Document Document Title
US07673973B2 Micro-fluid ejecting device having embedded memory devices
A micro-fluid ejecting device includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of fluid ejection elements formed on the semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of nonvolatile programmable memory devices for storing information related to the operation of the micro-fluid ejecting device. The programmable memory devices, which are at least partially embedded in the semiconductor substrate, each include a source region and a drain region formed in the semiconductor substrate. The source and drain regions have a conductivity type which is opposite the conductivity type of the semiconductor substrate. An insulative layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate over the source region and drain region. A floating gate region is formed on the insulative layer and is spatially disposed between the source region and drain region. The floating gate region is electrically insulated from the source and drain regions by the insulative layer. Electrical contacts are connected to the source region and the drain region. The programmable memory devices collectively provide a high density of memory bits embedded on the substrate for storing information about the micro-fluid ejecting device.
US07673970B2 Flexible circuit corrosion protection
A flexible circuit having improved corrosion resistance and method therefor. The flexible circuit includes, a polymeric support substrate, a conductive layer providing tracing attached to a first surface of the support substrate, and lead beams in electrical communication with the tracing for attaching the flexible circuit to a micro-fluid ejection head. A plasma polymerized layer is deposited on at least a portion of the conductive layer to reduce corrosion of the conductive layer. The plasma polymerized layer may also improve adhesion between the flexible circuit and an adhesive use to attach the flexible circuit to a structure.
US07673961B2 Inspection method for a recording head, inspection apparatus for a recording head, and recording apparatus
A method is provided for inspecting a recording head including a plurality of electrothermal conversion elements and a temperature detection element placed above or below each of the plurality of electrothermal conversion elements. The method includes driving the electrothermal conversion element, determining whether there is a change in slope of a temperature fall process in temperature detected by the temperature detection element during a predetermined time, if it is determined that there is a change in slope of the temperature fall process, obtaining a timing of the change in slope, and determining whether ink is discharged normally based on the obtained timing of the change in slope and a predetermined timing of a change in slope of the temperature fall process.
US07673949B2 Electrically powered brake system and control unit for electrically powered brake system
An electrically powered brake system capable of performing a self-diagnosis of elements of the electrically brake system to diagnose a failure before a vehicle is driven is provided. The electrically powered brake system having a parking brake having a conversion mechanism 6 converting a rotary motion of a motor 2 into a linear motion, propelling a piston 7 according to the rotation of a rotor 2A of the motor 2 by the conversion mechanism, pressing brake pads 3 and 4 against a disc rotor 5 by the piston to generate a braking force, and retaining the braking force by a locking mechanism 10 has a control unit 20 performing a diagnosis of elements constituting the system during actuation of the parking brake. The control unit performs a diagnosis of a fail safe relay 26 receiving the supply of electric power of the motor, and performs diagnoses of a braking force sensor 8, a rotation angle detecting sensor 9 and a current sensor.
US07673936B2 Adjustable bicycle seat assembly
An adjustable bicycle seat assembly includes an adjusting unit which includes a top end member connected to the seat post and an adjusting tube is connected to a lower end of the top end member. An inner space is defined in the adjusting tube and an outer space is defined between the adjusting tube and the seat post. A path is defined between the adjusting tube and the top end member so as to communicate with the inner space and the outer space. An axle is movably received in the path and removably seals the path. An anti-rotation device is located between the seat post and the seat tube so as to prevent the seat post from rotating relative to the seat tube.
US07673924B1 Vehicle exterior windshield protective cover for protection against sun, wind, snow and ice
An exterior vehicle windshield protective cover used to cover the outside of a vehicle front windshield. The protective cover reflects the sun's ray in the summer to help keep the vehicle cool and protect the windshield from snow and ice when the vehicle is parked outside. The protective cover includes a flexible exterior windshield cover member dimensioned to cover the exterior of a vehicle's windshield. The cover member includes a pair of flexible wings hinged along fold lines and attached to the sides of the cover member. The wings include a pair of elastic loops. When the front doors of the vehicle are opened, the wings are inserted inside the vehicle with the elastic loops attached to windshield visor posts for holding the cover member securely against the windshield in tension. A windshield wiper well cover is hinged along a fold line attached to the bottom of the cover member. The well cover is held in place on a portion of the vehicle's hood using a plurality of magnets. The well cover covers the windshield wipers in a wiper well and prevents snow and ice from gathering inside the wiper well.
US07673920B2 Operator's station structure for work vehicle
An operator's station structure for a work vehicle having a motor section, comprising: a seat that is disposed on the operator's station for a work vehicle and has a moveable seat part; and a removable storage box that is disposed below the seat, that has an upwardly opening shape, and that has an interior accessible by moving the seat part.
US07673916B2 End effectors
An end effector includes a base part and a first member. The first member includes first, second, and third serially articulated struts. The first strut articulates with the base part for relative angular displacement about a first pitch axis and about a first roll axis. The first roll axis is substantially orthogonal to the first pitch axis. The second strut articulates with the first strut for relative angular displacement about, firstly, a first yaw axis substantially orthogonal to the first pitch axis and the first roll axis, and, secondly, about a second pitch axis substantially parallel to the first pitch axis and substantially orthogonal to the first yaw axis. The third strut articulates with the second strut for relative angular displacement about a second yaw axis substantially parallel to the first yaw axis.
US07673908B2 Foldable clipboard
A foldable clipboard. The foldable clipboard includes a pair of support panels that are hinged together. The hinged design allows the clipboard to be conveniently folded for easy transportation and storage. The clipboard also can be unfolded into a substantially flat configuration.
US07673905B2 Lock device of sliding mechanism
In a lock device of a sliding mechanism, a pair of locking claws provided on a moving member are brought into resilient engagement with locking grooves of a locking groove group, whereby downward sliding of the moving member is permitted but upward sliding thereof is locked. The distance between the locking claws is longer than distance between the locking grooves, so that the moving member becomes locked against upward sliding at an interval smaller than the distance between the locking grooves. Thus, the moving member adapted to slide in one (downward) direction along a guide rail can be reliably locked against movement in the opposite (upward) direction at a very small interval.
US07673903B2 Connecting device between the steering column and the body of a motor vehicle
This connecting device between a steering column of a motor vehicle and a cross member fixedly joined to the vehicle body, the device being of the type comprising a steering column support fixedly joined to the column and secured to a rigid arm rigidly connected to the cross member, the connection between the arm and the column support being deformable under the effect of a front impact exerted on the cross member, is characterized in that the deformation is produced by the folding of a metal sheet of the support.
US07673888B2 Combined wheelchair, walker, and sitting chair
A supportive device for use as a wheelchair and a walker. A pair of handgrips are pivotally attached to a frame so as to have a rearwardly-facing position and a forwardly-facing position. A seat is pivotally attached to the frame so as to have a horizontal position and a vertical position. When using the supportive device as the wheelchair, a pair of front legs of the frame terminate in wheels, the seat is in the horizontal position thereof, and the pair of handgrips are in the rearwardly-facing position thereof. When the supportive device is used as the walker, the pair of front legs terminate in either wheels or caps, the seat is in the vertical position thereof, and the pair of handgrips are in the forwardly-facing position thereof.
US07673877B2 Pneumatic game
A game that uses a source of compressed gas, such as compressed air, to provide gas to move a play object across a play surface. The compressed gas source is capable of providing compressed gas to jets in communication with the play surface for directing the gas to move the play object across the play surface. A triggering device allows the player to select one or more jets and selectively trigger the flow of gas from a selected jet.
US07673874B2 Paper sheet handling apparatus
A paper-money receipt/payment machine comprises a conveyance path, on which paper sheet can be conveyed in dual directions, and a paper-money discrimination unit provided midway the conveyance path to discriminate the paper sheet. The machine further comprises a temporary holding unit for storage of rejected paper sheet to be rejected, and an exclusive storage box, separately provided from the temporary holding unit, for storage of jammed paper sheet. The exclusive storage box is arranged at one end or both ends of the conveyance path.
US07673867B2 Finisher apparatus
A flexible strip of low coefficient of friction material is attached to a paddle wheel hub and placed over a predetermined length of the drive side of the paddle wheel blades in order to reduce the drive force of the paddle wheel blades on the top sheet in a stack to thereby allow the accurate compiling of a greater range of curled sheets.
US07673866B2 Sheet conveying apparatus and image forming system
A sheet conveying apparatus is connected between an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus to receive the sheet ejected from the image forming apparatus, and to eject the sheet to the post-processing apparatus. The sheet conveying apparatus receives, from the post-processing apparatus, a sheet reception line speed information showing a line speed for the post-processing apparatus to receive the sheet, and receives, from the image forming apparatus, a sheet ejection line speed information showing a line speed for the image forming apparatus to eject the sheet. A conveyance line speed control section controls the conveyance line speed at the time of receiving the sheet from the image forming apparatus based on a sheet ejection line speed information, and controls the conveyance line speed at the time of ejecting the sheet to the post-processing apparatus based on a sheet reception line speed information.
US07673864B2 Folding device and printing system
A folding device for folding continuous paper, which is previously provided with fold lines at given intervals, along the fold lines in a zigzag pattern. The folding device comprises a feeding member of the continuous paper, a swinger fin that swings using its one end as a fulcrum like a pendulum in synchronization with the fold lines while feeding the continuous paper into its inside, and a table to be surmounted by the continuous paper that has been folded. The swinger fin includes a feed roller pair for feeding the continuous paper while sandwiching the paper therebetween, and at least a pair of guide plates facing each other with a given gap therebetween, in which the continuous paper is fed through the gap. One of the feed rollers constructing the feed roller pair and one of the guide plates, which are located on one side of the continuous paper, can be integrally opened or detached from the swinger fin.
US07673853B2 Fencing section with adjustable fencing members
A railing section is capable of being adapted for varying conditions of use. The railing section includes first and second support rails. The first support rail has a longitudinal void. A plurality of movable fence members are perpendicularly disposed between the first and second support rails. A drive mechanism is disposed in the longitudinal void of the first support rail and coupled to the plurality of movable fence members. Operation of the drive mechanism causes simultaneous rotation of the movable fence members along longitudinal axes of the respective movable fence members through an angle 360 degrees or more. Two or more railing sections may be coupled together by a member that couples the respective drive mechanisms of the sections.
US07673851B2 Block with improved central mounting
A block with a rotating sheave mounted between a pair of side plates. Captured between the side plates may be a post about which a mounting loop may be mounted. The post is removable from the between the side plates to permit the loop to be attached or detached from the block.
US07673847B2 Fluid control valve for supplying gas to a fuel cell in a vehicle
A movable valve 131 is movably supported by a support plate 135 within a valve body having a gas injection nozzle 129. The valve body consists of a plurality of members 103, 105, 107, 109, 127. Impermeable joints 147a, 147b, 147c are formed between the members. The support plate 135 includes a plurality of elastically deformable support portions each having an inner radial connection, an outer radial connection and a circumferential connection. The support portions are phase adjusted to radial fluid passages 131h formed in the movable valve 113.
US07673843B2 Rotatable pedestal
A pedestal comprising lower and upper vertical columns having different vertical axes, and a horizontal support which is rotatably connected to the top of the lower column and the bottom of the upper column. The pedestals are particularly useful in the catering and hospitality industries for supporting food and beverage containers, tableware, flower vases and sculptures.
US07673836B2 Adjustable head and wrist support
A device of the present invention for supporting a user's arms, head, and hands allowing the user to perform tasks requiring stability and fine motor movement, the device includes a base, at least two upright members operatively attached to the base, and support means operatively attached to each of the upright members.
US07673822B2 Shredder head having motor driven shredder blades and an associated safety feature and/or a method of shredding material
A shredder having a safety feature(s) that reduces potential safety hazards by detecting the temperature of a shredder motor and issuing a warning as an predetermined overheat temperature approaches.
US07673818B2 Electromagnetic fuel injection valve and process for producing the same
In an electromagnetic fuel injection valve designed so that the contact of a movable attraction face at a rear end of a movable core with a stationary attraction face included at a front end of a stationary core is inhibited, a ring-shaped stopper (28) made of a material non-magnetic or magnetic weakly more than a movable core (18) is press-fitted into an inner periphery of a rear portion of the movable core (18), and a flat abutment face (51), which is disposed at a location displaced from a flat movable attraction face (41) formed at the rear end of the movable core (18) toward a stationary attraction face (42), is formed at a rear end of the stopper (28) to be able to abut against the stationary attraction face. A slant (52) is formed on an inner periphery of the rear end of the movable core (18) and an outer periphery of the rear end of the stopper (28) to continuously and smoothly connect the movable attraction face (41) and the abutment face (51) to each other. Thus, the accumulation and deposition of chips and a magnetic powder can be prevented, and the area of application of an electromagnetic attraction force to the movable core can be increased substantially, while decreasing the number of parts and the number of assembling steps to provide a reduction in cost.
US07673812B2 Ultrasonic nebulizer apparatus and method for adjusting an operation frequency and checking an operating state thereof
The present invention related to an ultrasonic nebulizer apparatus and a method for adjusting an operation frequency and checking an operating state of the ultrasonic nebulizer apparatus. The apparatus according to the present invention comprises a current detecting element for actively detecting an electrical current passed through it early. By detecting the current to determine a resonance frequency and whether deviated from a predetermined normal range, the nebulizer apparatus according to the present invention can check the operating state and operate at the resonance frequency for increasing efficiency and saving power.
US07673811B2 Injection valve and compensating element for an injection valve
A compensating element (30) for an injection valve has a cup-shaped body (32) with a cup base (34) and a recess. Furthermore, the compensating element has a piston (36) which makes a clearance fit in respect of the recess of the cup-shaped body (32) on an axially extending guide segment (41) of the piston (36) and which is arranged at least partially axially moveable with the guide segment (41) in the recess of the cup-shaped body (32). A sealing element (44) is arranged on the side of the guide segment (41) facing away from the cup base (32) and couples the cup-shaped body (32) with the piston (36). A hydraulically and/or pneumatically sealed system is delimited by the cup-shaped body (32), the piston (36) and the sealing element (44). The coupling of the sealing element (44) with the cup-shaped body (32) and/or the piston (36) is friction-fit.
US07673806B2 Object authentication using hidden images
The present invention provides a method of authenticating an article having a hidden image printed on a surface thereof, wherein the image can only be detected when viewed through an optical device.
US07673803B2 Planar laser illumination and imaging (PLIIM) based engine
A planar laser illumination and imaging (PLIIM) based engine including; an engine housing having light transmission aperture; an image formation and detection module and having an image detection array and image formation optics with a field of view (FOV) extending from the image detection array, through the light transmission aperture and onto an object moving relative to the engine housing during object illumination and imaging operations; a planar laser illumination beam (PLIB) producing device, and having at least one visible laser illumination source arranged in relation to the image formation and detection module, for producing a planar light illumination beam (PLIB), and projecting the planar light illumination beam through light transmission aperture and oriented such that the plane of the PLIB is coplanar with the field of view of the image formation and detection module so that the object can be simultaneously illuminated by the planar light illumination beam and imaged within the field of view and onto the image detection array for detection as a digital linear image of the object; a laser despeckling mechanism for reducing the coherence of the PLIB during object illumination and imaging operation so that the power of speckle-pattern noise is substantially reduced in digital linear images detected on said image detection array.
