Document Document Title
US07657384B1 Management of response to triggering events in connection with monitoring fugitive emissions
Method for managing a response to a triggering event in connection with a fugitive emissions monitor of a component. In one implementation, the method may include determining whether an input is a triggering event. If the input is a triggering event, then a message regarding the triggering event and one or more actions to remedy the triggering event may be displayed. The method may further include displaying one or more queries to confirm that the actions have been completed.
US07657383B2 Method, system, and apparatus for compactly storing a subject genome
A method of representing a subject genome can include comparing the subject genome to a base reference genome and identifying a difference between the subject genome and the base reference genome. The method can further include assigning one or more items of descriptive information to the difference, and compiling the items into a data set, where the data set represents the subject genome.
US07657378B1 Computer based method for identifying peptides useful as drug targets
The present invention relates to a novel computer based method for performing genome-wise comparison of several organisms, the said computational method involves creation of peptide libraries from protein sequences of several organisms and subsequent comparison leading to identification of conserved invariant peptide motifs, and to this end several invariant peptide motifs have been identified by direct sequence comparison between various bacterial organisms and host genomes without any a priori assumptions, and the present method is useful for identification of potential drug targets and can serve as drug screen for broad-spectrum antibacterials as well as for specific diagnosis of infections, and in addition, for assignment of function to proteins of yet unknown functions with the help of such invariant peptide motif signatures.
US07657377B2 Azimuthal measurement-while-drilling (MWD) tool
Various systems and methods determine a distance, magnitude, and azimuthal angle describing the location of an anomaly within a geologic formation. For example, a method involves identifying an electrical characteristic (e.g., resistivity or conductivity) at each of several sensors in a measurement-while-drilling (MWD) tool. Based on the electrical characteristic, information identifying a formation property of the anomaly is generated. The information includes at least one magnitude and at least one distance. Information information identifying an azimuthal angle is also generated based upon the electrical characteristic. The azimuthal angle relates a position of the anomalous formation to a position of a first sensor in the MWD tool.
US07657374B2 In-vehicle emergency report apparatus
An in-vehicle emergency report apparatus is so constructed that the operating power source is switched from a vehicle battery to an auxiliary battery only when a pre-crash safety ECU determines that a vehicle will collide with something. That is, the operating power source is switched from the vehicle battery to the auxiliary battery only when there is a possibility that the vehicle will collide with something to thereby perform emergency report operation. This makes it possible to effectively switch the operating power source from the vehicle battery to the auxiliary battery and to prevent the capacity of the auxiliary battery from being uselessly consumed.
US07657364B2 Apparatus, system, and method for thermal management of an engine comprising a continuously variable transmission
A method is disclosed for thermal management of an engine comprising a continuously variable transmission. The method includes an engine capability module storing a torque-speed map comprising a first region where the engine inefficiently regenerates an aftertreatment device, a second region where the engine efficiently regenerates the aftertreatment device, and a third region where the engine is not capable of regenerating the aftertreatment device. The method further includes an aftertreatment determination module determining a regeneration index, an operating conditions module determining an engine speed and an engine load, and a speed-load adjustment module adjusting a speed-load target. The method further includes the speed-load adjustment module adjusting the speed-load target to a preferred region along equal power curves of the torque-speed map based on the regeneration index.
US07657363B2 Fuel injector having algorithm controlled look-ahead timing for injector-ignition operation
The present invention provides an injector-ignition fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine, comprising an ECU controlling a heated catalyzed fuel injector for heating and catalyzing a next fuel charge, wherein the ECU uses a one firing cycle look-ahead algorithm for controlling fuel injection. The ECU may further incorporate a look-up table, auto-tuning functions and heuristics to compensate for the rapid rotational de-acceleration that occurs near top dead center in lightweight small ultra-high compression engines as may be used with this invention. The ECU may further ramp heat input to the injector in response to engine acceleration requests and, under such circumstances, may extend its look-ahead for up to four firing cycles.
US07657352B2 Automatic control system
An automatic control system provides control of an automotive system in a vehicle based on at least one piece of control provision determination information. The automatic control system includes an information acquisition unit for acquiring the control provision determination information, and determines provision of the control for the automotive system based on predetermined criteria. The criteria defines when and how the query of control provision is conducted by the automatic control system.
US07657342B2 Substrate thickness measuring during polishing
A computer program product that determines a polishing endpoint includes obtaining spectra from different zones on a substrate during different times in a polishing sequence, matches the spectra with indexes in a library and uses the indexes to determining a polishing rate for each of the different zones from the indexes. An adjusted polishing rate can be determined for one of the zones, which causes the substrate to have a desired profile when the polishing end time is reached.
US07657338B2 Automation system with a connected sensor or actuator
The invention relates to an automation system with a control unit, to which at least one sensor or actuator is connected. To connect it to the control unit, the sensor or actuator is connected to the connector which features an RFID chip with relevant data of the sensor or actuator. The data for use in the control unit can be read out by means of a reader.
US07657336B2 Reduction of memory requirements by de-interleaving audio samples with two buffers
Presented herein is a method and system for reducing memory requirements in audio signal processing by de-interleaving audio information with at least two static buffers and a dynamic buffer. The method may include writing interleaved audio information to a first static memory device. The method may also include de-interleaving the audio information and writing de-interleaved audio information to a second static memory device. The method may also include writing de-interleaved audio information to a dynamic memory device from the second static memory device and overwriting interleaved audio information with new interleaved audio information in the first static memory device. The method may also include overwriting interleaved audio information in the first static memory device with de-interleaved audio information from the dynamic memory device and decoding the audio information.
US07657335B2 Digital audio signal reproducing apparatus
When an emphasis setting of a next track is different from that of a current track, a silent signal having the emphasis setting of the next track written in its subcode information is output for a predetermined time prior to reproduction of the next track. The emphasis setting is changed for the next track while the silent signal is being output, so that the next track can be reproduced appropriately without involving an unwanted lack in its leading portion.
US07657327B2 Remote controller for portable electronic device
A control device for operating electronic equipment having a generally elongated body and rotatable selection portion that is rotatable to any one of a plurality of operation mode positions. A display unit displays information associated with each mode, and a single common actuator activates the selected mode. The display unit may include a curved window that extends at least 180 degrees around the body.
US07657316B2 Methods and systems for stimulating a motor cortex of the brain to treat a medical condition
Methods of treating a medical condition include applying at least one stimulus to a motor cortex within a brain of a patient with an implanted system control unit in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters. Systems for treating a medical condition include a system control unit implanted within the patient that is configured to apply at least one stimulus to a motor cortex within a brain of a patient in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters.
US07657312B2 Multi-site ventricular pacing therapy with parasympathetic stimulation
A method and device for delivering multi-site ventricular pacing therapy in conjunction with parasympathetic stimulation for reducing ventricular wall stress. Such reduction in ventricular wall stress is useful in reversing or preventing the ventricular remodeling which can occur in heart failure patients.
US07657309B2 Measuring human heart muscle viability using myocardial electrical impedance
A method for detecting a quantitative measure of a physiologic state of a human myocardium or coronary artery. Implementations of the method detect the extent of change of myocardial electrical impedance from a mean baseline value to provide diagnosis of the extent of ischemia, stenosis, tissue rejection, and reperfusion and the effectiveness of cardioplegia and ischemia pre-conditioning as well as the general effectiveness of coronary bypass surgery as measured by post-operative reperfusion. Electrodes are attached to the myocardium, baseline measurements of the mean myocardial electrical impedance are stored and the variance of the myocardial electrical impedance and a baseline value of mean myocardial electrical impedance are computed from the baseline measurements and stored. Mean myocardial electrical impedance values are periodically measured between each electrode pair over an interval of time and stored. After the mean myocardial electrical impedance changes from the computed baseline value by at least the measured variance, the extent of change in the myocardial physiologic state is diagnosed as a continuous, smooth, function of the extent of change, or rate of change, of the periodically measured myocardial electrical impedance from the baseline value.
US07657303B2 Guided radiation therapy system
A system and method for accurately locating and tracking the position of a target, such as a tumor or the like, within a body. In one embodiment, the system is a target locating and monitoring system usable with a radiation delivery source that delivers selected doses of radiation to a target in a body. The system includes one or more excitable markers positionable in or near the target, an external excitation source that remotely excites the markers to produce an identifiable signal, and a plurality of sensors spaced apart in a known geometry relative to each other. A computer is coupled to the sensors and configured to use the marker measurements to identify a target isocenter within the target. The computer compares the position of the target isocenter with the location of the machine isocenter. The computer also controls movement of the patient and a patient support device so the target isocenter is co-incident with the machine isocenter before and during radiation therapy.
US07657299B2 Automated methods and systems for vascular plaque detection and analysis
Automated methods and systems for the detection and analysis of plaque in one or more regions of a patient's vasculature are described.
US07657298B2 System, device, and method for determining a position of an object
A system is disclosed for determining a position and a change in the position of an anatomical structure. The system utilizes a surgical navigation system and a substrate that is capable of being removably mounted to an outer surface of a patient's body. The substrate includes a sensor that is tracked by the surgical navigation system and a positional device that determines the position of an anatomical structure relative to the sensor. The concatenation of the position of the sensor and the relative position of the anatomical structure allows a global position of the anatomical structure to be determined by a computer system and displayed to the user.
US07657297B2 Implantable analyte sensor
An implantable analyte sensor including a sensing region for measuring the analyte and a non-sensing region for immobilizing the sensor body in the host. The sensor is implanted in a precisely dimensioned pocket to stabilize the analyte sensor in vivo and enable measurement of the concentration of the analyte in the host before and after formation of a foreign body capsule around the sensor. The sensor further provides a transmitter for RF transmission through the sensor body, electronic circuitry, and a power source optimized for long-term use in the miniaturized sensor body.
US07657293B2 Method for monitoring viability of tissue flaps
Methods and apparatus for assessing the viability of tissue such as flap tissue are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for assessing the viability of flap tissue includes obtaining an oxygen saturation level associated with a first location on the flap tissue, determining whether the oxygen saturation level is less than a first level, and identifying the first location as having a poor blood supply if the oxygen saturation level is less than the first level.
US07657290B2 Power management systems and methods for a mobile device
Power management systems and methods are provided for a mobile device. A primary power management circuit may be configured to receive an input voltage and use the input voltage to supply power to the mobile device. A secondary power management circuit may be configured to select at least one of a battery input from a rechargeable battery, a first power source input, or a second power source input as the input voltage to the primary power management circuit. The primary power management circuit may use the first power source input to charge the rechargeable battery. The second power management circuit may use the second power source input to charge the rechargeable battery.
US07657287B2 Mobile station in a mobile communication system and method for accessing a service and/or a data record in the mobile station's standby mode
A mobile station is provided comprising a transmission and reception unit and an identification module that can be inserted into the mobile station. The mobile station provides a user, in the standby mode, with services and/or data records that can be retrieved by the user. To prevent unauthorized access to the services and/or data records, each service and/or data record is assigned a characteristic access identifier that is activated or deactivated by inputting and/or transmitting an associated security code. For the purpose of inputting and/or transmitting the security code, the mobile station comprises a security component. Depending on the state of the access identifier, whether activated or deactivated, access to a service and/or data record in the standby mode on the mobile station is disabled or enabled, respectively.
US07657285B2 Information processing apparatus and method, information processing system, and transmission medium
When a user gets interested in some music he/she listens to somewhere, for example, in a coffee shop, the user records that music in a memory provided in a portable terminal. A processor reads the information stored in the memory and performs a predetermined process on it. The resultant information is stored on a storage device. The information stored on the storage device is then transferred to a server via a communication device. The server searches the database for the title of the music corresponding to the received information, and returns the result to the terminal. Thus, the user can easily get information about the title of the music.
US07657280B2 Wireless signal receiving apparatus with clamping device and speaker device
A wireless signal receiving apparatus for receiving a wireless signal is disclosed. The wireless signal receiving apparatus includes a main body and a clamping device. The main body includes a signal processing module installed in a housing of the main body for processing the wireless signal. The clamping device is fixedly coupled to the housing for providing a force in order to fix an object between the housing and the clamping device, thereby clamping the wireless signal receiving apparatus upon the object.
US07657278B2 Method and apparatus for deriving a combined transmit power control command during handover
A method and apparatus for deriving a combined transmit power control (TPC) command during handover are disclosed. During handover, a combined TPC command is generated from two or more TPC commands. The combined TPC command is set to −1 for decrease of the transmit power if a soft symbol of the TPC signal from any cell indicates decrease of the transmit power and the signal-to-interference ratio for the cell is greater than a reliability threshold. Otherwise, the combined TPC command is set to −1 if the function γ is not greater than the combining threshold, and set to +1 if the function γ is greater than the combining threshold, where the function γ represents a log-likelihood ratio of a probability density function of the combined TPC command.
US07657270B2 System and method for providing a single telephone number for use with a plurality of telephone handsets
Systems and methods providing integrated voice and data services utilizing wired cordless access with unlicensed/unregulated connectivity sources and wireless access with licensed/regulated connectivity sources. A single telephone directory number is assigned for use with both a mobile wireless telephone and for use with a cordless wired Internet Protocol (IP) telephone. The mobile wireless telephone operates via a conventional licensed spectrum wireless network, and the IP telephone operates over voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) over a broadband packet data network service. Incoming calls simultaneously ring the user's mobile wireless telephone and IP telephone. The user may be provided a personal voice mailbox that may be accessed from their mobile wireless telephone or from their IP telephone. The user may be provided a single services bill associated with use of both telephones.
US07657266B2 E-OTD augmentation to U-TDOA location system
A method for use in a wireless communication system with a network overlay geolocation system having a sparse deployment network in which base stations of the wireless communication system may or may not have a co-located wireless location sensor (WLS). The method uses U-TDOA measurements on the uplink (reverse) signal and E-OTD measurements on the downlink (forward) signals to estimate a location for a mobile appliance.
US07657262B2 System and method for providing enhanced handover performance
A method for assisting in a handover is provided that includes utilizing a link between a centralized access controller (CAC) and customer premises equipment (CPE) to facilitate a communication session involving a mobile station. The method also includes rejecting a handover from a public network to a cell controlled by the CAC after recognizing, in advance, that sufficient resources are unavailable for supporting a channel to be employed for the handover.
US07657261B2 Technique for using the same wireless frequency channel in overlapping or adjacent coverage areas
One aspect of the invention provides a system, apparatus and method that allow a wireless communication device to intelligently search for and select a communication cell based on a system identifier (SID) and network identifier (NID) order of preference rather than just pilot signal strength. Generally, a mobile device scans a frequency channel associated with the highest preferred SID/NID for pilot signals at different PN offsets. The cell associated with the strongest pilot signal detected is queried to determine whether it belongs to the SID/NID sought. If the selected PN offset belongs to a cell associated with the SID/NID sought then it is used for communications. Otherwise, the SID/NID identification process is repeated for the next strongest PN offset detected on the same frequency channel. If no pilot signals meeting these criteria are found in the frequency channel, the next highest preferred SID/NID is selected and the process is repeated.
US07657254B2 User identification method in mobile communication system and mobile station, and mobile communication system therefor
A mobile station includes a voice mail password in an outgoing call message for a call, a data communication and the like. A mobile telephone switching center determines whether the voice mail password of the outgoing call message from the mobile station is consistent with the voice mail password from the voice mailing system, and provides the call service to the corresponding mobile station when they are consistent with each other. The voice mail password can be registered or changed after the user connects to the voice mailing system and is identified for the voice mail service. Therefore, the user can just merely change the voice mail password, thereby preventing unauthorized use of the mobile station.
US07657252B2 Portable terminal, response message transmitting method and server
A portable terminal with a telephone or radio communication function, a call response message transmitting method and a server for, when the user cannot answer an incoming call, enabling the user of the portable terminal to inform the caller of his/her situation that does not allow him/her to answer the call. A portable terminal comprises a storage for storing information on different types of messages each being associated with an image in a prescribed pose or gesture and a camera section for shooting an image when a call is received. The portable terminal recognizes the pose or gesture from an image shot by the camera section, and selecting a message corresponding to the recognized pose or gesture from the storage, and transmits the selected message to a calling terminal.
US07657251B2 Call interruption compensation system
A mobile terminal prompts a user to make a voice message upon detection of an abnormally interrupted call, and records the message. Then, the mobile terminal converts the recorded voice data and a telephone number of a communication partner's terminal into a format suitable for data communication. Next, the mobile terminal transmits the converted data to a mobile data communication relay base station. The mobile data communication relay base station forwards the converted data to a data communication network storage device via a data communication network. A stored message transmitter retrieves the telephone number of the communication partner's terminal from the data communication network storage device and calls the communication partner's terminal via a fixed telephone network. When communication is established between the stored message transmitter and the communication partner's terminal, the stored message transmitter reproduces the voice data retrieved from the data communication network storage device in response to a request from the communication partner's terminal.
US07657248B2 Wireless LAN system, wireless LAN access point, wireless LAN terminal and activation control method for use therewith
To provide a wireless system in which a terminal that is shutdown or on in standby can be activated from a remote site in an environment where connection is attested by an authentication server, using security technology for wireless LAN, a different encryption key from other terminals is employed in the communication, and the encryption key is periodically renewed. An access point controls a beacon transmission interval control part by recognizing a terminal activation signal from a management terminal. The beacon transmission interval control part controls the transmission interval of beacon by switching between a normal operation mode and a patterned transmission interval mode. A beacon transmission interval detection circuit of a terminal monitors interval between beacons, and upon detecting patterned beacons, outputs a detection signal. A wireless module receives the detection signal from the beacon transmission interval detection circuit, and then makes an activation request to the terminal.
US07657245B2 Electronic device
An electronic device is equipped with a wireless unit board for transmitting and receiving a radio signal to and from external equipment, where an accommodation space for the wireless unit board is enclosed by a side plate of a casing of the electronic device, a first shield plate covering a circuit board, and a second shield plate holding a main control board thereupon and disposed substantially horizontally above the first shield plate. The wireless unit board is disposed in the accommodation space with one of opposed major surfaces thereof facing to the side plate of the casing.
US07657243B2 RF transceiver front-end
An RF transceiver front-end includes receiver and transmitter front-ends. The receiver front-end includes 1st and 2nd antennas, a ninety degree phase shift module and an LNA module. The 1st and 2nd antennas receive inbound RF signals and provide a first directional circular polarization. The ninety degree phase shift module phase shifts the RF signals received by the 2nd antenna. The LNA module amplifies the RF signals received by the 1st antenna and the shifted RF signals. The transmitter front-end includes a PA module and 3rd and 4th antennas, which provide a second directional circular polarization. The PA module amplifies outbound RF signals to produce amplified outbound RF signals and amplified orthogonal outbound RF signals. The 3rd antenna transmits the amplified outbound RF signals and the 4th antenna transmits the amplified orthogonal outbound RF signals.
US07657236B2 Transmitter having reduced local oscillator (LO) leakage by determining direct LO coupling and baseband DC offset
A transmitter generates a transmitter output signal from first and second baseband signals. The transmitter includes a detector to detect a local oscillator (LO) leakage signal in the transmitter output signal. A controller coupled to the detector determines a direct LO coupling component and a baseband DC offset component of the LO leakage signal. First and second variable current sources are adjusted by the controller to provide first and second DC offsets to the first and second baseband signals, respectively. The first and second DC offsets reduce the direct LO coupling component. Third and fourth variable current sources are subsequently adjusted by the controller to provide third and fourth DC offsets to the first and second baseband signals, respectively. The third and fourth DC offsets reduce the baseband DC component. Overall, reducing the direct LO coupling component and the baseband DC component reduces a power of the LO leakage signal.
US07657233B2 Device for calculating FSM bits in the UMTS standard
The invention relates to a device for calculating FSM bits by means of which the signals sent from two antennas of a base station are influenced with reference to their phase difference and/or their amplitudes. The FSM bits are calculated with the aid of two estimated channel impulse responses. The device is present in hard-wired form.
US07657231B2 Method for estimating a frequency offset of a modulated bandpass signal
In a method for estimating a frequency offset (fe, Ωe) of a modulated bandpass signal (s) with an assumed carrier frequency (Ω0) in a mobile radio receiver, times (τj) of the zero cross-overs of the bandpass signal are determined in a first step. Using the times (τj) of the zero cross-overs and the assumed carrier frequency (Ω0), the required frequency offset (fe, Ωe) is estimated in a further step by calculating the DC component of an instantaneous frequency which is given by the frequency of the bandpass signal less the assumed carrier frequency.
US07657229B2 Method and device for reporting information related to interference components received by a first telecommunication device in some frequency subbands to a second telecommunication device
The present invention concerns a method and a device for reporting, through a wireless network using multiple frequency subbands, interference components received by a first telecommunication in a first and a second frequency subbands of the wireless network, to a second telecommunication device. The first telecommunication device measures the interference components it receives in the first and second frequency subbands, determines at least a first weight from the measured interference components in the first frequency subband and at least a second weight from the measured interference components in the second frequency subband, weights a first pilot signal with the at least one first determined weight and a second pilot signal with the at least one second determined weight, transfers the first weighted pilot signal through said first frequency subband and the second weighted pilot signal through said second frequency subband to the second telecommunication device.
US07657226B2 Keyfob with digital file storage and vehicular system for the use thereof
A keyfob is provided for use in a vehicle having a processor. The keyfob comprises a housing, a battery disposed within the housing, and control circuitry disposed within the housing and coupled to the battery. A memory coupled to the control circuitry is disposed within the housing and is configured to store data files therein accessible by the processor.
US07657224B2 Localized audio networks and associated digital accessories
Individuals share music through portable audio devices that synchronously play music by transmitting music signals from one device to the other. Upon request, other individuals can join such a sharing group as a member, and these new members can either be accepted automatically, or through voting by existing group members. So that members of a group can converse, the fraction of ambient sound admitted by the earphones of the portable device can be manually set. In order to enhance the enjoyment of the music, wearable transducers, such as light emitting diodes, respond to signals related to the beat of the music. Signals can be automatically generated, or manually specified, and signals thereafter stored for playback with the music to which it is related. Wearable transducers associated with individuals at a large music event can be set to receive common signals such that the transducers respond in synchrony with one another.
US07657223B2 Provision of content to mobile users
The present invention relates to presentation of content to mobile users. In the method, data associated with presentation of content is transmitted from a communication system, the data including information regarding an event. The data is received at mobile user equipment and stored in a memory of the mobile user equipment. In response to the event, presentation of the content is triggered. The presentation is based on the data stored in the memory of the mobile user equipment.
US07657220B2 Adaptive scoring of responses to constructed response questions
A method for adaptive scoring of responses to constructed response questions is disclosed. Adaptive scoring may be used to apply evaluator time in such a way that a predetermined reliability level is reached with the least possible use of evaluator time, including adjusting the number of response graded and/or the number of evaluators grading each response. A score may be calculated after grading a subset of a test taker's responses to the constructed response questions. A probability or an error estimate is calculated and compared to a threshold value. Grading may be discontinued based on the comparison. A score may be calculated based on a predetermined number of ratings for the test taker's response to a constructed response. A probability that the score is within a predetermined range of what the score would be if all the responses are graded is calculated. If the probability is less than a threshold value, the number of ratings is increased.
US07657219B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus including: a paper feed cassette; a paper pickup roller; an image forming portion; a fixing unit; a paper discharge portion for discharging paper P with a developer image fused and fixed thereon; and an inversion roller and a paper discharge drive roller for conveying paper P along a paper conveyance path, and is constructed such that guide ribs are provided for a curved portion in a main conveyance path and the first and second curved portions of a sub conveyance path are provided in shapes that will not cause concentration of stress acting on the paper P in abutment.
US07657218B2 Gloss providing sheet and image formation apparatus
A disclosed gloss-providing sheet for providing high gloss to a toner image on a recording material by being placed on a toner image surface of the recording material, heated so as to fuse toner, and then separated from the recording material after the toner is cooled and solidified includes: a notification portion that changes a visual state thereof when a temperature of the gloss-providing sheet becomes equal to or lower than a glass transition temperature of the toner.
US07657217B2 Image heating apparatus and method for manufacturing image heating apparatus
An image heating apparatus includes a heating roller for heating an image on a recording material; a coil unit disposed in said heating roller and including a coil for induction heat generation in said heating roller; a supporting member for rotatably supporting said heating roller, wherein said supporting member including a holding portion for substantially non-rotatably holding said coil unit.
US07657209B2 Apparatus for containing splashes in an ink developer
A splash guard is configured to control the flow of excess liquid generated by an interaction between a first roller and a second roller by splitting the flow of the excess liquid into a first flow and a second flow.
US07657203B2 Image forming apparatus with drive load fluctuation correction unit
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that a plurality of toner images of differing colors are formed on a surface, and an intermediate transfer belt positioned opposite the image carrier, the toner images formed on the image carrier being primarily transferred onto an intermediate transfer belt in a superimposed condition, and being collectively secondarily transferred from the intermediate transfer belt onto a transfer material, and the toner images of the two colors set to be approximately identical in screen angle being consecutively transferred in a superimposed condition onto the intermediate transfer belt. A drive load fluctuation correction unit corrects the drive load to the intermediate transfer belt in accordance with a cleaning device moving into and out of engagement with the intermediate transfer belt.
US07657202B2 Image forming apparatus and image forming system
An image forming apparatus, including an image forming section which forms image on a recording sheet based on image data, plural trays which accommodate the sheets to be supplied to the image forming section, a humidity detecting unit which detects humidity inside the paper tray, a dehumidifying device which dehumidify inside the paper tray, and a control section which controls the dehumidifying device and management of jobs, and controls the image forming section to execute the jobs, wherein if the humidity inside the paper tray to be used for a first priority job is higher than a predetermined value, the control section suspends execution of the first priority job, and the control section controls the image forming section to execute a reserved job which is executable from among reserved jobs with low priority order, before executing the first priority job.
US07657201B2 Image forming apparatus, image forming method and control program of the same
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including: a dedicated operation input section having various function keys provided with the image forming apparatus; a connection section to connect an external operation input section having various keys with the image forming apparatus; a memory section to memorize a correspondence information table for each user, in which relationship between the various function keys of the dedicated operation input section and the various keys of the external operation input section is specified; and a control section to control an image forming operation by referring to the correspondence information table for each user memorized in the memory section when an operation input signal is inputted into the control section through the connection section from any of the various keys of the external operation input section.
US07657199B2 Image forming apparatus with air blowing unit and associated transfer bias changing means
An image forming apparatus including an image bearing member which bears a toner image; a transfer unit which transfers the toner image on the image bearing member to a transfer portion when applied with transfer voltage; a recording material feeding unit which includes a stacking portion where recording materials are stacked and an air blowing device for blowing air to the recording material stacked in the stacking portion, and feeds the recording material to the transfer portion; and a transfer bias control portion which controls the transfer bias according to at least one of air received time per one sheet by the air blowing unit, air pressure and air temperature is provided.
US07657181B2 Optical add/drop multiplexer and optical network system
In an optical add/drop multiplexer dropping and inserting a light of a specific wavelength for a WDM signal light and an optical network system utilizing the same, a wavelength selective switch selects a part of WDM signal lights inputted as lights of drop wavelengths and outputting other lights, and a reject/add filter terminates lights of same wavelengths as add wavelengths among output lights from the wavelength selective switch and multiplexes other lights than the terminated lights and lights of the add wavelengths to be outputted. At this time, the drop wavelengths are made to include all of the add wavelengths.
US07657177B2 Communications test receiver
Distortion of an optical signal transmitted over a fibre optic link is characterized by a receiver including a photodetector for converting optical radiation into an electrical signal. A delay line delays the electrical signal. At least two delay line taps drive a register that stores plural values corresponding with different delayed replicas of the electrical signal. Signals commensurate with the values are externally provided to a signal distortion analyser for analysis of the values to determine the optical signal distortion.
US07657169B2 Focus detection method and focus detection device
A focus detection method includes moving a focusing lens group from the near extremity toward the far extremity in a search operation, and stopping the focusing lens group upon first detecting an in-focus state to determine an in-focus position of the focusing lens group when detecting a focus state in each of a plurality of focus detection areas while performing the search operation, and moving the focusing lens group firstly to one of the near extremity and the far extremity which is closer to a current position of the focusing lens group and subsequently toward the other thereof, and stopping the focusing lens group upon first detecting an in-focus state to determine an in-focus position of the focusing lens group when detecting a focus state in the single focus detection area while performing the search operation.
US07657167B2 Compact camera modules with Lavet stepping-motors as actuators
A horological motor of the Lavet motor concept is used to form an actuator to control movement of a lens system to reduce power consumption in digital camera units used in various electronic equipment, e.g. PDA's, mobile phones, digital still cameras and camcorders, and as a result increase battery life. The coils of the horological motor are driven with CMOS I/O signals eliminating the need for high current motor drivers and allowing the integration of all picture capture functions, including the light sensitive pixel array, into a single chip to form a system on chip implementation. A plurality of actuators is used to control a lens system comprising auto focus, zoom and shutter and iris functions. A gear transmission system is used to allow the motor of the actuator to move in micro step, which allows calibration of the motor against mechanical barriers.
US07657163B2 Fluid warming system and technique for using the same
A fluid warming device for warming medical fluids, such as intravenously administered blood or saline solutions, is provided. The fluid warming device includes a conduit at least partially formed from a material with positive temperature coefficient properties. A supply of blood or other fluids may pass through the device and be heated to temperatures appropriate for administration to a patient.
US07657161B2 Method of transition between controls for a ventilation system
A method of constant airflow control for a ventilation system is disclosed. The method includes various controls to accomplish a substantially constant airflow rate over a significant change of the static pressure in a ventilation duct. One control is a constant I·RPM control, which is primarily used in a low static pressure range. Another control is a constant RPM control, which is primarily used in a high static pressure range. These controls requires neither a static pressure sensor nor an airflow rate sensor to accomplish substantially constant airflow rate while static pressure changes. This is because these controls use only intrinsic control variables which are electric current and rotational speed of the motor. Also, the method improves the accuracy of the control by correcting certain deviations that are caused by the motor's current-RPM characteristics. To compensate the deviation, the method adopts a test operation in a minimum static pressure condition. Also disclosed is an apparatus for conducting these control methods.
US07657148B2 Cabinet including optical bulkhead plate for blown fiber system
A cabinet is provided for managing the connections between a feeder cable and a distribution cable wherein the distribution cable is a blown optical fiber. The cabinet includes shelves for holding splices between the feeder cable and the distribution cable. The shelves also include microduct holders for holding each of the microducts associated with the distribution cable.
US07657145B2 Method for fabrication of multilayered optical waveguide structure and multilayered optical waveguide structure
A method for fabrication of a multilayered optical waveguide structure which includes at least two substrates, and an optical waveguide layer disposed between the substrates and having at least one core region and side cladding regions laterally succeeding from the core region. The method is characterized in that the optical waveguide layer is formed from a polysilane compound containing polysilane, and it comprises stacking a first block including one of the substrates and a second block including the other of the substrates through the optical waveguide layer or a cladding layer located at a surface of either one of the blocks, and heating them while pressed in such arrangement so that the first block and the second block are bonded together by the optical waveguide layer or the cladding layer serving as a bonding layer into the multilayered structure.
US07657133B2 Single analyte molecule detection by fibre fluorescence probe
An apparatus for single analyte molecule detection includes: a light source (20) for generating excitation light; a dichroic mirror (22) disposed on a first path of excitation light generated by the light source, wherein the mirror directs excitation light into a fiber aligner (30); an optical transducer coupled to the light source by the fiber aligner, the optical transducer comprising an optical waveguide (40) made of dielectric material having a first dielectrical index; a photon detector (70) disposed to receive fluorescent back radiation, wherein when a test solution having a second dielectric index lower than the first index is provided and comprises one or more target molecules, excitation light is transmitted by the waveguide and exits a waveguide tip disposed in the test solution so as to excite one or more target molecules; subsequently, the waveguide transmits back radiation along a second path to the photon detector that detects the transmitted back radiation.
US07657120B2 Method and apparatus for determination of text orientation
The present invention relates to a method for determining the orientation of text, so that the text can be correctly read. In one embodiment, the method analyzes the “open” portions of text characters to determine in which direction the open portions face. By determining the respective densities of characters opening in each direction (e.g., right or left), the method can establish in which direction the text as a whole is orientated. The present invention may be adapted for use in automated mail processing, to determine the orientation of checks in automated teller machine envelopes, or the orientation of scanned or copied documents, or documents sent via facsimile, or to determine the orientation of digital photographs that include text (e.g., road signs, business cards, driver's licenses, etc.), among other applications. A fast, substantially automatic determination of text orientation according to the present invention will reduce the labor expense and processing delay required for manual orientation.
US07657119B1 Differential image adjustments
Methods and apparatus implementing systems and techniques for adjusting images. In general, in one implementation, the technique includes: receiving input defining an adjustment to be applied to a differential representation of a source image, calculating the differential representation of the source image, producing a structural representation of the source image, the structural representation corresponding to multiple types of contrast in the source image, modifying the differential representation based on the structural representation and the input defining the adjustment, and generating a modified image from the modified differential representation by solving a Poisson differential equation.
US07657114B2 Data processing apparatus, data processing method, and program
A data processing apparatus for processing image data includes a variance information calculator configured to calculate variance information indicating the degree of variance of pixel values for each of a plurality of pixels constituting the image data; a smoothing section configured to smooth the variance information and to output a smoothed value; a determination section configured to determine an area to which the pixel belongs on the basis of the smoothed value and to output area information indicating the area; a parameter determination section configured to determine a parameter for a noise removal process for each of the pixels constituting the image data on the basis of the area information and the smoothed value; and a noise removal section configured to perform the noise removal process on the image data on the basis of the parameter determined for each of the pixels.
US07657105B2 Alpha image processing
An alpha image encoding and decoding scheme is disclosed. In the encoding an alpha image, is decomposed into image blocks (600) comprising multiple image element (610). The blocks (600) are compressed into block representations (700). A block representation (700) comprises at least a color codeword (710), an alpha codeword (720), an alpha modifying codeword (730) and a sequence (740) of alpha modifier indices. The color (710) and alpha (720) codeword (710) are representations of the colors and alpha value of the image elements (610) of the block (600), respectively. The alpha modifying codeword (730) is a representation of a set of multiple alpha modifiers for modifying an alpha value represented by the alpha codeword (720). The index sequence (740) includes an alpha index for each image element (610) in the block (600), where an alpha index identifies one of alpha modifiers in the alpha modifier set.
US07657103B2 Method and system for classifying image elements
A method, system, and machine-readable medium for classifying an image element as one of a plurality of categories, including assigning the image element based on a ratio between an unoccluded perimeter of the image element and an occluded perimeter of the image element and coding the image element according to a coding scheme associated with the category to which the image element is classified. Exemplary applications include image compression, where categories include image foreground and background layers.
