Document Document Title
US07661697B2 Attaching structure for air belt inflator
An inflator attaching structure is capable of firmly attaching an inflator to a seat member or the like. An inflator attaching structure includes an attaching clamp that is composed of a main plate connected to a seat frame, and a sub-plate attached to the main plate, and an inflator is sandwiched between the main plate and the sub-plate. When attaching the inflator to the attaching clamp, a hook portion of the sub-plate is hooked on a hook-portion hooking opening of the main plate, and thereafter the fastening portion and the base piece portion are fastened by a bolt upon situating the fastening portion of the sub-plate in parallel with the base piece portion of the main plate in a manner so as to sandwich the inflator between the main plate and the sub-plate.
US07661691B2 Apparatus for attaching various accessories to a seat tube of a bicycle
An apparatus for detachably connecting a selected one of various accessories to a bicycle includes a receptacle, an insert and a fastening device. The receptacle is connected to the bicycle. The insert is connected to the selected accessory so that the selected accessory is detachably connected to the bicycle when the insert is inserted in the receptacle. The fastening device is used to keep the insert in the receptacle.
US07661689B2 All terrain vehicle
An all terrain vehicle includes a vehicle frame having lower arms and upper arms for suspending front wheels, the upper arms positioned above the lower arms, drive shafts arranged between the lower arms and the upper arms for conveying drive power from a front wheel differential unit to the front wheels, and shock absorbers including lower ends connected to the lower arms and upper ends connected to the vehicle frame. The shock absorbers are arranged further to the front than the upper arms so as to shorten the front portion of the vehicle frame.
US07661688B2 Double-joint type suspension for steerable wheel
A double-joint suspension system for a steerable wheel of a vehicle includes suspension arms connecting a vehicle body and a knuckle arm, consisting of a first suspension arm located approximately in a lateral direction and a second suspension arm in which an angle between a longitudinal axis and the second arm is smaller than an angle between the first arm and the axis, a first elastic member between the body and the first arm, a second elastic member between the body and the second arm a first connecting member rotatably connecting the knuckle and the first arm and a second connecting member rotatably connecting the knuckle and the second arm.
US07661676B2 Card shuffler with reading capability integrated into multiplayer automated gaming table
A gaming system simulates events in a casino table card wagering game where there has traditionally been a dealer, whether or not the dealer is an active player in the game. Two distinct video areas are preferably provided, one providing video images of a virtual dealer, and the second video display providing a simulation of a table top for player cards, and optionally also dealer cards. The players have individual play areas with player input, and these play areas have individual processing intelligence that communicates directly with at least one processor. Delivery order of cards is determined by actual shuffling or randomization of a physical deck of cards, reading the cards, then creating an electronic file of the order of the shuffled or randomized cards, then using an order of cards contained in the electronic file to deliver virtual cards to players, dealer and flop as needed.
US07661667B2 Conveyor belt, sheet feeding device, and image forming apparatus including the sheet feeding device
A sheet feeding device includes a conveyor belt having a first row of a plurality of convex portions intermittently arranged on an inner circumferential surface of the conveyor belt in a sheet conveying direction. The sheet feeding device further includes a plurality of rollers around which the conveyor belt is spanned such that a direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction is parallel to an axial direction of each of the rollers. The rollers include concave portions on outer circumferential surfaces thereof, in which the convex portions of the first row of the conveyor belt are engaged. The concave portion of at least one roller of the plurality of rollers has a width different from a width of each of the plurality of rollers other than the at least one roller.
US07661664B2 Method and apparatus for forming a document set
A method for forming a document set is described. The document set is formed from rectangular sheets of the same size and includes an envelope sheet and at least one insert sheet. The method includes the steps of printing the envelope sheet with envelope information, this envelope information including a unique code identifier, printing each of the insert sheets with insert information, this insert information including a unique code identifier, and further more collating the envelope sheet and the insert sheets to form the document set.
US07661650B2 Collet biasing device for valve actuator
A valve actuator comprises a housing, a lever, a collet, and a biasing device. The lever is disposed within the housing and is adapted to be operatively coupled to rotate the valve shaft. The collet is carried by the lever and adapted to couple the lever to the valve shaft. The biasing device comprising a spring operatively coupled to the collet to bias the lever into a predetermined position.
US07661649B2 System for vertically forming concrete panels
A concrete mold device for vertically forming a concrete panel comprises a plurality of concrete forms for collectively defining a mold cavity for receiving an uncured concrete mixture therein. The concrete forms include: a pair of opposing side wall forms configured to define side wall surfaces of the mold cavity; and a pair of opposing end wall forms, configured to define end wall surfaces of the mold cavity. An elongate lower support gasket has an upper surface configured to define a bottom surface of the mold cavity, the lower support gasket having gasket side walls configured to abut against at least a portion of each of the side wall forms to provide a seal between the lower support gasket and the side wall forms to retain the concrete mixture within the mold cavity. Reinforcing structure is associated with the lower support gasket to increase a load-bearing capacity of the lower support gasket.
US07661648B2 Sucker device for a fixing support
A sucker device includes a body, a sucking disk, and an operating mechanism; the body has a base, and a sleeve part joined on the base; the sleeve part has a hollow portion communicating with a bottom room of the base, and two slots, and is joined to a fixing support; the sucking disk is positioned in the bottom room of the base; an axial rod is joined on a middle of the disk, and held in the hollow portion of the sleeve part; the operating mechanism includes a knob, and a pressing rod, which is passed through the axial rod, and sticks out through the slots; the knob is positioned around and threadedly engaged with the sleeve part; thus, the middle of the disk can be moved farther away from a surface of an object for the disk to stick to the object by means of turning the knob.
US07661647B2 Vehicle seat slide device
A vehicle seat slide device includes a lower rail formed so as to include a first opening portion opening upward and fixed at a vehicle floor, an upper rail supported by the lower rail through the first opening portion so as to be slidable and supporting a vehicle seat, a screw member provided between the upper rail and the lower rail so as to extend in a sliding direction thereof, a nut member fixed at the lower rail and threadedly engaged with the screw member, a covering member formed so as to include an upper wall covering the first opening portion and fixed at the lower rail, a driving mechanism generating a driving force by which the screw member is rotated relative to the nut member so that the upper rail slides relative to the lower rail and the screw member positioned below the upper wall of the covering member.
US07661646B2 Locking mechanism for seat track assembly
A seat track assembly is provided for adjusting a seat assembly of an automotive vehicle having a lower track (12) having a plurality of locking windows (74), an upper track (14) slidably mounted to the lower track and having a plurality of first (70) and second (72) support apertures. A locking mechanism (80) is operatively coupled between the lower and upper tracks. The locking mechanism includes a plurality of pins (88) movable in and out of a locked position, wherein the pins project through the locking windows and are supported by the first and second support aperture in a double shearing condition to prevent sliding adjustment of the upper track relative in the lower track.
US07661642B2 Motorized mount to pivot a monitor
A motorized mount system includes first and second mount brackets, where one or both of the mount brackets is motorized to pivot a monitor. The motorized bracket includes a motorized actuator system that releaseably engages with the monitor. The actuator system includes a moving block that releaseably pushes the monitor to tilt up, and uses the weight of the monitor to tilt down the monitor. The monitor can be separated with the moving block so that if a foreign object gets between the bottom end of the monitor and the wall, the foreign object needs to counteract the weight of the monitor but not the force due to the motor.
US07661639B2 Apparatus for displaying ornamental objects
An apparatus for displaying an object on a structure is provided. Generally, the apparatus contains a holding portion that is fabricated so as to allow the apparatus to hold to the structure. The apparatus also contains a hook that is capable of allowing the object to be set thereon, and a central loop that is capable of allowing a second object to be situated therein.
US07661632B2 Mounting device for studs comprising T-shaped channels
A mounting device securable to a structure comprising a channel comprises a plate, a cable management member and an engagement member for securing the device to the structure. The mounting device may be secured to the structure by inserting an installation tool into the geometric opening and rotating the mounting device. The engagement member may comprise opposing retaining tabs extending from a bottom surface of the plate or opposing depressions formed in a top surface of the plate. The cable management member may comprise a pair of bridge arms that form a geometric opening.
US07661629B2 Systems and methods for destabilizing an airfoil vortex
Apparatuses and methods for the controlled trailing wake flows. An apparatus in accordance with one embodiment is directed to an aircraft system that includes an airfoil having first and second oppositely facing flow surfaces and a tip. The system can further include a vortex dissipation device carried by the airfoil, with the vortex dissipation device including a fluid flow nozzle, a valve device, and a controller. The fluid flow nozzle can be coupleable to a source of pressurized fluid and can include an orifice positioned to direct a flow of fluid outwardly from the tip. The valve device can be coupled in fluid communication with the fluid flow nozzle to selectively control the flow passing through the orifice. The controller can be coupled to the valve device to direct the operation of the valve device. Accordingly, the vortex dissipation device can be activated to accelerate the rate at which vortices (e.g., wing tip vortices) dissipate after they are generated.
US07661621B2 Thread tensioner
The invention relates to a thread tensioner comprising tensioning elements that define a thread tensioning zone. In said tensioner, the first tensioning element rests on a stop and the second tensioning element can be pressed against the first tensioning element by means of an adjustable magnet contact force produced by a magnet armature and a repelling magnet actuator. The stop is located on the opposite side of the thread tensioning zone from the first tensioning element. The first tensioning element is stressed by a spring force in the direction of the second tensioning element against the stop. Said spring force is greater in the thread tensioning zone than the respectively adjusted maximum magnetic contact force. The mass of the first tensioning element is smaller than the mass of the magnet armature.
US07661613B1 Paper shredder with dust cleaner
A paper shredder includes a shredder body, a bin, a sensing module and a dust cleaner. The dust cleaner has a cleaning element for cleaning the sensing module. The cleaning element is attached on a swing rod. The swing rod has a first end adjacent to the sensing module and a second end inserted into the bin. During the bin is withdrawn from the paper shredder, the swing rod is swung by the inner wall of the bin and thus the cleaning element is contacted with the sensing module to clear off the dust on the sensing module.
US07661610B2 Electrostatic coating device
An atomizer including an air motor and a rotary atomizing head, mounted in a front side of a housing member, while a high voltage generator applying a high voltage to paint through the air motor is mounted in a rear side of the housing member. A cover member is fitted on the housing member to cover an outer surface of the housing member. Opposite axial ends of the cover member are fitted on and attached to opposite axial ends of the housing member so as to leave an annular gap space between the cover member and the housing member. The annular gap space keeps almost entire radially confront areas of the cover member and the housing member, preventing high voltage electrostatic charges on the outer surfaces of the cover member from leaking through the housing member.
US07661603B2 Central control system and method for controlling air conditioners
A central control system and method for controlling air conditioners. The central control system performs central control operations for the air conditioners according to an operation schedule or control command inputted from a central controller coupled to the air conditioners through an internal network or a remote controller accessible to an external Internet network. When the air conditioners are simultaneously operated, control signals based on the control command are adjusted to prevent electric power consumption from abruptly increasing and hence the stability and reliability of control can be improved. The central controller includes a touch screen-based monitor. A control program included in the central controller provides a timetable corresponding to a specified period. An operator can conveniently input/edit the operation schedule through a dragging operation performed on the monitor, and confirm the inputted/edited operation schedule.
US07661598B2 Mechanism for attaching RFID tag, transfer device and transfer system using RFID tag
In a mechanism for attaching to a cart an RFID tag used for transmitting and receiving data to and from an RFID reader/writer, a holding pocket retains the RFID tag. The orientation of the pocket is kept constant in such a manner that a surface of the RFID tag from which data can be read highly accurately faces an antenna for the RFID reader/writer while keeping the distance between the RFID tag and the antenna within a certain range regardless of the transfer direction of the cart.
US07661594B2 Discrete optical correlation system with adjustable aperture
The present invention relates to a discrete optical correlation system. One embodiment of the present invention includes a portable electrical illumination system and an optically opaque hollow module, configured to releasably couple to the portable electrical illumination system in a manner such that when the portable electrical illumination system is activated, the system produces a discrete correlated or focused illumination output. The portable electrical illumination system further includes a light emitting diode, a power source, a switch, and a coupling mechanism. The optically opaque hollow module further includes at least two openings, a hollow internal region, an optically opaque outer surface, and a coupling mechanism disposed on at least one of the at least two openings. A fourth embodiment relates creating an adjustable aperture between two optically opaque sleeves sliding over an optically transparent module coupled to the portable electrical illumination system.
US07661593B2 Moving coil actuator with expandable range of motion
A moving coil actuator contains a magnet assembly that is movable to shift the range of motion of the coil. The magnet assembly moves between two or more positions along a path of travel that is parallel to the path of travel of the reciprocating motion of the coil. With this feature, the width of an area scanned by a scanning head affixed to the coil can be increased by multiples allowing a simple moving coil actuator to be used for any scanning width.
US07661577B2 Imidazole compound and use thereof
A water-based composition for treating copper or copper alloy surface for lead-free soldering, the composition comprising a compound represented by general formula (1): wherein R1 is hydrogen or methyl, and either R2 and R3 represent chlorine and R4 and R5 represent hydrogen, or R2 and R3 represent hydrogen and R4 and R5 represent chlorine.
US07661569B2 Stapler
A flat-type stapler is provided which can fasten a large number of sheets of paper with a small force and in a smooth fashion. The stapler includes a base portion, a magazine portion, a push-down member, handle supporting members, and a handle portion. The handle portion causes the push-down portion to descend by virtue of the principle of the lever with the handle shaft made to act as a movable fulcrum. A portion of the handle may be used to apply force, and the connecting shaft may be used as a point of action.
US07661565B2 Pressure activated self opening container and seal
A multi layered frangible seal is bonded over the pour spout opening of flexible plastic bottles containing pourable products such as motor oil. The seal provides a leak proof closure that is strong enough to remain intact when the filled uncapped container is held in an inverted position, and at the same weak enough to break open and dispense the contents into a fill opening when a consumer squeezes the inverted container. The seal is constructed from a first layer of leak proof frangible sheet material that is bonded to a second layer of strengthening sheet material. The strengthening layer contains a cut out void configuration that forms a breaking pattern which forces the seal to break open only in the weaker single frangible layered configuration of the cut out void forming the breaking pattern when the container is squeezed.
US07661564B2 Cask for drawing off liquids under the effect of pressure
A keg is formed from (A) a shaped jacket or liner forming a container, obtained from at least two nonsymmetrical parts (1a, 1b) welded together, one of the parts containing an opening provided with a neck, and (B) a filling/tapping device (3) positioned in the neck of the opening. The part of the container with the filling/tapping opening contains a riser or peripheral skirt (13) having a height at least equal to that of the outer part of the filling/tapping device and, optionally, sufficient to contain at least one cut-out forming a handle, and while the neck of the opening contains a part (9) extending inside the lumen of the jacket and having a limited diameter at its end (10), so as to permit passage and maintenance of the tapping device (3), and containing at least one other opening (11), advantageously on the periphery of the opening for passage and maintenance of the tapping device.
US07661550B2 Filler neck of a fuel tank with an arrangement for preventing incorrect fueling
The filler neck of a fuel tank with an arrangement for preventing incorrect fueling has a rotatable ring and closing elements which are actuated by said ring, with a transmission device having the following features being arranged between the movable part and the rotatable ring: there are two slides which are situated opposite one another and which have run-on faces which face toward one another in the support body, the two slides are connected to one another by means of a rigid bar, which rigid bar is movably articulatedly connected with its first end to the first slide and with its second end to the second slide, the second end of the bar is a bolt which engages into a first slot of the second slide and into a second slot of the rotatable ring.
US07661548B2 Hot-fill container with improved top-load performance
A plastic container comprising a base that is attached to a body section which is connected to a dome section by a circumferential ring is provided. The dome section comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced hydrostatic pressure absorption panels each located between vertically extending, circumferentially spaced ribs that absorbs at least a substantial portion of the external downwardly directed vertical forces exerted on the container and restores the container to its original shape. In addition, a method of absorbing a downward, vertical top-load is provided.
US07661541B2 Porous spun polymeric structures and method of making same
A non-woven polymeric matrix for separating leukocytes from a blood sample includes a non-woven three dimensional matrix formed from polymeric fibers having a predetermined pore volume fraction including a defined channel configuration, a predetermined pore size in the range of from about 10 μm to about 250 μm, and a plurality of connections between the plurality of fibers. The matrix is configured so as to remove at least about 98% of leukocytes from at least one unit of packed red blood cells. Methods of making and using the matrix are also provided.
US07661533B2 Bottle with spine label
A bottle includes a container and a label. The container includes a front portion, a back portion, an opening and a spine portion. The back portion is spaced from the front portion and generally faces away and in an opposite direction from the front portion. The opening is positioned between the front portion and the back portion of the container to at least partially define a first end of the container. The spine portion extends between the front portion and the back portion of the container to define a second end of the container opposite the first end. The label extends over and is in contact with each of the front portion, the back portion and the spine portion of the container. Other bottle and container embodiments are also disclosed herein and provide additional advantages.
US07661531B2 Bend and peel packaging having controllable delamination
A bend and peel child resistant and senior friendly tamper evident package comprising a blister sheet having blister pockets projecting from a front side thereof, a rupturable foil layer being adhered to the blister layer and reinforcing the paperboard material adhered to the foil layer, the paperboard layer having a tear strip formed therein, the tear strip being defined by a cut into the paperboard layer from the side thereof adhered to the foil layer, the cut extending only a certain percentage of the total thickness of the paperboard such that a controlled delamination of the paperboard layer occurs when the tear strip is removed. This provides a precise reinforcement of the foil layer.
US07661528B2 Stackable twist-top container system
Food containers formed of sheet plastic are latchably stackable on one another. Each container has base (14) and lid (16) elements, with one of them having an outer rim part with a pair of long handle sections (80, 82) that can be pivoted up to form a handle assembly for carrying the container. The sections that form handles are formed in the lid element (16) rather than in the base element (14), so a person does not have to contend with long bouncing sections if the person eats a meal out of the base. One of the elements has vertically undercut grooves (50) and the other element has horizontal projections (52) that slide into and along the grooves. The grooved element has vertical passages (120) along which the projections can move vertically until they can slide into and along the grooves.
US07661521B2 Coin selector
A coin selector prevents illegal actuation of a coin sensor for real coin detection and is reduced in size and has a high coin processing rate, and which can cancel a coin to be cancelled reliably. The coin selector detects the passage of a coin based upon a signal from a coin sensor disposed downstream of a real/fake discriminating unit formed along a coin passage through which the coin moves. A moving direction changing unit for a coin is provided on the coin passage downstream of the real/fake discriminating unit and the coin passage downstream of the moving direction changing unit is disposed on a plane different from a plane on which the moving direction changing unit is present.
US07661515B2 Friction member assembly for disc brake
A solid box-shape structure is constituted by fitting a torque transmitting ring 23 to a guide hole 17 on a guide plate 11 to pivotably hold a lining member 13 and fixing the guide plate 11 to a torque receive plate 3. A braking torque is directly transmitted to the guide plate 11 by the torque transmitting ring 23 by pressing the lining member 13 to a disc rotor by a first link plate 7 and a second link plate 5 arranged on an inner side of the box-shape structure. A solid structure and alleviation of processing accuracy are made to be compatible with each other by constituting transmission of a press force and transmission of a torque by independent members in this way.
US07661511B2 Board building material, board building material producing method, board building material installation method
Perforations of a board for building material are formed by a number of recesses (13), or a number of recesses (13) and through-holes (12). A bottom face (16) of the recess forms a face for screwing or driving the fixing element (70) thereto. A color of the bottom face is set to have a brightness of color decreased in comparison with a color of a surface (18) of the board. A substrate of the board is a gypsum board and the bottom face of the recess is formed by a liner paper for gypsum board. According to such a board, a region for screwing or driving the fixing element thereto can be ensured without impairing regularity, uniformity or architectural design of the perforations, and putty finishing or the like for an exposed part of the fixing element can be omitted.
US07661505B2 Vehicle console
A console system (10) configured to support a control module (44) (e.g., a user interface, etc.) operatively coupled to a vehicle system (e.g., a vehicle transmission, etc.), and which can be selectively and conveniently repositioned and/or reconfigured within a vehicle in a variety of positions is disclosed. The control module (44) is operatively coupled to the vehicle system without the use of conventional mechanical linkage. By providing flexibility in the positioning of the control module (44), the console system can be configured and/or reconfigured to meet the desires and/or needs of a variety of users.
US07661495B2 Drive unit for motor vehicles with hybrid drive in a longitudinal arrangement
A drive unit for motor vehicles with hybrid drive and a drive train in a longitudinal arrangement, between the internal combustion engine and the first axle, comprising a housing piece, a through driveshaft, an electric motor, surrounding the through driveshaft with a first clutch before the electric motor and a second clutch thereafter, whereby a second axle is also to be driven with minimal space requirement. A first electric motor is thus physically combined with the first clutch, surrounding a second electric motor and the through driveshaft and is connected to the second axle by means of a third clutch, an offset gear and a shaft.
US07661494B2 Power supply system of fuel cell vehicle
This power supply system of a fuel cell vehicle is provided with a load, a fuel cell, a power storage device, a first DC-DC converter, a second DC-DC converter, a current-measuring device, a voltage-measuring device, and a controller. The controller performs a feedback control of the first DC-DC converter such that input current or output current measured by the current-measuring device becomes a target current, and also performs a feedback control of the second DC-DC converter such that input voltage or output voltage measured by the voltage-measuring device becomes a target voltage.
US07661489B2 Roller reamer
This invention describes a reaming tool (10) for attachment to a drill string having a body (12) that has connection means (14a, 14b) at either end for attachment to a drill string, at least one roller reamer (16) rotatably mounted to the body (12), and at least one channel (18) extending on the body positioned to intersect with the roller reamer (16). This ensures that flushing fluid flow is directed to each roller reamer (16).
US07661486B2 Power tool with battery pack ejector
A power tool has a mechanism for ejecting a battery pack which includes a receiving frame which defines a cavity to receive a battery pack. A receiving member is adjacent the cavity. The receiving member meshes with a member on the battery pack to hold the battery pack in the cavity. A biasing member is in the cavity adjacent the receiving member. The biasing member ejects the battery pack from the ejecting mechanism. A member retains the biasing member in the cavity. The member guides a portion of the battery pack meshing with the receiving member into contact with the biasing member such that when the battery pack is locked onto the frame, the biasing member is in a compressed condition and when the battery pack is an unlocked position, the biasing member ejects the battery pack from the frame.
US07661481B2 Downhole wellbore tools having deteriorable and water-swellable components thereof and methods of use
An apparatus is provided for use as a downhole tool or a component thereof for insertion into a wellbore. According to one aspect, the apparatus has a body having a chamber, wherein at least a portion of the body is radially expandable; and a water-swellable material in the chamber, wherein the water-swellable material is dissolvable in water. According to another aspect, the apparatus has a body having a chamber, wherein at least a portion of the body is radially expandable, and wherein at least a portion of the body is made with a material that is deteriorable by hydrolysis; and a water-swellable material in the chamber. According to a further aspect, the water-swellable material is dissolvable in water. A process of temporarily blocking or sealing a wellbore is also provided, including moving an apparatus according to the invention through a wellbore to a selected position in the wellbore; exposing the water-swellable material to water or an aqueous fluid to expand the apparatus into engagement with the wellbore; performing a well completion, servicing, or workover operation in which the apparatus is contacted with fluids; and thereafter, allowing the deteriorable material to deteriorate and/or allowing the water-swellable material to dissolve.
US07661480B2 Method for hydraulic rupturing of downhole glass disc
A method for rupturing a glass disc in a well completion tool located downhole in a section of production tubing includes providing a wellhead isolation tool, or tree saver, to isolate the wellhead Christmas tree, adding a pressurized fluid to the tubing/casing annulus and pumping a disc rupturing fluid into the production tubing via the tree saver until the disc is ruptured. Following rupture, the pump can be rapidly stopped, or slowed, and started to create a water hammer effect that removes any glass shards remaining in the disc holder.
US07661479B2 Subsea insulating shroud
Apparatus and methods for insulating a connector that connects a first tubular member having a first flange with a second tubular member having a second flange. The apparatus comprises a generally tubular body forming a generally tubular cavity therein adapted to enclose the connector. The body has a longitudinal opening adapted to receive the first tubular member and a closure member for closing said opening. The body and the closure member are lined with insulation and include first and second seals for sealing with the first and second flanges so as to seal around the connector.
US07661477B2 System and method for unsticking a tool stuck in a wellbore
An unsticking assembly for releasing a tool that is stuck in a wellbore including a first anchor actuatable between an engaging position wherein the first anchor engages a wall of the wellbore and a retracted position wherein the first anchor does not engage the wall; a second anchor actuatable between an engaging position wherein the second anchor engages a wall of the wellbore and a retracted position wherein the second anchor does not engage the wall; and a control module in connection with the first and second anchor to selectively actuate each anchor between the engaged and retracted positions. The assembly is adapted for positioning in the wellbore and in connection with the tool when the tool is stuck in the wellbore. The assembly may be a stand-alone assembly that is connectable to the tool after the tool is stuck in the wellbore. The assembly may include the wellbore tool as an interconnected element.
US07661469B1 Synchronized thermal management method
A method of cooling a plurality of devices operated in parallel and heated by relatively long duration pulses using a single coolant flow channel to the devices in series that transports the heat from the several devices in a contiguous series of heat pulses to the heat exchanger.
US07661468B2 Electro-hydrodynamic gas flow cooling system
The present invention relates to cooling systems, and in particular to cooling systems providing forced convective gaseous flow. According to one aspect, a cooling system employs a heat sink in combination with an EHD pumping mechanism such as corona wind or micro-scale corona wind or by a temporally controlled ion-generation technique. A channel-array structure can be employed to embody the heat sink. The EHD pumps are located at the inlet or outlet of the heat sink channels. Many advantages are achieved by the cooling system of the invention, including that the entire system can have similar or better performance than a conventional heat sink and fan system but with one-tenth the volume and weight and can operate silently. The present invention also relates to a method of fabricating a micro-channel heat sink employing EHD gas flow.
US07661466B2 Heat sink assembly having a fin also functioning as a supporting bracket
A heat sink assembly (100) for cooling a heat-generating electronic component, includes a base plate (32), a plurality of fins (50) mounted on the base plate and a heat pipe (20) thermally connecting the base plate and the fins. The fins are parallel to the base plate and include a bottom fin (40) supporting the fins on the base plate. The bottom fin includes a plurality of supporting tabs (422) engaging with the base plate and separating a body (42) of the bottom fin from the base plate. The bottom fin can be used not only for dissipating heat into a surrounding environment but also for reinforcing the whole strength of the heat sink assembly.
US07661465B2 Integrated cooling system with multiple condensing passages for cooling electronic components
A cooling system for removing heat from a heat generating component, includes a base (100) and a heat sink (200) mounted on the base. The base includes a lower portion and a higher portion surrounding the lower portion. The lower portion and the higher portion cooperatively define a space (18) receiving working fluid therein. The heat sink defines an evaporating passage (252) and two condensing passages (254) located at two opposite sides of the evaporating passage. These passages are in fluid communication with the space. Cooperatively the space and the passages define a loop for circulating the working fluid therein. The working fluid has a phase change for dissipating heat generated by a heat-generating electronic component. A wick structure (400) is received in the space.
US07661461B2 Cooling device for CPU
A cooling device includes a base connected on a CPU and a pipe unit 2 includes a plurality of absorbing pipes which are engaged with the base. A plurality of cooling pipes are connected to two ends of the absorbing pipes and extend upward in V-shape. Two cooling units are connected to the cooling pipes and each cooling unit includes fins and a cooling fan which generates air flows toward the fins and cooling the parts around the CPU.
US07661460B1 Heat exchangers for fluid media
A compact heat exchanger for interchanging thermal energy between at least two fluids, one of which fluids may be a refrigerant in hot or cold form or in a liquid/vapor phase, and another of which fluids is a thermal transfer fluid. The heat exchanger may incorporate an internal heating element. The thermal transfer fluid is transported between two concentric metal tubes, while the refrigerant moves along a tubing helically wrapped about or between the tubes and is in thermal contact therewith.
US07661459B2 Mobile serving cart and system incorporating same
A mobile cart for serving food and/or beverages is described. According to various implementations, the cart is equipped with a removable mission module. The mission module includes equipment that is used by the cart to perform its designated mission, such as an oven (for a hot food service mission module), a cooling unit (for a cold food service mission module), a beverage dispenser (for a beverage service mission module), a point of sale terminal (for duty-free service mission module), appropriate branding (for a franchising mission), or a custom equipment (for a customized mission). The mission module also includes a processor and a memory. The mission module is removable, and may be one of several mission modules available to the cart. Thus, for each type of mission, there may be a different mission module. This enables the cart to be quickly and easily “customized” for each mission by replacing an unneeded module with a required one.
US07661458B2 Method and apparatus for producing thin magnesium based alloy plate
A magnesium metal thin plate manufacturing method includes at least a casting process of supplying a molten metal obtained by melting a magnesium metal to a molten metal bath, drawing out the molten metal, supplying the molten metal into the gap between a pair of casting rolls composed of at least a pair of casting upper roll and casting lower roll, applying pressure to the molten metal, and casting a plate solidified at a predetermined temperature and having a predetermined thickness, and a rolling process of rolling the cast plate by means of at least a pair of rolling rolls by applying pressure thereto to manufacture a magnesium metal thin plate. With the above arrangement, there can be provided a magnesium metal thin plate manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus that can effectively manufacture a magnesium metal thin plate by plastic working without requiring a heat energy generation step again in rolling.
US07661456B2 Method of axial porosity elimination and refinement of the crystalline structure of continuous ingots and castings
Apparatus and methods are provided for eliminating axial porosity accompanied by impurity segregation arising at bulk crystallization of the axial zone of the liquid core of a continuous ingot.
US07661455B2 Window shade for motor vehicles with simplified guide rail coupling
A window shade for motor vehicles is provided that includes a base unit in which the windup shaft is rotatably supported. The base unit is also provided with coupling devices, wherein guide tubes for thrust elements originate at these coupling devices and lead to a driving motor. The coupling device contains a channel into which a plug-type pin of a corresponding guide rail that is rigidly connected to a side trim section of the motor vehicle can be inserted. The guide groove extends through the plug-type pin such that the pull bar can be arbitrarily moved back and forth between the guide rail and the coupling device after the installation when the roller blind web is respectively retracted and pulled out.
US07661443B1 Point repair sleeve carrier for conduits
A repair sleeve carrier for transporting a repair liner into a conduit to the location of damage or leakage for repairing the conduit from the inside, the sleeve carrier having a segmented flex tubing and a bladder with ends attached to the flex tubing and an unattached middle portion forming a cavity between the middle portion of the bladder and the flex tubing with an air passage to the cavity, the sleeve carrier having an air supply connect or that connects to an air supply to provide pressurized air to the cavity through the passage to inflate the bladder.
US07661433B2 Smokeless non-tobacco composition and method for making same
The present invention provides a non-tobacco moist snuff composition having an herbal component consisting essentially of corn silk. The most preferred herbal component has 75-80% by weight of corn silk and 20-25% by weight of red clover blossoms. The present invention also provides a method of producing a non-tobacco moist snuff composition having the herbal component. When the herbal component is combined with a suitable casing component, the resulting leaf-free non-tobacco moist snuff composition has a light, elastic, and moist texture, a soft and smooth mouth feel, a uniform color and particle size, and a long lasting and tobacco-like smell and taste with a characteristic tobacco-like “bite.”
US07661432B2 Cigarette filter containing activated carbon impregnated with sesamol
A cigarette filter is characterized in that sesame lignan (which is at least one selected from the group consisting of sesamin, sesamol, sesaminol, sesamolinol, sesamolin and pinoredinol) is added to the filter.
US07661430B2 Antimicrobial dental appliances including mouthguards and mouthpieces
The present invention provides for a dental appliance, mouthguard and/or divers mouthpiece using an anti-microbial composition that combines the use of an elastomeric polymer composition with micronized or submicron sized particles of metal or organo/inorgano metal complexes. In addition, the use of an anti-microbial composition for use with a diver's air delivery hose to prevent breathing of contaminated air is also described.
US07661422B2 Solar air conditioning device
A solar air conditioning device (100) comprises a solar collector assembly (30), an inlet assembly (10) at an entrance of the solar collector assembly, and an outlet assembly (50) at an exit of the solar collector assembly. The solar collector assembly includes a heat-absorbing set (31) and a transparent panel (38) being assembled to a top of the heat-absorbing set. The heat-absorbing set comprises a plurality of heat-absorbing units (32) engaged with each other. A distance between the inlet assembly and the outlet assembly is equal to a longitudinal length of single heat-absorbing unit. The heat-absorbing set defines an air channel with the transparent panel and a heat-absorbing channel below the air channel. The inlet and outlet assemblies are in fluidic communication with the heat-absorbing channel.
US07661418B2 Crossbow grip guard
A crossbow having a crossbow grip guard that has a member that extends outwardly in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the crossbow barrel or stock, and wherein the member extends for a length in a direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the crossbow barrel or stock.
US07661417B2 Air pressure boost assist
Disclosed is an electronic module designed to use the locomotive engine's speed sensors to detect such changes in engine speed (rpm), as required by the locomotive operator moving the throttle notch handle. Once a speed change is detected, the module commands an air valve on each of the locomotive's main air reservoir tanks, (designed to handle the normal operating main reservoir air pressure), to open and allow them to discharge into the engine's intake manifolds located on both sides of the diesel engine.
US07661415B2 EGR cooler
A bypass duct portion is provided in a casing of an EGR cooler so that heat distortion is absorbed, and the EGR cooler body and a valve case are brazed/fixed together so as to improve strength of the valve case, whereby, the bypass duct portion is formed between an inner surface of the casing and the core, a switch is provided for switching and guiding the exhaust gas to either of the core or the bypass duct portion, and a number of outer ribs formed in the circumferential direction respectively are arranged side by side while being separated from each other in the longitudinal direction in the bypass duct portion of the casing to form a heat stress absorbing portion. Also provided is a cylindrical valve case that is integrally formed by deep drawing of a thin metal plate by a press machine, a pair of slits are provided at the rear end of the valve case, both edges of an intra-valve partition plate are inserted into the slits, support projection portions are provided on both faces of the both edge portions of the intra-valve partition plate, and the edge of the slit is supported by the support projection portion. An opening of the valve case is integrally brazed/fixed to an opening of a header portion of the casing.