US07673798B2 Card reader with symmetrical contact spring
A card reader comprises two rows of electric contacts in the form of elastically deformable contact springs for contacting the electric contact fields of a card inserted into the card reader, wherein the contact springs extend parallel to the card insertion direction and wherein each contact spring comprises a contact section projecting into the card path for contacting one of the contact fields of the card, a connecting section for connecting to a write/read device, an intermediate U-shaped joining section, and a mounting section for mounting the contact spring to the card reader housing, all being formed in one piece with the contact spring. In accordance with the invention, the contact section, the U-shaped joining section and the mounting section are symmetrical relative to the center plane of the contact spring.
US07673796B2 System and method for providing remote site intervention support for self-checkout stations
A system and method enables intervention events occurring at a self-checkout station at a retail site to be addressed by an operator located at a remote site distant from the retail site. The system includes a checkout station located at a retail site, a video camera and microphone mounted at the checkout station, a data communicator for collecting video and audio data from the video camera and microphone and operational data from the checkout station, an intervention service station for receiving the video, audio, and operational data from the data communicator, the intervention service station being located off-site from the retail site; and the intervention service station includes a checkout station command generator for generating and sending checkout station commands to the checkout station in response to the operational data received from the data communicator so that an operator at the intervention service station can intervene in the checkout station operation.
US07673793B2 Fraud analyst smart cookie
A fraudulent business transaction application (FBTA) is provided in embodiments of the present invention for monitoring fraudulent transactions. When a consumer supplies account access information in order to carry out an Internet business transaction, the FBTA uses an online fraud mitigation engine to detect phishing intrusions and identity theft. Embodiments are also provided for calculating travel velocity and transaction frequency, which are useful for determining a fraudulent transaction. Further embodiments are provided for authenticating a transaction using a cookie stored on a client device and a behavior profile stored on a server.
US07673790B2 Vote by mail envelope that protects integrity of ballot during signature verification
A vote-by-mail return envelope that includes a pouch portion for containing the ballot and a stub portion on which the voter applies his/her signature and method for processing are provided. Each portion of the envelope contains a respective barcode that identifies the respective portion. When the envelope is received at the vote-counting location, the stub is separated from the pouch, thereby separating the voter's signature, name, etc. from the ballot. The signature is then verified from the stub, and subsequent processing of the pouch uses the pouch barcode identifier as a link to the stub barcode identifier and/or to the result of the signature verification, to determine whether the ballot in the pouch is eligible for counting or whether some remedial procedure is necessary.
US07673770B2 Gripping sleeve
A sleeve for enhancing a user's grasp of the handles and handholds of various tools and implements comprising: an elongated flexible hollow cylindrical sleeve having a first end, second end, interior wall surface, and exterior wall surface; and a lengthwise, non-radial slit from said first end to said second end, penetrating through said exterior wall surface to said interior wall surface.
US07673767B2 Interconnecting food container system
The claimed invention is a novel container system that adds utility and convenience for the consumer “on-the-go”. The container system claimed includes a main tray member that holds food product (e.g. carrots), and lid member that is configured so that, when it is inverted, it acts as a secondary tray member that holds food product (e.g. condiment) and is further attachable to the rim of the tray member via an interference fit or snap-fit grip fit. The resulting utility is that the consumer is able to hold the main tray member with one hand or have held the main tray member (e.g. in a recess in an automobile consol) and access the contents of both trays with a free hand.
US07673765B2 Hot fill container having improved vacuum panel configuration
A hot fill container of the type that is used package fruit juices and other beverages includes a vacuum panel configuration that provides optimal volumetric efficiency, material usage and container strength and is particularly suited for use with smaller containers. The vacuum panel configuration includes a plurality of cageless vacuum panels that are separated by longitudinally extending outwardly projecting creases that are defined in a sidewall of the container. This arrangement maximizes the effective surface area of the vacuum panels relative to the external surface area of the container. Each of the longitudinally extending outwardly projecting creases has a curved outer surface that is convex when viewed in longitudinal cross-section. The cageless vacuum panels are constructed and arranged to be convexly curved when a pressure within the container is equal to an external pressure, but become concavely curved when a predetermined partial vacuum condition exists within said container.
US07673760B2 Support cradle for rolled coils and other cylindrical objects
A cradle unit for supporting metal coils, and other cylindrical objects, consists of two, parallel and separate saddles preferably made of polyurethane having an approximate hardness range of between 50 Shore A and 90 Shore D, which saddles are connected together via a pair of parallel steel angle-brackets that provide inherent structural integrity to the cradle unit itself, while still allowing the unit to conform to the shape or level of the underlying support structure. The single cradle unit may be as a mobile support-device, or may be bolted or otherwise attached to a surface for a specific location of the stored product. The cradle unit of the invention may, also, be attached to the bed of a transportation vehicle, such as a truck trailer or rail car, in order to provide secure, protective storage and location of the items. In this case, the nature of the resilient or soft material from which the cradle unit is made provides shock-absorption qualities for the transported coil. The cradle unit is generally concave-shaped and has a first main or central lower concave curvature of a first radius, and a middle or secondary transitional curvature that connects the first main lower curvature to an upper, tertiary concave curvature of a second radius greater than the first radius, so that coils or rolls of different diameter may be safely and firmly supported.
US07673759B2 Dinnerware display
A dinnerware display includes a piece of dinnerware, a base, a track and a dinnerware mount. The track is securely coupled to the base behind the piece of dinnerware. The dinnerware mount is at least partially received by and is slidably coupled to the track such that the dinnerware mount can be slid along the track. The dinnerware mount includes two arms circumferentially spaced from one another and each defining a clasp for receiving a portion of the piece of dinnerware. When the dinnerware mount is in a first position with respect to the track, the piece of dinnerware is securely maintained between the base and the dinnerware mount. When the dinnerware mount is in a second position with respect to the track, the piece of dinnerware is removable from between the base and the dinnerware mount. Other dinnerware displays, fixtures and associated methods are also disclosed.
US07673758B2 Collection tubes apparatus, systems, and methods
Methods of producing collection tubes are presented. The methods include providing a separator substance that can rapidly polymerize in a short time to a desired hardness and disposing the separator substance within the lumen of the tube. The separator substance is formulated to have a density between an average density of a serum fraction of whole blood and a cell-containing fraction of whole blood, and to be flowable with whole blood. Upon centrifugation of a tube having blood, the separator substance forms a barrier between the whole blood fractions. The barrier rapidly hardens forming a solid barrier when triggered by a suitable energy source.
US07673755B2 Mechanical separator
A mechanical separator having a primary frame, a tray frame linked to the primary frame, and an oscillator linked to the tray frame for imparting relatively short period reciprocating and/or orbital motion thereto. The tray frame includes a plurality of tines preferably rigidly linked at their proximal ends to one end of the tray frame, and a supporting cross member that permits restricted motion of the tines when subject to kinetic impetus. The supporting cross member preferably defines holes through which the tines pass, and the distal ends of the tines are preferably free to move, being only restricted in motion by the supporting cross member. The tray frame is preferably suspended from the primary frame by extension members, which also provide for tilt, elevation and vibration isolation features.
US07673754B2 Flexible medical supplies packaging for convenience kits
A sterile, compact packaging is provided to present components in order of preferred or required use in a medical procedure. Pockets are arranged along one or more end sections of the packaging, and an absorbent material is at least partially adhered to the moisture proof sheet at a workspace thereon. Components are placed in the pockets in order of use, and the packaging is folded up. The folded packaging is sealed in a gas-permeable pouch, which maintains the components in a sterile condition until use. In use, the packaging is unfolded to expose the medical components.
US07673742B2 PTFE conveyor belt
A method of manufacturing an endless conveyor belt comprises providing a flexible web in the form of a PTFE cross film laminate which in its as laminated state has a first length and a first lengthwise yield strength. The web is prestressed by lengthwise stretching to a second length greater than its as laminated first length to thereby achieve a second lengthwise yield strength greater than its as laminated first lengthwise yield strength. The ends of the prestressed web are then interconnected.
US07673740B2 Device for monitoring a conveyor
The invention relates to an apparatus for monitoring a conveying installation, comprising: a conveying belt (2) made of elastomeric material with a load-bearing side (3) for the conveying material and with a running side (4), the conveying belt having, in particular, an embedded reinforcing element (7); at least one detectable segment (8) which is embedded in the load-bearing side (3) and/or running side, in the vicinity of the surface; a detection system (6), in particular in the form of an optoelectronic system, which contactlessly senses and evaluates the detectable segment (8), in particular in conjunction with a process computer; and other installation parts, namely a drive drum, reversing drum, supporting rollers, supporting frameworks, and possibly other components; the detectable segment (8) being based on a thermochromic substance which results in a change in color if the temperature changes within the critical temperature range of a conveying belt, the detection system (6) sensing and evaluating the change in color.
US07673739B2 Apparatus and method for in-belt conveyor idler condition monitoring
A method and system are provided for in-belt conveyor idler condition monitoring. A sensor is mechanically coupled to a conveyor belt and senses a characteristic of a support structure associated with the conveyor belt. The sensor wirelessly transmits a corresponding signal to a monitor system. The monitor system determines a condition of the support structure based upon the transmitted signal.The support structure may be one of a plurality of support structures and characteristics of each of the support structures may be sensed, associated with identifiers for the support structures, and transmitted to the monitor system. The support structure may include a plurality of elements and a characteristic of each element may be sensed and transmitted by one of a corresponding plurality of sensors.
US07673734B2 Apparatus and method for positioning advancing food products
A positioning element for positioning advancing food products includes an engaging member with a contact side for engaging on the products for positioning, and a displacing assembly connecting to the engaging member for intermittently displacing the engaging member in a direction which encloses an angle with the contact side of the engaging member. The engaging member of the positioning element is also provided with at least two engaging sides remote from each other to exert a positioning effect in two directions. Also disclosed is a method for positioning food products.
US07673728B2 Automated transmission controller and vehicle including the automated transmission controller
Rotational driving force can be transferred to the follower side (clutch plate) of a friction clutch by adjusting the engagement condition of the clutch so that a first gear and a second gear of a dog-clutch-type transmission can rotate relative to each other. At the time of shift change during stop of the vehicle, the clutch can be further connected at a low speed after connection of the clutch until it reaches a reference clutch position.
US07673723B2 Caliper mounting arrangement
A brake caliper assembly includes a caliper body connected to a torque plate via a mating protrusion and cavity that transfer torque through facing abutment surfaces to reduce twisting of the caliper. The mating protrusion and cavity provide a stiff connection and also allow use of a smaller, lighter connecting bolt. This arrangement eases removal and reinstallation of the caliper.
US07673719B2 Combination drive and suspension system for a vehicle
The invention is a combination drive and suspension system that includes an upper drive assembly and a lower drive assembly pivotally connected. The pivoting drive system provides improved ground clearance for a farm vehicle capable of carrying a large quantity of field application material.
US07673702B2 Impact wrench
An impact mechanism includes a shaft, a hammer and an anvil coupled to the hammer. The shaft has a first helical groove and the hammer has a second helical groove. A ball is received in the first and second helical grooves to rotationally couple the hammer to the shaft and permit axial travel of the hammer relative to the shaft. An axial stop inhibits axial travel of the hammer along a first travel path and permits axial travel of the hammer along a second travel path. The axial stop includes first and second stop members, the first and second stop members having a first relative position to inhibit axial travel of the hammer and a second relative position to permit axial travel of the hammer.
US07673699B2 Sway restrictor bracket for a draft link of a three point hitch
The sway restrictor includes a bracket attachable between the draft link or arm and an adjacent upwardly and downwardly extending structural element of a work machine, and is operable for substantially restricting or preventing relative sideward movement therebetween, particularly swaying of the hitch, while allowing relative upward and downward movements thereof, including tilting movements.
US07673695B2 Dry pipe/deluge valve for automatic sprinkler systems
A dry/deluge valve for an automatic sprinkler system. The valve includes a main chamber having an input port for receiving fluid from a supply line and an output port. A clapper assembly is installed in the main chamber for sealing the input port. The clapper assembly includes a threaded valve seat configured to be screwed into a wall of the main chamber, so as to be in communication with the input port. The assembly further includes a collar configured to receive the valve seat, wherein the collar is held in position by the valve seat. A clapper configured to seal the input port, in cooperation with the valve seat, is hinged to the collar, and a lever also is hinged to the collar and is movable between a first position in which the clapper is held closed by the lever and a second position in which the clapper is allowed to open. The dry pipe/deluge valve further includes a sensing chamber having components responsive to a control pressure of the sensing chamber, the components being in communication with the lever to move the lever between the first position and the second position.
US07673692B2 Eutectic material-based seal element for packers
The present invention relates to a seal element for a wellbore which includes a support member, a bag positioned on the support member and a eutectic material positionable in the bag. The bag may be axially compressed and axially extended along the support member thereby permitting sealing and unsealing of an annulus in a wellbore. The eutectic material may be a phase changing salt.
US07673685B2 Method for oil recovery from an oil field
A method for increasing oil recovery from an oil reservoir in which method surplus gas streams from a plant for synthesis of higher hydrocarbons from natural gas is injected into the reservoir, is described. The surplus streams from the plant is the tailgas from the synthesis and optionally nitrogen from an air separation unit which delivers oxygen or oxygen enriched air to the plant for synthesis of higher hydrocarbons.
US07673669B2 Investment casting cores and methods
To manufacture a casting core, one or more recesses are formed in at least one face of metallic sheetstock. After the forming, a piece is cut from the metallic sheetstock. The piece is deformed to a non-flat configuration.
US07673667B2 Low power, high resolution position encoder for motorized window covering
A motorized window covering has a motor and a housing that holds the motor and a dc battery. When the motor is energized to move a window covering, a pulse detector counts the motor current pulses to determine the position of the window covering. A user can save a motor current pulse count corresponding to a desired position and then return the desired position from a different position by simply pressing a button on a remote control unit. Further, inaccuracies caused by motor current pulses that were not counted by the pulse detector, e.g., at start up, at shut down, or during coast down, are minimized by error correction logic.
US07673665B2 Cordless flexible window covering
A window covering comprises a flexible panel having a top edge and a bottom edge. At least one lift cord is provided for raising and lowering the bottom edge. Each lift cord is connected to one end of a stiffener at a first point and the opposite end of the stiffener is connected to approximately the bottom edge of the flexible panel. The stiffener prevents the folding of the flexible panel between the bottom edge and the first point. The top edge may be connected to a head rail and the bottom edge may be connected to a bottom rail. A motor may be located adjacent the top rail where the lift cord is connected to the motor.
