelectric conversion unit includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional array on a substrate. Each pixel is configured to convert visible light output from the scintillator into an electric signal. The grid, the substrate, the photoelectric conversion unit, and the scintillator are disposed in this order from a radiation-incident side of the radiation detection apparatus to an opposite side thereof. In this radiation detection apparatus in which the scintillator is disposed on the side opposite to the radiation-incident side, scattered radiation is effectively removed.
US08669526B2 Scintillator panel, radiation detector, and method for manufacturing the same
Provided are a scintillator panel and a radiation detector which give a radiation image reduced in sensitivity unevenness and sharpness unevenness. Also provided are processes for producing the scintillator and the detector. The scintillator panel comprises a support and, deposited thereon, a phosphor layer comprising columnar crystals of a phosphor which have been formed by the vapor deposition method. The panel is characterized in that the columnar crystals of a phosphor comprise cesium iodide (CsI) as a base ingredient and thallium (Tl) as an activator ingredient and have, in a root part thereof, a layer containing no thallium, and that the coefficient of variation in thallium concentration in the plane of the phosphor layer is 40% or less.
US08669519B2 Methods for detecting reverse triiodothyronine by mass spectrometry
Provided are methods for determining the amount of reverse T3 in a sample using mass spectrometry. The methods generally involve ionizing reverse T3 in a sample and detecting and quantifying the amount of the ion to determine the amount of reverse T3 in the sample.
US08669513B2 Method of assembling a light sensor module using an intermediate layer, and light sensor module assembly including the same
A method is provided of at least partly assembling a light sensor module having at least one light sensing element optically coupled to a further optical element, for receiving light therefrom. The method comprises coupling the at least one light sensing element to an intermediate layer, wherein the intermediate layer is adapted to provide at least a predetermined level of optical coupling between the optical element and the at least one light sensing element when assembled by subsequently coupling, for example as part of a separate method, the intermediate layer to the optical element, with the intermediate layer being arranged between the optical element and the at least one light sensing element. An optical element other than a light sensing element, for example a light source element, can be used in place of the or each light sensing element, with in that case the or each optical element providing light to the further optical element rather than receiving light therefrom. Thus, the method can relate to an optical assembly in general rather than to a light sensor module assembly in particular.
US08669507B2 Laser scanning device
A laser scanning device includes a laser output unit, a scanner, a light splitting unit, an imaging compensation unit, a detection unit, and a control unit. A scanning focusing unit included in the scanner focuses a laser beam emitted by the laser output unit to scan an object. A visible light beam received by the canning focusing unit is reflected by the light splitting unit and is incident into the imaging compensation unit. Next, the detection unit receives the visible light beam passing through the imaging compensation unit, and outputs a detection signal. The control unit adjusts the detection signal according to the wavelength of the visible light beam, the wavelength of the laser beam, the scanning focusing unit, and the imaging compensation unit. Therefore, the laser scanning device may compensate the aberration and the dispersion caused when the visible light beam passes through the scanning focusing unit.
US08669504B2 Hand launchable unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle including a controller operating in a search mode of operation where a receiver of an acquisition sensor searches for a target and causes flight control surfaces to guide the vehicle in a downward spiral path, a terminal mode of operation where the acquisition sensor detects a target and causes flight control surfaces to direct the vehicle toward the target, and an activation mode of operation where a trigger sensor detects a target within a predetermined distance to the vehicle and the controller activates a responder.
US08669501B2 Control system for cooking appliance during jewish holidays and sabbath
A cooking appliance control system for use during the Jewish Holidays or Sabbath. A timer is in communication with the oven heater element programmed to provide for scheduled activations and deactivations of the element during the Holidays. Prior to the Holiday the timer is programmed, the oven is activated to the predetermined temperature, and the timer program is then activated to provide for activation of the heater element to the predetermined temperature and deactivation in accordance with the schedule during the Holiday. Additionally, a switch selectively activates and deactivates the ignition circuits of the burners. This permits, one of the gas burner heater elements to be lighted by the appliance before the Holiday when the ignition circuits are activated to provide a flame to light the other burners when the ignition circuits are deactivated during the Holiday.
US08669499B2 Method and apparatus for cooking using a combustible gas produced with an electrolyzer
A domestic apparatus, such as a cooking appliance, uses hydrogen and, optionally electrical heating, to cook food. The cooking appliance may have a cooking surface (e.g. a grilling surface) so as to result in an indoor barbeque, which may be used with no venting or reduced venting requirements.
US08669493B2 Assembly formed by an electrically-heatable glazing unit and an apparatus sensitive to magnetic fields
In an electrically-heated glazing unit including a plurality of collector conductors configured to supply a plurality of heating conductors with an electric current used to heat up the heating conductors and the glazing unit, at least one partial region of the surface of the glazing unit includes an arrangement of parallel heating conductors in which the current flows in opposing directions. The arrangement of the heating conductors in the partial region of the surface is tuned to minimize by mutual compensation or eliminate the magnetic field acting locally within this partial region and perpendicularly to the plane of the glazing unit when the current flows. The operation of an apparatus sensitive to magnetic fields, for example a compass, in the immediate vicinity of the glazing unit thus becomes more reliable.
US08669492B2 Passenger seat device having occupant detector embedded in seat of automotive vehicle
A passenger seat device includes a seat heater embedded in a seat and a detector electrode embedded underneath the seat heater. Electric power is supplied to the seat heater from an on-board battery through seat heater switches. Alternating voltage or current is supplied to the detector electrode. The detector electrode potential relative to the ground is lowered when the seat is occupied by a passenger. The changes in the potential of the detector electrode is detected by an occupant detector including a microcomputer. The detection is performed when the seat heater is brought to a floating state to suppress an amount of capacitance formed between the seat heater and the detector electrode. Thus, a sensitivity of the occupant detector is improved. The detector electrode may be eliminated, and the occupant conditions may be detected based on a potential of the seat heater to which alternating current or voltage is supplied.
US08669490B2 Method and apparatus for pulse and short circuit arc welding
A method and apparatus for multi process welding includes providing a controlled short circuit output and a pulse output in response to a user selection across a workpiece output stud and a torch output stud.
US08669489B2 High flow power cable for small welding torch
The invention provides a high flow power cable for a welding system designed for effective cooling of the power cable while maintaining maneuverability of the cable. Provided is a power cable having two segments, the first segment being larger in diameter than the second segment. The first segment is generally coupled to the power source and the second segment is coupled to the welding torch. The first segment includes a thicker wire, which has less resistance and dissipates less heat while the second segment includes a thinner wire, allowing for easier handling. Additionally, cooling fluid is conducted through the first segment and the second segment, further cooling the cable.