US07661406B2 Internal combustion engine fail-safe control device and method
To prevent an increase in torque when the fixed state of a throttle valve is released. When diagnostics reads fixed diagnostics flag 1 indicating that the throttle valve is in a fixed state, control value ATVO that can maintain throttle aperture RTVO is set (S11, S12) based on detected value RTVO for the throttle aperture in the current fixed state, fuel injection volume TiO that is calculated according to new air volume Q is secured at fuel injection volume TiL or greater in order to achieve the engine torque for when fail-safe control is executed, and when air-fuel ratioλis less than the lower limit valueλL, causing an increase in the amount of smoke, control is executed to suppress the occurrence of said smoke.
US07661398B2 Control device and control method of internal combustion engine
An ECU executes a program including steps of estimating an oil temperature based on a water temperature sensed by a water temperature sensor, setting NE(1) to a lower limit value of an engine revolution speed NE when the oil temperature is equal to or higher than a threshold THO(0), setting NE(2) (NE(2)
US07661386B2 Film forming device
A film-forming apparatus of the invention is a film-forming apparatus that includes: a processing container that defines a chamber, a pedestal arranged in the chamber, on which a substrate to be processed can be placed, a showerhead provided opposite to the pedestal, which has a large number of gas-discharging holes, a gas-supplying mechanism that supplies a process gas into the chamber through the showerhead, and a showerhead-temperature controlling unit that controls a temperature of the showerhead.
US07661382B2 Reversible seat for a boat
A reversible seat for a boat or other vehicle includes a base, a seat bottom, and a seat back. The seat bottom, which has a first surface and a second, opposite surface, is pivotally connected to the base such that the seat bottom is capable of rotating at least approximately 180 degrees about the base. The seat back is pivotally connected to the seat bottom on a side of the seat bottom opposite from where the seat bottom is pivotally connected to the base. In a first seat position, the first surface of the seat bottom faces substantially upward and the second surface of the seat bottom faces substantially downward. In a second seat position, the second surface of the seat bottom faces substantially upward and the first surface of the seat bottom faces substantially downward. In each of the first and second seat positions, the seat back extends upward at a predetermined angle relative to the seat bottom.
US07661377B2 Seed meter with flexible seed disc
A seed meter for use in an agricultural seeding machine includes a housing having an inner chamber and one or more deflectors within the inner chamber, and a seed disc rotatably carried by the housing. The seed disc includes at least a portion thereof formed from a flexible material which is deflectable by the one or more deflectors during rotation within the housing.
US07661342B2 Metallic workpiece having punched holes and method for making the same
An exemplary method for making a metallic workpiece includes: (a) providing a metallic sheet and a punching machine, wherein the metallic sheet comprises a curved portion and a plurality of predetermined punching areas; the punching machine comprises a die set, a lifter, at least one punch blade; (b) placing the metallic sheet on the die set; (c) adjusting a position of the metallic sheet for making a longitudinal center axis of the punch blade perpendicular to a plane tangential to a center of the predetermined punching areas; (d) applying the lifter to press down, and the punch blade punching one of the predetermined punching areas out of the metallic sheet; and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) appropriately in turn to form a plurality of punched holes in the curved portion of the metallic sheet. The metallic workpiece made by the present method is also provided.
US07661340B2 Screw fastening device
A screw fastening device allows efficient mounting and advancing of screws carried on a screw strip along a guide chute to prevent the screws from impacting a target object and damaging the target object and to precisely move the screw strip forward to precisely set the screws at a desired positioning point in a completely fixed condition and also allows for correcting the orientation of the sharp tip of the screw with a guiding and holding device and stably holding a body of the screw to prevent improper orientation of the screw and incorrect screwing thereby effectively and precisely screw the screw to a target object.
US07661331B2 Shifting device for dual clutch transmission
A shifting device for a dual clutch transmission, the dual clutch transmission including a first input shaft, a second input shaft, a counter shaft, a dual clutch, a first gear change mechanism including at least a first gear train and a first switching clutch, and a second gear change mechanism including at least a second gear train and a second switching clutch, the shifting device including a shift mechanism constituted by a first shifter that includes a first follower pin and a first shift fork, a second shifter that includes a second follower pin and a second shift fork, and a cam member at which a single cam groove is formed, and the first and second follower pins engaging with different positions on the cam groove from each other and operating the first and second switching clutches to be associated with each other.
US07661326B2 Apparatus for aspirating and dispensing liquids in an automated analyzer
Apparatus for aspirating and dispensing liquid samples in an analytical instrument, e.g., a hematology instrument, includes a liquid-sampling valve that, while operating to segment and position for dispensing one or more precise volumes of a liquid sample that has been aspirated into the valve by a pump, simultaneously enables the apparatus to be operated in an aspirate/dispense (suck-and-spit) mode in which a liquid sample can be selectively driven through the valve in opposite directions by a pump, e.g., a syringe pump.
US07661325B2 Test piece magazine, magazine holder, and test piece attachment apparatus
A test piece attachment apparatus includes a test piece magazine having an inner space storing a plurality of specimen component test pieces aligned in a predetermined direction and a feed outlet via which the specimen component test pieces can be successively extruded, a magazine holder exchangeably holding the test piece magazine, a torsion spring generating a bias force to press the specimen component test pieces aligned in the test piece magazine toward the feed outlet, and a cylindrical casing. The cylindrical casing includes a recessed groove that allows the magazine holder to move in its axial direction and an extrusion projection disposed at a position where the extrusion projection can push one specimen component test piece positioned at the feed outlet and can extrude the specimen component test piece out of the test piece magazine in accordance with a movement of the magazine holder.
US07661322B2 Piezoelectric sensor device with sensor housing and holder for holding a piezoelectric sensor element
A piezoelectric sensor device, especially for use with a microbalance, with a sensor housing and a holder for holding a piezoelectric sensor element. In order to permit quick exchange of crystals and to minimize the size of the assembly, the holder is configured as a clamping element which has at least one elastic first arm for clamped holding of the contact region of the essentially strip-shaped piezoelectric resonator element, whose measuring region is subjected to a fluid stream to be measured.
US07661321B2 Force sensing clevis insert
A sensor includes a clevis insert for reception within a first bore of a clevis. The clevis insert is configured to accommodate a latch pin. A strain sensing element is operatively associated with the clevis insert for detecting mechanical strain imparted to the clevis insert when a force acts on the clevis insert through the pin. The invention also provides a method of retrofitting a cowl latch assembly.
US07661315B2 Method and apparatus for ultrasonic scanning of a fabrication wafer
A method and apparatus for ultrasonic scanning of a wafer assembly is disclosed. The wafer assembly is held in a wafer chuck and rotated. A transducer generates ultrasound in the wafer assembly and the ultrasound emitted from the wafer assembly is sensed. A controller adjusts the relative positions of the wafer and the transducer and controls the transducer to generate ultrasound at a number of scan points.
US07661313B2 Acceleration strain transducer
An accelerometer is provided including a strain sensor with a substantially linear configuration. The strain sensor is mounted on a transducer such that the strain sensor extends laterally across the transducer. The transducer has a base and a plurality of flaps joined at a first end to the base and supporting the strain sensor at a second end. The flaps translate acceleration in a predefined direction to strain in the strain sensor. Further embodiments have flaps defining an interrupted surface with greater height at the center and flaps that have features for enhancing the strain caused by acceleration.
US07661308B2 Apparatus and method for determining the depth level and amount of fluids in a well
An apparatus and related method for detecting oil and mineralized water, if it exists, in a well. The apparatus comprises a sensor assembly for placing down the well, the sensor assembly having a float therein that rises when fluid is detected and adapted to close an electrical contact of a circuit having a power source. The apparatus also has a base assembly used for raising and lowering the sensor assembly into and out of the well. An alarm is electrically coupled to the circuit that includes the sensor assembly and power source, the alarm operable to indicate when the electrical contact is closed.
US07661298B2 Method and device for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder
A method and a device for operating an internal combustion engine including at least one cylinder are described, the at least one cylinder including at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve and a diagnosis of at least one erroneous intake valve or at least one erroneous exhaust valve is made possible without using a position acknowledgment. A gas exchange of the at least one cylinder is diagnosed thereby. For detection of at least one intake valve or exhaust valve for the existence of an erroneous valve position, at least one intake valve or exhaust valve of the at least one cylinder different from at least one intake valve or exhaust valve to be detected is brought into a predefined position, which is selected in such a way that the gas exchange of the at least one cylinder in the case of an erroneous valve position of the at least one intake valve or exhaust valve to be detected differs significantly from the gas exchange of the at least one cylinder for the case of an error-free valve position of the at least one intake valve or exhaust valve to be detected, a value characteristic for the gas exchange of the at least one cylinder being ascertained, this value being expected at the moment for an error-free state of the set valve positions of the at least one intake valve and the at least one exhaust valve of the at least one cylinder, the actual value characteristic for the gas exchange of the at least one cylinder being ascertained and an error in the position of the at least one intake valve or exhaust valve to be detected is recognized as a function of the deviation in the actual value from the expected value.
US07661297B2 Method and system for making available an improved phase signal of a phase sensor on a camshaft of an internal combustion engine
A method and system for making available an improved phase signal of a phase sensor on a camshaft of an internal combustion engine immediately after switching on the phase sensor and/or the internal combustion engine are provided. In this context, the phase sensor scans the angle marks of a signal-generating wheel that is connected to the camshaft in a torsionally fixed manner. In addition, a crankshaft sensor scans the angle marks of a signal-generating wheel that is connected to the crankshaft in a torsionally fixed manner.
US07661292B2 Device and method for detection of collisions in furniture
This invention relates to a device and a method for recognizing collision of automatically moveable parts of furniture with obstacles by detecting a change in bend or a change in acceleration. This is carried out by a device for recognizing collisions of automatically moveable parts of furniture with obstacles, comprising a piece of furniture with at least one moveable part (1, 2, 31), wherein this part is a adapted to be moved relatively to the rest of the furniture in a non-manual manner, an automatic driving mechanism adapted to move the moveable part, a controller adapted to control the automatic driving mechanism, and a sensor (4) adapted to detect a collision with an obstacle during the movement of the moveable part and to transmit the collision to the controller, wherein the sensor is adapted to detect a change in bend or a change in acceleration of the moveable part.
US07661287B1 Auto body decrimping tool assembly
An auto body decrimping tool assembly for decrimping a panel from a vehicle frame. The decrimping tool assembly includes a hollow housing body member with a first aperture at one end and a second aperture. A decrimping head member is pivotally mounted near an end thereof on a drive shaft member rotatably secured in the body member's second aperture. The decrimping head member includes a base portion having a protruding contact section and an opposed, protruding blade section having a concave, helical surface facing the contact section. The blade section includes a tapered edge at a side of the concave, helical surface opposite the base portion. The decrimping head member is mounted to the drive shaft member at the contact section.The decrimping head member is positioned at an edge of a panel crimped to the frame with the contact section on an edge of the crimped panel and the tapered edge of the blade section between the crimped panel and the frame. A power source, positioned at the body member's first aperture and operably connected to the drive shaft member, imparts reciprocal rotary motion to the drive shaft. The drive shaft causes the blade section and tapered edge of the decrimping head member to reciprocally pivot relative to the contact section, thereby incrementally decrimping the panel from the frame as the crimped panel and frame move between the blade section and the contact section of the decrimping head member.
US07661265B2 Exhaust gas system for an internal combustion engine
An exhaust gas system for an internal combustion engine, comprising an oxidation catalytic converter disposed in a first exhaust gas manifold section with which the exhaust gas outlets of a first portion of the cylinders communicate, and a hydrolysis catalytic converter disposed in a second exhaust gas manifold section with which the exhaust gas outlets of the remaining portion of the cylinders communicate. The hydrolysis catalytic converter, together with the oxidation catalytic converter that annularly surrounds it, are installed in a common housing. A tubular portion of the second exhaust gas manifold section extends into the housing and accommodates the hydrolysis catalytic converter in its end portion. A tubular portion of a first exhaust gas manifold section surrounds the tubular portion of the second exhaust gas manifold section, resulting in an annular in-flow chamber for the oxidation catalytic converter that simultaneously serves as a heating chamber. A reduction agent, from which ammonia can be produced by the hydrolysis catalytic converter, can be introduced by a nozzle into the tubular portion of the second exhaust gas manifold section upstream of the hydrolysis converter.
US07661264B2 Air-fuel ratio control apparatus for internal combustion engine
An air-fuel ratio control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, including fuel cut state detection means for detecting the state of fuel cut in which the feed of fuel into the internal combustion engine is stopped, and catalyst deterioration decision means for deciding the deterioration of a catalyst on the basis of a period which is expended since the detection of the release of the state of the fuel cut by the fuel cut state detection means, until the output value of a second air-fuel ratio sensor agrees with a predetermined reset decision value near a target value, and the manipulation quantity of an average air-fuel ratio on the upstream side of the catalyst as is based on second air-fuel ratio feedback control means. Thus, the deterioration of the catalyst can be decided at a high precision.
US07661257B2 Grass treatment apparatus
Apparatus for treating grass comprising a grass treatment unit 200 configured to be affixed to a grass treatment machine; a cassette 206, the cassette 206 comprising a grass treatment device 207 configured to rotate in response to a rotation of a drive shaft, the drive shaft being connected to a motor located at the grass treatment machine, the grass treatment unit 200 comprising means 211 to releasably mount the cassette 206 on the grass treatment unit 200, wherein the grass treatment device 207 is selected from a set of grass treatment devices, the set including a vibration drum.
US07661256B2 Hybrid seam for a draper belt in an agricultural harvester
A draper cutting platform for use in an agricultural harvester includes a platform section having an elongate belt. The belt includes opposite ends, a pair of side edges defining a width of the belt therebetween, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced cleats extending crosswise between the side edges. Each cleat has a length which is less than the width of the belt. A seam joins the opposite ends of the belt. The seam includes a splice bar and a pair of lacings. The splice bar has a length which is approximately the same as the cleat length. Each lacing is disposed in an area between a corresponding end of the splice bar and a respective side edge of the belt.
US07661249B2 Device for picking up articles from a supply station and depositing the articles in corresponding blisters of a blister strip
A device for picking up articles from a supply station and depositing the articles in corresponding blisters of a blister strip, comprising: at least a group of depression-activated gripping units, each of which units is shaped to a specific format for receiving and retaining a corresponding article having predetermined lie and orientation; connecting organs of the gripping units to an operating head whereby the gripping units are positioned in relation to a positioning of the corresponding blisters afforded in the blister strip; organs for moving the operating head in outward and return runs, respectively between the supply station of the articles and a release station of the articles in the corresponding blisters of the blister strip; enabling organs being activated in phase-relation with the movement organs, for activating the gripping units in the supply station, which gripping units collect a number of articles equal to a number of the gripping units, and for deactivating the gripping units in the release station with a disengagement of the articles from the gripping units and a falling of the articles into the corresponding blisters of the blister strip.
US07661237B2 Skin attachment structure for wall system
A snap-on attachment structure for attaching a side skin to an upright frame of a wall system. The attachment structure includes resilient attachment strips secured to the rear of the skin and extending along upright edges thereof. Each strip cooperates with a projection formed on an upright frame member and extending vertically therealong. The snap-on strip has a pair of cantilevered spring legs which protrude outwardly in angled relationship. The spring legs adjacent outer ends are provided with coil-shaped head parts which protrude inwardly toward one another. The head parts have hollow arcuate configurations and move into gripping engagement with shallow arcuate recesses formed on opposite sides of the projection.
US07661236B2 Stab-in connector with expansion relief
A V-shaped indent is formed in a stab-in connector for a suspended ceiling grid. The indent forms a vertical bend line.In a fire, the connector bends along the vertical bend line to permit a cross beam in the grid to expand while keeping the grid intact, and thus capable of continuing to support the panels.
US07661230B2 Method for constructing log structure having log members with notches filled with plugs
An improved structure, whereby the log structure is comprised of at least two adjacent walls mated to form a corner, with each wall constructed of logs laid horizontally upon each other, the logs alternating between protruding and nonprotruding logs, such that the ends of the protruding logs of the walls are interleaved, with the ends of the protruding logs of the first wall having notches cut from them to facilitate the mating of the first and second walls, and further comprising plugs to be inserted into the notches upon completion of assembly of the log structure, and a method for constructing same.
US07661224B1 Apparatus for staking trees
A system and apparatus for supporting newly planted trees in which a plurality of stakes are positioned adjacent and around a supported tree. In one aspect of the invention, the individual stakes are rigidly secured together by elements which are vertically movable along the stakes and releasably secured to the stakes at desired vertical positions. In another aspect of the invention, flexible tie members interconnect the tree trunk with the stake. The connection between the tie member and its associated stake is such that the connection may be releasably locked to the stake at different vertical positions along the stake.
US07661221B2 Device mount
A device mount for a weapon is provided. The device mount includes a support portion and a side portion. The support portion is adapted to support a device. The support portion includes a plurality of mounting apertures. The side portion is coupled to the support portion. The side portion has a first side positioned generally at a right angle to the support portion. The side portion further has a second side. Moreover, the second side has a mounting connection portion adapted to connect the device mount to a weapon.
US07661216B1 Illuminated picture frame
An illuminated picture frame or similar display device wherein direct illumination of a painting or other object is provided by light emitting diodes (LED's) mounted within the picture frame assembly, the LED's having defined light projection zones with an angle of less than 180 degrees, the frame further having a support assembly to receive the painting. The LED's are mounted in electrical communication in strips or strands facing to the rear of the frame member, with the mounting being at an angle determined by the LED defined light projection zone such that all emitted light is directed rearward or at most parallel to the plane of the painting, such that no direct light emitted by the LED's passes out of the framed area.
US07661206B2 Method and apparatus for fashion adaptable footwear
A platform shoe with detachable upper including a lower shoe member and an upper shoe member is disclosed. The shoe contains snaps or other connector components that provide a detachable attachment between the upper shoe member and the lower shoe member. Embodiments of the present invention include a lower shoe member having features that prevent damage to covering materials that may be caused by sharp edges of the connector components. In addition, the upper shoe member may be stretchable to allow attachment to a variety of lower shoe members of different shapes.
US07661193B2 Method for manufacturing float valve apparatus
In a method for manufacturing a float valve apparatus including a valve case, an upper lid incorporated into this valve case to form a valve chamber, and a float valve liftably arranged inside the valve chamber, the upper lid being provided with a lead-out pipe connected to piping of the outside, an exhaust hole which communicates with this lead-out pipe and is opened in an inner surface of the upper lid, and a seal cap which is mounted so as to enclose this exhaust hole and forms a valve seat on which the float valve abuts, the seal cap is welded to an inner surface of the upper lid by spin welding.
US07661190B2 Process for producing multilayer printed wiring board
A process for producing a multilayer printed wiring board, comprising providing an uncured or partly-cured resin layer from a curable composition comprising an insulation polymer and a curable agent, the resin layer superimposed on an internal layer substrate having a first conductive layer as an outermost layer; bringing the surface of the resin layer into contact with a compound having a structure capable of coordination with a metal; curable the resin layer to thereby form an electrical insulation layer; oxidizing the surface of the obtained electrical insulation layer until the surface average roughness (Ra) of the electrical insulation layer falls within the range of 0.05 to less than 0.2 μm and the surface ten-point average roughness (Rzjis) thereof within the range of 0.3 to less than 4 μm; and forming a second conductive layer on the electrical insulation layer by plating operation. There is further provided a multilayer printed wiring board produced by the process. This multilayer printed wiring board excels in pattern adhesion to substrates, even those of large size.
US07661183B2 Blade changing tool
A blade changing tool for use in a cutting device including a chuck table for holding a workpiece and a cutting device including a blade mount for rotatably supporting a cutting blade for cutting the workpiece held by the chuck table. The blade changing tool includes a C-shaped elastic cylindrical body including a cutout formed by cutting out a part of a circular cylinder, a holding groove formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical body at one end portion thereof and adapted to surround a circular hub of the cutting blade, and a grip portion adapted to be gripped by an operator for making a change from an inoperative condition where the circular hub of the cutting blade is surrounded by the inner circumference of the cylindrical body to an operative condition where the circular hub is held by the inner circumference of the cylindrical body.
US07661182B2 Pulley removal tool
A pulley removal tool. The tool includes circular base having a working side and a wrench engaging side. U-shaped flanges extend outwardly from the reverse side of the base. The flanges having fingers and groves therein sized and shaped for close mating engagement drive groove outer surface features of a selected serpentine belt pulley. A threaded drive bolt is provided for working engagement with a shaft end, so that by mechanical leverage between the pulley removal tool and the threaded drive bolt, force is exerted on the shaft end to drive the pulley removal tool away from the shaft end while the pulley removal tool securely grasps the pulley.
US07661181B1 Method and apparatus for assembling furniture components
A method and apparatus for fabricating upholstered furniture articles and components is disclosed. The method employs an assembly line with work stations. A selected beginning part such as a wooden frame or skeleton is transported along the assembly line using a specially configured fixture or jig to hold the frame or skeleton. At selected work stations, the fixture can be rotated or tilted depending upon the work to be performed. A locking arrangement secures the fixture to the track at each work station.
US07661180B2 Method of manufacturing a piezoelectric actuator and liquid ejection head
The method of manufacturing a piezoelectric actuator includes the steps of: carrying out a first heat treatment of a diaphragm of stainless steel containing iron, chromium and aluminum, in a gas containing oxygen, so as to form an aluminum oxide film on a first surface of the diaphragm and form a chromium oxide film between the aluminum oxide film and the first surface of the diaphragm; forming a lower electrode on the aluminum oxide film; forming a piezoelectric body on a surface of the lower electrode reverse to a surface of the lower electrode on which the chromium oxide film and the aluminum oxide film are formed; forming an upper electrode on a surface of the piezoelectric body reverse to a surface of the piezoelectric body on which the lower electrode is formed; and calcining the piezoelectric body by carrying out a second heat treatment of the diaphragm with which the piezoelectric body is provided.
US07661172B2 Dental cleaning device
An electric toothbrush with a removable brush section having a transponder communicating with a handle portion of the toothbrush via a non-contacting inductive coupling.
US07661171B2 Ramp with vehicle attachment
The present invention relates to a ramp. The ramp includes at least two stiles. Each stile has a top, a bottom and four sides. A plurality of shoulders are equally spaced apart and mounted on one side of each stile. A plurality of rungs are aligned with the shoulders. Each rung has a right end, a left end and four sides. A plurality of notches are located on the right end and left end of each rung. The number of shoulders equals the number of the notches and the shoulders and notches are tightly fitted together to form the ramp.
US07661168B2 Washing machine control method
A washing machine control method reduces washing time and component stress from a repetitious re-supplying of water, due to absorption and evaporation after an initial supplying of water according to a selected wash course, by determining an optimum water re-supply amount according to a water level reduction rate. The method includes steps of proceeding a user-selected wash course for a predetermined time after supplying water to a washing machine according to a first water level set based on an amount of laundry in the washing machine; sensing a second water level corresponding to the predetermined time of the wash course; calculating a water level reduction rate based on the set first water level and the sensed second water level; determining an optimum water re-supply amount by comparing the calculated water level reduction rate to a predetermined value; re-supplying the water according to the first water level, if the calculated water level reduction rate is less than the predetermined value; re-supplying the water according to a third water level, greater than the first water level, if the calculated water level reduction rate is not less than the predetermined value; and completing the user-selected wash course after re-supplying water to the washing machine according to the optimum water re-supply amount. The sensing and calculating steps may each be repeated, say, three to four times, to obtain an average rate of water level reduction, so that the user-selected wash course may be reset based on the average rate of water level reduction.
US07661162B2 Surgical head clamp
A surgical head clamp is provided including an essentially U-shaped retaining clip (1) with two holder arms (3, 4), running towards the same side in the plane thereof at the ends of a connecting bar (2). The arm ends (5, 6) of the holder arms have mandrel holders (11) mounted adjustably in bearings that are coaxial to one another. The mandrel holders may be provided with one or more said holding mandrels (12), whereby a first mandrel holder is pivotably fastened at a bearing part (15) of the one arm end (6), which bearing part is adjustable around a common bearing shaft (9), and a second mandrel holder (11) can be adjusted by means of a threaded spindle (10) in a bearing bore (7) of the other said arm end (5). The second mandrel holder (11) includes a guide shank (50) that is provided with a socket bore (54) on the front side, which is mounted coaxially to the bearing shaft (9) in a spring-mounted manner in a axial bore (61) of the threaded spindle (10). The threaded spindle (10) is provided with an external thread and is adjustably mounted in a smooth cylindrical bearing bore (7) of the other arm end (3). The external thread is embodied as a ball thread (23), which has an arcuate-segment profile, with which two balls (24, 25) mesh as contact elements. The balls are arranged in a diametrically opposed, axially fixed manner in the wall (28) of the bearing bore (7) and are held in contact with the ball thread (23) by an adjustable locking lever (35) in the locked position thereof, and which can be brought out of contact with the threaded spindle (10) in another position in order to make the threaded spindle (10) freely displaceable in its said bearing bore (7).
US07661159B1 Simple and strong foldable bed
A stronger foldable bed having a frame and a foldably soft cover attached thereto. The frame has two pairs of side bars each pivotally connected to a central link, a tilt leg pivotally connected to a free end of each side bar, three pairs of scissoring end or middle bars linking the two pairs of side bars, a pair of middle leg each containing a telescoping leg, a reinforcing bar each pivotally connected to one side bar and a sleeve covering on each tilt leg, and a journey limit formed on each tilt leg. The foldable bed is longitudinal stable, simple and strong, without sacrificing the easiness of operation of folding and expanding.
US07661149B2 Personal care cape
A cape for protecting a user and a utility such as a sink or a tub from damage by chemical or biological waste generated during personal care procedures by seamlessly covering both while being attached to both the user and the utility. The cape including a neck portion adapted to be secured to the user at a neck. The cape further including an outer edge spaced from the neck portion to cover the user and extend over the sink, a plurality of holes formed in the cape to adapt to the sink and a connector to hold the cape on the sink. The connector may be a magnet fastener, a drain ring to secure the cape to the drain hole, adhesive backed tape or hook and loop material.
US07661148B2 Human limb/joint protective pad and method of making
A protective pad includes a pre-tensioned resilient padded membrane resiliently suspended to a semi-rigid shell. A cavity is defined between the pre-tensioned padded membrane and the shell. In use, the pad is attached to the limb or joint to be protected with the tensioned membrane engaging the limb or joint to be protected. The pre-tensioned membrane and air cushion in the cavity absorb the energy of an impact transferred by the shell during a sporting event or other activity.
US07665146B2 Password methods and systems for use on a mobile device
Systems and methods for operation upon a mobile device to handle a duress situation caused by another person. An input password is received from a user. The input password is decoded by the device. Responsive to the input password being a duress indication, a duress operation is performed to protect data on the mobile device.
US07665142B2 Image processing apparatus and image forming apparatus
An image processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus can easily handle various kinds of documents including a special document and a normal document without problems of counterfeit by copy. The image processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus have a circuit for processing image data. A signal generating circuit generates a signal to prevent an image formation of a specified document. The signal generating circuit is detachably attached to the circuit for processing image data.
US07665141B2 Origin and custody of copies from a stored electronic record verified page by page
A method of authenticating a copy of a multi-page document, which includes digitizing a said multi-page document to generate one or more digitized files that together comprise a digitized transcript. A mark that is unique to the preparer of the document, such as a signature, is prepared and digitized. The preparer of the document is allowed to deposit the digitized transcript on an online repository. The operator of the online repository immediately establishes a verification process for the deposited digitized transcript. This verification process includes associating the digitized preparer mark with the deposited digitized transcript, and freezing the transcript, by encrypting it and deriving a checksum. The verification process also include associating a repository mark with the transcript. The operator of the online repository defines, under the direction of at least the preparer of the document, security rights to limit or otherwise control access to the deposited digitized transcript. The digitized preparer mark and the digitized repository mark are allowed to appear on substantially all copies of the pages of the document only if the pages have not been altered. If carrying out the verification process verifies that the deposited digitized transcript has not been changed since the verification process was established the marks are displayed with the unaltered page. This display whether the pages are displayed on a monitor or printed in paper form. Each page with this display is thus authenticated as to origin and custody apart from the other pages or the transcript as a whole.
US07665137B1 System, method and computer program product for anti-virus scanning in a storage subsystem
A system, method and computer program product are provided for scanning data. Initially, a request is received from a central processing unit for reading data saved in storage. The requested data is then scanned. If malicious code is not found in the data during the scanning, the data is transmitted from the storage to the central processing unit. In a similar manner, a request is received for data to be written in storage. In response to the request, the requested data is scanned. If malicious code is not found in the data during the scanning, data is written to the storage.
US07665129B2 Method and system for managing access authorization for a user in a local administrative domain when the user connects to an IP network
In order to control the authorisation of a user during an attempt to access an IP transport network (5) by means of an access network (1, 2), a user terminal (11, 12, 13) emits an access request to an access supplier (6, 7, 8), containing data for authenticating the user to the access supplier, and said request is then transmitted to an access server (9) of the access network (1, 2) in view of being addressed to a remote authentication server (15) of the access supplier. On reception of the access request, the access server (9) emits a RADIUS request to a proxy server (10) of the access network (1, 2) which determines whether the user must be locally authenticated, and if this is the case, the proxy server transmits, to the access server (9), a request for authentication data to be addressed to the terminal of the user, and carries out a local procedure to authenticate the user, on the basis of the authentication data supplied by the user.
US07665127B1 System and method for providing access to protected services
A method and a system for allowing computer-executable applications to efficiently and securely obtain credentials required to access data from a protected Web service utilizes an ID token. The ID token is associated with an IP address of a user's computer, and is validated before providing the credentials to the user's computer.
US07665121B1 Multi-policy security auditing system and method
A method includes running a set of policies simultaneously using two levels of optimizations. After selecting the policies to be run, the number of technical controls performed is minimized by coalescing (unioning) the technical controls of the policies in the first level of optimization. Further, the number of queries performed is minimized by coalescing (unioning) the queries of the technical controls in the second level of optimization. The technical controls and queries performed are determined by the set of polices that are to be run, in a policy driven manner.
US07665120B2 Visual summary of a web service policy document
Example embodiments provide for a rule-based wizard type tool for generating secure policy documents. Wizard pages present a user with general Web Service security options or questions at a user interface, which abstracts the user from any specific code, e.g., XML code, used for creating a Web Service policy document. Based on user input selecting general criteria, security rules are accessed and evaluated for automatically making choices on behalf of the user for creating a secure policy document. Other embodiments also provide for presenting the user with an easily understandable visual representation of selected criteria of a policy document in, e.g., a tree like structure that shows relationships between various elements of the criteria.
US07665117B2 System and method for a master scheduler
A system and method for associating and controlling multimedia supporting events with a primary event. The events are translated into tasks and sent to media servers for execution at a predetermined time by being further translated into media specific tasks to control a bit-pump.
US07665100B2 Disk drive
There is provided a disk drive including first and second sliding members (69, 71) made to slide in synchronization with each other, a sliding-member movement driving mechanism (70) to move the first sliding member (69) and have the second sliding member (71) slide in synchronization with the sliding of the first sliding member (69), and a shock absorbing mechanism (83) interposed between the first and second sliding members (69, 71). The shock absorbing mechanism (83) includes a shock absorbing member (84) to absorb a difference in movement between the first and second sliding members (69, 71), caused by an external force to the optical disk brought into or to outside a housing (3) through a disk slot (21) in a direction opposite to the direction in which the optical disk (2) is loaded or ejected when the first sliding member (69) is moved by the sliding-member movement driving mechanism (70).
US07665094B2 Systems and methods for mobile communication
A mobile communication system uses a runtime environment program which can communicate with a server. Applications are used with their own corresponding application data store. The application data store is persistent even when the applications are not running. The runtime environment program can obtain data from the server to update the application data store. The application can use the application data store. Messages can be cached at the mobile device and the server to allow for possible downtimes in the communication in the mobile unit and the server.
US07665083B2 Method and apparatus for supporting context links for application program text
Methods and apparatus are provided for supporting text-based context links for application programs. In some embodiments, an application executing on a first computer system may receive a request to open a context link to a text element in a document. The application may determine, based on a list of context links, whether more than one data object is associated with the text element. If so, a list of data objects associated with the text element and distinguishing information may be displayed, a selection of a data object from the displayed list may be received, and a selection of an action relating to a context link for the selected data object may be received. In some embodiments, the context link list is created by parsing a document into text elements at the first computer, storing entries representing a plurality of text elements on a list, and transmitting the list to a second computer to determine in the second computer if the text elements are associated with data objects. In some embodiments, before transmitting a data element to a second computer to determine an association with a data object, a software cache is checked to determine if the text element has already been transmitted, with text elements removed from the software cache if the software cache is larger than a threshold amount.
US07665081B1 System and method for difference-based software updating
A system, method and computer program product for software updates includes (a) generating a set of differences between a latest version of a file and a plurality of prior versions of the file, wherein the differences convert any of the plurality of prior versions into the latest version, but not to any other version; (b) publishing the set of differences; and (c) providing, to the client, in response to a client requesting an update to a client's version of the file and the client providing an identifier corresponding to the client's version of the file, a difference between the client's version of the file and one of (i) the latest version of the file, and (ii) a version of the file prior to the latest version.
US07665076B2 Method and apparatus for activating/deactivating run-time determined software routines in Java compiled bytecode applications
Provided is a JIT compiler that changes the status of run-time determined software routines between being activated and deactivated in an application program. Conditional statements which are used at run-time to determine whether such a routine has been activated or deactivated are presented as discrete conditions that always evaluate to a known result by using an invariant flag in the compiled bytecode. The JIT compiler optimises an application program by excluding discrete condition checks. Consequently, if the branch of the discrete condition that will never execute includes a run-time determined software routine, then the routine will be excluded from the JIT compilation and will not form part of the JIT compiled native machine code. A run-time class or code replacement facility is used as a means of activating or deactivating a run-time determined software routine at run-time by changing the value of the invariant flag of said routine.
US07665068B2 Methods and systems for testing software applications
Embodiments of the invention provide systems, methods, software products and/or data structures for testing software programs. One exemplary set of embodiments provides a method for testing a software program. The method can be used in an object-oriented environment, and the software application can comprise a plurality of components.
US07665063B1 Integration of declarative rule-based processing with procedural programming
The present invention provides methods and systems for integrating a procedural computational model with a declarative computational model. For example, in one aspect, the present invention provides a method for integrating a plurality of procedural instructions in a procedural computational system with a plurality of declarative rules in a declarative computational system. In such a method, for each of the procedural instructions operating on one or more variables, a hash table indexed by variable names is utilized to determine whether any of these variables participate in at least one of the declarative rules. Upon execution of a procedural instruction that changes a variable participating in a declarative rule, other variables associated with the rule are updated so as to maintain a relationship imposed by the rule among the variables. The updating of the other variables is performed prior to execution of other procedural instructions.