US07673664B2 Sticking tool
This invention provides a sticking tool capable of sticking a sticking matter to a sticking target position easily and accurately and executing the sticking operation smoothly. This sticking tool includes a casing body 2, a sticking tool main body 3 which is moved in the direction of being projected from and submerged into the casing body 2 by a pressing force F1 applied at the time of sticking operation so as to stick a patch P to the peripheral portion Xb of a punch hole Xa and an alignment portion 7 for determining a relative position of the sticking tool main body 3 to the punch hole Xa and the alignment portion 7 is so constructed to be capable of moving between an overlapping position (Q) which substantially overlaps the peripheral portion Xb of the punch hole Xa and a retraction position (R) not interfering with the sticking tool main body 3 and paper X.
US07673658B1 Load line connection spillage container
An injection-molded load line connection spillage container for catching and retaining liquid spilled when liquids are pumped between storage tanks and tankers provides an injection-molded reservoir and an injection-molded cover attached to the reservoir by hinges. Reinforcing ribs molded into the reservoir provide strength and ruggedness without the need for reinforcing steel collars and saddles. Gussets molded into the reservoir hinge brackets ensure repeated stresses produced by energetic opening of the cover does not result in failure of the hinge brackets. An optional load line mounting assembly permits secure mounting of the load line container directly onto the load line. An optional cleanout assembly provides a valved suction line for removing retained spillage, and an optional sampling assembly provides a valved sample line for sampling the liquid being transferred.
US07673648B1 Air gap with deodorizer apparatus and method of use
An air gap apparatus comprising a deodorizer agent positioned within the apparatus. The deodorizer agent may be any combination of a liquid, solid, granules or paste placed on or in a vent cap, an upper housing or upper housing cap of the air gap or receptacle thereon, a plugged inlet or inlet port extension extending from the air gap body, an under-mount nut or spacer installed on the air gap body, or an impregnation of or coating on any of the components thereof. With such an air gap installed for use, odors associated with bacterial growth within the air gap and discharged air passing through and out of the air gap are removed, disguised, offset or otherwise reduced or eliminated.
US07673646B1 Pan with integrated egg-shaped supports
A fluid-collection pan configured for supporting a unit or system responsible for fluid damage risk to its surroundings. Multiple large egg-shaped supports upwardly extend from the pan's bottom surface and are integrated with it. They also each have an arcuate top surface that is transformed into an elliptical base as it meets the pan's bottom surface. Each support also has an upwardly-tapering protrusion with a convexly-shaped top edge that extends centrally from one of the longer sides of the elliptical base toward the support's top surface. The protrusion and the narrow sides of the elliptical base form a substantially triangular shape, which broadens the weight distribution of the supported fluid-causing unit across the pan's bottom surface. The top surface of each support also has a central indentation configured for receipt of a vibration isolator that provides contact with the supported unit. Optional stress-transmitting ribs may extend between adjacent egg-shaped supports.
US07673645B2 Gas delivery method and system including a flow ratio controller using a multiple antisymmetric optimal control arrangement
The multiple antisymmetric optimal (MAO) control algorithm is disclosed for a gas delivery system including a flow ratio controller for dividing a single mass flow into multiple flow lines. In the MAO control algorithm, each flow line is provided with a flow sensor and a valve actively controlled by a SISO feedback controller combined with a linear saturator to achieve the targeted flow ratio set point. For optimal control performance, these SISO controller and linear saturators are substantial identical. It is proved that each valve control command is multiple antisymmetric to the summation of all other valve control commands. Therefore, the MAO control algorithm guarantees that there exists at least one valve at the allowable maximum open position at any moment, which achieves the optimal solution in terms of the maximum total valve conductance for a given set of flow ratio set points.
US07673637B2 Photomask cleaner
A photomask cleaner includes a clamp assembly using clamping plates with an elastic buffer device for clamping a photomask to be cleaned positively, a displacement mechanism for moving the clamp assembly among workstations subject to a predetermined track, a cleaning unit installed in one workstation for cleaning the photomask carried by the clamp assembly, and an air dryer installed in one workstation for drying the well-cleaned photomask carried.
US07673628B1 Oven rack guard
A guard for protecting a cook or chef from burn injury from accidentally touching a hot oven rack comprising a sleeve of material mounted on the front rail of a metal oven rack. The sleeve is formed of a material having a thermal conductivity that is lower than than the thermal conductivity of the metal oven rack, so that when the guard is accidentally touched, insufficient thermal energy is transferred to an oven user to cause a burn, allowing the oven user to withdraw from the sleeve before injury can result. Preferably, the material forming the sleeve is heat resistant and has a lower thermal mass and thermal conductivity than the metal oven rack.
US07673627B2 Paintball device and method of use
The present invention discloses a device and method for wireless communication between a paintball marker or gun and it's associated paintball loading device. This wireless communication, whether bidirectional or unidirectional, allows for the transmission of “load” commands and various other useful information between the paintball marker and the paintball feeding device. When the “load” command, which is much more responsive than the “passive” communication found in the prior art, is wirelessly received by the paintball feeding device, the paintball feeding device loads a singular or plurality of paintballs into the paintball marker of appropriate conduit.
US07673619B2 Gas vapor control system and method thereof
A gas vapor control system may include a canister for capturing gas vapor that is generated from a fuel, a throttle valve that is disposed substantially in the middle of an intake passage through which air flows into a cylinder of the engine, a gas passage that communicates from the canister to one side downstream of the throttle valve, a purge control valve that is disposed on the gas passage, and a control portion that stops an engine in an idle state and controls a real fuel injection amount that is to be injected while restarting the engine according to a first fuel amount that is included in gas vapor that is discharged into the intake passage.
US07673616B2 Engine control including knock compensation
Systems and methods are described, including one example method of controlling an engine having a cylinder with at least one valve operated by a variable valve mechanism (VVM) having a sensor coupled to the valve, the method comprising: adjusting at least one operating parameter in response to an indication of detonation of a combustible mixture in the cylinder, the indication based on the sensor coupled to the valve.
US07673615B2 Internal combustion engine knocking judging device and knocking judging method
An engine ECU executes: calculating 15-degrees integrated value integrating vibration intensity for each of six crank angle ranges; detecting an amount of change in the 15-degrees integrated value between ignition cycles; specifying two ranges having larger amounts of change; specifying a crank angle having intensity larger than that of a neighboring crank angle in a search range determined to be the same as the specified ranges; calculating a coefficient of correlation K corresponding to a difference between a vibration waveform and a knock waveform model while the specified crank angle is matched with a timing at which intensity peaks in the knock waveform model; and, if the coefficient of correlation K is larger than a threshold value K(0), determining that knock has occurred.
US07673608B2 Engine starting for engine having adjustable valve operation
A method for controlling an engine including at least a first cylinder having a first piston and a second cylinder having a second piston, at least one of said first and second cylinders having at least an adjustable valve, the method comprising before engine rotation: closing electrically actuated valves in at least the first and the second cylinder; fueling at least said first cylinder with a first fuel amount based on a position of the first piston and said second cylinder with a second fuel amount based on a position of the second piston; performing a first spark in at least one of said first cylinder and said second cylinder; and applying a starter motor to assist engine starting rotation; after engine rotation, firing each cylinder of the engine in a sequential firing order without changing a number of strokes in any cylinder of the engine.
US07673599B2 Valve timing control device for an internal combustion engine
A valve timing control device includes: a unit for calculating a target valve timing for one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve in accordance with an operational state; a unit for detecting an actual valve timing of one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve; an actual valve timing control unit for generating a controlled variable for the VVT based on a difference between the target valve timing and the actual valve timing; a unit for learning a learning value of the controlled variable required for maintenance of the actual valve timing based on an integral correction value; and a unit for detecting a malfunction in a VVT from an amount of a shift in the actual valve timing when learning is not completed yet, and for detecting a malfunction in the VVT from the difference when learning is already completed.
US07673590B2 Method for exhaust heat generation by variable stroke combustion cycles and valves
A method for operating an engine having at least a first and second cylinder, comprising operating the first cylinder with a spark timing more retarded than a spark timing of a second cylinder; and operating one of said first cylinder and second cylinders with a first number of strokes per cycle different from other cylinders of the engine for at least one combustion cycle, wherein said first cylinder operates with valve timing different from said second cylinder.
US07673587B2 Animal instrumentation
An approach to monitoring, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment or conditioning of animals such as horses does not require use of restrictive equipment such as treadmills or force plates and that can provide either or both of more or less immediate or continuous processing of data to perform the monitoring or diagnosis. One or more wireless sensors are attached to the animal, for example, to measure motion-related parameter associated with one or more parts of the animal. Sensor data is received from the sensors and processed to identify a characteristic of the motion of the animal, such as a quality of gait. The sensor data can also be used to avoid injury to the animal and/or the rider, and to verify the identity of an animal.
US07673581B2 Application device
A device for the application of at least two liquid to pasty application media to one or both sides of a moving surface, having a curtain applicator for applying the application media. The curtain applicator discharges the application media onto the moving surface as curtains moving substantially under the force of gravity, and the moving surface being one of a surface of a material web and a surface of a transfer element, which transfers the application media to the surface of the material web. The device includes a collecting device for the separate collection of each application medium. The collecting device being positionable between the curtain applicator and the material web. The curtain applicator and the collecting device being movable relative to each other.
US07673580B2 Apparatus and method for coating polyimide layer
An apparatus for coating a polyimide layer includes a print table for receiving a substrate thereon, an inkjet head positioned over the print table and having a jetting surface with a plurality of nozzles for jetting polyimide liquid onto the substrate, and a polyimide liquid supply tank for supplying polyimide liquid, and a wiper movable from one side of the jetting surface to an other side of the jetting surface while the wiper contacts the jetting surface of the inkjet head.
US07673579B2 Traffic flow indicator with traffic cone-mounted movable pointer
A movable pointer is mounted for pivoting movement on a traffic cone to reliably and safely direct traffic in a desired traffic flow-direction.
US07673574B2 Multimaterial stitching skins preparation
The subject matter of the present invention is a method for joining at least two portions or sections of clothing or covering materials in the form of pieces of flexible skins, the materials of the two pieces of skin having a similar or different thickness and/or rigidity or folding stiffness, the join being formed between and along two edges folded opposite one another and in contact end to end of said pieces of skin, so as to form a joining line.
US07673568B2 Interface system for wire distributed power
A train is connected to provide wired distribution power (WDP) using at least one standard locomotive consist. The train includes a first locomotive separated from a second locomotive by a plurality of cars; and a communication train line connected to the locomotive and cars and extending through the train. Each of the locomotives has a propulsion system, a propulsion controller to control the propulsion system in response to one of operator propulsion signal and multi-unit (MU) propulsion signal, and a MU communication line and connector for communicating control signals, including the MU propulsion signal, with an adjacent locomotive. At least the first locomotive is connected to the communication train line of an adjacent car by the multi-unit connector of the first locomotive to one of receive and transmit the MU propulsion signals via the communication train line.
US07673564B2 Method of making a lined tray
A lined tray may be made by printing on a film an ink comprising from about 15 to about 50 weight percent binder resin selected from ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers, polyamide polymers, polystyrene polymers, and acrylic polymers. The printed film is laminated to a tray substrate to form a lined tray substrate, so that the outermost ink surface of the printed film is directly adhered to the tray substrate. The lined tray may be formed into a tray.
US07673560B2 Brewing apparatus for a coffee machine
A brewing apparatus for a coffee machine, in particular for domestic use, comprises a housing (10) which encloses a brewing chamber (19) and has a nozzle assembly (8, 9, 11) arranged on one side and a base (12) with an outflow (40) for the brewed fluid arranged on an opposite side, a sealing element (20) being provided between the nozzle assembly (8, 9, 11) and housing (10). According to the invention, the sealing element (20) is retained on the nozzle assembly (8, 9, 11) such that it can be moved in the direction of the housing (10) and of the brewing chamber (19). Sealing can thus take place straightforwardly and, in addition, it is possible to configure the volume of the brewing chamber (19) in a variable manner via the sealing element (20).
US07673558B2 Insert, a machine and a system for the preparation of beverages
An insert for use in a beverage preparation machine of a type comprising a brew head comprising an upwardly directed inlet for supplying water to the brew head and a downwardly directed outlet for outflow of beverage produced by the machine. The insert comprises, or is adapted to contain in use, a quantity of beverage ingredients in a brewing volume. A lower surface of the insert comprises an inlet and an outlet arranged to communicate respectively with the inlet and outlet of the brew head of the beverage preparation machine when the insert is inserted into the machine such that, in use, water from the inlet of the brew head passes upwardly through the inlet of the insert into the brewing volume and such that beverage produced from the water and the quantity of beverage ingredients passes downwardly through the outlet of the insert to flow out of the outlet of the brew head. The lower surface of the insert further comprises a RFID or barcode which, in use, is readable by a RFID or barcode reader of the beverage preparation machine for controlling operation of the beverage preparation machine, wherein the barcode or RFID is located on the lower surface of the insert such that a line joining the outlet of the insert to a center of the barcode or RFID and a line joining the outlet of the insert to the inlet of the insert separated by a minimum angular separation of greater than 70 degrees.
US07673539B2 Serviceable seal for transfer case
An arrangement and method for removing a shaft from a gearbox housing without having to totally disassemble the housing. The gear box has an aperture in the housing. The aperture is used to gain access to the retaining ring that locks the shaft within the housing. Once the retaining ring is removed, the shaft may then slide out of the housing. A plug member is used to cover the aperture when it is not necessary to remove the shaft.
US07673536B2 Industrial robot
An industrial robot (10) comprising three power transmission units (21, 22, 23) arranged concentrically and three drive means for driving the three power transmission units, respectively, is disclosed. The drive means for at least one of the three power transmission units includes two motors (31, 34). Also, all of the three power transmission units and the three drive means are desirably built into the base (15) of the industrial robot. This configuration makes it possible to have high-duty operation with a comparatively compact structure.
US07673529B2 Method for processing detection signal of vibratory inertial force sensor and vibratory inertial force sensor
A method for processing a detection signal of a vibratory inertial force sensor is disclosed. This method improves detection accuracy of the vibratory inertial force sensor. A detection circuit of the vibratory inertial force sensor removes harmonic component from signals synchronously wave-detected, and amplifies the resultant signals, and then smoothes the amplified signals. A vibratory inertial force sensor adopting this method is also disclosed.
US07673528B2 Flexible modular sensor systems
Sensor systems, methods of making sensor modules and circuit modules, and methods of making expanded sensor systems including the sensor modules and circuit modules. A sensor module can include a flexible substrate, internal conductor lines, edge conductor lines for module interconnection, and sensors integrated thereon. One sensor module includes an array of interconnected capacitive pressure tactile sensors (taxels), being row addressable from address lines and readable through data lines. The sensor modules can be bonded to each other to form a larger array of sensors. One bonding method utilizes anisotropic conductive paste (ACP). The sensor system provided can be flexible and easy to expand to cover large areas. By using various sensor modules, the sensor system can be used for various applications. Readout modules can be coupled to the exterior edges to read all the individual sensors. Applications include robotic skin and wearable sensor fabrics.
US07673527B2 Flow cell for measuring flow rate of a fluid using ultrasonic waves
The invention relates to a flow cell for an ultrasonic flow meter comprising two transducers of ultrasonic waves wherein the two transducers are reversibly detachable from the flow cell. The flow cell with the transducers detached is sterilisable and is particularly suitable for use in disposable or single-use systems.