US08669488B2 Spatially chirped pulses for femtosecond laser ablation through transparent materials
Temporal focusing of spatially chirped femtosecond laser pulses overcomes previous limitations for ablating high aspect ratio features with low numerical aperture (NA) beams. Simultaneous spatial and temporal focusing reduces nonlinear interactions, such as self-focusing, prior to the focal plane so that deep (˜1 mm) features with parallel sidewalls are ablated at high material removal rates.
US08669477B2 Wiring substrate and method for manufacturing the same
A wiring substrate with improved heat dissipation capability and with reduced size is disclosed. The wiring substrate includes a metal core substrate, a buffer layer formed so as to cover at least a part of the metal core substrate and containing a phase change material or a material with an electrocaloric effect, an electronic device mounted on a surface of a base including the metal core substrate and the buffer layer or inside the base, and a thermal via formed between the electronic device and the buffer layer.
US08669476B2 Transparent conductive film
There is provided a transparent conductive film which comprises: a film substrate; a plurality of transparent conductor patterns formed on the film substrate; and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer wherein the transparent conductor patterns are embedded. The plurality of transparent conductor patterns respectively have a two-layer structure wherein a first indium tin oxide layer and a second indium tin oxide layer are laminated on the film substrate in this order, and the first indium tin oxide layer has a greater tin oxide content than the second indium tin oxide layer does. The first indium tin oxide layer has a smaller thickness than the second indium tin oxide layer does.
US08669474B2 Power cable with high torsional resistance
A power cable includes at least two power conductors, at least one earth conductor, and a tubular outer jacket surrounding the power conductors and earth conductor. Each power conductor may comprise a conductive core and an insulating layer surrounding said conductive core. The power conductors may be twisted and contact each other. The earth conductor may have a diameter smaller than the power conductors and may be positioned in the interstitial area between two adjacent power conductors and the outer jacket. The earth conductor may contact the two power conductors along two respective contact lines and the outer jacket along an extrados portion facing outward with respect to the cable. The outer jacket may have substantially constant thickness. The lateral surfaces of the earth conductor may be free from constraints between the contact lines with the power conductors and the extrados contacted by the outer jacket.
US08669473B2 Dry mica tape and insulation coils manufactured therewith
A dry mica tape includes a base material, a binder resin layer A formed on the base material and including an epoxy resin and an accelerator, a mica paper layer formed in contact with the binder resin layer A, and a binder resin layer B formed in contact with the mica paper layer, including an epoxy resin, and providing a cured resin with a higher glass transition point than that of a cured resin of an impregnating varnish only by reacting with an impregnating varnish including an epoxy resin impregnated into the dry mica tape wound around a conductor.
US08669472B2 Applying compression to busbars in a busway assembly
Electrical busway assemblies and methods and devices for applying compressive forces to a busbar stack in an electrical busway assembly are disclosed herein. Electrical busway assemblies for distributing electricity are presented. The busway assembly includes a stack of electrically conductive busbars with one or more duct sides each disposed on a respective side of the busbar stack. Optionally, a duct top and duct bottom can be placed on the stack top and stack bottom, respectively. A surge clamp engages the stack top or stack bottom. A bolt attaches the surge clamp to each duct side. A compression nut threadably engages each bolt. Rotation of a bolt moves the corresponding compression nut, which acts to move the surge clamp along a path that is oblique with the path of the compression nut. The surge clamp, when moved by the compression nut(s), acts to apply a compressive force to the busbar stack.
US08669471B2 Electrical accessories and associated methods of use and manufacture
Electrical accessories and associated methods of use and manufacture. In one embodiment, a system includes a plurality of electrical junction boxes. Each electrical junction box includes at least one wall with a pair of spaced apart holes, wherein the holes are sized and shaped to receive a pair of corresponding mounting devices. The system also includes at least one bracket. The bracket includes a pair of spaced apart mounting devices, wherein the mounting devices are sized and shaped to protrude through the pair of corresponding spaced apart holes in the plurality of electrical junction boxes. At least one of the plurality of electrical junction boxes is maintained in a relative stationary position with respect to the at least one bracket when the pair of spaced apart mounting devices protrudes through the respective pair of spaced apart holes in the wall of the at least one electrical junction box.
US08669470B2 Electric cable shield structure
A metal sheet tape including magnesium as a major component thereof having high electro-magnetic shield performance, high vibration absorption performance as well as high heat conductivity being wound spirally on an outer circumference of the electric cable may provide a high performance shield layer. Furthermore in an AV cable, original sounds may be recovered by forming a shield layer with winding spirally the metal sheet tape, which includes magnesium as a major component and is wound in the counter clockwise direction in the direction viewed from an IN end to an OUT end of an AV cable.
US08669463B2 Method for depositing a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) film on a substrate and thin-film solar cell
A method is provided for depositing a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer on a substrate, in which contaminations of the layers of the layer system is reduced through the diffusion of material from the substrate, and whose layer properties in respect to coupling and transmission of light are optimized. For that purpose, a barrier layer, a seed layer and a transparent conductive oxide layer are directly successively deposited on the substrate. Also, a thin-film solar cell is described which comprises such a transparent conductive oxide layer.
US08669458B2 Stringed instrument with keyboard
A musical instrument includes a body, a neck attached to the body, a plurality of strings having first ends secured to the body and second ends secured to the neck, and a keyboard secured to the body. Optionally, each of the strings is associated with a plucker.
US08669455B2 Educational method and apparatus to simultaneously teach reading and composing music
A method and apparatus for composing and teaching of music while learning to read music is provided that involves a user following a supported sequence of tasks that guide creativity of the user to construct a musical composition. The musical composition is constructed by assigning alphabetical characters to colors and musical notes to form a chart, forming words and phrases using the alphabetical characters, and cross-referencing the words and phrases to the chart. Various interactive components and computer software facilitate use of the method and process.
US08669453B2 Foot operable percussion instrument
A foot operable percussion instrument producing jingling sounds similar to a tambourine is useable by a solo performer and possesses a wedge-shaped body with an inclined striking surface for the striking by a foot or a portion thereof. The wedge-shaped body is connected to a base plate member by a pair of rigid connectors that together define a fulcrum so that the front portion of the wedge-shaped block pivots downwardly when struck by a foot on the inclined striking surface and rights itself when the foot is lifted. The jingling sound produced is of short duration.