US07665062B1 System and methodology for design-time dynamic class type construction
A system and methodology for design-time dynamic class type construction is described. In one embodiment, for example, in a form-based development system, a method is described for dynamically constructing a form under an object framework during development of an application by a user, the method comprises steps of: providing an ancestor class under an object framework, the ancestor class for representing a form in the development system; in response to user input, creating a descendant class inheriting from the ancestor class for representing a particular form to be included in the application; generating instructions for creating methods of the descendant class under the object framework; creating a type delegator for the descendant class, thereby enabling the descendant class to track changes made to the particular form during development of the application; creating an instance of the descendant class; and constructing the particular form in the development system based on the instance of the descendant class.
US07665061B2 Code builders
Code builders can be used to generate code segments that are customized in response to user input. An integrated development environment provides links to one or more code builders that are configured for developing specific types of code. Once a code builder is selected or dragged and dropped on a code editor, a code builder interface is launched that prompts the user for input that will be applied to a document object model describing the basic attributes of the code segment. The code builder then generates the customized code and inserts it into a desired location within the integrated development environment.
US07665060B2 Approximating wafer intensity change to provide fast mask defect scoring
To provide fast mask defect scoring, approximated wafer simulations (e.g. using one convolution) are performed on the defect inspection image and its corresponding reference inspection image. Using the approximated defect wafer image and the approximated reference wafer image generated by these approximated wafer simulations, a defect maximum intensity difference (MID) is computed by subtracting one approximated wafer image from the other approximated wafer image to generate a difference image. After a defect region of the difference image is clearly defined, a simulation at the centroid (i.e. a single point) of the defect region is performed. After the defect MID is computed (represented by an intensity) it can be compared to a prototype MID, which can represent a generic nuisance defect.
US07665055B2 Semiconductor apparatus design method in which dummy line is placed in close proximity to signal line
A design method places a dummy line in floating state in a line layer of a semiconductor apparatus by using a computer. The method includes a first step of reading layout data and placing a dummy line with a longitudinal side lying in parallel with a signal line in an area where a pattern density of the signal line in a prescribed area is equal to or lower than a density lower limit, and a second step of dividing a dummy line placed in an area where a distance from the signal line is equal to or shorter than a dummy dividing distance.
US07665045B1 Method and mechanism for identifying and tracking shape connectivity
A method and mechanism is disclosed for identifying and tracking nets in an electrical design. A hierarchical design does not have to be flattened to perform the operation of identifying and tracking nets. To identify sets of connected shapes, instead of having to unfold the entire design hierarchy, only the specific instances of shapes falling within the geometric bounds of shapes identified as being part of a net needs to be unfolded to perform the search. When composing the list of nets for a hierarchical design, the unfolded shapes at other hierarchical levels of the design can be derived based upon virtual terminal structures that implicitly references nets and objects at other levels.
US07665039B2 Method and apparatus for controlling a display of a data processing system
Method and apparatus for controlling a display of a data processing system. According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of controlling a display of a data processing system includes: displaying a first list as a scrollable view of items in a first mode; receiving an input to switch from the first mode to a second mode; and displaying, in the second mode, a representation of a command which when activated causes a display of a second list of the items. The first list is displayed within a window and the representation is displayed within the window. According to another embodiment of the invention, a method of controlling a display of a data processing system includes: displaying, in a first mode, a slider control having a slider which can be positioned in one of a plurality of positions to select a corresponding one of a plurality of parameters; receiving an input to switch from the first mode to a second mode; and displaying, in the second mode, a representation of a command which when activated causes a display of a list of items corresponding to at least a subset of the plurality of parameters.
US07665038B1 Method and apparatus for controlling a display of a data process system
Method and apparatus for controlling a display of a data processing system. According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of controlling a display of a data processing system includes: displaying a first list as a scrollable view of items in a first mode; receiving an input to switch from the first mode to a second mode; and displaying, in the second mode, a representation of a command which when activated causes a display of a second list of the items. The first list is displayed within a window and the representation is displayed within the window. According to another embodiment of the invention, a method of controlling a display of a data processing system includes: displaying, in a first mode, a slider control having a slider which can be positioned in one of a plurality of positions to select a corresponding one of a plurality of parameters; receiving an input to switch from the first mode to a second mode; and displaying, in the second mode, a representation of a command which when activated causes a display of a list of items corresponding to at least a subset of the plurality of parameters.
US07665025B2 Signal navigation and label propagation in block diagrams
A system and method that includes line connection navigation in a block diagram by highlighting connections through navigable blocks in the diagram, edit-time label propagation along connections and through navigable blocks that can propagate labels through their ports, API to define navigability between block ports, and displaying implied connections between blocks.
US07665013B2 Error correction mechanisms in spreadsheet packages
A spreadsheet package allows a base formula to be copied to at least one adjacent cell to form a referencing array. The package maintains a list of bound arrays, at least one cell of a bound array being referred to from a referencing array formula. If a formula within a referencing array cell includes a reference to a cell outside a bound array, the package indicates an error in the formula.
US07665007B2 Retrial and reread methods and apparatus for recording channels
A method of reading a data block from a sector of a recording media is described. The data block from the sector of the recording channel is decoded with an ECC decoder (first trial). The data block is re-decoded (second trial) using an adjusted timing recovery block that is adjusted based on the decoded data block, if the number of errors exceeded an error correction capability of the ECC decoder on the first trial. In one embodiment, the data block is reread from the same sector of the recording channel using the adjusted timing recovery block that is adjusted based on the re-decoded data block. The data block is subsequently jointly decoded with the waveforms obtained from the second trial by a possibly modified sequence detector, if the number of errors exceeded the error correction capability of the ECC decoder during the second trial.
US07665005B2 In situ processor margin testing
Embodiments of apparatuses, methods, and systems for in situ processor margin testing are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes virtual machine control logic and operating point control logic. The virtual machine control logic is to transfer control of the apparatus between a virtual machine monitor and a guest. The operating point control logic is to set the operating point of the apparatus in connection with a transfer of control of the apparatus to the virtual machine monitor.
US07664996B2 Diagnostic operations associated with wireless modem
A visible diagnostic component for an electronic device having a form factor is described. The electronic component comprises a hardware interface component and a processor. The hardware interface component is configured to physically interface with a computer hardware interface associated with a computing device having an operating system. The processor is configured to perform a first operation that tests the communications with a device driver that is related to the electronic device. The first operation generates a first signal that indicates the result of the first operation. The second operation performed by the processor tests the communications between the wireless device and the operating system of the computing device. The second operation is configured to generate a second signal that indicates the result of the second operation.
US07664991B1 System and method for distributed file system I/O recovery
Embodiments of a system and method for distributed file system I/O recovery in storage networks. Embodiments may detect loss of access to a server in the storage network and recover application I/O requests in real-time once access to the server is restored. Embodiments may detect server and/or network failures and store failed and new I/O requests. Recovery from the failure (e.g. network reconnect, server node reboot, or failover, if this is a clustered environment) may be detected and, after recovery is detected, any stored failed and new I/O requests may be sent to the server. In one embodiment, to detect recovery from the failure, a failed I/O request may be repeatedly re-issued until the I/O request succeeds. Embodiments may be implemented in a variety of storage environments, including environments where clients issue direct I/O over a storage network to storage and control I/O over a network to a server.
US07664984B2 Method and system for updating a software image
A method and system for updating or recovering a computer device's software image using a single portable operating system image stored on a bootable, secure partition on local storage (hard drive); a method and system utilizing delta image patching technology to allow the single image to work on a large number of diverse computer device platforms; and a method for distributing software patches and updates via a, secure local partition to ensure patches and updates are applied to well known software images that have not been modified to include malicious software and do not include any other undesirable changes that have been made to the primary, running operating system image.
US07664976B2 Controlling circuit for controlling operating clock and/or driving voltage of logic circuit, and method thereof
A controlling circuit for controlling an operating clock of a logic circuit in an electronic device and the method thereof are disclosed. The controlling circuit includes a storage device, a detector, at least one comparator, and a controller. The storage device stores a first threshold value and a first return value. The detector detects a system load of the electronic device to generate a detection value. The comparator compares the detection value with the first threshold value or the first return value. When the detection value decreases to reach the first threshold value, the comparator generates a first indication signal. When the detection value increase to reach the first return value, the comparator generates a second indication signal. The controller enables underclocking of the logic circuit when receiving the first indication signal, and disables underclocking of the logic circuit when receiving the second indication signal.
US07664968B2 System and method for managing power usage of a data processing system subsystem
A power-managed server data processing system comprises a bus configured to communicatively couple a power-managed server with a data processing system resource and a bus controller coupled to the bus. The bus controller comprises bus control logic configured to process a plurality of access requests associated with the bus, and power management logic configured to inhibit processing of a current access request of the plurality of access requests by the bus control logic for a power management delay time period. The power management delay time period is determined utilizing a processing latency time period associated with a prior access request of the plurality of access requests.
US07664967B2 Development system with methodology providing information hiding in executable programs
A development system providing a method for information hiding in executable programs is described. In one embodiment, for example, a method of the present invention is described for hiding information in computer programs, the method comprises steps of: receiving first input comprising program modules for a computer program being created, the program modules including data and code; receiving second input comprising information to be hidden in the computer program; linking together the program modules to form an executable computer program, including determining pads necessary for aligning data and code; and hiding the second input in the executable computer program by storing portions of the second input at locations in the executable computer program intended for pads.
US07664961B2 Wireless handheld device with local biometric authentication
The invention is directed to a wireless handheld device that securely accesses one or more remote devices subject to locally authenticating a user via biometrics. The device may be implemented as a wireless mouse with a biometric sensor incorporated with a scroll wheel that captures a biometric from the user and authenticates the user to the device using the captured biometric. More specifically, the captured biometric is compared to a template stored in memory. The device transmits a wireless signal, such as a command stream including the user's user name and password, to access the remote devices when the captured biometric matches the template. However, the device does not operate when the user is not authenticated. Accordingly, the invention may be particularly useful to log-on and log-off a user who frequently leaves and returns to a personal computer or various remote devices during the course of a day.
US07664957B2 Digital signatures including identity-based aggregate signatures
Methods and systems are provided that allow multiple identity-based digital signatures to be merged into a single identity-based “aggregate” digital signature. This identity-based aggregate signature has a shorter bit-length than the concatenation of the original unaggregated identity-based signatures. The identity-based aggregate signature can be verified by anyone who obtains the public keys of one or more Private Key Generators (PKGs), along with a description of which signer signed which message. The verifier does not need to obtain a different public key for each signer, since the signature scheme is “identity-based”; the number of PKGs may be fewer than the number of signers. Consequently, the total information needed to verify the identity-based aggregate signature—namely, a description of who signed what, the PKGs' public keys, and the identity-based aggregate signature itself—may be less than the information needed to verify separate digital signatures—namely, a description of who signed what, the public verification keys for all of the signers, and the concatenation of the signers' signatures. In some embodiments, the identity-based aggregate signature scheme has essentially the minimum-possible Kolmogorov complexity.
US07664948B2 Certificate lookup and validation
A certificate validation framework allows for the use of plug-ins for a certificate path builder and certificate path validator. Clients can include a web server clients, SSL certificate validation or application code.
US07664944B2 Booting from a compressed image
Accessing files within a compressed image to boot from the compressed image. In one embodiment, the compressed image includes a boot environment and a software image combined to reduce file redundancy. The invention boots into the boot environment within the compressed image to install the software image on a computer.
US07664941B2 Branch prediction methods and devices capable of predicting first taken branch instruction within plurality of fetched instructions
A branch prediction method, capable of predicting a first taken branch instruction within a plurality of fetched instructions, includes: determining whether one of the fetched instructions is the first taken branch instruction to be predicted according to hint instruction(s) or according to latest statistics of whether respective fetched instructions have been taken. The branch prediction method further includes: if one of the fetched instructions is determined to be the first taken branch instruction, performing branch prediction on the first taken branch instruction.
US07664936B2 Prioritizing thread selection partly based on stall likelihood providing status information of instruction operand register usage at pipeline stages
An apparatus for scheduling dispatch of instructions among a plurality of threads being concurrently executed in a multithreading processor is provided. The apparatus includes an instruction decoder that generate register usage information for an instruction from each of the threads, a priority generator that generates a priority for each instruction based on the register usage information and state information of instructions currently executing in an execution pipeline, and selection logic that dispatches at least one instruction from at least one thread based on the priority of the instructions. The priority indicates the likelihood the instruction will execute in the execution pipeline without stalling. For example, an instruction may have a high priority if it has little or no register dependencies or its data is known to be available; or may have a low priority if it has strong register dependencies or is an uncacheable or synchronized storage space load instruction.
US07664931B2 Scalable and configurable multimedia system for a vehicle
A scalable and fully configurable computing architecture for a mobile multimedia architecture used in a vehicle includes a head unit having a processor, a field programmable gate array and a memory. The processor and the memory are configured to communicate over a first bus that is a dedicated memory bus, and the processor and the field programmable gate array are configured to communicate over a separate second bus. The field programmable gate array is configured to be loaded from memory with part of a multimedia vehicle-related application-specific functionality that is executable by the field programmable gate array, and the processor is cooperatively operable with the field programmable gate array to execute another portion of the multimedia vehicle-related application-specific functionality. The multimedia vehicle-related application-specific functionality in the field programmable gate array may be changed with software and downloaded to the field programmable gate array in the field. In addition, due to the first and second busses being recognized industry standard busses, any of the processor, the field programmable gate array and the memory are fully scaleable and configurable.
US07664918B2 Handling fetch requests that return out-of-order at an instruction fetch unit
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that handles instruction fetch requests that return out-of-order at an IFU of a processor. During operation, the system sends a request to obtain a cache line to an instruction cache, wherein the request can be serviced and the cache line can be sent to a fetch buffer before a preceding cache line for a preceding request has returned from the instruction cache. In response to the request, the system receives the cache line from the instruction cache. Next, the system determines whether the cache line was returned out-of-order with respect to the preceding cache line. If so, the system performs an action to handle the out-of-order return.
US07664915B2 High performance raid-6 system architecture with pattern matching
An acceleration unit offloads computationally intensive tasks from a processor. The acceleration unit includes two data processing paths each having an Arithmetic Logical Unit and sharing a single multiplier unit. Each data processing path may perform configurable operations in parallel on a same data. Special multiplexer paths and instructions are provided to allow P and Q type syndromes to be computed on a stripe in a single-pass of the data through the acceleration unit.
US07664912B2 Data recording apparatus, data recording method, and program
Disclosed herein is a data recording apparatus which may include a recording data acquisition section, a data recording section, a file management section, a recording control section, and a file updating control section.
US07664909B2 Method and apparatus for a shared I/O serial ATA controller
An apparatus and method is provided for allowing one or more processing complexes to share a disk controller, particularly a serial ATA (SATA) controller. Each processing complex utilizes its own load-store domain to couple to the shared SATA controller, either directly, or indirectly through a shared I/O switch. Ultimately, requests from the processing complexes are presented to the switch with operating system domain header (OSD header) information so that the shared SATA controller can determine which request came from which processing complex, and allocate resources accordingly. Upstream responses from the shared SATA controller include the OSD header so that the shared I/O switch can accurately route the responses to their respective processing complexes. The shared SATA controller includes OSD ID logic to determine the source/result of packets, one or more task files to support multiple processing complexes, and one or more DMA engines to improve performance for requests from multiple processing complexes.
US07664897B2 Method and apparatus for communicating over a resource interconnect
A resource interconnect architecture and associated descriptor protocol provides more efficient communication between different resources in a data processing system. One embodiment uses a backdoor interconnect that allows some resources to communicate without using a central resource interconnect. Another embodiment uses nested descriptors that allow operations by different resources to be chained together without having to communicate back to an originating descriptor resource. In another embodiment, the descriptors are generated in hardware or in software. Other embodiments assign priority or privilege values to the descriptors that optimize processing and error handling performance.
US07664888B2 Multipurpose and programmable pad ring for an integrated circuit
A multi-port SERDES transceiver includes multiple parallel and serial ports, and the flexibility to connect any one of the parallel or serial ports to another parallel or serial port. The ports include programmable pads that are capable of supporting multiple different data protocols, timing protocols, electrical specifications, and input-output functions. A management data IO pad also enables the transceiver to support different electrical requirements and data protocols at the same time. The substrate layout of the transceiver is configured so that the parallel ports and the serial ports are on the outer perimeter. A logic core is at the center, where the logic core operates the serial and parallel data ports, and the bus that connects the data ports. The bus can be described as a “ring” structure (or donut “structure”) around the logic core, and is configured between the logic core and the data ports.
US07664885B2 Communication system with automatic configuration of the communication interface
The present invention provides a communication system comprising a Master unit (1) and at least one Client unit (3), means to automatically establish a wireless bi-directional connection between said Client unit and said Master unit when they are close together; and means to automatically configure a communication interface (5) between said Master unit and said Client unit after connection is established. The invention thus enables systems with different protocols to find and communicate via said configured communication interface (5).
US07664878B2 Communication system, mobile terminal, relay apparatus, and transfer route learning method
A communication system includes a relay apparatus which offers an access link to a mobile terminal, a layer 2 switch which relays data between the relay apparatus and a router on a next hop from a communication destination terminal of the mobile terminal, and a route information notification unit. The route information notification unit notifies, to the relay apparatus and the layer 2 switch in a subnet where the mobile terminal is present, route information including a data link layer unicast address of a packet addressed to the mobile terminal, and a data link layer multicast address thereof in a case where the mobile terminal is activated and in a case where the mobile terminal switches a connection.
US07664877B1 Methods and apparatus for using both LDP and RSVP in a communications systems
Methods and apparatus for allowing routers in an autonomous system to implement LDP and RSVP at the same time. RSVP can be used in the network core with LDP being used in network regions surrounding the core. LDP LSPs are tunneled through the RSVP network core using RSVP LSPs and label stacking techniques. During route selection LDP LSPs which use an RSVP LSP tunnel are preferred over alternative LDP LSPs having an equal cost associated with them to create a preference for traffic engineered routes.
US07664876B2 System and method for directing clients to optimal servers in computer networks
A communication protocol includes one or more messages passed between Web routers over a reliable transmission protocol used for inter-Web router communication. These messages include information that allows the Web routers to dynamically update mappings of client addresses or address ranges to information object repository addresses based on client-to-server distance and server load. The mappings are preferably optimal mappings of the client addresses or address ranges to the information object repository addresses and the messages report updated distances from these information object repository addresses to the client addresses or address ranges. For example, the messages may report, for each updated distance, an associated client address or address range and/or an associated anchor address of a Web router co-located with an information object repository that is the subject of the message.
US07664875B1 Multi-path content distribution and aggregation
Communication occurs between a source and a destination over plural communications paths by first identifying content to be sent to a destination via a communications system. After discovering that plural communications paths connecting directly to the destination are available, the content is divided into plural different portions and is transmitted to the destination such that each of the plural different portions is routed via a different one of the plural communications paths.
US07664871B2 Methods and apparatus for communication media commands and data using the HTTP protocol
A method for employing a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP protocol) for transmitting streamed digital media data from a server. The server is configured for coupling to a client computer via a computer network. The method includes receiving at the server from the client an HTTP POST request. The POST request requests a first portion of the digital media data and includes a request header and a request entity-body. The request entity body includes a media command for causing the first portion of the digital media data to be sent from the server to the client. The method further includes sending an HTTP response to the client from the server. The HTTP response includes a response header and a response entity body. The response entity body includes at least a portion of the fast portion of the digital media data.
US07664866B2 Sub-tree access control in network architectures
A logical network directory database compliant with the X.500 standard for a directory data system is disclosed. The network directory database provides a source of subscriber and service data accessible by various control and management processes that require subscriber information. The network directory database may be extensible across various communications service providers and IT domain. Further, the disclosed network directory database may be applied to new and existing services, such as, IP Multimedia Subsystem, Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) and other IP services.
US07664861B2 Managed peer-to-peer file sharing
A system and method for managed peer-to-peer (p2p) file sharing. The peer nodes can include a web browser and a p2p agent. The web browser can connect to the Internet and can interface with the p2p agent. The p2p agent provides the file sharing utilities for implementing the p2p network. A web server connected to the Internet can monitor and manage p2p activity, including providing persistent storage for the p2p networks. The web server can interface with a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to provide access to the p2p network for PSTN peer nodes that do not have web browsing capabilities. A method of implementing managed p2p file sharing includes registering users; providing login and logout functions; creating p2p sessions; preparing, forwarding, receiving, accepting and/or rejecting invitations to join p2p sessions; quitting p2p sessions; deleting p2p sessions or selected members of p2p sessions; and sharing and transferring files.
US07664860B2 Session handling
A method includes, in a network, representing a first request from a first user as a first ClientUser, assigning the first ClientUser to a ServerSession, the ServerSession having one or more ClientSessions, each of the ClientSessions allowing a server to have a single session for all first user requests from the server. The method includes, in a client/server network, providing a session that can be common to all connections to a web server by a user.
US07664859B2 Resource assigning management apparatus and resource assigning method
In a system which divides requests to an application, into computers on which the application is operating, computers are managed so as to prevent the lowering of the service level of each application. The resource assigning management apparatus 1 subtracts a total number of request counts (receive request count) received per unit tame by each server computer which is assigned to the application, from the total number of requests processible per unit time by each server computer 3 which is assigned to the application (request processible count), and calculates a resource amount available from the application to another application. Then, allocation of at least one server computer 3 that is assigned to the resource-excessive application is changed to an application which is lacking resources.
US07664855B1 Port scanning mitigation within a network through establishment of an a prior network connection
Techniques are described for mitigating adverse effects of port scanning within a network device. For example, an apparatus, such as a router, responds to all network connection request packets received from a client for all ports on an attached server as if all of the server's ports are open. Once a network connection is established between the router and the client, a network connection request is transmitted to the server for a requested port. Using the router to establish a full network connection with the client eliminates a unscrupulous client from sending numerous decoy network connection request messages in an effort to hide the identity of the client. By responding to all network connection requests by establishing a TCP full connection before a network connection request is forwarded to a server, a client receives no useful information regarding the state of a port on the server before providing a valid and detectable IP address. Stealth port scanning is rendered ineffective. Only connect scan-type port scanning, which is both detectible and defendable, may be used to identify open ports on a server.
US07664848B2 System and method for monitoring networked devices employing RSS functionality
A system and method are provided for monitoring networked devices using RSS. Status information from the one or more networked devices may be collected by an RSS aggregator. The status information may be assembled into one or more RSS feeds, enabling a user such as an administrator to monitor the status of the network from any network accessible location.
US07664847B2 Managing workload by service
Approaches for manage and measuring workload on computer resources by measuring workload in ways that are independent of physical hardware and that correlate to ways in which it is desirable to measure and manage workload for applications and clients. Specifically, logical abstractions of workload, referred to as services, are defined for a cluster of nodes running a multi-node database server of a database. A service is a category of work hosted on a subset of multi-node database servers, such as work that is performed for an online order entry application. The workload is measured and demarcated by the service no matter which node in a single or multi-node system performs the service, providing a global view of performance realized by the system.
US07664845B2 System and method for network vulnerability detection and reporting
A system and method provide comprehensive and highly automated testing of vulnerabilities to intrusion on a target network, including identification of operating system, identification of target network topology and target computers, identification of open target ports, assessment of vulnerabilities on target ports, active assessment of vulnerabilities based on information acquired from target computers, quantitative assessment of target network security and vulnerability, and hierarchical graphical representation of the target network, target computers, and vulnerabilities in a test report. The system and method employ minimally obtrusive techniques to avoid interference with or damage to the target network during or after testing.
US07664844B2 Managing network errors communicated in a message transaction with error information using a troubleshooting agent
A method, system, and program for managing network errors communicated in a message transaction with error information using a troubleshooting agent. A network facilitates message transactions between a requester and a responder for facilitating web services. When a non-application specific error occurs in relation to a particular message transaction, such as a network error, a protocol layer assigns an error code and either the requester or responder encodes the error code in the body of an envelope added to the particular message transaction. In particular, the message transaction is an XML message with a Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) envelope encoded with the error code to which the XML message is then attached. The error encoded message transaction is forwarded to a troubleshooting agent. The troubleshooting agent facilitates resolution of the non-application specific error and returns a descriptive message indicating the resolution of the non-application specific error to at least one of the requester and the responder.
US07664843B2 Distributed managed entities and database
A system and method for providing a technique by which currently available MCUs can handle the large amounts of information present in a large GPON network, without adding expense and complexity to the network elements. A system for managing a telecommunications network comprises a control unit controlling a plurality of components of an optical telecommunications network, a plurality of components of the optical telecommunications network, each component comprising at least one managed entity of the optical telecommunications network, and a database comprising information relating to the managed entities, wherein the database is distributed across the control unit and the plurality of components of the optical telecommunications network.
US07664836B2 Device and method for booting an operation system for a computer from a passive directly attached network device
System, device, method, computer, computer program and computer program product for computer booting devices not coupled to an internal local bus of the computer to be booted. Boot device may be network-attached device directly coupled to computer over network and not through another computer or server process. Method for redirecting booting process to look away from storage devices coupled to internal computer bus, and to look for external devices on network. Method of booting computer with operating system from storage device including executing a boot block loader program in the processor and memory of computer to be booted that before loading an operating system, loads device driver for accessing storage device; loading the operating system from storage device that is not directly coupled to internal local bus of computer using the device driver, to processor accessible memory; and booting computer from loaded operating system. Computer program and computer program product.
US07664828B2 Invalid policy detection
Implementations are described and claimed herein to detect an invalid policy that may reside in a cache at a client. An expired policy is removed from cache and a current policy is requested. Otherwise the cached policy may be used. The client indicates which policy it is using by generating a policy digest, including, in compressed form, one or more assertions. If the host determines the policy digest is invalid, the host issues an invalid digest fault. If the policy digest is valid, but the assertions included in the policy digest are invalid, the host issues an invalid policy fault. In either case, the client is notified that the cached policy is no longer valid and that a current policy should be requested.
US07664823B1 Partitioned packet processing in a multiprocessor environment
A packet processing system includes multiple processors and a set of code partitions that implement a feature set for packet processing. Each of the processors is capable of loading and executing one or more of the code partitions. A context manager enables packet processing operations to migrate between code partitions executing on one or more of the processors.
US07664822B2 Systems and methods for authentication of target protocol screen names
A protocol management system is capable of detecting certain message protocols and applying policy rules to the detected message protocols that prevent intrusion, or abuse, of a network's resources. In one aspect, a protocol message gateway is configured to apply policy rules to high level message protocols, such as those that reside at layer 7 of the ISO protocol stack.
US07664801B2 Interactive remote wireless system and method to assist in real estate transactions, and the like
A system and apparatus to provide remote interactive access to multiple databases and, specifically, related to a system and apparatus to provide remote interactive access to real estate information related databases using a portable, voice interactive computing device with GPS capabilities and “smart” computer features. The system combines access to search engines configured to retrieve real estate listings, publicly available statistics about a specific geographic area, and retrieval of stored forms specific to completing an offer for real estate. The device can have several components in various combinations including a touch sensitive screen, a keyboard, a processor, GPS circuitry, a microphone, an audio device, wireless circuitry, cellular circuitry, a data jack, a wireless remote, and a camera. Software utilizing those components maximizes efficiency for a real estate agent in the field.
US07664796B2 Electronic labeling for offline management of storage devices
A system and method using hardware and software components enable a storage module to maintain information about an associated storage device and its content such that the information is accessible when the storage device is offline or in a low power configuration. A general-computing host system connects to the storage module via a pluggable interface to provide information to a nonvolatile memory cache on the storage module. The storage module includes a separate power source, an output display, input buttons, and a module controller. The host system includes an application and host platform for processing file-system related events to send records to the module controller to automatically update a catalog representing storage device information in the nonvolatile memory. When offline, the user may display the catalog information and use the buttons to navigate among it. The host system may also allow the user to interactively review and modify the catalog.
US07664795B2 Apparatus and method for database migration
Systems and methods consistent with concepts of the present embodiment of the inventive concept provide mechanisms for database migration from one database (source database platform) platform to another (target database platform). The target and source databases can be any relational databases including, without limitation, Oracle, SQL Server (Microsoft), DB2 UDB (IBM), Sybase, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and the like. The inventive methodology will work well for migration of any relational database that implements SQL language from one platform to another. A feature of the invention is the provision of a virtual engine enabling the running of an original application on a migrated database.
US07664789B2 Method and apparatus to minimize database exchange in OSPF by using a SHA-1 digest value
The present invention provides a method of determining whether database located on a first router is synchronized with the database located on a second router by performing a hash function on the values contained in a link state database to derive a SHA-1 digest value. In an embodiment, the digest value is based on LSA type. The digest value is exchanged initially during a database description packet swap between the first router and second router. If the digest values are the same, the databases are already synchronized. The routers thus skip the database description packet exchange of LSAs in the database and go directly to FULL state, indicating full synchronization between databases on the first and second router and announcing adjacency to each other. If the digest differs, normal database description packet exchange is performed as specified in OSPF.
US07664784B2 High-performance, scalable, adaptive and multi-dimensional event repository
A High-Performance, Scalable, Adaptive and Multi-dimensional Event Repository is described and utilized in a method for publishing an event in a database. The present method includes transparently intercepting a request to a database to publish an event. A messaging system operable with the database intercepts the request. The present method further includes examining an event repository for a template of the event. The event repository is operable with the database and the messaging system. The present method additionally includes retrieving the event template from the event repository. The present method also includes marshalling the event template to create the event. The present method also includes publishing the event in an event queue.
US07664783B2 File management program, data structure, and file management device
A file management program for managing a file or a directory by means of a long filename of a file system that corresponds to a long filename for retrieval and a short filename of the file system that corresponds to a short filename for retrieval, includes having a computer perform a naming function for naming the short filename including at least one part of file management information in the file system that corresponds to the long filename for retrieval.
US07664777B2 Mapping of an RDBMS schema onto a multidimensional data model
A Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) having any arbitrary structure is translated into a multi-dimensional data model suitable for performing OLAP operations upon. If a relational table defining the relational model includes any tables with cardinality of 1,1 or 0,1, the tables are merged into a single table. If the relational table is not normalized, then normalization is performed and a relationship between the original table and the normalized table is created. If the relational table is normalized, but not by dependence between columns, such as in the dimension table in a snowflake schema, the normalization process is performed using the foreign key in order to generate the normalized table. Once the normalized table is generated, OLAP measures are derived from the normalized relational table by an automated method. In addition, OLAP dimensions are derived from the normalized relational table and the results of the OLAP measures derivation by an automated method according to the present invention. According to an aspect, it is possible to associate a member of a dimension to another member of the same or another dimension. According to another aspect, it is possible to create a new dimension of analysis, the members of which are all the different values that a scalar expression can take on. According to yet another aspect, it is possible to access the various instances of a Reporting Object as members in an OLAP dimension. According to the yet another aspect, it is possible to apply opaque filters or a combination of them to the data that underlies analysis.
US07664774B2 Sequence based physical design tuning
The subject disclosure pertains to exploitation of sequence information in a workload for the purpose of performance tuning. An optimal or exhaustive approach to tune sequences by mapping to a shortest path problem is provided as well as powerful techniques that result in optimal or nearly optimal solutions. Also disclosed is greedy approach that is much more efficient than the optimal approach and yet also generates solutions of comparable quality. Further yet, systems and methods are provided that facilitate extraction of sequence information and implementation of recommendations.
US07664759B2 Method and system for storing self-descriptive tabular data with alphanumeric and binary values
A method and system for storing and retrieving alphanumeric (83) and binary data values (78) includes storing in a tabular data archive (60) an open tabular format XML file (62) containing a plurality of alphanumeric data values (83) and meta-information (84). Meta-information (84 and 80) describes a predetermined set of characteristics of the alphanumeric data values (83) and binary data values (78). The method and system store in the tabular data archive (60) a plurality of individual binary files (64) each comprising exactly one binary data value (163, 164, 165, 166) and further describe the binary files (64) using the predetermined set of characteristics (80). The method further includes storing in the open tabular format XML file (62) a plurality of references (90) to the individual binary files (64). Thereafter, the open tabular format XML file (62) may be parsed for selectably retrieving at least one predetermined subset of the plurality of alphanumeric data values (83) and of the plurality of binary data values stored in individual binary files (64).
US07664749B1 Method and apparatus for ranked join indices
A method and apparatus for ranked join indices includes a solution providing performance guarantees for top-k join queries over two relations, when preprocessing to construct a ranked join index for a specific join condition is permitted. The concepts of ranking join indices presented herein are also applicable in the case of a single relation. In this case, the concepts herein provide a solution to the top-k selection problem with monotone linear functions, having guaranteed worst case search performance for the case of two ranked attributes and arbitrary preference vectors.
US07664744B2 Query categorizer
In response to a user's submission of a set of query terms through an Internet search engine's user interface, the Internet search engine automatically ranks multiple verticals based on the estimated probabilities that those verticals will contain relevant content. After the verticals have been ranked, a set of the highest-ranked verticals is selected. Search results from each of the verticals in the selected set are presented to the user. Thus, the user may obtain a sample from verticals that are the most likely to contain relevant content. The search engine may rank a set of verticals based on historical search result selection data for similar sets of query terms. The historical search result selection data for a set of query terms indicates, for each vertical, the number of times that any user selected a search result from that vertical after conducting a search based on that set of query terms.
US07664736B2 Obtaining user assistance
An apparatus, device, method, computer program product, and system that searches a plurality of end user assistances respectively corresponding to a plurality of items for an end user assistance correlating with a user-selected item. Each end user assistance of the plurality of end user assistances respectively having been obtained in response to the prior presence within a geographic locale of the corresponding item.
US07664732B2 Method of managing websites registered in search engine and a system thereof
The present invention relates to a search engine that provides information on a predetermined website on the Internet. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of managing websites registered in a search engine in a search engine administration system, comprising the steps of allowing a predetermined interface module to receive information on a website and allowing a website registration module to sort the received website information by the predetermined field and then to record the sorted information in a database means; extracting a HTML file constituting web pages of the website; detecting a predetermined function that generates a pop-up window by analyzing the extracted HTML file; increasing a predetermined counter value as much as a given value depending on the number of pop-up windows generated due to the detected function; determining whether the counter value exceeds a predetermined value; and if it is determined that the counter value exceeds the predetermined value, controlling a predetermined process to be performed for the registered website.
US07664726B2 Influence based rewards for word-of-mouth advertising ecosystems
Systems and/or methods are presented that facilitate determining the contextual influence of a user in referrals of products or services, and determining an amount of compensation for successful referrals based on the contextual influence of the user. A central service component can track activity and receive data associated with referrals, including data related to the number and type of referrals, and the number of successful referrals. An evaluation component can analyze referral data associated with the user and can determine a conversion ratio as the number of successful referrals compared to the total number of referrals. The evaluation component can utilize the conversion ratio to facilitate determining an amount of compensation that can be awarded and distributed to the user based on the influence of the user within the context of the product or service referred by the user.