US07673509B2 Magnetically coupled drive for a sealed liquid level sender
The internal movement of one embodiment of a sealed fuel level sender employs two magnets disposed diametrically opposite each other about a pivot. The actuator that is operated by in-tank fuel level has two magnets disposed diametrically opposite each other about the axis with one pole of each magnet of the actuator confronting an opposite pole of a respective magnet of the movement to provide the magnetic coupling for causing the movement to follow the fuel level while minimizing, and preferably substantially eliminating, cross thrust on the pivot. Pole pieces may be associated with the magnets in a further embodiment. Still another embodiment employs magnets to only one side of the pivot, but with pole pieces that reduce cross thrust.
US07673507B2 Real time viscometer
An apparatus for predicting a downhole viscosity of a treating fluid has an energizer and a viscometer. The treating fluid has a gel. The energizer is capable of energizing a sample of the gel. The viscometer is capable of measuring a viscosity of the energized sample. The viscosity of the sample is predictive downhole viscosity of the treating fluid. The predicted downhole viscosity may be used to improve downhole viscosity. After the downhole viscosity is predicted, a concentration modification fluid can be added to cause the predicted viscosity to approach a desired viscosity.
US07673505B2 Tire footprint determination apparatuses, systems and methods
In one embodiment, a method comprises sampling a sensor during rotation, determining a percentage of samples within a target range, and calculating a circumferential portion of the rotation associated with the percentage of samples. In other embodiments, additional systems and methods and disclosed.
US07673504B2 Apparatus and method for detecting an internal mechanical failure occurring in a tire
An apparatus and method derives a deformation amount of a contact-portion of the tire based on the tire information, the contact-portion being in contact with the ground, and calculates an evaluation value based on the derived deformation amount, and comparing the calculated evaluation value with a reference value to determine whether or not the internal mechanical failure has occurred in the tire.
US07673503B2 Method for estimating an engine exhaust temperature and method for diagnosing a cylinder pressure sensor using an exhaust temperature estimate
A method for estimating exhaust temperature on an output of an internal combustion engine cylinder, the cylinder including a crankshaft transforming into a rotation a translational movement of a piston mounted sliding in the cylinder, the piston closing a combustion chamber of the cylinder. The exhaust temperature is estimated based on the temperature inside the cylinder at a time of opening of the valve, the temperature inside the cylinder being itself estimated from an angle of rotation of the crankshaft, cylinder pressure, volume of air injected into the cylinder, and flow rate of recycled gases. A method diagnoses a cylinder pressure sensor based on an estimate of the exhaust temperature.
US07673494B2 Device for testing at least one pressure sensor
A device for testing at least one pressure sensor, by applying a pressure signal, the device testing the operativeness of the pressure sensor as a function of the pressure signal. In addition, it is provided that the device tests the tightness of the pressure sensor as a function of the pressure signal.
US07673491B2 Method for testing can ends
A method of making an easy open end for a container includes steps of providing a can end blank having an end panel and forming the can end blank in a series of forming operations that are performed with specialized and unique tooling. The can end is preferably shaped during the forming operations so that a major portion of the end panel is curved. Specifically, the curvature is preferably such that a top surface of the major portion is generally concave and a bottom surface of the major portion is generally convex. The end panel is also preferably shaped and constructed so that the curved major portion will invert in shape upon the application of a sufficient predetermined pressure differential between the top and bottom surfaces. A method of testing a fill level of a sealed container is performed in reliance on this “cricketing” or “oil canning” effect.
US07673485B2 Hot press forming method
Hot press forming of a steel material is made possible by coating the surface of the steel material with a plated layer of zinc or a zinc alloy and forming thereon a barrier layer which prevents the vaporization of zinc even when heated to 700-1000° C. Corrosion resistance can also be guaranteed without requiring post treatment, and hot press forming of high tensile steel sheet and stainless steel sheet is made possible. The barrier layer is formed by forming an upper plated layer, by surface oxidation, by contact with an oxidizing agent, by contact with Zn and an oxidizing agent, by anodic electrolysis, by cathodic electrolysis, or by coating with a ZnO sol.
US07673472B2 Refrigerator door having dispenser
A refrigerator door having a dispenser is disclosed. The refrigerator door includes an outer case forming a front appearance of the refrigerator door, an inner case forming a rear appearance of the refrigerator door, and an insulation layer disposed between the outer case and the inner case. First and second mounting frames are installed at both side ends of the refrigerator door and have first and second mounting slots longitudinally formed in the first and second mounting frames in opposition to each other. The dispenser is detachably coupled to a front surface of the outer case and includes a housing, which forms an external appearance of the dispenser and is formed with a recess section. An external plate section is coupled to the front surface of the outer case except for an area in which the dispenser is installed, forming an external appearance of the refrigerator door.
US07673467B2 Refrigerated display merchandiser with light filter
A refrigerated display merchandiser in which is stored food products and which is ordinarily exposed to prevailing ambient light is provided with transparent sheets which function as filter media to prevent harmful light from reaching the foods stuffs. The filtering media comprises a transparent sheet affixed to the display merchandiser as well as about any fluorescent lighting disposed within the merchandiser. The transparent sheet is either clear (untinted), or tinted, and passes either red or blue light or alternatively, absorbs ultraviolet light including both UV-A light and UV-B light.
US07673463B2 Cooling system methods and apparatus for a refrigeration device
A refrigerator includes a housing defining at least one chamber and a condenser system in which a refrigerant flows. The condenser system includes a condenser, a switching device, and a hot gas loop in flow communication with one another. The condenser system is configured to be in heat transfer relation with the chamber and the switching device is configured to allow the refrigerant to bypass the hot gas loop when a thermal demand of the refrigerator is met.
US07673449B2 Torus shapes for torque converters
A torque converter in which the inner turbine output diameter or the inner pump input diameter is smaller than the inner stator passage diameter.
US07673447B2 Exhaust system for an internal combustion engine and a respective operating method
The present invention relates to an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, in particular in a motor vehicle, with an exhaust line in which an oxidation catalyst is provided for treatment of the exhaust gases coming from the internal combustion engine. To be able to heat the oxidation catalyst more rapidly in a cold start of the internal combustion engine, a pre-oxidation unit may be provided in the exhaust line upstream from the oxidation catalyst and connected to a secondary fuel supply and adapted so that it partially oxidizes the secondary fuel supplied in combination with an oxidizer in a catalyst heating operation and the partially oxidized intermediate products are supplied to the oxidation catalyst for complete oxidation.
US07673446B2 Dual path exhaust emission control system
An exhaust emission control system for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The exhaust emission control system has a first passageway and a second passageway disposed to receive exhaust in parallel. The exhaust emission control system also has a valve arrangement configured to regulate the flow of exhaust to the first and second passageways, and at least one sensor configured to sense a parameter indicative of a constituent of the exhaust. The at least one sensor generates a signal corresponding to the sensed parameter. The exhaust emission control system also has a controller in communication with the valve and the at least one sensor. The controller is configured to affect operation of the valve in response to the signal.
US07673444B2 Exhaust gas purification apparatus
An exhaust gas purification apparatus includes an NOx reduction catalytic converter disposed in an engine exhaust passage to reductively purify NOx in exhaust gas using ammonia or its precursor as a reducing agent, a first concentration sensor which detects an ammonia concentration in an exhaust gas moving on a downstream side of the NOx reduction catalytic converter, and a control unit which incorporates therein a computer. The control unit conducts calculation to estimate an ammonia concentration in the exhaust gas moving on the downstream side of the NOx reduction catalytic converter, and when a difference between the ammonia concentration detected by the first concentration sensor and the estimated ammonia concentration by the calculation becomes larger than a first predetermined value, determines that the NOx reduction catalytic converter is deteriorated.
US07673437B2 Reclosable packages with front panel slider-zipper assembly
A reclosable package having a slider-operated zipper wherein the contents of the package are accessed through the front wall of the package, not through the top of the package. The reclosable package comprises: a bag body comprising front and rear walls of bag making material; a flexible zipper joined to the front wall and not joined to the rear wall; and a slider mounted to the zipper, the slider being movable in a first direction along the zipper for opening the zipper and movable in a second direction along the zipper for closing the zipper. Alternatively, the flexible zipper is joined to the front wall along first and second zones of joinder disposed at different heights on the front wall, and is joined to the rear wall only in zones of joinder where the zipper is joined to both of the front and rear walls.
US07673435B2 Beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage material having bottle plate support tables therein
A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage material having bottle plate support tables therein. The bottle plate support tables each have removable and replaceable top plate portions to permit replacement of worn friction linings, or to permit the bottle plate support table to handle bottles or containers of different dimensions or shapes.
US07673431B2 Floor panels with edge connectors
Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.
US07673428B1 Boxable mesh adhesive drywall corner trim
A boxable drywall corner trim that can include an elongated semi-rigid member that forms a pair of flanges joined at a grooved hinge along a centerline. Each of the flanges can have a thinner part and a thicker part joined at a step that is approximately parallel to the centerline a predetermined distance from the centerline. The thicker part of the flanges can form a protruding nose member that makes the piece boxable by preventing the cross-over of wet drywall mastic or mud from one flange to the other. The thinner portion of the flange may optionally be perforated with a pattern of punched holes of any configuration throughout the flange assembly. The piece can have a wall-facing paper or other fibrous layer of material that has a tacky adhesive on its wall-facing side. The adhesive can be in a pattern of dots, ridges, lines or any other pattern, or the adhesive can be continuously coated on the surface. This tacky adhesive allows the piece to be applied to the corner, moved, removed and re-applied if necessary.
US07673427B2 Clamp for use with metal bar joists and beams
A clamp for use with metal bar joists (or beams) has one or more steel angled bracket members or plates, adapted to fit under the corrugations of a corrugated steel roof. Each plate of the clamp is adapted to sit horizontally across a top of the bar joist perpendicular to the joist, and extend slightly over an edge of the joist. Each plate contains an elongate slot allowing a bolt to be inserted through the slot. A retainer heel clip is secured to an end of each such bolt. This retainer heel clip is tightened to the underside of the top flange of the bar joist using a washer and a threaded plate or nut, thus providing a clamping action. Each clamp has a vertical attachment tongue section of steel welded to it, including one or more elongate slots which complement perforations that occur along the length of a steel framing angle, allowing bolts to attach the clamp and the framing angle together. A pair of the clamps may be used to secure a pair of support angles for supporting a rod for hanging objects at desired locations within a roof support structure.
US07673414B1 Fishing loop method of fishing
A method of fishing that employs a fishing loop as the terminal tackle article that holds bait and interoperates with fish attractants. The fishing loop opens a gap urged by pressure between a gradual bend top and a loop closing extension to receive bait and allow fish flesh to pass. The gap closes after pressure is released holding the bait or engaged fish. The fishing loop has an elongated lever eye for securing fishing line. The lever eye also serves to help the loop stay closed under pressure from swimming fish. The fishing loop can be shaped from a single section of wire or rod; or, the loop closing extension can be a separate flexible material when rigidity in the fish engaging portion is desired. The fishing loop can be used with natural or penetrable artificial bait. A jig head slug or lure body with an opening sized to accommodate the fishing loop can also be used as a fish attractant in place of natural or penetrable artificial bait; wherein the structure of the opening is compatible with the fishing loop allowing it to operate effectively.
US07673413B2 Firearm stock conversion method
A method for upgrading a non-recoil suppressing (NRS) stock to a special operations (Spec Ops) stock with full recoil suppression. The new parts are the slide member and lever that has a cam member mounted on its upper end and an extension spring attached to its bottom end. A locking pin is removed from the stationary slide member and two retainer pins are inserted from the sides into the new slide member to facilitate spring action. This structure functions in the same manner as the recoil reduction structure illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,195. A replacement sleeve has a rib member extending downwardly from its bottom surface. Replacement sleeve and extension spring are assembled in a tubular member to form a second recoil reduction assembly. This recoil reduction structure functions in the same manner as the structure illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,732,466.
US07673405B2 Electric steam iron
An electric steam iron includes a water tank, a bottom plate, a heating device which is used to heat the bottom plate, a steam generator having a boiling chamber, a heating device to heat the boiling chamber and a temperature controller, with the inlet of the boiling chamber being in fluid communication with the water tank and the outlet of the boiling chamber being in fluid communication with the outlet opening of the bottom plate. The heating devices of the bottom plate and the steam generator are connected in series with their respective heating circuit, so that there is sole control of the steam generator, such that when using the iron again, it can spray steam directly without warming up the steam generator, thereby eliminating the warming up time of the steam generator and greatly speeding up boiling of the water.
US07673375B2 Method of fabricating a polymer-based capacitive ultrasonic transducer
A method of fabricating a polymer-based capacitive ultrasonic transducer, which comprises the steps of: (a) providing a substrate; (b) forming a first conductor on the substrate; (c) coating a sacrificial layer on the substrate while covering the first conductor by the same; (d) etching the sacrificial layer for forming an island while maintaining the island to contact with the first conductor; (e) coating a first polymer-based material on the substrate while covering the island by the same; (f) forming a second conductor on the first polymer-based material; (g) forming a via hole on the first polymer-based material while enabling the via hole to be channeled to the island; and (h) utilizing the via hole to etch and remove the island for forming a cavity.
US07673371B1 Vacuum broom apparatus
A vacuum broom apparatus for removing particulate debris from surfaces such as those of floors includes a housing which has an upper wall from which protrudes a vacuum inlet tube connectable to a vacuum power source. The housing includes a shroud which protrudes downwardly from the upper wall and peripherally surrounds a broom which protrudes downwardly within the shroud through a bottom opening thereof. One or more vacuum nozzles which communicate with the vacuum inlet tube are positioned adjacent to the broom. Optionally, a front wall of the shroud is elastically flexible to thereby effect an air dam between a lower edge of the front wall and a floor surface against which it may be pressed. Also, the broom may take the form of a block which at least partly encloses a lower entrance opening of the shroud, the block having a lower surface from which bristles protrude downwardly, and a plurality of vacuum passageways interspersed within the bristles and which have lower debris entrance openings in the lower surface of the block, and upper debris exit openings through an upper surface of the block which communicates with a negative pressure region of an interior region of the shroud.
US07673364B2 Garbage disposal combination safety poker and scraper
An improved combination garbage disposal safety poker and scraper for scraping waste from eating ware and sinks and pushing such materials into the disposal unit so that such wastes are close as possible to the blades of the disposal. The safety poker/scraper has interchangeable tops which may consist of a cup-shaped drain and handle, an elastomeric cap and handle or simply an enlarged handle. The scraper portion is detachable and can be replaced when worn. The scraper portion is curved so that it can fit more easily into the garbage disposal unit.
US07673360B2 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.