US07657084B2 Apparatus and method for generating a three-dimensional representation from a two-dimensional image
In an apparatus and method for generating a three-dimensional representation from a two-dimensional image, a memory device stores information for processing a two-dimensional image and for generating a three-dimensional image from the two-dimensional image, a processing device processes a digital representation of an image by generating a two-dimensional image from the digital representation and by generating a three-dimensional image corresponding to the two-dimensional image, and an output device outputs a three-dimensional image and a digital signal representation of the three-dimensional image.
US07657082B2 Method, apparatus and system for measuring a welding-groove position
A method of measuring a welding-groove position for an over-lapped fillet welding of thin members, comprising a projection step of projecting a slit light so that the slit light is projected on both the thin members crossing a welding-groove face, a two-dimensional image acquisition step of capturing the slit-light image projected on each of the thin members as two-dimensional images; a three-dimensional conversion step of converting the two-dimensional images into three-dimensional images using a predetermined three-dimensional conversion parameter, and a calculation step of calculating the welding-groove position based on the three-dimensional data of the projected slit-light images, and relative positions between the projected slit-light images in the three-dimensional data defined by shapes and arrangement of the thin members.
US07657077B2 Detecting defects by three-way die-to-die comparison with false majority determination
A method of determining defects in a plurality of images having essentially the same image contents is disclosed. A comparison operation is carried out once three fully comparable images having essentially the same image contents are present in the intermediate memory. The stored individual images are accessed randomly. A paired comparison operation between the three difference images is carried out.
US07657067B2 Fingerprint scanner auto-capture system and method
A system and method of capturing an acceptable fingerprint image is disclosed herein. The method includes a step of capturing an initial fingerprint image at a nominal image integration time. Once this initial fingerprint image is captured, a first intermediate fingerprint image at a first intermediate image integration time is captured. Next, an image darkness test is performed followed by an image definition test. If one or more of these tests indicates that the first intermediate fingerprint image is unacceptable, a subsequent intermediate fingerprint image at a subsequent intermediate image integration time is captured. This subsequent intermediate fingerprint image can be captured before the image definition test is performed. Additional intermediate fingerprint images can be captured until an image that has an acceptable darkness level as a well as an acceptable definition level is captured. Also disclosed is a fingerprint scanner that performs this method.
US07657066B2 Method of determining the living character of an element carrying a fingerprint
The present invention concerns a method of determining the living character of an element carrying a fingerprint. The method according to the invention is characterised in that it consists of making on the one hand at least one electrical measurement and on the other hand taking an image of the said fingerprint, and then validating the said or each electrical measurement by comparing it with the range of values of electrical measurements defined by a pre-established relationship linking the said range to characteristics of the said image.
US07657063B2 Method of radioactive object and nuclear material identification
The invention belongs to the field of remote object identification based on passive and/or active radiation, namely, to systems for to identifying radioactive objects, including concealed ones. A mobile and yet highly-efficient object detection and identification system detects gamma, X-ray and neutron radiation. A distributed multilevel system for a departmental (restricted) use, as well as an open system for common use, is proposed.The expert system is designed to be multilevel. At a low level, the capacity of the portable computer sensor of the expert system is used; at a higher level, functioning of the local network of the expert system through communication links is implemented; and the next level represents the global specialized expert system performance in real time. The transfer from a lower level to a higher level takes place in the case of radioactive object identification failure or ambiguity.
US07657043B2 Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus
An electro-optical device with a sound generating body is disclosed, in which an electro-optical device and a sound generating body can be mounted compactly and which can eliminate necessity of acoustic design of the sound generating body for an enclosure of an electronic apparatus for accommodating the electro-optical device. The electro-optical device of the present invention includes a first frame, a second frame opposed to the first frame, a third frame interposed between the first frame and the second frame, an electro-optical panel supported by the first frame, and a sound generating body supported by the second frame and covered by the second frame and the third frame, the sound generating body being arranged so as to be two-dimensionally overlapped the electro-optical panel.
US07657042B2 Liquid crystal display device having sound
A liquid crystal display device includes a sound output function. A sound output function can be added to a liquid crystal device having a light source while preventing any increase in the external size of the liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a first substrate and a second substrate which oppose each other, a flexible printed circuit (FPC) connected to a brim portion of the second substrate, a light guide plate, and an LED. An excitation source is arranged at a portion corresponding to the back side of the FPC connection portion on the second substrate. The excitation source deflects and vibrates the second substrate of the liquid crystal display panel according to a sound signal from an outside source. That is, the second substrate is used as a vibration plate for the output of a sound. The liquid crystal display device can preferably be used for a liquid crystal module used in mobile devices such as a mobile telephone and a PDA.
US07657034B2 Data encryption in a symmetric multiprocessor electronic apparatus
For the encryption of data to be stored in a memory external to a circuit, provision is made to store in the external memory encrypted data words in association with an initialization vector and a key identifier associated with a secret key that has served to encrypt same.
US07657020B2 Call routing system and method of using the same
A call routing system can be used to route calls. An action object identifier, a result identifier, and a reason identifier can be generated in response at least in part to a call. The call can be routed by the call routing system based at least in part on the action object identifier, the result identifier, and the reason identifier. The routing can be performed automatically without requiring an attendant. In another embodiment, an attendant can be used, if desired. In still another embodiment, the processing of the call can be interrupted by the caller, a data processing system used within the call routing system, or an attendant. In a particular embodiment, the call routing system can be used when authenticating a caller or determining an account status of the caller.
US07657017B2 System and method for major trading area (MTA) routing in a telecommunications network
A method includes jurisdictionalizing a long distance intra-MTA call as a local call. The method may further include receiving an intra-Major Trading Area (MTA) call, determining whether the intra-MTA call satisfies terms of use of a direct connection to a terminating network, and routing the intra-Major Trading Area (MTA) call directly to the terminating network via the direct connection if the intra-MTA call satisfies the terms of use of the direct connection. A method for routing calls includes determining that a received intrastate call is an intra-MTA call, determining whether the intra-MTA call satisfies terms of use of a direct connection bypassing a Local Exchange Carrier, and routing the intra-MTA call for termination via the direct connection if the intra-MTA call satisfies terms of use of the direct connection. A system includes a switch configured to jurisdictionalize a long-distance intra-MTA call as a local call, and may be further configured to route the call over a local route.
US07657016B2 Apparatus, system and method for monitoring a call forwarded to a network-based voice mail system
An apparatus, system and method for monitoring calls that have been forwarded to a network-based voice mail system (VMS). The VMS receives the forwarded call and sends a start of greeting signal at the beginning and an end of greeting signal at the completion of the voice message greeting to the central office switch. The switch sends an activate call monitoring data message and a call monitoring alert signal to the customer premises equipment (CPE). If the CPE is adapted for call monitoring and includes a speaker assembly, then the speaker assembly is engaged in response to the activate call monitoring data message, thereby allowing hands-free call monitoring. If the CPE does not include a speaker assembly, then the called party may activate call monitoring by lifting the handset in response to detecting a call monitoring alert from the CPE. While monitoring the call, the called party may intercept the call to speak with the calling party.
US07657014B2 Call screening method and apparatus
A cellular telephone system is provided with a process and apparatus for screening an incoming call. The process is carried out by, and the apparatus comprises, a service provider (20) and a mobile station (30). The mobile station (30) answers the incoming call and places the call on hold. The mobile station (30) connects to the service provider (20) and places the service provider (20) and the incoming caller on multi-party hold. The mobile station (30) then signals the service provider (20) to begin screening the call. In response, the service provider (20) prompts the incoming caller for the incoming caller's identification and then communicates this information to the mobile station (30). Based on this information, the mobile station (30) can elect to accept or reject the incoming call.
US07657001B2 Method for reducing 3D ghost artefacts in an x-ray detector
A method for at least reducing the occurrence of differential ghosting in an X-ray image acquired in respect of a subject, wherein a deghost scan is performed at least once daily so as to generate an underlying strong homogeneous ghost so that further differential (non-homogeneous) ghosting during subsequent scans is minimised. The deghost scan comprises acquiring an ‘air’ image, when no subject is present between the X-ray source (4) and detector (5), as a relatively high detector dose.
US07656999B2 Radiotherapy device
The invention involves a rotary focused gamma-ray radiotherapy device. The invention includes a frame, a rotary ring positioned at the frame, and a source carrier and a collimator carrier that can rotate around a rotary axis respectively. The source carrier is equipped inside with multiple radiation sources. The collimator carrier is equipped inside with a corresponding beam channel to the radiation sources, which focus at a shared focus of the rotary axis through the beam channel. The source carrier and the collimator carrier are connected at both ends with the rotary ring and the frame, respectively. The single-layer and double-support structure of the source carrier and the collimator carrier adopted in the invention enlarges the treatment space, lowers manufacturing cost and difficulty, simplifies the mechanical structure, increases support rigidity of the source carrier and the collimator carrier, ensuring long-lasting and steady coaxial rotation of source carrier and collimator carrier, as well as position accuracy of the focusing center in the therapeutic system. Therefore, a precision radiotherapy is realized with improved radiotherapy effect.
US07656995B2 Imaging of materials
An apparatus and method for obtaining an image of an object. The apparatus comprises a radiation source and a series of two to five linear detectors spaced therefrom to define a scanning zone; means to cause an object to move relative to and through the scanning zone; a direct image generation apparatus to generate an image from the output of a linear detector; an intermediate image generation apparatus configured to generate at least one intermediate image from an adjacent pair of linear detectors, by processing the output of the pair of detectors and generating an image representative of an output intermediate between the two said detector outputs; the image apparatus adapted such that at least five and preferably at least six images are generated in total; an image display adapted successively to display such images and thus display the monocular movement parallax between the images.
US07656994B2 Tomographic mammography method
A tomosynthesis system for forming a three dimensional image of an object is provided. The system includes an X-ray source adapted to irradiate the object with a beam of X-rays from a plurality of positions in a sector, an X-ray detector positioned relative to the X-ray source to detect X-rays transmitted through the object and a processor which is adapted to generate a three dimensional image of the object based on X-rays detected by the detector. The detector is adapted to move relative to the object and/or the X-ray source is adapted to irradiate the object with the beam of X-rays such that the beam of X-rays follows in a non arc shaped path and/or a center of the beam of X-rays impinges substantially on the same location on the detector from different X-ray source positions in the sector.
US07656992B2 Method for determining movement and rest phases of a partial object that moves at times during a CT examination, and CT system
A method and a CT system are disclosed for determining movement and rest phases of a partial object that moves at times in an examination object during a CT examination. In at least one embodiment, at least two different radiation sources are used for the comparative measurement, and a first radiation source emits a first fan beam at a specific rotation angle at a first instant, the absorption of said beam being measured in beamwise fashion, a second radiation source emits a second fan beam, at the same rotation angle at a second, later instant, the absorption of the beam likewise being measured in beamwise fashion, and the relative movement or relative rest of the partial object between the first and second instants is deduced by comparing deviating absorption values of a multiplicity of spatially equivalent and equidirectional fan beams proceeding from the same angular position of the radiation sources.
US07656991B2 Image reconstruction method and X-ray CT apparatus
The present invention is intended to provide an image reconstruction method based on an iterative reconstruction technique and characterized by a short image reconstruction time, a small memory capacity, and high image quality. The image reconstruction method comprises the steps of: constructing a system model that has a plurality of concentric rings each segmented into a plurality of sectors; constructing a system matrix associated with one view, by using some of all the sectors constituting the system model, the some of all sectors being located on respective projection lines concerning the one view; creating a system matrix associated with another view, by transforming the system matrix associated with the one view; reconstructing an image through iterative reconstruction by using the system matrix and projection data; and transforming the image into an image composed of rectangular pixels.
US07656990B2 Adaptive anisotropic filtering of projection data for computed tomography
CT imaging is enhanced by adaptively filtering x-ray attenuation data prior to image reconstruction. Detected x-ray projection data are adaptively and anisotropically filtered based on the locally estimated orientation of structures within the projection data from an object being imaged at a plurality of rotation positions. The detected x-ray data are uniformly low pass filtered to preserve the local mean values in the data, while the high pass filtering is controlled based on the estimated orientations. The resulting filtered data provide projection data with smoothing along the structures while maintaining sharpness along edges. Image noise and noise induced streak artifacts are reduced without increased blurring along edges in the reconstructed images. The enhanced image allows reduced x-ray dose while maintaining image quality.
US07656980B2 Clock switching circuit
This invention provides a clock switching circuit that can switch clocks without causing a hazard or a distortion of a duty ratio of the clocks. The clock switching circuit of this invention includes a first synchronization circuit that synchronizes a clock selection signal with a first clock, a second synchronization circuit that synchronizes with a second clock the clock selection signal that has been synchronized with the first clock by the first synchronization circuit and a clock selection circuit that outputs “1”, that is a high level, in synchronization with the clock selection signal that has been synchronized with the first clock by the first synchronization circuit and after that selects the second clock in synchronization with the clock selection signal that has been synchronized with the second clock by the second synchronization circuit.
US07656978B2 Fast Q-filter
An nonlinear digital signal processing filter (100, 200, 1100, 1308, 1310, 1312, 1346, 1604) maintains a magnitude ordering for successive windows of signal samples. A set of filter density generator values [f1, f2, f3 . . . fj . . . fndensities] are used according to the ordering in a recursion relation that computes successive values of a set function over the set of filter density generator values. The recursion relation involves an adjustable nonlinearity defining parameter λ. The values are normalized by dividing by a largest of the values, and differences between successive values are taken. An inner product between each window of signal values (used in order according to magnitude) and the adaptive differences is a filtered signal sample.
US07656973B2 Apparatus and method for receiving broadcasting service in a broadcasting system
A broadcasting receiving apparatus and method in a broadcasting system are provided. In a broadcasting receiver, a demodulator demodulates a received broadcasting signal, clips a soft metric value for the demodulated signal to a number of bits, and outputs the clipped soft metric value. A mapper maps the clipped soft metric value to an index value with a resolution inversely proportional to the quantization level of the soft metric value. A deinterleaver deinterleaves the index value and a demapper demaps the deinterleaved index value to a representative value being a soft metric value from a range of soft metric values mapped to the index value. A channel decoder decodes the representative value.
US07656958B2 Turbo channel estimation for OFDM systems
A system and method for estimating a channel in a wireless receiver is disclosed. The method preferably applies to a communication system using the OFDM standard. The method comprises receiving a block of “n” transmitted symbols, the symbols including pilot symbols and “d” data symbols, estimating a channel using the pilot symbols to create a channel estimate, choosing a group of “m” strongest symbols from the “d” received symbols, compensating the “m” strongest symbols using the channel estimate to create a group of “m” compensated symbols, re-estimating the channel using the group of “m” compensated symbols and pilot symbols; and either (1) repeating the steps of choosing a group of “m” strongest symbols, compensating the group of “m” strongest symbols and re-estimating the channel, or (2) using a latest channel estimate to compensate all symbols within the block. The system comprises a wireless receiver having an estimator programmed, for example, using DSP or ASIC and imbedded into the wireless system design software for accomplishing the steps set forth according to the method.
US07656957B2 Multiplexing system for time division duplex communication systems
A method and system is disclosed for passing a transmit/receive control signal and a power signal through a coax cable from a base transceiver station to a tower top device in a time division duplex communication system. After generating the transmit/receive control signal and a radio frequency signal for communications, the transmit/receive control signal modulates a separate timing control operating on a separate control frequency. It is then multiplexed on at least one coax cable along with the radio frequency signal and DC power. At the tower top device, the modulated transmit/receive control signal is converted back to a DC level for providing a time division duplex control reference.
US07656955B2 Device for improving the transmission properties of a bundle of electrical data lines and a system for transmitting data
The invention relates to a device for improving the transmission properties of a bundle of electrical data lines, particularly of a bundle of copper twin wires, and to a system for transmitting data that is provided with a device of this type. Said device comprises at least one adaptive filter, which generates an output signal for correcting the signal transmitted on a first data line. At least one signal tapped by a second data line or an external signal is used as a reference signal for the adaptive filter, and the corrected signal transmitted on the first data line is used as an error signal for the adaptive filter. According to the invention, the device is situated in the transmission path whereby improving the transmission properties of the cable independent from the switched-on transmission units and employed transmission techniques, particularly in the event of high bit rate transmission.
US07656953B1 Bidirectional predicted pictures or video object planes for efficient and flexible video coding
A method is provided for decoding a bit stream representing an image that has been encoded The method includes the steps of: performing an entropy decoding of the bit stream to form a plurality of transform coefficients and a plurality of motion vectors; performing an inverse transformation on the plurality of transform coefficients to form a plurality of error blocks; determining a plurality of predicted blocks based on bidirectional motion estimation that employs the motion vectors, wherein the bidirectional motion estimation includes a direct prediction mode and a second prediction mode; and, adding the plurality of error blocks to the plurality of predicted blocks to form the image. The second prediction mode may include forward, backward, and interpolated prediction modes.
US07656952B2 Extended method of noise-adaptive motion detection
A method of computing a motion decision signal for a video processing system, by: inputting a video signal including a video sequence of frames; filtering a frame in the video signal; computing a point-wise temporal local difference signal between the filtered frame and a next frame in the video sequence; computing a point-wise motion decision signal based on the temporal local difference signal.
US07656951B2 Digital video processing method and apparatus thereof
A digital video processing method and an apparatus thereof are provided. The method for processing digital images received in the form of compressed video streams comprising the step of determining a region intensity histogram (RIH) based on information on motion compensation of inter frames. The RIH information is obtained based on the motion compensation values of inter frames, and the RIH information is a good indicator of motion information of a video scene. Also, since the RIH information is quite a good indicator of intensity of the video scene, video streams having similar intensities can be effectively searched by searching for similar video scenes based on the RIH information obtained by the digital video processing method.
US07656942B2 Denoising signals containing impulse noise
A denoising process models a noisy signal using classes and subclasses of symbol contexts. The process generates class count vectors having components that combine occurrence counts for different symbols in different contexts. Biases determined separately for each subclass and a fixed predictor indicate which symbol occurrence counts for different context are combined in the same component of a class count vector. For impulse noise, the bias for a subclass can be the average error that results when the fixed predictor predicts non-noisy symbols found in contexts of the context subclass. Denoising of impulse noise can select replacement symbols without matrix multiplication or a channel matrix inverse by evaluating distributions that result from subtracting error probabilities from probability vectors associated with respective contexts. Probability mass can be moved from adjacent components of the probability vector to assure that subtraction of the error probabilities leaves non-negative results.
US07656933B2 Method and device for the suppression of periodic interference signals
A method and device are provided for suppressing periodic interference signals, including a unit which is used to provide a period length for the periodic interference signal, an interference detection unit for detecting a signal corresponding to the interference signal, and a subtraction unit for subtracting the signal corresponding to the interference signal. The interference detection unit carries out multiple superpositioning of the input signal and scales the multiple superpositioned input signal depending on the period length of the interference signal in order to detect the signal corresponding to the interference signal.
US07656928B2 Laser-induced optical wiring apparatus
A laser-induced optical wiring apparatus is provided wherein optical wiring is realized by digital operations of a laser oscillator. The apparatus includes optical ring resonator formed of a loop-shaped optical waveguide on substrate. At least two optical gain sections are provided on the optical ring resonator. When each optical gain section is activated, a laser oscillator including the optical ring resonator and optical gain sections is enabled to oscillate. In this state, the gain of at least one of the optical gain sections is changed in accordance with an input signal, thereby changing the optical route gain of the optical ring resonator to change the oscillation state of the laser oscillator. A change in the laser oscillation state is detected by the optical gain section other than the at least one optical gain section, whereby an output signal is acquired.
US07656926B2 Optical connection device and method of fabricating the same
Provided is an optical connection device and a method of fabricating the same. The optical connection device includes a laser diode formed on a substrate, a photodiode that is formed on the laser diode and has an aperture which is an exit of light emitted from the laser diode, and a plurality of electrode pads connected to electrodes for the laser diode and the photodiode on the substrate. A direction in which the light of the laser diode is emitted is opposite to a bonding direction between the laser diode and the substrate with respect to the laser diode.
US07656923B2 Dual diode converging module
An improved, dual diode convergence module which focuses the light energy of at least two separate diode chip laser wavelengths of into a single beam and, thus, which derives the benefit of both wavelengths.
US07656918B2 Semiconductor laser
A semiconductor laser having an n-cladding layer, an optical guide layer, an active layer, an optical guide layer, and a p-cladding layer above an InP substrate, in which the active layer has a layer constituted with Be-containing group II-VI compound semiconductor mixed crystals, and at least one of layers of the n-cladding layer, the optical guide layer, and the p-cladding layer has a layer constituted with elements identical with those of the Be-containing group II-VI compound semiconductor mixed crystals of the active layer, and the layer is constituted with a superlattice structure comprising, as a well layer, mixed crystals of a Be compositions with the fluctuation of the composition being within ±30% compared with the Be composition of the group II-VI compound semiconductor mixed crystals of the active layer, whereby the device characteristics of the semiconductor laser comprising the Be-containing group II-VI compound semiconductor matched with the InP substrate.
US07656913B2 Fiber pulse laser apparatus and method of controlling the same
A method of controlling a pulse output in a master oscillator-power amplifier type fiber pulse laser apparatus including a master oscillator unit and a power amplifier unit connected to the master oscillator unit is provided. The method includes starting the master oscillator unit before starting the power amplifier unit.
US07656908B1 System and method for delivering content in a unicast/multicast manner
The present invention is a system and method for enabling multicast synchronization of initially unicasted content. Multiple unicast streams are synchronized in order to convert the unicast streams into a multicast stream. Each unicast stream may be accelerated or slowed down in relation to a reference stream to a common point within each stream upon which the unicast streams are replaced by a multicast stream of the same content.
US07656891B1 Method and apparatus enabling concurrent processing of contiguously and virtually concatenated payloads
A method and apparatus for processing at least two types of payloads received at varying intervals in a communications network using a single processing path is provided. The two types of payloads may include virtually and contiguously concatenated payloads according to SONET/SHD architecture. The method comprises interleaving data in a predetermined format and controlling distribution of the data irrespective of the format received such that the data can be processed at the destination and passed to downstream components.
US07656884B1 Apparatus and method for a generic service locking mechanism for a fibre channel switching fabric of a storage area network
An apparatus and method for a Generic Service locking mechanism that enables a Host to lock the Fibre Channel Switching Fabric of a storage area network while applying changes across the Switching Fabric of the network is disclosed. The apparatus includes a network interface configured to send and receive Fibre Channel frames across the Fabric, a session element, responsive to the network interface, and configured to establish sessions with the Fabric; and a locking element configured issue commands to establish a lock over the Fabric so that replicated information across the Fabric can be consistently updated when the session element establishes a session with the Fabric. In one embodiment of the invention, the network interface, session element and the locking element are all implemented on each Switch of the Fabric.
US07656875B2 Telecommunications apparatus and method, storage medium, and program
The present invention relates to a telecommunications apparatus and a method, a storage medium, and a program for determining whether or not the other side communicating content data is located on a LAN or across a WAN. In step S13, the difference between a counter value in a received check packet and a value in a register is computed. In step S14, the resultant difference is checked to determine if it is equal to a constant value X. If it is determined that the difference is equal to the constant value X, the counter value in the packet is stored in the register in step S15. In step S16, it is determined whether or not all the predetermined number of check packets is received. If all the predetermined number of check packets is received, it is determined that the communication takes place over a LAN connection in step S17. If, in step S14, it is determined that the difference is not equal to the constant value X, it is determined that the communication takes place across a WAN connection in step S18. The present invention can be applied to a personal computer on a wireless LAN.
US07656871B2 Information transmission method, mobile communication system, base station, and mobile station
In an information transmission method, a radio communications system, a base station and a mobile station, a TBS size, a modulation scheme and the number of codes in a multicode are converted into identification data having a relatively smaller data size before being transmitted to a destination of communication. The TBS size is identified by using, in combination, an identification code identifying a channelization code set, an identification code identifying a modulation scheme, and an identification code obtained by converting a combination of the number of codes in a multicode and a modulation pattern identification (TFRC) into a corresponding code. Accordingly, the data size for TBS size identification is reduced.
US07656869B2 Data output control apparatus
In a data output control apparatus, a data replacement unit performs replacement of information packets so as to reflect the contents of a partial TS after the transfer status thereof has changed, and outputs a replacement signal as information relating to the replaced packet data to a controller. Therefore, the controller for controlling the data replacement unit can continuously recognize the status of replacement of packet data, and becomes able to change the respective information tables according to the operation of the partial TS, thereby realizing dynamic change while maintaining the continuity of the respective tables in the partial TS.
US07656859B2 Internal substitution bi-level addressing for compatible public networks
A computer readable medium stores a program in an ingress capable network device of a network for routing signals through the network. The computer readable includes a receiving code segment for receiving an original signal, which has an embedded destination service address. The computer readable medium also includes a querying code segment for querying a database server to obtain an internal routing address corresponding to the embedded destination service address, and a routing code segment for routing at least a portion of the original signal through the network to an egress capable network device according to the internal routing address. The routed portion of the original signal includes at least the embedded destination service address, which enables the egress capable network device to restore the embedded destination service address and to forward the routed portion of the original signal from the network.
US07656855B2 Arrangement for synchronizing access points in WLAN using direct-sequence spread spectrum signaling
An arrangement for providing synchronization between a number of overlapping area access points within a wireless LAN utilizes a Power over Ethernet (PoE) cable connection to transmit synchronization signals from a centralized hub/switch to each of the access points connected to the cable. The synchronization signal takes the form of a direct sequence spread spectrum (DS-SS) signal that is coupled onto the twisted pair used to provide the low voltage PoE signal to various powered devices. At each access point, a filter is used to remove the synchronization signal from the PoE transport, allowing for the group of access points to share a common beacon signal and allow for frequency re-use among the access points. The DS-SS signal is preferable created by a combination of a baseband signal and a set of separate pseudo noise (PN) sequences defining a precision phase (“pilot tone”) signal, a time mark (superframe/beacon) signal, and a time-of-day (real-time clock) signal.
US07656852B2 Method and apparatus of selectively tying the opening and closing of EVDO and PPP sessions
Method, and associated apparatus, for operating a hybrid access terminal operable in a CDMA 1x/EVDO hybrid communication session system. The hybrid access terminal is operable to communicate pursuant to an EVDO communication session and to a PPP communication session. The opening and closing of the communication sessions are independent of one another. Opening of one session does not require opening of another of the sessions. And, closing of one of the sessions does not require closing of the other of the sessions.
US07656850B2 Method and apparatus for accelerated super 3G cell search
The method and system of a first aspect of the present invention is adapted to perform cell search on all possible bandwidths. In order to reduce the search time, the order in which the allowable BW is used in the search is based on information from history lists. These history lists include the BWs and frequency bands used. A second aspect of the present invention is a method and an OFDM cellular telecommunications system adapted to perform cell search and synchronization wherein the system has a certain number of bandwidth possibilities. The method comprises the steps of identifying at least one critical system parameter that reduces the set of possible synchronization signals; and performing cell search and synchronization over the limited number of different synchronization signals.
US07656846B2 PLC based wireless communications
An apparatus and method for providing wireless communication for a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). The PLC includes a central processing unit (CPU) card mounted on the backplane of the PLC, a CPU mounted on the CPU card and a means for wireless radio frequency communication coupled to the CPU so that the means for radio frequency communication and CPU communicate without using the PLC module bus.
US07656844B2 Radio transmission apparatus and radio reception apparatus in a CDMA communication system
Reception section 602 receives a signal on which signals of channels are multiplexed in a same frequency band through antenna 601. Separation section 603 separates a part used for correlation value calculation in the reception signal. Correlation sections 604 and 605 create delay profiles by calculating a correlation value using a 1st basic code and 2nd basic code for the signals after the separation, respectively. Comparison/channel estimation section 606 cycles each delay profile so that the delay profiles match in a section in which the path of the channel to be detected appears when there is no propagation delay and detects a quasi-matching path in each delay profile after the cycling.
US07656839B2 Apparatus for associating access points with stations in a wireless network
The performance and ease of management of wireless communications environments is improved by a mechanism that enables access points (APs) to perform automatic channel selection. A wireless network can therefore include multiple APs, each of which will automatically choose a channel such that channel usage is optimized. Furthermore, APs can perform automatic power adjustment so that multiple APs can operate on the same channel while minimizing interference with each other. Wireless stations are load balanced across APs so that user bandwidth is optimized. A movement detection scheme provides seamless roaming of stations between APs.
US07656829B2 System and method for determining data transmission path in communication system consisting of nodes
In a communicating system including a base node, at least one adjacent node, and a start node transmitting data requested by the base node via the adjacent node or to the base node, data requested to the start node is transmitted by measuring a power required for data transmission between the nodes forming the communication system, selecting a path one by one depending on a minimum power consumption required for the data transmission from the base node to the start node using the measured power, and transmitting the requested data using the selected path.
US07656824B2 Method and system for providing a private conversation channel in a video conference system
A method for providing a private conversation channel in a videoconference session between at least three participants includes the steps of providing an ability to receive a private acceptance in response to the private invitation and providing an ability to exclude non-parties to the private conversation from receiving private messages corresponding to the private conversation.
US07656823B1 Automated network to SAN topology linkage
Collection of topology mapping linkage information between a Storage Area Network (“SAN”) and a transparent interconnecting transport network is at least partially automated. Physical topology information is gathered by detecting use of a physical path between a port of a first SAN device and a port of a second SAN device logically proximate to the transport network. This may be accomplished by discovering World Wide Names of end-points in a Fibre Channel SAN, and discovering Media Access Control addresses of end-points in an Ethernet SAN. The discovered physical topology information is then employed with known transport network logical topology information to determine which logical path or paths are associated with the physical path, i.e., to generate a mapping.
US07656821B2 Topology discovery and identification of switches in an N-stage interconnection network
A method of topology discovery and identification of switches enables a user to determine the topology of a N-stage switch network. The method includes ascertaining an intended topology of the N-stage switch network, creating a list of switch boards present in the N-stage switch network, and determining a switch board connection pattern. The method further includes classifying each of the switch boards as an outer switch board, or an inner switch board, and creating a list for each type of switch board, classifying each of the switch boards on the OB list as stage 1, stage 2, or unknown, classifying each of the switch boards on the IB list as stage 3 to stage N, grouping the stage 2 and stage 1 switch boards into sectors, and numbering each type of switch board, thereby obtaining a determined topology, and validating the determined topology by comparing it to the intended topology.
US07656812B2 Monitoring of data packets in a fabric
A method of monitoring network traffic in a fabric and a Fibre Channel network are provided. The method includes: transmitting a monitoring configuration message to a plurality of fabric elements in a Fibre Channel network, said monitoring configuration message including classification criteria identifying packets to be monitored; receiving copies of identified packets from the plurality of fabric elements; and analyzing the copies of identified packets to determine data transmission status in the Fibre Channel network. The Fibre Channel network includes: a plurality of fabric elements; a management system configured to transmit a monitoring configuration message to the plurality of fabric elements, said monitoring configuration message including classification criteria identifying packets to be monitored; and an analyzer configured to: receive copies of identified packets from the plurality of fabric elements; and analyze the copies of identified packets to determine data transmission status in the Fibre Channel network.
US07656806B2 Storage system, path management method and path management device
Proposed are a storage system, a path management method and a path management device capable of ensuring the processing performance demanded by a user while seeking to improve the access performance from a host system to a storage apparatus. Path switching control for dynamically switching the path to be used by the host system according to the loaded condition of the respective paths between the host system and the storage apparatus is executed; and a path is selected as needed according to a policy containing path switching rules created by a user, and path switching control for excluding the selected path from the target and dynamically switching the path to be used by the host system is executed.
US07656805B2 Optimal communication path routing in a system employing interconnected integrated circuit technology
An electronic system in which integrated circuits employing cornered I/O are arranged in a framework including an optional path manager and at least one updateable routing table. Packet routing options are described with solutions being provided to minimize transmission latency and pathway alternatives.
US07656801B1 Selective jamming of network traffic in contention-based networks
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for selectively jamming network traffic includes monitoring data packets transmitted over a network. In response to the monitoring, the presence of a blocked signal is identified in a first data packet. Upon identification of the blocked signal, a second data packet is transmitted to interfere with the ability of one or more network nodes identified to receive the first data packet to decipher the first data packet.
US07656799B2 Flow control system architecture
One or more flow control modules, implemented on various types of network topologies, provide a number of functionalities for controlling the flow of IP packets (such as TCP/IP packets) over a network connection. The flow control modules may be implemented within a sender and/or receiver or may be deployed into a network as a separate device without requiring significant additional resources.
US07656795B2 Preventing duplicate sources from clients served by a network address port translator
Preventing duplicate sources on a protocol connection that uses network addresses, protocols and port numbers to identify source applications that are served by a NAPT. If an arriving packet encapsulates an encrypted packet and has passed through an NAPT en route to the destination host, the encapsulated packet is decrypted to obtain an original source port number and original packet protocol from the decrypted packet. A source port mapping table (SPMT) is searched for an association between the NAPT source address, the original source port, and the original packet protocol associated with the NAPT source address and port number. If an incorrect association is found, the packet is rejected as representing an illegal duplicate source; that is, a second packet from a different host served by a NAPT that is USING the same SOURCE port and protocol.
US07656791B1 Systems and methods for hitless equipment protection
Disclosed techniques include a method and apparatus that allow traffic to be switched between a working copy and a protected copy hitlessly. The control method simplifies implementation by advantageously distinguishing points within the apparatus wherein the working and protect streams should be virtually identical and aligned and points where the streams need only be identical but are tolerant of skew.
US07656790B2 Handling link failures with re-tagging
One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of handling link failures between switches. A failed link is detected at a detecting switch. The detecting switch determines a set of path tags whose paths are affected by the failed link. Subsequently, when packets are received with one of the path tags affected by the failed link, those packets are retagged with a detour path tag associated with a detour path circumventing the failed link. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a packet switch apparatus with link failure handling capability for use in a switching mesh. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a switching mesh including a capability to handle link failures.
US07656789B2 Method, system and storage medium for redundant input/output access
A system, method and storage medium for providing redundant I/O access between a plurality of interconnected processor nodes and I/O resources. The method includes determining whether a primary path between the interconnected processor nodes and the I/O resources is operational, where the primary path includes a first processor node and a primary multiplexer. If the primary path is operational, the transactions are routed via the primary path. If the primary path is not operational, the transactions are routed between the interconnected processor nodes and the I/O resources via an alternate path that includes a second processor node and an alternate multiplexer.