US07664725B2 Method and apparatus for transparently mapping a request to open a data file
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that transparently maps a request to open a data file. First, the system receives a request from a user or client application to open the data file. Next, the system determines from file meta information that the file is a relational data file, and proceeds to transparently map the file open operation to a corresponding relational database operation by discovering a database service configured to manage the relational data file and then sending a request to open the relational data file to this database service. By transparently mapping the file open operation to the corresponding relational database operation, the system allows an underlying data file to be changed to a relational data file without changing the way the user interacts with the client application and/or data file.
US07664723B2 Symbolic computation using an inverted match
The transformation of a symbolic representation using an inverted match that represents an inverted form of a specific kind of non-linear match. The match is inverted around a particular reaction variable and merged on that variable after determining that the match represents a specific kind of non-linear identity that has at least one associative commutative operator, and in which each variable has one instance, except for the reaction variable, which has multiple instances in the match, at least one of the instances not being a direct argument of an associative commutative operator. The inverted match may then be applied to the symbolic expression to thereby transform the symbolic expression.
US07664720B1 Method and product of manufacture for the recommendation of optimizers in a graphical user interface for mathematical solvers
In one embodiment, a method of providing a graphical user interface (GUI) for a plurality of optimization solvers is provided. The method includes providing the GUI for the plurality of optimization solvers, the GUI including a control to select a solver from the plurality of solvers; receiving a selection of a first solver from the plurality of optimization solvers; and displaying in the GUI contents tailored to the first solver, the GUI contents including an objective function, wherein the objective function is in an expression in an array-based language.
US07664711B2 Apparatus, methods and computer programs for metering and accounting for services accessed over a network
Apparatus, methods and computer programs provided for metering and accounting in a commercial e-services infrastructure address the requirement for handling composite services in which higher-level services are built using simpler underlying services, each of which may be autonomously owned and operated. Metering records for each service underlying a composite service are correlated, enabling accounting which takes account of the usage and charges associated with the underlying services, on a per-request basis or on an aggregated basis for each customer-provider pair over a given billing period.
US07664710B2 Remote authentication of two dimensional barcoded indicia
An indicia authentication system includes a franking device for embedding identification and encrypted authentication data into indicia and applying the indicia to an article, and a computing device for utilizing the identification data to retrieve a key for deciphering the encrypted authentication data, where the computing device is adapted to utilize the deciphered authentication data to determine the validity of the indicia.
US07664701B2 Masking private billing data by assigning other billing data to use in commerce with businesses
A method and apparatus for shielding a user's private billing data, such as credit card information, or other billing arrangements, but distributing different billing data to businesses during commerce therewith. Also disclosed is assigning the different billing data through real-time and advance distribution of the different billing data to a user, as well. Also disclosed is validating the correctness of a charge through confirmation of the charge with a financial institution, such as a bank, and by comparing itemized charges against expected charges identified by the user.
US07664700B1 System for and method of individual annuity payout administration
A system for and method of administering payouts under an individual annuity contract is provided. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a computer system is provided which includes a memory for storing individual annuity contract data relating to a individual annuity contract which provides the contract owner with the option to withdraw principal from the annuity during the payout phase, and a processor programmed to process and issue principal payouts as selected by the annuitant.
US07664699B1 Automatic generation of temporary credit card information
Temporary credit card information is automatically obtained and input to online credit card purchases allowing users to protect their actual credit card information from interception while shopping online.
US07664698B2 Simplified internet payment, security, & tax administration protocol (SIPSTAP)
The Simplified Internet Payment, Security, & Tax Administration Protocol (SIPSTAP) is designed to simplify the payment procedure on the World Wide Web to enable uniform, easier, and secured access to buying and selling on the web. The invention overcomes the limitations of geographical location, currency and, non- possession of credit cards which deter most would- be users, by involving a third party whose major role is to generate Internet System of Values which can be purchased anywhere on the globe. It envisages that user access to the web may be through their email address, and by attaching electronic accounts to email addresses, Internet users will be able to purchase as many units as desired to credit their accounts while, online purchases are debited. The third party playing the role of an intermediary transfers the transaction sums to the merchants on the buyer's behalf.
US07664695B2 Securities market and market maker activity tracking system and method
A method, system and computer program to monitor securities market activity to seek out imbalances in market activity that could lead to a price change in a particular security. Level 2 data is analyzed to track the activity of market makers and to derive an indicator of momentary upward or downward price pressure. The indicator associated with each selected security is displayed to a user.
US07664677B2 Integration of remote bidders into multiple and simultaneous live auctions
Multiple simultaneous auctions can be monitored and participated in using a single bidding device operated by a single remote bidder. A multi-windowed environment allows for the display of active bidding windows and docked bidding windows. The active bidding windows are fully functional bidding windows and include auction status, product information and the like. The docked bidding windows provide a subset of the information but, nonetheless provide real-time auction status information and allows for bidders to enter bids into the auctioning process without having to move the bidding window into an active status. A customer-identifier selector of identifier allows the remote bidder to associate a customer with a particular bidding window. The customer-identifier advantageously helps the remote bidder to track who purchased items are associated with, as well as providing control structure over the bidding process.
US07664675B2 Distribution aiding method, distribution aiding server, recording medium, distribution aiding program, and dealer terminal
The present invention relates to a distribution aiding system, a distribution aiding server, a distribution aiding method, and a distribution aiding program capable of selling articles without individual trading conditions being known to a maker, other users or other dealers, and is so configurated that a user retrieves or selects a necessary article, the user registers order information according to the selected article, and a dealer in charge of the user registers order-acceptance condition information to be added to the order information, and notifies the user of the order-acceptance condition information.
US07664674B2 Supply chain and inventory risk management system
A system and method for supply chain and inventory risk management that supplies inventory from a manufacturer to a plurality of customers. An owner entity of the system is transferred a plurality of customer agreements which describe requirements for the distribution of the inventory to the customers in agreed-upon amounts in exchange for agreed-upon payments. Transfer of the customer agreements allows an electronic system of the owner entity to forecast and place orders purchasing from the manufacturer the amount of inventory that will be needed by the customers. Further, the transfer of the agreements increases the certainty that inventory purchased by the owner will be sold to the customer. The electronic owner system may also commission the services of a logistics agent that is capable of providing shipping and handling services customized to high-risk inventory, such as electronic components, increasing the owner's profit on the sale of the inventory.
US07664672B1 Conditional purchase offer management system
A conditional purchase offer (CPO) management system is disclosed for receiving CPOs from one or more customers, such as airline passengers, and for evaluating the received CPOs against a number of CPO rules defined by a plurality of sellers, such as airlines, to determine whether any seller is willing to accept a given CPO. A CPO is a binding offer containing one or more conditions submitted by a customer for purchase of an item, such as airline travel, at a customer-defined price. A CPO rule is a set of restrictions defined by a given seller, such as an airline, to define a combination of restrictions for which the seller is willing to accept a predefined price. The CPO rules may be securely stored by one or more servers. The CPO management system permits a seller to correct for forecasting errors, if necessary, or other competitive forces which have produced excess capacity, by providing inventory for sale to CPO customers.
US07664671B2 Methods and systems for profile-based forecasting with dynamic profile selection
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for profile-based forecasting with dynamic profile selection. Some method embodiments may comprise determining a reference set of profiles from a source set of profiles, and using the reference set of profiles to generate a forecast. The reference set determination comprises at least comparing a current, partial profile to each profile in the source set to obtain a similarity measurement for each profile in the source set.
US07664659B2 Displaying clinical predicted length of stay of patients for workload balancing in a healthcare environment
A computerized system method for displaying a predicted length of stay and actual length of stay in an inpatient healthcare facility for a patient is provided. A predicted length of stay and an actual length of inpatient stay in a healthcare facility for a patient are accessed. The predicted length of stay and the actual length of inpatient stay for the patient are displayed concurrently.
US07664652B2 Record-keeping system for transmission and production of content
A system for producing content, the content depicting at least one person, includes: means for producing content; a first database; first input means for providing information pertaining to a person to be depicted in the content to the first database; and means for providing a signature of the person to the first database.
US07664650B2 Speech speed converting device and speech speed converting method
The invention relates to speech speed conversion, and provides a speech speed converting device and a speech speed converting method for changing a speed of voice without degrading the voice quality, without changing characteristics, regarding a signal containing voice. The speech speed converting device includes: a voice classifying unit that is input with voice waveform data and a voice code based on a linear prediction, and that classifies the input signal based on the characteristic of the input signal; and a speed adjusting unit that selects either one of or both a speed conversion processing using the voice waveform and a speed conversion processing using the voice code, based on the classification, and that changes a speech speed of the input signal using the selected speed converting method.
US07664643B2 System and method for speech separation and multi-talker speech recognition
A method, and a system to execute this method is being presented for the identification and separation of sources of an acoustic signal, which signal contains a mixture of multiple simultaneous component signals. The method represents the signal with multiple discrete state-variable sequences and combines acoustic and context level dynamics to achieve the source separation. The method identifies sources by discovering those frames of the signal whose features are dominated by single sources. The signal may be the simultaneous speech of multiple speakers.
US07664642B2 System and method for automatic speech recognition from phonetic features and acoustic landmarks
A probabilistic framework for acoustic-phonetic automatic speech recognition organizes a set of phonetic features into a hierarchy consisting of a broad manner feature sub-hierarchy and a fine phonetic feature sub-hierarchy. Each phonetic feature of said hierarchy corresponds to a set of acoustic correlates and each broad manner feature of said broad manner feature sub-hierarchy is further associated with a corresponding set of acoustic landmarks. A pattern recognizer is trained from a knowledge base of phonetic features and corresponding acoustic correlates. Acoustic correlates are extracted from a speech signal and are presented to the pattern recognizer. Acoustic landmarks are identified and located from broad manner classes classified by the pattern recognizer. Fine phonetic features are determined by the pattern recognizer at and around the acoustic landmarks. The determination of fine phonetic features may be constrained by a pronunciation model. The most probable feature bundles corresponding to words and sentences are those that maximize the joint a posteriori probability of the fine phonetic features and corresponding acoustic landmarks. When the hierarchy is organized as a binary tree, binary classifiers such as Support Vector Machines can be used in the pattern classifier and the outputs thereof can be converted probability measures which, in turn may be used in the computation of the aforementioned joint probability of fine phonetic features and corresponding landmarks.
US07664640B2 System for estimating parameters of a gaussian mixture model
A signal processing system is disclosed which is implemented using Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) based Hidden Markov Model (HMM), or a GMM alone, parameters of which are constrained during its optimization procedure. Also disclosed is a constraint system applied to input vectors representing the input signal to the system. The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, related to speech recognition systems. The invention reduces the tendency, common in prior art systems, to get caught in local minima associated with highly anisotropic Gaussian components—which reduces the recognizer performance—by employing the constraint system as above whereby the anisotropy of such components are minimized. The invention also covers a method of processing a signal, and a speech recognizer trained according to the method.
US07664639B2 Apparatus and methods for speech recognition
A telephone dialing speech recognition method includes determining a location associated with a cellular telephone from geographic indications provided by the cellular telephone, and selects associated search information as a function of the location. Speech based dialers operating in a car environment often have difficulty determining the digits said since some digits have similar sounding names in certain languages. To improve recognition performance, constraints are added to the recognition process, based on the natural constraints of the dialing process. The method utilizes the selected associated search information when recognizing the incoming speech signal. For speech dialing, if the user defines a location where the phone is used, then the “numbering plan” of that country may be used to constrain certain digits. Such constraining of the speech recognizer significantly improves the recognition results.
US07664637B2 Audio-visual codebook dependent cepstral normalization
An arrangement for yielding enhanced audio features towards the provision of enhanced audio-visual features for speech recognition. Input is provided in the form of noisy audio-visual features and noisy audio features related to the noisy audio-visual features.
US07664630B2 Adding a predetermined program to a program operating on an information terminal device
An information terminal device includes an acquisition unit acquiring language identification information concerning a language used on a display screen, a storage unit storing address information of a server, a language identification information synthesizer synthesizing the language identification information into the address information, and a transmitter transmitting the address information to the server.
US07664628B2 Electronic dictionary with illustrative sentences
When two or more retrieval words are entered through an entry unit of an information display control device, illustrative sentences containing all the retrieval words are extracted from an illustrative sentence data table and illustrative sentences corresponding to source entry words identical to the retrieval words are displayed in the order in which the retrieval words are entered and when a source entry word is selected, explanatory information of the meaning number identical to the source meaning number is displayed on a display unit, whereby the appropriate meaning of a word contained in an retrieved sentence is displayed.
US07664626B1 Ambiguous-state support in virtual machine emulators
A method and apparatus for ambiguous-state support in virtual machine emulators executes a suspect application in a core emulation model for all versions, variations, or generations of a given computer system component and then branches at the point where ambiguous behavior is detected, i.e., at the occurrence/request/trigger of a version variable behavior by the suspect application. The state of the emulation up to the version variable behavior branch point is then copied, and each variable behavior branch is further emulated using variable specific emulation models and only from the point of ambiguity, i.e., from the point of variable behavior, forward.
US07664622B2 Using interval techniques to solve a parametric multi-objective optimization problem
A system that solves a parametric multi-objective optimization problem in a combined design space and parameter space using interval techniques is described. The design space contains design-space variables fixed for a selected design; the parameter space contains variable parameters for the selected design. Multiple-objective functions are specified for optimization. The system initializes a design-variable box spanning the design space and performs interval optimization process on the parameter space by subdividing the design-variable box into design-variable sub-boxes, and iteratively: (1) determining parametric Pareto fronts for a design-variable sub-box using an interval optimization technique; (2) comparing parametric Pareto fronts associated with a set of design-variable sub-boxes and determining the parametric Pareto fronts certainly dominated by other parametric Pareto fronts; (3) eliminating the design-variable sub-boxes associated with the certainly dominated Pareto fronts; and (4) subdividing remaining design-variable sub-boxes. An optimized solution is produced from the remaining design-variable sub-boxes and the associated parametric Pareto fronts.
US07664621B2 System and method for mapping system transfer functions
The present disclosure relates to a system and method for mapping system transfer functions. Accordingly, some operations may include receiving a first intermediate signal that is at least partially based upon a first reference signal. A second intermediate signal is received that is at least partially based upon a second reference signal. An output signal is generated that is based upon the difference between the first intermediate signal and the second intermediate signal. A first anticipated differential change in the output signal is determined, the first anticipated differential change to occur based upon a transition in the first reference signal. A second anticipated differential change in the output signal is determined, the second anticipated differential change to occur based upon a transition in the second reference signal. Numerous other operations are also within the scope of the present disclosure.
US07664620B2 Signal processing method and apparatus
A signal processing method that includes inputting sample values of a signal and considering the signal to have a plurality of portions. For each portion, a predetermined function is fitted to the sample values of that portion of the signal by calculating values of coefficients for that predetermined function. At least one statistical information function is evaluated for the signal to determine statistical information about the signal and the calculated coefficient values are used so that the form of the statistical information function has been determined for the predetermined function used to fit the signal portion and further includes using the statistical information obtained about the signal to process the signal.
US07664617B2 Monitoring and reporting normalized device system performance
Apparatus and computer program products are provided to monitor and report performance data of a device such as a data storage drive. A plurality of quantitative values are obtained from feedback and measurement mechanisms in a data storage device of a first model during operation of the storage device. The plurality of quantitative values are normalized. Then, one or more qualitative values are generated from one or more normalized quantitative values and evaluated against corresponding baseline performance values established for the first model.
US07664599B2 Apparatus for generating digital lane mark
A digital lane mark generation apparatus generates a highly accurate and inexpensive three-dimensional mathematical expression orbit map (a digital lane mark). The apparatus includes a GPS coordinate reception unit obtaining GPS coordinates (X, Y, Z), a gyro sensor calculating measurement values of a gradient (ψ, θ, φ), a camera device, a distance meter measuring a driving distance measuring point (l), a speed meter measuring a speed, a steering angle sensor measuring a steering angle (ρ), a road surface roughness sensor detecting a road surface roughness (δ), an IC tag information reception unit detecting IC tag position information, an internal timer, and a digital lane mark generation unit generating the digital lane mark by relating obtained information to a standard time, and by using a line segment, a circular arc, and/or a clothoid curve.
US07664596B2 Air traffic demand prediction
Systems and methods for airspace demand prediction with improved sector level demand prediction are provided. In one embodiment, an air traffic demand prediction system (10) operable to predict demand within an airspace divided into sectors includes an expanded route predictor (14) operable to generate predicted two-dimensional expanded route information (40) associated with at least one requested flight (34), a trajectory modeler (16) operable to generate predicted four-dimensional expanded route information (46), a sector crossing predictor (18) operable to generate predicted sector crossing information (48), a departure time predictor (22) operable to generate predicted departure time information (54), and a demand modeler (62) operable to generate a demand model (28), the demand model (28) including predicted time intervals associated with the at least one requested flight indicating when it is expected to be present within one or more sectors of the airspace.
US07664593B2 Method and system for estimating exhaust gas temperature and internal combustion engine equipped with such a system
A method for estimating temperature of an internal combustion engine exhaust gases, a system for estimating exhaust gas temperature, and an engine equipped with such a system. The method uses an estimator with a neural network provided with a feedback loop returning directly or indirectly in the network input one or more quantities of the network output.
US07664586B2 Engine output control via auto selection of engine output curve
An engine output controller provided in a bulldozer includes an output curve storage device storing a plurality of output curves of an engine and an output curve changing device selecting and shifting to one of the plurality of output curves. The output curve changing device, when a pressure of a blade tilt cylinder is equal to or more than a predetermined value, calls and shifts to a higher output curve from the output curve storage device. When an oil pressure is supplied to the tilt cylinder to tilt a blade and an operation is performed without reducing a soil pressing speed in this condition, the output curve changing device shifts the current output curve to the higher output curve to drive the engine. However, in many other cases, the output curve is automatically switched to a lower output curve to reduce an output of the engine. Thus, the fuel consumption is improved.
US07664572B2 Control device of legged mobile robot
A control device of a legged mobile robot, wherein a state amount error (for example, an error of a vertical position of a body 3), which is a difference between an actual state amount and a state amount of a desired gait related to a translational motion in a predetermined direction (for example, a translational motion in a vertical direction) of a legged mobile robot 1, is determined, and then a desired motion of the desired gait is determined such that the state amount error approaches zero. The desired motion is determined using a dynamic model by additionally inputting a virtual external force determined on the basis of the state amount error to the dynamic model for generating desired gaits. At the same time, a desired floor reaction force of the robot 1 is corrected on the basis of a state amount error of zero, and compliance control is carried out to make the motion and the floor reaction force of the robot 1 follow the desired motion and the desired floor reaction force of the desired gait.
US07664561B1 Task queuing methodology for reducing traffic jam and to control transmission priority in an automatic material handling system
A new Task Queue Methodology (TQM) is provided for reducing traffic jams and for controlling transportation priority in an Automatic Material Handling System (AMHS). A Stocker Resource Q, under control of TQM, maintains records of stockers that are under control of the AMHS and the availability thereof. For available stockers, a Task-Q under control of a Queue Manager (TQM) is accessed, extracting therefrom records that match available stocker resources. For the available stocker resources, the tasks that are scheduled against these resources are sorted by priority and by longest wait time, resulting in one selected task. For the in this manner selected task, a Move command is issued by the TQM to the Automatic Material Handling System.
US07664559B1 Effective deployment of temporal noise shaping (TNS) filters
The MPEG2 Advanced Audio Coder (AAC) standard limits the number of filters used to either one filter for a “short” block or three filters for a “long” block. In cases where the need for additional filters is present but the limit of permissible filters has been reached, the remaining frequency spectra are simply not covered by TNS. Two solutions are proposed to deploy TNS filters in order to get the entire spectrum of the signal into TNS. The first method involves a filter bridging technique and complies with the current AAC standard. The second method involves a filter clustering technique. Although the second method is both more efficient and accurate in capturing the temporal structure of the time signal, it is not AAC standard compliant. Thus, a new syntax for packing filter information derived using the second method for transmission to a receiver is also outlined.
US07664558B2 Efficient techniques for modifying audio playback rates
Improved techniques for modifying a playback rate of an audio item (e.g., an audio stream) are disclosed. As a result, the audio item can be played back faster or slower than normal. The improved techniques are resource efficient and well suited for audio items containing speech. The resource efficiency of the improved techniques make them well suited for use with portable media devices, such as portable media players.
US07664554B2 Line balance control method, line balance control apparatus, and component mounting machine
To provide a line balance control method, a line balance control apparatus, and a component mounting machine, which do not require a higher-level device. A production line 100 is equipped with a printing machine 120, a coating machine 130, a component mounting machine 101, a component mounting machine 102, and a reflow machine 140, and they are connected through a communication line 110, respectively. In addition, a line balance control device, which is equipped with possibility inquiring means which makes an inquiry of whether or not it is possible to mount components to be allocated, among the components to be mounted, to the component mounting machines 101, 102, possibility obtaining means which obtains a response to the inquiry in the possibility inquiring means, and allocating means which allocates components to be mounted, to each component mounting machine 101, 102, in such a manner that mounting time at each component mounting machine is equalized, on the basis of the response obtained in the possibility obtaining means, is disposed in a device which configure the production line 100.
US07664551B2 Treatment of the autonomic nervous system
Systems and methods are provided for modulating the autonomic nervous system by the electrical stimulation of the neuro-muscular system of a patient, and include an implantable electrical system for gastrointestinal stimulation which incorporates a heart rate sensor to indicate the neurovegetative patient condition, to initiate and terminate stimulation at specific locations, and an algorithm to automatically control electrical stimulation frequency, interval, amplitude, or a combination of such parameters for adaptive treatment of obesity, anorexia, other eating disorders, diseases related with the so called “metabolic syndrome” (e.g., impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes type 2, GERD, systemic hypertension, early arterovascular degeneration, early senility, and the like), and disorders related to a pathologic imbalance of the autonomic nervous system.
US07664549B2 Cardiac rhythm management system with arrhythmia classification and electrode selection
A system, method, or device classifies an arrhythmia according to the temporal order in which a depolarization wave associated with a particular heart contraction is received at a plurality of electrodes. One or more antiarrhythmia therapies is mapped to each arrhythmia classification. When a particularly classified arrhythmia is detected, the correspondingly mapped therapy list is selected and an appropriate antiarrhythmia therapy delivered. In one example, the particular therapy delivered in response to an arrhythmia depends at least in part on its historical success in treating arrhythmias of that classification.
US07664548B2 Distributed neuromodulation system for treatment of cardiovascular disease
A distributed system is described that employs electrical neural stimulation to modulate autonomic activity and which allows titration of the neural stimulation therapy in accordance with physiological measurements reflective of autonomic activity and/or physiological variables affected by the neural stimulation. Such a system may include a plurality of implantable neuromodulation units that communicate with one another over a network.
US07664547B2 Active implantable medical device with biventricular pacing and automatic optimization of pacing configuration
An active implantable medical device with biventricular pacing and automatic optimization of pacing configuration. The device collects and analyzes an endocardial acceleration signal (EA), and searches for an optimal pacing configuration based upon a performance index derived from at least one value relating to one and/or the other of the two endocardial acceleration peaks (PEA I, PEA II) over a given heart cycle. Optimization search operates through a scanning of a parameter, e.g., atrio-ventricular delay, and calculation of the surface area underneath the characteristic of the peak amplitude as a function of the scanned parameter (atrioventricular delay).
US07664542B2 Registering intra-operative image data sets with pre-operative 3D image data sets on the basis of optical surface extraction
The invention relates to a method for registering intra-operative image data set with pre-operative 3D image data set, including: spatially calibrating an optical 3D sensor system with an intra-operative imaging modality, intra-operatively detecting the surface of an examination area of interest with the 3D sensor system to produce an intra-operative surface mask, intra-operatively recording the area of interest for examination with the intra-operative modality at least partly containing the intra-operative surface mask to obtain an intra-operative image data set, computing the same surface from the pre-operative 3D image data set containing the detected surface to obtain a pre-operative surface mask, registering the intra-operative and pre-operative surface mask with each other, determining a mapping specification between pre-operative 3D image data set and intra-operative image data set based on the calibration and the registration, and overlaying the intra-operative image data set with the pre-operative 3D data set based on the mapping specification.
US07664539B2 Foldable portable terminal
A foldable portable terminal of the present invention includes a body cabinet 1 provided with a microphone 14 and a cover cabinet 2 provided with first and second speakers 41, 42, openably/closably coupled to each other. Any one or both of the cabinets are provided with closing means for closing a sound emitting hole 22a of the first speaker in a closed state of the both cabinets. Alternatively, a partition wall for partitioning the first speaker and the second speaker is formed inside the cover cabinet. Alternatively, the body cabinet has an inner surface provided with a transmission unit 6 incorporating a microphone 63 and being rotatable between a first rotational posture where the unit faces the inner surface side of the body cabinet and a second rotational posture where the unit faces a direction deviating from the cover cabinet in a closed position.
US07664535B2 Control method for high-frequency radio equipment and high-frequency radio system
A control method for a high-frequency radio equipment and a high-frequency radio equipment system in spread spectrum radio data communication are provided which are interference-tolerant and can maintain transmission quality with improved receiving sensitivity.A high-frequency radio equipment system provided with, in a base station, an antenna part comprised by a plurality of antennas, a radio part for amplifying a received signal, band-limiting and down-converting it to an intermediate frequency, a signal processing part for carrier-demodulating the signal inputted from the radio part, demodulating the signal which was despread-spectrum processed and synchronized and decoding the received data, an antenna control part for determining a code error rate for the received data inputted from the signal processing part, forming an appropriate antenna pattern based on the error rate and outputting a signal for controlling an antenna switching part according to the information of the antenna pattern.
US07664530B2 Method and system for automated planning using geographical data
A portable device for collecting data at a geographic location and providing accurate, comprehensive, efficient and timely work prints. The portable device for collecting data at a geographic location, the device including a memory that stores preliminary site information associated with the geographic location; a receiver that receives geographic position data of at least one point at the geographic location; an interface that enables a user to input data corresponding to the received geographic position data; and a processor that supplements the preliminary site information with the received geographic position data and the corresponding input data.
US07664522B2 Adjusting a transmit power of a subscriber device of a communication network by a transmit/receive means
A device for adjusting a transmit power spectrum of a subscriber device of a communication network, having a means for receiving an attenuation measure for an attenuation, which a signal experiences on its way from a transmit/receive means to the subscriber device of the communication network connected to the transmit/receive means, from the subscriber device, a means for determining a modified attenuation measure and shaping coefficients for a frequency-dependent shaping of the transmit power spectrum based on the attenuation measure determined by and received from the subscriber device, and a means for transferring the modified attenuation measure and the shaping coefficients to the subscriber device.
US07664513B2 Positioning system, terminal device, positioning device, control method for terminal device, control program for terminal device, and computer-readable recording medium for recording control program for terminal device
A positioning system capable of reducing the volume of data communication in a server positioning system is provided. A terminal device has the information for a positioning transmitting section and can transmit information for positioning containing the actually measured current positioning basic information and/or the estimated basic information to the positioning device. The amount of the estimated basic information is smaller than the amount of the current positioning basic information, thus, the amount of information that the terminal device transmits to the positioning device becomes smaller in the case where the terminal device transmits the estimated basic information with respect to the position information satellite having the difference within the allowable range compared to the case where it transmits only the actually measured current positioning basic information with respect to all of the position information satellites.
US07664503B2 Method for multimedia broadcast/multicast service signaling bearer connection on Iu interface
A method of signaling bearer connection on Iu interface for MBMS service, includes the following steps: (a) RNC receives a MBMS Notification message for a certain MBMS service from SGSN; (b) RNC constructs a MBMS Service Request message according to the contents of the notification; (c) RNC sends a SCCP Connection Request message to SGSN, requests to establish a SCCP signaling connection, and then waits for a reply; (d) RNC receives a SCCP Connection Confirmation message from SGSN. This invention solves the problem of signaling connection on Iu interface after MBMS service is introduced into the existing mobile communication system. The connection mode provided in this invention can reasonably utilize network resources, effectively reduce signaling congestion on Iu interface and reduce modifications to the existing Iu interface message.
US07664501B2 Seamless handoff across heterogeneous access networks using a handoff controller in a service control point
In a telecommunications network in which a mobile handset is capable of communicating in both an IP domain and a non-IP domain, the handoff of an existing communications session between the mobile handset and a fixed user is facilitated by a handoff controller implemented in a service control point. The handoff controller implements different handoff methods depending on the status of the fixed user and the transition of the mobile user. Additionally 802.21 Media Independent Handover Function in conjunction with SIP is used to facilitate handover between IP and Non-IP points in the system.
US07664497B2 Apparatus and method of timer-based registration in a mobile radio network
A method of timer-based registration prevents timer-based registrations that are not needed from being sent. A history is maintained of time instances of implicit registrations transmitted by a mobile station over a communications network. If an elapsed time between a pair of successive ones of the time instances in the history is not less than a registration period with the network, a timer-based registration of the mobile station with the communications network is initiated after the expiry of a random time value less than the registration period. Otherwise, a timer-based registration is initiated after the expiry of a time period equal to the registration period.
US07664491B2 Advanced call forwarding user interface for mobile communication device
A call forwarding user interface for a mobile communication device provides selective access to pre-stored identifying data (e.g., an address book) for a user to define one or more call forwarding destinations for predetermined call forwarding conditions. Call forwarding profiles of such identifying data may also be defined and stored for subsequent selective actuation. Such interface features facilitate user-defined call forwarding functions with reduced requirements for memorization and/or reference to written or printed records.
US07664490B2 Method for instant scheduling of conference calls
A method, system and computer program product for establishing a call in a communication system including an Instant Messaging (IM) application provided by a Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) server connected to a number of IM clients, each associated with at least one conference endpoint managed by one or more management systems at least adapted to schedule and/or investigate possibilities for a conference between two or more individuals.
US07664487B2 Mobile terminal and method of managing data reception using the mobile terminal
In sending an e-mail to the mobile phone, the e-mail is first sent to the server apparatus. After the server apparatus identifies the sender, it sends a mail presence notice (MPN) to the mobile phone. When receiving the MPN, the mobile phone memorizes a mail ID included in the MPN in association with user identification of a SIM card. Then, the mobile phone sends a request for header data to the server apparatus based on the mail ID. When receiving the header data completely sent from the server apparatus upon the request, the mobile phone deletes the mail ID which it has memorized in association with the user identification data.
US07664483B2 Method and system for identification and registration of a moving object entering a pre-determined area, related network and computer program product therefor
A method for identification and registration of a moving object, entering a pre-determined area to be monitored. The identification operation has interaction between the moving object and an area access system associated with the predetermined area and including supplying identification information, while the registration operation is carried out over a wireless communication link to a control center. The method further includes identifying the moving object through a mutual interaction between the moving object and the area access system, the mutual interaction being performed over a wireless short range communication link, preferably a Bluetooth wireless link; and performing the registration operation by establishing a wireless communication link of the long-range type between the moving object and the control center upon activation of the mutual interaction on the wireless short range communication link. Preferred application is safety monitoring of tunnels.
US07664481B2 Remote personnel tracking
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for remote personnel tracking. A computer-implemented method of tracking a field-based employee includes, in a server system, receiving from a remote access device, a user identification (ID) representing the field-based employee, a first series of digits and a location code, generating a second series of digits in response to the received location code, a time representing receipt of the location code, and a remote access device ID associated with the location code, and storing the time and user ID associated with the location ID if the received first series of digits match the second series of digits.
US07664474B2 Portable electronic device and a method in a portable electronic device
A method in a portable communication device for displaying information includes encoding data and transmitting the encoded data to a display associated with a vehicle. The encoded data is received by a receiver associated with the display, decoded and displayed.
US07664472B2 Reducing the peak-to-average power ratio of a signal
Reducing the peak-to-average power ratio of a signal comprises receiving the input signal, where the input signal is associated with at least one unacceptable frequency range. The input signal is clipped about an amplitude range to yield a clipped signal and clipped information, where the clipped information represents intermodulation products. The clipped information is filtered to yield an error signal. The error signal represents a subset of the intermodulation products, where an intermodulation product of the subset corresponds to the unacceptable frequency range. The error signal is subtracted from the input signal to yield an output signal.
US07664467B2 Method for coordinated control of radio resources for multicasting in a distributed wireless system
A method for coordinating control of radio resources for multicast/broadcast services in distributed radio resource management. The method includes communicating information between a plurality of units having radio resource management responsibilities. The communicated information is related to coordinating at least one multicast/broadcast service provided by the plurality of units.
US07664466B2 Transmission rate control method, transmission rate control system, and mobile station
A transmission rate control method for controlling a transmission rate of a channel to which the transmission rate control method is applied, include: notifying, at a radio network controller, at a timing of a call setup or the like, a primary allowable transmission rate of the channel to which the transmission rate control method is applied; starting, at a mobile station, after the call setup, transmission at a transmission rate below the primary allowable transmission rate, when data to be transmitted is generated; and controlling, at the mobile station, the transmission rate of the channel to which the transmission rate control method is applied, based on an Relative Grant Channel transmitted from a radio base station.
US07664459B2 On-board message repeater for railroad train communications system
A distributed power train (10) communications system for sending and receiving signals between a lead locomotive (14) and remote locomotives (12A/12B/12C) in the train (10). A lead (14) initiated message is received by at least the remote locomotive (12A/12B) nearest to the lead unit (14). The receiving remote unit (12A/12B) retransmits the message for receiving by the next remote unit (12C) in the train. Thus the message leapfrogs down the train from the lead unit (14) to the remote units (12A/12B/12C). When the last remote unit (the nth remote unit) (12C) receives the message, the last remote (12C) transmits a status or other response message to the lead unit's message. The status message is received at the (n-1)th remote unit (12A/12B), which appends its status message and transmits the combined status messages toward the lead unit (14). Each successive remote unit receives the status messages of the other remote units and appends its status message, until the concatenated status message reaches the lead unit (14).
US07664457B2 Preset recording method through service linking in DMB terminal
A preset recording method through service linking according to movement from a first broadcasting area to a second broadcasting area in a terrestrial DMB terminal is provided. A preset recording for a predetermined broadcast program is checked to see if a current time is equal to a recording start time based on the specified preset recording; if so, extracting service linking information for the predetermined broadcast program; displaying that the DMB terminal has moved from the first broadcasting service area for the preset recording when the extracted service linking information corresponds to hard linking information, and recording a broadcasting program according to the hard linking information; and if they correspond, displaying that the DMB terminal has moved from the first broadcasting service area for the preset recording, and providing a list of broadcasting programs according to the soft linking information to enable a user to reset a preset recording function.