US07673354B2 Baby sleeping pouch method and apparatus
A resting method and apparatus for a young child. The young child can be either a newborn, infant, or toddler. The resting apparatus will attach to a cushion such as a mattress, or other back supporting device which is generally associated with a crib or other child's sleeping environmental structure. The resting apparatus has a base sheet or cover which attaches to the cushion. On top of the base cover is attached a pouch section. The pouch section is sized to allow the child to fit comfortably within the interior of the pouch from the child's neck to the child's feet. The pouch fits securely against the outer surface area of the child. The child is laid on its back within the pouch. The arms and legs are held in longitudinal alignment within the pouch. The pouch is designed to restrain the child from overturning from its back position to a front facing position.
US07676839B2 Systems and methods for access control
The disclosure describes various systems and methods for access control. One such method includes providing an access control module that is capable of operating at least a first carrier frequency and a second carrier frequency. In addition, the method includes providing a first access credential that operates at the first carrier frequency, and providing a second access credential that operates at the second carrier frequency. Various other systems, methods and features are also described herein.
US07676833B2 Login screen with identifying data
Techniques are described which may be employed to provide a login screen with identifying data. In an implementation, a login screen is displayed having an image that identifies a user. Credentials are received via the login screen to log the user onto a service provider over a network.
US07676830B2 System for controlling access to services provided by a server to a client terminal
A system for controlling the access of services from a service provider to a client terminal provides capabilities for the user to change and modify the desired services and have the modified access information communicated to the client terminal or navigation device. The system provides a wireless connection between the client terminal and the server by way of a communications network. The server at the service provider may allow a user to modify the configuration data relating to the access rights of the client terminal. The modified configuration data may be stored on the server and wirelessly transmitted to the client terminal and stored on the client terminal. The modified configuration data may provide access to the services provided by a second service provider allowing the navigation device to access the services that are available on the second service provider as well as those available on the first service provider.
US07676827B2 Content distribution system, content distribution control apparatus, content distribution control method, content distribution control program and content distribution control program storage medium
A server for providing to a user terminal an additional service on a web page during setting a predetermined service including a determining unit configured to determine whether a request for provision of the additional service is received from the user terminal; a receiving unit configured to receive presentation information for introducing the predetermined service from the user terminal when the determining unit determines the request for provision of the additional service is received; a creating unit configured to create the web page including the presentation information; a posting unit configured to post the web page; and a fee charging unit configured to charge a fee for the additional service.
US07676819B2 Disk conveying apparatus
A recording medium driving device which records information in or reproduces information from the recording medium, includes a device body in which a recording medium is inserted and from which the recording medium is removed, a conveying mechanism that conveys the recording medium in a loading direction and an eject direction, a mounting section on which the recording medium is mounted, a conveyance arm that moves according to movement of the recording medium in the loading direction and the eject direction and conveys the recording medium, and a driving mechanism that has a driving source for imparting a driving force for moving the conveyance arm. The conveyance arm includes a contact section that brought into contact with the recording medium and an urging member that urges the contact section in the eject direction of the recording medium.
US07676814B2 Four layer architecture for network device drivers
The present invention is a four layer architecture that includes reusable components that can be used in varied operating environments and with varied network devices. The architecture includes an operating system dependent layer, an operating system independent layer, a media independent layer, and a media dependent layer. The operating system dependent layer can vary for differing operating system. In contrast, the operating system independent layer is identical or substantially similar for differing operating systems. Similarly, the media independent layer is identical or substantially similar for different network devices (e.g., a family or group of network devices). The media dependent layer can vary according to differing and varied network devices.
US07676805B2 Wireless sensor node executable code request facilitation method and apparatus
A wireless sensor node can request, responds to requests for, and maintain executable code (101), including executable code for which the wireless sensor node is itself tasked with executing. Upon receiving (102), however, a request for executable code that the wireless sensor node is not itself tasked with executing, one determines (103) whether to forward that request. This determination can be based upon any of a variety of decision-making criteria as may pertain to a given application setting (such as whether a different wireless sensor node is, in fact, already responding to this request for executable code, information regarding a number of hops to a known point of executable code injection as may be required to facilitate transport of the executable code from that source to a requesting wireless sensor node, and whether the wireless sensor node itself has locally cached the requested executable code).
US07676787B2 Component based design time architecture
The invention includes an architecture in which components associate their design time functionality independent of a design tool. The design time functionality includes code generators, compilers, parsers and editors. The architecture includes interfaces for components and designers to communicate. The architecture includes attributes in metadata that describe the functionality associated with the instance of a component.
US07676781B1 Method and mechanism for implementing a minimum spanning tree
Disclosed is an improved method, system, and mechanism for using and constructing a minimum spanning tree. In one approach, each iteration of the process for constructing a minimum spanning tree calculates at most two additional point-pairs for nearest neighbors of points previously added to the tree. These additional point-pairs are appended to a list of point pairs, and the point-pair having the shortest distance is selected and added to the minimum spanning tree. Any metric can be employed to determine nearest neighbors, including Euclidean or Manhattan metrics. An advantage is that not all point-pairs need to be examined, greatly increasing speed and efficiency. Since every point-pair does not have to be examined, a preprocessing step is not required to reduce the number of point-pairs being considered. The resultant minimum spanning tree can be used to facilitate the routing process for an integrated circuit.
US07676778B2 Circuit design optimization of integrated circuit based clock gated memory elements
A novel method for optimizing the design of digital circuits containing clock gated memory elements. The method unclock gates memory elements by adding necessary feedback loops. Logic functions of memory element outputs in the circuit are viewed as a whole, rather than as separate functions for each input. Detection of duplicate unclock gated memory elements is then effected by identifying identical canonical representations of said unclock gated memory elements. Identified duplicate clock gated memory elements can then be eliminated from the original digital circuit. Further optimization can be accomplished by applying standard logic optimization algorithms to all unclock gated memory elements in said digital circuit. The resulting optimized circuit is clock gated and replaces the original clock gated circuit in said digital circuit.
US07676777B2 Method and apparatus for supporting verification, and computer product
A verification support apparatus receives description data. Upon receiving the description data, the apparatus automatically generates and outputs a verification property, a verification scenario, specification data, review information, etc. In addition, the apparatus checks the description data for any element of deficiency or inconsistency before the automatic generation of the verification property. Therefore, the amount of description data can be reduced by sorting out the types of verification items and listing parameters, and various verification properties can be automatically generated by allowing a computer to read verification data. Furthermore, a design TAT can be reduced by generating the specification data. Furthermore, even a designer not familiar with a verification language such as PSL can easily execute assertion-based verification.
US07676775B2 Method to determine the root causes of failure patterns by using spatial correlation of tester data
A method for determining the root causes of fail patterns in integrated circuit chips is provide wherein a known integrated circuit chip layout is used to identify a plurality of potential defects and a plurality of potential fail patterns in the integrated circuit chip. Correlations between the potential defects and the potential fail patterns that result from those defects are identified. Based on this identification, the potential fail patterns are grouped by common potential defect. An actual integrated circuit chip that is manufactured in accordance with the test layout is tested for failure patterns. These failure patterns are then compared to the groupings of potential fail patterns. When a match is found, that is when a given group of fail patterns is found in the actual integrated circuit chip, then the potential defect associated with the potential fail patterns to which the actual fail patterns are matched is identified. This defect is the root cause of the failure pattern in the actual chip.
US07676772B1 Layout description having enhanced fill annotation
Computer readable media hosting a layout description of electric circuitry that includes a description of prospective fill units and includes characteristic data noting at least one characteristic of each fill unit. In one preferred embodiment, each prospective fill unit includes just a single prospective fill element. Also, in a preferred embodiment, said characteristic data includes effect on electrical characteristics of nearby electrical circuitry. These electrical characteristics may further include timing characteristics and capacitance characteristics. The effect on the thickness of nearby connective elements also may be noted.
US07676770B2 Apparatus and method for creating circuit diagram, program therefor and recording medium storing the program
It is an object of the present invention to realize a circuit diagram creating method and circuit diagram creating apparatus capable of efficiently acquiring information on a lower layer, and a circuit diagram creating method for creating a layered electric circuit diagram from data indicating an electric circuit that includes the steps of determining an outline area to be displayed from wiring information and graphics information which are data indicating the electric circuit for symbol graphics of a lower layer and displaying information on the circuit diagram so as not to go beyond the outline area.
US07676766B2 Graphic object designating to edit apparatus, method, and computer readable medium thereof
A graphic object designating apparatus for designating a graphic object to be edited among graphic objects present in an edit area of a graphics editing system according to the position of a mouse cursor. The apparatus includes an object managing section that manages object information and the mouse cursor position, and a rule storage section in which assignments of key entries for indicating a direction in which the mouse cursor should move and for designating an object directly under the mouse cursor have previously been stored as rules. A trigger processing section generates a mouse cursor moving trigger or an object designating trigger according to the key entries and the rules. An object designating section moves the mouse cursor or designates the object to be edited on the basis of the object information and the triggers. The apparatus allows an operator to designate a desired object easily within the object display screen.
US07676765B2 Three dimensional graphical manipulator
A method and apparatus for manipulating a computer generated model and visualizing a change in projection plane before entering a projection creation command. After selection of a projection plane on the 3-D model, a generative drafting document can be created wherein the projection plane becomes the plane of the screen. The system can display a visualization of the projection of the model in plane with the screen, without generating a fully computed projection. Display of the visualization can provide increased efficiency in processing time as compared to a fully computed projection. The system can also display a graphical manipulator including a circular central region with a button in the middle, wherein clicking on the button can be used as a command to the system requesting creation of the projection. The graphical manipulator software tool can also include quadrants, wherein each quadrant is associated with a direction in relation to an orthogonal axis. The four quadrants can be defined as left, right, up and down: Clicking on a quadrant can cause the projection plane to rotate by 90 degrees, or other predetermined amount, around two orthogonal axes of the model in the projection plane. The direction of rotation will correlate with the quadrant selected. In addition, the manipulator tool can include a pin tracking the circumference of a circle displayed on a computer screen. Selection of the pin and rotation can cause the projection plane of a computer generated model to rotate about an axis which is perpendicular to the projection screen.
US07676762B2 Method of controlling an Internet browser interface and a controllable browser interface
The present invention is directed to a method of dynamically controlling and displaying an Internet browser interface, and to a dynamically controllable Internet browser interface. In accordance with the present invention, a browser interface may be customized using a controlling software program that may be provided by an Internet content provider, an ISP, or that may reside on an Internet user's computer. The controlling software program enables the Internet user, the content provider, or the ISP to customize and control the information and/or functionality of a user's browser and browser interface.
US07676758B2 Interactive inventor's menu
An interactive inventive pictorial menu is provided, which may be superimposed over internet art obtained, for instance, from the internet. The interactive inventive pictorial menu provides controls by which images can be created, manipulated and supplemented by overlaying additional images accessed through menu software providing Internet Art Programs and Menu Art Programs. The combination of images may be utilized to facilitate creating further inventions or creative prospects. In one non-limiting embodiment, the images created by the user of the interactive inventive pictorial menu may then be used with the Inventor's Menu Tic Tac Toe model. The internet art and program or menu art may be adjusted in size and location to produce an image that is well proportioned and realistic. The user may draw over the art to produce innovations and creations. Also, the art selected from menu and program art, and internet art, may be selected from a wide ranging list of subjects in menus or sub-menus. Innovations and creations may also be produced on a touch screen embodiment using the images displayed on the interactive inventive menu.
US07676753B2 Methods, systems, devices and computer program products for collecting and sharing selected personal data
Methods, systems, devices and computer program products obtain and share personal data of celebrities and others over a communications network. The methods include; (a) electronically capturing personal data associated with a plurality of celebrities; (b) electronically storing the captured data in a database of electronic personal data records, the records being correlated to a respective celebrity; (c) accepting user input to request data of interest for a particular celebrity; (d) electronically automatically extracting records in the historical data base related to the user input; and (e) electronically publishing celebrity personal data to the user based on the extracting step.
US07676752B2 System and method to specify device specific user interface information in the firmware of a USB device
Systems and methods to specify device specific user interface information in firmware of a USB device are described. In one aspect, a USB device receives a host-specific device request from an application executing on a computing device coupled to the USB device. The USB device identifies a host-defined string descriptor defined by the application. The host-defined string descriptor is stored in firmware of the USB device.
US07676747B2 Method for representing security features of a distributed system
A method for representing security features of a distributed system is presented. The method includes creating abstractions to describe security mechanisms of a system, and creating a specification using the abstractions. The specification models components of the security mechanisms, features of an environment in which the system operates, and supporting security features. The method may further include linking the specification to graphical representations, and using the specification to construct an instance diagram that graphically depicts the security features of the system and its operational environment. The specification or the instance diagram may be used to construct an instance model, which may be a textual rendering, that models the security features of the system and its operational environment. Where the specification is used to construct the instance model, the method may further include using the instance model to construct the instance diagram.
US07676730B2 Method and apparatus for implementing error correction coding in a random access memory
Apparatuses and methods for utilizing error correction code in a data buffer or data storage device. In one variation, a single memory device is utilized to store both the data and the associated error correction code. The data and the associate error correction codes are stored on separate memory banks on the memory device. The error correction code may be consolidated into one or more regions on the memory device to improve the utilization of the available memory space on the memory device. In addition, by utilizing separate memory banks to store the data and the associated error correction code, the data and the error correction code can be accessed in an overlapping manner.
US07676729B2 Data corruption avoidance in DRAM chip sparing
A memory controller, system, and methods are disclosed. The system comprises a memory controller interconnected to a plurality of memory chips. Each memory chip stores data at a plurality of locations. The memory controller performs a sparing transaction comprising reading data from a given location of one or more of the memory chips including a first memory chip, writing the data to a given location of one or more of the memory chips including a second memory chip, wherein during writing, data from the first memory chip is written to the second memory chip, and allowing additional memory transactions directed to the memory chips between the start of reading and the end of writing unless the additional memory transaction is targeted to the given location. In a further embodiment, the sparing transaction comprises correcting errors in the data before writing the data.
US07676724B2 Feedback for data transmissions
Methods and apparatus are presented for dynamically controlling the re-transmission scheme of acknowledgment signals. A source transmits a first data packet over a slot s1. If channel conditions are favorable, source transmits a second data packet over slot s2, which precedes the reception of any acknowledgment signals. A destination receives first data packet over slot d1 and second data packet over slot d2. Destination decodes first data packet during slots d2 and d3, and second data packet over slots d3 and d4. Destination transmits an acknowledgment signal (ACK1) associated with first data packet during slot d4. Rather then transmitting the second ACK1 associated with first data packet over slot d5, destination preempts this slot with an acknowledgment signal ACK2, which is associated with second data packet transmitted by source. Hence, destination is configured to overwrite the repetition of a previous acknowledgment in order to transmit a new acknowledgment.
US07676723B2 Method for the protected transmission of data, particularly transmission over an air interface
The method relates to the protected transmission of data (D0-D4), the coding (‘S,’ ‘0’-‘F’) of which is represented, respectively, by a sequence (FR0-FR4) of a predefined number of on and off values (Z1, Z0). A count value (C) representing the predefined number is formed by changing the count direction (F, R) after each on value and incrementing or decrementing the count value with each off value. An error information (F1, F2) is generated if a first end value (EC), which is transmitted together with the data as a coded sequence (SIG) of the count value C, differs from a second end value (EC1, EC2), which, like the count value, is formed from the transmitted sequence. The method is advantageously used in identification systems (IS), in mobile data carriers (DT) and in read-write devices (SLG). This affords the advantage that a data transmission error can be detected quickly and with high reliability by using a simple forward and backward counter (CNT). The counter can be implemented with little circuit complexity by a simple software program or by an electronic circuit, e.g., by a binary cycle counter.