US07656787B2 Modular numerical control
A modular, numerical control includes at least two modules, each including a microprocessor unit and being connected to each other via serial data-transmission channels for the transmission of information in the form of data packets. In at least one module, a data-packet generating unit is provided for generating data packets and for transmitting data packets to at least one further module. In so doing, the data-packet generating unit operates independently of the function of the microprocessor unit. Moreover, in at least one module, a data-packet processing unit is provided by which data packets are able to be processed and/or are able to be transmitted to at least one further module, independently of the function of the microprocessor unit. The data packets include the status of at least one safety signal.
US07656773B2 Objective lens unit and optical pickup device
An objective lens unit for an optical pickup device which is composed of a first optical element including a first element body positioned on an optical information recording medium side and a first annular portion formed on the outer periphery of the first element body, and further composed of a second optical element including a second element body and a second annular light source side of the first element body and a second annular portion formed on the outer periphery of the second element body and coupled to the first annular portion, and at least one of the first and second annular portion has a portion in which the size of outer shape is smaller than the vicinity on at least a part of the light source side.
US07656769B2 Optical pickup and objective optical system for use in the same
An optical pickup (1) includes a light source (6) capable of emitting laser beams of various wavelengths and an objective optical system (2). The objective optical system (2) includes at least two wavefront conversion surfaces (13a) and (16a) and an objective lens (10). The at least two wavefront conversion surfaces (13a) and (16a) convert a wavefront of any laser beam entered therein into a different wavefront in response to the kind of an optical information recording medium (3) corresponding to the laser light. The objective lens (10) focuses the laser beam came out of the wavefront conversion surface (16a) on an optical information recording surface (3R). The optical pickup (1) satisfies the following condition for every wavelength of the corresponding laser beams: |SCMAX|<0.036  (1) wherein SCMAX is the maximum value of an offence against the sine condition of the objective optical system (2).
US07656759B2 Information recording and reproducing device suppressing erasure of data when power interruption occurs during data recording
In a record operation mode, a nonvolatile memory stores a record end address. In a restoring operation mode, the record end address stored in the nonvolatile memory is read, and a record end address in an FDCB is read and is compared with the record end address read from the nonvolatile memory to determine whether these addresses match with each other or not. When the record end address in the FDCB is different from the record end address stored in the nonvolatile memory, the data in the FDCB is updated based on the record end address stored in the nonvolatile memory.
US07656753B2 Optical recording, producing apparatus, and method with peak-hold voltage features
The present invention proposes a method of controlling the laser power of a semiconductor laser that, in this method of controlling the laser power of a semiconductor laser by applying a power source voltage to between the collector and emitter of an output transistor and a serial circuit of the output transistor and a semiconductor laser, enables decreasing the power consumption of the output transistor. The present invention is arranged to apply a variable power source voltage Vcc to a serial circuit of an output transistor (Qb) and a semiconductor laser (SL) and thereby control the variable power source voltage Vcc such that a difference between the variable power source voltage Vcc and the peak hold voltage of an operating voltage of the semiconductor laser (SL) becomes substantially constant.
US07656750B2 Echo detection
An echo detection circuit that detects an echo by detecting the magnitude of a digitally mixed representation of the received acoustic signal and reference sine and cosine signals. That magnitude is then compared against an echo threshold to verify the presence or absence of an echo signal. A low pass filter with a configurable cut-off frequency may be used to define the selectivity of the echo detector.
US07656749B2 Systems and methods for analyzing acoustic waves
Systems for analyzing acoustic waves are provided. An exemplary system includes a housing, multiple acoustic passageways and an acoustic sensor. The housing defines an interior cavity. The multiple acoustic passageways communicate acoustically between the interior cavity and an exterior of the housing. Each of the acoustic passageways has an inlet port and an outlet port, with each outlet port being located within the housing to direct a portion of an acoustic wave to the interior cavity. The acoustic sensor is mounted within the interior cavity and is operative to receive portions of an acoustic wave directed to the interior cavity by the acoustic passageways. The acoustic sensor also is operative to provide information such as direction of arrival information corresponding to a composite waveform formed by acoustic interference, within the interior cavity, of the portions of the acoustic wave. Methods and other systems also are provided.
US07656733B2 Semiconductor memory device
This invention provides a semiconductor memory device with enhanced speed performance or enabling timing adjustment reflected in characteristic variation of memory cells, adapted to suppress an increase in the number of circuit elements. A write dummy bit section comprises a first dummy line and a second dummy line corresponding to complementary bit lines and a plurality of first dummy cells formed to be similar in shape to static memory cells, wherein a write current path is coupled between the first dummy line and the second dummy line. In the write dummy bit section, one voltage level is input to the first dummy line through driver MOSFETs in relation to write signal inputs to the static memory cells and a signal change in the second dummy line precharged at the other voltage level is sensed and output. A timing control circuit deselects a word line selected by an output signal from the write dummy bit section.
US07656727B2 Semiconductor memory device and system providing spare memory locations
A semiconductor memory device having a plurality of memory locations is presented. The plurality of memory locations includes a plurality of primary memory locations and a plurality of spare memory locations. The device includes an address decoder configured to receive a memory location address and process the address to select one of the memory locations. The device further includes control logic configured to receive control signals and process the control signals to determine whether the selected one of the memory locations is one of the primary memory locations or one of the spare memory locations, and to provide access to the selected one of the memory locations via data lines.
US07656725B2 Semiconductor memory device which compensates for delay time variations of multi-bit data
A memory device compensates for delay time variations among multi-bit data. The device includes a first stage and a second stage of data storage units. The first stage of data storage units store first to nth data bits in response to a latch clock signal. The second stage of data storage units store the first to nth data contents output from the first stage of data storage units in response to a reference clock signal. The latch clock signal is obtained by delaying the reference clock signal. The latch clock signal includes first to nth sub latch signals. The sub latch signals are generated at different times according to propagation delay time periods of the corresponding first to nth data contents.
US07656723B2 Semiconductor memory device with hierarchical bit line structure
A semiconductor memory device has a hierarchical bit line structure. The semiconductor memory device may include first and second memory cell clusters, which share the same bit line pair and are divided operationally; third and fourth memory cell clusters, which are connected respectively corresponding to word lines coupled with the first and second memory cell clusters, and which share a bit line pair different from the bit line pair and are divided operationally; and a column pass gate for switching one of bit line pairs connected with the first to fourth memory cell clusters, to a common sense amplifier, in response to a column selection signal. Whereby an operating speed decrease caused by load of peripheral circuits connected to the bit line is improved, and the number of column pass gates is reduced substantially with a reduction of chip size.
US07656722B2 Semiconductor memory apparatus including synchronous delay circuit unit
A semiconductor memory apparatus includes a write driver that receives data transmitted through an input/output line, and a synchronous delay circuit unit that generates an enable signal so as to allow the data transmitted through the input/output line to be supplied to the write driver.
US07656718B2 Semiconductor device having output buffer initialization circuit and output buffer initialization method
A semiconductor device has at least two semiconductor memory devices, each of which includes a memory cell array arranged in a matrix of rows and columns, a peripheral circuit writing data to a cell of the memory cell array and reading out and amplifying the written data, and an output buffer outputting cell data amplified by the peripheral circuit. The output buffer includes an output buffer initialization circuit activating an output buffer reset signal in response to the power up or power down of the semiconductor memory device and deactivating the output buffer reset signal in response to a first command signal output from a controller of the semiconductor memory device, and an output driver generating output data based on a data signal in response to a clock signal, a data enable signal, and the output buffer reset signal.
US07656717B2 Memory device having latch for charging or discharging data input/output line
A semiconductor memory device of the claimed invention, having an active state for performing a read or write operation and an inactive state except for the active state includes a data input/output (I/O) line; a pull-up latch unit for pulling-up the data I/O line when the semiconductor memory device is in the inactive state; a pull-down latch unit for pulling-down the data I/O line when the semiconductor memory device is in the inactive state; and a selection unit for selectively driving one of the pull-up latch unit and the pull-down latch unit.
US07656714B2 Bitline bias circuit and nor flash memory device including the bitline bias circuit
The NOR flash memory device according to the present invention is operated by a high voltage supplied from bitline selection transistors and includes a bitline bias circuit for supplying a bias voltage of a constant level to the bitline bias transistor. In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to stably supply a desired voltage closing to a power voltage to the bitline bias transistor.
US07656711B2 Semiconductor memory system including a plurality of semiconductor memory devices
A communication line is connected to first and second chips, and held at a first signal level. A monitor circuit changes a signal level of the communication line from the first signal to a second signal level while one of the first and second chips uses a current larger than a reference current. When the signal level of the communication line is the second signal level, the other of the first and second chips is controlled to a wait state that does not transfer to an operating state of using a current larger than the reference current.
US07656710B1 Adaptive operations for nonvolatile memories
Adaptive write operations for non-volatile memories select programming parameters according to monitored programming performance of individual memory cells. In one embodiment of the invention, programming voltage for a memory cell increases by an amount that depends on the time required to reach a predetermined voltage and then a jump in the programming voltage is added to the programming voltage required to reach the next predetermined voltage. The adaptive programming method is applied to the gate voltage of memory cells; alternatively, it can be applied to the drain voltage of memory cells along a common word line. A circuit combines the function of a program switch and drain voltage regulator, allowing independent control of drain voltage of selected memory cells for parallel and adaptive programming. Verify and adaptive read operations use variable word line voltages to provide optimal biasing of memory and reference cells during sensing.
US07656699B2 Radiation-hardened programmable device
A method of programming a radiation-hardened integrated circuit includes the steps of supplying a prototype device including an SRAM memory circuit or programmable key circuit to a customer, having the customer develop working data patterns in the field in the same manner as a reading and writing to a normal RAM memory, having the customer save the final debugged data pattern, delivering the data pattern to the factory, loading the customer-developed data pattern into memory, programming the customer-developed data pattern into a number of production circuits, irradiating the production circuits at a total dosage of between 300K and 1 Meg RAD to burn the data pattern into memory, and shipping the irradiated and programmed parts to the customer.
US07656691B2 Charge mode control of a serial resonance converter
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for converting power from a power input to a DC output current or voltage, where a first feedback circuit a traditional feedback. The converter type is a resonant DC-DC converter. The scope of the invention is to reach a high effective and fast responding switch mode power supply. This can be achieved with an apparatus or method comprising a second feedback circuit leading a signal from a serial resonance capacitor(s) to a reference input terminal at the control circuit, which second feedback circuit contains a signal depending on the actual change in charge of the resonant capacitor(s). This means that at high load, a very powerful signal will be transmitted through the second feedback at the control circuit that will change the operation of the circuit into a charge mode operation. As the load on the output is reduced, the influence of the second feedback signal will be reduced, and the influence from the charge mode is reduced and the operation mode is changing back into a normal frequency mode of operation. In this way, a much more constant gain in the series or series parallel resonant DC-DC converter is achived, and therefore a much better regulated voltage or current of the resonant DC-DC converter can be made.
US07656690B2 Voltage conversion device and computer-readable recording medium with program recorded thereon for computer to execute control of voltage conversion by voltage conversion device
A control device calculates a voltage command value of a voltage step-up converter based on a torque command value and a motor revolution number and calculates the on-duty of an NPN transistor based on the calculated voltage command value and a DC voltage from a voltage sensor. Under the conditions that the on-duty is influenced by a dead time and the DC voltage is smaller than a predetermined set value, the control device controls NPN transistors to step-up or step-down the voltage while fixing the on-duty at 1.0.
US07656684B2 Power converter
The present disclosure is directed towards a method for power conversion. The method may include controlling a first rectifier switch coupled to one end of a secondary winding of a transformer via a first control signal. The method may further include controlling a first low side switch via said first control signal, said first low side switch and a first high side switch coupled in series along a first path of a full bridge circuit, a first node located between said first high side switch and said first low side switch. The method may also include controlling a second rectifier switch coupled to an opposite end of said secondary winding via a second control signal. The method may additionally include controlling a second low side switch via said second control signal, said second low side switch and a second high side switch coupled in series along a second path of said full bridge circuit, a second node located between said second high side switch and said second low side switch, wherein said primary winding is coupled between said first node and said second node. Of course additional embodiments are also within the scope of the present disclosure.
US07656673B1 Wireless micro-electro-opto-fluidic-mechanical foldable flex system
The present invention provides a highly miniaturized wireless transceiver employing WLAN technology that offers flexible integration with multiple, generic sensing technologies. The developed wireless system can be readily integrated with existing sensing technology to enable direct sensor-to-internet communication in environments where wired connections are too costly, or otherwise impractical.
US07656667B2 Plasma display device
A plasma display device that includes a plasma display panel adapted to display images on a front side thereof, a chassis base including conductive material and arranged behind the plasma display panel, a plurality of circuit boards adapted to drive the plasma display panel, the plurality of circuit boards being fixed on the chassis base with a gap between each of the plurality of circuit boards and the chassis base and a driving circuit portion including a plurality of cables and adapted to electrically connect the circuit boards, wherein the chassis base includes at least one holding unit that is adapted to hold the plurality of cables on one side of the chassis base. The holding unit being adapted to attenuate EMI before it reaches the cables within.
US07656640B2 Voltage surge protection device
The voltage surge protection device comprises at least one protection module designed to be connected to an electric switchgear apparatus. The protection module comprises at least one protective element for protection against voltage surges and separating means connected to at least one protective element to cause an electrical and/or mechanical separation representative of a fault of a protective element following an increase of temperature and/or electric current. The protection module comprises means for mechanical actuation connected to said separating means and comprising a mechanical control link. The electrical control link is placed in a tripped state representative of a fault of at least one protective element when said separating means have caused a separation.
US07656635B2 Overheat detection in thermally controlled devices
Systems and methods of overheat detection provide for generating a control signal on a die containing a processor based on an internal temperature of the processor and a control temperature threshold. It can be determined whether to generate a warning temperature event on the die based on a behavior of the control signal. In one embodiment, the warning temperature event provides for initiation of an automated data saving process, which reduces the abruptness of conventional warning temperature shutdowns. Other embodiments provide the user the option of saving his or her work before a shutdown temperature threshold is reached.
US07656634B2 Increasing the system stability and lightning capability in a power distribution system that utilizes solid-state power controllers
An apparatus, and a method of controlling a solid state power controller (“SSPC”) selectively allows a current through a solid state power control switch in response to the current in a plurality of SSPCS exceeding at least one threshold. A microprocessor module collects power surge data from a plurality of groups of SSPCs, and determines if the amount of power surge data within a group of SSPCs is sufficient to constitute a lightning threat. If the microprocessor module determines a lightning threat is present, the microprocessor module sends a command to certain SSPCs in the afflicted group to lockout an instantaneous trip protection for the duration of the lightning threat, allowing the power surge to pass from the SSPCs to a load or plurality of loads, leaving the SSPCs undamaged.
US07656631B2 Electrical circuit protection arrangement
An electrical circuit having a load that includes at least one semiconductor junction device supplied with operating current at a voltage sufficient to bias the semiconductor junction device into conduction and control means to provide or inhibit supply of power to said load. A protection arrangement for the electrical circuit includes a sensing circuit that detects characteristics of the load when the operating current is not flowing. The sensing circuit includes threshold comparison circuit that compares the sensed voltage level with at least one stored value representative of a threshold of a load characteristic indicative of a correctly functioning semiconductor junction device. The sensing circuit includes a sensing current generator which in the absence of operating current to the load effects passage through the load of a sensing current having a value that is less, for a semiconductor junction, than the forward conduction threshold thereof.
US07656610B1 Bi-directional magnetic recording head built on a common substrate
The aspects of the present invention provide a magnetic recording head, a method for manufacturing a magnetic recording head, and a magnetic recording head drive. The magnetic recording head includes a substrate and a first magnetic device connected to the substrate. The magnetic recording head also includes a second magnetic device connected to the first magnetic device. The first magnetic device is aligned with the second magnetic device. The first and second magnetic devices are supported by the same side of the substrate.
US07656603B1 Pre-programming of a preamplifier in a disk drive to improve servo-writing characteristics
Disclosed is a self servo-writing disk drive that pre-programs a preamplifier to improve servo-writing characteristics in writing servo sectors to a disk. The disk drive implements operations including: writing servo sectors to define track bands according to sets of write setting values wherein the preamplifier adjusts write signals utilizing a set of write setting values for each track band; reading servo variable gain amplifier values from the tracks bands; selecting a set of write setting values associated with a minimum servo variable gain amplifier value; programming the preamplifier's write settings with the selected set of write setting values; and self-servo writing the disk with servo sectors utilizing the selected set of write setting values that are pre-programmed in the preamplifier.
US07656596B2 Lens apparatus and image pickup apparatus
A lens apparatus and image pickup apparatus thereof. The lens apparatus includes a first fixed lens-barrel with fixed-side first guide grooves and fixed-side second guide grooves, a first movable lens-barrel arranged at the outside of the fixed lens-barrel, movable-side first guide grooves, a second movable lens-barrel arranged at the inside of the fixed lens barrel, and movable-side guide grooves. Three first rolling element units are provided between the fixed-side guide grooves and the movable-side first guide grooves, and three second rolling element units are provided between the fixed-side second guide grooves and the movable-side second guide grooves. The first movable lens-barrels and the second movable lens-barrels are supported to the one-group lens and the two-group lens in such a manner that they can be independently moved in the optical axis directions of the first and second lenses.
US07656588B2 Liquid for liquid lens with high reliability
A liquid for a liquid lens includes an electrolyte solution and an insulating solution wherein the electrolyte solution contains H2O, 1,2-propanediol and LiCl, and the insulating solution is a silicon (Si) oil and optionally contains 1,6-dibromohexane or bromobenzene as an organic additive. A liquid lens module includes a transparent cover, a case for accommodating an electrolyte solution and an insulating solution, a pair of electrodes for supplying electricity to the electrolyte solution, and an insulating film for covering one of the electrodes in contact with the electrolyte solution wherein the electrolyte solution contains H2O, 1,2-propanediol and LiCl, and the insulating solution is a silicon (Si) oil.
US07656578B2 Microchip-Yb fiber hybrid optical amplifier for micro-machining and marking
The invention describes techniques for the control of the spatial as well as spectral beam quality of multi-mode fiber amplification of high peak power pulses as well as using such a configuration to replace the present diode-pumped, Neodynium based sources. Perfect spatial beam-quality can be ensured by exciting the fundamental mode in the multi-mode fibers with appropriate mode-matching optics and techniques. The loss of spatial beam-quality in the multi-mode fibers along the fiber length can be minimized by using multi-mode fibers with large cladding diameters. Near diffraction-limited coherent multi-mode amplifiers can be conveniently cladding pumped, allowing for the generation of high average power. Moreover, the polarization state in the multi-mode fiber amplifiers can be preserved by implementing multi-mode fibers with stress producing regions or elliptical fiber cores These lasers find application as a general replacement of Nd: based lasers, especially Nd:YAG lasers. Particularly utility is disclosed for applications in the marking, micro-machining and drilling areas.
US07656568B2 Optical switch using frequency-based addressing in a microelectromechanical systems array
Embodiments of the present invention provide structures for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) that can be sensed, activated, controlled or otherwise addressed or made to respond by the application of forcing functions. In particular, an optical shutter structure suitable for use in an optical switch arrangement is disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical shutter or switch can be scaled and/or arranged to form arbitrary switch, multiplexer and/or demultiplexer configurations. In another embodiment of the present invention, an optical switch can include: a shutter; and a flexure coupled to the shutter, whereupon a vibration transmitted to the flexure when in the presence of a resonant frequency causes the shutter to move across an opening for the passage of an optical signal.
US07656560B2 Facsimile machine
A facsimile machine includes: a display that displays a menu screen including a menu item, an operation unit that allows a user an entry based on the menu screen, and a display control unit that changes the menu screen to be displayed on the display in response to the entry. The display control unit controls display/undisplay of the menu item based on a predetermined operational status of the facsimile machine when the display control unit changes the menu screen. The menu item corresponds to an operation effective to the predetermined operational status.
US07656554B2 Method of correcting neutral color shifts caused by cartridge variations
A method for correcting neutral color shift in a production cartridge for use in an imaging system includes determining a colorant increment data based on a standard cartridge neutral variation signature color data and a standard cartridge neutral sensitivity signature color data associated with a standard cartridge, and based on a production cartridge neutral variation signature color data and a production cartridge neutral sensitivity signature color data associated with the production cartridge, and using the colorant increment data to correct the neutral color shift.
US07656550B2 Data transmission apparatus and transmission control program
A data transmission apparatus having a plurality of data transmission functions includes: a transmission operation storage device that, for each data transmission function, stores recipient information that was input during an immediately prior transmission operation; a selecting device that selects one data transmission function from a plurality of data transmission functions; an operation content reading device that reads contents of transmission operations; a resend executing device that reads recipient information for the data transmission function selected from the transmission function storage device by the selecting device, and executes a transmission operation based on the read recipient information; and a transmission executing device that stores the read operation content in the transmission operation storage device as recipient information for the data transmission function selected by the selecting device, and executes a transmission operation based on the read operation content.
US07656548B2 Printer and printing method
A program execution unit determines a kind of an error and an error recovery method referring to an error recovery content management table and an error recovery method setting table, which are previously stored in a memory, from a kind of an error detected in a print language analysis step of a RIP. Information that an error occurs is given to user via an information unit so that user selects and prints necessary page of a print job, which is not printed.
US07656543B2 Albuming images
Methods, machines, systems, and machine-readable media for albuming images are described. In one aspect, a first partition of a page corresponding to a first layout of a first set of images on the page is selected from a first set of candidate page partitions. Each candidate page partition corresponds to a respective layout of the first set of images on the page. In response to a user command to modify the first layout, a second partition of the page is selected. The second partition corresponds to a second layout of a second set of images on the page. In another aspect, a first layout of a first set of images is presented on a page and, in response to a user command to modify the first layout, an area in the presentation of the first layout where an image is insertable is indicated. In another aspect, a first layout of a first set of images is presented on a page and, in response to a user command to modify the first layout, sizes and positions of images in the presentation of the first layout are changed.
US07656542B2 Method for evaluating microstructures on a workpiece based on the orientation of a grating on the workpiece
In a measuring system, a method for evaluating parameters of a workpiece includes measuring a periodic structure, such as a grating, on the workpiece to produce image data. An orientation of features in the image data, produced by higher order diffractions from the periodic structure, is identified. An orientation of the periodic structure is determined based on the orientation of the features in the image data. The image data is then modified, based on the orientation of the periodic structure, to correlate with, and for comparison to, simulated image data to ascertain parameters of the workpiece. Alternatively, optical components in the measuring system, or the workpiece itself, are adjusted to provide a desired alignment between the optical components and the periodic structure. A microstructure on the workpiece may then be measured, and the resulting image data may be compared to the simulated image data to ascertain parameters of the microstructure.
US07656541B2 Optoelectronic apparatus and a method for its operation
An apparatus detects an object using an optoelectronic apparatus. Light beams generated by a light source are scattered back and/or reflected by an object and are detected by a receiver arrangement in accordance with the triangulation principle. An object detection signal is output by an evaluation unit and the light beams in the receiver arrangement act via an optical receiver system and a microlens array on a pixel array comprising photodetectors. A macropixel has a plurality of subpixels associated with each microlens. The evaluation unit comprises a unit for determining the received signal distribution over the subpixels. Methods for operating the apparatus are also provided.
US07656528B2 Periodic patterns and technique to control misalignment between two layers
A method and system to measure misalignment error between two overlying or interlaced periodic structures are proposed. The overlying or interlaced periodic structures are illuminated by incident radiation, and the diffracted radiation of the incident radiation by the overlying or interlaced periodic structures are detected to provide an output signal. The misalignment between the overlying or interlaced periodic structures may then be determined from the output signal.
US07656517B2 Test apparatus and method
Previous testing of such test pieces as fan blades utilized in gas turbine engines has involved application of paint markings to identify fragments upon fragmentation of the test piece. Such fragmentation causes debris which will obscure paint markings and the paint itself may create clouds of dust obscuring visual images of the test piece under test conditions. By applying an image pattern comprising a number of lingering image patches, typically in the form of thermal patches upon the test components, and arranging the test components to be within an enclosure which is evacuated it will be appreciated that these image patterns linger and can be viewed by an appropriate monitor over a period at least of the test conditions. Utilization of extra visual spectrum radiation images extends the period when clear images of the test piece under test conditions can be seen and analyzed.
US07656516B2 Pattern inspection apparatus
A pattern inspection apparatus is disclosed, which includes a first laser light source for emission of first laser light having a first wavelength, a second laser light source for emission of second laser light having a second wavelength, and a deep ultraviolet (DUV) light source for emission of DUV light with a wavelength of less than or equal to 266 nm based on the first laser light and the second laser light. A first optical fiber is provided for connecting between the first laser light source and the DUV light source. A second optical fiber is for connection between the second laser light source and the DUV light source. The apparatus also includes a pattern inspection unit with the DUV light source being built therein, for inspecting a workpiece pattern being tested by using the DUV light as illumination light therefore.
US07656510B2 Stream-wise thermal gradient cloud condensation nuclei chamber
A cloud condensation nuclei instrument including an aerosol flow line (320) to carry a desired sample to the CNN chamber (310) and a temperature control unit (313A, 313B) to provide a monotonically increasing temperature profile along the direction of flow.
US07656509B2 Optical rangefinder for an electro-active lens
Several devices for determining a distance of an object a user of an electro-active lens is looking at are presented. Once the distance is determined, the devices may alter the optical power of the electro-active lens to ensure that the object is correctly focused. Optical range finding is a possible means for carrying out this task. An active rangefinder may emit optical radiation from a transmitter directed at the object. The optical radiation may then be reflected off the object. The reflected optical radiation may then be received with an appropriate receiver. The received optical radiation may then be processed by appropriate circuitry to determine a distance to the object. A passive rangefinder works without a transmitter. Instead, an appropriate receiver receives ambient sources of light from the object. The received light may then be processed by appropriate circuitry to determine a distance to the object.
US07656502B2 Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
An immersion lithographic projection apparatus is disclosed in which a liquid removal system surrounds a liquid supply system which provides liquid to a space between a projection system and a substrate. The liquid removal system is moveable relative to the liquid supply system and is controlled to have substantially zero velocity relative to the moving substrate table. The gap between the liquid supply system and the liquid removal system may be covered and the atmosphere between the liquid supply system and the liquid removal system above the substrate table may be maintained such that the vapor pressure of liquid is relatively high.
US07656491B2 Liquid crystal display device and method of manufacturing the same
In a liquid crystal display device of an IPS system, to realize reduction of manufacturing cost and improvement of yield by decreasing the number of steps for manufacturing a TFT. A channel etch type bottom gate TFT structure, where patterning of a source region and a drain region and patterning of a source wiring and a pixel electrode are carried out by the same photomask.
US07656485B2 Method of fabricating liquid crystal display panels having various sizes
A method of fabricating a liquid crystal display panel, includes providing a mother substrate having a plurality of display panel regions of different sizes, and forming a plurality of display panel substrates each formed at one of the display panel regions, parts of the display panel substrates to be rubbed being aligned to one side of the mother substrate where rubbing is to start.
US07656482B2 Transflective liquid crystal display and panel therefor
A display device having a transmissive area and a reflective area includes a first substrate, a reflective electrode formed on the first substrate, wherein the reflective electrode is disposed in the reflective area, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a plurality of color filters formed on the second substrate, wherein the plurality of color filters have light holes in the reflective area, and a common electrode formed on the second substrate, wherein an area of the tight holes is more than about 20% of an area of the color filter in the reflective area.
US07656474B2 Liquid crystal display device
The technology presented herein has a feature of providing a liquid crystal display device of an excellent viewing angle characteristic and high brightness, including: liquid crystals containing polymerizable monomers between a first substrate with a pixel electrode having micro slits and a second substrate facing the first substrate; wherein the monomers are polymerizable with voltage applied to the liquid crystals; and an alignment orientation of the liquid crystals is controllable to a direction of extending the micro slit, wherein the pixel electrode includes: a direct coupling part electrically connected to a switching element; a capacitive coupling part electrically insulated from the switching element, and a space between the direct and capacitive coupling parts, wherein directions in which the micro slits are extended along the direct and capacitive coupling parts are orthogonal to each other.
US07656468B2 Display device and manufacturing method of the display device
The present invention enhances a manufacturing yield rate relating to through holes. In a display device which includes a first conductive layer formed on a substrate and a second conductive layer which is formed on the first conductive layer by way of insulation films of two or more layers and connects the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer via a through hole, in the through hole portion, a side surface of an opening formed in the insulation film arranged on the first conductive layer side out of the insulation films of two or more layers includes a portion thereof which is covered with the insulation film arranged on the second conductive layer side out of the insulation films of two or more layers and an exposed portion.
US07656463B2 Remote controller for broadcasting receiver, broadcasting receiver, information recorded medium, and channel setting method
A paper medium having a bar code printed thereon is distributed to a viewer as a leaflet or the like. The bar code has channel setting information related to a certain area recorded thereon. The channel setting information is stored in a nonvolatile memory by reading the bar code using a reader in a broadcasting receiver. If a button corresponding to a preset number in a remote controller is pressed, the receiver acquires a physical channel number using the channel setting information, to perform channel selection processing.
US07656456B2 Image sensing system and method of controlling same
Both a specific target and the background thereof in the image of a subject are caused to take on brightnesses that are relatively appropriate. Preliminary image sensing is performed to obtain a preliminary image of the subject. The image of a face is detected from within the preliminary image of the subject and the representative luminance of the face image is calculated. If the representative luminance calculated is not appropriate, then amount of exposure is adjusted so as to make the face image slightly darker than the appropriate brightness. Regular image sensing is then carried out. If the representative luminance of the face image in the image of the subject obtained by regular image sensing is not appropriate, a tone adjustment is applied utilizing a tone curve. Thus there is obtained an image of the subject in which both the face image and its background exhibit brightnesses that are relatively appropriate.
US07656455B2 Image pickup device having improved precision
An image pickup device is provided with an optical low pass filter capable of advancing into and retreating from between an optical system and a photoelectric conversion element array in accordance with a selected mode, wherein the optical low pass filter is advanced into between the optical system and the photoelectric conversion element array so as to block a high frequency component of an optical image.
US07656451B2 Camera apparatus and imaging method
A camera apparatus has an imaging unit, a display unit, a storage unit and a control unit. The imaging unit shoots an object and outputs image data thereof. The display unit displays an image. The storage unit stores shooting conditions. The control unit displays a real-time image based on the image data from the imaging unit together with a plurality of selectable images for identifying a plurality of shot images stored in the storage unit on the display unit; selects an arbitrary one of selectable images displayed on the display unit; sets that shooting condition stored in the storage unit which corresponds to the selectable image selected by the selection unit as a shooting condition for a shooting operation; causes the imaging unit to shoot the object according to the shooting condition set by the setting unit; and records obtained image data in a memory.
US07656443B2 Image processing apparatus for correcting defect pixel in consideration of distortion aberration
An image processing apparatus includes an optical system having distortion aberration characteristics for expanding a central part and compressing a peripheral part of an image plane; an image sensor for photodetecting an optical image via the optical system, converting the optical image to image signals, and outputting the image signals; a correction coefficient output circuit for outputting a correction coefficient for correcting the image signal with respect to a defect pixel of the image sensor, wherein the correction coefficient is determined based on the distortion aberration characteristics and a position of a peripheral pixel around the defect pixel; and a correction value computing circuit for computing a correction value with respect to the image signal of the defect pixel, based on the image signal of the peripheral pixel and the correction coefficient.
US07656442B2 Image pickup system, noise reduction processing device and image pick-up processing program
The image pickup system for performing noise reduction processing on signals from an image pickup element comprises a first noise estimating unit for estimating a first amount of noise on the basis of a target pixel in the signals for which noise reduction processing is performed, an extraction unit for extracting similar pixels that resemble the target pixel from the neighborhood of the target pixel on the basis of the target pixel and the first amount of noise, a second noise estimating unit for estimating a second amount of noise from the target pixel and the similar pixels, and a noise reduction unit for reducing the noise of the target pixel on the basis of the second amount of noise.
US07656441B2 Hue correction for electronic imagers
A method for correcting for hue artifacts captured by an imager associated with a color filter array including first, second and third color pixels and optical system spaced from the imager, wherein a first group of second pixels are primarily influenced by adjacent first pixels and a second group of second pixels are primarily influenced by adjacent third pixels, includes separately blurring or smoothing the first and third pixels and the first and second group of second pixels; based on the difference between adjacent pixels of the first and second group of second pixels, correcting for hue in the second group of second pixels; and correcting for adjacent third pixels based on the correction for adjacent second group second pixels.
US07656435B2 Image processing apparatus and pixel-extraction method therefor
By sensing an object without performing light projection with a light projection unit, a first image is acquired, and by sensing the object while performing light projection with the light projection unit, a second image is acquired. Based on the acquired first image and the second image, a pixel having a specific color in the first image is extracted.
US07656434B2 Analog front-end device and image pickup device
A preprocessor converts an analog image signal, which is outputted from a solid-state image pickup sensor that photoelectric-converts an optical image of a subject, into digital image data. A timing generator periodically generates a drive pulse for driving the solid-state image pickup sensor continuously/discontinuously, and generates an output stop position signal that indicates an output stop position of the solid-state image pickup sensor when the solid-state image pickup sensor is driven discontinuously in sync with the drive pulse. A continuous data generator lets through the image data when the output stop position signal is invalid, and converts the image data inputted in a discontinuous state into continuous image data when the output stop position signal is valid.
US07656431B2 Video signal processing apparatus and video signal processing method
A video signal processing apparatus that reduces the degree of occurrences of false colors and of differing line concentration by performing knee processing properly, thereby providing desirable video signals. In the apparatus, at the occasion of generating luminance signals and color differences based on the result of knee processing, it is possible to properly generate a luminance signal which is derived from the addition result of pixels which are next to each other and generate a color difference signal which is derived from a difference of the pixels next to each other, achieved by performing the knee processing while keeping the signal level ratio at least between the pixels next to each other on video signals made up of color components arranged on a pixel by pixel basis. In this way, it is possible to keep a balance in hue of a color signal even after being subjected to knee processing.
US07656427B2 Charge pump for bus-powered device
A charge pump can be used with a bus-powered device connected to a bus. The charge pump is formed of a power connection from the bus carrying a DC power signal constrained to not exceed a given current limit and a given voltage limit, a DC-to-DC step-down voltage converter, a capacitor, and a DC-to-DC step-up voltage converter. The step-down converter has an input connected to the power connection and produces an intermediate signal having a voltage the same or less than the voltage of the power signal. The capacitor is connected to the output of the step-down converter. The step-up converter has an input connected to the output of the step-down converter and to the capacitor, and produces a final output signal having a voltage greater than the given voltage limit. The output of the step-up converter is connected to and provides DC power to the device.