US08669451B2 Ergonomic marching bass drum
An ergonomic marching bass drum having an angled shell constructed in such a way as to allow the batter (playing) head to be positioned parallel to the shoulders of the performer, rather than perpendicular to them, as is the case with the conventional marching bass drum. In addition, the angled shape and orientation of the shell puts the batter head in a position which is ergonomically comfortable for the performer to play on, since it make possible the use of the conventional matched grip percussion stroke used on virtually all percussion instruments.
US08669450B2 Handbell and coating method
A protective coating is applied to a bell body composed of bronze by simply dip-coating the bell with an outer layer of zinc. The process is carried out by immersing the bell body in a hot aqueous solution containing sodium hydroxide and powdered free zinc. After the bell is removed from the coating solution it is rinsed and then polished. The coating protects the bell from environmental contaminants without changing the frequency or musical quality of the bell and therefore may be used equally with newly manufactured or refurbished bells.
US08669443B2 Plants and seeds of corn variety CV142634
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV142634. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV142634, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV142634 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV142634 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV142634.
US08669441B2 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH602747
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH602747. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH602747, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH602747 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH602747.
US08669439B2 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH140757
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH140757. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH140757, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH140757 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH140757.
US08669437B1 Maize variety hybrid X13A464
A novel maize variety designated X13A464 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X13A464 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X13A464 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X13A464, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X13A464. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X13A464.
US08669435B2 Soybean variety A1026754
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1026754. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1026754. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1026754 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1026754 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08669433B2 Soybean variety A1026705
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1026705. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1026705. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1026705 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1026705 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08669431B2 Soybean variety D2011907
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated D2011907. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety D2011907. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety D2011907 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety D2011907 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08669427B2 Soybean variety A1025967
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1025967. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1025967. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1025967 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1025967 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08669420B2 Hybrid artichoke variety NUN 4060 AR
The present invention provides a new and distinct hybrid variety of globe artichoke NUN 4060 AR. The new variety is to of the Camus type having large flat, pale green heads, and is relatively early maturing and produces heads suitable for both the fresh market and/or the processing industry.
US08669419B2 Engineering broad and durable resistance to grapevine fanleaf virus in plants
The present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules useful for conferring broad and durable resistance to grapevine fanleaf virus in plants. The invention also relates to methods of enhancing resistance to plant pathogens and plants or plant components (such as grape plants) expressing such nucleic acid molecules. In addition, the invention relates to products (e.g., foodstuffs including beverages such as wine or juice) derived from grape plants transformed with such nucleic acids.
US08669418B2 Means and methods for mediating protein interference
The present invention belongs to the field of functional proteomics and more particularly to the field of protein aggregation. The invention discloses a method for interfering with the function of a target protein and uses a non-naturally, user-designed molecule, designated as interferor, that has a specificity for a target protein and which induces aggregation upon contact with said target protein. The present invention also discloses such interferor molecules and their use in agrobiotech applications.
US08669417B2 Methods and compositions for increasing plant transformation efficiency
The invention provides methods and compositions for increasing the efficiency of genetic transformation of host cells, including plant cells, and other eukaryotic cells, by reducing the expression of a polypeptide active in a pathway, such as the NHEJ pathway, for repairing damage to the cellular genome. In certain embodiments, the polypeptide is active in repairing double strand breaks (DSB's) of a cellular genome, and may include XRCC4, KU70, KU80, the DNA-activated Protein Kinase (DNA-Pkcs), and ATM. Methods for enhancing the resistance of plant cells to Crown Gall disease are also provided. In another aspect, genetic regulatory elements are provided, including an XRCC4 promoter.
US08669416B2 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH971018
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH971018. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH971018, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH971018 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH971018.
US08669415B2 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH682569
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH682569. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH682569, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH682569 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH682569.
US08669409B2 Reusable outer cover for an absorbent article
Reusable cover for an absorbent article providing two or more features selected from maintaining skin condition, fitting a range of wearer shapes and sizes, being easily applied, providing conforming fit, and providing sustained fit.
US08669408B2 Wound shield
A preformed wound shield includes a frame formed of one or more layers of suitable material and any suitable covering. Exudate absorbing or transporting material may also be one of two or more layers of material forming the frame.
US08669407B2 Method of isolating linear butenes from a mixed hydrocarbon feed
Described is an apparatus for, and a method of, recovering linear butenes from a mixed feed comprising providing a first mixed feed comprising linear butenes and isobutene; contacting the first mixed feed with an oligomerization catalyst such as an MWW family zeolite in a first oligomerization reactor to produce a second mixed feed comprising the linear butenes, C8 olefins and higher oligomers, and a reduced amount of isobutene relative to the first mixed feed; and separating the second mixed feed to produce a first effluent of first purified linear butenes, and a second effluent of C8 olefins and higher oligomers. The oligomerization reactor may be a converted isobutene-to-methyl-t-butylether reactor.
US08669401B2 High shear process for producing micronized waxes
A method and system for producing dispersed waxes, including a high shear mechanical device. In one embodiment, the method comprises forming a dispersion of wax globules in a carrier liquid in a high shear device prior to implementation in a waxy product. In another instance the system for producing waxy products comprises a high shear device for dispersing wax in a carrier liquid.
US08669399B2 Process for preparing substituted 3-(1-amino-2-methylpentane-3-yl)phenyl compounds
A process for the preparation of substituted 3-(1-amino-2-methylpentane-3-yl)phenyl compounds which has advantages over conventional processes with respect to higher conversions and yields, flexibility, a shorter overall route, environmentally acceptable conditions, influence of stereoselectivity such as diastereoselectivity in a targeted manner and at least partial suppression of the formation of undesired side-products and/or undesired stereoisomers, in particular undesired diastereomers.
US08669397B2 Production of adipic acid and derivatives from carbohydrate-containing materials
The present invention generally relates to processes for the chemocatalytic conversion of a glucose source to an adipic acid product. The present invention includes processes for the conversion of glucose to an adipic acid product via glucaric acid or derivatives thereof. The present invention also includes processes comprising catalytic oxidation of glucose to glucaric acid or derivative thereof and processes comprising the catalytic hydrodeoxygenation of glucaric acid or derivatives thereof to an adipic acid product. The present invention also includes products produced from adipic acid product and processes for the production thereof from such adipic acid product.
US08669396B2 Recovery of phosphorus values and salt impurities from aqueous waste streams
The present invention generally relates to processes for recovery of phosphorus values and salt impurities from aqueous waste streams. In particular, the present invention relates to processes for recovery of phosphorus values and salt impurities from aqueous waste streams generated in the manufacture of phospho-herbicides, including N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine and glufosinate.