US07664448B2 Apparatus and method of heating image on recordable material
An image heating apparatus includes a pressure roller, a belting film to circulate while partially connecting with the pressure roller, a support member to be provided in the belting film and comprises a guide to guide the circulating of the belting film, a nip spring to comprise a nip portion to form a nip between the belting film and the pressure roller, and a support portion to support the nip portion against the support member, and a heater to be provided adjacent to the nip spring and transfer heat to the image through the belting film.
US07664444B2 Image forming apparatus with multiple image forming modes
An image forming apparatus comprising first and second image bearing members, an intermediate transfer belt, a secondary transfer unit, a belt contacting and separating unit, a supporting member, and a separating unit, wherein, when the toner images are primarily transferred from the first and second image bearing members onto the intermediate transfer belt in a state where the intermediate transfer belt is in contact with the first and second image bearing members, the separating unit separates the supporting member from the intermediate transfer belt, and when the toner image is primarily transferred from the second image bearing member onto the intermediate transfer belt in a state where the intermediate transfer belt is away from the first image bearing member, the supporting member supports an inner surface of the intermediate transfer belt between the first and second image bearing members.
US07664425B2 Image forming apparatus having power source circuit board arranged on side portion thereof
A high-voltage circuit board and a main circuit board are arranged on the outer side surface of a left frame, and a conveyance path is provided so as to downwardly incline from a feed position near the uppermost part of the outer peripheral surface of a paper feed roller, toward an image formation position. Thus, the height position of an image forming section within a body casing can be lowered. As a result, the height of a laser printer can be made lower.
US07664424B2 Cleaning device and image forming apparatus
A cleaning device includes a cleaning component that cleans the surface of a charging component that charges an image carrier that has a surface on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed. The cleaning component is a hollow body that cleans the surface of the charging component while being rotated by rotation of the charging component.
US07664423B2 Image forming device including a cleaning member
An image forming device includes a photoconductive drum, a discharge electrode which discharges corona onto a surface of the photoconductive drum, and a cleaning member which cleans the discharge electrode by moving on the discharge electrode. The image forming device further includes a detection device, which is arranged on one of a first side and a second side in a moving direction of the cleaning member, and detects a current value of an electric current discharged from the discharge electrode.
US07664414B2 Liquid developing device and wet image forming device
When the temperature of the liquid toner has fluctuated by T1 or more (Step S3: YES), the equation obtained by measuring the liquid toner is modified (Steps S4 through S7). This equation is obtained based on the output voltage value of the concentrated toner liquid sensor 27, which has the same specifications as those of the liquid toner sensor 24, and the output voltage value of the carrier liquid sensor 29, which has the same specifications as those of the liquid toner sensor 24 (S4 through S6). The output voltage value of the liquid toner sensor 24 is entered into the modified equation to calculate the toner solids content of the liquid toner of the storage tank 18 (Step S8). Control of the concentration of the liquid toner is carried out based on the calculated toner solids content (Step S9).
US07664412B2 Image forming apparatus that adjusts operating conditions based on a density detection result of a patch image
An image forming apparatus and an image forming method, which are capable of forming images at stable image quality by executing adjustment of operating conditions at appropriate timings, are provided. When a Vsync count corresponding to an integrated value of a rotation count of an intermediate transfer belt reaches a predetermined value V1 or V2, a charging current Iw is increased by one level and an adjusting operation of a developing bias is executed (at a time t4 or t5), to thereby stabilize an image density. Further, when remaining service life of a developer reaches a predetermined value (50%) (at a time t6), if the Vsync count at that moment suggests that the time to change the charging current Iw is drawing near, the change thereof is executed ahead of the schedule, whereby the adjusting operation of the developing bias, which should otherwise be executed at the time t7, is omitted.
US07664410B2 Image forming apparatus with control of power to a fixing unit
An image forming apparatus including a main power supply unit, a chargeable auxiliary power supply unit, a fixing unit including a heater configured to receive power from at least one of the main power supply unit and the auxiliary power supply unit, and a voltage or temperature detecting part configured to detect a voltage input to the main power supply unit from a commercial power supply or to detect a voltage of the auxiliary power supply unit or to detect an environment temperature. Energy accumulated in the auxiliary power supply unit can be controlled to not be supplied to the fixing unit at a time of starting the fixing unit if the voltage or temperatures detected are less than predetermined values.
US07664405B2 Pluggable optical diplexer/triplexer module
The invention is directed to a pluggable module and mounting socket for use in an optical network terminal (ONT). In particular, the mounting socket accepts a pluggable module comprising either a dual-section triplexer card or a single-section diplexer card, thereby allowing a vendor to selectively change the type of PON transport by simply changing the diplexer/triplexer pluggable module to support either diplexer or triplexer applications. The ability to configure the ONT by swapping out the pluggable diplexer/triplexer module eliminates the need for a manufacturer to maintain two different versions of the ONT, i.e., with or without video.
US07664401B2 Apparatus, system and methods for modifying operating characteristics of optoelectronic devices
Systems, devices and methods are disclosed for adjusting the operating characteristic of an optical signal transmitted by an optoelectronic device based on the operational data rate, as is indicated by a ‘rate select’ signal. The rate select can be generated automatically, or can be transmitted from a host device. One example of an operating characteristic that can be adjusted is the optical modulation level of the transmitted signal.
US07664395B2 Optical processing
To operate an optical device comprising an SLM with a two-dimensional array of controllable phase-modulating elements groups of individual phase-modulating elements are delineated, and control data selected from a store for each delineated group of phase-modulating elements. The selected control data are used to generate holograms at each group and one or both of the delineation of the groups and the selection of control data is/are varied. In this way upon illumination of the groups by light beams, light beams emergent from the groups are controllable independently of each other.
US07664391B2 Method and system for shared optical regeneration
An optical network includes an optical ring that is capable of transmitting, between two or more nodes, a plurality of working traffic streams that include traffic transmitted in one of a plurality of wavelengths. A node is capable of transmitting, in a first wavelength, a first protection traffic stream associated with a first working traffic stream, in response to an interruption of the first working traffic stream. A node is also capable of transmitting, in a second wavelength, a second protection traffic stream associated with a second working traffic stream, in response to an interruption of the second working traffic stream. The optical network also includes a regeneration element capable of selectively regenerating the first protection traffic stream. The regeneration element is also capable of tuning the regeneration element to receive traffic in the second wavelength and of selectively regenerating the second protection traffic stream.
US07664389B2 System and method of photography using desirable feature recognition
To improve the quality of photographs of people, the disclosure describes a system and method of photography using desirable feature recognition. The system and method recognize when the subject persons in a photograph possess one or more desirable features for a desirable photograph, such as when they are all smiling and/or not blinking. The system and method may be applied either to individual or group photographs. The system and method of the present invention may operate in a “Full Mode”, in which a picture is taken when all subject persons possess the desirable feature(s). The system and method also may operate in a “Proportional Mode”, in which a picture is taken when a set proportion of the subject persons possess the desirable feature(s). The system and method also may operate in a “Best Picture Mode”, in which multiple photographs are imaged, and the best photograph is selected for keeping, as measured by the photograph containing the highest proportion of subject persons who possess the desirable feature(s). The system and method also may operate in a timer mode, which permits the camera user to appear in the photograph.
US07664387B2 Exposure time selection in a transmission apparatus with a camera
A communications apparatus is shown having an imaging device for capturing an image, and a flash for lighting an image to be captured. Also shown is the use of the apparatus. Software for matching a flash performance to other functions of a device is also shown. A radio communications apparatus embodiment is shown that comprises an imaging device including an image sensor and a rolling shutter, and a flash unit. The flash unit is operated at a certain flash frequency, and an exposure time is determined according to the flash frequency so that the image sensor is uniformly exposed by the rolling shutter during the determined exposure time.
US07664385B2 Image capture device and associated method of compensating backlash
An image capture device includes a focusing unit, a focus driving unit and an autofocus control unit; the focusing unit is provided to focus on a subject. The focus driving unit is provided for driving the focusing unit to driving-target position. The autofocus control unit is provided to control driving of the focus driving unit according to a determination of executing or omitting a one-way-driving-control. One-way driving control controls driving direction of the focus driving unit into a predetermined direction at a peripheral range before driving-disactivation of the focus driving means, determined based on a shooting-condition.
US07664383B2 Multiple frame photography
A device may determine whether a user input for capturing a view is triggered and automatically frame a plurality of images of the view when the user input is determined to be triggered by repeatedly determining a zoom value for an image, optically zooming the view based on the zoom value, and capturing the zoomed view as the image.
US07664378B2 Fan heater
A fan heater includes a heater body, an electric unit, a plurality of fan assemblies, and a heating element. Each of the fan assemblies is mounted with the adjacent fan assembly to form a fan unit within the receiving cavity, wherein the fan unit is operatively coupled with the electric unit for being driven to rotate by the electric unit. The heating element is mounted within the receiving cavity in a vicinity of the air outlet, and electrically connected with the electric unit for being heated up at an elevated temperature, wherein the fan assemblies are adapted to draw air flowing from an air inlet to an air outlet via the heating element, so as to heat up the air drawn by the fan unit, and deliver the heated air to a predetermined heating zone from the air outlet.
US07664371B2 Recording medium having data structure for managing reproduction of still images recorded thereon and recording and reproducing methods and apparatuses
The recording medium has an information file area that includes at least one information file. The information file is associated with a data file recorded on the recording medium, and the data file includes at least video data. The information file includes a type indicator indicating whether the video data in the data file is for at least one still image.
US07664370B2 Recording medium, reproduction device, recording method, program, and reproduction method
An AV Clip generated by multiplexing video and graphics streams is recorded on a BD-ROM. The graphics stream is a sequence of PES packets. The PES packets include ODSs (Object Definition Segments) carrying graphics data and PCSs (Presentation Control Segments) carrying control information. A PCS indicates that graphics data in a preceding ODS in the arrangement is to be displayed at a predetermined time in a state of being overlaid on the video stream. The PCS and the preceding ODS belong to different DSs, and the graphics data in the preceding ODS may be non-referenced graphics data that is not referenced by a PCS which belongs to the same DS as the preceding ODS.
US07664358B2 Optical waveguide film and manufacturing method thereof
An optical waveguide film includes a film including a clad layer and a core layer covered by the clad layer; an adhesive layer formed on at least one surface of the film; and a plurality of projection portions formed on a surface of the adhesive layer and arranged at spaced intervals to one another.
US07664350B2 Compact optics for concentration, aggregation and illumination of light energy
A solar concentrator having a concentrator element for collecting input light, a redirecting component with a plurality of incremental steps for receiving the light and also for redirecting the light, and a waveguide including a plurality of incremental portions enabling collection and concentration of the light onto a receiver. Other systems replace the receiver by a light source so system optics can provide illumination.
US07664346B2 Waveguide-type broadband optical isolator
A waveguide-type broadband optical isolator according to the present invention, comprising: a reciprocal phase shifter which makes a phase difference 3π/2 between a first light wave propagating through a first waveguide and a second light wave propagating through a second waveguide, with a fundamental operating wavelength λ, and a nonreciprocal phase shifter which provides a phase difference π/2 for forward propagating waves and a phase difference −π/2 for backward propagating waves.
US07664345B2 MEMS device fabricated on a pre-patterned substrate
A microelectromechanical systems device fabricated on a pre-patterned substrate having grooves formed therein. A lower electrode is deposited over the substrate and separated from an orthogonal upper electrode by a cavity. The upper electrode is configured to be movable to modulate light. A semi-reflective layer and a transparent material are formed over the movable upper electrode.
US07664341B2 Index layout measurement method, position and orientation estimation method, index layout measurement apparatus, and position and orientation estimation apparatus
An index layout measurement method and apparatus measures a relative layout relationship between a first index or index group which exists in a given first region in a physical space and a second index or index group which exists in a second region. The method includes a first image sensing step of sensing an image so as to simultaneously include some or all of the first index/index group and an auxiliary index which is temporarily laid out in the physical space and a position and orientation in a three-dimensional space of which can be defined, a second image sensing step of sensing an image so as to simultaneously include some or all of the second index/index group and the auxiliary index, and a layout calculation step of calculating a relative layout relationship among the first index/index group, the auxiliary index, and the second index/index group from one or a plurality of images obtained by performing the first image sensing step once or repeating it a plurality of number of times, and one or a plurality of images obtained by performing the second image sensing step once or repeating it a plurality of number of times. The auxiliary index is removed after the layout relationship among the respective indices laid out in the physical space is calculated.
US07664340B2 Imaging device
An imaging device includes imagers each having an imaging element. An NP point is located downstream of the imaging element, and all NP points are collectively located within a predetermined radius region centered on one of the NP points. A lens closest to the object is cut along a plane not including the optical axis, and a>H is satisfied, where H is a distance from the optical axis to a center portion of an overlapping region with the adjacent imager when the imaging element is scanned from the optical axis toward the optical axis of the adjacent imager, and a is a distance from the optical axis to a position at which an illuminance ratio does not vary even if an aperture stop state is shifted, although the position is located in a region in which the illuminance ratio decreases as the distance from the optical axis increases.
US07664333B2 Image retrieval device, image retrieval method and storage medium storing similar-image retrieval program
An image retrieval device and an image retrieval method are provided which are capable of improving performance of image retrieval, of retrieving images at higher speed with simplified configurations and of retrieving images by simplified calculating processes.The image retrieval device is composed of a first coefficient transforming section to transform a first group of image feature descriptors extracted from image data accumulated in an image database and to generate a second group of image feature descriptors to be used for calculating similarity, second coefficient transforming section to transform the first group of image feature descriptors extracted from image data of an inquired image and to generate a second group of image feature descriptors to be used for calculating similarity and a similarity calculating section to compare the second group of image feature descriptors for each piece of image data produced by the coefficient transforming section with the second group of image feature descriptors for the inquired image transformed by the second coefficient transforming section.
US07664324B2 Methods and systems for detecting concealed objects
Methods and systems for detecting the presence of concealed objects. One embodiment of the method of these teachings for detecting the presence of concealed objects is passive, does not require any external radiation source, uses thermal radiation of a body as a source of radiation. Other embodiments include unique systems, devices, methods, and apparatus to determine the presence of a concealed object.
US07664316B2 Image processing apparatus, imaging apparatus, image processing method, image processing program and recording medium
The data interpolation section 6 includes: a direction data calculation section 61 for calculating a plurality of direction data, each of the plurality of direction date indicating a directional amount along a plurality of directions including at least one of an upper right direction and a lower right direction within the vicinity of a target pixel; a direction detection section 62 for detecting at least one direction of the edge within the vicinity of the target pixel by using the plurality of direction data calculated by the direction data calculation section 61; a direction color signal calculation section 63 for calculating at least one color signal corresponding to the at least one direction detected by the direction detection section 62; and a target pixel color signal calculation section 64 for calculating a color signal for the target pixel by using the at least one color signal calculated by the direction color signal calculating section 63.
US07664309B2 Reticle inspecting apparatus and reticle inspecting method
The present invention efficiently suppresses a false defect and realizes reticle inspection where a defect can be detected with high detection sensitivity. In a reticle inspecting method, reticle inspection data generated based on reticle design data is captured. Also, drawing position accuracy measurement data of the reticle is captured to obtain a first correction amount for correcting a position accuracy component of the reticle. Based on the first correction amount, the inspection data is corrected. Based on the corrected inspection data, a defect on the reticle is detected.
US07664301B2 Method and apparatus for enhancing image quality of a two-dimensional ultrasound image
The present invention relates a method and an apparatus for enhancing ultrasound image quality through a post-processing. A method for enhancing an image quality of a two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound image, comprises the steps of: a) decomposing the 2D ultrasound image into a plurality of images having a multi-resolution by N levels, wherein N is a positive integer; b) determining characteristics of each pixel in the decomposed image; c) performing an enhancement process for the decomposed image based on the pixel characteristics; d) performing 1st-level composition for the decomposed image; and e) repeatedly performing steps b) to d) until a size of the composed image is identical to that of the 2D ultrasound image.
US07664294B2 System for automatic quality inspection of a printed image, comprising an image sensor, evaluation unit and display
A system is provided for inspecting a printed image. The system is provided with at least one evaluation unit, a display device and an image scanner. That scanner takes an image that represents, at least partially, a printed image. The copied printed image belongs to a sequence of images printed on a print carrier by a printing machine. The evaluation unit receives data that is correlated to an image which has been taken, and evaluates that data by comparing it with recorded data of at least one preceding image, or with a reference image. The display device is provided with a graphic display surface that is comprised of several areas which are controlled, in a different manner, by the evaluation unit, and which are preferably simultaneously displayed. A first area displays several images, such as the just taken image, the preceding image and the reference image. The second area includes an input field or a control point for adjusting or controlling the evaluation unit or for adjusting or controlling the printing machine.
US07664285B2 Boundary layer adapter
There is provided an interface adapter for receiving a microphone, wherein the interface adapter has a receiving unit with a through hole for receiving a microphone and an arresting unit for arresting a received microphone. That permits the microphone to be easily fixed on a boundary surface or interface, such as for example on a table top, a glass plate, tiles, wooden floors, concrete floors and the like. In other words the use of the interface adapter defines an interface which plays an important part in audio recording.
US07664276B2 Multipass parametric or graphic EQ fitting
Multiple passes are executed in the setup of an equalizer, and modification of the equalization is performed after each pass of an analysis phase. After an initial pass, the equalization is adjusted, based upon the location of peaks and valleys in the system response. This initial adjustment of equalization may tend to flatten most of the peaks and valleys to produce the desired uniform linear response. Inexact application of equalization corrections may introduce other artifacts into the system response and/or may not sufficiently normalize equalization. A second pass is then performed to measure the system response using the new equalization settings. The new peaks and valleys are measured, and the equalization adjusted to try to flatten response further. A proximity range may be applied to each pass, to reduce the likelihood that adjustment of one equalizer coefficient will create artifacts in the resulting system response.
US07664274B1 Enhanced acoustic transmission system and method
A system to generate an enhanced acoustic transmission signal includes a carrier signal generator to generate a carrier signal. A data signal generator is provided to receive data and to generate a data signal representing the data. A signal modulator is also provided to modulate the carrier signal with the data signal to form a modulated carrier signal at a carrier frequency. The system includes a masking signal generator to generate a masking signal to mask the modulated carrier signal from being audible by a human ear. An audio input device is provided to receive audio and to generate an audio signal based on the audio, wherein a frequency band surrounding the carrier frequency is removed from the audio signal. A signal adder is also provided to combine the modulated carrier signal, the masking signal, and the audio signal to form the enhanced acoustic transmission signal.
US07664261B2 Encryption processor
One chip encryption processor is disclosed, in which a password process unit for processing a data encryption and an interface for managing a password needed for an encryption are integrated into one chip. The encryption processor includes an encryption interface for connecting an externally connected apparatus and an internal data process apparatus, a password process unit for encrypting the inputted data, a memory unit for temporarily storing the data. The above elements are integrated into one chip, so that a desired data security, non-error operation and stable user verification are obtained.
US07664255B2 Hands free aural device holder
Disclosed is a hands-free holder for hands-free use of a device that is designed to be held up to a user's ear. The holder is connectable to the device and includes a sleeve that includes a transparent elastically stretchable material that defines an opening for receiving a portion of the device. The holder further includes a curved member that includes a first end and second end rotatably coupled to a first side of the sleeve and to an opposite side of the sleeve, respectively. The curved member defines an opening for receiving the top of a user's ear and is configured to rest on and behind the user's ear when the top of the user's ear is received in the opening such that the device connected to the holder is supported by the user's ear, thereby allowing hands-free use of the device.
US07664250B1 System and method for incoming telephone call distribution among inbound links of service platforms
A method for distributing incoming telephone calls among inbound links of a service platform is provided. First information is accumulated regarding routing of the incoming telephone calls during a previous time period to the inbound links of the service platform by a network call processor. Second information including a number of the inbound links of the service platform allocated to the network call processor for a future time period is generated based on the first information. A number of the incoming telephone calls are routed to the inbound links of the service platform during the future time period based on the second information.
US07664243B2 3-way call detection system and method
Disclosed herein is a three-way call detection system and method for detecting the addition of a third party to a pre-existing telephonic connection between a first party and a second party. The system includes a meter for measuring the amplitude of a line voltage of a telephonic connection between two parties, a first filter to remove a frequency band from the line voltage, a white noise generator for generating a low level white noise signal in the removed frequency band, a coupler for combining the white noise signal with the filtered signal, to create an additive line voltage, a second filter that passes only a portion of the additive line voltage including at least a portion of the white noise signal, and a processor for monitoring the passed signal for a shift in amplitude level associated with the addition of a third party to the connection.
US07664240B2 Method and apparatus for administration of circuit inventories in telecommunications networks
Telecommunications customers must frequently utilize the facilities of many different telecommunications service providers in order to transmit data from one location to another. When a telecommunications customer encounters a network problem, that customer usually must navigate a complicated web of service providers and equipment owners in order to receive meaningful technical assistance from a human technician. The present invention is designed and intended to facilitate human interactions for technical support and administrative tasks by associating customer, contract, circuit, equipment, key personnel, billing, and telco information in a database for efficient data presentation and information retrieval. Resolution of the logistical problem of tracking circuit information is achieved by organizing the information and displaying important data concurrently. Toward that end, the system modules comprising the invention share all of the circuit inventory data available, and graphical user interfaces for each module display relevant information together. Examples of features in the present invention include: simultaneous display of circuit and contact information for key personnel, a reminder function for tracking changes in important service characteristics, and customer-specific formatting for billing.
US07664239B2 Methods and computer-readable media for managing and configuring options for the real-time notification and disposition of voice services in a cable services network
Methods are provided for managing and configuring voice services the notification and disposition of voice services, such as telephone calls, in a cable television services system. In response to receiving a notification of an incoming voice service in the cable television services system, a voice services banner is generated for displaying options for managing the incoming voice service. Options for managing the incoming voice service are selected from the voice services banner. An on-screen user interface is generated for configuring voice services options on a display device in communication with a set-top box. The user interface receives selections for configuring the voice services options. In response to receiving a selection, a determination is made whether to display a menu for configuring the voice services options based on a subscriber profile. If it is determined that the configuration of voice services is authorized, then the menu is displayed for configuring the voice services options.
US07664237B1 Method and apparatus for providing emergency ring tones for urgent calls
A method and apparatus for enabling calling parties to request the VoIP network to provide a special ring tone to be signaled as the occurrence of an urgent call to called parties are disclosed. Alternatively, a high frequency intercept tone or call waiting tone is also provided when the called parties are already engaged in conversation when an urgent call is incoming.
US07664236B2 Forked-call ringback replacement system
A system for customizing a communications network, the system including a first communications station associated with a calling party, a second communication station associated with a called party, a storage device containing at least one announcement, and a communications device for initiating a forked or forwarded call to locate the called party at the second communications station. The forked or forwarded call is initiated by the calling party whereby at least a portion of a call signal is replaced with at least a portion of the announcement. The announcement is associated with the calling party and is chosen by the called party and played to the calling party after initiation of the call but prior to active communication with the called party. Also, the call signal is selected from one of ringback signals, busy signals, network redirect signals, call progress signals, network announcement signals, or dial tone signals.
US07664235B2 Method and apparatus for voice mail notes
A novel method and apparatus for recording an audio note for a voice message stored on a messaging platform are disclosed.
US07664224B2 X-ray fluorescence visualizing, imaging, or information providing of chemicals, compounds, or biological materials
One aspect can relate to detecting a presence of an at least one chemical, compound, or biological material contained in an at least some matter of an at least a portion of an at least one individual based at least partially on addition of an at least one chemical identifying additive to the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the at least one individual based at least partially on a generation of an at least one induced X-ray fluorescing photon within the at least one chemical identifying additive responsive to a single input energy event in which an at least some input energy is being applied proximal to the at least one chemical, compound, or biological material contained in the at least some matter of the at least the portion of the at least one individual.
US07664219B2 Flip-flop and shift register
A flip-flop is provided. The flip-flop is used in a shift register in a source driver. The flip-flop is used to receive a first clock signal, an input signal and output an output signal. The output signal is fed back to the flip-flop. The flip-flop includes a flop core for receiving the input signal and output the output signal. When the input signal and the output signal are all disabled, the flop core is disabled to function. When the input signal or the output signal is enabled, the flop core is enabled to function to output the output signal.
US07664215B2 Signal alignment based on data signal
Alignment of a receiver clock signal with a transmitter clock signal based upon a received data signal is disclosed. Some embodiments generate, based upon of phase bits and valid phase bits, a phase signal having a voltage level selected from at least three voltage levels. One voltage level corresponds to shifting the receiver clock signal in a first direction. Another voltage level corresponds to shifting the receiver clock signal in a second direction. The other voltage level corresponds to repeating a previous shift of the receiver clock signal.
US07664211B2 Automatic gain control with out of band blocking signal compensation
One embodiment of the present subject matter includes a method of receiving an input signal. The method, in various embodiments, includes detecting a peak of the input signal and detecting an envelope of the input signal. In various embodiments, the peak and envelope are used to identify out-of-band blocking signals and to adjust gain control. The method also includes comparing the peak to a first threshold Tp and comparing the envelope to a second threshold Te. In the method, if the peak is above the first threshold and the envelope is below the second threshold, then ignoring the input signal. If the envelope is above the second threshold, the method includes applying automatic gain control to decode information encoded in the input signal.
US07664208B2 Evaluating device, reproducing device, and evaluating method
An evaluating device including: a Viterbi detector to perform bit detection by Viterbi detection from a reproduced signal in which bit information is reproduced; a metric difference calculator to calculate a metric difference between values of path metrics for a second path and a maximum likelihood path when at least an error pattern between the maximum likelihood path as a path surviving as a result of path selection by the Viterbi detector and the second path compared finally with the maximum likelihood path corresponds to one of a predetermined plural error patterns; and an evaluation value calculator to compare each of values of metric differences calculated by the metric difference calculator for each error pattern, with an individual threshold value obtained by dividing a Euclidean distance between the maximum likelihood path and the second path in each error pattern by a common value, and calculate a total number of values of the metric differences less than the threshold value as an evaluation value.
US07664206B2 GPS front end having an interface with reduced data rate
A radio frequency integrated circuit for a global positioning system (GPS) application mixes radio frequency GPS signals from an external source with a predetermined intermediate frequency that is less than 4fo. In one embodiment, the intermediate frequency is selected to be 1.5fo. An intermediate frequency filter then band-limits the intermediate frequency GPS signals, rolling off at a frequency in the vicinity of 2.5 MHz to achieve substantial attenuation at 3.5-4.0 MHz. An automatic gain control circuit amplifies the filtered intermediate frequency GPS signals to proper voltage levels. The amplified intermediate frequency GPS signals is then digitized by an analog-to-digital converter at a predetermined sampling rate more than twice the intermediate frequency to provide samples of a predetermined number of bits, which are then provided for base band processing by a general purpose microprocessor over an industry-standard serial bus.
US07664202B2 Transmission device and wireless communication apparatus
In a first mode in which the power level of a transmission output signal (S6) is to be high, an output from the multiplier (2) is input to an amplitude modulation signal amplifier (4), and a radio frequency power amplifier (5) performs amplitude modulation on a radio frequency phase modulated signal (S4) using a nonlinear area with a supply voltage from the amplitude modulation signal amplifier (4). In a second mode in which the power level of a transmission output signal (S6) is to be low, the output from the multiplier (2) is input to a variable gain amplifier (7), and the variable gain amplifier (7) performs amplitude modulation on the radio frequency phase modulated signal (S4). The amplitude modulated signal is output without passing through the radio frequency power amplifier (5).
US07664195B2 Method to increase the bit rate in a communication system
Disclosed is a method and a device to increase the bit rate in a communications system comprising N transmitters (2N) and M receivers (3M), with M greater than or equal to N. The method comprises the following steps. a) simultaneously sending different messages on several of the N (2N) transmitters, b) simultaneously receiving the superimposition of the messages sent during the step a) on several of the M (3M) receivers or reception sensors, c) estimating the characteristics of the transmission channel for each pair constituted by a transmission sensor and a receiver sensor, d) jointly estimating all or at least the majority of the messages received in taking account of the signals as well as the characteristics of the transmission channel. Application to GSM signals and to systems of unicast transmission and multicast transmission, namely multipoint-to-point and multipoint-to-multipoint transmission.
US07664184B2 Interpolation image compression
A method of compressing an image formed of pixels. The method includes providing a pixel of the image, to be encoded, selecting at least two pixels of the image, other than the encoded pixel, defining a straight line including the encoded pixel, to serve as prediction pixels, calculating a prediction value for the encoded pixel using at least the selected pixels, determining a difference between the calculated prediction value and the actual value of the encoded pixel, encoding the determined difference, such that the encoding error is bounded; and repeating for at least 5% of the pixels of the image.
US07664182B2 Picture coding and decoding apparatuses and methods performing variable length coding and decoding on a slice header stream and arithmetic coding and decoding on a slice data stream
A frame coding unit generates individual picture signal information from a moving picture signal, and outputs a frame code value which is a numeric value to be obtained as a result of coding picture signal information of each frame. A variable length coding unit decomposes the frame code value into unit frame code values which are basic units of coding, converts the unit frame code values into frame code words using only a single code table, and constructs a frame stream by combining the converted frame code words. A multiplexing unit multiplexes a header stream which is constructed through a method equivalent to a conventional method and the frame stream, and constructs a picture coded signal.
US07664173B2 Method and apparatus for cached adaptive transforms for compressing data streams, computing similarity, and recognizing patterns
A method and apparatus for cached adaptive transforms for compressing data streams, computing similarity, and recognizing patterns have been disclosed.In one embodiment of the invention an encoder and decoder begin with a baseline transform. As data is transferred an algorithm is arranged so that the encoder and decoder adapt toward a superior basis than the baseline, with a corresponding reduction in the encoding bit rate. That is the algorithm adapts to the incoming data stream and can use a custom basis. We deliberately avoid having to send the custom basis itself (when possible), because sending the basis vectors consumes precious bandwidth and may defeat the goal of compression. The encoder and decoder can bootstrap themselves into using one or more better bases.In one embodiment of the invention there is no beginning baseline transform shared between the encoder and the decoder.
US07664164B1 Correlation apparatus and method for accomodating spreading code frequency offset
An apparatus and method for correlating a signal over a correlation interval while accommodating spreading code frequency offset is described. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a plurality of correlators, where each correlator forms a correlation result corresponding to a unique code frequency offset hypothesis. Each correlator selects samples from a tapped delay line at a tap position moved along the delay line at a rate corresponding to the correlator unique code frequency offset hypothesis.
US07664160B2 Transmitting device, receiving device, and communication system
A transmitting device includes a continuous pulse generating unit, modulating unit, and output unit. The continuous pulse generating unit continuously generates multiple impulse waveforms at arbitrary time intervals but shorter than the pulse string repetition cycle. The modulating unit modulates continuous pulses generated by the continuous pulse generating unit, using transmission data. The output unit outputs a modulated pulse modulated by the modulating unit. The receiving device includes a modulated pulse receiving unit that receives a modulated pulse transmitted from the above-mentioned transmitting device; and a demodulating unit that receives transmission data by demodulating a modulated pulse received by the modulated pulse receiving unit.
US07664150B2 Diode laser electrical isolation system
A system is provided that electrically isolates a diode laser when the health of the diode laser deteriorates past a preset value. In addition to the diode laser and its power supply, the system includes a monitoring system that monitors the voltage across the diode laser and/or the voltage across a series resistor and/or the operating temperature of the diode laser and/or one or more characteristics of the output beam of the diode laser and/or the temperature of the diode laser coolant and/or the flow rate of the diode laser coolant. The system also includes a power supply controller and associated control circuit that is activated upon receipt of a trigger signal from the monitoring system.
US07664145B2 Jitter correcting apparatus capable of ensuring synchronism between transmitter apparatus and receiver apparatus
When a beacon (n−1) that is transmitted from a piconet coordinator (PNC) is detected in a MAC layer of the PNC and a MAC layer of a device (DEV), a detection signal is immediately transmitted to a LINK layer. In the LINK layer, a count is made from the detection of the beacon to a predetermined timing to generate a cycle timer. The PNC adds the PNC cycle timer to the subsequent beacon (n) and transmits the beacon to the DEV. In the LINK layer of the DEV, a comparison is made between a DEV cycle timer generated according to the beacon (n−1) and the PNC cycle timer received from the PNC and uses the value of the difference therebetween to correct the DEV cycle timer to be matched with the PNC cycle timer.
US07664138B2 Multiple channel system for a twisted pair telephone wire local loop system
The system (50) has a subscriber digital filter system (54)connected to the twisted pair telephone wire (56). A subscriber controller (52) sends control signals to the subscriber digital filter system (54). An office digital filter system (58) is connected to the twisted pair telephone wire (56). An office controller (60) sends control signals to the office digital filter system (58).
US07664127B1 Method for resolving mutex contention in a network system
A method of resolving mutex contention within a network interface unit which includes providing a plurality of memory access channels, and moving a thread via at least one of the plurality of memory access channels, the plurality of memory access channels allowing moving of the thread while avoiding mutex contention when moving the thread via the at least one of the plurality of memory access channels is disclosed.
US07664124B2 Methods, systems, and products for sharing content
Methods, systems, and products share content between a device and a media delivery device. The media delivery device includes a content sharing application stored in memory and a processor communicating with the memory. The processor sends a presence update message to indicate the media delivery device is active and available to receive content. The processor receives an invite, and the invite requests a session between the media delivery device and the device. The processor sends an accept message to accept the invitation. The processor receives the content and receives a message that terminates the session.
US07664121B2 Method and router for switching data between a local area network and an external appliance
A method is provided for switching data between appliances in a packet-oriented local area network and an external appliance connected to the local area network via a router. The appliances in the local area network, including the router, respectively have a network address and an appliance address. The external appliance has an associated network address. An appliance address request relating to the assigned network address is responded to with the appliance address of the router. The router forwards packets containing the assigned network address and the appliance address of the router as destination addresses from the local area network to the external appliance.
US07664120B2 Multiple-transceiver distributed dynamic channel selection in a communication network
In certain embodiments, a first node among a plurality of distributed nodes capable of forming or reforming a communication network between the nodes, each of the nodes including one or more transceivers, includes a memory for storing values for variables for the first node and includes a plurality of transceivers. The first node is operable to: (1) spontaneously and independent of a centralized controller associated with the network, transmit a probe message for purposes of forming or reforming a network; (2) receive a probe message from a second node for purposes of forming or reforming a network, the probe message including values for variables for the second node; (3) compare the values for the variables for the first node to the values for the variables for the second node within the probe message to determine, independent of a centralized controller associated with the network, whether the first node should set a home channel of one of its transceivers to a new channel; and (4) if so, set the home channel of a determined one of the transceivers of the first node to the new channel.
US07664119B2 Method and apparatus to perform network routing
A method and apparatus to route information over a network is described.