US07656424B2 Method and device for stabilizing images supplied by a video camera
Method and device for stabilizing images obtained by a video camera of an environment with objects moving along lanes. The method a first stage of determining in first images obtained by the camera, portions corresponding to the movement lanes, determining the remaining second portions complementary to the first portions, determining, in the second portions, the reference position of the image point corresponding to a first stationary object point, and a second stage of determining in at least one second image taken after the first images, the vector that corresponds to the movement of the image point relative to its reference position determined by the first images, and processing the second image as a function of the modulus and direction of the vector such that, relative to the three-dimensional frame of reference the image point returns to its reference position.
US07656414B2 System and method for determination of gray for CIE color conversion using chromaticity
In accordance with the present invention, a system and method are described for producing pure gray tones on a multi-color document output device that includes a system for operating on device independent color data having multiple color components, which color data corresponds to one or more associated electronic documents. The system and method function to extract grayscale data by the use of chromaticity properties of an input image.
US07656410B2 Image buffering techniques
A system, apparatus, method and article to perform buffering techniques are described. The apparatus may include a buffer having a fixed number of storage slots that store reconstructed picture representations received from an image processing module. Also, the apparatus may include a buffer status unit to store a multiple information items to indicate one or more buffer characteristics of the buffer. Further, the apparatus may include a buffer control module to manage storage within the buffer.
US07656401B2 Techniques for representing 3D scenes using fixed point data
A quantization transform, corresponding to a geometric object, is determined. The geometric object represents at least a portion of an object in a three-dimensional scene. The quantization transform is suitable for converting a floating point space to a fixed point space, where the floating point space contains floating point data corresponding to the geometric object. The quantization transform is used to convert floating point data to fixed point data. The floating point data is typically vertices corresponding to the geometric object. Additionally, a quantization transform corresponding to a geometric object is determined. The geometric object represents at least a portion of the three-dimensional scene. The quantization transform is suitable for converting a floating point space to a fixed point space, and the fixed point space contains one or more fixed point data corresponding to the geometric object. The floating point space defines at least the portion of the three-dimensional scene. At least the quantization transform is applied to the one or more fixed point data.
US07656396B2 Calibrating digital pens
A method of calibrating a digital pen (100) comprises the steps of: i) acquiring calibration data indicative of parameters indicative of an offset between a nib (108) of the pen (100) and a field of view (124) of a camera (114) whilst the pen is in use; and ii) using the calibration data to compensate for the offset in subsequently acquired pen usage data. A digital pen, digital paper and software for calibrating a digital pen and a network comprising a digital pen are also disclosed.
US07656386B1 Low profile pointing device for personal computers
A low profile pointing device for personal computers includes a thin elongate case for insertion in a PC Card slot and defining a cavity therein. A frame forms one surface of the case and defines an opening therethrough. A slidable plate is disposed within the cavity and is translatably supported in a plane parallel to the frame. A portion of the slidable plate is accessible through said frame opening. At least one motion sensor is mounted within the case and is coupled with the slidable plate for sensing movement of the plate and converting the sensed movements into electrical data signals. A communication interface transmits data signals between the motion sensor and the computer.
US07656383B2 Method and apparatus for illuminating a flat panel display with a variably-adjustable backlight
A backlit flat panel display includes a fluorescent tube positioned for illuminating the display, and a plurality of display illuminating LEDs on the periphery of the display. The fluorescent tube illuminates the display through a first range of brightness above a predetermined transition level and the LEDs illuminate the display through a second range of brightness below the transition level. When the illumination of the display is adjusted through the transition level to account for changes in ambient light, the LEDs and the fluorescent tube are operated together, so that the combined brightness of the illumination provided by the LEDs and the fluorescent tube will provide the desired display brightness; this advantageously compensates for delayed illumination of the fluorescent tube at start up and for persistence in the tube after shutdown.
US07656379B2 Driving circuit for use in cholesteric liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device of the present invention comprises: a liquid crystal display panel; a cholesteric liquid crystal layer in the liquid crystal panel; a data controller having a connection with the liquid crystal display panel, wherein the data controller receives red, green and blue data signals from an external source and provides the signals to the liquid crystal panel; and a data amplifying circuit in the data controller, the data amplifying circuit selecting one of the red, green and blue data signals and then overdriving the selected data signal.
US07656375B2 Image-processing device and method for enhancing the luminance and the image quality of display panels
An image-processing device and method for enhancing the luminance and the image quality of display panels, the device and method includes a color distribution calculating unit which classifies the original image-color data, and then calculates the ratio of the color data in block B2 to all input image-color data. A control-variable generating unit determines the value of the converting-control variable and the value of the backlight luminance-control variable according to the ratio. The converting-control variable will be output to a numerical converting unit so as to convert the original image-color (RGB) data to the new image-color (R′G′B′W′) data. The backlight luminance-control variable will be output to a backlight luminance-control unit so as to control the backlight luminance.
US07656367B2 Plasma display device and driving method thereof
A driving waveform is applied to a scan electrode while a sustain electrode is biased at a ground voltage such that a driving board for driving the sustain electrode may not be needed. In addition, when grouping a plurality of scan electrodes into a plurality of groups and representing grayscale values using a frame-subfield method, a sustain discharge may be stably generated during a sustain period by reducing a time gap between address and sustain periods. When a sustain pulse is applied during a sustain period between two adjacent address periods, the last voltage is set to be a low level voltage.
US07656365B2 Double-sided fiber-based displays
A double-sided fiber-based display includes a plasma tube array sandwiched between two electro-optic materials. The electro-optic materials are preferably sandwiched between two fiber arrays. The two fiber arrays contain wire electrodes to set the charge in the plasma tubes and are parallel to each other and orthogonal to the plasma tube array. The fibers can be alternatively coated with a transparent conductive coating, such as a carbon nanotube film, to spread the voltage across the surface of the fiber. The plasma tubes contain wire electrodes to ignite a plasma along its entire length. The tube surfaces that are in contact with the electro-optic materials are preferably thin and flat. The fiber and plasma tube wire electrodes are preferably directly connected to a circuit board which houses electronics to address the display.
US07656363B2 Radio communication antenna fitted with a radome and method of assembling this kind of radio communication antenna fitted with a radome
The present invention concerns a radio communication antenna comprising a reflector fitted to a first opening of a cylindrical lateral screen and a radome formed by a flexible material covering a second opening of this lateral screen so as to have a protective surface facing the reflector. According to the invention, this kind of antenna is characterized in that the protective surface is curved by the mechanical action of a deformation element of the antenna coming into contact with this protective surface.
US07656357B2 Transparent antenna for vehicle and vehicle glass with antenna
A transparent antenna for a vehicle has a transmittance property providing good visibility without worsening the design and is capable of realizing low resistance. The transparent antenna has an insulating sheet-like transparent base body (1a) and an antenna pattern planarly formed on the surface of the transparent base body (1a). An electrically conductive section (1b) of the antenna pattern is constructed from an electrically conductive thin film of a mesh structure, lines of each mesh are constructed from very fine bands having substantially equal widths, and the width of each of the very fine bands is 30 μm or less. The light transmittance of the antenna pattern is 70% or higher.
US07656353B2 Mobile wireless communications device comprising a satellite positioning system antenna with active and passive elements and related methods
A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, at least one wireless transceiver carried by the portable housing, and a satellite positioning signal receiver carried by the portable housing. Moreover, a satellite positioning antenna may be carried by the portable housing. The satellite positioning antenna may include an active element connected to the satellite positioning signal receiver, and a passive element connected to a voltage reference and positioned in spaced apart relation from the active element and operatively coupled thereto for directing a beam pattern thereof.
US07656347B2 Quadrature radar apparatus
A quadrature radar apparatus includes a quadrature signal generating unit, a plurality of coupler modules connected to the signal generating unit, an antenna unit receiving transmission signals from the coupler modules and a reception signal reflected from a target, one or more phase delay modules connected between one or more of the coupler modules and the antenna unit to delay the phases of the transmission and reception signals by 90 degrees, a leakage signal canceling unit combining the reception signals inputted from the antenna unit through the first and second coupler modules and removes the transmission leakage signal.
US07656337B2 Method and system for bit polarization coding
A method and system for converting a digital code. A digital signal is encoded to have a digital code having multiple binary bits. Substantially one half of the binary bits of the digital code is inverted to produce a modified digital code to reduce digital noise associated with the digital code.
US07656330B2 Automatic range shift system and method for an analog to digital converter
Automatic range shifting for an analog to digital converter (ADC) includes combining an external analog input and a DAC output to provide an input to the ADC, detecting whether the range of the output of the ADC is above a predetermined upper range limit or below a predetermined lower range limit, and generating an adjustment code to increase the DAC output if the ADC output is above the upper range limit and to decrease the DAC output if the ADC output is below the lower range limit for decreasing the ADC input when the ADC output is above the upper limit and to increase the ADC input when the ADC output is below the lower limit to keep the ADC input within the ADC range.
US07656329B2 Time-interleaved analog-to-digital conversion apparatus
A time-interleaved analog-to-digital conversion apparatus is disclosed. The time-interleaved analog-to-digital conversion apparatus is applied for a television system and includes an input multiplexing module, a gain multiplexer and an analog-to-digital converter. The input multiplexing module receives a plurality of image signals, and samples the image signals according to a clock signal to generate a sample multiplexing signal. The gain multiplexer receives a plurality of gain signals and selectively transmits one of the gain signals corresponding to the sample multiplexing signal according to the clock signal, so as to generate a gain multiplexing signal. The analog-to-digital converter receives the sample multiplexing signal, the gain multiplexing signal and the clock signal. The analog-to-digital converter amplifies and converts the sample multiplexing signal to a digital signal according to the gain multiplexing signal and the clock signal.
US07656320B2 Difference coding adaptive context model using counting
Techniques for improving encoding and decoding data are described herein. According to one embodiment, it is determined whether a current context can encode a retrieved symbol. The current context includes a plurality entries, each representing an encoded symbol, including a count value representing a frequency of the entry being used. A code is generated to a code stream, where the code represents a difference between an index of an entry in the current context associated with the retrieved symbol and a previous index used for encoding a previous symbol, if the current context can encode the retrieved symbol. A count value corresponding to the entry associated with the retrieved symbol is incremented in the current context. The current context is sorted based on count values of all entries in the current context, where the code stream and the literal stream are to be compressed and encoded by a compressor.
US07656315B2 Computer chinese character input method and its keyboard based on simplified strokes
This computer Chinese character input method mainly includes: Select 10 elements corresponding to the 10 simplified Chinese character strokes, which are and Select 46 elements corresponding to the 46 stroke combination sets, whose representative visual representations are: Assign the above 10 elements and 46 elements to keys on a computer keyboard; Determine desired characters based on the elements input by a user using the keyboard mentioned above or other apparatus.
US07656306B2 Circuit for driving network indicator
A circuit assembly for indicating statuses of a network includes an indicator circuit having a first indicator and a second indicator, a networking chipset including a first port for outputting a network type signal, a second port for outputting a linking status signal, and a third port for outputting a data transfer signal, and a driving circuit. The driving circuit includes a first transistor, a second transistor, and a power supply is capable of powering the first and second indicators. The second indicator is connected between the power supply and the third port to indicate data transfer status of the networking chipset. The first port and the second port are connected to the first indicator via the first transistor and the second transistor. The first transistor accepts the linking status signal to generate an assistant signal transferred to the second transistor. The second transistor accepts the network type signal, and compares the network type signal with the assistant signal to determine switching on or off the second transistor to control the indicator.
US07656298B2 Tag tape and tag label tape with print
A base tape includes: a plurality of RFID circuit elements each including an IC circuit part for storing information and a loop antenna connected to the IC circuit part; and an adhesive layer, a base film, an adhesive layer, an adhesive layer, and a separation sheet that are arranged so as to sandwich each of the RFID circuit elements from both sides in the thickness direction. The base tape is formed such that the ratio c of the sum of the thickness dimensions of the adhesive layer, base film, adhesive layer, adhesive layer, and separation sheet to the thickness dimension of the RFID circuit element is 0.8≦c≦9.8.
US07656297B2 RFID tag reading rate
An RFID system of the present invention has a plurality of antennas for reading data from an RFID tag; an antenna configuration storage unit for prestoring a position of each of the plurality of antennas; a position detection unit for detecting a position of the RFID tag; and an antenna control unit for selecting one or more of the antennas that read the RFID tag, based on the position of the RFID tag detected by the position detection unit and on the position of each of the plurality of antennas stored in the antenna configuration storage unit, and for preferentially activating the selected one or more of the antennas.
US07656293B2 Verification scheme used for email message containing information about remotely monitored devices
The present invention relates to sending control or monitoring information between two hardware devices utilizing email. Control information relating to either a first hardware device or a second hardware device is determined. This information is incorporated into an email message. Directing information for directing the control information is incorporated into the email message. Two hardware devices can then operate cooperatively over different remote networks. These networks only need to be compatible in the ability to exchange email for communication to persist between the two hardware devices. The control information and/or the directing information can encrypt. The control information and/or the directing information can be encoded. In embodiments of the present invention the encoding map is encrypted.
US07656290B2 Location system
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a user may receive guidance information from a guidance support center via a location system.
US07656288B2 Systems and methods for automatic proactive pattern recognition at a control center database
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for improved data communications within a remote sensor system. The system includes a control center node. The control center is adapted to receive data, process the data based at least in part on a rule, and notify a user when the rule is satisfied. Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method for improved data communications within a remote sensor system. The method includes detecting an event, generating data based at least in part on the event, processing the data based at least in part on a rule, and notifying a user when the rule is satisfied.
US07656286B2 Trusted monitoring system and method
Methods and apparatus for monitoring remotely located objects with a system comprised of at least one master data collection unit, any number of remote sensor units, and a central data collection server are described. The master unit is configured to monitor any object, mobile or stationary, including monitoring multiple remote sensor units associated with the objects being monitored. The master unit may be in a fixed location, or attached to a mobile object. The master unit is configured for monitoring objects that enter and leave the area where it is located. The master unit may act as a parent controller for one or more child devices, wherein the child devices can be remote sensors or monitors of various measurable conditions including environmental conditions, substance identification, product identification and biometric identification. The master unit is able to discover new remote sensor units as they enter or leave the area where the master unit is located. The master unit can be remotely reprogrammed. The reprogramming can be accomplished with authenticated instructions.
US07656285B2 Method and apparatus for communicating the existence of an emergency situation without uniquely identifying the source of the communication
A system in which one or more alarm sources (10), can wirelessly communicate with a receiver (30), to activate an alarm and does not contain any identification that indicates the communication's source (10). The system may include “repeaters” (40), whose function is to relay the communication from one station to another over distances longer than can be reached by a single transmitter (10), Apparatuses for transmitting (10), repeating (40), and receiving (30), are also disclosed, as well as a communication system comprised of various elements of these.
US07656281B2 External air-flow-through valve stem mounted tire pressure monitoring apparatus
A wireless tire pressure monitoring apparatus is adapted to install on a conventional tire valve stem. The apparatus includes capability of refilling air through the sensor built-in valve stem, without needing to remove the apparatus. The pressure monitoring apparatus further includes a locking device to secure the mounting of the apparatus on the tire valve stem, with the additional benefit of discouraging apparatus thieves.
US07656280B2 Telematic parametric speed metering system
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, articles of manufacture and methods for a telematic parametric speed metering system. In one embodiment, a system may determine a vehicle's location and speed. Once the location has been determined, corresponding geographical zone based speed limits and/or other information may be acquired via internal memory or data transmission. The speed of the vehicle may then be compared against the speed limits for the zone. If the vehicle's speed exceeds those speed limits, one or more of a plurality of actions may be performed including (but not limited to) warning the driver via a visual or audio signal, informing an authority agency via data transmission, logging the excessive speeding condition (e.g., time, date, speed, location, driver name, etc).
US07656275B2 System and method for controlling an alarm for an electronic device
A graphical indicator, menu and method for modifying and displaying more than two states for the indicator is provided. An alarm indicator algorithm modifies and displays the indicator according to user-selectable options that enables a user to determine at first glance the nature of the next alarm and in particular when an alarm is not set to go off on a particular day to avoid accessing the alarm menu every time this knowledge is desired or whenever the user is uncertain of the settings. Various visual cues such as colour, graphical and textual elements can be used and the algorithm can associate these cues with appropriate alarm states. When the number of settings for the multi-state alarm is relatively large, a desktop web-based application program interface (API) may be used to facilitate setting and updating the alarm functions.
US07656273B2 Mobile portal for RFID luggage handling applications
A mobile portal for RFID applications includes an RFID reader for reading identifications of proximately located RFID tagged items and a communicator for communicating with a central computer. The communicator is coupled to the RFID reader to receive the read identifications and then communicate the received read identifications over a wireless interface to a central data processing system. Each mobile portal may be actuated for RFID read operations in response to information sensed concerning operation of the mobile asset/vehicle. Additionally, the central data processing system may issue instructions concerning mobile asset/vehicle operation, with those instructions communicated over the wireless interface to the mobile portal. Responsive to implementation of those instructions, the mobile portal actuates the RFID reader and compares the read identifications to a list of RFID tags that were expected to be read.
US07656271B2 System and method for managing a remotely located asset
A commercially viable solution for providing an asset management system that provides for accessing assets, tracking location of assets, managing OSHA compliance of the assets, and monitoring impact of the assets. The asset management system may utilize system architecture having intelligent wireless devices associated with the individual assets. The use of intelligent wireless devices allows for the asset management system to operate and maintain functionality substantially without loss of data in the event of a loss of communication between the wireless devices and a management computing system via a network, including an out-of-range condition of the wireless devices with respect to a local monitor.
US07656266B2 Toroidal star-shaped transformer
A toroidal power transformer is disclosed. The toroidal power transformer comprises a circular core composed of plurality of laminated electrically conductive materials, a plurality of multi-layered first windings radially wound around the circular core, said winding arranged with an angular spacing of 2θ and a number of windings in each winding layer is less than a number of windings in each previous layer, a multi-layered second winding radially wound around the circular core covering a corresponding one of said plurality of first windings, wherein the layers of each of said second windings are arranged to form a substantially triangular cross-section; and an insulating layer between each of said first and second windings.
US07656263B2 Miniature circuitry and inductive components and methods for manufacturing same
Miniature circuitry and inductor components in which multiple levels of printed circuitry are formed on each side of a support panel, typically a printed circuit board or rigid flex. Magnetic members are embedded in one or more cavities in said support panel. Electrical connection between the plural levels of circuitry and multiple windings around the magnetic members are provided by plural plated through hole conductors. Small through hole openings accommodate a plurality of the plated through hole conductors since each is insulated from the others by a very thin layer of vacuum deposited organic layer such as parylene having a high dielectric strength. Adhesion of this plated copper to the organic layer is provided by first applying an adhesive promotor to the surface of the organic layer followed by the vacuum deposition of the organic layer.
US07656262B2 Balun transformer, mounting structure of balun transformer, and electronic apparatus having built-in mounting structure
There is provided a balun transformer, in which first to fourth layer coils are stacked and coupled magnetically; one end of each coil of the first to fourth layer coils is grounded; the second and third layer coils are connected in parallel, an unbalanced signal is input/output to/from a common terminal of the second and third layer coils; a first balanced signal is input/output to/from the other end of the first layer coil; and a second balanced signal is input/output to/from the other end of the fourth layer coil.
US07656260B2 Wire wound electronic part
A wire wound electronic part includes a core having a wire wound core and flanges formed on both ends thereof, a coil conductor wound around the wire wound core and terminal electrodes disposed at the bottom of the flange, in which both ends of the coil conductor are conductively connected to the terminal electrodes by a solder, wherein a pair of grooves are formed at the bottom crossing the wire wound core of one of the flanges. The groove has a bottom and side walls disposed being slanted on both sides thereof, in which the vertical height for the side wall is formed larger than the length for the bottom of the side wall. The terminal electrodes are contained in the groove, and edge portion in the lateral direction of the terminal electrode is restricted by the side wall of the groove. The edge portion in the lateral direction of the terminal electrode is restricted by the side wall of the groove, which makes the lateral size stable and suppresses the movement of the molten solder in the lateral direction of the groove, thereby preventing unstable height and attitude of the wire wound electronic part upon mounting to a circuit substrate.
US07656254B2 Dielectric filter having electrodes jump-coupled to a flexion, a chip device having the dielectric filter and method of manufacturing the chip device
A chip device having a ground electrode and a plurality of top-surface electrodes on a plate-like dielectric substrate. Two of the top-surface electrodes are connected to the ground electrode via respective short-circuit side-surface electrodes to form quarter wavelength resonant lines. A third top-surface electrode is provided between the two top-surface electrodes and both ends thereof are opened to form a half wavelength resonant line. The two top-surface electrodes each have a parallel portion arranged near and in parallel to the third top-surface electrode and a flexion that curves from the parallel portion, extends toward the remaining of the two top-surface electrodes, and is jump-coupled to the remaining of the two top-surface electrodes. The short-circuit side-surface electrodes are jump-coupled to each other, like the flexions.
US07656252B2 Micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) resonator and manufacturing method thereof
A micro-electro-mechanical-system resonator, includes: a substrate; a fixed electrode formed on the substrate; and a movable electrode, arranged facing the fixed electrode and driven by an electrostatic attracting force or an electrostatic repulsion force that acts on a gap between the fixed electrode and the movable electrode. An internal surface of a support beam of the movable electrode facing the fixed electrode has an inclined surface.
US07656251B1 Split band duplexer
The present invention is a split band duplexer, which increases the separation between a transmit passband and a receive passband by splitting the transmit and receive passbands into sub-bands. Each sub-band has a bandwidth that is less than the bandwidth of the full passband. The increased separation increases isolation margins and insertion loss margins, which allows use of standard filter components, such as surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters, and their accompanying manufacturing tolerances and drift characteristics. In one embodiment of the present invention, the split band duplexer includes a first sub-band duplexer and a second sub-band duplexer. The first sub-band duplexer may provide a full bandwidth transmit passband and a receive passband that is less than full bandwidth. The second sub-band duplexer may provide a full bandwidth receive passband and a transmit passband that is less than full bandwidth.
US07656244B2 Discrete clock generator and timing/frequency reference
In various embodiments, the invention provides a discrete clock generator and/or a timing and frequency reference using an LC-oscillator topology, having a frequency controller to control and provide a stable resonant frequency, which may then be provided to other, second circuitry such as a processor or controller. Frequency stability is provided over variations in a selected parameter such as temperature and fabrication process variations. The various apparatus embodiments include a sensor adapted to provide a signal in response to at least one parameter of a plurality of parameters; and a frequency controller adapted to modify the resonant frequency in response to the second signal. In exemplary embodiments, the sensor is implemented as a current source responsive to temperature fluctuations, and the frequency controller is implemented as a plurality of controlled reactance modules which are selectively couplable to the resonator or to one or more control voltages. The controlled reactance modules may include fixed or variable capacitances or inductances, and may be binary weighted. Arrays of resistive modules are also provided, to generate one or more control voltages.
US07656237B2 Method to gate off PLLS in a deep power saving state without separate clock distribution for power management logic
An apparatus, a method, and a computer program are provided to gate a Phased Locked Loop (PLL). In microprocessors, the clock distribution system can account for a substantial amount of power consumption. Gating the PLLs, however, has been difficult because of the usual requirement for a separate clock for control logic and because the PLL requires timed to reacquire phase/frequency lock. Therefore, lock detection logic can be employed to allow the PLL to reacquire phase/frequency lock. Additionally, signals from external devices and the processor can be employed to gate the PLL and allow the processor to be awakened without a need for a separate clock.
US07656233B2 Apparatus for high power amplifier in wireless communication system
An apparatus for a High Power Amplifier (HPA) in a wireless communication system is provided. In one example, the apparatus includes a temperature sensor for determining temperature, a controller for receiving the determined temperature and for controlling a gate bias voltage corresponding to the determined temperature and an amplifier for amplifying a Radio Frequency (RF) signal by using the controlled gate bias voltage.
US07656229B2 Method and apparatus for reducing intermodulation distortion in an electronic device having an amplifier circuit
An electronic device includes an amplifier circuit coupled to a linearizer. The amplifier circuit may receive a first input signal including first and second frequencies and generate a first output signal including a delta frequency signal at a delta frequency, which is the difference between the first frequency and the second frequency. The linearizer includes a signal detector circuit, a current-mirror circuit, a low pass filter, a phase shifter, and a bias circuit. The signal detector circuit may generate a second output signal. The current-mirror circuit may adjust an amplitude of a signal. The low pass filter may eliminate a portion of the second output signal having frequencies greater than the delta frequency. The phase shifter may generate a feedback signal corresponding to the delta frequency signal. An amplitude and/or a phase of the feedback signal is different from an amplitude and/or a phase of the delta frequency signal.
US07656222B2 Internal voltage generator
An apparatus for generating an internal voltage includes an output-voltage detecting unit for detecting a voltage level of an internal voltage, an oscillating unit for generating a periodic signal in response to a detection signal from the output-voltage level detecting unit, a first driving-voltage level detecting unit for detecting an increase of a voltage level of a driving voltage, a second driving-voltage level detecting unit for detecting a decrease of a voltage level of the driving voltage, a period control unit for controlling a period of the periodic signal in response to output signals of the first and second driving-voltage level detecting units, and a charge pumping unit for generating the internal voltage by charge-pumping the driving voltage in response to an output signal from the period control unit.
US07656216B1 Method and system for determining a clock input mode
A method and system is provided for clock input mode selection. When a signal provided on one of two clock input terminals is received, the received signal is considered in connection with a second input signal in order to determine whether the first input signal and the second input signal satisfy a pre-determined condition. Based on whether the pre-determined condition is met, a clock input mode is selected that indicates whether the clock input terminals provide a differential clock input or a single-ended digital clock input.
US07656212B1 Configurable delay chain with switching control for tail delay elements
A configurable delay chain with switching control. The configurable delay chain includes a plurality of delay elements. A switch circuit is included and is coupled to the delay elements and configured to select at least one of the plurality of delay elements to create a delay signal path. The delay signal path has an amount of delay in accordance with a number of delay elements comprising the delay signal path. An input is coupled to a first delay element of the delay signal path to receive an input signal and an output is coupled to the switch circuit and is coupled to the delay signal path to receive a delayed version of the input signal after propagating through the delay signal path. A plurality of turnoff devices are coupled to inputs of the delay elements and coupled to the switch circuit, wherein the switch circuit activates at least one turnoff device of at least one unused delay element that is not on the delay signal path.
US07656207B2 Delay locked loop circuit having coarse lock time adaptive to frequency band and semiconductor memory device having the delay locked loop circuit
Provided are a DLL circuit having a coarse lock time adaptive to a frequency band of an external clock signal and a semiconductor memory device having the DLL circuit. The DLL circuit includes a delay circuit, a replica circuit, and a phase detector. The phase detector generates a first comparison signal used by the delay circuit to delay an external clock signal in units of a first cell delay time or a second comparison signal used by the delay circuit to delay the external clock signal in units of a second cell delay time. The DLL circuit delays the external clock signal by the cell delay time adaptive to the frequency band of the external clock signal, and thus can perform an accurate and rapid coarse lock operation for the entire frequency band.
US07656199B2 Fast, low offset ground sensing comparator
A fast, accurate, low offset comparator may be configured with multiple gain stages. A low gain, low input impedance, and fully differential common-gate amplifier may be configured as a first stage in the multi-stage comparator, providing a wide bandwidth for small power consumption. The inputs of the comparator may comprise a pair of differential inputs at respective source terminals of gate-coupled metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) devices configured in the input stage of the common-gate amplifier. A pair of differential outputs of the first stage may be coupled to a pair of differential inputs of a second stage, which may be a differential input current-mirror amplifier that may perform differential to single-ended conversion. The single-ended output of the second stage may serve as the input into a latch, which may be a bistable set-reset (SR) latch configured to increase the gain and response time while protecting against multiple switching, with the single-ended output of the latch configured as the output of the comparator.
US07656194B2 Shift register circuit
A shift register circuit comprising a plurality of stages dependently connected to an initial input signal or an output signal of a previous stage and connected to first and second clock signals which are mutually inverted. Each stage includes eight switching devices interconnected together with three capacitors and interfaced through eleven interface points. Some of the interface points are connected to the first and second clock signals according to whether the stage is an even numbered stage or an odd numbered stage. Other ones of the interface points are connectable to the first and second clock signals in alternative ways to reduce power consumption without changing an internal configuration of the stage.
US07656193B1 Programmable logic device and method of testing
In one embodiment of the invention, a programmable logic device includes a plurality of programmable resources; non-volatile configuration memory adapted to store configuration data for configuring the plurality of programmable resources; a register adapted to load configuration data into the non-volatile configuration memory; and test circuitry coupled to the register. The test circuitry is adapted to configure a programmable resource with test data stored in the register rather than with configuration data stored in the non-volatile configuration memory. In another embodiment of the invention, the programmable logic device includes a buffer coupled between the configuration memory and a programmable resource, and the test circuitry includes a logic circuit coupled between the register, the configuration memory, and the buffer. The logic circuit is responsive to a test mode signal to route test data from the register to the buffer.
US07656189B1 Trust controller for detecting unauthorized logic in a circuit design
Various approaches for detection of an unwanted function implemented in an integrated circuit (IC) are described. A controller is implemented on the IC, and at a first time while the IC is operating according to a circuit design, the controller reads a first data set from a subset of memory cells. The subset of memory cells stores state information of the circuit design. The controller determines whether the first data set is different from a second data set. In response to the first data set being different from the second data set, the controller outputs a threat signal that indicates the presence of unauthorized logic in the circuit design.
US07656183B2 Method to extract gate to source/drain and overlap capacitances and test key structure therefor
A method to extract gate to source/drain and overlap capacitances is disclosed. A first capacitance of a first test key having a reference structure and a second capacitance of a second test key having a novel structure are measured. The second test key may comprise at least a gate formed on an insulation structure, at least a contact formed on the insulation structure aside, and a metal layer formed on the contact. Another embodiment of the second test key may comprise at least a gate formed on the semiconductor substrate, a contact formed aside, and a metal layer formed on the contact. Further another embodiment uses a test key comprising at least an elongated gate and an elongated doping region aside, and only one or a few contacts are formed on an end portion of the elongated doping region.
US07656177B2 Test apparatus
There is provided a test apparatus that tests an electronic device. The test apparatus includes a socket board in which a socket for mounting thereon the electronic device is provided, and a test head that detachably holds the socket board and transmits source power to the electronic device via the socket board, the test head includes a first source power transmission line that transmits the source power to the socket board, a first bypass capacitor that is provided between the first source power transmission line and ground potential, and a switch that switches whether the first bypass capacitor is connected between the first source power transmission line and the ground potential, and the socket board includes a second source power transmission line that transmits the source power to the electronic device, and a second bypass capacitor that is fixedly connected between the second source power transmission line and the ground potential.
US07656176B2 Probe member for wafer inspection, probe card for wafer inspection and wafer inspection equipment
A probe member for wafer inspection having a sheet-like probe, the probe including a frame plate in which openings are formed, and contact films arranged on a front surface of the frame plate so as to close the openings, each of the contact films obtained by arranging, in an insulating film formed of a flexible resin, a plurality of electrode structures, and an anisotropically conductive connector, which is composed of a frame plate, in which a plurality of openings have been formed corresponding to the electrode regions, and a plurality of elastic anisotropically conductive films arranged on and supported by the frame plate so as to close the respective openings, wherein each of the openings of the frame plate in the sheet-like probe have a size for receiving the external shape in a plane direction in the elastic anisotropically conductive film of the anisotropically conductive connector.
US07656169B2 Capacitive occupant detection system
A capacitive occupant detection system has an oscillator and an electrode operatively coupled to the oscillator, to which the oscillator applies an oscillating voltage signal. In response to the oscillating voltage being applied, an electric current is caused to flow in the electrode, the current being responsive to an electric-field-influencing property of an object or occupant proximate to the electrode. The current caused to flow in the electrode has a first current component in phase with the oscillating voltage signal and a second current component 90°-phase-offset with respect to the oscillating voltage signal. A sensing circuit is operatively coupled to the electrode and to the oscillator so as to generate a first signal indicative of the first current component and a second signal indicative of the second current component. The first signal indicative of the first current component and the second signal indicative of the second current component are provided to a processor, which is operatively coupled to the sensing circuit and which determines an occupancy state based upon the first and second signals indicative of the first and second current components, respectively, and outputs an output signal indicative of the occupancy state.
US07656161B2 Magnetization of target well casing strings tubulars for enhanced passive ranging
A method for magnetizing a wellbore tubular is disclosed. The method includes magnetizing a wellbore tubular at three or more discrete locations on the tubular. In exemplary embodiments the magnetized wellbore tubular includes at least one pair of opposing magnetic poles located between longitudinally opposed ends of the tubular. Wellbore tubulars magnetized in accordance with this invention may be coupled to one another to provide a magnetic profile about a section of a casing string. Passive ranging measurements of the magnetic field about the casing string may be utilized to survey and guide drilling of a twin well. Such an approach advantageously obviates the need for simultaneous access to both wells.
US07656160B2 Determining properties of earth formations using the electromagnetic coupling tensor
A system and method to determine earth formation properties by positioning a logging tool within a wellbore in the earth formation, the logging tool having a tool rotation axis and a first, a second, and a third tilted transmitter coil, and a tilted receiver coil; rotating the logging tool about the tool rotation axis; energizing each transmitter coil; measuring a coupling signal between each transmitter coil and the receiver coil for a plurality of angles of rotation; determining a coupling tensor; and determining the earth formation properties using the coupling tensor.
US07656158B2 Sample holder for NMR measurements with field homogenization in the sample volume by means of the bordering surfaces of the sample holder
A sample vessel (80) made of material with magnetic susceptibility χ2, for containing a sample substance (87) with magnetic susceptibility χ3≠χ2 to be analyzed in a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer, has an inner interface G2 toward the sample substance and an outer interface G1 toward the environment (85) that exhibits magnetic susceptibility χ1. The shape of the interface toward the sample substance and the interface toward the environment are coordinated to match the discontinuities in susceptibility at the interfaces in such a way that on introduction of the sample tube filled with sample substance into the previously homogeneous magnetic field of an NMR spectrometer, the magnetic field inside the sample substance remains largely homogeneous.
US07656153B2 Metal detector with improved receiver coil
A pulse-induction-type metal detector in which the receiver coil comprises bifilar windings that are connected in series, opposing during the coil pulse and in series, aiding, following the coil pulse. Pick-up of energy by the receiver coil during the coil pulse is thereby minimized and the duration of oscillations is curtailed. Owing to the rapid recovery of the system from the flux change that is used to charge the target, the signal sampling gate can be positioned very close to the trailing edge of the coil-current pulse, whereby detection of targets with very short time constants is made possible.