US08669394B2 Method for decomposing and recovering isocyanate compound
The present invention relates to a method for decomposing and recovering an isocyanate compound, which comprises: continuously mixing and dispersing into water at high pressure and high temperature an isocyanate compound having at least one isocyanate group or group derived from an isocyanate group in a molten state or solution state, supplying a liquid mixture containing the isocyanate compound and the water at high pressure and high temperature continuously to a reactor, followed by subjecting the isocyanate compound to a decomposition reaction in the reactor, and recovering a raw material for the isocyanate compound or a derivative thereof; and an apparatus for decomposing and recovering an isocyanate compound, which comprises: a reactor which brings water at high pressure and high temperature into contact with an isocyanate compound having at least one isocyanate group or group derived from an isocyanate group to cause a decomposition reaction, a water supply line which continuously supplies the water at high pressure and high temperature to a reactor, a compound supply line which continuously supplies the isocyanate compound in a molten state or solution state to the water supply line, an on-off valve which communicates the compound supply line with a vicinity of a communication portion of the water supply line to the reactor, a dehydrating device which conducts a dehydration of a decomposition reaction product discharged from the reactor, and a purification device which purifies the decomposition reaction product after the dehydration.
US08669393B2 Adipic acid compositions
Disclosed are compositions of matter comprising an adipic acid product of formula (1) wherein R is independently a salt-forming ion, hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, or substituted hydrocarbyl, and at least one constituent selected from the group consisting of formula (2) wherein R is as defined above and each of R1 is, independently, H, OH, acyloxy or substituted acyloxy provided, however, that at least one of R1 is OH, and formula (3) wherein R is as above defined and R1 is OH, acyloxy or substituted acyloxy. Also disclosed are compositions of matter comprising at least about 99 wt % adipic acid and least two constituents selected from the group consisting of formula (2) and formula (3), above.
US08669391B2 Liquid crystal composition comprising novel silicon containing compounds and liquid crystal display device using the same
Disclosed are a silicon-containing compound, a liquid crystal composition comprising the same compound, and a liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal layer prepared from the liquid crystal composition. The silicon-containing compound, which forms the liquid crystal composition, has low viscosity and high positive dielectric anisotropy. Therefore, it is possible to provide a liquid crystal display device, which has a fast response time and can be driven at a low voltage.
US08669390B2 Process for production of cyclic silane compound and/or cyclic carbosilane compound
The present invention relates to: a process for producing a cyclic silane compound, which comprises subjecting a chained polysilane to pyrolysis in the presence of an oxide of a transition metal belonging to Group 8 or Group 11 of the periodic table; and a process for producing a cyclic carbosilane compound, which comprises subjecting a chained polysilane to pyrolysis in the presence of a simple substance of a metal selected from the group consisting of transition metal elements and elements belonging to Groups 12 to 15 of the periodic table or a compound thereof.
US08669387B2 Apparatus and method for the production of trisilyamine
There is described a process for preparing silylamines in and particularly trisilylamine (TSA) in high yields in a tubular laminar flow, plug flow reactor, from ammonia gas and a monohalosilane gas. The apparatus can be a tubular flow reactor comprising a first portion of the reactor defining a gas entry zone, a second portion of the reactor defining a reaction zone and a third portion of the reactor defining a separation zone, the reaction zone providing a reactant contacting region. Trisilylamine can be recovered in the separation zone in a cold trap collection vessel.
US08669384B2 Process for preparing divinylarene dioxides
A process for preparing a divinylarene dioxide including (a) reacting at least one divinylarene with hypochlorous acid to form a chlorohydrin; and (b) treating the chlorohydrin formed in step (a) with at least one base, under conditions to form a divinylarene dioxide product.
US08669379B2 Microbial production of 3,4-dihydroxybutyrate (3,4-DHBA), 2,3-dihydroxybutyrate (2,3-DHBA) and 3-hydroxybutyrolactone (3-HBL)
The invention relates to recombinant cells and their use in the production of 3,4-dihydroxybutyrate, 2,3-dihydroxybutyrate and 3-hydroxybutyrolactone.
US08669375B2 Process for producing ester compound
PROBLEMTo provide an environmentally-friendly method for producing industrially an ester compound.SOLUTIONThe present invention is a method for producing an ester compound which comprises subjecting a carboxylic acid and an alcohol to dehydration-condensation reaction using an involatile acid catalyst and then removing the residual acid catalyst by bringing a weak basic substance into contact with the residual acid catalyst.
US08669374B2 Functionalized cyanine dyes (PEG)
The invention provides a novel class of cyanine dyes that are functionalized with a linker moiety that facilitates their conjugation to other species and substituent groups which increase the water-solubility, and optimize the optical properties of the dyes. Also provided are conjugates of the dyes, methods of using the dyes and their conjugates and kits including the dyes and their conjugates.
US08669371B2 Regioselective chlorination of the phenyl ring of 4,5-dihydro-1-phenyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ones
An improved process for selectively chlorinating 4,5-dihydro-1-phenyl-1H-1,2,4-triazole-5-ones, including 4,5-dihydro-3-alkyl-1-phenyl-1H-1,2,4-triazole-5-ones and4-haloalkyl-4, 5-dihydro-3-alkyl-1-phenyl-1H-1,2,4-triazole-5-ones in the 4-position of the phenyl ring by dissolving the compounds in a synergistic ratio of polar aprotic solvents, preferably acetonitrile and N,N-dimethylformamide in a 7:3 ratio and reacting the solution with chlorine gas.
US08669369B2 Method and process for preparation and production of deuterated Ω-diphenylurea
Methods and processes for preparation and production of deuterated ω-diphenylurea are disclosed. Especially, a kind of deuterated ω-diphenylurea compounds which can inhibit phosphokinase and the preparation method of N-(4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N′-(4-(2-(N-d3-methylcarbamoyl)-4-pridinyloxy)phenyl)urea are disclosed. The said deuterated diphenylurea compounds can be used for treating or preventing tumors and relative diseases.
US08669364B2 Tridentate platinum (II) complexes
A platinum (II) complex of general formula (II), in which Ar1 is a 1,2-diazole ring, Ar2 is a pyridine ring, and Ar3 is a phenyl ring. Ar1, Ar2, and Ar3 together form a tridentate ligand coordinated to the platinum through atoms X, Y, and Z, respectively, and X, Y, and Z are independently carbon or nitrogen. V represents O, S, N, C, P, or Si, and W is an anion. In some cases, Ar3 is an anion and Ar1 and Ar2 are neutral; in other cases, Ar1 and Ar3 are neutral and Ar2 is an anion. The complexes emit in the UV to near IR range and are useful as emitters for organic light emitting devices.