US07676722B2 Multimedia content delivery using pre-stored multiple description coded video with restart
An embodiment of the present invention includes a buffer, a selector, and an analyzer. The buffer stores at least a default stream coded by a multiple description (MD) coding and a restart stream coded by a predictive coding. The default and restart streams correspond to a media content. The selector selects a transmit frame from the default and restart streams according to a transmission status. The transmit frame is transmitted to a receiver. The analyzer provides the transmission status based on feedback information provided by the receiver.
US07676721B2 Auto re-transmission request method in a wireless communication system
An ARQ system and method for a BWA communication system are provided. A transmitter activates an ARQ timer if exist transmission data or retransmission data and transmits the transmission data or the retransmission data to a receiver. The transmitter then receives a response signal for the transmitted data or the retransmitted data and stops the ARQ timer in the not exist of transmission data.
US07676719B2 Transmitter apparatus and multiantenna transmitter apparatus
A transmitter apparatus wherein a relatively simple structure is used to suppress burst errors without changing the block sizes of encoded blocks even when the number of modulation multi-values is increased. There are included an encoding part (11) that subjects transport data to a block encoding process to form block encoded data; a modulating part (15) that modulates the block encoded data to form data symbols; and an arranging (interleaving) part (12) that arranges (interleaves) the block encoded data in such a manner that the intra-block encoded data of the encoded blocks, which include their respective single different data symbol, get together, and then supplies the arranged (interleaved) block encoded data to the modulating part (15). In this way, there can be provided a transmitter apparatus (10) wherein a relatively simple structure is used to suppress burst errors without changing the block sizes of encoded blocks even when the number of modulation multi-values is increased.
US07676709B2 Self-test output for high-density BIST
A method, apparatus and system of a self-test output for high density BIST are disclosed. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes one or more memories, a BIST controller coupled to the one or more memories to perform write operation and to receive a PASS/FAIL signal from each embedded memory and one or more comparators coupled to the one or more memories latch mutually identical outputted data coming from the memories upon a rising edge of an ORDY signal. In addition, the comparators may compare the latched mutually identical outputted data and output associated PASS/FAIL signal to the BIST controller. The BIST controller registers the received PASS/FAIL result upon receiving the PASS/FAIL signal from the comparators. The integrated circuit may include output registers coupled to the BIST controller and the comparators output a data log substantially serially upon receiving a SHIFT/CLK signal from the BIST controller.
US07676707B2 Device and method for testing SAS channels
A device and a method for testing SAS channels which are applied to a plurality of pairs of SAS interfaces. The testing device includes a control terminal, a PCI-E microprocessor, a PCI-E-to-SAS adaptor, and a signal feedback module. The control terminal is used for selecting SAS channels and sending a control command; the PCI-E microprocessor is used for receiving the control command and sending a test signal to a PCI-E channel according to the control command; the PCI-E-to-SAS adaptor is used for converting a transmission signal between the PCI-E channel and the SAS channels; and the signal feedback module is used for connecting a first SAS interface to a second SAS interface in the SAS back plate. The PCI-E microprocessor compares whether the test signal sent to the first SAS channel is consistent with the test signal received from the second SAS interface.
US07676702B2 Preemptive data protection for copy services in storage systems and applications
A common interface and communication methodology are provided for interaction between the components of a storage area network for them to activate “triggers” that cause actions to be taken by the devices to utilize copy service functions to create additional copies of data, and to potentially route load to other resources. The actions can be taken by any of the elements of the storage area network to mitigate the impact of the pending failure. The advantage of this system over current methods is that it can detect both failure and impending failure in any component in the system and use resources in any other component to mitigate the failure. This creates a much more comprehensive recovery strategy and the potential to save more data than in current systems.
US07676684B2 Semiconductor device and signal processing method for synchronizing data with a data strobe signal
In view of accurately determine a valid range of data to be synchronized to the system clock, conforming to actual environments of mounting and connection, the semiconductor device of the present invention is configured as acquiring flight times of clock signal(s) and a data strobe signal, transmitted to or from a double-data-rate memory, making use of reflected waves on transmission path, and as determining a valid range of data to be synchronized with a system clock based on thus-acquired flight times of the clock signal(s) and the data strobe signal.
US07676680B2 Systems and methods for distributing private placement documents
Methods of providing a private placement document to a potential investor in a private placement. The methods may comprise the step of generating the private placement document in an encrypted electronic format. The private placement document may include a unique identifier. The methods may also comprise the steps of providing the private placement document to the potential investor, and recording the unique identifier.
US07676679B2 Method for self-synchronizing time between communicating networked systems using timestamps
Nodes in a network include a pseudo-timestamp in messages or packets, derived from local pseudo-time clocks. When a packet is received, a first time is determined representing when the packet was sent and a second time is determined representing when the packet was received. If the difference between the second time and the first time is greater than a predetermined amount, the packet is considered to be stale and is rejected, thereby deterring replay. Because each node maintains its own clock and time, to keep the clocks relatively synchronized, if a time associated with a timestamp of a received packet is later than a certain amount with respect to the time at the receiver, the receiver's clock is set ahead by an amount that expected to synchronize the receiver's and the sender's clocks. However, a receiver never sets its clock back, to deter attacks.
US07676677B2 Digital signature method and apparatus
A digital signature method and apparatus is provided in which a first party with a first public/private key pair forms an ambiguous signature on subject data using at least the private key of the first key pair, a keystone initially only known to the first party, and the public key of at least one other public/private key-pair. This signature is ambiguous in that a signature-checking party can only verify that the signature is in the set comprising a signature created by the first party and a respective signature created by the possessor of the private key of the or each of the key pairs the public key of which was used in creating the signature. Revelation of the keystone renders the signature unambiguous. Such an ambiguous signature can be used to implement a fair exchange of signatures between any number of parties, with the exchanged signatures being ambiguous signatures until revelation of the initial signer's keystone.
US07676676B2 Method and apparatus for performing mutual authentication within a network
A method and apparatus for mutual authentication of a first and a second node is provided herein. During operation the first node sends a first authentication message to the second node comprising information needed for the second node to authenticate the first node and information needed by the second node for the second node to be authenticated by the first node. A second authentication message is received from the second node comprising information needed by the first node for the first node to be authenticated by the second node and information needed for the first node to authenticate the second node. Because the first and the second authentication messages comprise information needed for both the first and the second node to authenticate each other, messaging within the network is greatly reduced.
US07676664B2 Symmetric multiprocessor operating system for execution on non-independent lightweight thread contexts
A multiprocessing system including a multithreading microprocessor and multiprocessor operating system (OS) is disclosed. The microprocessor includes a first and a second plurality of thread contexts (TCs), each TC having a program counter and a general purpose register set for executing a thread. The microprocessor also includes a first and a second shared privileged resource, shared by the first and second respective plurality of TCs rather than being replicated for each of the respective first and second plurality of TCs, and privileged to be managed only by operating system-privileged threads rather than by user-privileged threads. The OS manages the first and second shared privileged resource and schedules execution of both the operating system-privileged threads and the user-privileged threads on the plurality of TCs.
US07676658B2 Data processing apparatus configured to load a program corresponding to each of a plurality of functions into a memory and execute the loaded program, and method for loading programs in the data processing apparatus
A data processing apparatus and method configured to load a program corresponding to each of a plurality of functions into a memory, the apparatus and method including storing a program for a specific function from among the plurality of functions, storing a program for a function different from the specific function from among the plurality of functions, loading the program for the specific function into the memory, and loading the program for the function different from the specific function into the memory after power is supplied to the second storage unit based on a request for accessing the second storage unit generated during execution of the program for the specific function.
US07676651B2 Micro controller for decompressing and compressing variable length codes via a compressed code dictionary
The invention provides a code compression technology that is favorable for a micro controller or other embedded system, and for compressed codes, resulting from conversion of program codes into variable length codes, and grouped program codes, address conversion information for specifying the start address of each group and compressed code type information for specifying the code length of each compressed code contained in a group are stored in a memory, and by enabling a corresponding compressed code address to be calculated from a code address output by a CPU, code compression that is favorable for a micro controller or other embedded system is realized.
US07676649B2 Computing machine with redundancy and related systems and methods
According to an embodiment of the invention, a computing machine comprises a pipeline accelerator, a host processor coupled to the pipeline accelerator, and a redundant processor, a redundant pipeline unit, or both, coupled to the host processor and to the pipeline accelerator. The computing machine may also include a system-restore server and a system-restore bus that allow the machine to periodically save the machine states in case of a failure. Such a computing machine has a fault-tolerant scheme that is often more flexible than conventional schemes. For example, if the pipeline accelerator has more extra “space” than the host processor, then one can add to the computing machine one or more redundant pipeline units that can provide redundancy to both the pipeline and the host processor. Therefore, the computing machine can include redundancy for the host processor even though it has no redundant processing units.
US07676640B2 Flash memory controller controlling various flash memory cells
An electronic data flash card is accessible by a host system, and includes a flash memory controller and at least one flash memory device coupled to the flash controller. The boot code and control code for the flash memory system (flash card) are stored in the flash memory device during a programming procedure. The flash controller transfers the boot code and control code to a volatile main memory (e.g., random access memory or RAM) at start up or reset making a RAM-based memory system. Boot code and control code are selectively overwritten during a code updating operation. A single flash controller thus supports multiple brands and types of flash memory to eliminate stocking issues.
US07676639B2 Separate handling of read and write of read-modify-write
Separate handling of read and write operations of Read-Modify-Write Commands in an XDR™ memory system is provided. This invention allows the system to issue other commands between the reads and writes of a RMW. This insures that the dataflow time from read to write is not a penalty. A RMW buffer is used to store the read data and a write buffer is used to store the write data. A MUX is used to merge the read data and the write data, and transmit the merged data to the target DRAM via the XIO. The RMW buffer can also be used for scrubbing commands.
US07676633B1 Efficient non-blocking storage of data in a storage server victim cache
A network storage server has a non-volatile mass storage facility, a main cache and a victim cache. A technique of efficient, non-blocking storage of data in the victim cache includes, responding to a caller process by, without blocking the caller process, selecting a first storage unit for eviction from the main cache, destaging the first storage unit for storage in the victim cache without copying the first storage unit, and identifying a second storage unit to the caller process as available to be overwritten in the main cache.
US07676623B2 Management of proprietary devices connected to infiniband ports
Methods and systems for discovering whether a given connection to an InfiniBand port is a standard InfiniBand connection or a non-standard connection (e.g., indicating the presence of a proprietary device) are provided. The discovery may be performed by an end node, such that the end node interoperates with all standard InfiniBand components. Specific actions that are vendor unique, and potentially not compliant with the InfiniBand architecture, may not be done until after the discovery is complete and it has been verified that the noncompliant action will only be directed to entities know to be capable of processing them. These actions may include assuming the configuration responsibilities that would have been performed by the Subnet Manager in a standard InfiniBand network.
US07676617B2 Posted memory write verification
A method for verifying the proper communication of data packets from an initiator device on a PCIe data bus to a target device on the data bus. A target-specific counter on the initiator is synchronized to an initiator-specific counter on the target with the same value. The initiator writes the value of the target-specific counter into the tag field of the packet header, and also writes an identifier of the initiator into the header. Then the initiator sends the packet to the target on the PCIe data bus. Upon receipt of the packet, the target reads the identifier and checks the value against the appropriate initiator-specific counter on the target. When the value is not equal to the initiator-specific counter on the target, then it generates an error message. An additional memory write with specific data is posted from the initiator to the target. A memory read is posted of the additional memory write location from the initiator to the target. The operation of the initiator is continued when a good status and data matching the additional write data is returned from the target, and operation is halted when an error status is returned or data that does not match the additional write data.
US07676615B2 Contents data storage device and contents data update system
A content data storage apparatus that enables content data on a plurality of client apparatuses to be individually updated according to the preferences or the like of users. Content data on a memory card is stored in association with client content management information for managing the content data and client content identification information for identifying the content data in management units. When client content identification information stored on a memory card connected to an input/output unit matches any storage content identification information stored on a hard disk, a control unit updates the content data of the memory card based on content data included in management units identified by this storage content identification information.
US07676614B2 Redundant storage virtualization computer system
A redundant storage virtualization computer system is provided. The redundant storage virtualization computer system comprises a host entity for issuing an IO request, a redundant storage virtualization controller set coupled to the host entity for performing an IO operation in response to the IO request issued by the host entity, and a plurality of physical storage devices for providing storage space to the computer system. Each of the physical storage devices is coupled to the redundant storage virtualization controller set. The redundant storage virtualization controller set comprises a first and a second storage virtualization controller both coupled to the host entity, the storage virtualization controllers communicate therebetween via a PCI-Express interconnect. In the redundant storage virtualization controller set, a storage virtualization controller will take over the functionality originally performed by the alternate storage virtualization controller when the alternate storage virtualization controller is not on line.
US07676606B1 Method and system for monitoring and controlling status of programmable devices
A method for programming programmable devices includes monitoring a status pin for each of the programmable devices, maintaining state information for the programmable devices indicating whether each programmable device is programmed, and transitioning each programmable device from a programmed state to an operating state. A monitoring module includes detectors, a memory and a processor. The detectors detect indications on the status pins of programmable devices that the programmable devices are programmed. The memory stores state information about the programmable devices. The processor communicates control signals to the programmable devices instructing them to transition from the programmed state to the operating state.
US07676603B2 Write combining protocol between processors and chipsets
Systems and methods of processing write transactions provide for combining write transactions on an input/output (I/O) hub according to a protocol between the I/O hub and a processor. Data associated with the write transactions can be flushed to an I/O device without the need for proprietary software and specialized registers within the I/O device.
US07676600B2 Network, storage appliance, and method for externalizing an internal I/O link between a server and a storage controller integrated within the storage appliance chassis
A network storage appliance is disclosed. The storage appliance includes a port combiner that provides data communication between at least first, second, and third I/O ports; a storage controller that controls storage devices and includes the first I/O port; a server having the second I/O port; and an I/O connector for networking the third I/O port to the port combiner. A single chassis encloses the port combiner, storage controller, and server, and the I/O connector is affixed on the storage appliance. The third I/O port is external to the chassis and is not enclosed therein. In various embodiments, the port combiner comprises a FiberChannel hub comprising a series of loop resiliency circuits, or a FiberChannel, Ethernet, or Infiniband switch. In one embodiment, the port combiner, I/O ports, and server are all comprised in a single blade module for plugging into a backplane of the chassis.