US07656141B1 Switched mode current source for pulsed loads
The present invention pertains to an arrangement wherein an inductor current is monitored and its level operates a converter switch so that the inductor current ramps up and down between two limits. The midpoint of these two limits is the average output current supplied to a pulsed load. When a pulse is first detected, the converter activates and remains in one state until the output current has ramped up to the pulsed load requirement at which time the switch changes state. The current then ramps down as the average current discharges into the load. When the output current drops to a specified minimum, the voltage supply is turned on providing for a self oscillating regulated switch. The controller responds to changes in the output current within one switching cycle so as to keep up with the transient edges of the pulsed load.
US07656134B2 B-plus patch and voltage transient spike suppressor for an automotive voltage regulator
An Improved Automotive All Silicon Voltage Regulator (I-ASVR) for use in the automotive components re-manufacturing and original equipment alternator product. Particularly this device improves the electrical connections, prevents failures related to poor connections and heat variations, and eliminates failures from transient voltage surges that effect electronic devices. The device may be replacement regulator for re-manufacturing or an original equipment regulator to improve quality and durability. It is comprised essentially of four significant changes to a standard voltage regulator: an addition to the electronics of a transient suppression for the loads; a connection for the battery connection (B+) through a fixed terminal that connects and is sandwiched under the battery stud of the rectifier bridge; the elimination of the soldered B+ terminal that was susceptible to corrosion and failure; and, an improved grounding connection.
US07656128B2 System and method for charging and pulsating batteries
A battery charging and pulsating system including a battery having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, a charger connected to the positive and negative terminals of the battery, the charger including a controller, a pulsator connected to the positive and negative terminals of the battery and a filter positioned between the charger and the pulsator to filter signals received from the pulsator.
US07656117B2 System and method for precharging passive harmonic filters
A system and method for precharging a harmonic filter connected to a power supply line to receive AC power and deliver the AC power to the motor drive unit includes a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to monitor an operational state of the motor drive unit or the power supply line, and generate a first control signal upon a predetermined change in the operational state and a second control signal delayed from the first control signal. The system also includes a charging circuit having a first switch configured to actuate in response to the first control signal to provide a reduced power to at least a portion of the harmonic filter and a second switch configured to actuate in response to the second control signal to provide a non-reduced power to the at least a portion of the harmonic filter.
US07656115B2 Calibrating stepper motor by driving fractional ranges
A stepper motor driving a driven member is calibrated by periodically driving the member from its current operational position to an end stop of the driven member's total travel range; however, the driven member approaches the end stop in a series of ever-shorter travel segments. The first travel segment is less than ⅓ the total travel range to compensate for a possible sudden speed reversal, which can be accidentally triggered by the driven member reaching and “bouncing off” the end stop. Limiting the commanded first travel segment to less than ⅓ the total travel range prevents the driven member from reaching an opposite travel limit should the driven member suddenly reverse direction at three times the normal forward speed, wherein such triple speed is characteristic of reverse-speed situations.
US07656111B1 Low power preamplifier writer architecture
A circuit is adapted to activate a writer head of a data storage media drive during both the boost periods as well as the steady state periods. The current supplied to the writer head during the boost periods exceeds the steady state current and flows between positive and negative voltage supplies so as to provide the required magnetic flux change in the inductor disposed in the write head. During the steady state periods, a switch circuit is turned on to provide a second current path across the writer head. During the steady state periods, the current flows between the positive voltage supply and the ground to reduce power consumption. The switch circuit is turned off during the boost periods.
US07656109B2 Trash can with power operated lid
A trash can can include a sensor for detecting the presence of an object near a lower portion of the trash can. The detection of the object can be used to signal the trash can to open its lid. The trash can can include an electric drive unit for opening and closing the lid.
US07656093B2 Discharge lamp and metal foil for a discharge lamp
An ultra high pressure mercury lamp having a light emitting part, a pair of electrodes; hermetically sealed portions; part of the electrodes and metal foils installed in the hermetically sealed portions and connected to the base parts of the electrodes; and outer leads connected to the base parts of the metal foils. The metal foils have a region with a small width which is groove-shaped and with which the electrodes are connected, and a wide region which borders the region with a small width, and which has an Ω-shaped end region which borders the groove of the region with a small width, in which an end groove is formed, and which extends in the lengthwise direction, a base-side Ω-region which is connected to the outer lead, in which a base-side groove is formed, and a middle, flat region which extends between the end Ω-region and the base-side Ω-region.
US07656092B2 Micro discharge (MD) plasma display panel (PDP) having perforated holes on both dielectric and electrode layers
A Plasma Display Panel (PDP) includes a dielectric layer having a plurality of dielectric-layer perforated holes arranged in a matrix; upper and lower electrode layers each having electrode-layer perforated holes connected to the dielectric-layer perforated holes and arranged on both surfaces of the dielectric layer, the upper and lower electrode layers being adapted to receive electrical signals. The upper electrode layer includes a plurality of upper electrodes extending in a first direction, each of the plurality of upper electrodes surrounding a group of the electrode-layer perforated holes arranged in the first direction and including transparent individual electrodes surrounding the electrode-layer perforated holes and linear connection portions adapted to electrically connect the individual electrodes. The lower electrode layer includes a plurality of lower electrodes extending in a second direction at an angle with respect to the first direction, each of the plurality of second electrodes surrounding a group of electrode-layer perforated holes arranged in the second direction.
US07656090B2 Plasma display panel design resulting in improved luminous efficiency and reduced reactive power
Provided is a plasma display panel including a rear substrate, a front substrate separated from the rear substrate, a plurality of barrier ribs arranged between the front substrate and the rear substrate and adapted to define a plurality of discharge cells corresponding to a plurality of sub-pixels, a plurality of sustain electrode pairs comprising a plurality of first discharge electrodes and a plurality of second discharge electrodes extending parallel to each other and surrounding ones of the plurality of discharge cells, the plurality of sustain electrode pairs being adapted to generate a discharge, a plurality of address electrodes extending and surrounding the plurality of discharge cells and arranged in a direction that crosses the plurality of sustain electrode pairs, a plurality of phosphor layers arranged within the plurality of discharge cells and a discharge gas arranged within the plurality of discharge cells, wherein a predetermined number of sub-pixels form a unit pixel, and unit pixels adjacent to each other in a direction are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.
US07656088B2 Organic electroluminescence device and method for fabricating the same
An organic electroluminescent (EL) device is provided that may include a first electrode, an organic layer and a second electrode arranged in a light-emitting region of a substrate. The device may also include a cap for sealing the light-emitting region of the substrate. The cap may have a caved surface with a minimum depth of 10 μm and a maximum depth of 10% of a total thickness of the cap.
US07656084B2 Method of producing laminated type organic electroluminescent element and display apparatus
A method of manufacturing includes providing one of the anode and the cathode, providing a layer of bank portions on the cathode or the anode, the bank portions defining apertures, providing the light emitting units in the apertures, providing the charge-generating portions over the light emitting units, at least one of the charge-generating layers being formed using a depositing device, and providing the other of the anode and the cathode. A display apparatus has a laminated organic electroluminescent element obtained with the manufacturing method. The manufacturing method provides with a high production efficiency an organic EL element having between a cathode and an opposing transparent anode at least one layer of a plurality of light-emitting units partitioned by at least one layer of charge-generating layers.
US07656078B2 Light emission device including a heat dissipation plate and a thermal diffuser plate
A light emission device and a display device using the light emission device as a light source are provided. The light emission device includes first and second substrates facing each other, an electron emission unit located on an inner surface of the first substrate, a phosphor layer located on an inner surface of the second substrate and adapted to be excited by electrons emitted from the electron emission unit, an anode electrode located on the phosphor layer, a heat dissipation plate located at a side of the first substrate, and a thermal diffuser plate located on the second substrate and thermally coupled to the heat dissipation plate. The thermal diffuser plate is configured to transmit light emitted by the phosphor layer.
US07656068B2 Dynamoelectric rotor
Each of first and second pole cores has a boss portion, six core flange portions; and six claw-shaped magnetic pole portions, the first and second pole cores being disposed such that the claw-shaped magnetic pole portions face each other so as to intermesh and leading end surfaces of the boss portions are abutted with each other. The boss portions include coil mount portions in which cross-sectional shapes that are perpendicular to the central axis are hexagons; and abutted portions that have circular cross sections and that are disposed so as to protrude from leading ends of the coil mount portions. Radially-inner surfaces of the claw-shaped magnetic pole portions face side surfaces of the coil mount portions and are parallel to the side surfaces of the coil mount portions at the cross sections that are perpendicular to the central axis.
US07656063B2 Pump motor
A rotor is accommodated in a yoke housing. Six magnets are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the inner circumferential surface of the yoke housing so as to face the rotor. The core is generally cylindrical and includes an annular portion at an anti-output side and a balance at an output side. The magnets have six poles so as to effectively narrow a basal path width of the core in which the line of magnetic force concentrates most and magnetic saturation is likely to occur most. This reduces the diameter of the core. Therefore, the motor is effectively miniaturized in the axial direction and in the radial direction without complicating the formation steps.
US07656062B2 Split coil linear motor for z force
Methods and apparatus for enabling a coil to be used to provide a net force along more than one axis are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, an actuator includes a magnet assembly and a coil assembly. The coil assembly moves at least partially within the magnet arrangement, and includes a top coil half and a bottom coil half. The top coil half and the bottom coil half are independently controllable such that a first current applied to the top coil half may be independently applied from a second current applied to the bottom coil half.
US07656060B2 Power system with method for adding multiple generator sets
A method of operating a power system is provided. The power system has a plurality of generator sets and a bus. The method monitors the bus and generator sets disconnected from the bus. The method supplies to a control device information associated with the operating state of each of the generator sets and the bus. The method determines a relative frequency mismatch and a relative phase mismatch between the frequency and phase of the bus and a generator, and generates a frequency speed bias and a phase speed bias for the generator. The method adds the frequency and phase speed biases to form a total speed bias, tunes the total speed bias to make the frequency and phase speed biases combine in a complementary manner, and connects the generator to the bus when the voltage, frequency, and phase of the generator are within a permissible range of the bus.
US07656058B2 Structure of inverter
An inverter structure includes a power source and an uninterruptible power supply device. The uninterruptible power supply device includes a power output selector and a constant-current controller built therein. The uninterruptible power supply device has an input terminal connected to the power source and output terminals connectable to external electrical appliance facilities via the power output selector and the constant-current controller. When power is supplied from the power source, the power output selector and the constant-current controller built in the uninterruptible power supply device function to effect distribution of power output to the electrical appliance facilities in accordance with preset condition.
US07656056B2 Method and device for stabilizing an on-board electrical system of a vehicle electrical system
A vehicle electrical system includes at least one battery, at least one fan and a device for detecting a critical state in the vehicle electrical system. The fan is activated when a critical state of the vehicle electrical system is detected. In this context, use is made of the fan's ability to store mechanical energy in the form of inertias. The fan operates in a regenerative manner and electrically feeds the mechanically stored energy back into the on-board electrical system.
US07656055B2 Hydro-wind power generating turbine system and retrofitting method
An electrical power producing wind turbine eliminates the possibility of being struck by lightning, reduces the complexity of gear trains and simplifies maintenance at heights. The wind turbine is electrically isolated from ground to reduce the possibility of being struck by lightning and the generator is located at ground level to simplify maintenance. The turbine blade shaft is directly attached to a hydraulic pump. The hydraulic fluid is transmitted to ground level through dielectric tubing and acts both as an electrical isolating medium and a transmitter of mechanical energy to the generator located at ground level. The wind turbine blade, shaft and hydraulic pump are electrically isolated from the support structure at the upper end.
US07656054B2 Turbine engine with an alternator and method for transmitting movement to an alternator
A twin-spool turbine engine includes a low-pressure rotor and a high-pressure rotor, an alternator, including an inductor winding and an armature, the high-pressure rotor rotating the inductor winding of the alternator. The armature is mounted so as to rotate and the low-pressure rotor is connected to a clutch arranged so that the low-pressure rotor drives the armature in a manner that is contrarotational to the inductor winding when the clutch are engaged.
US07656047B2 Semiconductor device package and manufacturing method
A semiconductor device package includes a semiconductor device mounted and electrically coupled to a substrate, a package body encapsulating the semiconductor device against a portion of an upper surface of the substrate; and an electromagnetic interference shielding layer formed over the package body and substantially enclosing the semiconductor device. The electromagnetic interference shielding layer is a plated metal layer in contact with the package body, and the plated metal layer is connected to a ground trace extending on the upper surface of the substrate.
US07656045B2 Cap layer for an aluminum copper bond pad
A bond pad for an electronic device such as an integrated circuit makes electrical connection to an underlying device via an interconnect layer. The bond pad has a first layer of a material that is aluminum and copper and a second layer, over the first layer, of a second material that is aluminum and is essentially free of copper. The second layer functions as a cap to the first layer for preventing copper in the first layer from being corroded by residual chemical elements. A wire such as a gold wire may be bonded to the second layer of the bond pad.
US07656044B2 Semiconductor device with improved resin configuration
A semiconductor device comprises a wiring substrate including a wiring pattern; a semiconductor chip installed on the wiring substrate, including a plurality of pads formed on a surface of the semiconductor chip, which opposes the wiring substrate; a first resin layer covering over a part of the wiring pattern within a region of overlapping the semiconductor chip; and a second resin layer installed between the semiconductor chip and the first resin layer. The pads are oppose to and coupled with a part of the wiring pattern exposed over the first resin layer; and the linear expansion coefficient of the wiring substrate is larger than that of the semiconductor chip, the elastic modulus of the wiring substrate is lower than that of the semiconductor chip and the linear expansion coefficient of the first resin layer is larger than that of the second resin layer. The elastic modulus of the first resin layer is lower than that of the second resin layer.
US07656042B2 Stratified underfill in an IC package
A method includes joining an integrated circuit die having at least one low-k dielectric layer to a package substrate or printed circuit board using a plurality of solder bumps located between the die and the package substrate or printed circuit board. The low-k dielectric layer has a dielectric constant of about 3.0 or less. The solder bumps have a lead concentration of about 5% or less. A stratified underfill is formed between the die and the package substrate or printed circuit board.
US07656025B2 Direct semiconductor contact ebullient cooling package
The semiconductor package as well as a method for making it and using it is disclosed. The semiconductor package comprises a semiconductor chip having at least one heat-generating semiconductor device and a volumetrically expandable chamber disposed to sealingly surround the semiconductor chip, the volumetrically expandable chamber filled entirely with a non-electrically conductive liquid in contact with the semiconductor device and circulated within the volumetrically expandable chamber at least in part by the generated heat of the at least one semiconductor device to cool the at least one semiconductor device.
US07656019B2 Semiconductor device and a manufacturing method of the same
A semiconductor device is disclosed wherein first wiring lines in a first row extend respectively from first connecting portions toward one side of a semiconductor chip, while second wiring lines extend respectively from second connecting portions toward the side opposite to the one side of the semiconductor chip. The reduction in size of the semiconductor device can be attained.
US07656015B2 Packaging substrate having heat-dissipating structure
Provided is a packaging substrate with a heat-dissipating structure, including a core layer with a first surface and an opposite second surface having a first metal layer and a second metal layer respectively. Portions of the first metal layer are exposed from a second cavity penetrating the core layer and second metal layer. Portions of the second metal layer are exposed from a first cavity penetrating the core layer and first metal layer. Semiconductor chips each having an active surface with electrode pads thereon and an opposite inactive surface are received in the first and second cavities and attached to the second metal layer and the first metal layer respectively. Conductive vias disposed in build-up circuit structures electrically connect to the electrode pads of the semiconductor chips. A heat-dissipating through hole penetrating the core layer and build-up circuit structures connects the metal layers and contact pads.
US07656007B2 Package substrate with inserted discrete capacitors
A package substrate (16) for electrically connecting an integrated circuit (12) to a printed circuit board (14) includes a core (222c), a patterned conductive layer (220c), a plurality of spaced apart, discrete capacitors (230), and an insulating layer (222b). The patterned conductive layer (220c) is positioned on the core (222c). The discrete capacitors (230) are electrically connected to the patterned conductive layer (220c). The insulating layer (222b) covers the patterned conductive layer (220c) and separates the capacitors (230). The capacitors (230) are positioned to provide a relatively low impedance path for quick access to power to stabilize the voltage delivered to the integrated circuit (12), and the capacitors (230) do not occupy valuable space on the integrated circuit (12), and the printed circuit board (14). Further, this placement of the capacitor assembly (18) allows for use of a relatively large number of discrete capacitors (230) without taking up valuable space from the surface of the package substrate (16).
US07655997B2 Wafer level electro-optical semiconductor manufacture fabrication mechanism and a method for the same
A wafer-level electro-optical semiconductor fabrication mechanism and method for the same which improves upon traditional electro-optical semiconductor grain packaging methods. The present invention electrically connects semiconductor grains to the grains on a top surface of a wafer, this is done by either screen-printing or steel board-printing solder or silver paste onto the wafer. After that, the wafer is processed using the following steps: processing the devices, bonding with wire, packaging the wafer and finally cutting the wafer. Using this method raises the production yield while production times and costs are reduced. The wafer-level electro-optical semiconductor fabrication mechanism comprises: a wafer, an electro-optical semiconductor grain and conductive materials.
US07655996B1 MEMS structure support and release mechanism
A MEMS device and method comprising a MEMS structure adjacent to a SOI base; a sacrificial support operatively connecting the base to the MEMS structure; a suspension member operatively connecting the base to the MEMS structure, wherein the suspension member is longer than the sacrificial support; and an electrode operatively connected to the base. The device may further comprise a current pulse generator adapted to send a current pulse through the sacrificial support, wherein the current pulse causes the sacrificial support to detach from the MEMS structure. Moreover, the sacrificial support structures may be electrically resistive.
US07655980B1 Device for ESD protection circuit
A LDNMOS device for an ESD protection circuit including a P-type substrate and an N-type deep well region is provided. The P-type substrate includes a first area and a second area. The N-type deep well region is in the first and second areas of the P-type substrate. The LDNMOS device further includes a gate electrode disposed on the P-type substrate between the first and second areas, a P-type implanted region disposed in the first area of the P-type substrate, an N-type grade region disposed in the N-type deep well region of the first area, an N-type first doped region disposed in the N-type grade region, a P-type body region disposed in the N-type deep well region of the second area, an N-type second doped region disposed in the P-type body region, and a P-type doped region disposed in the P-type body region and adjacent to the N-type second doped region.
US07655976B2 Field effect transistors having protruded active regions and methods of fabricating such transistors
Provided are a field effect transistor, a method of manufacturing the same, and an electronic device including the field effect transistor. The field effect transistor may have a structure in which a double gate field effect transistor and a recess channel array transistor are formed in a single transistor in order to improve a short channel effect which occurs as field effect transistors become more highly integrated, a method of manufacturing the same, and an electronic device including the field effect transistor. The field effect transistor can exhibit stable device characteristics even when more highly integrated in such a manner that both the length and width of a channel increase and particularly the channel can be significantly long, and can be manufactured simply.
US07655974B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device that reduces the width of an isolation region between semiconductor elements. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an epitaxial layer formed on the semiconductor substrate, a buried layer formed between the semiconductor substrate and the epitaxial layer, a first trench formed in the epitaxial layer so as to surround the buried layer, and an insulation film formed in the first trench.
US07655971B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method for manufacturing the same
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a source region and a drain region formed at a distance from each other in a semiconductor substrate; a tunnel insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate between the source region and the drain region; a charge storage film formed on the tunnel insulating film; a first alumina layer formed on the charge storage film, and having a first impurity element added thereto, the first impurity element having an octacoordinate ion radius of 63 pm or greater, the first impurity element having a concentration distribution in a layer thickness direction of the first alumina layer that becomes the largest in a region close to the side of the charge storage film; a second alumina layer formed on the first alumina layer, and not having the first impurity element added thereto; and a control gate electrode formed on the second alumina layer.
US07655970B2 Single poly non-volatile memory device with inversion diffusion regions and methods for operating the same
A non-volatile memory device comprises a substrate with the dielectric layer formed thereon. A control gate and a floating gate are then formed next to each other on top of the dielectric layer separated by a gap. Accordingly, a non-volatile memory device can be constructed using a single poly process that is compatible with conventional CMOS processes. In addition, assist gates are formed on the dielectric layer next to the control gate and floating gate respectively.
US07655967B2 DRAM (dynamic random access memory) cells
A DRAM cell with a self-aligned gradient P-well and a method for forming the same. The DRAM cell includes (a) a semiconductor substrate; (b) an electrically conducting region including a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion; (c) a first doped semiconductor region wrapping around the first portion, but electrically insulated from the first portion by a capacitor dielectric layer; (d) a second doped semiconductor region wrapping around the second portion, but electrically insulated from the second portion by a collar dielectric layer. The second portion is on top of and electrically coupled to the first portion, and the third portion is on top of and electrically coupled to the second portion. The collar dielectric layer is in direct physical contact with the capacitor dielectric layer. When going away from the collar dielectric layer, a doping concentration of the second doped semiconductor region decreases.
US07655966B2 High efficiency CMOS image sensor pixel employing dynamic voltage supply
A global shutter compatible pixel circuit comprising a reset gate (RG) transistor is provided in which a dynamic voltage is applied to the drain of the reset gate transistor in order to reduce a floating diffusion (FD) leakage therethrough during signal hold time. The drain voltage of the reset gate transistor is held at a lower voltage than a circuit supply voltage to minimize the off-state leakage through the RG transistor, thus reducing the change in the voltage at the floating diffusion during the signal hold time. In addition, a design structure for such a circuit providing a dynamic voltage to the drain of a reset gate of a pixel circuit is also provided.
US07655963B2 Semiconductor device including a lateral field-effect transistor and Schottky diode
A semiconductor device including a lateral field-effect transistor and Schottky diode and method of forming the same. In one embodiment, the lateral field-effect transistor includes a buffer layer having a contact covering a substantial portion of a bottom surface thereof, a lateral channel above the buffer layer, another contact above the lateral channel, and an interconnect that connects the lateral channel to the buffer layer. The semiconductor device also includes a Schottky diode parallel-coupled to the lateral field-effect transistor including a cathode formed from another buffer layer interposed between the buffer layer and the lateral channel, a Schottky interconnect interposed between the another buffer layer and the another contact, and an anode formed on a surface of the Schottky interconnect operable to connect the anode to the another contact. The semiconductor device may also include an isolation layer interposed between the buffer layer and the lateral channel.
US07655958B2 Semiconductor light-emitting device and surface light source using the same
A semiconductor light-emitting device can include high heat dissipation properties and a high degree of mounting flexibility. Also a surface light source can be configured to use the above-noted semiconductor light-emitting device. The semiconductor light-emitting element can be mounted on a package obtained by insert-molding lead frames with a resin. One of the end portions of the lead frames can be connected to respective electrodes of the semiconductor light-emitting element, and other end portions thereof can protrude outward from a resin molded portion of the package. One of the lead frames can include a block body on which the semiconductor light-emitting element is disposed. The block body protrudes from the resin molded portion. The semiconductor light-emitting device having the above structure and a circuit substrate can be mounted on a metal base which can be brought into direct contact with the block body. Alternatively, the metal base and the semiconductor light-emitting device can be disposed with a heat conducting sheet sandwiched therebetween.
US07655955B2 Light emitting device and backlight unit using the same as light source and field sequential LCD apparatus employing the backlight unit
A light emitting device includes a light emitting element chip and a lens which transmits light generated by the light emitting device asymmetrically; a backlight unit which uses the light emitting device as a light source; and a field sequential LCD apparatus adopting the backlight unit.
US07655953B2 Semiconductor laser apparatus
A sub-substrate, a blue-violet semiconductor laser device, an insulating layer, and a red semiconductor laser device are stacked in order on a support member through a plurality of fusion layers. The insulating layer is stacked on an n-side pad electrode of the blue-violet semiconductor laser device, and a conductive layer is formed on the insulating layer. The red semiconductor laser device is stacked on the conductive layer through a fusion layer. The conductive layer is electrically connected to a p-side pad electrode of the red semiconductor laser device. The n-side pad electrode of the blue-violet semiconductor laser device and the n-side pad electrode of the red semiconductor laser device are electrically connected to each other.
US07655952B2 Thin films transistor array panel and manufacturing method thereof
A thin film transistor array panel is provided, which includes: a gate line, a gate insulating layer, and a semiconductor layer sequentially formed on a substrate; a data line and a drain electrode formed at least on the semiconductor layer; a first passivation layer formed on the data line and the drain electrode and having a first contact hole exposing the drain electrode at least in part; a second passivation layer formed on the first passivation layer and having a second contact hole that is disposed on the first contact hole and has a first bottom edge, placed outside the first contact hole and a second bottom edge placed inside the first contact hole; and a pixel electrode formed on the second passivation layer and connected to the drain electrode through the first and the second contact holes.
US07655937B2 Remote control systems that can distinguish stray light sources
Remote control systems that can distinguish predetermined light sources from stray light sources, e.g., environmental light sources and/or reflections are provided. The predetermined light sources can be disposed in asymmetric substantially linear or two-dimensional patterns. The predetermined light sources also can output waveforms modulated in accordance with one or more signature modulation characteristics. The predetermined light sources also can output light at different signature wavelengths.
US07655935B1 Plutonium radiation surrogate
A self-contained source of gamma-ray and neutron radiation suitable for use as a radiation surrogate for weapons-grade plutonium is described. The source generates a radiation spectrum similar to that of weapons-grade plutonium at 5% energy resolution between 59 and 2614 keV, but contains no special nuclear material and emits little α-particle radiation. The weapons-grade plutonium radiation surrogate also emits neutrons having fluxes commensurate with the gamma-radiation intensities employed.
US07655929B2 Ion beam measuring method and ion implanting apparatus
A change of a beam current of an ion beam which passes an outside of the side of a forestage beam restricting shutter, and which is incident on a forestage multipoints Faraday is measured while the forestage beam restricting shutter is driven in a y direction by a forestage shutter driving apparatus in order to obtain a beam current density distribution in the y direction of the ion beam at a position of the forestage beam restricting shutter. A change of a beam current of the ion beam which passes an outside of the side of a poststage beam restricting shutter, and which is incident on a poststage multipoints Faraday is measured while the poststage beam restricting shutter is driven in the y direction by a poststage shutter driving apparatus in order to obtain a beam current density distribution in the y direction of the ion beam at a position of the poststage beam restricting shutter. By using these results, an angle deviation, a diverging angle, and/or a beam size in the y direction of the ion beam can be obtained.
US07655926B2 Rare earth activated alkaline earth metal fluorohalide stimulable phosphor and radiation image conversion panel employing the same
Provided are a rare earth activated alkaline earth metal fluorohalide stimulable phosphor exhibiting high image quality of radiation images and reduction of luminance degradation, and a radiation image conversion panel employing the stimulable phosphor represented by Formula (1) Ba(1-x)M2(x)FBr(y)I(1-y):aM1, bLn, cO, wherein M1 is at least an alkali metal selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs; M2 is at least an alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of Be, Mg, Sr and Ca; Ln is at least a rare earth element selected from the group consisting of Ce, Pr, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Tm, Dy, Ho, Nd, Er and Yb; and x, y, a, b and c are values meeting the following conditions: 0≦x≦0.3, 0≦y≦0.9, 0≦a≦0.05 0
US07655923B2 Spherical aberration corrected electrostatic lens, input lens, electron spectrometer, photoemission electron microscope and measuring system
A mesh (M) having an ellipsoid shape or a shape close to the ellipsoid shape is attached to an electrode (EL1) among electrodes (EL1 to ELn). Voltages of the later-stage electrodes (EL2 to ELn) are appropriately set. With this arrangement, a local negative spherical aberration generated by the mesh (M) is cancelled out with a positive spherical aberration. This optimizes an electric field distribution. As a result, this realizes an electrostatic lens whose acceptance angle is extended to about ±60°.
US07655909B2 Infrared detector elements and methods of forming same
Infrared detector elements and methods for forming infrared detector elements in which the top metal layer of CMOS circuitry of the detector element is employed as a lead metal reflector for the infrared detector.
US07655902B2 Nanowire assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric analysis
This invention relates to a nanowire-assisted method for mass spectrometric analysis of a specimen. More specifically, by using nanowire which can fix a specimen and perform desorption/ionization of the specimen while effectively transferring laser energy to the specimen to be irradiated, thereby enabling to perform mass spectrometric analysis without using a matrix solution. This invention, by effectively performing desorption/ionization of a specimen using the above-mentioned nanowire, enables to effectively perform qualitative-, quantitative-, and micro-analyses of specimens as well as low molecular weighted specimens. Further, this invention enables to the typical device of mass spectrometric analysis used in MALDI-T of MS. In particular, this invention can perform mass spectrometric analysis of a specimen with molecular weight of less than 1,000 Da and perform quantitative analysis by fixing a specimen with a predetermined area.
US07655888B2 Laser scanning microscope and assembly for non-descanned detection
A scanning microscope with a light source which emits illumination light for illuminating a specimen, with at least a first detector for detecting the detection light proceeding from the specimen, and with an objective through which the specimen can be illuminated and detected, wherein the objective is arranged in an illumination beam path and in a detection beam path, and with a second detector for non-descanned detection of the detection light proceeding from the specimen, wherein a compact assembly is provided which comprises a housing which is attached to a microscope stand and which has at least one receptacle for a microscope objective for the illumination beam path and/or detection beam path of the scanning microscope, wherein at least the second detector is arranged in the housing and can be acted upon by specimen light.
US07655866B2 Communication cable with variable lay length
Communication cables are provided in which a core lay length of the cable varies along the cable length. The cable may be provided with different segments that have different core lay lengths. It is desirable for neighboring core lay lengths in a cable to differ by a factor of two, to enable a reduction in power-sum alien near-end crosstalk (PSANEXT) when two cables are installed alongside one another. Segments of the cable having different core lay lengths may be spaced periodically along the length of the cable, and the periodicity of the spacing may be altered by a jitter distance. The introduction of jitter into the periodicity of the spacing of the segments increases the likelihood that a beneficial placement of core lay lengths will occur when two or more cables are installed alongside one another.
US07655861B2 Grounding and energy dispersion system
A surge protector which has a metal grounding plate having holes and tubular sleeve guides, standard UL-approved ground rods that are inserted through the sleeve guides and are affixed to the sleeve guides using a durable exothermic weld, and leads attached at one end to the grounding plate also using an exothermic weld to affix any number of grounding devices, traditional ground rings, electronic equipment, structures, sites or combinations thereof. The durable exothermic weld is a permanent connection that stands in contrast to commonly used mechanical connections. The present invention also has a minimal footprint requirement allowing for placement in areas where space limitations are unsuitable for placement of conventional grounding rings. The present invention can be used in combination with or in lieu of conventional grounding rings.
US07655858B2 Thermoelectric device having an energy storage device located between its hot and cold sides
A thermoelectric device (100, 342) that includes at least one thermoelectric couple (118, 304) that contains a thermoelectric junction (156) between two dissimilar materials (P, N) that allow exploitation of either the Seebeck effect or Peltier effect of the junction. The thermoelectric couple includes two thermoelements (120, 124, 324, 326) that extend between the hot side (104) and cold side (108) of the device. Each thermoelement has a thermally insulating region (128, 132) that insulates the hot side from the cold side and an electrical energy storage device (136, 138, 308, 310) that stores electrical energy. When operating in a Seebeck mode, each storage device may be periodically discharged by harvesting circuitry (200, 300) so as to harvest the energy stored therein. When operating in a Peltier mode, each storage device may be periodically charged by charging circuitry (900, 1000) so as to induce a temperature change at the thermoelectric junction.
US07655849B2 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH515277
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH515277. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH515277, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH515277 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 CH515277.
US07655840B2 Alteration of embryo/endosperm size during seed development
Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments for altering embryo/endosperm size during seed development are disclosed along with a method of controlling embryo/endosperm size during seed development in plants.
US07655835B2 Regulating the ethylene response of a plant by modulation of F-box proteins
The invention relates to transgenic plants having reduced sensitivity to ethylene as a result of having a recombinant nucleic acid encoding a F-box protein, and a method of producing a transgenic plant with reduced ethylene sensitivity by transforming the plant with a nucleic acid sequence encoding a F-box protein.
US07655833B2 ADS genes for reducing saturated fatty acid levels in seed oils
The present invention relates to enzymes involved in lipid metabolism. In particular, the present invention provides coding sequences for Arabidopsis Desaturases (ADS), the encoded ADS polypeptides, and methods for using the sequences and encoded polypeptides, where such methods include decreasing and increasing saturated fatty acid content in plant seed oils.
US07655827B2 Selective isomerization of olefins to alkenes using a mesoporous catalyst
A process for selectively making 2-alkenes from a NAO using a mesoporous catalyst that has been surface modified with a Brönsted acid compound. The Brönsted acid compound has a reactive silane connector, an organic linking group, and a Brönsted acid group. The mesoporous catalyst has an average pore diameter in a range of about 12 to about 100 Angstroms and a surface area of between about 400 to about 1400 m2/gram.
US07655822B2 Reactor with two fluidized reaction zones with an integrated gas/solid separation system
A gas-solid reactor and method including two fluidized reaction zones having an integrated gas-solid separation system which achieves rigorously controlled residence times in the reactor.
US07655817B2 Production methods of optically active hydrazine compound and optically active amine compound
The present invention relates to a production method of optically active hydrazine compound (IV), which includes reacting azo compound (II) with compound (III) in the presence of optically active compound (I). The present invention also relates to a production method of optically active amine compound (V), which includes producing optically active hydrazine compound (IV) by the above-mentioned method, reacting the optically active hydrazine compound (IV) with a base or an acid to eliminate a protecting group represented by PG, and then subjecting the resulting compound to catalytic reduction or reacting the resulting compound with a zinc powder to reduce a nitrogen-nitrogen bond. wherein X is S or O; C*, C** and C*** are asymmetric carbons, R1 and R2 are lower alkyl groups etc., R4 and R5 may in combination form cyclohexane etc., R3 is aryl group optionally having substituent(s) etc., R6 and R7 are hydrogen atoms etc., R8 is aryl group optionally having substituent(s) etc., R9 and R10 are electron withdrawing groups, and PG is a protecting group.