US08669359B2 Electrically conducting porphyrin and porphyrin-fullerene electropolymers
Compounds with aryl ring(s) at porphyrin meso position(s) bearing an amino group in position 4 relative to the porphyrin macrocycle, and at least one unsubstituted 5 (hydrogen-bearing) meso position with the 10-, 15-, and/or 20-relationship to the aryl ring bearing the amino group, and metal complexes thereof, feature broad spectral absorption throughout the visible region. These compounds are electropolymerized to form electrically conducting porphyrin and porphyrin-fullerene polymers that are useful in photovoltaic applications. The structure of one such electrically conducting porphyrin polymer is shown below.
US08669358B2 Vanadium phthalocyanine compounds and near-infrared absorption filter using the same
A vanadium phthalocyanine compound with low absorptivity in the visible light region and high absorptivity in the near-infrared light region, and represented by the following Formula:
US08669356B2 Linker and support for solid phase synthesis of nucleic acid
The invention provides a universal linker capable of synthesizing nucleic acid having a phosphate group at the 3′ terminal, a universal support carrying the linker, and a synthesis method of nucleic acid using the universal support. The linker for solid phase synthesis of nucleic acid contains a compound represented by at least one of the following formulae wherein each symbol is as defined in the specification.
US08669346B2 Bone marrow targeting peptides
A peptide for targeting bone marrow consists of about 5 to about 25 amino acids and includes an amino acid sequence that targets the peptide to bone marrow.
US08669345B2 Nogo receptor antagonists
Disclosed are immunogenic Nogo receptor-1 polypeptides, Nogo receptor-1 antibodies, antigen-binding fragments thereof, soluble Nogo receptors and fusion proteins thereof and nucleic acids encoding the same. Also disclosed are Nogo receptor antagonist polynucleotides. Also disclosed are compositions comprising, and methods for making and using, such Nogo receptor antibodies, antigen-binding fragments thereof, soluble Nogo receptors and fusion proteins thereof, nucleic acids encoding the same and antagonist polynucleotides.
US08669342B2 Non-painting and high-gloss polycarbonate resin composition
The invention provides a non-painting and high-gloss polycarbonate resin composition. Specifically, the invention provides a polycarbonate resin composition having a superior impact strength, heat-resistance, electric characteristics, weather resistance, and light resistance. In certain embodiments, the resin composition of the invention is obtained by mixing a butadiene-based impact modifier, such as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) or methacrylate-butadiene-styrene and an acryl-based impact modifier in polycarbonate resin, followed by adding an ultraviolet (UV) absorbent to the mixture.
US08669340B2 Emulsions of organopolysiloxanes having acidic and basic groups and the production thereof
Organopolysiloxanes containing both acidic and basic groups are prepared by reacting oganopolysiloxanes with primary or secondary amino groups with a stoichiometric deficiency of isocyanates containing sulfonyl-group-containing electron withdrawings groups in the presence of acidic or basic moderators.
US08669338B2 Homopolymers and copolymers of hydroxyisobutyric acid (ester) (meth) acrylates
The invention relates to novel poly(meth)acrylates for producing moulding compositions. In particular, the invention relates to novel methacrylates having ester groups which, in the cleavage process, liberate at most only a very small amount of components which are not re-copolymerizable. Copolymerization of monomers of this type in the production of the novel poly(meth)acrylates for moulding compositions brings about only minimal alteration of the heat resistance of these materials or may indeed improve the same.
US08669336B2 Fluoro levelling agents
The invention relates to a coating composition comprising short chain fluorinated acrylates and to the use of short chain fluorinated acrylates as levelling agents for pigmented and unpigmented coating compositions. The coating composition comprises a) a film forming binder resin, and b) a copolymer made by controlled polymerization or by conventional radical polymerization comprising a monomer (M1x) selected from unsaturated monomers out of the group of (meth)acrylates, styrenic monomers or (meth)acrylamides whereby the copolymer contains at least >30 wt % (meth)acrylates; and a monomer (M2y) selected from C1-C4-fluoralkyl(meth)acrylates; x denotes the total number of monomers M1 within the structural element (M1x): x>5, preferred, 10-1000, most preferred, 10-500; y denotes the total number of monomers M2 within the structural element (M2y): y>1, preferred, 2-20, most preferred 2-10; c) optional other conventional coating components and/or additives.
US08669323B2 Stable polyisocyanates comprising nanoparticles
The present invention relates to unblocked nano-particle-modified polyisocyanates having increased stability in the NCO content.
US08669322B2 Process for manufacturing an adhesive by means of extrusion
The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing an adhesive by extrusion, wherein the adhesive comprises at least one degraded polypropylene(co)polymer and at least one additional additive.
US08669319B2 Cationic polymeric fluorinated ether silane compositions and methods of use
A polymer is provided comprising a first pendant group selected from at least one of a perfluorinated ether group or a perfluoroalkanesulfonamido group, a second pendant group comprising an ammonium group, wherein the second pendant group is free of silicon, and a third pendant group comprising an ammonium group and a reactive silicon-containing group. A composition comprising the polymer is provided. The polymer and composition are useful for protecting a substrate, for example, to render the substrate oil repellent, water repellent, or both, or to provide stain repellency to the substrate.
US08669315B2 Polycarbonate compositions and methods for the manufacture and use thereof
This disclosure relates generally to polycarbonate compositions whose hydrolysis products and residual monomer content, if any, exhibit little or no estradiol binding activity. Also disclosed are methods for making the disclosed polycarbonates and articles of manufacture comprising the disclosed polycarbonates.
US08669308B2 Resin composition and resin molded product
There is provided a resin composition including: a crosslinked polymer compound having a crosslinked structure formed by reaction of a carboxyl group of aliphatic polyester having at least a carboxyl group at an end of polymer chain with a hydroxyl group of a lignophenol derivative having at least a hydroxyl group, a glass fiber, and condensed phosphate ester.
US08669306B2 Curable composition
It is an object of the present invention to provide a curable composition which provides a cured product excellent in low warpage properties and long-term electrical insulation reliability and causes little bleeding during screen printing. The present invention is a curable composition comprising the following components (a) to (e): a component (a): polyurethane having a functional group capable of curing reaction and a carbonate bond, a component (b): γ-butyrolactone, a component (c): diethylene glycol diethyl ether, a component (d): inorganic fine particles and/or organic fine particles, and a component (e): a compound having two or more epoxy groups in one molecule.