US07664113B2 Apparatus and methods for system multiplexing and program element identification
Apparatus and methods for system multiplexing and program element identification is disclosed. A multiplexer generates a sequence of transport packets and associated program element information tables (PEIT). The header of a transport packet carrying the PEIT includes a unique PEIT indicator. A de-multiplexer first locates the PEIT by the unique PEIT indicator in the transport packet header. The de-multiplexer utilizes the corresponding program element identifier (PEID) of the program specific information (PSI) to search for the required transport packet that contains the PSI. The de-multiplexer then locates and extracts the needed elementary streams by searching for the associated PEID in the PEIT. The elementary streams are then sent to decoders for further processing.
US07664111B2 Network switching system having a connection device management table commonly owned on a wireless network
The network switching system is provided with a communication route management table for managing transmission path information of a wireless network including wireless access devices, and a connection device management table for managing, in common on the wireless network, the information on wireless network devices connected to the wireless access devices. The system is further provided with a signal transmitter for referencing the two tables, and generating a signal frame depending on the destination of communication signals received to transmit the signal frame generated. Communication is prevented from being interrupted when communication route information is updated, and from being invaded on a communication route in the network. The network system is more efficiently utilized.
US07664107B2 Self-stabilizing and fast-convergent structured peer-to-peer overlays
A self-stabilizing overlay maintenance protocol in structured peer-to-peer overlay system stabilizes any initially connected overlay topology to a correct topology. According to the protocol, a node in the overlay system periodically pings neighboring nodes in the leafset of its routing table, who respond with a pong message containing the recipient's view of the ping sender's leafset. The protocol further conserves connectivity when removing a directed link to another node, by first creating a link to a replacement node that in turn has a link to that node. The protocol uses a ping-pong-notify message exchange to track sink and source sets of the directed links between nodes. The protocol also achieves fast convergence, such as in the partition healing scenario, by leveraging the finger set in the routing table to establish and quickly spread healing points from which the protocol can stabilize the structure.
US07664106B2 Method and apparatus for providing E911 services via network announcements
A method and apparatus for providing emergency services, e.g., E911 services, for nomadic users by utilizing network announcements to remind customers to update location information used to provide services on packet networks, such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) networks, are disclosed. For example, the method enables the VoIP or SoIP service provider to detect a change in the IP address associated with either the broadband modem or the router through which a terminal adaptor is used to access services when a customer is logging on from a new location. In turn, the method sends a reminder network announcement message to the terminal adaptor, e.g., to be played when the terminal adaptor goes off-hook.
US07664102B1 System and method for providing a plurality of multi-media services using a number of media servers to form a preliminary interactive communication relationship with a calling communication device
A system and method for processing a plurality of requests for multi-media services received at a call control element (CCE) defined on the system from a calling communication device. The system includes a Network Routing Element, a Service Broker (SB), at least a primary media severs (MS) and at least a secondary MS, a plurality of application servers (ASs) and a plurality of border elements, all of which are coupled to the CCE. The SB is adapted to receive a plurality of requests including parameters for requesting multi-media services, via the CCE, and to selectively redirect the requests to one or more ASs for providing feature processing for the requests. The ASs can instruct either the primary MS or secondary MS, via the CCE, to form a preliminary interactive communication path with the calling communication device for collecting caller-entered data, which can be validated prior to providing the feature processing.
US07664095B2 Systems and methods for registering a client device in a data communication system
A two-way wireless communication system comprises a central authority in communication with a plurality of client devices via both a circuit switched data communication system and a packet switched data communication system. The packet switched communication system can assign packet switched network addresses to the client devices dynamically. Therefore, the central authority can be configured to send a circuit switched message, through the circuit switched data network, to a client device requesting the client device to register with the central authority through the packet switched data network.
US07664083B1 Monitoring portal systems and methods
In one of many possible embodiments, a system includes a monitoring portal configured to receive state information descriptive of usage of a plurality of communication services provided on a plurality of communication networks of different types and to make the state information available to a subscriber of the plurality of communication services, in substantially real time.
US07664079B2 Adjusting link layer control frame to facilitate data throughput
A base station subsystem includes logic to change the modulation and coding scheme for radio communications, and logic to communicate with a switching GSM to cause a change in link layer control frame size to reflect the change in modulation and coding scheme.
US07664076B2 Random access apparatus and method
A random access apparatus for supporting a variety of access service classes includes a radio frequency (RF) transmitting/receiving unit for receiving a preamble introduction broadcasting signal from a base station and transmitting a random access preamble to the base station, an introduction broadcasting signal processing unit for extracting a random access usage relating to M-sequences and hadamard sequences from the received preamble introduction broadcasting signal, a selecting unit for selecting a plurality of M-sequences and a hadamard sequence corresponding to a random access purpose based on the extracted random access usage, and a preamble producing unit for generating the random access preamble using the selected plurality of M-sequences and the selected hadamard sequence.
US07664075B2 Access point to access point range extension
An architecture and methods for extending the depth of a WLAN to a four-level hierarchal access point structure including wireless access points. The wireless access points in the WLAN can be networked by scanning for a network, collecting one or more packets that identify the network from one or more access points, each packet including an address identifying an ancestry of the access points to an ancestral wired access point; and applying an access point selection algorithm to configure a parent access point. The architecture includes a scanning object configured to issue a scan request to a network interface and collect access point data; a selection object configured to filter and sort the collected access point data; an authentication state machine configured to perform authentication and validate; and an association state machine configured to compose a packet including hierarchical data indicative of access point ancestry to a conventional access point.
US07664072B1 Virtual streams for QoS-driven wireless LANs
A virtual stream (VS) in a basic service set (BSS) in a wireless local area network (WLAN) that exists solely within the medium access control (MAC) sublayer of the WLAN. The VS includes a unidirectional path in the wireless network between a station sourcing a quality of service (QoS) session and at least one station receiving the QoS session in the same BSS. The VS is defined by a VS identifier (VSID) that is unique within and local to the BSS, an address of the sourcing station, and an address of the at least one receiving station. The VS can be a virtual down-stream (VDS), a virtual upstream (VUS) or a virtual side-stream (VSS). The VS can be a unitcast or a multicast VS.
US07664071B2 Base station system and method for assigning a unique word in a communication system
A method and system for assigning unique words in an SDMA communication system is disclosed. A base station has a set of available unique words from which to select and assign unique words. The base station prioritizes the unique words by determining which unique words are likely to interfere with adjacent base stations, and setting those words to a low priority. Thus, over time, the base station assigns unique words that have better cross correlation characteristics and improved communication sensitivity. The base station discovers the unique words likely to be used in adjacent base stations by direct communication with adjacent base stations, or by communicating with a central office facility. Alternatively, the base station may be made aware of the unique IDs for adjacent base stations, and use these IDs to determine a set of unique words likely to be used by these adjacent base stations.
US07664063B2 Announcing information service through broadcasting or multicasting
A receiver (FIG. 2), receives IP session announcement signals from a terrestrial digital video broadcasting system. Each IP session announcement (RM) includes information concerning announcements on an immediately lower level as well as information identifying the quantity of announcement data, such as the number of announcement messages, and a timeout value. The quantity data tells the receiver how many messages X1 to X3 it needs to receive (C) before it has received all the relevant announcement messages. The timeout value informs the receiver how long it can wait before again receiving the messages X1 to X3 (which may have changed in content by then). After initially receiving the messages X1 to X3, the receiver may sleep (E), or it may receive announcement messages from another channel Y (D).
US07664062B2 Method for adjusting transmission rate of wireless communication system
The present invention provides a method for dynamically adjusting the transmission rate of a wireless communication system. The method comprises the steps of: setting an initial transmission rate; counting the number of successful or unsuccessful transmission; comparing the number with a predetermined threshold and obtaining a comparing result; and adjusting the transmission rate according to the comparing result. The present invention also provides a method that uses the strength of received signals to determine if the transmission rate needs adjusting.
US07664061B2 Closed-loop signaling method for controlling multiple transmit beams and correspondingly adapted transceiver device
The present invention relates to a closed-loop signaling method for controlling multiple transmit beams, comprising the steps of receiving (S21) a plurality of at least two beams from a first transceiver (Node_B) via a plurality of transmission channels at a second transceiver (UE), evaluating (S22), at said second transceiver, characteristics of said plurality of beams received at said second transceiver, determining at least one dominant beam using said characteristic, deriving (S24) control information for being fed back from said second transceiver (UE) to said first transceiver (Node_B), based on said evaluated characteristics, wherein said control information for dominant characteristics is allocated a different quantization resolution as compared to a less dominant beam (S25, S26, S27). Also, the present invention relates to a transceiver device (UE), adapted for being used in such a closed-loop signaling method for controlling multiple transmit beams.
US07664054B2 Neighbor location discovery with directional antennas in a mesh network
Disclosed is a Neighbor Location Discovery Protocol (NLDP) that determines the relative locations of the nodes in a mesh network. In one embodiment, NLDP can be implemented for an ad-hoc wireless network where the nodes are equipped with directional antennas and are not able to use GPS. While NLDP relies on nodes having at least two RF transceivers, it offers significant advantages over previously proposed protocols that employ only one RF transceiver. In NLDP antenna hardware is simple, easy to implement, and readily available. Further, NLDP exploits the host node's ability to operate simultaneously over non-overlapping channels to quickly converge on the neighbor's location. NLDP is limited by the range of the control channel, which operates in a omni-directional fashion. However, by choosing a low frequency band, high power, and low data rate, the range of the control channel can be increased to match the range on the data channel.
US07664042B2 Storage control apparatus, storage apparatus, storage control method, and computer-readable recording medium for executing a command based on data in received packet
Information about an attribute of packets that are receivable corresponding to a command is registered. When a packet is received, information about an attribute of the packet received is acquired. Upon occurrence of a reception error that there is no information in the attribute registering unit corresponding to the information acquired by the attribute acquiring unit, a predetermined reception error handling routine is executed according to a type of the reception error.
US07664040B2 Method of accelerating the shortest path problem
The solution to the shortest path between a source node and multiple destination nodes is accelerated using a grouping of nodes, where the nodes are grouped based on distance from the source node, and a corresponding set of memory locations that indicate when a group includes one or more nodes. The memory locations can be quickly searched to determine the group that represents the shortest distance from the source node and that includes one or more nodes. Nodes may be grouped into additional groupings that do not correspond to the set of memory locations, when the distance from the source node to the nodes exceeds the range of memory locations. Advantageously, the disclosed system and method provide the ability to reach asymptotically optimal performance.
US07664034B1 Systems and methods for collective bandwidth throttling
In an exemplary method, a computer system connects to a computer network that comprises one or more other computer systems. The computer system communicates with a remote system that is in electronic communication with the computer network via a communication link. The computer system coordinates its use of the communication link with the one or more other computer systems' use of the communication link such that a total bandwidth used by computer systems in the computer network does not exceed a defined maximum value.
US07664030B2 Radio communication system, radio communication apparatus, radio communication method, and computer program
A radio communication system, a radio communication apparatus, a radio communication method, and a computer program allow networks to be operated without interference between contending networks. When plural piconets collide on the same frequency channel, a control station of one of the piconets temporarily sets a buffer super frame period to maintain a coexistent relationship between the piconets. When an apparatus other than a control station receives a beacon signal of the buffer super frame period, a shorter super frame period based on that super frame period is temporarily set to make fine adjustment of the next beacon signal transmission timing. An apparatus that has not received a beacon signal looks for a beacon signal of its own piconet for a redundant time so as to find a start timing of a new super frame period.
US07664006B2 Device for reading from or writing to optical recording media
A device for reading from or writing to optical recording media having an optical assembly and a laser diode coupled thereto is described. The laser diode is a twin laser diode which is coupled to the optical assembly by means of a translationally displaceable rotary joint.
US07663996B2 Track jumping for optical recording media
A method for track jumping for optical recording media exhibiting eccentricity, and to an apparatus for reading from and/or writing to optical recording media using such method is disclosed. The method for track jumping for optical recording media exhibiting eccentricity, whereby a sled and/or an actuator are moved from a start track to an end track, includes the steps of: determining the eccentricity of the optical recording medium, initiating the track jump at minimum eccentric acceleration, and completing the track jump at minimum eccentric acceleration.
US07663995B2 Optical recording medium recording control method, recording control device and inspection method
An evaluation pattern, for evaluating the extent of occurrence of thermal interference, is recorded with recording power being varied stepwise from a low recording power to a high recording power. This test-written evaluation pattern is played back, and levels of occurrence of thermal interference are quantified for each recording power level of the recording. Then, recording power is set to a value such that a quantified value therefor is smaller than a pre-specified slice level. For the slice level, a measured value of PI errors (correctable errors) for carrying out acceptable recording is found, and the slice level is determined by finding a variation amount that corresponds to this measured value of PI errors.
US07663989B2 Method of setting defect management information, method of recording data, computer program product, computer readable storage medium, and information recording apparatus that properly records plural types of data for different uses on the same information recording medium
An information recording apparatus that records information on an information recording medium includes a setting mechanism that sets defect management information including information with respect to a specific area in a recording area of the information recording medium in which a defect detection process need not be performed, a recording mechanism that records data in the recording area, and a determining mechanism that determines whether to perform the defect detection process in a recording target area in the recording area in which the data is recorded, based on the defect management information and information with respect to the recording target area. By setting an AV data area as a specific area and by setting a PC data area as a defect management area, the continuity of data recorded in the AV data area is achieved, and the reliability of data recorded in the PC data area is ensured.
US07663985B2 Information recording and reproduction method and information recording and reproduction device
The focus offset FE0 corresponding to minimum jitter is learned in advance. When performing spherical aberration adjustment for each disk, the spherical aberration is adjusted so that the jitter reaches a minimum, while maintaining the focus offset at FE0. The invention provides a method for performing high-precision adjustment of the focus offset and spherical aberration, even in the case of a disk which does not have data recorded on it.
US07663982B2 Light delivery module, method of fabricating the same and heat-assisted magnetic recording head using the light delivery module
A light delivery module, a method of fabricating the same, a heat-assisted magnetic recording head using the light delivery module are provided. The light delivery module delivers light emitted from a light source. The light delivery module includes an optical waveguide having an inclined plane of an angle Φ with respect to an incident light axis to deliver an incident light, and a nano aperture changing an energy distribution of the light delivered through the inclined plane to generate an enhanced near-field. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head is mounted on one end of a slider with an air bearing surface to perform a recording operation on a recording medium. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head includes a magnetic path forming unit forming a magnetic field for recording, a light source emitting light for heating a predetermined region of a recording surface of the recording medium, and the light delivery module.
US07663978B2 Drive control apparatus, electronic apparatus, method of controlling drive of electronic apparatus, drive control program, and recording medium
In an electronic device 1 comprising a battery 200 and a piezoelectric actuator A, a power source voltage before drive control is started is maintained by a sample holding circuit 102, a reference voltage is set by a reference voltage generating circuit 103 on the basis of the power source voltage, and a control circuit 106 stops driving when the power source voltage falls below a drive stop voltage as compared by a second comparison circuit 105, and begins driving the piezoelectric actuator A again when the power source voltage exceeds the reference voltage as compared by a first comparison circuit 104. Therefore, the device can be more easily reduced in size by using a small power source, and the driving time can be markedly reduced using an intermittent driving procedure that corresponds to the conditions of the battery voltage.
US07663957B2 Microprocessor with program-accessible re-writable non-volatile state embodied in blowable fuses of the microprocessor
A microprocessor includes re-writeable non-volatile state (RNS) addressable by an instruction executed by the microprocessor that instructs the microprocessor to write a new value to the RNS. A plurality of fuses are each readable to determine whether the fuse is blown or unblown, in response to the microprocessor decoding the instruction. A Boolean logic unit performs Boolean operations on the values read from the plurality of fuses to determine a current RNS value. A fuse blowing device blows at least one unblown fuse to change the current RNS value to the new value when the new value is different than the current value. The microprocessor can read the plurality of fuses, perform the Boolean operations, and blow at least one unblown fuse to change the current value of the RNS to a new value multiple times in response to a program running on the microprocessor executing the instruction multiple times.
US07663954B2 Semiconductor memory device including a sense amplifier having a reduced operating current
A semiconductor memory device includes a shared transistor controlling coupling between a bit line pair in a memory cell array and a bit line pair in a sense amplifier. After a word line is activated and the sense amplifier amplifies the potential difference between the bit lines of the bit line pair in the sense amplifier, the shared transistor is tuned OFF and precharge/equalizing circuit is activated to precharge the bit lines in the sense amplifier to a potential which is half the internal power source potential.
US07663950B2 Method for column redundancy using data latches in solid-state memories
A memory has defective locations in its user portion replaceable by redundant locations in a redundant portion. Data latches in the user and redundant portions allow data sensed from or to be written to a memory to be exchanged with a data bus. A defective location latching redundancy scheme assumes the column circuits including data latches for defective columns to be still useable. The data latches for the defective columns are used to buffer corresponding redundant data that are normally accessible from their data latches in the redundant portion. In this way both the user and redundant data are available from the user data latches, and streaming data into or out of the data bus is simplified and performance improved.
US07663949B2 Memory row architecture having memory row redundancy repair function
The present invention discloses a memory row architecture having memory row redundancy repair function. The memory row architecture includes a plurality of normal memory sections and a plurality of redundancy memory sections, wherein a number of the plurality of normal memory sections is more than two, a number of the plurality of redundancy memory sections is equal to the number of the plurality of normal memory sections, and a redundancy memory section is implemented in one side of each of the plurality of normal memory sections. In addition, the plurality of normal memory sections and the plurality of redundancy memory sections respectively having an odd serial number make up a first memory row redundancy repair module, and the plurality of normal memory sections and the plurality of redundancy memory sections respectively having an even serial number make up a second memory row redundancy repair module.
US07663946B2 Semiconductor memory device having on-die-termination device and operation method thereof
A semiconductor memory device is capable of stably securing an on-die-termination (ODT) latency in spite of PVT variations and various operating speeds. The semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of termination resistors connected to an output pad in series and parallel, a drive controller, a delay path, and a delay control signal generator. The drive controller activates/inactivates the plurality of termination resistors in response to a driving control signal. The delay path delays a termination command by a delay time corresponding to an on-die-termination (ODT) latency to output the driving control signal, wherein the termination command is converted into a delay locked loop (DLL) clock domain signal. The delay control signal generator controls a conversion point of the termination command into the DLL clock domain signal.
US07663942B2 Semiconductor memory device having local and global bit lines
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cell columns each having a plurality of memory cells, each memory cell including being a static type, a plurality of local bit lines connected to the memory cell columns, a global bit line connected to the local bit lines via a plurality of sense amplifiers, a measurement terminal to which a measurement voltage is applied in a cell current measurement mode, and a plurality of switching circuits provided to correspond to the local bit lines, and configured to electrically connect the measurement terminal and one of the local bit lines in the cell current measurement mode.
US07663940B2 Semiconductor memory device and driving method thereof
A semiconductor memory device is capable of reducing the current dissipation in a termination circuit and allowing a voltage level of a GIO line to rapidly reach a voltage level of a termination voltage when a termination operation is performed. The semiconductor memory device includes a global input/output line configured to transport data between a core region and an interface region, a main driving block configure to drive a voltage level of the global input/output line to predetermined termination voltage level in response to a termination enabling signal, and an auxiliary driving block configured to drive the is voltage level of the global input/output line to the predetermined termination voltage level in response to an over-driving signal, wherein the over-driving signal is enabled for a predetermined period of time during an initial period of an enabling interval for the termination enabling signal.
US07663934B2 Program method with optimized voltage level for flash memory
A non-volatile memory device and programming process is described that increases the programming voltage of successive programming cycles in relation to the percentage of the data bits that failed programming verification during the previous programming cycle and were not correctly programmed into the memory array. This allows for a faster on average program operation and a more accurate match of the subsequent increase in the programming voltage to the non-volatile memory device, the specific region or row being programmed and any changes due to device wear. In one embodiment of the present invention the manufacturing process/design and/or specific memory device is characterized by generating a failed bit percentage to programming voltage increase profile to set the desired programming voltage delta/increase. In another embodiment of the present invention, methods and apparatus are related for the programming of data into non-volatile memory devices and, in particular, NAND and NOR architecture Flash memory.
US07663927B2 Reading voltage generator for a non-volatile EEPROM memory cell matrix of a semiconductor device and corresponding manufacturing process
A reference voltage generator for a matrix of non-volatile memory cells of the EEPROM type, comprises at least one array enabled by an access transistor. The array comprises at least one reference cell associated with a relative select transistor, the transistors and the cell being realized on a semiconductor substrate and having active regions delimited by suitable field oxide regions and covered by a tunnel oxide layer and comprising at least one floating gate realized by a first polysilicon layer and covered by a dielectric layer and by a second polysilicon layer. Advantageously, the floating gate of the reference cells is contacted by a first contact terminal connected to a discharge transistor for the periodical discharge of possibly present charges. A process manufactures such a voltage generator.
US07663923B2 Semiconductor memory device and control method thereof
This invention provides a semiconductor memory device in which standby current is suppressed to a small level. A ROM device includes memory cells for reading data corresponding to impedance between a terminal connected to bit lines and a source terminal and source power lines connected to the source terminal. In this ROM device, bias voltage is applied between the terminals of selected memory cells.
US07663921B2 Flash memory array with a top gate line dynamically coupled to a word line
Systems and methods are disclosed including memory cells arranged in sectors. In one exemplary implementation, each memory cell may include a top gate, a source, a top gate line coupling memory cells in a sector, and a word line coupling memory cells together. Moreover, the top gate line may be dynamically coupled to the word line. Other exemplary implementations may relate to drivers for driving the word line and/or top gate line, multilevel memory cell, and/or floating gate line features.
US07663907B2 Die customization using programmable resistance memory elements
A method of customizing an integrated circuit chip, comprising the steps of: providing an electronic circuit on said chip; providing a phase-change memory on the chip; storing information about said electronic circuit in the phase-change memory. A method of operating an optical display.
US07663902B2 Memory device in which data is written or read by a switching operation of a bit line that is inserted into a trench formed between a plurality of word lines
A memory device and a method for fabricating the same provide a device capable of increasing or maximizing the performance of a microstructure device. The device includes: a plurality of word lines formed with a gap therebetween and extending in parallel with each other in a first direction of extension; and a bit line insulated from the plurality of word lines, intersecting the plurality of word lines and extending in a second direction of extension, a transition electrode portion of the bit line positioned in the gap and spaced apart from the plurality of word lines by a predetermined distance, the transition electrode portion of the bit line configured and arranged to be bent toward any one of the plurality of word lines in response to an electrical signal applied to at least one of the plurality of word lines.
US07663895B2 Electromagnetic shielding device for printed circuit board
A shielding enclosure (70) includes a cover (72) and a plurality of flanges (74) extending from the cover. At least one flange defines a fixing piece (76). The fixing piece has at least one retaining portion (764), and the retaining portion provides a space (78) allowing a tool is inserted in a generally perpendicular direction relative to the cover of the shielding enclosure.
US07663893B2 Sensor node and circuit board arrangement
An electronic circuit, preferable as a sensor node, has a highly sensitive radio function and is capable of performing a low-power-consumption operation. The electronic device has a board; a connector for connecting a sensor; a first signal processor circuit receiving an input of sensor data from the sensor through the connector and forming transmission data; and a second signal processor circuit converting a transmission signal from the first signal processor circuit into a high-frequency signal. The connector and the first signal processor circuit are mounted on a first surface of the board, and the second signal processor circuit is mounted on a second surface of the board.
US07663888B2 Printed circuit board thickness adaptors
A printed circuit board card comprising: a printed circuit board having a first thickness and having first and second edges for inserting into respective channels of card guides, the channels of the card guides for receiving printed circuit boards having a second thickness, the second thickness being greater than the first thickness; and, first and second thickness adaptors each having a third thickness applied at the first and second edges, respectively, a sum of the first and third thicknesses approximating the second thickness, to thereby align the printed circuit board in the channels of the card guides.
US07663874B2 Electronic apparatus
A second enclosure is coupled to a first enclosure for relative rotation around a rotation axis. The second enclosure rotates around the rotation axis in the opposite directions from a reference attitude. The second enclosure is prevented from further rotating in the first direction beyond the first rotation angle from the reference attitude. The second enclosure takes the first angular attitude. The second enclosure is also prevented from further rotating in the second direction opposite to the first direction beyond the second rotation angle from the reference attitude. The second enclosure takes the second angular attitude. The displaying unit indicates either of the first and second directions at least when the second enclosure takes the first angular attitude. The displaying unit in this manner enables the user to easily recognize an acceptable direction for the rotation of the second enclosure.
US07663867B2 Secondary circuit terminal block design for fixed type circuit breakers
A circuit breaker apparatus is provided and includes a circuit breaker, having a housing surface perpendicular to a plane of a front side of the circuit breaker and internal components, a terminal block structurally coupled to the housing surface, first terminal housings arrayed on the terminal block to each support first components and to be receptive of second terminal housings each of which supports second components, at least some of which are electrically coupled to the internal components, to be electrically coupled to at least some of the first components, and an access block. The access block is disposed on the terminal block and has apertures defined therein to provide for front-side access to the first terminal housings.
US07663856B2 Spark gap comprising an optically triggered power semiconductor component
A surge protector (1) has a spark gap (2) that is provided with two opposite electrodes (3), a circuit (5) for triggering the spark gap (2), and a light source connected to a protective device (13) on ground potential in order to generate a triggering light which can be delivered with the aid of at least one optical waveguide (15) of a receiver unit of the triggering circuit (5), the spark gap (2) and the triggering circuit (5) being on a high voltage potential. In order to make the surge protector (1) reliable and inexpensive, the receiver unit is provided with at least one power semiconductor component (16) that can be moved, with the aid of the triggering light, from a locked position in which current conduction via the power semiconductor component (16) is interrupted into an open position in which current conduction via the power semiconductor component (16) is made possible.
US07663853B2 On-chip latch-up protection circuit
An on-chip latch-up protection circuit. The lath-up protection circuit includes a core circuit, a power switch, and a current extractor. The power switch controls major current flowing through the core circuit. The current extractor detects amplitude of the major current. The power switch, the core circuit and the current extractor are coupled in series between a relatively-high power line and a relatively-low power line. When the major current surpasses a predetermined amplitude, the power switch is turned off, causing latch-up stops.
US07663851B2 Tie-off circuit with ESD protection features
The present invention discloses a tie-off circuit coupled between a first potential and a gate of a MOS device whose source is connected to a second potential. The tie-off circuit includes at least one resistor and at least on diode. The resistor is coupled between the gate of the MOS device and the first potential for preventing the gate of the MOS device from floating during a normal circuit operation. The diode is coupled between the gate of the MOS device and the first potential, in parallel with the resistor, for reducing a voltage difference across a gate oxide layer of the MOS device during an electrostatic discharge (ESD) event, thereby protecting the same from ESD damage.
US07663849B2 Permanent magnet generator protection scheme
A fault protection system provides fault protection to a permanent magnet (PM) generator. The fault protection system includes one or more overload and short-circuit protection circuits, an unbalanced protection circuit and a thermal protection circuit. The overload and short-circuit protection circuit detects both overload and short-circuit conditions by monitoring current and voltage generated at a single phase by the PM generator. The unbalanced protection circuit monitors and compares current and voltage generated associated with at least two individual phases to determine unbalanced conditions between the phases. The thermal protection circuit detects a thermal overload condition by monitoring the temperature of the PM generator. If the overload and short circuit protection circuit, the unbalanced protection circuit, or the thermal protection circuit detects a fault signal, a control circuit causes a control device to reduce or prevent mechanical power from being supplied to the PM generator, preventing the PM generator from generating power and protecting it from damage.
US07663842B2 Actuator apparatus of a hard disk drive
An actuator apparatus used with a hard disk drive. The actuator apparatus includes a pivotable actuator arm, a magnetic head mounted onto a first end of the actuator arm, an overmold connected to a second end of the actuator arm and including a metal piece, a voice coil motor (VCM) having a coil coupled to the overmold and at least one magnet positioned to face the coil, and a stopper positioned to be spaced apart at a predetermined interval from the overmold of the actuator arm when the magnetic head is positioned at a parked position, to limit pivoting of the actuator arm. Specifically, the stopper may be positioned to be spaced at the interval from the overmold of the actuator arm positioned at a position where a torque acting on the actuator arm due to the metal piece and the magnet is substantially 0. Accordingly, the torque acting on the actuator arm within the interval is in an opposite direction to a direction in which the actuator arm pivots to a parked position, thereby reducing the pivoting speed of the actuator arm. Thus, noise and impulse caused by the contact of the actuator arm and the stopper reduce.
US07663840B2 Storage apparatus having a recording medium with a thermal insulation barrier
A method for fabricating a patterned recording medium includes providing a workpiece with a non-magnetic substrate and at least one overlying magnetic layer, laminating a thermal insulation barrier partially in a soft under layer of one of the at least one magnetic layers and forming a topographical pattern including a plurality of trenches in the soft under layer. Blocks of track triplets are formed between adjacent trenches that are magnetically and thermally insulated from other adjacent blocks of track triplets.
US07663837B2 Rotor blade and hard disk drive having the same
A rotor blade and an HDD (hard disk drive) having the same, wherein the rotor blade is mounted together with a disk-shaped data storing medium on a spindle motor of the HDD to rotate coaxially with the disk-shaped data storing medium. The rotor blade includes a plurality of blades to increase a floating force applied to a slider that records or reads data on or from the disk-shaped data storing medium by increasing a speed of an airflow in an inner region of the disk-shaped data storing medium.
US07663826B2 Method and apparatus for copying data from one disc drive to another disc drive
A method and an apparatus for copying data of a disc drive are provided. The method includes: determining whether the first disc drive has a predetermined jumper pin connection by identifying which of a plurality of jumper pins in a jumper block of the first disc drive are connected, the jumper block being used to determine an operation mode of the first disc drive; transmitting a copy command from the first disc drive to the second disc drive if the first disc drive has the predetermined jumper pin connection; and copying data recorded in the first disc drive to the second disc drive in response to the copy command. Accordingly, it is possible to copy data recorded in a first hard disc drive (HDD) to a second HDD without the aid of an additional host.
US07663825B2 Lens barrel device and image capture device
A lens barrel device that includes optical parts holding frames, which hold optical parts so that the optical parts holding frames can linearly move in the optical axis directions, respectively, and an image capture device.
US07663822B2 Actuating device comprising bimetal disks
The invention relates to an actuating device comprising at least two coaxial bimetal disks and at least one axial strut arranged between the disks, the bimetal disks being mounted opposite each other and being deformable in opposite directions according to the thermal variations. The invention can be especially applied to the thermal compensation of an optical system.
US07663812B2 Lens module with spacer
A lens module comprises a first lens, a second lens, a spacer, an adhesive and a lens barrel. The spacer is sandwiched between the first lens and the second lens, and includes a first surface, an opposite second surface, a lateral surface, a through hole and a plurality of cutouts. The lateral surface interconnects the first surface and the second surface. The through hole is defined in a central portion of the spacer. The cutouts are defined in the lateral surface. The adhesive is applied in the cutouts and interconnects the first lens with the second lens. The lens barrel receives the first lens, the second lens, the adhesive and the spacer therein.
US07663809B2 Compact zoom lens
A compact zoom lens including in an order from an object side to an image side, a first lens group having a negative refractive power, a second lens group having a positive refractive power, and a third lens group having a positive refractive power, wherein the first lens group includes two lens, the second lens group includes three lens, and the third lens group includes a single lens, wherein, during zooming from wide angle to telephoto, the distance between the first and second lens groups decreases, the distance between the second and third lens groups increases, and the third lens group moves toward the image side, and wherein the following mathematical inequalities are satisfied: 0.85 < LII f ⁢ ⁢ ω × f ⁢ ⁢ t < 1.0 0.3 < tII f ⁢ ⁢ ω × f ⁢ ⁢ t < 0.4 , where LII indicates the distance the second lens group moves during zooming from a wide-angle position to a telephoto position, tII indicates the thickness of the second lens group from a vertex of the utmost object side of the second lens group to a vertex of the image side of the second lens group, on the optical axis, fw indicates the overall focal distance at the wide-angle position, and ft indicates the overall focal distance at the telephoto position.
US07663808B2 Zoom lens, imaging device, and personal digital assistant
The invention provides a zoom lens including at least a first lens group having a positive refracting power, a second lens group having a negative refracting power, a third lens group having a positive refracting power, in order from an object side, and an aperture stop between the second lens group and the third lens group, wherein, in changing magnification from a wide angle end toward a telephoto end, at least the first lens group and the third lens group move toward the object side so as to increase a spacing between the first lens group and the second lens group, and to decrease a spacing between the second lens group and the third lens group.
US07663806B2 Projection lens and projection type display device using the same
A projection lens includes, in order form a magnification side: a first lens group having negative refractive power; and a second lens group having positive refractive power. An aspheric lens is arranged on the most magnification side of the first lens group. The conditional expressions 3
US07663800B2 Electrophoresis display device and electronic apparatus
In at least one embodiment of the disclosure, an electrophoreses display device includes a first electrode that is formed in each of a plurality of pixels. A second electrode is formed opposite to the first electrode. An electrophoresis element is sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode and has electrophoresis particles that are charged electrically. An adhesive layer is interposed between the electrophoresis element and the first electrode. An insulation layer is formed at a region between each two of the first electrodes that are arrayed adjacent to each other.
US07663793B1 Wide angle immersive display system
A wide angle display system, comprising a scanner having at least one reflective surface and an axis of rotation, a dome having a reflective inner surface, the inner surface having an axis of revolution which is coincident with the axis of rotation of the scanner, at least one linear arrangement of light sources producing beams of light. The reflective surface of the scanner reflects the beams of light towards the reflective inner surface of the dome which in turn collimates the beams of light and reflects them towards an observer positioned within the wide angle display system.
US07663791B2 Rotary wedge scanner
A scanning system, including a main housing, and at least one optical wedge (12) rotatable about a shaft means (40) located within the main housing (26), wherein a laser beam having an optical axis and incident on the optical wedge (12), is refracted at least once by the wedge; characterized in that the shaft means (40) passes through the center of the at least one wedge (12) and that the optical axis of the incident laser beam is substantially parallel to, but laterally offset from, the shaft means (40).
US07663785B2 Light scanning unit and electrophotographic image forming apparatus including the same
Provided are a light scanning unit and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including the light scanning unit. The light scanning unit includes a light source, a polygonal mirror deflecting light emitted from the light source in a main scanning direction, an imaging lens transmitting the deflected light to a photoconductor for forming an image, and a synchronization detecting unit detecting a synchronization signal from the deflected light for synchronization in the main scanning direction. The light scanning unit has a total scanning rate, including a synchronization detecting optical path, ranging from about 60% to 75%.