US07655815B2 Biuret compounds for rheology control
The invention relates to biuret compounds of the idealized general formula in which R1 is a (C1-C22)-alkylene, (C3-C22)-alkenylene, (C5-C15)-cycloalkylene, arylene, (C7-C12)-aralkylene, a polyoxyalkylene radical or is a polyester radical, R2 is a (C1-C22)-alkyl, hydroxy-(C1-C22)-alkyl, (C3-C18)-alkenyl, aryl, (C7-C12)-aralkyl, or (C5-C12)-cycloalkyl radical, a hydroxy-, (C1-C22)-alkoxy-, (C5-C12)-cycloalkoxy-, or (C7-C12)-aralkoxy-polyoxyalkylene radical, or a polyester radical prepared starting from a (C1-C22)-alkanol, (C5-C12)-cycloalkanol, or (C7-C12)-aralkanol or from a (C1-C22)-alkoxy-, (C6-C12)-cycloalkoxy-, or (C7-C12)-aralkoxy-polyoxyalkylene, Y stands for identical or different radicals O, NH, CO—NH—NH or NH—NH—CO, R3, R4 and R5 independently of one another are a (C2-C40)-alkylene, (C3-C40)-alkenylene, (C5-C40)-cyclo-alkylene, arylene, (C7-C40)-aralkylene or polyoxy-alkylene radical or are a polyester radical, R6 is a (C1-C30)-alkyl, (C3-C22)-alkenyl, hydroxyalkyl and hydroxyalkenyl, (C4-C13)-cycloalkyl, aryl or (C7-C12)-aralkyl radical, Z stands for one or more of the following groups COO, OCO, NHCO, CONH, NHCOO, OOCNH and NHCONH, and a is a number from 1 to 19, and also to processes for preparing them and to their use for rheology control and for thixotroping coating systems, as anti-sag agents and/or as anti-settling agents.
US07655813B2 Method of preparing organo dialkylalkoxysilane
The invention relates to the preparation of organodialkylalkoxysilane using a continuous method consisting in bringing an alkanol into continuous contact with an omega-haloalkyl dialkylhalosilane in a countercurrent reactor, such as a plate column or a packed column. The reaction is performed in the aforementioned countercurrent reactor in the presence or absence of a non-reactive solvent with scavenging of the hydrochloric acid formed. The omega-haloalkyl dialkylalkoxysilane thus formed is particularly suitable for use as a starting material for the preparation of organosilicon compounds containing sulphur having general formula (I) by means of sulphidisation reaction on an alkaline metal polysulphide.
US07655807B2 Low molecular weight conjugated nitrogen compounds and devices fabricated using the same
Low molecular weight conjugated nitrogen compounds having linear conjugated chains, and devices fabricated using the conjugated nitrogen compounds as organic semiconductor materials, hole conducting materials, or light-emitting materials. The conjugated nitrogen compounds can be spin-coated at room temperature, are stable, and has superior electrical conductivity.
US07655805B2 Method for synthesizing benzotriazole
A method for synthesizing benzotriazole comprises acts of: preparing a first solvent comprising 2-(2-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl) benzotriazole, a basic agent and molecular sieves and a second solvent comprising 3-chloro-2-alkyl propylene; mixing the solvents; and heating the solvents. This method requires only one reaction vessel and produces few by-products, therefore is simpler and cheaper to produce. Furthermore, the molecular sieves are cheaper than catalysts in conventional reactions and may be recycled, giving even greater economic benefits.
US07655797B2 Intermediates for making 2,4-pyrimidinediamine compounds
The present invention provides 2,4-pyrimidinediamine compounds that inhibit the IgE and/or IgG receptor signaling cascades that lead to the release of chemical mediators, intermediates and methods of synthesizing the compounds and methods of using the compounds in a variety of contexts, including in the treatment and prevention of diseases characterized by, caused by or associated with the release of chemical mediators via degranulation and other processes effected by activation of the IgE and/or IgG receptor signaling cascades. Certain disclosed embodiments concern contacting compounds having a formula or a salt or N-oxide thereof, with 2,4-dichloro-5-fluoropyrimidine under conditions to provide compounds having a formula
US07655793B2 Nucleic acid purification method
Disclosed is a process for separating and/or purifying a nucleic acid by elution of the nucleic acid from anion exchange resins under conditions of high salt concentration and the presence in the eluant of an additive comprising guanidine, or a guanidine-like derivative. The process allows high recovery of nucleic acids from anion exchange resins without impairing the nucleic acid stability as compared with conventional ion exchange chromatographic procedures.
US07655792B2 Nucleic acid purification method
The invention provides an improved method for the purification of nucleic acid molecules, which method comprises generating a cellular lysate containing the nucleic acid; contacting the lysate with an anion exchanger bound to a solid support matrix under conditions such that the anion exchanger binds the nucleic acid; followed by eluting the nucleic acid from the anion exchanger with an aqueous mobile phase comprising an elution solution; and desalting the eluted nucleic acid such that it is suitable for downstream applications. The improvement of the method includes adding in the elution solution a composition such that the pH of the aqueous mobile phase is between about pH 9 and about pH 13, wherein the presence of the composition in the elution solution provides an increase in nucleic acid recovery, as compared with the recovery in the absence of the composition.
US07655787B2 pRNA chimera
A circularly permuted chimeric pRNA molecule carrying a stabilized biologically active RNA, such as a ribozyme.
US07655773B2 Anti-apoptotically active apatamers
The invention relates to anti-apoptotically active apatamers. The invention describes possible therapeutic and diagnostic applications for, among other things, treating arteriosclerosis, promoting the healing of wounds, treating AIDS, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, systemic lupus erythematosus as well a rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic inflammatory diseases.
US07655770B1 Nucleic acid molecules and other molecules associated with the phosphogluconate pathway
The present invention is in the field of plant biochemistry. More specifically the invention relates to nucleic acid sequences from plant cells, in particular, nucleic acid sequences from maize and soybean associated with the phosphogluconate pathway enzymes. The invention encompasses nucleic acid molecules that encode proteins and fragments of proteins. In addition, the invention also encompasses proteins and fragments of proteins so encoded and antibodies capable of binding these proteins or fragments. The invention also relates to methods of using the nucleic acid molecules, proteins and fragments of proteins and antibodies, for example for genome mapping, gene identification and analysis, plant breeding, preparation of constructs for use in plant gene expression and transgenic plants.
US07655742B2 Method of forming thin film
There is provided a method of forming a thin film of vinylidene fluoride homopolymer having crystal form I which is applicable to various substrates in relatively easy way (coating conditions, application method, etc.), a process for preparing a vinylidene fluoride homopolymer having crystal form I efficiently at high purity, and novel vinylidene fluoride homopolymers which can give a thin film being excellent in ferroelectricity. The method of forming a thin film of vinylidene fluoride homopolymer comprises (i) a step for preparing a green powder product of vinylidene fluoride homopolymer comprising crystal form I alone or as main component by subjecting vinylidene fluoride to radical polymerization in the presence of a bromine compound or iodine compound having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which contains at least one moiety represented by —CRf1Rf2X1, wherein X1 is iodine atom or bromine atom; Rf1 and Rf2 are the same or different and each is selected from fluorine atom or perfluoroalkyl groups having 1 to 5 carbon atoms and (ii) a step for forming a thin film on a substrate surface by using vinylidene fluoride homopolymer which comprises crystal form I alone or as main component and is obtained from the green powder product of vinylidene fluoride homopolymer comprising crystal form I alone or as main component.
US07655737B2 Polycarbonate-polyester blends, methods of manufacture, and methods of use
A composition comprising a blend of: from 1 to 99 weight percent of a polycarbonate comprising from 10 to 90 mole percent of one or more arylate carbonate units of the formula wherein each Rf is independently a C1-12 hydrocarbon, halogen, or halogen-substituted C1-12 hydrocarbon, and u is 0 to 4; and from 10 to 90 mole percent of different carbonate units of the formula wherein at least 60% of the R1 groups are C6-30 aromatic groups, and from 1 to 99 weight percent of a polyester comprising units of the formula wherein T is a residue derived from a C5-C7 cycloaliphatic or C7-C12 aromatic dicarboxylic acid or a chemical equivalent thereof, and D is a residue derived from a C6-C12 aromatic or C2-C12 aliphatic diol or a chemical equivalent thereof, provided that at least 50 mole percent of D is derived from 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol or a chemical equivalent thereof; and wherein the weight percent of the polycarbonate and the polyester are each based on the total weight of the polycarbonate and the polyester.
US07655735B2 Biodegradable multi-block polymeric composition capable of sol-gel transition and pharmaceutical composition comprising the same
The present invention relates to an ionic multi-block copolymer composition comprising tri-block copolymers having a polypropyleneoxide or polybutyleneoxide block positioned between two polyethyleneoxide blocks and the tri-block copolymers are connected through dicarboxylic acid linkages forming a multi-block copolymer having a weight average molecular weight of more than 40,000 Dalton. The higher weight average molecular weight enables the hydrolgel formed from the multi-block copolymer of the present invention to maintain its gel status for more than several days.
US07655731B2 Soft polymer compositions having improved high temperature properties
Disclosed are soft polymer compositions comprising an ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer and a crystalline polyolefin, such as polypropylene homopolymers or polypropylene copolymers, wherein the ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer has a higher melt viscosity than the polyolefin. Also disclosed are such compositions modified by materials that improve the scratch-and-mar properties of the blends, the preparation and use of these compositions in such processes as extrusion and injection molding, and articles made from these compositions.
US07655719B2 Thermally conductive polymer compositions having moderate tensile and flexural properties
A thermally conductive polymer composition having enhanced mechanical properties is provided. The polymer composition consists of a base polymer matrix loaded with fillers that results in a thermal conductivity that is greater than 1.5 W/m° K and a tensile modulus within an acceptable range making the composition suitable for structural plastic applications, such as between 1,700 to 12,000 Mpa and more preferably between approximately 2,700 to 10,000 Mpa and even more preferably in the range of between approximately 4,000 to 9,000 Mpa. In addition to a tensile modulus within the identified range the composition also includes an elongation to break value that is at least above 1.0% and more preferably in the range of about 1.2% to 10%.
US07655713B2 Non-aqueous ink-jet ink and ink-jet recording method
A non-aqueous ink-jet ink containing a pigment, a resin for fixing an image and Compound A represented by Formula (1) or Formula (2), wherein a content of Compound A in the ink-jet ink is from 1.5 to 30 weight % based on the total weight of the ink-jet ink:
US07655711B2 Binder and wood board product from maillard reactants
The present disclosure is directed to binders useful in the fabrication of products from loosely assembled fibers. For example, the disclosure describes binders useful in the fabrication of products from loosely assembled cellulosic fibers. The disclosure also describes methods of fabricating products from loosely assembled fibers utilizing the aforementioned binders.
US07655709B2 Aqueous self-adhesive coating for electrical steel and its uses
A self-adhesive coating for electrical steel and its uses is described. The coating includes 81-99.9 weight parts of aqueous epoxy resin emulsion, 0.07-17 weight parts of curing agent, and optionally 0.3 weight parts of accelerant. The coating optionally contains additives selected from diluent, filler, toughener, colorant, fire retardant, antirusting agent, antisettling agent, thixotropic agent or antifoamer, thickener, pigment dispersant, preservative, and the like. The coating can be used as electrical steel coating. The coating is capable of making electrical steel with a self-adhesive coating by naked-flame heat, and also there are no poisonous organic solvents to volatilize during the entire process. The coating can avoid use of an apparatus for burning organic solvents, which reduced cost.
US07655703B2 Method and apparatus for methanol and other fuel production
A method and apparatus for converting organic waste feed streams into usable liquid fuels by adjusting the ratio of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen in the effluent gas of a high temperature waste treatment system. A pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit is used to remove carbon dioxide from the effluent gas of a high temperature waste treatment system, while leaving carbon monoxide and hydrogen, thereby producing a gas stream amenable to the production of methanol and other liquid fuels using commercially available catalytic reactors.
US07655700B2 Transgenic mouse model and methods for treatment of neuro muscular disease by interfering with androgen-androgen receptor interaction in skeletal muscles
The present invention describes a transgenic mouse susceptible to neuromuscular disease. The present invention also includes methods for treatment of neuromuscular diseases by interfering with activity between androgen and androgen receptors exclusively in the muscle fibers.
US07655695B2 Illudin analogs useful as anticancer agents
Acylfulvene analogs, which inhibit tumor growth, especially solid tumor growth, and which have an adequate therapeutic index to be effective for in vivo treatment are provided herein. The compounds described herein are useful as anti-neoplastic agents, i.e., to inhibit tumor cell growth in vitro or in vivo, in mammalian hosts, such as humans or animals, e.g., domestic animals, and are effective against solid tumors, hematologic malignancies and multi-drug resistant cancers/tumors. The present compounds can be used alone or they can be used in combination with one or more anti-cancer or anti-tumor agents.
US07655693B2 Compounds
The invention provides a compound of formula (I), pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of treatment using the same.
US07655686B2 Certain substituted spirocyclic lactams and use thereof as pharmaceuticals
The present invention relates to novel 2-(6-oxo-1,7-diaza-spiro[4.4]non-7-yl)-propionamides of the formula wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, m and p are as defined in the specification, to their preparation, to their use as pharmaceuticals and to pharmaceutical compositions containing them.
US07655678B2 Pharmaceutical composition for the management of tumors
The present invention relates to the effect of naturally occurring compounds on tumor development. As an example of proof, we used low; non-toxic doses of three compound e.g. Calcium D-glucarate, a naturally occurring Ca++ salt of D-glucaric acid; Nicotinamide (NA), a naturally occurring vitamin and butyric acid (BA), a naturally occurring saturated short chain fatty acid. 7,12 dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA), which is a very potent skin carcinogen and is an environmental pollutant, was used for skin tumor development. Experiment was performed up to 30 weeks. All the above-mentioned compounds were used either alone or concomitantly any two or all the three. In the positive control group 100% tumorigenesis was attained in 28 weeks, use of single compound led to the inhibition of DMBA induced tumorigenesis between 33 to 47%, use of two compounds resulted in the 73 to 80% reduction in tumorigenesis but the concomitant use of three compounds resulted into 100% inhibition of tumor development at the end of 30 weeks. This led us to conclude that the concomitant use of Cag, NA and BA in combination of two is useful for preventing skin tumor development for a sort or long period of time. But the concomitant use of all the three compounds, as described, exhibited the perfect synergistic effect in preventing the tumor development completely. This strategy should be equally effective in the management of benign and possibly malignant tumor in any organ caused by any mean.
US07655675B2 Gamma-secretase inhibitors
Compounds of formula I: inhibit the processing of APP by gamma-secretase and hence find use in treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
US07655673B2 39-desmethoxyrapamycin, compositions and methods of use thereof
The present invention relates to medical uses of 39-desmethoxyrapamycin.
US07655670B2 3-spirocyclic indolyl derivatives useful as ORL-1 receptor modulators
The present invention is directed to novel 3-spirocyclic indolyl derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the treatment of disorders and conditions modulated by the ORL-1 receptor.
US07655668B1 Composition and method for treatment of warts
Provided is a composition that includes 5-FU and salicylic acid. This composition is useful as a treatment for warts. As opposed to conventional compositions and methods, this composition need only be applied once a day. Also provided are methods for the preparation and use of the composition for treatment of warts.
US07655666B2 Substituted 1H-quinazoline-2,4-diones useful as AMPA receptor ligands
The present invention relates to 1H-Quinazoline-2,4-diones of formula (I) wherein R1 and R2 are as defined in the specification, their preparation, their use as pharmaceuticals, and pharmaceutical compositions containing them. Further, intermediates for the manufacture of compounds of formula (I) are and combinations comprising compounds of formula (I) are disclosed.
US07655665B2 Nitromethylene derivatives and their use
The present invention discloses nitromethylene derivatives and the uses thereof. These derivatives are obtained by adding ring structure onto the known nitromethylene compounds, by which both their stability for light and their liposolubility are increased. Furthermore, by using the substituents linked to ether bond, the steric orientation of the nitro group and the liposolubility of the compounds are controlled. The insecticidal activity tests show that the compounds and their derivatives of the invention display high efficiency on killing various destructive insects with piercing-sucking type or scratching type mouthparts, such as aphid, leafhopper, plant hopper, thrips and white fly.
US07655664B2 Hydantoin derivatives as metalloproteinase inhibitors
The invention provides compounds of formula (I): wherein R1, R2, A, A1 and B are as defined in the specification; processes for their preparation; pharmaceutical compositions containing them; a process for preparing the pharmaceutical compositions; and their use in therapy. The compounds are useful as MMP inhibitors.
US07655660B2 Prodrugs of CC-1065 analogs
Prodrugs of analogs of the anti-tumor antibiotic CC-1065 having a cleavable protective group such as a piperazino carbamate, a 4-piperidino-piperidino carbamate or a phosphate, in which the protecting group confers enhanced water solubility and stability upon the prodrug, and in which the prodrug also has a moiety, such as a disulfide, that can conjugate to a cell binding reagent such as an antibody. The therapeutic use of such prodrug conjugates is also described; such prodrugs of cytotoxic agents have therapeutic use because they can deliver cytotoxic prodrugs to a specific cell population for enzymatic conversion to cytoxic drugs in a targeted fashion.
US07655654B2 Farnesyl transferase inhibiting tricyclic quinazoline derivatives substituted with carbon-linked imidazoles or triazoles
This invention comprises the novel compounds of formula (I) wherein r, s, t, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 have defined meanings, having farnesyl transferase inhibiting activity; their preparation, compositions containing them and their use as a medicine.
US07655653B2 Tetrahydrobenzfluorene derivatives
A compound having the formula I wherein the O—(CH2)n—N(R1,R2) substituent on the phenyl ring can be in meta or para position; n is 2-4 Re and ′Re are OH, optionally independently etherified or esterified; R1 and R2 are independently (1C-4C)alkyl, (2C-4C)alkenyl, hydroxy(2C-4C)alkyl, (1C-3C)alkoxy(2C-4C)alkyl, aryl or aryl(1C-2C)alkyl; or R1 and R2 together with the nitrogen form an aromatic or non-aromatic heterocyclic ring structure, optionally mono- or poly-substituted with (1C-4C)alkyl, (2C-4C)alkenyl, hydroxy(1C-2C)alkyl, (1C-2C)alkoxy(1C-3C)alkyl or aryl. These compounds can be used for estrogen receptor β selective medical treatments.
US07655641B2 Sulfonamide derivatives as PPAR modulators
The present invention is directed to a compound of Formula (I): and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, hydrates or stereoisomers thereof, which are useful in treating or preventing disorders mediated by a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) such as syndrome X, type II diabetes, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, obesity, coagaulopathy, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, and other disorders related to syndrome X and cardiovascular diseases.
US07655640B2 Camptothecin analogs and methods of preparation thereof
A method of inhibiting topoisomerase I mediated DNA cleavage including administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of a compound having the following formula or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: wherein R1 and R2 are independently the same or different and are hydrogen, an alkyl group, an aminoalkyl group, an alkylaminoalkyl group, a haloalkyl group, a hydroxyalkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an alkoxyl group, an aryloxy group, a carbamoyloxy group, a halogen, a hydroxyl group, a nitro group, a cyano group, an azido group, a formyl group, a hydrazino group, —C(O)Rf, an amino group, an alkylamino group, a dialkylamino group, —SRc, or R1 and R2 together form a group of the formula —O(CH2)nO— wherein n represents the integer 1 or 2; R3 is H, F, a halogen atom, a nitro group, an amino group, a hydroxyl group, or a cyano group; or R2 and R3 together form —O(CH2)nO— (n=1 or 2); R4 is H, F, a C1-3 alkyl group, a C2-3 alkenyl group, a C2-3 alkynyl group, or a C1-3 alkoxyl group; R5 is a C1-10 alkyl group, or a propargyl group.
US07655638B2 Partial and full agonists of A1 adenosine receptors
Disclosed are novel compounds that are partial and full A1 adenosine receptor agonists, useful for treating various disease states, in particular tachycardia and atrial flutter, angina, and myocardial infarction.
US07655631B2 Pharmaceutical preparations and methods for inhibiting tumors
The invention provides pharmaceutical compositions and method for inhibiting growth of prostatic adenocarcinoma, stomach cancer, breast cancer, endometrial, ovarian or other cancers of epithelial secretion, or benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) In one embodiment the pharmaceutical composition includes human rHuPSP94, antigenic portions thereof, and functionally equivalent polypeptides thereof. In another embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition includes a mixture of human rHuPSP94, antigenic portions thereof, and functionally equivalent polypeptides thereof and an anticancer drug which may be administered in an appropriate dosage form, dosage quantity and dosage regimen to a patient suffering from, for example of prostatic adenocarcinoma, stomach cancer, breast cancer, endometrial, ovarian or other cancers of epithelial secretion, benign prostate hyperplasia, or (BPH) gastrointestinal cancer. The anticancer drug of the latter mixture may be one selected from the group of drugs including mitomycin, idarubicin, cisplatin, 5-fluoro-uracil, methotrexate, adriamycin, daunomycin, taxol, taxol derivative, and mixtures thereof.
US07655624B2 Peptide and peptide mimetic conjugates with integrin-inhibitor properties
The invention relates to compounds of formula (1) B-Q-X1, wherein B is bioactive cell adhesive mediating molecule. Q is absent or is an inorganic spacer molecule and X1 is an anchor molecule, selected from the group Lys-(CO—CH2—(CH2)n—PO3H2)2(I), -Lys-[-Lys-(CO—CH2—(CH2)a—PO3H2)2]2(ii) or -Lys-(Lys[-Lys-(CO—CH2—(CH2)n—PO3H2]2 (iii), and n independently represents 0, 1, 2 or 3, wherein a free amino group of group B is linked in peptide form to a free carboxyl group of the spacer molecule Q or of the anchor molecule X1, or a free amino group of the radical Q is linked in peptide form to a free carboxyl group of the radical X1. The invention also relates to the salts thereof. The inventive compounds can be used as integrin inhibitors for the treatment of illnesses, deficiencies, inflammations caused by implants and osteolytic illnesses such as osteoporosis, thrombosis, cardiac infarction and arteriosclerosis, in addition to the acceleration and strengthening of the integration process of implants or the biocompatible surface in tissue.
US07655619B2 Insulin-associated peptides with effects on cerebral health
The present invention provides compositions and methods for ameliorating neurological, attention, or memory disorders and improving learning and cognition through the delivery of insulin A-chain and analogs thereof to a subject. Insulin A-chain, peptides comprising the 21 amino acid sequence GIVEQ CCASV CSLYQ LENYC N (SEQ ID NO:1), and functional analogs thereof are disclosed to modulate neurological activity when administered to a subject. The methods of the invention can be used to prevent or treat neurological disorders as well as improve memory retention and acquisition. The invention includes pharmaceutical compositions comprising a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of insulin A-chain peptide or a functional analogs thereof.
US07655615B2 Method for producing a bone material enriched with bone growth factors
The aim of the invention is to produce a bone material which is enriched with bone growth factors and whose bone growth factors are released in a delayed manner after surgically applied in the body. To this end, the invention provides a method according to which the bone material is loaded with a bone growth factor or with a mixture of bone growth factors and is then coated with a reabsorbable substance.
US07655612B2 Laundry wrinkle control composition
A laundry additive for removing or reducing wrinkles in fabrics, which contains a wrinkle removing or reducing component, which includes a saccharide or oligosaccharide, a polyhydroxy carboxylic acid compound, and an optional chelating agent; and one or more optional ingredients that do not remove or reduce wrinkles. Also presented is a method for removing or reducing wrinkles from fabrics including the step of contacting the fabrics with an aqueous solution or suspension of an effective amount of the laundry additive.
US07655611B2 Structural family on non-ionic carbohydrate based surfactants (NICBS) and a novel process for their synthesis
A novel composition of matter as well as a straightforward single step process for the preparation or production of said novel composition of matter is disclosed. The composition affords a new type of nonionic carbohydrate based surfactants (NICBS), a type of biodegradable neutral surfactant. The produced surfactant compositions have both neutral, but polar polyhydroxyl heads and nonpolar tails that are linked via at least one amide bond and possibly another ester bond as well.
US07655607B2 Method of providing stability for liquid cleansing compositions comprising selection fatty acyl isethionate surfactants
The invention provides a method for providing a stable liquid cleanser compositions which can use fatty acyl isethionates mixtures, regardless of free fatty acid contact of isethionates mixture or chain length distribution of isethionates mixture. The key is to insure a specific combination of liquid crystal inducer (of surfactant phase) and of modifier (to ensure large size domain providing stability) so that the isethionates will be stable at low and high temperatures.
US07655601B2 Enhanced melt-textured growth
A method for the enhanced melt-textured growth of superconducting crystals is disclosed for a sample having a first material capable of exhibiting superconducting properties. The sample is heated above a peritectic temperature of the first material, cooled below the peritectic temperature, and is subsequently subjected to a plurality of temperature spikes in which the sample is rapidly reheated above the peritectic temperature and recooled below the peritectic temperature to produce a superconducting crystalline structure substantially free of secondary nucleations. The resulting crystal is a superconducting crystalline structure comprising a plurality of bands formed in succession around a seed material. Each band has a non-uniform microstructure from an inner portion to an outer portion of the band.
US07655600B2 1-(azolin-2-yl)amino-1,2-diphenylethane compounds for combating insects, arachnids and nematodes
The present invention relates to 1-(azolin-2-yl)amino-1,2-diphenylethane compounds of the general formula (I) wherein A is a radical of the formulae A′ or A2: NRA′A2 and wherein m is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, n is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, X is sulfur or oxygen, and wherein the variables R1, R2, R3, R4, R5a, R5b, R5c, R5d are as defined in the claims, and to the agriculturally acceptable salts thereof. The invention relates also to a method of combating animal pests, selected from insects, arachnids and nematodes and to a method for protecting crops from attack or infestation by insects, arachnids or nematodes, which comprises contacting a crop with a pesticidally effective amount of a 1-(azolin-2-yl)amino-1,2-diphenylethane compounds of the general formula I and/or at least one salt thereof.
US07655598B2 Herbicide composition
The present invention relates to an herbicide composition comprising, as active ingredients, a uracil compound represented by the following formula (I): wherein Z represents halogen or cyano; A represents oxygen, sulfur or NH; R1 represents hydroxyl, C1-C7 alkoxy or others, and R2 represents hydrogen or methyl, and 2-chloro-1-(3-ethoxy-4-nitrophenoxy-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzen; and a method for controlling weeds which comprises applying an effective amounts of said herbicide composition to weeds. According to the invention, particularly weeds in orchards, soybean fields and non-crop lands can be effectively controlled.
US07655594B2 Materials for degrading contaminants
Briefly described, compositions, materials including the compositions, methods of using the compositions, and methods of degrading contaminants, are described herein. The composition can include a polyoxometalate/ cationic silica material. In addition, the compositions can be made of a polyoxometalate/cationic silica material, a copper (II) salt having a weakly bound anion, and a nitrate salts. Further, the compositions can be made of a polyoxometalate/cationic silica material, a copper (II) salt having a weakly bound anion, a compound selected from tetraethylammonium (TEA) nitrate, tetra-n-butylammonium (TBA) nitrate, and combinations thereof.
US07655592B2 Process for the preparation of a metal-organic compound comprising at least one imine ligand
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a metal-organic compound, comprising at least one phosphinimine ligand, characterized in that the HA adduct of a phosphinimine ligand according to formula (1) is contacted with a metal-organic reagent of formula (2) in the presence of at least 2 equivalents of a base, wherein HA represents an acid, of which H represents its proton and A its conjugate base, with Y═N—H as formula (1), and Mv(L1)k(L2)1(L3)m(L4)nX as formula (2), and wherein Y is a substituted phosphorous atom, and M represents a group 4 or group 5 metal ion, V represents the valency of the metal ion, being 3, 4 or 5 L1, L2, L3, and L4 represent a ligand or a group 17 halogen atom on M and may be equal or different, k, l, m, n=0, 1, 2, 3, 4 with k+l+m+n+l=V, and X represents a group 17 halogen atom. The invention further relates to a process for the preparation of a polyolefin by making a metal-organic compound according to the process of the invention, wherein the base is an olefin polymerisation compatible base, which metal-organic compound is activated anywhere in, or before a polymerisation reactor.
US07655585B2 Optical glass, precision press-molding preform, process for the production thereof, optical element and process for the production of the element
Provided is a precision press-molding optical glass that is not easily degraded in quality by the occurrence of an altered layer such as fogging or yellowing on a surface and that comprises B2O3, ZnO, La2O3 and ZrO2 and contains, by mol %, 0 to less than 0.5% of Li2O, 20 to 50% of B2O3, 0 to 20% of SiO2, 22 to 42% of ZnO, 5 to 24% of La2O3, 0 to 20% of Gd2O3, provided that the total content of La2O3 and Gd2O3 is 10 to 24%, 0.5 to 10% of ZrO2, 0 to 15% of Ta2O5, 0 to 20% of WO3, 0 to 15% of Nb2O5, 0 to 20% of TiO2, 0 to 10% of Bi2O3, 0 to 10% of GeO2, 0 to 10% of Ga2O3, 0 to 10% of Al2O3, 0 to 10% of BaO, 0 to 10% of Y2O3 and 0 to 10% of Yb2O3, the optical glass having an Abbe's number (νd) of at least 35 but less than 40.
US07655582B2 Polypropylene blends for non-woven fabrics
The present invention provides polypropylene blends for use in the production of fibers and fabrics. The polypropylene blends according to the current invention comprise from about 85 to about 95 percent by weight of a propylene homopolymer and from about 5 to about 15 percent by weight of an ethylene/propylene random copolymer having an ethylene content of about 7 percent by weight or less. The overall ethylene content of the blends according to the present invention is about 1 percent by weight or less. Polypropylene blends according to the current invention provide lower bonding temperatures and wider bonding windows without the increased smoke generation associated with high solubles homopolymers.
US07655574B2 Method of modifying insulating film
An insulting film is modified by subjecting the insulting film to a modification treatment comprising a combination of a plasma treatment and a thermal annealing treatment. There is provided a method of enhancing the characteristic of an insulating film by improving deterioration in the characteristic of the insulating film due to carbon, a suboxide, a dangling bond or the like contained in the insulating film.
US07655572B2 Semiconductor device manufacturing method, semiconductor device manufacturing apparatus, control program and computer storage medium
Photoresist film is used as a mask, plasma etching of a SiO2 film is selectively performed to a photoresist film, and a hole is formed. An etching gas comprising unsaturated fluorocarbon gas containing oxygen expressed with CxFyO (y/x is 1-1.5 at an integer in x, as for 4 or 5, and y) is used for the plasma etching. C4F4O gas and C4F6O gas are used for the unsaturated fluorocarbon gas containing oxygen, for example.
US07655570B2 Etching method, program, computer readable storage medium and plasma processing apparatus
A difference in etching rate between the coated silicon based insulating film and any of other kinds of silicon-based insulating films is reduced by using nitrogen gas as a part of the etching gas. Therefore, the underlying film may not be exposed to the etching gas for a long time, so that degradation or deterioration of the underlying film can be prevented.
US07655565B2 Electroprocessing profile control
A method and apparatus for electroprocessing a substrate is provided. In one embodiment, a method for electroprocessing a substrate includes the steps of biasing a first electrode to establish a first electroprocessing zone between the electrode and the substrate, and biasing a second electrode disposed radially outward of substrate with a polarity opposite the bias applied tot he first electrode.
US07655564B2 Method for forming Ta-Ru liner layer for Cu wiring
A method of forming a Ta—Ru metal liner layer for Cu wiring includes: (i) conducting atomic deposition of Ta X times, each atomic deposition of Ta being accomplished by a pulse of hydrogen plasma, wherein X is an integer such that a surface of an underlying layer is not covered with Ta particles; (ii) after step (i), conducting atomic deposition of Ru Y times, each atomic deposition of Ru being accomplished by a pulse of hydrogen plasma, wherein Y is an integer such that the Ta particles are not covered with Ru particles; and (iii) repeating steps (i) and (ii) Z times, thereby forming a Ta—Ru metal liner layer on a Cu wiring substrate.
US07655562B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor memory device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is disclosed. In the method of manufacturing the semiconductor device, a first insulating layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A metal line layer and an etch-stop layer are formed over the first insulating layer. The etch-stop layer and the metal line layer are patterned to form a metal line. A second insulating layer is formed on the first insulating layer and the etch-stop layer. A first etch process for etching part of the second insulating layer is performed by using a first etch gas so that the etch-stop layer is exposed. A second etch process for removing the etch-stop layer is performed by using a second etch gas so that the metal line is exposed.
US07655554B2 Method for eliminating loading effect using a via plug
Method for eliminating loading effect using a via plug. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a method of processing an integrated circuit wherein a loading effect is reduced. The method includes a step for providing a substrate, which is characterized by a first thickness. The method also includes a stop for forming an inter metal dielectric layer overlaying the substrate. The inter metal dielectric layer is characterized by a second thickness. The method additionally includes a step for forming a first photoresist layer overlaying the inter metal dielectric layer. The first photoresist layer is associated with a first pattern. Additionally, the method includes a step for forming a first opening positioned at least partially inside the inter metal dielectric layer. The first via opening is characterized by a first depth. The method additionally includes a step for removing the first photoresist layer. The method further includes a step for forming a via plug.
US07655547B2 Metal spacer in single and dual damascene processing
A method and structure for a single or dual damascene interconnect structure comprises forming wiring lines in a metallization layer over a substrate, shaping a laminated insulator stack above the metallization layer, patterning a hardmask over the laminated insulator stack, forming troughs in the hardmask, patterning the laminated insulator stack, forming vias in the patterned laminated insulator stack, creating sidewall spacers in the bottom portion of the vias, depositing an anti-reflective coating on the sidewall spacers, etching the troughs, removing the anti-reflective coating, depositing a metal layer in the troughs, vias, and sidewall spacers, and applying conductive material in the troughs and the vias. The laminated insulator stack comprises a dielectric layer further comprising oxide and polyarylene.
US07655546B2 Monolithic integrated enhancement mode and depletion mode field effect transistors and method of making the same
A depletion mode (D-mode) field effect transistor (FET) is monolithically integrated with an enhancement mode (E-mode) FET in a multi-layer structure. The multi-layer structure includes a channel layer overlaid by a barrier layer overlaid by an ohmic contact layer. Source and drain contacts of the D-mode and E-mode FETs are coupled to the ohmic contact layer. A gate contact of the D-mode and E-mode FETs is coupled to the barrier layer. An amorphized region is provided beneath the E-mode gate contact within the barrier layer. The amorphized region forms a buried E-mode Schottky contact with the barrier layer. An alternative embodiment couples the gate contact of the D-mode transistor to a first layer that overlies the barrier layer, and provides a similar D-mode amorphized region within the first layer.
US07655542B2 Methods and apparatus for depositing a microcrystalline silicon film for photovoltaic device
Methods for depositing a microcrystalline silicon film layer with improved deposition rate and film quality are provided in the present invention. Also, photovoltaic (PV) cell having a microcrystalline silicon film is provided. In one embodiment, the method produces a microcrystalline silicon film on a substrate at a deposition rate greater than about 20 nm per minute, wherein the microcrystalline silicon film has a crystallized volume between about 20 percent to about 80 percent.