US08669305B2 Polyamideimide-based film coating composition
Disclosed is a polyamideimide-based film coating composition free from any restricted substance or a substance which might possibly be a restricted one such as N-methyl pyrrolidone and N-ethyl pyrrolidone and capable of replacing a conventional coating composition using a solvent such as N-methyl pyrrolidone. The polyamideimide-based film coating composition of the present invention is a polyamideimide-based film coating composition comprising a polyamideimide resin and a solvent, the polyamideimide resin being dissolved as a binder in the solvent, wherein the solvent contains γ-butyrolactone and cyclopentanone, and a volume of γ-butyrolactone is 50% by volume or more compared to a total volume of γ-butyrolactone and cyclopentanone.
US08669302B2 Composite material comprising a monomer with a polyalicyclic structure element as a sealing material
The application of certain (preferably photocurable) composite materials comprising a monomer with a polyalicyclic structure element as a dental sealing material is described herein. A description is also provided of novel polymerizable monomers comprising at least one polyalicyclic structure element and certain ethylenic structure elements, which are particularly suitable for use in a composite material to be applied and their application in a composite material.
US08669301B2 Radiation curable adhesive
The present invention relates to urethane(meth)acrylate resins obtained from the reaction, in a first step, of at least one polyisocyanate (I) with at least one compound (II) containing at least two reactive groups capable to react with isocyanate groups and at least one (meth)acrylate (III) containing essentially one reactive group capable to react with isocyanate groups, and, in a subsequent step, reacting the product obtained from the first step with at least one polyisocyanate (IV) different from the poly-isocyanate (I) used in the first step, and their use for making radiation cured pressure sensitive adhesives.
US08669297B2 Textile backing formed from recycled materials
Backings for carpet and carpet tiles are formed from various post-consumer and/or post-industrial polymeric waste materials, for example, post-consumer textile waste material (e.g., carpet and carpet tiles), post-industrial textile waste material (e.g., carpet and/or carpet tiles), and/or other post-consumer and/or post-industrial polymeric materials.
US08669296B2 Method for the production of a high-molecular polyazol
A process for preparing a polyazole with an inherent viscosity, measured in at least 96% sulfuric acid at 25° C., greater than 2.9 dl/g, comprising the steps of i) mixing one or more aromatic tetraamino compounds with one or more aromatic carboxylic acids or esters thereof which comprise at least two acid groups per carboxylic acid monomer, or mixing one or more aromatic and/or heteroaromatic diaminocarboxylic acids, in polyphosphoric acid to form a solution and/or dispersion ii) heating the mixture from step i) under inert gas to temperatures in the range from 120° C. to 350° C. to form the polyazole, wherein in step ii), a mixture having a concentration of polyphosphoric acid, calculated as P2O5 (by acidimetric means), based on the total amount of H3PO4, polyphosphoric acid and water in the mixture, greater than 78.22%, is heated, the amounts of the components are selected in step i) such that the proportion by weight of the tetraamino compounds and of the aromatic carboxylic acids or esters thereof which comprise at least two acid groups per carboxylic acid monomer, or of the diaminocarboxylic acids of the mixture in step ii), based on the total weight of the mixture, is less than 11.0% by weight, the reaction mixture is heated in step ii) to greater than 220° C.
US08669295B2 Process for preparing methanol, dimethyl ether, and low carbon olefins from syngas
The present invention provides a process for preparing methanol, dimethyl ether, and low carbon olefins from syngas, wherein the process comprises the step of contacting syngas with a catalyst under the conditions for converting the syngas into methanol, dimethyl ether, and low carbon olefins, characterized in that, the catalyst contains an amorphous alloy consisting of a first component Al and a second component, said second component being one or more elements or oxides thereof selected from Group IA, IIIA, IVA, VA, IB, IIB, IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB, VIII, and Lanthanide series of the Periodic Table of Elements, and said second component being different from the first component Al. According to the present process, the syngas can be converted into methanol, dimethyl ether, and low carbon olefins in a high CO conversion, a high selectivity of the target product, and high carbon availability.
US08669293B2 Method and compositions for preventing hormone induced adverse effects
A method for preventing the adverse effects which may he associated with the administration of at least one hormone to a subject without detectable cancer comprising administering to such subject at least one carotenoid. The method of the instant invention can be utilized to prevent a variety of adverse effects associated with the administration of hormones, including for example, an increased risk for developing cancer. The instantly claimed method prevents such adverse effects without inhibiting the beneficial activity of the hormone. Further provided by the present invention are compositions which are useful for preventing the adverse effects associated with the administration of hormones. The compositions of the instant invention may be in unit dosage form suitable for daily administration to a human.
US08669291B2 Phenyl substituted cycloalkylamines as monoamine reuptake inhibitors
Phenyl-substituted cyclohexylamine derivatives and method for their synthesis and characterization are disclosed. Use of these compounds to treat/prevent neurological disorders as well as methods for their synthesis are set forth herein. Exemplary compounds of the invention inhibit reuptake of endogenous monoamines, such as dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine (e.g., from the synaptic cleft) and modulate one or more monoamine transporter. Pharmaceutical formulations incorporating compounds of the invention are also provided.
US08669283B2 Beta-lactones as antibacterial agents
The present invention relates to specific beta-lactone compounds and compositions thereof for the treatment of infections, such as, e.g., infections with bacteria or infections with protozoa, in particular infections with Gram-positive and/or Gram-negative bacteria and of infectious diseases caused by or related to Gram-positive and/or Gram-negative bacteria, and to the modulation of virulence of Gram-positive and/or Gram-negative bacteria or of protozoa by specific beta-lactone compounds. The invention further relates to the use of the compounds or compositions for preventing or eliminating biofilms.
US08669282B2 Companion animal compositions including lipoic acid and methods of use thereof
The invention encompasses compositions and methods for treating or preventing disorders in companion animals, wherein the compositions and methods include feeding the companion animal a composition including lipoic acid or a salt thereof.
US08669279B2 Solid forms of bendamustine hydrochloride
Novel solid forms of bendamustine hydrochloride are described, as well as methods of their preparation and use.
US08669274B2 Metalloenzyme inhibitor compounds
The instant invention describes compounds having metalloenzyme modulating activity, and methods of treating diseases, disorders or symptoms thereof mediated by such metalloenzymes.