US07676598B2 Method of controlling communication between a head-end system and a plurality of client systems
A method of controlling communication between a head-end system and a number of client systems through a network, wherein, for each receiver, only a nearest one of the multicast router systems in the network is configured to forward a copy of a message addressed to the multicast groups of which the receiver is a member directly to the receiver, includes: maintaining subscriber group information linking each registered one of the number of client systems to an associated one of a plurality of subscriber groups, and allocating registered client systems to at least one multicast group, such that all client systems associated with a particular subscriber group are in a common multicast group. Information uniquely identifying the nearest multicast router system nearest to a receiver for a first client system is obtained, and the first client system is assigned to a subscriber group including at least one further client system having the same nearest multicast router system.
US07676594B2 Middleware platform
The present invention relates to the provision of a middleware platform apparatus and related method operating on top of the heterogeneous wireless network. In other words, there is provided at least one bearer service in a heterogeneous wireless network for at least one application running at a mobile endpoint roaming in the heterogeneous wireless network. It is proposed to dynamically adjust (S10, S12) the at least one bearer service provided through the heterogeneous wireless network (10) according to an operational context of a mobile endpoint (12).
US07676585B1 System and method for dynamically adjusting a refresh interval
A method for providing information to a client device includes receiving a first status request from the client device and communicating status information to the client device in response. The status information specifies a first refresh interval. The method also includes detecting an input of the client device and determining a second refresh interval in response to detecting the input. The method further includes receiving a second status request from the client device after the expiration of the first refresh interval and communicating updated status information to the client device in response to the second status request. The updated status information specifies the second refresh interval.
US07676582B2 Optimized desktop sharing viewer join
Embodiments herein are designed to counteract the negative effects of an attendee join in a remote session by employing several techniques. One technique maintains and determines maximum decoding capabilities of viewers, which are then used to determine, e.g., a least common denominator of encoding available. As such, a sharer can dynamically modify (either up or down) the encoding of the graphics stream without having to renegotiate decoding capabilities for each viewer upon a join/disjoin. In order to assist in resetting viewer state based on the above encoding technique, other embodiments provide for: context reset for delta and/or other types of order encoding; reset for all sharer and viewer caches; and reset of history for compression context. Another technique provides for delaying the joiner of attendees (and thus the reset of the graphics stream) based on a myriad of static and dynamic policy factors.
US07676577B2 Scalable presence distribution system and method
Scalable presence distribution system and method are described. In one embodiment, a presence distribution system comprises a plurality of presence servers and a centralized management function for coordinating registration of a presentity with one or more of the plurality of presence servers.
US07676572B2 Diagnostic information management system
A diagnostic information management system having a field controller which sends diagnostic information indicating contents of a failure which occurs in the field, to a viewer via a network; and the viewer which displays the diagnostic information sent from the field controller, on a screen. The field controller has a storage section which stores diagnostic information that becomes master diagnostic information of the whole system. The viewer compares the diagnostic information held by itself with the master diagnostic information, and obtains the difference diagnostic information from the field controller side.
US07676570B2 Determining client latencies over a network
A network latency estimation apparatus for estimating latency in network communications between a server and a client. The apparatus comprises an event observer for observing occurrences of pre-selected events. The events associated with the communication occurring at the server. A logging device associated with the event observer for logging into a data store the occurrence of the events together with respective time information. A latency estimator associated with the logging device for using the logged occurrences with the respective time information to arrive at an estimation of a client's latency for the communication.
US07676569B2 Method for building enterprise scalability models from production data
The invention provides a method for preparing a discrete event simulation model of a production network including a client and a plurality of servers on a plurality of network tiers connected by a network comprising the steps of executing a business function from the client on the production network, gathering resource data from the plurality of servers, normalizing the resource data, calculating a consumption of resources used by the plurality of servers, estimating a transaction cost associated with the consumption of resources and building a discrete event simulation model from the transaction cost.
US07676567B2 System and method for mapping a network
A system and method for mapping a network. Specifically, the present invention provides a non-intrusive system and method for identifying network attached devices as well as the details thereof. Under the present invention, a collection apparatus having collection tools is communicated with the network. The collection tools are operated to collect information from the devices. The device information is then analyzed to identify details of the devices. Once identified, the details are aggregated into a report.
US07676559B2 Real-time policy evaluation mechanism
An apparatus and methods for real-time policy evaluation in support of network management and service provisioning are presented. The apparatus includes a policy repository, a scheduler, a triggering module, a pre-computation module. A policy equivalency class association is determined for each policy-managed entity, policy, policy-managed information flow of information and/or any part of a communication network. Policy conditions are divided into triggering and passive conditions. The scheduler prioritizes policy evaluation for policies associated with passive conditions for entire policy equivalency classes applicable to large numbers of policy-managed entities. Real-time events and updates are trapped via triggering conditions and related policy evaluation is performed for the entire policy equivalency class, for a large number of policy-managed entities, in real-time. A policy decision distribution mechanism provides policy-managed entities with policy decisions for enforcement. Policy evaluation includes changing the association of a policy-managed device with a group of policy equivalency classes. Advantages are derived from real-time policy evaluation of policies related to entire policy equivalency classes, each policy equivalency class being associated with large numbers of policy-managed entities.
US07676551B1 Lookup partitioning storage system and method
A method, system, and computer-readable medium for accessing and managing an online storage system is disclosed. Access to a storage resource in a multiple server storage system is provided by sending to a lookup partitioning service server a resource identifier that is associated with a storage resource stored in a particular storage partition of a storage server. The LPS returns the looked-up partition that stores the storage resource associated with the resource identifier. Access to the storage resource is then enabled to the looked-up storage partition.
US07676548B2 System and method for providing a presence service
A system and method including registering state information capable of being published by an Event Publication Agent (EPA) using a Media Feature Tag according to Session Initiation Protocol (SIP); sending a Publication Rule for target state information from a Ruler to an associated EPA; routing the Publication Rule to the EPA; receiving, by the EPA, the Publication Rule; performing publication to an Event State Compositer (ESC) according to the Publication Rule; requesting to update or cancel the Publication Rule; receiving the request from the Ruler and modifying the Publication Rule accordingly; performing publication from the EPA to the ESC according to the modified Publication Rule; sending a Publication Rule synchronization request from the Ruler to the EPA using an event package; sending a response message to the Publication Rule synchronization request from the EPA; and sending notification of further updates of the Publication Rule from the EPA.
US07676537B2 Address generation method for combining multiple selection results
A method in an integrated circuit for generating an address value having a contiguous address range from a first selection result and a second selection result each being an one-of-k selection result includes selecting multiple multiplication factors being power-of-two multiplication factors and the sum of the multiplication factors being equal to k; shifting the first selection result towards the most significant bit by each of the multiplication factors to generate multiple shifted input values where each shifted input value is shifted towards the most significant bit by one of the multiplication factors; adding the shifted input values and the second selection result; and generating the address value having a contiguous address range. The method can be extended to combine more than two selection results by applying the shifting and addition steps in a hierarchical manner.
US07676528B2 Image data processing apparatus and image data processing method
An image data processing apparatus includes: a data dividing unit dividing arithmetic image data into arithmetic pixel data corresponding to a signal line of a display device; an adder adding first data and second data; and a data delaying unit delaying the added data, wherein the first data is the divided arithmetic pixel data from the data dividing unit, and the second data is the delayed added arithmetic pixel data from the data delaying unit.
US07676524B2 Hierarchical cursor-based object model
An object data manipulation system is provided. The system includes a definition object model that includes a set of dynamic group definitions over a data hierarchy. A cursor component points to a subset of the data hierarchy, where the subset is loaded into memory for further processing.
US07676519B2 Method and system for responding to requests relating to complex data maintained in a structured form
A method and apparatus for processing user entered input and providing a response in a system for autonomously processing requests includes rules. For each rule, whether the input is recognized is determined. If it is, a response is sent to the user. To determine recognized input, the method attempts to match the rule to a pattern. If a match is not found, the input is not recognized. If a match is found, the input is recognized and the response is sent. Alternatively, the input is conditionally recognized and a statement validator is executed which queries structured data to determine if a logic statement evaluates to true. Depending on how the statement evaluates: i) the input is recognized and the response is sent, ii) the structured data is queried again for the next statement validator, or iii) the input is not recognized and the method continues to the next rule.
US07676514B2 Distributed maintenance of snapshot copies by a primary processor managing metadata and a secondary processor providing read-write access to a production dataset
A primary processor manages metadata of a production dataset and a snapshot copy, while a secondary processor provides concurrent read-write access to the primary dataset. The secondary processor determines when a first write is being made to a data block of the production dataset, and in this case sends a metadata change request to the primary data processor. The primary data processor commits the metadata change to the production dataset and maintains the snapshot copy while the secondary data processor continues to service other read-write requests. The secondary processor logs metadata changes so that the secondary processor may return a “write completed” message before the primary processor commits the metadata change. The primary data processor pre-allocates data storage blocks in such a way that the “write anywhere” method does not result in a gradual degradation in I/O performance.
US07676511B2 Method and apparatus for reducing object pre-tenuring overhead in a generational garbage collector
In some circumstances a generational garbage collector may be made more efficient by “pre-tenuring” objects or directly allocating new objects in an old generation instead of allocating them in the normal fashion in a young generation. A pre-tenuring decision is made by a two step process. In the first step, during a young-generation collection, an execution frequency is determined for each allocation site and sites with the highest execution frequency are selected as candidate sites. In the second step, during a subsequent young-generation collection, the survival rates are determined for the candidate sites. After this, objects allocated from sites with sufficiently high survival rates are allocated directly in the old generation.
US07676507B2 Methods and systems for searching and associating information resources such as web pages
A method manages information resources in a computer system. The method includes receiving user information from an input device. The user information is representative of a declaration that a second resource accessible by the system should be associated with a first resource. The method further includes storing in association with the second resource an identifier of the first resource. The method identifies other resources that are relevant with respect to the second resource using a relevance scoring process. The method further determines whether the second resource with respect to other relevant resources has a first identifier associated herewith when one of the other resources is to be accessed by the system for display, and if it does, displays signaling information distinct from the display of the other resource itself signaling of the existence of the first resource.
US07676500B2 System and method for the transformation and canonicalization of semantically structured data
A method of transforming and canonicalizing semantically structured data includes obtaining data from a network of computers, applying text patterns to the obtained data and placing the data in a first data file, providing a second data file containing the obtained data in a uniform format, and generating interface specific sentences from the data in the second data file.
US07676499B2 Management of data from combinatorial materials experiments
Systems, methods, and apparatus, including computer program apparatus, are described for implementing techniques for processing data from a combinatorial experiment. The techniques include receiving data from a chemical experiment on a library of materials having a plurality of members and generating a representation of the chemical experiment. The representation includes data defining an experiment object having a plurality of properties derived from the chemical experiment. The experiment object is associated with the library of materials. The representation also includes data defining one or more element objects. Each element object is associated with one or more members of the library of materials. A data model and corresponding data structures for describing such experiments are also disclosed.
US07676496B2 Content management system, content management method and computer program
The invention provides a user with a key or a visual clue to a desired content. There is provided a random search mode searching the content randomly when a user has no object for searching the content, and a specific search mode with object or search condition specified. The search condition is randomly generated or the content is extracted regardless of the search condition under the random search mode while the content is extracted based on the search condition such as a media type of the content input by the user or other content attributes.
US07676489B2 Providing natural-language interface to repository
Providing a natural-language interface to a repository includes retrieving information from at least one repository, and generating a computer-readable ontology using the information. The computer-readable ontology is configured for use in interpreting user-entered natural-language statements regarding the at least one repository. A computer system including at least one repository has an ontology-generating module generating a computer-readable ontology using information retrieved from the at least one repository. The ontology may be created in any or all of several forms, such as a separate entity, a pointer structure or an index.
US07676485B2 Method and computer program product for converting ontologies into concept semantic networks
A method and computer program product for producing a concept semantic network (CSN) from an ontology. Each class, subclass, object, restriction, and property of the ontology is converted into a concept of the CSN. Each hierarchy in the ontology is converted to a concept hierarchy of the CSN.
US07676478B2 Data warehousing systems and methods having reusable user transforms
Data warehousing systems and methods are described herein. In one example methodology, a plurality of transformation templates are stored in a transformation library, each transformation template including software objects that describe how to transform extracted data prior to loading the data into the data warehouse. A unique identifier may be associated with each of the plurality of transformation templates. Using this unique identifier, an instance of at least one of the plurality of transformation templates may be instantiated into a data transformation process by mapping the software objects of the transformation template into the instance of the transform using code segments. The code segments of the data transformation process are then executed to transform and load the extracted data into the data warehouse.
US07676473B2 Propagation of user preferences to end devices
In one embodiment, a method of providing propagation of user preferences to multiple end devices can comprise receiving a request for user preference information, the request originating from a requesting end device. One or more sewers storing preference information for a user associated with the requesting end device can be identified. The preference information for the user associated with the requesting end device can be read from the one or more servers and a response message can be generated. The response message can include the preference information for the user associated with the requesting end device from the one or more servers. The response message can be sent to one or more recipient end devices.
US07676470B2 Self discovering adaptive security system and method
A system and method for providing security to a data warehousing application. A system is described having: a dimension analysis system that identifies dimensions defined for viewing data in a data warehouse; a security table generation system for automatically generating security tables for identified dimensions; a security tables scanning system for analyzing inputs within the security tables; and an end-user view definitions update system for updating the data warehouse based on inputs in the security tables.
US07676467B1 User segment population techniques
A facility for identifying users that have an interest in a selected subject is described. For each of a number of actual users, the facility establishes a user behavior record describing the behavior of the actual user. The facility also establishes a user behavior record describing behavior of a virtual user. The behavior described by the user behavior record for the virtual user is made up of actions each tending to indicate an interest in the selected subject. The facility identifies a proper subset of the actual users whose user behavior records are most similar to the user behavior record of the virtual user as interested in the selected subject.
US07676462B2 Method, apparatus, and program for refining search criteria through focusing word definition
A search engine is provided that includes a refinement mechanism. The search engine receives and parses a search expression and delimits the expression into individual terms or words. The refinement mechanism includes a directory of related terms and a directory of compound terms. The refinement mechanism also includes a hierarchical data structure of refinement terms. The mechanism then identifies related terms for the individual terms in the search expression, compound terms that may be formed from individual terms in the expression, and terms in the expression that have sub structures or “sub trees” in the hierarchical data structure. An interface is generated in a graphical tree structure to present identified related terms, compound terms, and refinement terms. Based upon user interaction with the interfaces, the mechanism forms an enhanced search expression.
US07676457B2 Automatic index based query optimization
A method and apparatus for automatic index query optimization for a Lightweight directory Access Protocol (LDAP) system. Embodiments include a method for receiving a query for an LDAP repository. The method may further include reorganizing search terms in the query based on a uniqueness value of corresponding LDAP indexes to generate a modified query, and executing the modified query.