US07655541B2 Wafer processing method and laser processing apparatus
In a wafer processing method for penetrating a wafer by use of a laser processing apparatus including a chuck table for holding the wafer, laser beam irradiation means for irradiating the wafer held on the chuck table with a laser beam, and imaging means for imaging the wafer held on the chuck table, the chuck table includes a chuck table main body, a holding member disposed on an upper surface of the chuck table main body and having a holding surface for holding an entire surface of the wafer, the holding member comprising a transparent or translucent member, and a light emitting body disposed laterally of a side of the holding member opposite to the holding surface. The wafer processing method comprises irradiating a predetermined processing region of the wafer held on the chuck table with the laser beam to perform the penetration in a predetermined manner, then lighting the light emitting body, with the wafer being held on the chuck table, imaging the processing region by the imaging means, and determining acceptance or rejection of the penetration based on whether or not light has passed through the processing region.
US07655528B2 Manufacturing method of semiconductor device
SiH3CH3 having the concentration of 1 to 10% is diluted with H2 and a portion of the diluted SiH3CH3, GeH4 and SiH4 (or DCS) are respectively supplied to a chamber of an epitaxial device at predetermined flow rates, and SiGe:C is formed by an epitaxial growth technique. By diluting the SiH3CH3, the concentration of oxygen-based impurity contained in the SiH3CH3 is reduced and hence, the oxygen-based impurity which is supplied to a chamber are reduced whereby the concentration of oxygen-based impurity contained in the SiGe:C formed in a film is reduced.
US07655522B2 Metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor having a recessed gate electrode and methods of fabricating the same
A metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) includes an isolation layer disposed in a semiconductor substrate to define an active region. A source region and a drain region are disposed on both sides of the active region such that a first direction is defined from the source region to the drain region. A channel recess is disposed in the active region between the source and drain regions. The channel recess has a convex surface when viewed from a cross-sectional view taken along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. A gate electrode fills the channel recess and crosses the active region in the second direction. A gate insulating layer is interposed between the gate electrode and the active region.
US07655520B2 Non-volatile memory having three states and method for manufacturing the same
Disclosed is a non-volatile memory having three data states and a method for manufacturing the same. The non-volatile memory includes a silicon substrate having a device separation film; a floating gate formed on the silicon substrate; a tunnel oxide film interposed between the silicon substrate and the floating gate below both ends of the floating gate; a ferroelectric substance interposed between the silicon substrate and the floating gate inside the tunnel oxide film; a diffusion barrier film enclosing the ferroelectric substance; a control gate formed on the substrate including the floating gate; a gate oxide film formed below the control gate; spacers formed on both lateral walls of the laminated floating gate and control gate including the tunnel oxide film and gate oxide film, respectively; and source/drain regions formed within the substrate surfaces on both sides of the control gate including the spacers, respectively.
US07655518B2 On-chip bypass capacitor and method of manufacturing the same
An on-chip bypass capacitor and method of manufacturing the same, the on-chip bypass capacitor including at least two capacitor arrays, each capacitor array including a first layer connecting the at least two capacitor arrays in series, each capacitor array including a plurality of capacitors, each of the plurality of capacitors including a second layer connecting the plurality of capacitors in parallel. The on-chip bypass capacitor may be part of a chip which also includes a memory cell array including at least one cell capacitor.
US07655516B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
In an nMOSFET, a gate electrode is formed by a silicide layer comprised of NiSi. In a surface layer of a Ge substrate on both sides of the gate electrode, NiGe layers which are germanide layers comprised of NiGe are formed. On junction interfaces between the NiGe layers and the Ge substrate, first layers are formed which are formed by segregating a predetermined atom with high concentration, and on an interface between the gate electrode and an insulation film, a second layer is formed which is formed by segregating the same atom as that of the first layer with high concentration.
US07655515B2 Lateral DMOS structure with lateral extension structure for reduced charge trapping in gate oxide
A high voltage lateral semiconductor device for integrated circuits with improved breakdown voltage. The semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor body, an extended drain region formed in the semiconductor body, source and drain pockets, a top gate forming a pn junction with the extended drain region, an insulating layer on a surface of the semiconductor body and a gate formed on the insulating layer. In addition, a higher-doped pocket of semiconductor material is formed within the top gate region that has a higher integrated doping than the rest of the top gate region. This higher-doped pocket of semiconductor material does not totally deplete during device operation. Moreover, the gate controls, by field-effect, a flow of current through a channel formed laterally between the source pocket and a nearest point of the extended drain region.
US07655514B2 Method of fabricating a MESFET with a sloped MESA structure
A silicon carbide metal semiconductor field-effect transistor includes a bi-layer silicon carbide buffer for improving electron confinement in the channel region and/or a layer disposed over at least the channel region of the transistor for suppressing surface effects caused by dangling bonds and interface states. Also, a sloped MESA fabrication method which utilizes a dielectric etch mask that protects the MESA top surface during MESA processing and enables formation of sloped MESA sidewalls.
US07655508B2 Overmolding encapsulation process and encapsulated article made therefrom
A method of encapsulating an article having first and second surfaces, includes positioning the article on a carrier such that at least a portion of the first surface contacts the carrier. A portion of the carrier carrying the article is then positioned within a mold and a seal is formed between the mold and the carrier. The mold is then filled with an encapsulating material to form a seal between the article and the carrier.
US07655506B2 Leadless type semiconductor package, and production process for manufacturing such leadless type semiconductor package
A leadless type resin-sealed semiconductor package includes a resin enveloper having a mounting face to be applied to a wiring board, and at least one side face associated with the mounting face to produce an angled side edge. A semiconductor chip is encapsulated and sealed in the resin enveloper. An electrode terminal is partially buried in the angled side edge of the resin enveloper so as to be exposed to an outside, with the electrode terminal being electrically connected to the semiconductor chip. The electrode terminal is formed with a depression which is shaped so as to be opened to an outside when the resin enveloper is placed on the wiring board such that the mounting face of the resin enveloper is applied thereto.
US07655504B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
Two semiconductor substrates are first bonded together by means of a metal bump, while respective one-side surfaces on which device patterns are formed are faced each other, and a resin is then filled into a gap between the respective one-side surfaces and thereafter each of the semiconductor substrates is polished and thinned to a prescribed thickness. Furthermore, a via hole and an insulating film are formed; part of a portion in contact with the metal bump, of the insulating film, is opened; the inside of the via hole is filled with a conductor; and an electrode pad is formed on the conductor, to thereby form structures. Finally, a required number of structures are electrically connected with each other through the electrode pad and stacked to thereby obtain a semiconductor device.
US07655502B2 Method of packaging a semiconductor device and a prefabricated connector
A method of packaging a first device having a first major surface and a second major surface includes forming a first layer over a second major surface of the first device and around sides of the first device and leaving the first major surface of the first device exposed, wherein the first layer is selected from the group consisting of an encapsulant and a polymer; forming a first dielectric layer over the first major surface of the first device, forming a via in the first dielectric layer, forming a seed layer within the via and over a portion of the first dielectric layer, physically coupling a connector to the seed layer, and plating a conductive material over the seed layer to form a first interconnect in the first via and over a portion of the first dielectric layer.
US07655501B2 Wafer level package with good CTE performance
The present invention provides a structure of package comprising a substrate with a pre-formed die receiving cavity formed and/or terminal contact metal pads formed within an upper surface of the substrate. A die is disposed within the die receiving cavity by adhesion and a dielectric layer formed on the die and the substrate. At least one re-distribution built up layer (RDL) is formed on the dielectric layer and coupled to the die via contact pad. Connecting structure, for example, UBM is formed over the re-distribution built up layer. Terminal Conductive bumps are coupled to the UBM.
US07655499B2 Forming method of contact hole and manufacturing method of semiconductor device, liquid crystal display device and EL display device
When forming a contact hole by a conventional manufacturing step of a semiconductor device, a resist is required to be formed on almost entire surface of a substrate so as to be applied on a film other than an area in which a contact hole is to be formed, leading to drastically reduced throughput. According to a forming method of a contact hole and a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device, an EL display device and a liquid crystal display device of the invention, an island shape organic film is selectively formed over a semiconductor layer, a conductive layer or an insulating layer, and an insulating film is formed around the island shape organic film to form a contact hole. Therefore, a conventional patterning using a resist is not required, and high throughput and low cost can be achieved.
US07655491B2 P-type Group III nitride semiconductor and production method thereof
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a p-type Group III nitride semiconductor which can be used to produce a light-emitting device exhibiting a low operation voltage and a sufficiently high reverse voltage.The inventive method for producing a p-type Group III nitride semiconductor comprises, during lowering temperature after completion of growth of a Group III nitride semiconductor containing a p-type dopant, immediately after completion of the growth, starting, at a temperature at which the growth has been completed, supply of a carrier gas composed of an inert gas and reduction of the flow rate of a nitrogen source; and stopping supply of the nitrogen source at a time in the course of lowering the temperature.
US07655490B2 Manufacturing method for semiconductor device, semiconductor device and semiconductor wafer
A manufacturing method for a semiconductor device formed in a device region composed of a plurality of semiconductor layers on a substrate, the method including a trench forming step of forming a trench on the substrate around the device region and a semiconductor growth step of growing the semiconductor layer in the device region.
US07655487B2 White light emitting diode (WLED) and packing method thereof
A white light emitting diode (LED) and the packing method thereof are described. The white LED includes a supporting frame, a LED chip, glue for mixing phosphor powder, and phosphor powder, wherein the glue for mixing phosphor powder comprises a first set of compositions and a second set of compositions, the first set of compositions comprises polydimethyl-siloxane, and the second set of compositions comprises the copolymer having dimethyl-siloxane, methyl hydrogen siloxane and vinyl-siloxane wherein the copolymer has a weight percentage from about 94% to 99%, the dimethyl-siloxane has a weight percentage from about 84% to 90%, the methyl hydrogen siloxane has a weight percentage from about 4% to 9%, and the vinyl-siloxane has a weight percentage from about 2% to 7%.
US07655483B2 Electronic device and manufacturing method thereof
An electronic device includes an element group which generates a specific identification number and is composed of a plurality of elements. The specific identification number is set based on irregular deviation in electric characteristic of the elements which is caused due to a random failure in a manufacturing process.
US07655481B2 Method for manufacturing industrial products and combination of masks for manufacturing the same
A method for manufacturing an industrial product encompasses: forming a intermediate product pattern, which implements a part of a intermediate product of the industrial product by a sequence of processes corresponds to a part of a procedure for manufacturing the industrial product; forming an interconnect-changing insulator on the intermediate product pattern; boring sampling contact holes in the interconnect-changing insulator so as to make bare a part of the intermediate product pattern to define sampling sites; delineating evaluation interconnects on the interconnect-changing insulator so that each of the evaluation interconnects can electrically connected to at least one of the sampling sites of intermediate product pattern; and measuring an electrical resistance between subject sampling sites through the evaluation interconnects so as to detect a product defect in the intermediate product pattern.
US07655478B2 Sensor device, sensing method, biological substance sensor device, biological substance sensing method, secretion sensor device, secretion sensing method, emotion sensor device and emotion sensing method
In a sensor device and a sensing method capable of simultaneously extracting plural pieces of information including information about the presence/absence, distribution, and so on, of targets, in case of measuring changes in nature of a detecting portion (11) upon coupling with targets (a and b), information about changes in quantities of the targets (a and b) with time is extracted in addition to information about the presence/absence, distribution, and so on, of the targets (a and b) from geometrical structures of the detecting portion (11), such as locations and/or shapes of bonding sites (A and B) for selectively coupling with the targets (a and b), respectively.
US07655477B1 System and method for the separation of analytes
A separation module operates to fractionate or separate an analyte into fractions according to pI, i.e., pI bands, utilizing capillary isoelectric focusing (“CIEF”) within a first microchannel. The fractions are stacked to form plugs, the number of which is determined by a number of parallel second microchannels integrally connected to the first microchannel, into which the fractions are directed according to the buffer characteristics found in each of the individual microchannels. Within the microchannels the plugs are separated into proteins according to a different chemical property, i.e., “m/z,” utilizing capillary electrophoresis (“CE”).
US07655455B2 Method of producing a nitrification carrier containing ammonia-oxidizing bacteria for removing nitrogen
Provided are a nitrite-type nitrification carrier and a method for producing the same and a method and an apparatus for removing nitrogen using the same, in which the quantity of organic matter to be added can be substantially reduced to reduce running cost. A method for producing a nitrite-type nitrification carrier in which ammonia-oxidizing bacteria for nitrifying ammonium to nitrite is preferentially accumulated comprises the steps of: entrapping and immobilizing any sludge selected from sediment from a lake, a river or the sea, soil from the surface of the earth, or activated sludge from a sewage-treatment plant into a monomer or a prepolymer for immobilizing microorganisms; and then subjecting the entrapped and immobilized sludge to heat treatment at 30 to 80° C.
US07655454B1 Bacteriological culture medium for Campylobacteriaceae species
A chemically defined media supplemented with organic acids is used for supporting in vitro growth of Campylobacter and Arcobacter species.
US07655451B2 Alanine 2,3-aminomutase
Alanine 2,3-aminomutase sequences are disclosed, as are cells having alanine 2,3-aminomutase activity and methods of selecting for such cells. Methods for producing beta-alanine, pantothenate, 3-hydroxypropionic acid, as well as other organic compounds, are disclosed.
US07655440B2 DNA molecules encoding ligand gated ion channels from Dermacentor variabilis
The present invention relates in part to isolated nucleic acid molecules (polynucleotides) which encode Dermacentor variabilis ligand gated ion channel proteins. The present invention also relates to recombinant vectors and recombinant hosts which contain a DNA fragment encoding D. variabilis LGIC/GluCl channels, substantially purified forms of associated D. variabilis channel proteins and recombinant membrane fractions comprising these proteins, associated mutant proteins, and methods associated with identifying compounds which modulate associated Dermacentor variabilis LGIC/GluCl, which will be useful as insecticides and acaracides.
US07655432B2 Kinases and uses thereof
Novel kinase polypeptides, proteins, and nucleic acid molecules are disclosed. In addition to isolated, full-length kinase proteins, the invention further provides isolated kinase fusion proteins, antigenic peptides, and anti-kinase antibodies. The invention also provides kinase nucleic acid molecules, recombinant expression vectors containing a nucleic acid molecule of the invention, host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced, and nonhuman transgenic animals in which a kinase gene has been introduced or disrupted. Diagnostic, screening, and therapeutic methods utilizing compositions of the invention are also provided.
US07655426B2 Ephrin-B receptor protein involved in carcinoma
The present invention provides a polypeptide (CCMP-1) of use in the diagnosis, screening, treatment and prophylaxis of carcinoma. Also provided are compositions comprising the protein, vaccines and antibodies that are immunospecific for the protein.
US07655422B2 T1R2 binding assays
The invention relates to binding assays using human T1R2 polypeptides containing the extracellular and/or transmembrane regions of endogenous human T1R2 polypeptide. These assays may be used to identify T1R2 modulators, especially taste modulatory compounds.
US07655420B2 Methods to increase or decrease bone density
The SOST gene gives rise to sclerostin, a protein that leads to apoptosis of bone progenitor cells. The invention provides antagonists to the sclerostin protein, and methods for identifying new sclerostin antagonists. The invention also provides molecules that can depress expression of the SOST gene, as well as methods for identifying such molecules. Such molecules and antagonists are useful for increasing bone mineralization in mammals, for example, in the treatment of osteoporosis.
US07655414B2 Determination of responders to chemotherapy
The present invention relates to a method of determining whether a biological sample comprising human lung cancer cells is sensitive to a combination of an epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor and a chemotherapeutic agent by determining the overexpression of a phosphorylated AKT protein and/or a phosphorylated MAPK protein in the biological sample. The invention is also related to methods for deriving a candidate agent or for selecting a composition for inhibiting the progression of lung cancer in a patient wherein a phosphorylated AKT protein and/or a phosphorylated MAPK protein is used.
US07655413B2 Methods and compositions for enhanced protein expression and purification
Methods for enhancing expression levels and secretion of heterologous fusion proteins in a host cell are disclosed.
US07655409B2 Cyanine dye compounds
Cyanine dye compounds having a negatively charged substituent that are nucleic acid stains, particularly for fluorescent staining of DNA, including compounds having the formula wherein W forms one or two fused 5- or 6-membered aromatic rings, α has a value of 0 or 1, n has a value of 0, or 1, X is O, S, or Se, and D is a pyridinium, or quinolinium moiety, provided that the compound has at least one negatively charged substituent.
US07655405B2 Compositions and kits for detection of a target nucleic acid
The present invention is directed to kits and compositions for generating a signal indicative of the presence of a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample, comprising a nucleic acid polymerase lacking 5′ to 3′ exonuclease activity and a thermostable FEN nuclease consisting of a 5′ to 3′ exonuclease and/or endonuclease activity.
US07655401B2 Methods for identifying subjects susceptible to ataxic neurological disease
In one aspect, the invention provides methods of identifying genetic mutations that are associated with ataxic neurological disease. The methods comprise identifying a difference between a nucleic acid sequence of a protein kinase C gamma gene from a mammalian subject exhibiting ataxia and a nucleic acid sequence of a protein kinase C gamma gene from a subject which is not exhibiting ataxia, wherein the difference is a genetic mutation associated with ataxic neurological disease. In another aspect, isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding protein kinase C gamma missense mutations are provided. In another aspect, a method of screening a subject to determine if the subject has a genetic predisposition to develop an ataxic neurological disease is provided. In another aspect, the invention provides kits for determining susceptibility or presence of ataxic neurological disease in a mammalian subject.
US07655391B2 Method for shipping items in an aircraft
A container for shipping items in an aircraft includes a shipping compartment and an expandable chamber for receiving gas from the shipping compartment. At least one conduit connects the expandable chamber to the shipping department so as to permit the flow of gas therebetween. A method for shipping items in an aircraft is also disclosed.
US07655384B2 Methods for reducing spherical aberration effects in photolithography
Methods to at least partially compensate for photoresist-induced spherical aberration that occurs during mask imaging used for photolithographic processing of semiconductor devices, LCD elements, thin-film magnetic heads, reticles and other substrates including photo-defined structures thereon are disclosed. A photoresist or other photosensitive material may be irradiated with a mask pattern image including a selected nonzero spherical aberration value to compensate for photoresist-induced spherical aberration.
US07655377B2 Antireflection film and exposure method
An antireflection film wherein, even where exposure light enters obliquely in a liquid immersion lithography technique, a sufficiently reduced reflectance can be achieved at the interface between a resist layer and a silicon substrate. A two-layer antireflection film is used in exposure by an exposure system having a wavelength of 190 to 195 nm and a numerical aperture of 1.0 or less and formed between the resist layer and the silicon substrate. Where complex refractive indices N1 and N2 and film thicknesses of upper and lower layers of the antireflection film are represented by n1-k1i, n2-k2i and d1, d2, respectively, and a predetermined combination of values of [n10, k10, d10, n20, k20, d20] is selected, n1, k1, d1, n2, k2 and d2 satisfy {(n1-n10)/(n1m-n10)}2+{(k1-k10)/(k1m-k10)}2+{(d1-d10)/(d1m-d10)}2+{(n2-n20)/(n2m-n20)}2+{(k2-k20)/(k2m-k20)}2+{(d2-d20)/(d2m-d20)}2≦1.
US07655373B2 Method for imaging with imaging member having filled overcoat layer
A method for forming images including a) depositing an electrostatic latent image on a charge retentive surface of a photoreceptor member having a substrate; a charge transport layer with charge transport materials; and an overcoat layer positioned on the charge transport layer, wherein the overcoat layer includes a crosslinkable alcohol-soluble polyamide; and wherein the overcoat layer further includes additives having titanium dioxide, silica, a crosslinking agent, a deletion control agent, and a charge transport molecule; and b) applying a developer material via a development component to the charge-retentive surface to develop the electrostatic latent image to form a developed image on the charge-retentive surface, wherein the developer material comprises emulsion aggregation toner, and further wherein at least one of the additives create a texturized surface on the charge retentive surface thereby reducing the contact area between the emulsion aggregation toners and the charge retentive surface enabling increased cleaning of toners.
US07655372B2 Toners comprising modified pigments and processes for preparing the same
The present invention relates to toner compositions comprising a resin and a colorant. Various embodiments of the colorant used in the toner compositions are disclosed, including a modified pigment comprising a pigment having attached at least one organic group having the formula —X—I, wherein X, which is directly attached to the pigment, represents an arylene or heteroarylene group, or an alkylene group, and I represents a non-polymeric group comprising at least one ionic group or at least one ionizable group. Processes for preparing toner compositions are also described.
US07655370B2 Electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge, and electrophotographic apparatus
Provided is an electrophotographic photosensitive member in which friction memory does not easily occur, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus which have the electrophotographic photosensitive member. The electrophotographic photosensitive member having a photosensitive layer has a surface layer having a plurality of depressed portions which are independent from one another, where the minor axis diameter of the depressed portions is Rpc and the depth indicating the distance between the innermost part of a depressed portion and the opening surface thereof is Rdv, the depressed portions have a ratio of depth to minor axis diameter (Rdv/Rpc) on a surface of the photosensitive member of 1.0 or less, and the photosensitive layer has a charge transporting material with an ionization potential of 4.5 eV or more and 5.3 eV or less.
US07655368B2 Method for exposing a substrate and lithographic projection apparatus
A method for exposing a resist layer on a substrate to an image of a pattern on a mask is disclosed whereby, after starting exposure and before completing exposure, a controlled amount of contrast loss is introduced by a controller in the image at the resist layer by changing during exposure the position of the substrate holder. The contrast loss affects the pitch dependency of the resolution of a lithographic projection apparatus, and its control is used to match pitch dependency of resolution between different lithographic projection apparatus.
US07655354B2 Battery
There is provided a battery including a positive electrode that includes an active material layer formed on a positive electrode current collector; a negative electrode that includes active material layers formed on first and second principal planes of a negative electrode current collector and the active material layer on the second principal plane has an alloyed region smaller than an alloyed region the active material layer has on the first principal plane between the second principal plane and the current collector; and an electrolyte.
US07655348B2 Chip-type battery
In order to enhance versatility, a chip-type battery having a means for readily identifying a first terminal and a second terminal is provided. The chip-type battery includes: a body having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and contains a plurality of power generating elements in a stack, each element including a sintered material; a first terminal having a first polarity; and a second terminal having a second polarity. The first terminal is provided at a first side face of the body. The second terminal is provided at a second side face of the body located on other than the first side face. The first terminal and the second terminal include different metal materials.
US07655346B2 Electrode material and fuel cell
A fuel cell electrode material comprising a cermet which comprises metal particles consisting of cobalt and nickel and electrolyte particles consisting of solid oxides, wherein the metal particles comprise 20 to 90 mol % cobalt and the residue of nickel in terms of CoO and NiO, respectively, and a solid oxide fuel cell battery comprising a fuel cell which comprises a solid electrolyte base, a fuel electrode formed on a fuel compartment side of the base, and an air electrode formed on an air compartment side of the base, wherein the fuel electrode is formed from the electrode material of the present invention.
US07655325B2 Rare earth magnet and method for producing same
A rare-earth magnet includes a magnet body made of an R—Fe—B based rare-earth magnet material (where R is at least one rare-earth element) and a metal film that has been deposited on the surface of the magnet body. The magnet further includes a plurality of reaction layers between the magnet body and the metal film. The reaction layers include: a first reaction layer, which contacts with at least some of R2Fe14B type crystals, included in the magnet body, to have received the rare-earth element that has been included in the R2Fe14B type crystals; and a second reaction layer, which is located between the first reaction layer and the metal film and which has a lower rare-earth element concentration than that of the first reaction layer.
US07655324B2 Electro-magnetic storage device and method
An electro-magnetic storage device and method are disclosed. In one embodiment, a memory device includes a first magnetic material to attract a movable structure (e.g., a ferromagnetic material) when a first voltage is applied between the first magnetic material and the movable structure, and a second magnetic material to release the movable structure when a second voltage is applied between the second magnetic material and the movable structure. The movable arm may create a closed circuit when the second voltage is applied between the second magnetic material and the movable structure. There may be a vacuum-gap between the movable structure and at least one of the first magnetic material and/or the second magnetic material. The memory device may be stackable on other memory devices having similar properties, and/or electrically coupled with other memory devices having similar properties in a memory array.
US07655319B2 Plastic positioning pin for overmolded product
An overmolded electronic device includes a pre-mold assembly having a positioning pin that extends upward through a mold material into contact with an inner cavity of a mold. The positioning pin is disposed within a containment area that is defined by sets of ribs configured in and conformed on the pre-mold assembly. The positioning pin thereby is sealed within the containment area that is in turn sealed from the remainder of the electronic device that prevents the intrusion of moisture or other contaminants into undesirable locations of the electronic device.
US07655318B2 Taxidermy hanger system and method
A bracket is attached to the mounting board of a taxidermy work piece both to facilitate attachment and detachment of the work piece from an adjustable taxidermy stand by an individual, and also to later support the work piece on a building wall. The bracket includes co-planar attachment flanges with screw holes for attachment to a rear surface of the mounting board, a second flange spaced from the plane and that defines a shaped aperture for engaging a wall hook to hold the mounting board on a building wall for display, and a third flange extending downward from the second flange to form a recess to engage a top edge of the plate on the taxidermy stand. A related method is also illustrated, the method including temporarily supporting the work piece on the taxidermy stand until additional fasteners can be placed.
US07655311B2 Homogeneous low hardness polyurethane
This invention employs a polyol derivative of a fatty acid that is reacted into a polyurethane formed also with a urethane prepolymer, a polydiene, and optionally, a curative for cross-linking. The fatty acid moiety becomes a relatively short side chain of the polyurethane formed. In embodiments, the polyol is an ester of the fatty acid. This achieves reduction in hardness of the polyurethane with a homogeneity that provides consistent surface characteristics over an extended period desirable for use for electrophotographic development and the like when the material is used as a developer roller.
US07655300B2 Transparent zeolite-polymer hybrid material with tunable properties
The invention is about the preparation of novel highly transparent zeolite-doped polymer and zeolites monolayers.External coating of the zeolite crystals by covalently linked functionalized alkoxysilane derivatives allows for an efficient dispersion of the nano zeolite particles into an organic liquid monomer; the following co-polymerisation process leads to a hard, insoluble and transparent material containing said zeolites. Optical properties such as colour, refractive index, Abbe number or photochromism can be fine tuned by simply changing zeolite loading, while transparency is maintained.
US07655292B2 Electrically conductive substrate with high heat conductivity
An electrically conductive substrate with a high heat conductivity has an aluminum plate having multiple holes. An isolation layer is formed on the aluminum plate and inner walls of the holes. Multiple electrically conductive materials are inserted in the holes. A circuit layer is formed on the aluminum plate, electrically connects to the electrically conductive materials and has a rough surface. A graphite layer is formed on the rough surface of the circuit layer. The electric components are respectively provided on the holes, and the heat generated by the electric components is dissipated effectively by the aluminum plate.
US07655290B2 Carpet tiles
To provide carpet tiles that can be installed more easily and quickly the inventive carpet tiles (1) comprise: a support plate (2); a carpet material (3) on said support plate 2; a first mechanical locking element (4) extending along a first joint edge (8a) of said carpet tile (1); and a second complementary mechanical locking element (5) extending along a second joint edge (8b) of said carpet tile (1).
US07655286B2 Fusible reactive media comprising mordant
An inkjet recording element comprising a support having thereon in order, from top to bottom, a fusible, porous ink-transporting layer comprising fusible polymeric particles, which particles comprise a thermoplastic polymer with reactive functional groups, the ink-transporting layer further comprising a multifunctional compound having complementary reactive functional groups capable of crosslinking the reactive functional groups on the thermoplastic polymer. The ink-transporting layer is over a fusible dye-trapping layer that preferably comprises a mordant. Optionally, an ink-carrier-liquid receptive layer is present between the dye-trapping layer and the support.
US07655278B2 Composite-forming method, composites formed thereby, and printed circuit boards incorporating them
A composite-forming process includes impregnating a reinforcing structure with a curable composition at a temperature of about 10 to about 40° C. The curable composition includes specific amounts of an epoxy resin, a poly(arylene ether), a solvent, and a curing promoter. The poly(arylene ether) includes, on average, about 1.6 to about 2.4 phenolic hydroxy groups per molecule, and it has a polydispersity index less than or equal to 2.2 and an intrinsic viscosity of about 0.03 to about 0.2 deciliter per gram. These characteristics substantially improve the solubility of the poly(arylene ether) in the curable composition and allow the curable composition to be formed and used at or near room temperature. Composites formed by the process and circuit boards including the composites are also described.
US07655276B2 Colored reinforced articles of manufacture and method of making the same
The present invention provides a colored reinforced article of manufacture having a substantially uniform distribution of color. The colored reinforced article of manufacture comprises a fiber-reinforced thermosetting resin matrix and a non-appertured colored veil in the thermosetting resin matrix.
US07655265B2 Process control scheme for cooling and heating compressible compounds
A process control scheme for use with an extruding apparatus for cooling and heating aerated or compressible compounds that are edible. Broadly, the process includes providing a mixture to an inlet of the extruding apparatus, monitoring the pressure profile across the extruding apparatus, moving the mixture through the extruding apparatus with at least one auger while subjecting the mixture to a thermo-dynamic process, automatically altering speed of the at least one auger if the pressure profile across the extruding apparatus is outside a predetermined range, and moving the mixture through an outlet of the extruding apparatus. The process may also include monitoring temperature of a thermodynamic liquid, monitoring the load of an auger motor, and automatically altering the temperature of the thermodynamic liquid and the load of the auger motor if one of either the temperature of the thermodynamic liquid and the load of the auger motor is outside a predetermined range.
US07655256B2 Pharmaceutical formulation including a resinate and an aversive agent
The present invention provides a pharmaceutical that includes, in combination, a resinate and an aversive agent. The resinate includes an ion exchange resin and an drug. The drug is a controlled substance. In variants of the invention, both the aversive agent and the controlled substance are loaded onto the ion exchange resin; the aversive agent is loaded onto the ion exchange resin, and the controlled substance is not loaded onto the ion exchange resin; the controlled substance is loaded onto the ion exchange resin, and the aversive agent is not loaded onto the ion exchange resin; or, the controlled substance is loaded onto a first ion exchange resin, and the aversive agent is loaded onto an ion exchange resin different from the first ion exchange resin.
US07655251B2 Amphiphilic derivatives of α-C-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone
Novel compounds, derivatives of α-C-phenyl N-tert-butyl nitrone, a method for production and use thereof for the preparation of medicaments for the prevention of treatment of diseases related to oxidative stress.
US07655247B2 Malaria vaccines
The invention provides isolated placental P. falciparum polypeptides comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:1-4 and 6-24, and immunogenic derivatives thereof. The invention also provides isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding the placental P. falciparum polypeptides of the invention, compositions comprising one or more placental P. falciparum polypeptides of the invention, methods for inducing an immune response against the placental P. falciparum polypeptides, and methods for treating and diagnosing placental malaria.
US07655245B2 Neisserial antigens
The invention provides proteins from Neisseria meningitidis (strains A & B) and from Neisseria gonorrhoeae, including amino acid sequences, the corresponding nucleotide sequences, expression data, and serological data. The proteins are useful antigens for vaccines, immunogenic compositions, and/or diagnostics.
US07655242B2 Defensin-inducing agents
This application provides, in part, novel polypeptides and nucleic acids that affect induction of defensins, and methods of making and using same.
US07655240B2 Vaccine composition comprising an immunoadjuvant compound consisting of a Rho GTPase family activator
This invention is based on the experimental finding that activators of Rho GTPases, namely the cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 (CNF1), and DNT bear immunostimulatory properties towards the systemic response to orally administered ovalbumine. This invention concerns a vaccine composition including an immunoadjuvant compound, wherein the immunoadjuvant compound consists of a Rho GTPase activator.
US07655238B2 Compositions and methods for enhancing the immunogenicity of antigens
The present invention includes compositions, methods and kits for enhancing the immunogenicity of an antigen via fusion to a Listerial protein. The present invention further encompasses Listeria vaccine strains for enhancing the immunogenicity of an antigen.
US07655235B2 Vaccine
The invention relates to polynucleotides for DNA vaccination which polynucleotides encode an HIV envelope protein or fragment or immunogenic derivative, which is non-glycosylated when expressed in a mammalian target cell, operably linked to a heterologous promoter. Preferably the HIV envelope molecule, such as gp120 or gp140 or gp160, lacks a functional secretion signal. It may be fused to additional HIV proteins such as Nef, Gag, RT or Tat.
US07655229B2 Anti-FC-gamma RIIB receptor antibody and uses therefor
The present application describes antibodies that selectively bind human FcγRIIB, with little or no binding to other human FcγRs, e.g., human FcγRIIA. The invention also provides isolated bispecific antibodies comprising an antibody that selectively binds FcγRIIB, and a second antibody that specifically binds an activating receptor. Various uses, including therapeutic uses, for those antibodies are also described, including administration with anti-tumor antibodies and methods of inhibiting immune responses and suppressing histamine release.
US07655228B2 Method of modulating the activity of functional immune molecules to GM2
The invention relates to a method for controlling the activity of an immunologically functional molecule, such as an antibody, a protein, a peptide or the like, an agent of promoting the activity of an immunologically functional molecule, and an immunologically functional molecule having the promoted activity.
US07655225B2 Methods of expanding stem and progenitor cells and expanded cell populations obtained thereby
Ex vivo and in vivo methods of expanding a population of stem and/or progenitor cells, while at the same time reversibly inhibiting differentiation of the stem and/or progenitor cells by providing the stem and/or progenitor cells with an effective amount of at least one copper chelate, so as to maintain a free copper concentration available to said cells substantially unchanged, to thereby expand the population of said stem and/or progenitor cells, while at the same time reversibly inhibit differentiation of said stem and/or progenitor cells.
US07655222B2 Method of using interferon-like protein ZCYTO20 (IL-28A) or ZCYTO22 (IL-28B) to treat hepatitis C
The present invention relates to polynucleotide and polypeptide molecules for zcyto20, zcyto21, zcyto22, zycto24, and zcyto25 proteins which are most closely related to interferon-α at the amino acid sequence level. The receptor for this protein family is a class II cytokine receptor. The present invention includes methods of reducing viral infections and increasing monocyte counts. The present invention also includes antibodies to the zcyto20 polypeptides, and methods of producing the polynucleotides and polypeptides.
US07655215B2 Method and apparatus for producing synthesis gas from waste materials
An apparatus designed to form syn gas from carbonaceous materials such as coal includes a devolatilization reactor in combination with a reformer reactor which subsequently forms syn gas. The reformer reactor, in turn, is in communication with a particulate separator. The devolatilization reactor is fed with material using a compression feeder which drives air from the feed material, compresses it in a feed zone forming a seal between the feed hopper and the devolatilization reactor. The reformer reactor, as well as the particulate separators, are maintained in a heated furnace so that the temperature of the formed syn gas does not decrease below the reaction temperature until particulate material has been separated.