US08669271B2 Compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and uses thereof
The present invention relates to compounds of formula I, wherein the groups R1, LP, LQ, X1, X2, X3, Ar and n are as defined in the application, which have valuable pharmacological properties, and in particular bind to the GPR119 receptor and modulate its activity.
US08669270B2 SNS-595 and methods of using the same
The present invention relates to SNS-595 and methods of treating cancer using the same.
US08669252B2 Prolylcarboxypeptidase inhibitors
Compounds of structural formula I are inhibitors of prolylcarboxypeptidase (PrCP). The compounds of the present invention are useful for the prevention and treatment of conditions related to the enzymatic activity of PrCP such as abnormal metabolism, including obesity; diabetes; metabolic syndrome; obesity related disorders; and diabetes related disorders.
US08669250B2 Derivatives of aryl-{4-halogeno-4-[aminomethyl]-piperidin-1-yl}-methanone, their method of preparation and their use as medicinal products
The present invention concerns compounds of general formula (1) (I) wherein R1 is: —a hydrogen atom, or a halogen, —a straight or branched C1-C6 alkyl group or a C1-C3 fluoroalkyl group, —a straight or branched C1-C6 alcoxy group, a carbamyl group, N-substituted or not by one or two, straight or branched C1-C3 alkyl groups, or —a cyano group (CN) R2 is: —a hydrogen atom or a straight or branched C1-C6 alkyl group, HaI1, Hal2 and Hal3 are: —a halogen their addition salts and the hydrates of addition salts with pharmaceutically acceptable mineral acids or organic acids, and their enantiomer forms.
US08669242B2 Use of testosterone and a 5-HT1A agonist in the treatment of sexual dysfunction
The invention relates to the field of male and/or female sexual dysfunction. The invention specifically relates to the use of testosterone and a 5-HT1A agonist.
US08669241B2 Ophthalmic composition
The ophthalmic composition of the invention comprises (A) lecithin and (B) at least one refrigerant selected from the group consisting of camphor, borneol, eucalyptus oil, and bergamot oil. In the ophthalmic composition, the odor of lecithin is efficiently masked by the refrigerant. The odor of lecithin after aging is also masked by the refrigerant. Since the refrigerant is volatile, the concentration thereof in a composition tends to gradually decrease. It is surprising that the odor of lecithin after aging can nevertheless be masked.
US08669239B2 Methods of inhibiting tumor cell aggressiveness using the microenvironment of human embryonic stem cells
The invention provides compositions comprising one or more isolated factors from a microenvironment of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), including, but not limited to, Lefty and inhibitors of Nodal. The invention also provides methods of utilizing factors derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESC) and their microenvironment to treat and prevent tumor formation and progression and to inhibit tumor cell aggressiveness. The invention further provides methods of inhibiting tumor cell growth and/or treating aggressive tumors in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal, having at least one tumor cell present in its body, an effective amount of an inhibitor of Nodal activity.
US08669235B2 Modulation of innate immunity receptors' signaling by microRNAs miR-146a and miR-146b
The present disclosure relates to the finding that microRNA-146 plays a role modulating the innate immune response. Innate immunity receptor signaling can be modulated by delivery of microRNA-146 (miR-146) or antisense miR-146 to target immune cells. In some embodiments, IL-1 receptor associated kinase 1 (IRAK1) and TNF receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6) expression levels are downregulated in a target cell by administering a miR-146 oligonucleotide. Modulation of the innate immune system through miR-146 can be used to treat a variety of diseases and disorders associated with activation of the innate immune system, such as sepsis and Crohn's disease.
US08669230B2 Immunogenic epitopes for immunotherapy
The present invention relates to peptides, nucleic acids and cells for use in immunotherapeutic methods. In particular, the present invention relates to the immunotherapy of cancer. The present invention furthermore relates to tumor-associated T-helper cell peptide epitopes, alone or in combination with other tumor-associated peptides that serve as active pharmaceutical ingredients of vaccine compositions which stimulate anti-tumor immune responses. The present invention relates to novel peptide sequences and their variants derived from HLA class I and class II molecules of human tumor cells which can be used in vaccine compositions for eliciting anti-tumor immune responses.
US08669229B2 Benzazepine derivatives useful as vasopressin antagonists
The present invention provides a benzazepine compound that can maintain for a long period of time the blood level of tolvaptan enabling to provide the desired pharmaceutical effects. The benzazepine compound of the present invention is represented by general formula (1) wherein R1 represents a —CO—(CH2)n—COR2 group (wherein n is an integer of 1 to 4, and R2 is (2-1) a hydroxy group; (2-2) a lower alkoxy group optionally substituted with a hydroxy group, a lower alkanoyl group, a lower alkanoyloxy group, a lower alkoxycarbonyloxy group, a cycloalkyloxycarbonyloxy group, or 5-methyl-2-oxo-1,3-dioxo-4-yl; or (2-3) an amino group optionally substituted with a hydroxy-lower alkyl group), or the like.
US08669227B2 Fast-acting insulin formulation
The invention relates to a complex between an insulin and a polysaccharide comprising carboxyl functional groups, said polysaccharide being chosen from polysaccharides functionalized with at least one phenylalanine derivative, noted Phe, said phenylalanine derivative being chosen from the group consisting of phenylalanine and its alkali metal cation salts, phenylalaninol, phenylalaninamide and ethylbenzylamine or from phenylalanine esters, and said insulin being either a human insulin or an insulin analog. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one complex according to the invention, especially in the form of an injectable solution.
US08669221B2 Cleaning compositions with alkoxylated polyalkylenimines
Cleaning compositions comprising amphiphilic water-soluble alkoxylated polyalkylenimines having an inner polyethylene oxide block and an outer polypropylene oxide block.
US08669216B2 Concentrated hard surface treatment compositions
The present invention relates to concentrated hard surface treatment compositions which are primarily intended to be dispersed in a larger volume or quantity of water prior to use by a consumer, in order to produce a ready to use type composition.
US08669214B2 Swellable polymer with anionic sites
The invention is directed to stable crosslinked water-soluble swellable polymers and methods for making same. More particularly, the invention relates to a composition comprising expandable polymeric particles having anionic sites and labile crosslinkers and stable crosslinkers, said particle mixed with a fluid and a cationic crosslinker that is capable of further crosslinking the particle on degradation of the labile crosslinker and exposure of the anionic sites so as to form a gel. A particularly important use is as an injection fluid in petroleum production, where the expandable polymeric particles are injected into target zone and when the heat and/or suitable pH of the target zone cause degradation of the labile crosslinker and the particle expands, the cationic crosslinker crosslinks the polymer to form a gel, thus diverting water to lower permeability regions and improving oil recovery.