US07663782B2 System and method for high addressable binary image generation using rank ordered error diffusion on pixels within a neighborhood
The disclosed system and method provide a binary image generation method. Used, for example, in a digital reprographic system, the method is suitable for eliminating printing artifacts for high addressable binary digital output, such as digital copies, using an optimized ordered error diffusion method with dynamically computable quantization error and dynamic binary output calculation.
US07663780B2 Cartridge with identifiers
The invention relates to cartridges containing identifiers, and in particular to printer consumable cartridges containing identifiers which may be applied to printed media.
US07663767B2 Apparatus and method for measuring displacement, surface profile and inner radius
An apparatus and a method are proposed for measuring displacement, surface profile and roughness of a moving object or an inner radius of a hollow cylinder. The apparatus includes a light emitting unit, a light dispersing unit for receiving light from the light emitting unit and focusing rays with different wavelengths into different focal points with different intervals, and a wavelength measuring unit for measuring wavelengths of the rays. When the moving object is moving within a dispersing range of the focal points, the rays with different wavelengths are reflected or scattered, and the displacement of the moving object is learned from variation of the wavelengths being measured by the wavelength measuring unit. Given that a reflecting component is disposed in the centre of an inner circle of the hollow cylinder, the inner radius of the hollow cylinder can be measured by the principle of the apparatus for measuring displacement.
US07663757B2 Apparatus and method for obtaining a reflectance property indication of a sample
A method for obtaining a reflectance property indication of a sample which includes making a reflectance measurement of the sample and correcting the reflectance measurement in order to obtain the reflectance property indication. The reflectance measurement represents an observed reflectance of the sample, the reflectance property indication represents a standardized reflectance of the sample, and correcting the reflectance measurement accounts for a difference between the standardized reflectance and the observed reflectance. An apparatus for making a reflectance measurement of a sample which includes a housing defining a viewing port, a temperature control mechanism for controlling the temperature within the interior of the housing, and an optical reflectometer contained within the interior of the housing. The reflectometer has a measurement direction and is movable within the housing so that the measurement direction can be selectively aligned with the viewing port.
US07663751B1 Nephelometer instrument for measuring turbidity of water
The specific wavelength of 525 nm is described as a single monochromatic light source used in the determination of turbidity by nephelometry at 90° for particulate matter in raw water, water treatment, waste water treatment and industrial process streams. This wavelength improves the detection of smaller particle concentration in water where light scattering characteristics of shorter wavelengths are superior to light sources using longer wavelengths.
US07663749B2 Method and system to measure the concentration of constituent elements in an inhomogeneous material using LIBS
A system and method to improve the accuracy of the measure of constituent element(s) in a sample containing domains potentially including the constituent element(s) are described herein. For each domain, the volume of the domain is estimated and the concentration of the constituent element(s) in the domain is determined using LIBS. When all the domains have been analyzed, the volumetric concentration of the domains is summed and divided by the total volume of the sample. Accordingly, by limiting the concentration analysis to separate domains, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the concentration analysis.
US07663746B2 Method and apparatus for scanning, stitching and damping measurements of a double sided metrology inspection tool
A system for inspecting specimens such as semiconductor wafers is provided. The system provides scanning of dual-sided specimens using a damping arrangement which filters unwanted acoustic and seismic vibration, including an optics arrangement which scans a first portion of the specimen and a translation or rotation arrangement for translating or rotating the specimen to a position where the optics arrangement can scan the remaining portion(s) of the specimen. The system further includes means for stitching the scans together, thereby providing both damping of the specimen and the need for smaller and less expensive optical elements.
US07663743B2 Sensing system
In a first aspect according to the invention there is provided a sensing system 100, suitable for sensing the stage of processing of a wafer 200, said sensing system 100 comprising receiving means 110 in the form of a first photosensitive device 110a and a second photosensitive device 110b, detector 120, a comparator 130 and a control system in the form of a programmable logic controller (PLC) 140. The first photosensitive device 110a receives light from the wafer 200, while the second photosensitive device 110b receives ambient light. The light received by the first photosensitive device 110a can be incident ambient light reflected off the surface of the wafer 200, refracted light radiating through the wafer 200, filtered light radiating through the wafer 200 or translucent light radiating through the wafer 200. It is further envisaged that the received light may be filtered through filters (not shown) before being received by the photosensitive devices 110a&b. The detector 120 then generates a wafer control signal associated with the color(s) of the light received from the wafer 200. The wafer control signal produced by the detector 120 is then compared by a comparator 130. Once the comparator 130 has compared the wafer control signal to the predetermined values, this indirectly indicates the level of processing of the wafer 200. The PLC 140 then controls the further processing of the wafer 200 according to the result of the comparison.
US07663742B2 Lens inspection system using phase contrast imaging
The present invention relates to an inspection system for the automatic inspection of ophthalmic lenses, preferably in an automated lens manufacturing line. The inspection system provides a phase contrast imaging unit and an inspection method using said phase contrast imaging unit designed to recognize defective lenses with an improved degree of reliability but that does not falsely sort out perfect lenses.
US07663740B2 Optical power measuring apparatus capable of monitoring status of optical fiber contact end
The present invention provides an optical power measuring apparatus capable of monitoring the status, such as cleanness, of an optical fiber contact end face. The disclosed optical power measuring apparatus includes a microscope camera module, an illuminating module, an optical element, an optical power detection unit, a display unit and a central processing unit. The present invention may switch between optical fiber contact end status monitoring and optical power measurement. The apparatus can simplify the complicated steps for an optical fiber to insert to and pull from an optical microscope and then insert to an optical power meter. It can help a user to measure the correct optical power rapidly.
US07663729B2 Arrangement of photo spacer material
This invention discloses a photo spacer material arrangement method. The method is used for a flat display apparatus that comprises at least one photo spacer, a panel, and a substrate. The photo spacer material provides a fixed distance between the panel and the substrate. The photo spacer material arrangement method comprises providing an area unit composed of N×N sub-area units with multiple columns and multiple rows. In order to provide P photo spacers for uniform distributing on sub-area units with an arrangement mode, there is only one photo spacer in each column, and there is only one photo spacer in each row in sub-area units.
US07663724B2 Fringe field switching mode liquid crystal display device
Provided is a Fringe Field Switching (FFS) mode Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). In the FFS mode LCD, a lower substrate, an upper substrate and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the substrates are included, each pixel region is defined by gate lines and data lines formed to cross each other on the lower substrate, and switching devices are disposed at intersections of the gate lines and the data lines. The FFS mode LCD includes a transparent pixel electrode, and a transparent common electrode disposed apart from the transparent pixel electrode by an insulating layer interposed between the transparent pixel electrode and the transparent common electrode, in the pixel region to adjust transmittance by applying an electric field to the liquid crystal layer, the transparent common electrode has a plurality of bars having a predetermined width in a direction substantially parallel to the data lines, the transparent common electrode has a first bar formed to cover the data lines and a second bar formed adjacent to the first bar in a central area of the pixel region, a distance between the first bar and the second bar is larger than a distance between bars formed in the pixel region, and one end of the transparent pixel electrode is disposed between the first bar and the adjacent secondbar.
US07663717B2 Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate; a second substrate; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; a first polarizer provided on a surface of the first substrate which is on the opposite side to the liquid crystal layer; a second polarizer provided on a surface of the second substrate which is on the opposite side to the liquid crystal layer; a first phase compensation element provided between the first polarizer and the liquid crystal layer; and a second phase compensation element provided between the second polarizer and the liquid crystal layer. A plurality of pixel areas are provided for display. The first substrate includes at least one transmissive electrode, and the second substrate includes a reflective electrode region and a transmissive electrode region in correspondence with each of the plurality of pixel areas.
US07663714B2 Backlight device and color liquid crystal display apparatus
Disclosed is a backlight device used for a color liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus. The red light, green light and blue light, generated by a light source, made up by a red light emitting diode (21R), a green light emitting diode (21G) and a blue light emitting diode (21B), respectively, are mixed together to generate white light. The red light has a half-value width hwr such that 15 nm≦hwr≦30 nm, and the green light has a half-value width hwg such that 25 nm≦hwg≦50 nm. The blue light has a half-value width hwb such that 15 nm≦hwb≦30 nm. The white light illuminates a transmissive color liquid crystal display panel (10) from its back side. The transmissive color liquid crystal display panel includes a color filter (19) made up by a tristimulus filter for wavelength-selecting and transmitting red light, green light and blue light.
US07663704B2 Television tuner for control of directivity of antenna
Disclosed is a television tuner for receiving television broadcast signals with an antenna, which is equipped with an auto-scan unit that causes a channel storing section, which stores a receiving channel at the time when the signal condition from a tuner section matches the predetermined signal condition, to automatically store the receiving channel, wherein the auto scan unit detects switches among the receiving channel sequentially in the tuner section to detect the signal condition, and, after signal condition is detected for every channel, performs a variable directivity control for the antenna, resulting in an increased auto-scan execution speed.
US07663694B2 Digital camera
A digital camera includes an image sensor unit which is fixed to a camera body, the image sensor incorporating an image sensor package including an image sensor, and a reference plate which serves as a positional reference when fixed to the camera body, the image sensor package being mounted to the reference plate; and an adjusting device, incorporated in the image sensor unit, for adjusting at least an inclination of the image sensor with respect to a reference surface of the reference plate.
US07663693B2 Camera module
A camera module is provided. The camera module comprises: a lens; a holder having a lower portion, the holder holding the lens; a circuit board; and an image sensing and processing unit including an image sensing device and an optional signal processing device stacked on and electrically connected to the image sensing device, the image sensing and processing unit being packaged on one side of the circuit board; wherein the holder is fixed on the circuit board, the image sensing and processing unit inside the lower portion of the holder. Further, if the circuit board is a flexible circuit board, then a hard plate can be disposed on the other side of the flexible PCB corresponding to the image sensing and processing unit in order to enhance the mechanical strength.
US07663686B2 Lens module and camera employing the same
A lens module includes a barrel defining a through hole, at least one plastic lens accommodated in the through hole and a UV/IR cut filter mounted on the barrel and configured for preventing entry of both UV light and IR light into the barrel. The lens module has a UV/IR cut filter mounted on the barrel configured for preventing entry of both UV light and IR light into the barrel, so it can prevent UV light damaging plastic lenses, and accordingly can improve the useful life of the lens module.
US07663684B2 Charge transfer device and a solid state imaging device using the charge transfer device
An electric charge transfer apparatus comprising a plurality of vertical charge transfer devices for transferring a signal electric charge, a plurality of charge-discharging circuit sets formed next to each of the plurality of vertical charge transfer device, and an output circuit for outputting the signal electric charge transferred by the plurality of charge-discharging circuits to outside of the electric charge transfer apparatus. Each of the plurality of charge-discharging circuit sets includes at least two charge-discharging circuits for discharging the signal electric charge transferred by at least one of adjacent vertical transfer devices consecutively to avoid an electrical barrier caused by left-behind electric charge.
US07663680B2 Arrangement of circuits in pixels, each circuit shared by a plurality of pixels, in image sensing apparatus
In an image sensing apparatus having a plurality of unit cells, each including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and a common circuit shared by the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, arranged in either one or two dimensions, the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged at a predetermined interval.
US07663675B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, program, and storage medium with length-to-breath image conversion and superimposing of images
This invention prevents quality deterioration and positional shift of OSD when an image and the OSD are to be together displayed by LB display. An image processing apparatus having a function of superposing a second image on a first image includes a converter (103) which converts the length-to-breadth ratio of at least the first image, a first superposing unit (101) which superposes the second image on the first image before the length-to-breadth ratio is converted by the converter (103), and a second superposing unit (105) which superposes the second image on the first image after the length-to-breadth ratio is converted by the converter (103).
US07663667B2 Scan conversion device and electronic camera
A scan conversion device includes a first buffer unit, a pixel packing unit, a second buffer unit, and a scan output unit. The first buffer unit stores therein pixel signals of the input image on every line in a main scanning direction thereof. The pixel packing unit groups N (N≧2) pixel signals on each line into pixel signal packs according to a predetermined pixel combination rule, and outputs them sequentially. The second buffer unit stores therein the pixel signal packs and aligns them in a second main scanning direction different from the main scanning direction. The scan output unit sequentially outputs the pixel signal packs aligned in the second main scanning direction. According to this configuration, a scan pattern of the input image is changed into a scan pattern of outputting every N output lines in the second main scanning direction.
US07663655B2 Light-emitting device and image forming apparatus
A light-emitting device has a plurality of pixel circuits arranged in one direction, each of the plurality of pixel circuits having a light-emitting element that emits light according to the amount of driving current, a driving transistor that supplies the driving current to the light-emitting element, a holding transistor that supplies a data signal supplied via a data line to the driving transistor, and a connecting line that connects the driving transistor to the holding transistor. The holding transistor, the light-emitting element, and the driving transistor are arranged in a direction crossing the arrangement direction of the plurality of pixel circuits. The light-emitting element is provided between the holding transistor and the driving transistor.
US07663654B2 Image formation device and method for correcting periodic variations
An image-forming device which is equipped with an image-holding member, an exposure section provided with plural light-emitting portions arranged in a first direction, a movement section that relatively moves the exposure section and the image-holding member in a second direction that intersects with the first direction, and a light-emission control section. The light-emission control section causes the plural light-emitting portions to periodically emit light in accordance with image data representing an image that is to be formed on the image-holding member, to form the image on the image-holding member. The light-emission control section varies a light-emission period during formation of the image, so as to correct for periodic fluctuations within the image of at least one of density and magnification ratio in the second direction.
US07663643B2 Electronic album display system, an electronic album display method, and a machine readable medium storing thereon a computer program for displaying an electronic album
An electronic album display system for displaying a plurality of images included in an electronic album having an image storing unit for classifying each of the plurality of images into a plurality of groups and storing each image, an image selecting unit for selecting an image to be displayed, an image display unit for displaying the image selected, an operation unit for receiving a display operation for said image display unit controlled by a viewer when one image is being displayed, an interest detecting unit for detecting an interest of the viewer in the one image on the basis of the display operation received by the operation unit, and an interest storing unit for storing the interest for each of the plurality of images, wherein the image selecting unit selects an image classified in a group including an image in which the viewer has an interest based on the interest stored in said interest storing unit.
US07663639B2 Methods and systems for providing texture tiling and mirroring
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing texture tiling. The disclosed systems and methods may include copying a source image into a texture of a size the same or larger than the source image. Furthermore, the disclosed systems and methods may include displacing texture coordinates corresponding to the texture into a desired range. A displacement map may be used in displacing the texture coordinates. Moreover, the disclosed systems and methods may include rendering, within the desired range, an output image corresponding to the texture coordinates associated with the texture.
US07663638B2 Stroked fill
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to display a stroked fill for an object. A computer-generated rendering is obtained that consists of vector geometry. Closed geometry is obtained in the computer-generated rendering. Lastly, a fill is automatically created. The fill consists of a series of two or more curves, wherein each curve in the series crosses an interior of the closed geometry.
US07663637B2 Overriding layer properties in computer aided design viewports
Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for overriding layer display properties in computer-aided design (CAD) viewports. A method of generating a display representation of a CAD drawing includes identifying one or more layers of the CAD drawing to include in the display representation. Each of the one or more layers may be associated with a set of drawing elements and a set of layer display properties. The method also includes identifying a viewport display property for a first layer of the one or more layers and generating the display representation. The display representation may include the drawing elements associated with the one or more layers, and the appearance of the drawing elements associated with the first layer is based on the viewport display property.
US07663632B2 Method and apparatus for rendering video
Multiple Video Graphic Adapters (VGAs) are used to render video data to a common port. In one embodiment, each VGA will render an entire frame of video and provide it to the output port through a switch. The next adjacent frame will be calculated by a separate VGA and provided to an output port through the switch. A voltage adjustment is made to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) of at least one of the VGAs in order to correlate the video-out voltages being provided by the VGAs. This correlation assures that the color being viewed on the screen is uniform regardless of which VGA is providing the signal. When a VGA is not providing information to the output port, a dummy switch can be selected to provide the video-output of the selected VGA a resistance path which matches the resistance at the video port.
US07663629B2 Collision determination program and collision determination apparatus
A collision determination area set for a dog as an object in a virtual three-dimensional space is, for example, a sphere having the center at the chest of the dog and having a radius of 30 in the “on all fours” state, a sphere having the center at the hip of the dog and having a radius of 10 in the “standing” state, and a sphere having the center at the head of the dog and having a radius of 10 in the state of the dog “trying to fawn with another dog” in the virtual three-dimensional space. Using the collision determination area set in this manner, it is determined whether or not the dog has collided against another object. Therefore, a collision determination suitable to individual situations can be realized while suppressing an increase in the amount of calculations required for the collision determination.
US07663619B2 Power supply circuit, display driver, electro-optical device, electronic instrument, and method of controlling power supply circuit
A power supply circuit including: a high-potential-side voltage generation circuit which generates a high-potential-side voltage to be supplied to the common electrode; a low-potential-side voltage generation circuit which generates a low-potential-side voltage to be supplied to the common electrode; and a switch circuit which alternately supplies the high-potential-side voltage and the low-potential-side voltage to the common electrode as a common electrode voltage. The power supply circuit performs supply capability control of the common electrode voltage which changes at least one of current drive capability of the high-potential-side voltage generation circuit, an output voltage level of the high-potential-side voltage generation circuit, current drive capability of the low-potential-side voltage generation circuit, and an output voltage level of the low-potential-side voltage generation circuit according to line data including grayscale data for the number of dots of one scan line, each dot corresponding to voltage applied to the pixel electrode.
US07663604B2 Input device and electronic device using the input device
An input device includes a touch panel with which a user performs an input operation of information by touching the touch panel. The input device further includes a vibration generation device for feeding back, to the user, various kinds of sense of touch in accordance with the type of the information through the touch panel. Additionally, the input device includes a vibration control circuit for allowing the vibration generation device to generate various forms of vibrations in accordance with the type of the information. The vibration generation device is a bimorph piezoelectric actuator including a first actuator unit and a second actuator unit stacked on the first actuator unit in which when one of the first and second actuator units expands, the other contracts. Further, each of the first and second actuator units has a multi-layered piezoelectric element layer.
US07663598B2 Backlight assembly driving apparatus for liquid crystal display
A backlight assembly driving apparatus for a liquid crystal display device includes a light emitting diode string of serially connected light emitting diodes, and switching devices connected in parallel to and in a one-to-one correspondence with the light emitting diodes to conduct or turn off current applied to a correspondingly parallel-connected light emitting diode.
US07663594B2 Liquid crystal display device with charge sharing function and driving method thereof
A liquid crystal display device with a charge sharing function is suitable for reducing the power consumption below a predetermined limit. In the liquid crystal display device, a pair of pixels adjacent along the data line is charged with pixel data voltages of polarity opposite to that of another pair of pixels adjacent to the pair of the pixels. A charge sharing unit selectively allows the data lines to share charges at intervals between periods in which the pixel data voltages are supplied to the pair of the pixels adjacent along the data line.
US07663590B2 Flicker-constrained liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display has pixel electrodes, a common electrode, a liquid crystal layer provided between the pixel electrodes and the common electrode, and a back light that supplies light transmitting through the liquid crystal layer, further has a control circuit that applies a drive voltage corresponding to image data between the pixel electrodes and the common electrode such that the polarity of the drive voltage is inverted for each predetermined period. Within a frame period, the control circuit applies a drive voltage of a first polarity in a first period, applies a drive voltage of a second polarity opposite to the first polarity, which is the same voltage as the drive voltage of the first polarity, in a second period after the first period, and controls such that the back light is turned off in the first period and turned on in the second period.
US07663589B2 Electro-luminescence display device and driving method thereof
There is disclosed an electro-luminescence display device that is adaptive for preventing picture quality deterioration by operating a thin film transistor for an electro-luminescence cell drive at a non-saturation area to compensate a threshold voltage, and a driving method thereof.An electro-luminescence display device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an electro-luminescence cell connected between a first supply voltage source and a ground voltage source to emit light by a current supplied from the first supply voltage source; a cell driver formed every intersection of gate lines and data lines and connected between the first supply voltage source and the electro-luminescence cell to control a current flowing in the pixel cell; and a pulse supplier supplies to the electro-luminescence cell a pulse amplitude modulation signal which is divided to have N (N is a natural number) numbers of different voltage levels from each other, and wherein the driving thin film transistor operates at the non-saturation region.
US07663586B2 Reference voltage generation circuit, display driver, electro-optical device, and electronic instrument
A reference voltage generation circuit, including: first to Jth (J is an integer greater than one) gamma correction data registers in which gamma correction data for generating a plurality of reference voltages is set; and a reference voltage select circuit which selects K select voltages from first to Lth (L is an integer greater than two, and K is a natural number smaller than L) select voltages arranged in potential descending order or potential ascending order and outputs the K select voltages as first to Kth reference voltages in potential descending order or potential ascending order, based on the gamma correction data set in one of the first to Jth gamma correction data registers, wherein the first to Kth reference voltages are output as the reference voltages.
US07663581B2 Light emitting panel and light emitting display
A light emitting display increases the lifetime of a light emitting element by reverse biasing the light emitting element without using an additional power source and a power source line. The light emitting element is reverse biased without using the power source and the power source line for the reverse bias because a low level light emitting scan signal is used. The aperture ratio, contrast ratio, and lifetime of the light emitting display are increased.
US07663578B2 Semiconductor device, display device and electronic device
A potential which is applied to a gate electrode of a driving transistor in accordance with an emission state or a non-emission state of a light-emitting element fluctuates due to noise or leakage from a selection transistor, or the like, which causes a problem in that the driving transistor cannot turn on or off normally and malfunctions. The present invention includes a transistor connected to a light-emitting element, a power source line, a scan line, a memory circuit, and a switching circuit, in which the transistor controls light emission or non light emission of the light-emitting element, and the switching circuit controlled by the scan line conducts switching between the transistor, and the memory circuit and the power source line, and applies an input potential to the transistor.
US07663564B2 Method for making smart cards capable of operating with and without contact
The invention concerns a method for making smart cards capable of operating with or without contact called mixed cards and contactless smart cards. In order to avoid the risk of deteriorating the antenna the method consists in producing an antenna comprising at least two turns, on a support sheet, said antenna having its turns located outside the connecting pads, and in providing an insulating bridge so as to connect each of the antenna ends to a connection pad respectively.
US07663562B2 Antenna and manufacturing method thereof
An antenna according to the present invention comprises: a plurality of parallel disposed linear conductors; two insulating films between which the plurality of linear conductors are sandwiched; at least one cut portion formed in at least one of the plurality of linear conductors; and a feed point connected to at least one of the plurality of linear conductors. With this configuration, the segment of the linear conductor connected to the feed point provides a driven element, while the other end of the linear conductor opposite to the feed point connected end is electrically open so that the segment of the linear conductor extending beyond the cut portion provides a parasitic element.
US07663557B2 Mobile terminal
A mobile terminal having a first body defining a holding portion, a second body slidable with respect to the first body, a display provided in one of the first and second bodies an input device provided in the other of the first and second bodies, a first circuitry supporting substrate provided in the holding portion and a second circuitry supporting substrate provided in the holding portion. The first and second circuitry supporting substrates are arranged in an overlapping arrangement.
US07663550B2 Distributed phase type circular polarized wave antenna and high-frequency module using the same
A distributed phase type circular polarized wave antenna is composed of a group of narrow conductor lines 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d, and the group of the narrow conductor lines 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d are laid out in a two-dimensional plane. Complex vectorial sums of respective projections of current induced in each point of the narrow conductor lines 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d in two directions orthogonal to each other in the two-dimensional plane are determined, such that amplitudes of the complex vectorial sums are equal to each other in the two directions and a phase difference between the complex vectorial sums in the two directions is 90°.
US07663542B1 Antenna autotrack control system for precision spot beam pointing control
The present invention provides a system and a method for improving spacecraft antenna pointing accuracy utilizing feedforward estimation. The present invention takes advantage of the fact that spacecraft antenna pointing error has periodic behavior with a period of 24 hours. Thus, unlike the prior art feedback systems which blindly correct antenna pointing error continuously reacting only to presently sensed error, the present invention takes an intelligent approach and learns the periodic behavior of spacecraft antenna pointing error. Then, an estimate of antenna pointing error at a particular time going forward is predicted based on the learned model of the periodic behavior of the antenna pointing error. The predicted estimate is then used to correct or cancel out the antenna pointing error at a particular time in the future. The result is more accurate correction of spacecraft antenna pointing error by more than a factor of two.
US07663538B2 Electromagnetic signal emitting and/or receiving device and corresponding integrated circuit
Electromagnetic signal emitting and/or receiving device and corresponding integrated circuit. The electromagnetic signal emitting and/or receiving device defines a minimum operational bandwidth and includes one or several arrays of antennas, each having at least one antenna, and which generate an output signal corresponding to the output signal generated by an hypothetical antenna equal to this antenna, when the hypothetical antenna is performing a periodic movement, preferably a rotation or combination of rotations. The periodic movement must have a frequency higher than a minimum operational bandwidth. In this manner the directivity of the antennas can be affected by changing their radiation pattern, being possible to obtain high directivity devices. The periodic movement can be replaced by an array of fixed antennas oriented in space and sequentially connected by miniaturized relays.
US07663536B2 Apparatus and method for estimating distance using time of arrival
A ranging apparatus includes a reference pulse generator generating a reference pulse having a first frequency at a first point in time of transmitting a ranging signal from a first device; a delay pulse generator generating a delay pulse signal having a second frequency at a second point in time of receiving the a response signal transmitted from the second device in response to the ranging signal; an overlap detector detecting a third point in time that the reference and delay pulses overlap each other; a counter counting one of the reference and delay pulses until the third point; and a distance calculator calculating an amount of time from the first point to the second point by applying the first and second frequencies, and a count value of the counter and calculating the distance between the first device and the second device by using the amount of time.
US07663534B2 Radar sensor and method for analyzing objects
A method and a radar sensor for transmitting frequency-modulated transmitted signals and receiving partial waves reflected by objects in the sensor detection range. A frequency shift of the received signal relative to the transmitted signal is determined for each object reflecting in each frequency ramp, it being possible to determine the relative speeds and the distances of the detected objects from the combination of frequency shifts of a plurality of ramps. The objects detected in preceding measurement cycles are stored in a memory, their relative speed and their distance being computed in advance for a future measurement cycle. The expected frequency shifts are determined and the frequency shifts of a plurality of ramps are combined in order to determine the relative speeds and the distances for objects that have not yet been stored in the memory.
US07663505B2 Traffic management device and system
A smart traffic control device transmits information to approaching vehicles regarding its current and future state enabling vehicles to control their speed to avoid arriving at the traffic control device until it permits the passage of traffic, thus avoiding stopping, idling and reaccelerating when reaching the traffic control device. In other embodiments the traffic control device or systems receives information from vehicles, transmitting it to other vehicles.
US07663496B2 Pressure switch
In a pressure switch, a joint coupling holder is mounted via an opening in a case constituting a housing. A plurality of engagement pawls that make up the joint coupling holder engages with a bottom of the case. Further, by inserting a cap into a recess of the joint coupling holder, the engaged state of the engagement pawls is maintained, whereby the housing, which is made from a resin material, and the joint coupling holder are strongly and rigidly connected together.
US07663488B2 System and method of virtually packaging multimedia
Embodiments include systems and methods of accessing multimedia content. One embodiment includes a system for accessing multimedia data. The system includes a tangible object comprising at least one proximity device embedded within the tangible object. The tangible object is configured to provide identification information of the tangible object. The system further includes a reader configured to wirelessly detect the tangible object based upon the proximity device and receive the identification information. The system further includes a device configured to receive a signal from the reader in response to detecting the tangible object and configured to access multimedia data based upon the provided identification information.
US07663485B2 Apparatus for identifying objects using radio frequency and apparatus and method for tracking position of object using the same
A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag based object position tracking apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus includes a position recognizer including at least one radio frequency identification unit for reading information data on an object through a sensor; and a path analyzing and processing unit for allocating each unique coordinates to the radio frequency identification units based on a relative position in a space where a position recognizer is disposed and recognizing the position of the object and analyzing the path based on the object information data received by the sensor in the radio frequency identification unit corresponding to the unique coordinate. Thus, it is possible to track the path of an object with a low density of RFID tags.
US07663482B1 Tracking and processing cargo containers having indefinite security status
A method of tracking and processing at least one cargo container having an indefinite security status (ISS). In one embodiment, the method of the present invention comprises: (A) detecting at least one statistically significant threat (SST) signal associated with at least one cargo container while in transit; (B) if at least one such SST signal was detected, identifying each cargo container that generated at least one such SST signal and classifying the security status of each such cargo container as a Potential Threat (PT) cargo container; (C) substantially continuously checking at least one generated SST signal to verify the security status of at least one PT container while in transit; (D) if at least one SST signal is confirmed to be a false positive SST signal, changing the security status of at least one PT container associated with the false positive SST signal to an indefinite security status (ISS) cargo container; and (E) tracking and reporting position coordinates and security status of each ISS PT cargo container to an appropriate party.
US07663474B1 Method and apparatus for automatic noninvasive illegal rider detection system
This is a method and apparatus for the detection of a noninvasive method by which illegal riders can be detected. This will save tremendous amounts of time and money with regard to the inspection of individual trains and also minimize the necessity of randomly stopping a train and randomly inspecting cars on the train.
US07663472B2 Electronic key system for motorcycle
In an electronic key system for a vehicle which includes a control apparatus mounted on an actual vehicle and an electronic key for transmitting a response signal in response to receiving of a request signal transmitted from the control apparatus through a transmitting antenna, the transmitting antenna is installed on an instrument panel of the actual vehicle. In particular, the instrument panel has various instruments (a speedometer, a direction indicator (left), another direction indicator (right), and so forth) and a board for securing the instruments thereto. Accordingly, the transmitting antenna is installed at a position on the board rather near to a seat (a position of front side of the user when the user is seated on the seat).
US07663460B2 Planar transformer and switching power supply
A planar transformer comprises a primary coil board including a primary coil, a secondary coil board including a secondary coil, a heat sink integrally having a spacer portion, and a magnetic core assembly mounted to the primary coil board and the secondary coil board. The spacer portion is inserted into a gap between and facing the primary coil board and the secondary coil board and at least a surface of the heat sink is electrical insulating.
US07663458B2 Coil system for contact-free magnetic navigation of a magnetic body in a working chamber
A magnetic body is displaceable in a contact-free manner in a working chamber by the use of a magnetic coil system composed of fourteen individually controllable coils. Three magnetic field components and five magnetic field gradients are produced. Apart from two individual coils in the coil system, the other coils, which may be saddle-shaped coils, are arranged on lateral tubular surfaces surrounding the working chamber.
US07663457B2 Magnetic latch for a voice coil actuator
Magnetically latching and releasing a voice coil actuator for controlling electrical switchgear. The voice coil actuator includes a voice coil magnet disposed on a common longitudinal axis with respect to a voice coil assembly. A coil of the voice coil assembly exerts a magnetic force on the voice coil assembly, thrusting the voice coil assembly towards the voice coil magnet. At least one pair of latching members mounted to the voice coil assembly creates a permanent magnet circuit between the latching members and the voice coil magnet. The permanent magnet circuit maintains the position of the voice coil assembly relative to the voice coil magnet, even when power to the coil is removed. This latch can be released by applying a current in the coil or by applying an external, physical force to a member coupled to the voice coil assembly.
US07663456B2 Micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) switch arrays
A micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) switch array for power switching includes an input node, an output node, and a plurality of MEMS switches, wherein the input node and the output node are independently in electrical communication with a portion of the plurality of MEMS switches, and wherein a failure of any one of the plurality of MEMS switches does not render ineffective another MEMS switch within the MEMS switch array.
US07663455B2 Band-pass filter element and high frequency module
A high frequency module incorporates a layered substrate, a plurality of elements mounted on a top surface of the layered substrate, and a metallic casing that covers these elements. The plurality of elements mounted on the top surface of the layered substrate include a band-pass filter element. The band-pass filter element includes a plurality of conductor layers for band-pass filter and a plurality of dielectric layers for band-pass filter that implement a function of a band-pass filter, but does not include any conductor layer that functions as an electromagnetic shield. A conductor layer for grounding that the layered substrate includes and the casing are each opposed to the band-pass filter element, and thereby function as an electromagnetic shield for the band-pass filter element.
US07663453B2 Multilayer electronic component and multilayer array electronic component
A multilayer array electronic component includes a multilayer composite including a helical coil and a capacitor that are defined by stacking a coil conductor, a capacitor conductor, and a ceramic sheet on one another. External electrodes are arranged on the surface of the multilayer composite and electrically connected to the helical coil or the capacitor. A direction identification mark is arranged on the upper surface of the multilayer composite and electrically connected to any of the external electrodes through the helical coil or the capacitor.
US07663448B2 Laminated balun with an integrally mounted matching circuit
A dielectric member comprising a laminated balun and a matching circuit, wherein the matching circuit is integrally mounted within the laminated balun. The matching circuit comprises a patterned conductive film formed on a surface of an existing dielectric substrate in the balun such that the balun is not increased in size.
US07663446B1 Adjustable supply voltage in a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) for wide range frequency coverage
Methods, algorithms, architectures, circuits, and/or systems for increasing voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) operational frequency ranges are disclosed. In one embodiment, a VCO can include 2n+1 transconductors configured to provide an oscillating signal, where n≧1; a selectable supply voltage coupled to each of the transconductors, where a frequency range of the oscillating signal is related to the selectable supply voltage; and an adjustable input voltage, where a frequency of the VCO depends on a value of the adjustable input voltage. Also, the VCO may include a voltage regulator configured to provide the supply voltage and/or a selecting circuit configured to select a reference voltage (e.g., from the voltage regulator can produce the supply voltage). Embodiments of the present invention can advantageously provide a cost effective approach for enhancing VCO frequency ranges from a singly VCO, suitable for phase-locked loop (PLL) applications.
US07663442B2 Data receiver including a transconductance amplifier
According to one embodiment, a system, apparatus, and method for receiving high-speed signals using a receiver with a transconductance amplifier is presented. The apparatus comprises a transconductance amplifier to receive input voltage derived from an input signal, a clocked current comparator to receive output current from the transconductance amplifier, and a storage element to receive a binary value from the clocked current comparator.
US07663438B2 Differential amplifier circuit
A differential amplifier circuit of simple circuit configuration is disclosed, which is capable of releasing an output signal within a voltage range independent of the voltage range of a differential input signal. The differential amplifier circuit 1 includes: NMOS transistors N1, N2 that constitute a first differential pair configured to input a differential input voltage; a resistor element Ra connected to drain terminals X1, X2 of the NMOS transistors N1, N2; an op-amp OP having input terminals connected to the drain terminals X1, X2; and NMOS transistors N3, N4 that constitute a second differential pair configured to input an output voltage of the op-amp OP and a reference voltage. The drain terminals of the first differential pair are connected to drain terminals, respectively, of the second differential pair.