US07655208B2 Single crystalline diamond and producing method thereof
The object of the present invention is to obtain a high quality single crystalline diamond that has less distortion and large area suitable for semiconductor device substrates or an optical component material. The present invention is a single crystalline diamond produced by chemical vapor deposition, wherein, when a linear polarized light which is composed of two linear polarized lights perpendicular to each other is introduced into one main face of the single crystalline diamond, a maximum value of a retardation between the two linear polarized lights perpendicular to each other which come out from an opposite main face is not more than 50 μm at maximum per a thickness of 100 μm across an entire of the single crystalline diamond, and also a method for producing the diamond.
US07655207B2 Aluminum complex hydroxide salt and method of producing the same
An aluminum complex hydroxide salt having Al oxide octahedral layers and a divalent anion among the octahedral layers, wherein an aluminosilicate anion expressed by the following general formula (1), [NapAlqSirOz]2−  (1) wherein p, q, r and z are positive numbers satisfying, 5≦z≦20, z=(p/2)+(3q/2)+2r+1, 0

US07655201B2 Method and device for removing inflammable gases in a closed chamber and chamber equipped with such a device
Methods and devices for removing inflammable gases produced by radiolysis in a closed chamber containing radioactive matters comprising organic compounds and possibly water, or radioactive matters in the presence of organic compounds and possibly water. Inside the chamber there may be placed a catalyst of at least one reaction for oxidizing the inflammable gases by oxygen contained in the chamber atmosphere, supported by an inert solid support; a catalyst of at least the reaction for oxidizing CO to CO2; possibly an oxygen source; and possibly a hygroscopic microporous inert solid support. Also, chambers for radioactive matters containing such devices.
US07655198B2 Method and apparatus for manipulating pre-sterilized components in an active sterile field
The connection, assembly, or fill of two or more pre-sterilized components having at least one terminal end each for attachment to another component, and an apparatus for performing such a connection, while maintaining the sterility of the components is disclosed. The resulting connection is made permanent by bonding the contacting components together using either a solvent bonding technique, a radio frequency sealer, a heat sealer, or any other suitable process. The connection is preferably made within an active sterile field. Using a low-voltage electron beam instrument, such as the MIN-EB™, a suitable sterile field sphere can be created. The terminal ends of the multiple components remain within the sterile field sphere until the possibility of contamination within the sealed components is significantly reduced to industry acceptable standards.
US07655197B2 III-V nitride substrate boule and method of making and using the same
A boule formed by high rate vapor phase growth of Group III-V nitride boules (ingots) on native nitride seeds, from which wafers may be derived for fabrication of microelectronic device structures. The boule is of microelectronic device quality, e.g., having a transverse dimension greater than 1 centimeter, a length greater than 1 millimeter, and a top surface defect density of less than 107 defects cm−2. The Group III-V nitride boule may be formed by growing a Group III-V nitride material on a corresponding native Group III-V nitride seed crystal by vapor phase epitaxy at a growth rate above 20 micrometers per hour.
US07655196B2 Reforming catalyst and method and apparatus for making and loading same
A reforming catalyst member having an elongated body whose outer surface has a number of peak and valley regions so as to increase the area of the outer surface to enhance catalyst utilization. The catalyst member is adhered to a fuel cell current collector using an adhesive and dried using infrared radiation.
US07655184B2 Delayed and diffused flow rapid confirmatory immunological testing apparatus and method
A self-contained apparatus using a gravitationally encouraged, interrupted, downward, diffusive and programmed flow of fluid to provide for rapid confirmatory immunological testing (“RCIT”) in, for example, a clinical, point-of-care setting. A fluid specimen such as blood, saliva or urine is deposited into a first chamber carrying a source of conjugate having mobilizable binding members such as immunographic antigens or antibodies specific to the condition being tested conjugated to a detectable label such as colloidal gold. The specimen is premixed with a first measured, reactive mix buffer solution carried within an openable tank. The specimen and solution are temporarily held within an incubation reservoir formed behind a dam made from porous, diffusive material. The delay and flow through the diffusive dam causes mixing of the specimen and solution to form a premixture which exhibits a more uniformly high degree of first affinity binding before flowing out of the first chamber toward one or more chromatographic test strips in a second chamber. In one embodiment, after a waiting period, a bladder containing a stop-wash buffer solution is opened to flow onto the strips. Additional embodiments provide one or more diffusive structures that can be pretreated with mixture enhancing chemicals such as surfactants. It is a rapid confirmatory immunological test apparatus having an analytical panel which can provide profile diagnostic results.
US07655181B2 Screw conveyor of rotary hearth furnace for discharging reduced iron
A reduced iron discharging screw conveyer is provided in a rotary hearth furnace and discharges reduced iron out of the rotary hearth furnace. The rotary hearth furnace produces the reduced iron by charging and heating a pellet including metallic oxide and coal material onto a rotary hearth rotating in a horizontal plane. The reduced iron discharging screw conveyer has a rotary shaft and a screw blade which is spirally formed on an outer surface of the rotary shaft. A lead angle θ of the screw blade 5a satisfies a condition of “0.46 rad ≦θ≦0.79 rad”. A ratio (h/D) between height h of the screw blade and an outer diameter D of the screw conveyer is smaller than 0.2, and a ratio (t/h) between thickness t and height h of the screw blade is larger than or equal to 0.12.
US07655174B2 Jettable compositions
A fully curable jettable composition having a viscosity less than 30 cps at a temperature within the range of 15-180° C., more preferably at a temperature of 15-100° C., e.g. 60-80° C. the composition comprising: (A) at least one low viscosity reactive resin selected from the group consisting of compounds containing an oxetane ring, cycloaliphatic epoxy resins, tetrahydrofurans, hexahydropyrans and mono-functional (meth)acrylates, said resin having a molecular weight of not greater than 300 Daltons, e.g. 250 Daltons or less, and a viscosity at a temperature in the said range of less than 30 cps, e.g. 5 to 15 cps; (B) at least one higher viscosity resin selected from the group consisting of epoxy resins, compounds containing an oxetane ring and acrylates, which resin acts to thicken the low viscosity resin and strengthen a jetted deposit of the composition, the higher viscosity resin having: a viscosity greater than twice that of the low viscosity resin at the said temperature in the range stated above, and a functionality of greater than or equal to 2; (C) at least one curable toughener, preferably having a functionality of at least 2, such as hydroxy, epoxy, acrylic or other reactive functionalised polymer/oligomer (e.g. derived by functionalising poly(tetrahydrofuran), polycaprolactone, polycarbonate diol, or a dendrimeric polyol; (D) at least one initiator for the polymerisation of the resins, and (E) at least one stabilizer for delaying the curing of the resins of the composition; wherein the low viscosity resin is slower to react than the higher viscosity resin and acts to solvate the higher viscosity resin prior to curing and at least partly during curing and wherein at least 30% of the components A and B are cationically curable resins. The composition can be jetted from piezo electric printing heads under the control of a computer program to form a multi-layered article, e.g. a three dimensional article, in which the adjacent droplets merge and are cured homogeneously together.
US07655171B2 Golf ball mixing and dispensing process
The present invention provides an improved process for mixing castable polyurethanes and polyureas and for prolonging the dispensing time for dispensing them into a golf ball mold for application to a golf ball sub-assembly. A nozzle framework includes support housing heaters and heater adaptors for each dispensing port to delay the onset of drool and improve cut off in the dispensing tubes. The combination of fluorinated dispensing ports, the heating of the polyureas or polyurethanes, and inclusion of a capillary orifice in each dispensing port significantly prolongs the time before the advent of drool is detected.
US07655166B2 Evaporative emissions filter
An evaporative emissions filter for an engine air induction system. The evaporative emissions filter includes a hydrocarbon vapor-adsorbent member disposed within the air induction system outside the direct air flow path. A mechanism is provided for mounting the evaporative emissions filter within the air induction system. Hydrocarbon vapors present in the air induction system after engine shut-down are substantially retained in the adsorbent member until air flows through the air induction system after the engine starts.
US07655164B2 Method for obtaining macroscopic fibres and strips from colloidal particles and in particular carbon nanotubes
The invention concerns a method for obtaining fibers and strips from colloidal particles, characterized in that it consists in: 1) dispersing said particles in a solvent optionally using a surfactant; 2) injecting the resulting dispersion solution through at least an orifice emerging into a flow of an external solution, preferably, having a higher viscosity than said dispersion, the viscosity levels being measured in the same temperature and pressure conditions, so as to cause said particles to agglomerate into fibers or strips by destabilizing the particle dispersions and optionally aligning said particles.
US07655160B2 Compositions of matter: system II
The present invention relates to new compositions of matter, particularly metals and alloys, and methods of making such compositions. The new compositions of matter exhibit long-range ordering and unique electronic character.
US07655159B2 Conductive polymer, conductive polymer compositions and their use
The invention provides an electrode, electrolyte and/or a separator plate comprising a conductive material-doped ester-cured alkaline phenolic resole resin containing conducting alkaline salts.
US07655156B2 Silicate-based orange phosphors
Novel orange phosphors are disclosed having the comprise silicate-based compounds having the formula (Sr,A1)x,(Si,A2)(O,A3)2+x:Eu2+, where A1 is at least one divalent cation (a 2+ ion) including Mg, Ca, Ba, or Zn, or a combination of 1+ and 3+ cations; A2 is a 3+, 4+, or 5+ cation, including at least one of B, Al, Ga, C, Ge, P; A3 is a 1−, 2−, or 3− anion, including F, Cl, and Br; and x is any value between 2.5 and 3.5, inclusive. The formula is written to indicate that the A1 cation replaces Sr; the A2 cation replaces Si, and the A3 anion replaces O. These orange phosphors are configured to emit visible light having a peak emission wavelength greater than about 565 nm. They have applications in white LED illumination systems, plasma display panels, and in orange and other colored LED systems.
US07655155B2 Liquid crystal thermoset monomer or oligomer, thermosetting liquid crystal polymer composition comprising the same and printed circuit board using the same
A liquid crystal thermoset (LCT) monomer or oligomer having both ends capped with maleimide having at least one methyl group, represented by Formula 1: wherein R1 and R2 are each independently CH3 or H, and at least one of R1 and R2 is a methyl group, and Ar1 is a divalent organic group containing one or more structural units selected from the group consisting of ester, amide, ester amide, ester imide and ether imide units, and Ar1 has a molecular weight not greater than 5,000.
US07655152B2 Etching
An etching method includes applying a first electromagnetic radiation to an area of structure, thereby altering a characteristic of the structure in the area, and applying a second electromagnetic radiation to the structure, the second electromagnetic radiation configured to selectively ablate the structure based on the characteristic.
US07655132B2 Process for improving the lubricating properties of base oils using isomerized petroleum product
A method for improving the lubricating properties of a isomerized distillate base oil having a kinematic viscosity at 100 degrees C. between about 2.5 cSt and about 8 cSt, the method comprising blending with said isomerized distillate base oil a sufficient amount of a pour point depressing base oil blending component to reduce the pour point of the resulting base oil blend at least 3 degrees C. below the pour point of the distillate base oil wherein the pour point depressing base oil blending component is an isomerized petroleum derived base oil containing material having a boiling range above about 1050 degrees F.; also lubricating base oil blends prepared according to the process; and the pour point depressing base oil blending component.
US07655128B2 Electrochemical test strip
An electrochemical test system comprising an electrochemical test strip capable of initiating an instrument, determining if it is inserted into a correct position of the instrument, a sample is injected into a reaction region of the electrochemical test strip, and the sample covers the reaction region properly. The electrochemical test strip includes an insulating substrate, an electrode system, and an insulating layer. The electrode system includes a resistor, a set of measurement electrodes which includes a reference electrode and a working electrode insulated from each other, and a set of identifying electrodes which includes first and second identifying electrodes connected through the resistor. A method for detecting a sample includes the steps of inserting the electrochemical test strip into a measurement instrument, providing the sample in the reaction region, and applying a voltage between the reference electrode and the working electrode, and measuring a current corresponding to the voltage.
US07655127B2 Method of fabricating thin film transistor
Method of fabricating electronic devices is disclosed. The method includes the steps of forming an anodized layer that has a thickness greater than a desired thickness, and forming an electrically conductive layer on the anodized layer. The method further includes the steps of removing the conductive layer in a selected area to expose the anodized layer, and removing the exposed anodized layer until the anodized layer in the exposed area has the desired thickness.
US07655123B2 Gas sensor
A gas sensor comprising a first measuring chamber for introducing a gas to be measured, a second measuring chamber for detection of the gas to be measured, and as pump cells a first pump cell having a pair of pump electrodes, and a second pump cell having a measuring electrode and an auxiliary pump electrode, wherein a porous alumina sintered body having communicating pores of 500-1100 Å in average pore diameter and 6-16% in porosity is formed as an electrode protective layer on the surface of at least the measuring electrode of the second pump cell in such a manner that the alumina sintered body covers the measuring electrode. The gas sensor can be use for long period of time because of the protective layer.
US07655120B2 Biosensor
A biosensor measuring an analyte contained in a sample is provided, including: an insulative lower substrate that has at least one electrode on which an enzyme reaction layer reacting with the analyte is formed; an upper substrate that faces the lower substrate and is made of a conductive material; and an adhesive layer that has a sample feed with a predetermined height on the enzyme reaction layer and attaches the upper and lower substrates to each other, where an end of the upper substrate acts as an electrode in which an electron-transfer mediator contained in the enzyme reaction layer is oxidized or reduced, and the other end acts as an electrical contact part that electrically contacts a measurement unit.
US07655119B2 Meter for use in an improved method of reducing interferences in an electrochemical sensor using two different applied potentials
The present invention is directed to an improved meter that utilizes a method of reducing the effects of interfering compounds in the measurement of analytes and more particularly to a method of reducing the effects of interfering compounds in a system wherein the test strip utilizes two or more working electrodes. In one embodiment of the present invention, a meter is described which applies a first potential to a first working electrode and a second potential, having the same polarity but a greater magnitude than the first potential, is applied to a second working electrode. The meter then measures the generated current and utilizes a predetermined algorithm to correct the measured current to compensate for the presence of interfering compounds in the sample.
US07655115B1 Long-lived photo-protonated carbocation for photochromic, photoconductive liquids
An apparatus and method provide a solute-solvent solution that allows the solute to become photo-protonated by the solvent on absorption of ultraviolet light. The solute is 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octamethylanthracene (OMA). The solvent is 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP). The protonated form of the solute absorbs visible light to change the coloration of the solution from a substantially clear state to a colored state.
US07655100B2 Method for preparation of steel material
A raw steel is coated with or surrounded by a boron compound (step S1). A coating film of h-BN is formed on the surface of the raw steel. Then, the raw steel is nitrided by a nitriding gas while being heated (step S2). B from the boron compound and N from the nitriding gas are diffused into the raw steel, turning the raw steel into a steel material containing B and N. Most of B and N are present as an Fe (B, N) solid solution or an Fe (C, B, N) solid solution in the structure of the steel material. The raw steel is heated and nitrided under conditions such that B and N are contained ranging from 7 to 30 ppm by weight and ranging from 10 to 70 ppm by weight, respectively.
US07655095B2 Method of cleaning semiconductor surfaces
Devices and methods of cleaning are described. The methods, and devices formed by the methods have a number of advantages. Embodiments are shown that include cleaning using a supercritical fluid. Advantages include a combination of both chemical and mechanical removal abilities from the supercritical fluid. Mechanical energy for cleaning is transmitted in a homogenous manner throughout a carrier fluid. The mechanical energy provided in methods shown can also be used with delicate surface features.
US07655090B2 Method of controlling stress in gallium nitride films deposited on substrates
Methods of controlling stress in GaN films deposited on silicon and silicon carbide substrates and the films produced therefrom are disclosed. A typical method comprises providing a substrate and depositing a graded gallium nitride layer on the substrate having a varying composition of a substantially continuous grade from an initial composition to a final composition formed from a supply of at least one precursor in a growth chamber without any interruption in the supply. A typical semiconductor film comprises a substrate and a graded gallium nitride layer deposited on the substrate having a varying composition of a substantially continuous grade from an initial composition to a final composition formed from a supply of at least one precursor in a growth chamber without any interruption in the supply.
US07655087B2 Pigment compositions, colored compositions making use of the pigment compositions, and color filters
Pigment compositions each contain an organic pigment and at least one compound selected from compounds represented by the following formulas (I) or (II), respectively: A-N═N-D, B—N═N-D or C—N═N-D  Formula (I) A-N═N—CH(COCH3)—CONH-E, B—N═N—CH(COCH3)—CONH-E or C—N═N—CH(COCH3)—CONH-E  Formula (II) wherein A represents a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, B represents a substituted or unsubstituted β-naphthyl group, C represents a substituted or unsubstituted α-anthraquinonyl group, D represents a particular substituted aromatic group, and E represents a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, with a proviso that the compounds each have at least one substituent represented by —COOM or —SO3M in which M represents a hydrogen atom, metal atom, ammonium group, organic amine group or quaternary ammonium group. Colored compositions making use of the pigment compositions and color filters making use of the colored compositions are also disclosed.
US07655085B2 Thermally stable anthrapyridone
An anthrapyridone composition of the formula: is disclosed, where “A” and “B” are independently selected from substituted or unsubstituted cyclic ketone groups having from about 10 to about 20 ring carbon atoms; “a” is an integer having a value from 0-4, R1-R4 are monovalent substituents; with the proviso that when “a” is 0, R1 is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen, an alkyl group, a secondary amino group and an aminosulphonyl group; and R2-R4 are substituents selected form the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, an aliphatic group, an aromatic group, a heterocyclic group, a halogen atom, a cyano group, a carbonyl containing group, an amino group and a sulphonyl-containing group. The anthrapyridones are useful as thermally stable colorants for producing colored polymer resins and articles that require high temperature polymer processing conditions.
US07655078B2 Bubble separator
A bubble separator includes a body with a generally cylindrical shape, an oil induction portion, a gas discharge portion with a generally cylindrical shape, an oil discharge portion, and an upper partition. The oil induction portion is provided on the body, and introduces bubble-containing oil to inside the body. The gas discharge portion is provided extending from a ceiling portion of the body, and discharges separated bubbles to outside the body. The oil discharge portion is provided on the body, and discharges separated oil to outside the body. The upper partition is provided extending from the ceiling portion, and is formed on a periphery of the gas discharge portion. According to the bubble separator of the present invention, the upper partition can prevent bubble-containing oil from directly blowing into the discharge hole of the gas discharge portion and discharging to outside the body together with separated gas.
US07655075B2 Filter element and method for the production thereof
A method for producing a filter element involving applying a membrane layer to a carrier substrate, etching a membrane chamber, producing pores in the membrane layer, subjecting the membrane layer to an additional treatment to increase the mechanical strength.
US07655069B2 Removal of carbon dioxide from air
An air/liquid exchanger comprising an open-cell foam 102 supporting a liquid sorbent. The exchanger may be used for removing trace gaseous components from the air.
US07655067B2 Method for processing aluminium in a rotary or a reverberating furnace
The invention relates to a method for processing aluminum in a furnace consisting in introducing an aluminum-containing material and possibly one or several types of salt into the furnace, melting said material by heating with the aid of at least one burner supplied with a combustive material and fuel in such a way that a molten aluminum possibly covered with a slag containing, in particular alumina and at least one salt is produced and in measuring a carbon monoxide and/or hydrogen concentration in the furnace atmosphere or in a smoke at the exit of the furnace. Oxygen content in the combustive material supplying at least one burner is greater than 10% by volume, preferably greater than 21% by volume. The inventive method also involves a final phase of reduction of the molten aluminum oxydation during which the fuel flow rate is substantially constant while the injected combustive flow rate is controlled at a value ranging from 3 to 15% by volume which is greater than a CO concentration in the furnace and/or in the smoke without control.
US07655053B1 Process for sodium carbonate crystals from solutions
A method of producing sodium carbonate from any solution or carbonate mineral, especially trona, that includes: removing calcium and magnesium compounds from an input solution; passing the input solution to a precipitator, adding methanol of 30% to 70% by volume to the solution in the precipitator so as to precipitate carbonate from the solution, washing the precipitated carbonate with a methanol-containing solution, and drying the washed precipitated crystals at low temperatures. The present invention provides a refined technique for reducing impurities and increasing efficiency of the process whereby sodium carbonate crystals can be formed of various sizes, shapes, densities and distributions by adjusting various parameters of the process. The sodium carbonate crystals produced from the process may originate from an input solution comprised of calcined-sodium carbonate solution, tailing pond water, waste pond water, sesquicarbonate or uncalcined trona solution, or from various mixtures of carbonates and bicarbonates.
US07655029B2 Bone plate
A bone plate for fixation of proximal humerus fractures comprises an elongated shaft portion having a first width and a head portion connected to the shaft portion having a second width greater than the first width. The head portion and the shaft portion define a common longitudinal axis. At least one first screw hole may be located in the head portion, and at least one second screw hole may be located in the shaft portion. At least one of the first and second holes is configured to engage a head of a bone screw to form an angularly stable connection with the bone screw.
US07655027B2 Method for inserting and deploying an expandable interbody spinal fusion implant
Methods for inserting and expanding fusion implants having an expandable height are disclosed. An implant holder having a passage therethrough that is adapted to receive an expander driver is provided. The implant holder is attached to the implant, and the expander driver is inserted through the passage to engage an expander of the implant. Using the expander driver, the expander is rotated from a first position to a second position to expand the expandable implant from a first collapsed height to a second expanded height.
US07655008B2 Methods and instruments for spinal derotation
Derotation instrument assemblies and systems are provided to facilitate positioning one or more vertebrae of a spinal column into a desired alignment. The instrument assemblies and systems include implant holders engageable to respective implants engaged to vertebrae of the spinal column, transverse bridges to connect implant holders associated with a particular vertebra, and inter-level linking assemblies to connect instrument assemblies associated with different vertebrae. Derotation handles can be provided on the implant holders to facilitate application of the alignment forces, while the assemblies distribute the corrective forces to the connected implants and vertebrae.
US07655001B2 Temperature responsive systems
A shape memory material activated device of the present invention uses a shape memory material activator to create a path through a shell wall of the device. The path through the shell wall may release a substance contained in the shell or allow a substance to enter the shell. The path may be created by fracturing, puncturing, exploding, imploding, peeling, tearing, stretching, separating, debonding, abrading or otherwise opening the shell and, may be permanent or reversible. The substance may be released in one location while the device is stationary or along a path while it is traveling, self-powered by the shape memory material activator. In addition, the substance may be delivered to an object upon contact with its surface. The self powering abilities allow these devices to be used as substance delivery devices as well as actuators, transporters, and energy conversion systems with modular characteristics and growth potential. The devices may be armed, prior to the beginning of their service life, to be placed in a state of readiness to release their substances once the path is created. Prior to arming they may be maintained at any temperature, incapable of releasing their substances. The devices according to the present invention may be used as temperature sensors or warning devices, drug delivery devices, and the like.
US07655000B2 Urology catheter
A urology catheter is provided that includes an elongated body extending from a proximal end to a distal end. The body defines at least one lumen. A tip has a proximal end that is disposed in abutting relation with the distal end of the body such that the body is fixed with the tip. The tip defines a lateral opening that is defined by a wall including an external radius disposed in transition with an outer surface of the tip and an internal radius disposed in transition with an inner surface of the tip. The external radius has a non-perpendicular profile with the outer surface of the tip. An expandable member has a proximal portion disposed about the body and a distal portion disposed about the tip. A method of manufacturing the urology catheter is provided.
US07654986B2 Needle mounting system and a method for mounting a needle assembly
A needle mounting system and methods for mounting a needle assembly on a needle mount are disclosed. The needle mounting system includes a needle hub having protrusions extending radially inward. A needle mount has a plurality of slots to receive the protrusions. The slots have a first portion that defines a passageway substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the needle mount and a second portion substantially perpendicular to the axis. The needle hub and mount provide a method wherein a needle assembly may be mounted on an injection device without completely rotating the needle hub relative to the needle mount.
US07654982B2 Flow control system and method with variable pressure and variable resistance
An infusion pump and method are provided which control flow rates with variable fluid pressure and variable series flow resistance.
US07654981B2 Removing device for injection needles
A device for removing a needle unit from an injection device, the device for removing including an opening for receiving the needle unit and a locking structure generally associated with the opening, the locking structure formed in at least one rim area along the circumference of the opening, such that the needle unit can be moved in an insertion direction through the opening after it has been inserted into the opening, and when the needle unit is moved counter to the insertion direction, it establishes a locking connection with the locking structure. In one embodiment, the invention includes a container for receiving and containing at least one used needle unit.
US07654978B2 Emboli protection devices and related methods of use
An evacuation sheath assembly and method of treating occluded vessels which reduces the risk of distal embolization during vascular interventions is provided. The evacuation sheath assembly includes an elongated tube defining an evacuation lumen having proximal and distal ends. A proximal sealing surface is provided on a proximal portion of the tube and is configured to form a seal with a lumen of a guided catheter. A distal sealing surface is provided on a distal portion of the tube and is configured to form a seal with a blood vessel. A method of treatment of a blood vessel using the evacuation sheath assembly includes advancing the evacuation sheath assembly into the blood vessel through a guide catheter. Prior to advancing a device across a stenosis to be treated, normal antegrade blood flow in the blood vessel proximate to the stenosis is stopped. While blood flow is stopped, the stenosis is treated. Retrograde blood flow is induced within the blood vessel to carry embolic material dislodged during treating into the evacuation sheath assembly.
US07654972B2 Spinal orthosis to inhibit kyphosis and to minimize disk disease
In one embodiment, a spinal orthosis includes a shoulder unit comprising a left shoulder portion and a right shoulder portion, a retracting device, a first connector connected to the left shoulder portion at a first end of the first connector and connected to the retracting device at a second end of the first connector, a second connector connected to the right shoulder portion at a first end of the second connector and connected to the retracting device at a second end of the second connector, and a lumbosacral belt attached to the retracting device, the lumbosacral belt being able to be secured to a body.
US07654957B2 Apparatus for physical measurements of the eye
Utilization of a contact device placed on the eye in order to detect physical and chemical parameters of the body as well as the non-invasive delivery of compounds according to these physical and chemical parameters, with signals being transmitted continuously as electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared and the like. One of the parameters to be detected includes non-invasive blood analysis utilizing chemical changes and chemical products that are found in the conjunctiva and in the tear film. A transensor mounted in the contact device laying on the cornea or the surface of the eye is capable of evaluating and measuring physical and chemical parameters in the eye including non-invasive blood analysis. The system utilizes eye lid motion and/or closure of the eye lid to activate a microminiature radio frequency sensitive transensor mounted in the contact device. The signal can be communicated by wires or radio telemetered to an externally placed receiver. The signal can then be processed, analyzed and stored. Several parameters can be detected including a complete non-invasive analysis of blood components, measurement of systemic and ocular blood flow, measurement of heart rate and respiratory rate, tracking operations, detection of ovulation, detection of radiation and drug effects, diagnosis of ocular and systemic disorders and the like.
US07654956B2 Transcutaneous analyte sensor
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for measuring an analyte in a host. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for transcutaneous measurement of glucose in a host.
US07654942B1 Linearly adjustable multi resistance ratio exercise apparatus
A linearly adjustable multi resistance ratio exercise apparatus provides at least two linearly adjustable flexible connector ends which can be pressed or pulled for functional and strength training exercises. The flexible connector ends may be interconnected with resistance wherein the pressing or pulling of one flexible connector end will provide the user a different ratio of resistance than the pressing or pulling of an alternate flexible connector end. The user can select a flexible connector end which will provide less resistance and will provide more flexible connector travel for functional training exercises. The user can select a flexible connector end which will provide more resistance and will provide less flexible connector travel for strength training exercises. Some flexible connector ends may share the same swivel pulley assembly. One handle assembly may be attached to multiple flexible connector ends to obtain additional ratios of resistance.
US07654935B2 Shift control system and shift control method for continuously variable transmission
A maximum flow calculating unit calculates a maximum amount of hydraulic fluid that can flow into or out of an input-side hydraulic cylinder when a shift control command signal is set to a reference DUTY value, based on an estimated valve pressure difference calculated by an estimated pressure difference calculating unit, and a post-guard target sheave position setting unit performs a guard process for restricting the amount of change of the sheave position, using a guard value calculated by a guard value calculating unit based on the maximum flow amount, so as to set a post-guard target sheave position. Since the thus set target sheave position does not undergo excessive large changes nor excessively small changes during shifting, a target value for shifting is set so that a feedforward controlled variable determined based on the amount of change of the target sheave position becomes an appropriate value.
US07654920B2 Multi-purpose golf accessory assembly
A multi-purpose golf accessory assembly comprises an elongated body member having a number of components mounted thereon. The components include a divot green repair tool, a magnetically secured marker and a golf ball marking instrument. The components are configured in such a way as to provide a golfer with a compact hand-held implement that is easily and conveniently utilized while the golfer engages in a round of golf.
US07654919B2 Golf ball
Golf ball 2 has numerous dimples 8. Provided that mean diameter of all the dimples 8 is Da, ratio (N1/N) of number N1 of adjacent dimple pairs having a pitch of (Da/4) or less to total number N of the dimples is equal to or greater than 2.70. Ratio (N2/N1) of number N2 of the adjacent dimple pairs having a pitch of (Da/20) or less to the number N1 is equal to or greater than 0.50. The northern hemisphere N and the southern hemisphere S of this golf ball 2 have a pole vicinity region 20, an equator vicinity region 22 and a coordination region 24, respectively. The pole vicinity region 20 includes 5 units which are rotationally symmetric each other centered on the pole point P. The equator vicinity region 22 includes 6 units which are rotationally symmetric each other centered on the pole point P. The coordination region 24 does not include any unit.
US07654917B2 Golf balls having a low modulus HNP layer and a high modulus HNP layer
The present invention is directed to golf balls consisting of a multi-layer core and a cover. The multi-layer core consists of a small, hard center enclosed by a soft intermediate core layer and an outer core layer. The multi-layer core includes at least one layer formed from a low modulus HNP composition and at least one layer formed from a high modulus HNP composition.
US07654916B2 Golf balls having a low modulus HNP layer and a high modulus HNP layer
The present invention is directed to golf balls consisting of a dual-layer core and a cover. The core consists of a center having a center hardness of 50 Shore C or greater and formed from a low modulus HNP composition, and an outer core layer having a surface hardness of 75 Shore C or greater and formed from a high modulus HNP composition. Low modulus HNP compositions of the present invention have a modulus of from 1,000 psi to 50,000 psi. High modulus HNP compositions of the present invention have a modulus of from 25,000 psi to 150,000 psi. The modulus of the highly neutralized copolymer of the low modulus HNP is at least 10% less than the modulus of the highly neutralized copolymer of the high modulus HNP composition. The cover consists of an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition and an outer cover layer formed from a polyurethane or polyurea composition.
US07654915B2 Golf balls incorporating rigid, rosin-modified polymers
Golf ball compositions including a rosin-modified polymeric composition including a conventional ionomer, acid copolymer, highly neutralized polymer, or other suitable polymer that has been modified with a rosin material to impart stiffness through increasing the flexural modulus of the material.
US07654914B2 Golf club head with undercut
A golf club head having an undercut is disclosed. The club head includes a body defining a striking face, a top line, a sole, a back, a heel, and a toe. The back contains a cavity that extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the face. A recesses is provided within the cavity, with the recess extending away from the cavity and toward the sole. The recess causes more of the club head mass to be oriented towards the perimeter of the club head, and optionally also toward the back of the club head. This enlarges the club sweet spot and increases the moment of inertia, and facilitates imparting a desired flight path to a struck golf ball, producing a more forgiving club. The recess may have a varying depth and/or a varying draft angle. A rear wall of the recess may be provided with a cutout to further reposition mass toward the club head perimeter. An insert, such as a vibration dampening member, may be provided within the recess. The insert may contain secondary inserts, such as weight members, therein in strategic locations. The insert may completely fill the recess, or may fill only a portion thereof.
US07654913B2 Weld structure of metal club head
A golf club head is formed with openings respectively on top and bottom sides thereof and a circumferential recessed groove is formed in the club head along a circumference of each opening. Pegs are formed in and spaced along the circumferential grooves. A faceplate and a bottom plate are provided, each having a circumferential edge along which notches are formed in a spaced manner to correspond to the pegs. Thus, when the faceplate and the bottom plate are received in the top and bottom openings respectively to be supported by the circumferential grooves, the notches respectively snugly fit over the pegs to thereby securely and properly hold the faceplate and the bottom plate in position for subsequently welding operation. Thus, the subsequent welding operation can be carried out in a smooth manner without any underside shifting of the faceplate and bottom plate with respect to the club head.
US07654912B1 Golfing stance training apparatus and method
A golfing stance training apparatus and method includes a spherical housing has a diameter between 5 inches and 9 inches. The housing is comprised of an elastic material and is inflated. The housing is positioned between a person's legs so that the housing is positioned adjacent to knees of the legs and the legs support the housing over a ground surface. A golf swing is made a golf swing by the person while retaining the housing between and supported by the legs.
US07654905B2 Video gaming device with pivotally mounted printer module
A video gaming device includes a games console. The games console includes a disc reader module configured to load a game stored on a disc. A printer module is pivotally mounted relative to the disc reader module and is configured to print game information on print media. A controller module is configured to be engaged, in a releasable manner, with the printer module. The controller module is also configured to communicate wirelessly with the games console to enable control of the games console.
US07654895B2 Gaming machine with expandable array
A slot-type gaming machine using an expandable symbol array to create a series of sequentially larger symbol arrays with the potential for additional or enhanced awards. The generation of the larger arrays can be performed through a variety a different mechanisms, such as the addition of a reel to the base array. The secondary arrays may be generated only under specific sets of circumstances that occur in the base array including, a winning pay line, the occurrence of a bonus triggering symbol, etc. To increase player interest in the game, some embodiments include allowing the player to determine where the additional symbols to create the larger array are placed in the base array.
US07654892B2 Tailings re-thresher deflector
A re-threshing system for a combine includes a delivery mechanism for transporting tailings from the cleaning section of the combine to a re-threshing apparatus and a bypass that can be used to bypass the tailings around the re-threshing apparatus. The re-threshing apparatus includes a re-threshing housing that at least partially surrounds a re-threshing rotor. The rotor and housing have cooperating threshing elements that act to re-thresh the tailings delivered into the housing and deliver the re-threshed tailings out of a housing outlet into a discharge passage to be directed to the cleaning section of the combine harvester. The delivery mechanism is configured to throw or fling the tailings into an inlet opening of the housing in a direction substantially tangential to the rotor rotating direction. To bypass the re-threshing apparatus, a deflector can be deployed to block the inlet opening and deflect the tailings into a bypass passage that is open to the discharge passage.