US08669212B2 Fluorosurfactants and treatment fluids for reduction of water blocks, oil blocks, and/or gas condensates and associated methods
The present invention relates to fluids useful for subterranean operations, and more particularly, to fluorosurfactants useful for the reduction of water blocks, gas blocks, and/or gas condensates and their associated treatment fluids and methods. Provided is a method of treating a subterranean formation. The method may comprise contacting the subterranean formation with a fluorosurfactant. The fluorosurfactant may comprise an amine group, wherein the amine group comprises at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of a fluoroalkyl group, a fluoroalkenyl group, and combinations thereof, wherein the at least one substituent comprises about 3 carbons to about 22 carbons. Also provided are polymeric surfactants and treatment fluids that comprise fluorosurfactants.
US08669210B2 High-strength, low viscosity herbicidal concentrate of clopyralid dimethylamin
This invention relates to a high-strength, aqueous herbicidal concentrate containing the clopyralid dimethylamine salt. The formulation is stable to storage and exhibits lower viscosity than other clopyralid amine salt formulations.
US08669209B2 Process for preparing soluble granules of salts of pyridine containing carboxylic acids
Soluble granule formulations of amine salts of pyridine containing carboxylic acids with improved handling properties are provided by an improved process in which the pyridine containing carboxylic acid is partially neutralized with an amine.
US08669205B2 Composition and method for controlling plant diseases
The present invention provides: a composition for controlling plant diseases comprising, as active ingredients, 4-oxo-4-[(2-phenylethyl)amino]-butyric acid and tolclofos-methyl; a method for controlling plant diseases which comprises applying effective amounts of 4-oxo-4-[(2-phenylethyl) amino]-butyric acid and tolclofos-methyl to a plant or soil for growing plant; and so on.
US08669202B2 Wet chemical and plasma methods of forming stable PtPd catalysts
A nano-particle comprising: an interior region comprising a mixed-metal oxide; and an exterior surface comprising a pure metal. In some embodiments, the mixed-metal oxide comprises aluminum oxide and a metallic pinning agent, such as palladium, copper, molybdenum, or cobalt. In some embodiments, the pure metal at the exterior surface is the same as the metallic pinning agent in the mixed-metal oxide in the interior region. In some embodiments, a catalytic nano-particle is bonded to the pure metal at the exterior surface. In some embodiments, the interior region and the exterior surface are formed using a plasma gun. In some embodiments, the interior region and the exterior surface are formed using a wet chemistry process. In some embodiments, the catalytic nano-particle is bonded to the pure metal using a plasma gun. In some embodiments, the catalytic nano-particle is bonded to the pure metal using a wet chemistry process.
US08669199B2 Cordierite-forming batch materials and methods of using the same
The present disclosure relates to cordierite-forming batch materials and methods of using the same, and in particular batch materials for forming porous cordierite bodies suitable for treating engine emissions. The batch materials include sources of magnesium, alumina, silica, and high BET specific surface area raw kaolin clay. In some embodiments, the BET specific surface area of the raw kaolin clay is greater than 22 m2/g. In other embodiments, the BET specific surface area of the raw kaolin clay is greater than 13 m2/g, and the source of magnesium oxide and the source of non-kaolin clay source of silica both have relatively coarse particle size.
US08669196B2 Roofing membranes
An impact resistant membrane and methods of preparing and utilizing the membrane are disclosed. The membrane comprises a loft layer, a first polymeric layer bonded to a first surface of the loft layer, and a second polymeric layer bonded to a second surface of the loft layer. The membrane can be fabricated by providing a loft layer and applying a polymeric layer on a first surface and on a second surface of the loft layer. The membrane has a higher resistance to failure due to impact and thus protects the underlying structure membrane for a longer time. A method of facilitating protecting a structure comprises providing a single ply membrane having a loft layer and a polymeric layer disposed on at least two surfaces of the loft layer.
US08669194B2 Airbag
An air bag formed from a one piece woven air bag material having warp threads (10) and weft threads (20) composed of different polymeric fibers. The air bag in accordance with this invention is inexpensive to fabricate without compromises on strength by providing the weft threads (20) and the warp threads (10) have the same thread linear density.
US08669191B2 Method for forming Ni film
A method for the formation of an Ni film is herein disclosed, which comprises the steps of maintaining the temperature of an Si substrate at a desired level in a vacuum chamber; introducing, into the vacuum chamber, a nickel alkylamidinate (in this organometal compound, the alkyl group is a member selected from the group consisting of a methyl group, an ethyl group, a butyl group and a propyl group), H2 gas and NH3 gas; and then forming an Ni film according to the CVD technique, wherein the film-forming temperature is set at a level between higher than 280° C. and not higher than 350° C.
US08669190B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device and semiconductor wafer
In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, a process of providing a semiconductor wafer having a wiring layer having conductive patterns and a plurality of insulation films containing a first insulation film surrounding side surfaces of the conductive patterns are provided. After the process of providing the semiconductor wafer, a process of removing some regions of the plurality of insulation films to form openings is provided. Herein, the first insulation film is disposed to a position closer to the circumference of the semiconductor wafer than a position closest to the outermost circumference of the wafer among the arrangement positions of the conductive patterns.
US08669189B2 Method for treating a semiconductor wafer
Disclosed is a method for treating semiconductor wafer including: providing a layer that contains lanthanum oxide or a lanthanide oxide (e.g. Dy2O3, Pr2O3, Ce2O3) applying an aqueous solution, wherein the aqueous solution is carbonated water, whereby the layer that contains lanthanum oxide or a lanthanide oxide is removed at specific areas, so that the surface, on which the layer that contains lanthanum oxide or a lanthanide oxide has been deposited, is exposed.
US08669187B2 Porous lift-off layer for selective removal of deposited films
A porous lift off layer facilitates removal of films from surfaces, such as semiconductors. A layer, with porosities typically larger than the film thickness is provided where no film is desired. The film is applied over the porous layer and also where it is desired. The porous material and the film are then removed from areas where film is not intended. The porous layer can be provided as a slurry, dried to open porosities, or fugitive particles within a field, which disassociate upon the application of heat or solvent. The film can be removed by etchant that enters through porosities that have arisen due to the film not bridging the spaces between solid portions. Etchant attacks both film surfaces. Particles may have diameters of four to ten times the film thickness. Particles may be silica, alumina and ceramics. Porous layers can be used in depressions or on flat surfaces.
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