US07663427B2 Booster circuit
A charge pump type booster circuit generates a positive or negative boosted output voltage by switching booster paths one by one. This charge pump type booster circuit includes a plurality of booster paths, each of the plurality of booster paths including at least one booster capacitor, wherein a number of the booster capacitor at each of the plurality of booster paths is different between one booster path and the other booster path. This makes it possible to suppress an increase in a number of an external capacitor for setting an output voltage of the booster circuit constant.
US07663424B2 Circuit and method for reducing charge injection and clock feed-through in switched capacitor circuits
A low charge injection, low clock feed-through switch (1) has an input signal (Vin) applied both to the sources of first (S1) and second (2) switching transistors. A first clock signal (P) having pulses of a first duration ts is applied to a gate of the first switching transistor, and a second clock signal (Pcoarse) having pulses of a second duration m×ts substantially less than the first duration is applied to a gate of the second switching transistor. A capacitor (C) is charged toward the input voltage through both the first and second switching transistors during the pulse of the second clock signal. The capacitor is charged further toward the input voltage during a remaining portion of the pulse of the first clock signal.
US07663418B2 Driving circuit slew rate compensation method
An apparatus for compensating slew rate of a driving circuit includes: a first circuit, for receiving an edge transition from the driving circuit and generating a first pulse proportional to an actual slope of the edge transition; a second circuit, for receiving an ideal edge transition of the driving circuit and generating a second pulse proportional to an ideal slope of the ideal edge transition; a comparison circuit, coupled to the first circuit and the second circuit, for comparing an extreme value of amplitude of the first pulse with an extreme value of amplitude of the second pulse to produce a comparison signal; and a control circuit, coupled to the comparison circuit, for increasing or decreasing the slew rate of the driving circuit according to the comparison signal.
US07663416B2 Apparatus and related method for generating output clock
An apparatus for generating an audio output clock is disclosed. The apparatus at least includes a plurality of dividers and a frequency synthesizer. The apparatus utilizes the dividers to achieve dispersive frequency-division operations such that the anti-noise ability of the apparatus can be improved. In addition, the apparatus also utilizes dynamic phase adjustment to increase accuracy of the frequency of the audio output clock.
US07663415B2 Phase locked loop (PLL) method and architecture
A phase locked loop (PLL) architecture provides voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) gain compensation across process and temperature. A simulator may be used to calculate the control voltages for the maximum and minimum output frequency of the VCO for each combination of the process and temperature corners. The maximum and minimum values of control voltage are then selected from these control voltages. Using a counter, the number of cycles of VCO in some cycles of the PLL input clock are counted in binary form and stored in latches for the extreme control voltages. The difference between them and the corresponding difference for typical process and temperature corner is used to modify the charge pump to change the current delivered to the loop filter. After the charge pump bits have been decided, the input control voltage of the VCO connects to the charge pump output to start the normal operation of the PLL.
US07663412B1 Method and apparatus for providing leakage current compensation in electrical circuits
A circuit is provided that (in one implementation) includes a first transistor having a first drain terminal, first gate terminal, and a first source terminal. The first drain terminal is connected to the first gate terminal, the first source terminal is connected to a first voltage. The circuit further includes a second transistor having a second drain terminal, second gate terminal, and a second source terminal. The second gate terminal is connected to both the first gate terminal and the first drain terminal, and the second source terminal is connected to the first voltage. The circuit further includes a third transistor having a third drain terminal, a third gate terminal, and a third source terminal. The third drain terminal is connected to the first drain terminal, and the third source terminal is connected to both the third gate terminal and a second voltage that is lower than the first voltage.
US07663408B2 Scannable dynamic circuit latch
A dynamic circuit latch, having the functionality of a domino circuit and a transparent latch, without the delay associated with the inclusion of a separate series latch element. Embodiments include a fast scannable footed Domino dyanmic latch. Also described is a fast scannable delay reset Domino dynamic latch. A fast scannable compound Domino dynamic latch is also described.
US07663402B2 High voltage stress test circuit
A high voltage stress test circuit includes an internal data generation unit for generating internal data and inverted internal data, and a level shifter for receiving the internal data and the inverted internal data and for generating digital data and inverted digital data. In a normal mode, the internal data and the inverted internal data have logic states corresponding to input data, while the digital data and the inverted digital data have logic states corresponding to the internal data and the inverted internal data. In a high voltage stress test mode, the internal data and the inverted internal data have predetermined logic states regardless of a logic state of the input data, while the digital data and the inverted digital data have predetermined logic states regardless of logic states of the internal data and the inverted internal data.
US07663400B1 Flexible carry scheme for field programmable gate arrays
A fast, flexible carry scheme for use in clustered field programmable gate array architectures is described. Each cluster has a cluster carry input node, a cluster carry output node, a cluster carry output circuit having an output coupled to the cluster carry output node, a first input coupled to the cluster carry input node, and a second input and a plurality of logic modules each comprising a logic function generator circuit coupled to a carry circuit. The logic modules are coupled in a series carry arrangement between the cluster carry input node and the second input of the cluster carry output circuit such that the least significant bit of an arithmetic logic circuit can be programmably placed in any of the logic modules.
US07663396B2 Substrate for electro-optical device, electro-optical device, and checking method
A substrate for an electro-optical device includes a plurality of scanning lines arranged in rows; a plurality of data lines arranged in columns and grouped into blocks, each of the blocks including n data lines, where n indicates an integer of 2 or more; a plurality of terminals that receive data signals for the corresponding blocks; a demultiplexer that selects a data line designated by a control signal from among the n data lines within each of the blocks and that supplies to the data line selected in the block the corresponding data signal received by the corresponding terminal for the block; a plurality of pixels disposed in association with intersections of the plurality of scanning lines and the plurality of data lines, some or all of the plurality of pixels performing display in accordance with the data signals supplied to the data lines when selection of the corresponding scanning lines is performed; and a checking circuit. The checking circuit includes n read lines; a plurality of first switches each provided for a different data line, one end of each of the plurality of first switches being connected to a corresponding data line and the other end of each of the plurality of first switches being connected to one of the n read lines such that the other ends of the plurality of first switches corresponding to the n data lines belonging to an identical block are connected to different read lines; and a shift register that selects one of the blocks so as to allow conduction of first switches whose other ends are connected to the n data lines belonging to the selected block.
US07663390B2 Inspection apparatus and method
There are provided an inspection apparatus and method that can locally perform sample temperature regulation, so that the sample drift can be suppressed. There are included a sample stage 109 that holds a semiconductor sample 118, multiple probes 106 used to measure electrical characteristics of a semiconductor device on the semiconductor sample 118, a power source that applies voltage and/or current to the probe 106, a detector that measures electrical characteristics of the semiconductor device on the sample with which the probe is brought into contact, and an electromagnetic wave irradiating mechanism that irradiates electromagnetic wave on a measurement section of the semiconductor sample 118.
US07663384B2 Method and apparatus for measuring metallic area-specific resistance
A simple method and apparatus for measuring the low area specific resistance of a metal plate, particularly in high temperature (<962° C.) environment, are provided. The metal plate, which may include a coating, is used in high temperature environment for electric conduction. Silver paste is applied on the metal surface. Paste sintering processes to minimize contact resistance are described. These sintering processes cause negligible change to the original metal condition, thus accurate and precise area specific resistivity of the metal plate can be obtained.
US07663378B2 Passenger seat having occupant detector and seat heater covered with waterproof sheet
A passenger seat device includes a detector electrode for detecting occupancy of the seat, a seat heater powered by an on-board electric power source, and a waterproof sheet for preventing water permeated into the seat from reaching the seat heater. Whether the seat is occupied or not is detected based on changes in an impedance coupled to the detector electrode. The impedance is affected by the water if it reaches the seat heater, and a sensitivity of the occupancy detection is adversely affected. A shielding electrode insulated from the detector electrode and disposed between the detector electrode and the seat heater may be provided to reduce an amount of parasitic capacitance formed between the detector electrode and the seat heater. An alternating voltage may be supplied to the detector electrode and the shielding electrode.
US07663377B2 System and method for high resolution sensing of capacitance or other reactive impedance change in a large dynamic range
Systems and methods are provided for sensing or measuring capacitive or inductive reactance or changes in reactance in which the sensed reactance is coupled with a known resistance in a sensor circuit and a start signal is provided to the sensor circuit, and a programmable delay line is used to generate a programmable delay signal. The outputs of the programmable delay and the sensor circuits are compared to ascertain which transitions first, and the programmable delay value is adjusted in successive approximation fashion to identify a programmable delay that best represents the delay time of the sensor circuit from which the sensed reactance value can be determined.
US07663375B2 Battery voltage detecting circuit
A battery voltage detecting circuit includes: a first capacitor having one end connected to one input terminal of an operational amplifier; a second capacitor having one end connected to an output terminal of the operational amplifier and the other end connected to the one input terminal of the operational amplifier; a third capacitor having one end connected to the other input terminal of the operational amplifier; a fourth capacitor having one end applied with a reference voltage and the other end connected to the other input terminal of the operational amplifier; and a switching circuit configured to electrically connect the one input terminal of the operational amplifier to the one end of the first capacitor after the transient current has stopped flowing.
US07663373B1 Determining beacon location using magnetic field ratios
A method and system for identifying a location of a magnetic field source. A total magnetic field is measured during a calibration routine prior to a drilling procedure. During the drilling procedure, a magnetic field measurement is obtained. Using a ratio of the measured magnetic field and the calibrated field, a set of possible angles and distances is calculated. After the source is advanced a known distance, a second magnetic field measurement is obtained. A second ratio is calculated and a second set of possible angles and distances is calculated. The relative location of the source is then determined using the first set and second set of values, along with the known distance and a pitch angle of the source.
US07663372B2 Resistivity tools with collocated antennas
A resistivity tool for use in a wellbore is provided. The resistivity tool, in one embodiment, may include a longitudinal tool member, a first set of slots at a selected location in the longitudinal tool member and a conductor associated with the first set of slots to form a first antenna having a first orientation, and a second set of slots substantially at the selected location of the longitudinal tool member and a second conductor associated with the second set of slots to form a second antenna having a second orientation, thereby forming co-located antennas having different orientations.
US07663369B2 Patient couch, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus, and MRI method
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus provides a belt-tension varying unit including a belt winding mechanism that performs reeling and unreeling a belt, a belt driving unit that drives the belt winding mechanism, and belt controlling unit that varies a tension of the belt corresponding to any one of a body length, a body weight, and a part to be imaged of a subject. The belt controlling unit varies the tension of the belt in such a manner that the belt controlling unit makes the tension of the belt large under a circumstance having high possibility where the subject moves, and makes the tension of the belt small under a circumstance having low possibility where the subject moves.
US07663364B2 Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, image processing apparatus, computer program product, and data storing method
A sequence control unit reconstructs image data by performing predetermined image reconstruction including data synthesis processing on a plurality of k-space data collected for each receiver channel. An inverse reconstructing unit creates k-space data synthesized from the K-space data by performing predetermined inverse reconstruction on the reconstructed image data. A data compressing unit compresses the k-space data, and stores the compressed k-space data into a k-space data storing unit.
US07663359B2 Testing mechanism for casings
An exemplary testing mechanism (100) is used for testing for a sufficiency of a casing 90. The testing mechanism includes a framework (20) and a testing module (40). The framework includes a base board (21) and a pillar (26). One end of the pillar is mounted on the base board. The testing module includes a main board (42) and at least one testing pin (44). The main board is slidably mounted on the pillar. A bottom end of the testing pin is slidably mounted to the main board. A top end of the testing pin is positioned adjacent to the base board of the framework. The at least one testing pin is located in a position corresponding to at least one mounting hole of a sufficient casing.
US07663358B2 Current sensor and molding method thereof
A current sensor which can measure accurately current of a wide range, at low cost. A C-shaped shield plate is positioned around a flow direction of a current of the bus bar. When the current flows through the bus bar, magnetic flux density of a magnetic field is generated. A magneto-electronic conversion element detects the magnetic flux density of the magnetic field, and converts the magnetic flux density into an electric signal. Furthermore, the magneto-electronic conversion element is arranged near a position where the previously measured magnetic flux density of the magnetic field, which is generated when a current flows through the bus bar, is minimized between the conductor and the shield plate.
US07663357B2 Signal readout circuit for amperometric sensor
A signal readout circuit for amperometric sensor for reading a readout signal of a sensor includes an amplifier, a first transistor, a second transistor, and a first resistor. A negative input end of the amplifier receives an input voltage, and a positive input end of the amplifier is connected to a reference electrode of the sensor. Gates of the first transistor and the second transistor are connected to an output end of the amplifier, a drain of the first transistor is connected to a counter electrode of the sensor, and a drain of the second transistor is connected to the first resistor.
US07663354B2 Voltage clamp circuit, a switching power supply device, a semiconductor integrated circuit device, and a voltage level conversion circuit
The present invention provides a voltage clamping circuit which is operated in a stable manner with the simple constitution and a switching power source device which enables a high-speed operation. In a switching power source device, one of source/drain routes is connected to an input terminal to which an input voltage is supplied, a predetermined voltage to be restricted is supplied to a gate, and using a MOSFET which provides a current source between another source/drain route and a ground potential of the circuit, a clamp output voltage which corresponds to the input voltage is obtained from another source/drain route. The switching power source device further includes a first switching element which controls a current which is made to flow in an inductor such that the output voltage assumes a predetermined voltage and a second switching element which clamps an reverse electromotive voltage generated in the inductor when the first switching element is turned off to a predetermined potential. In such a switching power source device, the voltage clamping circuit is used in a feedback route for setting a dead time.
US07663353B2 Circuit arrangement for voltage regulation
A circuit arrangement for voltage regulation comprises an output, a controllable output transistor connected to the output, an error detection circuit, and a monitoring control circuit. A voltage-regulated output potential can be tapped off the output, the controllable output transistor is connected to the output on a load side and the output transistor comprises a control terminal. The error detection circuit provides a regulating signal if a deviation between the output potential or a potential derived from the output potential and a desired value occurs. By means of the regulating signal the control terminal can be charged or discharged dependent on the deviation and the monitoring control circuit monitors the regulating signal and performs, if the regulating signal lies outside a predetermined range, an additional charging or discharging of the control terminal until the regulating signal lies within the predetermined range.
US07663324B2 Control circuit and method for driving a gas discharge lamp
A control circuit (1) for driving a gas discharge lamp, in particular a fluorescent lamp (FL), having a controllable converter (2) for converting a DC voltage to an AC voltage and having two feed lines (3, 4), which are connected on the AC-voltage side to the converter (2), and between which the gas discharge lamp can be connected, an inductor (L1), a first capacitance (C1) and a first controllable switching element (T1) being connected in series in the feed lines (3, 4). The feed lines (3, 4) are connected to one another via a second switching element (T2). A control unit (ST2) controls the switching elements (T1, T2, T3) in synchronism with the AC voltage of the converter (2) and is designed such that the second switching element (T2) is opened after a closed phase for the purpose of starting the gas discharge lamp at such a point in time that the AC voltage at the inductor (L1), which is set in the resonant circuit including the inductor (L1) and the parasitic capacitance (C4) of the second switching element (T2), and the AC voltage of the converter (2), approximately in-phase in terms of their extrema, are added to give a starting voltage. Furthermore, provided is a corresponding method for driving the gas discharge lamp.
US07663318B2 HID lamp with rapid relight aid
The restrike time for re-light up of an arc discharge lamp may be decreased by including at least one refractory bimetallic start up electrode that provides a shorter arc path intermediate the main arc path in a cool state, but when heated withdraws to have a relatively longer arc path. The longer arc path in the hot state results in a relatively higher path impedance that can be used by itself or in combination with a supplemental impedance device to extinguish the starting arc in favor of the main arc. The withdrawn bimetallic starting electrode then does not interfere with the main arc function.
US07663317B2 Plasma display panel
A plasma display panel includes first and second substrates having a predetermined gap therebetween. Barriers are disposed between the first and second substrates to partition discharge cells and fluorescent layers are formed in the discharge cells. Address electrodes corresponding to the discharge cells extend in a first direction, and pairs of first and second electrodes extend in a second direction to cross the first direction. The address electrodes are on one of the substrates to correspond to the discharge cells. A dielectric layer covers the first and second electrodes, wherein the dielectric layer is colored with a first color, the barriers are colored with a second color having a subtractive mixture relation with the first color, and wherein the fluorescent layers include first fluorescent layers on the barriers and the discharge cells, and second fluorescent layers on the first fluorescent layers in the second color.
US07663315B1 Spherical bulb for light-emitting diode with spherical inner cavity
A bulb is adapted to fit over and around a light-emitting diode emitting a light of a first hue in a generally Lambertian radiation pattern. The bulb has a generally spherical shape and a substantially circular external cross-sectional geometry, and further defines an inner cavity with a substantially circular cross-sectional geometry for housing the light-emitting diode. The bulb is composed of a light-transmitting material and a light color-converting material, with the light color-converting material converting the light of the first hue into a light of a desired hue, which is then viewed along an external surface of said bulb.
US07663302B2 Organic light emitting display (OLED) and its method of fabrication
An Organic Light Emitting Display (OLED) and its method of fabrication includes: a transparent substrate; a photochromatic layer formed on a first surface of the transparent substrate; at least one transparent Thin Film Transistor (TFT) formed on a first surface of the transparent substrate, and an organic light emitting device formed on and electrically connected to the transparent TFT.
US07663288B2 Betavoltaic cell
High aspect ratio micromachined structures in semiconductors are used to improve power density in Betavoltaic cells by providing large surface areas in a small volume. A radioactive beta-emitting material may be placed within gaps between the structures to provide fuel for a cell. The pillars may be formed of SiC. In one embodiment, SiC pillars are formed of n-type SiC. P type dopant, such as boron is obtained by annealing a borosilicate glass boron source formed on the SiC. The glass is then removed. In further embodiments, a dopant may be implanted, coated by glass, and then annealed. The doping results in shallow planar junctions in SiC.
US07663278B2 Fluid bearing with a variable width groove
A fluid bearing that utilizes a variable width groove is described. The fluid bearing includes two surfaces that are rotatable relative to one another, with a groove on at least one of the surface. The borders of the groove are a non-constant width from one another.
US07663265B2 Power supply arrangements
A power supply arrangement for a distributed entertainment system. The power supply arrangement comprises: first and second power supplies, which are floating in relation to each other; a first electrical connector having a distributed impedance for connecting zone apparatus to the first power supply; and a signal processor which is operative to draw power from the second power supply and to transmit electrical signals to the zone apparatus and/or receive electrical signals from the zone apparatus, and in which the zone apparatus is operative to draw current from the first power supply, thereby causing a potential drop across the distributed impedance of the first electrical connector which in turn changes a voltage of a power supply rail at the zone apparatus, characterized by a second electrical connector for connecting the power supply rail of the zone apparatus to a power supply rail of the second power supply.
US07663257B2 Self-powered miniature liquid treatment system with configurable hydropower generator
A liquid treatment system that may be self-powered includes a hydro-generator. A flow of liquid may be used to rotate the hydro-generator to generate electric power. The hydro-generator may include an outer housing and an inner housing. The inner housing may include a first hub removably engaged with a second hub. A plurality of paddles may be replaceably engaged between the first hub and the second hub. An electrical generator may be disposed in the inner housing. A flow of liquid may strike the paddles causing the inner housing to rotate. During rotation of the housing, the electrical generator may produce electrical power.
US07663255B2 Compressed-air-storing electricity generating system and electricity generating method using the same
Disclosed are a compressed air energy-storing electricity generating system and an electricity generating method using the same, in which air of a high pressure is injected into a tank laid under the ground using midnight electricity and surplus produced electricity, and the air of the high pressure in the tank is uniformly discharged so as to drive a generator during a time period when the consumption of electric power is high, thus efficiently managing energy.
US07663248B2 Flip-chip component
A flip-chip component includes a chip with pads located on the chip and a chip frame, wherein the chip frame is arranged around the chip and is attached to the chip so that the active surface of the chip is substantially planar with a surface of the chip frame. A redistribution layer is attached to the chip and chip frame, and interconnections mechanically connect the redistribution layer and a board. Aspects of the invention improve the reliability of the flip-chip package by reducing shear stresses in the interconnections between the package and a board during changing temperatures. This is achieved by carefully selecting the material of the chip frame and designing the placement of the interconnections so that thermal expansion of the package matches that of the board during changing temperatures.
US07663243B2 Semiconductor memory device comprising pseudo ground pad and related method
A semiconductor memory device comprising a pseudo ground voltage pad and a method of making the semiconductor device are disclosed. The semiconductor memory device comprises a plurality of pads that are respectively adjacent to one another in a first direction. The plurality of pads comprises a plurality of ground voltage pads and a plurality of data pads. The semiconductor memory device further comprises a first peripheral circuit ground line disposed adjacent to the pads and extending in the first direction, and an insulating layer formed on a portion of a first region of the semiconductor memory device comprising the plurality of pads and at least a portion of the first peripheral ground circuit line, wherein a region of the first peripheral circuit ground line is exposed to define a pseudo ground voltage pad, and the pseudo ground voltage pad is adjacent to one of the data pads.
US07663231B2 Image sensor module with a three-dimensional die-stacking structure
This invention provides an image sensor module with a three-dimensional die-stacking structure. By filling a conductive material into through silicon vias within at least one image sensor die, and into via holes within an insulating layer, vertical electrical connections are formed between the image sensor die and an image processor buried in the insulating layer. A plurality of solder bumps is formed on a backside of the image sensor module so that the module can be directly assembled onto a circuit board. The image sensor module of this invention is characterized by a wafer-level packaging architecture and a three-dimensional die-stacking structure, which reduces electrical connection lengths within the module and thus reduces an area and height of the whole packaged module.
US07663229B2 Lighting device
A lighting device contains a plurality of light emitting sources mounted on a thermally conductive housing and electrically connected to a circuit board. The housing includes a base portion which is spaced apart from the circuit board, and an intermediate heat dissipation structure which is disposed between the circuit board and the base portion of the housing, for promoting cooling by convection. The plurality of light emitting sources are in thermal communication with the intermediate heat dissipation structure.
US07663212B2 Electronic component having exposed surfaces
An electronic component includes at least one vertical MOSFET device, a leadframe and a contact clip. A source electrode and gate electrode are provided on a lower surface of the MOSFET device and are mounted on a source portion and a gate portion, respectively, of the leadframe. The contact clip is electrically connected between the drain electrode, which is positioned on the upper surface of MOSFET device, and a drain portion of the leadframe.
US07663192B2 CMOS device and method of manufacturing same
A CMOS device includes NMOS (110) and PMOS (130) transistors, each of which include a gate electrode (111, 131) and a gate insulator (112, 132) that defines a gate insulator plane (150, 170). The transistors each further include source/drain regions (113/114, 133/134) having a first portion (115, 135) below the gate insulator plane and a second portion (116, 136) above the gate insulator plane, and an electrically insulating material (117). The NMOS transistor further includes a blocking layer (121) having a portion (122) between the gate electrode and a source contact (118) and a portion (123) between the gate electrode and a drain contact (119). The PMOS transistor further includes a blocking layer (141) having a portion (142) between the source region and the insulating material and a portion (143) between the drain region and the insulating material.
US07663187B2 Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
An extension region is formed by ion implantation under masking by a gate electrode, and then a substance having a diffusion suppressive function over an impurity contained in a source-and-drain is implanted under masking by the gate electrode and a first sidewall spacer so as to form amorphous layers a semiconductor substrate within a surficial layer thereof and in alignment with the first sidewall spacer, to thereby form an amorphous diffusion suppressive region.
US07663186B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes: a substrate, a surface portion thereof serving as a drain layer; a first main electrode connected to the drain layer; an epitaxial layer formed on the drain layer; a base layer formed on the epitaxial layer; a source layer formed in a base layer surface portion; an insulated trench sandwiched by base layers; a JFET layer formed on trench side walls; an LDD layer formed in a base layer surface portion and connected to the JFET layer around a top face of the trench; a control electrode formed on a gate insulating film formed on an LDD layer surface part, on surfaces of source layer end parts facing each other across the trench, and on a base layer region sandwiched by the LDD and source layers; and a second main electrode connected to the source and base layers sandwiching the control electrode.
US07663179B2 Semiconductor device with rewritable nonvolatile memory cell
A semiconductor device having a rewritable nonvolatile memory cell including a first field effect transistor for memory, a circuit including a second field effect transistor and a circuit including a third field effect transistor, the transistors each including a gate insulating film formed over a semiconductor substrate, a gate electrode over the gate insulating film and sidewall spacers over the sidewalls of the corresponding gate electrode. Sidewall spacers of the first field effect transistor are different from those of at least the second field effect transistors. Also, the gate insulating film of the third field effect transistor has a thickness larger than that of the second field effect transistor and the gate electrode of the third field effect transistor has a length different from that of either the first field effect transistor or second field effect transistor. The sidewall spacers of the first field effect transistor include a first silicon oxide film, a first silicon nitride film over the first silicon oxide film and a second silicon oxide film over the first silicon nitride film.
US07663176B2 Method of manufacturing a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, and a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
For enhancing the high performance of a non-volatile semiconductor memory device having an MONOS type transistor, a non-volatile semiconductor memory device is provided with MONOS type transistors having improved performance in which the memory cell of an MONOS non-volatile memory comprises a control transistor and a memory transistor. A control gate of the control transistor comprises an n-type polycrystal silicon film and is formed over a gate insulative film comprising a silicon oxide film. A memory gate of the memory transistor comprises an n-type polycrystal silicon film and is disposed on one of the side walls of the control gate. The memory gate comprises a doped polycrystal silicon film with a sheet resistance lower than that of the control gate comprising a polycrystal silicon film formed by ion implantation of impurities to the undoped silicon film.
US07663174B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A first DRAM section including a first memory cell having a first capacitance and a second DRAM section including a second memory cell having a second capacitance different from the first capacitance are provided on the same semiconductor substrate.
US07663171B2 Magneto-resistance effect element and magnetic memory
It is possible to reduce a current required for spin injection writing. A magneto-resistance effect element includes: a first magnetization pinned layer; a magnetization free layer; a tunnel barrier layer; a second magnetization pinned layer whose direction of magnetization is pinned to be substantially anti-parallel to the direction of magnetization of the first magnetization pinned layer, and; a non-magnetic layer. When the second magnetization pinned layer is made of ferromagnetic material including Co, material for the non-magnetic layer is metal including at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Hf, Rh, Ag, and Au; when the second magnetization pinned layer is made of ferromagnetic material including Fe, material for the non-magnetic layer is metal including at least one element selected from the group consisting of Rh, Pt, Ir, Al, Ag, and Au; and when the second magnetization pinned layer is made of ferromagnetic material including Ni, material for the non-magnetic layer is metal including at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Hf, Au, and Ag.
US07663169B2 Photodiode array and production method thereof, and radiation detector
A photodiode array 1 is provided with an n-type silicon substrate 3. A plurality of photodiodes 4 are formed in array on the opposite surface side to an incident surface of light L to be detected, in the n-type silicon substrate 3. A resin film 6 for transmitting the light L to be detected is provided so as to cover at least regions corresponding to regions where the photodiodes 4 are formed, on the incident surface side of the light L to be detected, in the n-type silicon substrate 3.
US07663164B2 Semiconductor device with reduced leakage protection diode
A protection diode is used in a CMOS integrated circuit device to direct charged particles to benign locations and prevent damage to the device. The protection diode includes a well region of a first conductivity type formed in a surface of a semiconductor substrate, a heavily doped P-type impurity region disposed within the well region, a heavily doped N-type impurity region disposed within the well region and an STI structure interposed therebetween. A top surface of the STI structure extends above the surface. A silicide resistant block-out layer is formed over the STI structure and extends laterally beyond the STI structure, covering any counterdoped sections that may undesirably be formed in the substrate adjacent the STI structure during implantation operations. The method for forming the structure utilizes processing operations and materials used in the formation of the CMOS integrated circuit device.
US07663148B2 III-nitride light emitting device with reduced strain light emitting layer
In accordance with embodiments of the invention, strain is reduced in the light emitting layer of a III-nitride device by including a strain-relieved layer in the device. The surface on which the strain-relieved layer is grown is configured such that strain-relieved layer can expand laterally and at least partially relax. In some embodiments of the invention, the strain-relieved layer is grown over a textured semiconductor layer or a mask layer. In some embodiments of the invention, the strain-relieved layer is group of posts of semiconductor material.
US07663139B2 Optical semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the same
A side barrier is provided between columnar dots each constituted by directly stacking respective quantum dots in seven or more layers. Out of respective side barrier layers composing the side barrier, each of the lower side barrier layers (four layers of the undermost layer to the fourth layer from the bottom) is formed as a first side barrier layer into which a tensile strain is introduced, and each of the upper side barrier layers (three layers of the fifth layer to the uppermost layer from the bottom) is formed as a second side barrier layer which has no strain.
US07663138B2 Nitride semiconductor light emitting element
A n-type layer, a multiquantum well active layer comprising a plurality of pairs of an InGaN well layer/InGaN barrier layer, and a p-type layer are laminated on a substrate to provide a nitride semiconductor light emitting element. A composition of the InGaN barrier included in the multiquantum well active layer is expressed by InxGa1-xN (0.04≦x≦0.1), and a total thickness of InGaN layers comprising an In composition ratio within a range of 0.04 to 0.1 in the light emitting element including the InGaN barrier layers is not greater than 60 nm.
US07663131B2 SyAF structure to fabricate Mbit MTJ MRAM
A MTJ that minimizes error count (EC) while achieving high MR value, low magnetostriction, and a RA of about 1100 Ω-μm2 for 1 Mbit MRAM devices is disclosed. The MTJ has a composite AP1 pinned layer made of a lower amorphous Co60Fe20B20 layer and an upper crystalline Co75Fe25 layer to promote a smoother and more uniform AlOx tunnel barrier. A “stronger oxidation” state is realized in the AlOx layer by depositing a thicker than normal Al layer or extending the ROX cycle time for Al oxidation and thereby reduces tunneling hot spots. The NiFe free layer has a low Fe content of about 8 to 21 atomic % and the Hf content in the NiFeHf capping layer is from 10 to 25 atomic %. A Ta hard mask is formed on the capping layer. EC (best) is reduced from >100 ppm to <10 ppm by using the preferred MTJ configuration.
US07663130B1 System and method of determining fluid levels in containers including an infrared device for detecting a first value associated with an empty portion of a container
A system and method of determining fluid levels in containers is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a first value of infrared energy associated with an empty portion of a container is detected and the container is scanned to detect a second value of infrared energy that is different from the first value of infrared energy. The method also includes to store an upper limit value associated with a vertical location of an upper surface of a fluid level when the second value of infrared energy is detected and to scan the container to detect a third value of infrared energy that is different from the second value of infrared energy. In addition, a lower limit value associated with a vertical location of a lower surface of the fluid relative to the upper surface is stored when the third value of infrared energy is detected. A height of the fluid is determined using a difference between the upper limit value and the lower limit value.
US07663129B1 Thin substrate pitch measurement equipment
The present invention provides an equipment for measuring the vertical distance or pitch between a plurality of thin substrates inside a container body, including an optical component to transmit a light beam to a thin substrate in the container body and receive light beam reflected from the thin substrate, a scanning device to drive the optical component to move along vertical direction of the thin substrates for measuring the vertical distance or pitch between the plurality of thin substrates in the container body, and a rotation base to carry and rotate the container body to a plurality of angles for the plurality of thin substrates inside the container body to be measured from different angular positions.
US07663106B2 Infrared sensor and method for producing same
An infrared sensor includes a first substrate made of a thermoelectric conversion material and a second substrate. The first substrate is supported by posts made of an electrode material while being spaced apart from the second substrate. A sensing electrode and lead portions connected thereto are provided on the first substrate. The sensing electrode and the lead portions are covered with an infrared-absorbing film. The posts are connected to the lead portions, and external terminal connection electrodes are connected to the posts.
US07663105B2 Apparatus and method for image reconstruction for a synthetic aperture gamma ray imager
An imaging system includes a platform having mounted thereon a coded-aperture imaging device and positioned to receive radiation over a baseline. The imaging system includes a computer configured to acquire a plurality of far-field datasets over the baseline, the plurality of far-field datasets comprising data received via the coded-aperture imaging device. The computer is also configured to form a preliminary image based on the acquired plurality of far-field datasets, and apply an expectation maximization (EM) algorithm to the preliminary image; wherein the EM algorithm includes an ordered subset algorithm.
US07663101B2 System and methods for preparing microscopy samples
A device, method and system for preparing and storing samples for microscopic analysis is disclosed. The device provides a reservoir that can be attached to a displacement pipette thereby filling the reservoir with reagents desired for preparing the samples for microscopic analysis. In some embodiments, the specimen may be contained on a transmission electron microscope (TEM) grid. In other embodiments, the sample may be a light microscope (LM) specimen or a scanning electron microscope (SEM) specimen. In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a method of preparing samples for microscopic examination including a device for preparing TEM grids with, a device for preparing TEM, SEM or LM specimens with and a device for storing both grids and specimens in. In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a system for tracking the preparation, analysis and histological evaluation of multiple samples while also providing for their long term storage.
US07663097B2 Method and apparatus for accurate calibration of a reflectometer by using a relative reflectance measurement
A reflectometer calibration technique is provided that may include the use of two calibration samples in the calibration process. Further, the technique allows for calibration even in the presence of variations between the actual and assumed properties of at least one or more of the calibration samples. In addition, the technique utilizes a ratio of the measurements from the first and second calibration samples to determine the actual properties of at least one of the calibration samples. The ratio may be a ratio of the intensity reflected from the first and second calibration samples. The samples may exhibit relatively different reflective properties at the desired wavelengths. In such a technique the reflectance data of each sample may then be considered relatively decoupled from the other and actual properties of one or more of the calibration samples may be calculated. The determined actual properties may then be utilized to assist calibration of the reflectometer.
US07663096B2 Microelectronic imaging devices and associated methods for attaching transmissive elements
Microelectronic imaging devices and associated methods for attaching transmissive elements are disclosed. A manufacturing method in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes providing an imager workpiece having multiple image sensor dies configured to detect energy over a target frequency. The image sensor dies can include an image sensor and a corresponding lens device positioned proximate to the image sensor. The method can further include positioning standoffs adjacent to the lens devices while the image sensor dies are connected to each other via the imager workpiece. At least one transmissive element can be attached to the workpiece at least proximate to the standoffs so the lens devices are positioned between the corresponding image sensors and the at least one transmissive element. Accordingly, the at least one transmissive element can protect the image sensors while the image sensor dies are still connected. In a subsequent process, the image sensor dies can be separated from each other.