US07676454B2 Private clustering and statistical queries while analyzing a large database
A database has a plurality of entries and a plurality of attributes common to each entry, where each entry corresponds to an individual. A query is received from a querying entity query and is passed to the database, and an answer is received in response. An amount of noise is generated and added to the answer to result in an obscured answer, and the obscured answer is returned to the querying entity. The noise is normally distributed around zero with a particular variance. The variance R may be determined in accordance with R>8 T log2(T/δ)/ε2, where T is the permitted number of queries T, δ is the utter failure probability, and ε is the largest admissible increase in confidence. Thus, a level of protection of privacy is provided to each individual represented within the database. Example noise generation techniques, systems, and methods may be used for privacy preservation in such areas as k means, principal component analysis, statistical query learning models, and perceptron algorithms.
US07676451B2 Selective database statistics recollection
The subject mater herein relates to database management and, more particularly, to selective database statistics recollection. Various embodiments provide one or more of system, methods, and software that identify database column and index states when statistics become stale to a point where query execution plans against respective columns and indexes fail to be efficient. These and other embodiments provide a way to update column and index statistics only when the statistics are determined to be stale. As a result, adverse database performance as a result of needless updating of database statistics is mitigated.
US07676449B2 Creating and viewing private events in an events repository
Techniques for accessing an events information repository are provided. An events repository contains event records defining real world events. A programmatic interface is exposed to third-party applications for accessing the event records within the repository. Specifically, the programmatic interface provides a set of routines that perform operations on the repository. Using the programmatic interface, third-party applications may call the set of routines to cause operations to be executed on the repository. Further, techniques are provided for creating and viewing private events within an events repository and also for associating user-defined tags with events using the events repository.
US07676443B2 System and method for processing data elements in retail sales environment
A system for processing rules on data elements is described. The system includes a memory queue configured to receive and store a listing of data elements and a rule processing engine configured to apply one or more processing rules to one or more data elements. The rules processing engine further includes a rule condition processing engine configured to apply a condition to a data element and store the data element in the memory queue if the condition is satisfied and a rule action processing engine configured to iteratively perform an action on the elements stored in the memory queue.
US07676435B1 Method and system for triggering enhanced security verification in response to atypical selections at a service-oriented user interface terminal
A method and system for prompting a repeat user of a payment card at an interface terminal with additional security-related questions when the user selects responses that deviate from his or her typical selections. The payment card is read at the terminal, its line of credit is authorized, and a profile of the user's purchasing habits is retrieved. The user then enters his or her current selection of options. A determination is then made as to whether the user's current selections match his or her user profile. If the user's current selections match the user profile, the process allows the user to obtain the services or facilities. If the user's current selections do not match the user profile, the process queries the user with additional security questions to ascertain whether the current user is an authorized user. If the user is unable to answer the security questions correctly, the process prevents the user from accessing the services or facilities. If the user is able to answer the security questions correctly, the process allows the current user to begin fueling his or her vehicle.
US07676429B2 Credit instrument and system providing multiple services including access to credit services and access to a service provider club
An apparatus and methods for a card that allows a cardholder to set up auto-charge payment of dues and fees to a series of clubs, merchants or service providers. The card also may be used for other transactions that accept credit cards. The apparatus includes a database containing information of the associated clubs, merchants and service providers, so that applicants and cardholders can easily configure auto-charging for multiple business concerns in one sitting. The apparatus may process auto-charge transactions in an automated fashion without requiring a cardholder to submit payment authorization or the business concern to submit a charge for each payment. Inconvenience and administrative costs to the cardholder and the business concern are reduced. The system and method provide a competitive advantage to the associated business concerns to secure the initial account and then to maintain it. The system and method encourages card loyalty of both the card members and the business concerns to the card provider.
US07676427B1 System and method of continuous assurance
A computer system for conducting continuous assurance of financial documents is disclosed. The computer system comprises a processor, a bus coupled to the processor, a memory coupled to the bus, a mass storage system coupled to the bus, a communication device coupled to the bus, and continuous assurance software resident in the memory. The continuous assurance software, when executed, performing the steps of accessing client database at a predetermined interval, downloading total population from client database, performing analysis, evaluating analysis results, comparing total population to financial statements, determining a risk rating for each predetermined group, determining a materiality of anomalies, and displaying results.
US07676422B2 Hedge fund weight in a hedge fund index
This invention relates to hedge fund indexing in general and methods and systems for constructing and maintaining investable hedge fund indices in particular.
US07676417B2 Method and system for unified management of plurality of assets using computer network
A method and system for collectively displaying in real-time on the Internet the status of personal assets and transactions. The system comprises a plurality of asset databases corresponding to a plurality of financial institutions; storing portfolio information related to total assets in the above-mentioned plurality of financial institutions; a unified asset management server for receiving asset information from the above-mentioned plurality of financial institutions and storing same respectively in the above-mentioned plurality of asset databases, and preparing the above-mentioned portfolio based on the above-mentioned plurality of asset databases and storing the same; an asset management database for managing a user's assets; and a financial institution server connected to the above-mentioned authentication database, the above-mentioned asset management database, and the above-mentioned transaction management database. The unified asset management server prepares a portfolio of all assets.
US07676414B1 Annuity having interest rate coupled to a referenced interest rate
An annuity provides a guaranteed rate of return for a guarantee period while at the same time providing upward adjustments to the interest rate if there is a corresponding increase in a specified referenced rate. The guaranteed base interest rate is set at the beginning of the guarantee period, and the annuity account is credited with the base interest rate for an initial pre-defined period. Periodically, the then-current referenced rate is compared to a base referenced rate defined at the establishment of the guarantee period. If the referenced rate has increased, the interest rate that will be credited to the annuity account value will increase by an amount that is based on the amount of increase in the referenced rate. If the referenced rate has not changed or has decreased, the interest rate that will be credited to the annuity account value will be the guaranteed base interest rate.
US07676387B2 Graphical display of business rules
Methods, systems and carrier media for viewing business rules are disclosed. Components of the business rules may be stored as entries in one or more database tables. A rule editor may access business rule components and assemble the components to form a graphical display of a business rule. In various embodiments, the graphical display may allow the user to view, edit and/or create business rules.
US07676385B2 Method and equipment adapted for verifying presence of a medical implant within a patient
One embodiment of the disclosures made herein is a method adapted for verifying presence of a medical implant within a patient. Such an embodiment includes performing an operation for authenticating a medical implant patient, whereby the patient includes an authenticated-patient. In response to successfully authenticating the medical implant patient, an operation is performed for creating an authenticated-patient medical implant verification account (MIVA) for the medical implant patient. An operation is performed for issuing an authenticated-patient medical implant verification card (MIVC) to the medical implant patient in response to creating the authenticated-patient MIVA for the medical implant patient. After creating the authenticate-patient MIVA and issuing the MIVC, an operation is performed for facilitating patient-authorized access to the MIVA.
US07676384B2 System and method for the automated presentation of system data to, and interaction with, a computer maintained database
A system and method are provided for extracting a set of data from a system user descriptive of the complete health snapshot of the user's to interact with a database of numerous other users so as to generate a cluster of similar user's exhibiting a similar (within some system defined distance metric) health snapshot. The system guides the user to present his or her data via a complex questionnaire based upon a novel descriptive taxonomy, based upon the principles of “cyberhealth” as opposed to the standard medical “disease oriented” singular cause and effect model. The system generates the cluster of similar users, analyzes the cluster to obtain a ranked list of possible remedies or therapies to assist the user in dealing with health problems. The system further creates a computer networked virtual community of users with common health problems/interests, facilitates online chat, discussion groups, and the trading of health information. Additionally, the system provides listings of and links to health care providers and medical testing laboratories who are able to assist users of the system.
US07676382B2 Method of dispensing a pharmaceutical product
A method of dispensing a pharmaceutical product, the pharmaceutical product being associated with packaging having disposed thereon or therein coded data, at least some of the coded data being indicative of at least an identity of the pharmaceutical product. The method uses a computer system which receives indicating data from a sensing device, in responsive to sensing of the coded data. The computer system uses the indicating data and a dispensing database to determine at least one criterion for dispensing the pharmaceutical product. The computer system causes the pharmaceutical product to be dispensed if the at least one criterion is satisfied.
US07676381B2 Medical support system
The present invention provides a medical support system capable of properly supporting entry of medical information by a medical professional. A medical support system stores, as medical data, first medical information entered by a medical professional as an operator, and second medical information entered without direct intervention of the medical professional. Further, the medical support system generates and outputs support information for supporting entry of the first medical information by the medical professional. In the medical support system, the support information is generated on the basis of the first medical information and second medical information being entered. Therefore, in the medical support system, when the first medical information and second medical information being entered changes, the support information to be generated also changes.
US07676375B1 System and method for valuing patents
A computer system implementing a macro economic model based upon macroeconomic data and relative value characteristics data of patents that determines nominal values for (1) goods and services and (2) profits generated by sales that are covered by the rights of a patent, implements an income value theory to value the patent based upon the predicted values of profits or goods and services covered by the patent, determines patent terms from patent filing, publication, and issue dates, determines patent assignees from patent data, and uses the value of a company's patents, the patent issuance data and term date data, to determine trends versus time in: the number of a company's enforceable patents; the number of a company's patents obtained; the nominal value of net earnings and of goods and services sold that are covered by the company's patents; the nominal value of the sum of the company's patents, and provides comparisons of those trends between companies, regions, and economic sectors, providing the results of the analysis to users of the computer system. The computer system employs a user database enabling a novel electronic accounting model enabling payment by affiliates, programmed securities trading, and accrediting of investors.
US07676367B2 Method of producing alternate utterance hypotheses using auxiliary information on close competitors
A method of constructing a list of alternate transcripts from a recognized transcript includes generating a list of close call records, matching partial sub-histories from the recognized transcript with one of the history pairs stored in each of the records, and substituting the other of the history pairs for the partial sub-history of the recognized transcript. A close call record is generated each time a pair of partial hypotheses attempt to seed a common word. Each close call record includes history information and scoring information associated with a particular pair of partial hypotheses seeding a common word. Alternate transcripts are constructed by substituting close call histories for partial histories of the recognized transcripts, and also by substituting close call histories for partial histories of other alternate transcript.
US07676365B2 Method and apparatus for constructing and using syllable-like unit language models
A method and computer-readable medium use syllable-like units (SLUs) to decode a pronunciation into a phonetic description. The syllable-like units are generally larger than a single phoneme but smaller than a word. The present invention provides a means for defining these syllable-like units and for generating a language model based on these syllable-like units that can be used in the decoding process. As SLUs are longer than phonemes, they contain more acoustic contextual clues and better lexical constraints for speech recognition. Thus, the phoneme accuracy produced from SLU recognition is much better than all-phone sequence recognition.
US07676361B2 Apparatus, method and program for voice signal interpolation
A voice signal interpolation apparatus is provided which can restore original human voices from human voices in a compressed state while maintaining a high sound quality. When a voice signal representative of a voice to be interpolated is acquired by a voice data input unit 1, a pitch deriving unit 2 filters this voice signal to identify a pitch length from the filtering result. A pitch length fixing unit 3 makes the voice signal have a constant time length of a section corresponding to a unit pitch, and generates pitch waveform data. A sub-band dividing unit 4 converts the pitch waveform data into sub-band data representative of a spectrum. A plurality of sub-band data pieces are averaged by an averaging unit 5 and thereafter a sub-band synthesizing unit 6 converts the sub-band data pieces into a signal representative of a waveform of the voice by a sub-band synthesizing unit 6. The time length of this signal in each section is restored by a pitch restoring unit 7 and a sound output unit 8 reproduces the sound represented by the signal.
US07676353B2 Transversely isotropic model for wellbore stability analysis in laminated formations
A method of predicting wellbore stability is provided and includes: creating a parameterized model of a wellbore in laminated formation, the parameterized model including a plurality of laminated formation and wellbore related parameters; considering measurement data to determine the laminated formation and wellbore related parameters; updating the parameterized model by adopting the determined laminated formation and wellbore related parameters; and applying the updated parameterized model to derive a solution of wellbore stability.
US07676342B2 Sensor assembly, digital serial bus and protocol, sensor network, and lithographic apparatus and system
An sensor assembly according to one embodiment includes a sensor, an analog-to-digital converter configured to digitize a data signal received from the sensor, and an array of logic elements configured to receive a first data transmission over a serial bus and to transmit a second data transmission including information in the digitized signal over the serial bus. The array of logic elements is configured to transmit the second data transmission according to information received in the first data transmission.
US07676338B2 Method for detecting abnormality of temperature sensor in machine tool
The invention enables an abnormality of a temperature sensor to be simply detected. In S1, a temperature measurement is performed with each temperature sensor, and measured signals are digitalized to obtain a temperature value. Then, in S2, a detection temperature Tb′ equivalent to a detected temperature of a corresponding temperature sensor is calculated with use of an arithmetic expression and a characterization factor stored in a parameter storage device, and in S3, an absolute value ΔT of a temperature difference between Ta and Tb′ is obtained. Subsequently, in S4, the calculated absolute value ΔT is compared with a limit value γ, and when ΔT is larger than the limit value γ, Ta or Tb is determined to be abnormal and an alert is issued with an alarm or the like in S5, followed by issuance of a command to a correcting device in S6 not to change a correction amount set before the abnormality occurs.
US07676336B2 Watermark embedding
According to an inventive scheme for introducing a watermark into an information signal, the information signal is at first transferred from a time representation to a spectral/modulation spectral representation). The information signal is then manipulated in the spectral/modulation spectral representation in dependence on the watermark to be introduced to obtain a modified spectral/modulation spectral representation, and subsequently an information signal provided with a watermark is formed based on the modified spectral/modulation spectral representation. An advantage is that, due to the fact that the watermark is embedded and/or derived in the spectral/modulation spectral representation or range, traditional correlation attacks as are used in watermark methods based on a spread-band modulation cannot succeed easily.
US07676334B2 Battery condition monitor
An object of the present invention is to provide a battery condition monitor that is capable of reducing labor and equipment costs for parameter setting for evaluation of the battery's condition and capable of readily responding to variations due to individual differences among the same model of vehicles. The battery condition monitor according to the present invention measures a lower limit voltage value for the time when a load during engine startup is substantially connected to a brand-new battery, as an initial reference lower limit voltage value VLIF; and derives a reference discharge characteristic of the brand-new battery with respect to the vehicle-unique load during engine startup, using the initial reference lower limit voltage value VLIF, an initial reference no-load voltage value VOIF which is a no-load voltage of that battery, and information about the rate of change in the internal resistance with respect to change in the no-load voltage of the battery, the information being previously stored in a storage unit, thereby to evaluate the condition of the battery based on the reference discharge characteristic.
US07676332B2 System and method for processing raw activity energy expenditure data
According to one embodiment, a method is provided for calculating, by an activity monitor comprising one accelerometer, a raw activity energy expenditure data based on movement by a user. The method includes determining if the raw activity energy expenditure data is associated with a high intensity physical activity, wherein the high intensity physical activity causes the raw activity energy expenditure data to differ from an expected activity energy expenditure data. The method includes calculating a corrected activity energy expenditure data, if the raw activity energy expenditure data is associated with the high intensity physical activity, based on the raw activity energy expenditure data, wherein the corrected activity energy expenditure data is substantially identical to the expected activity energy expenditure data.
US07676329B2 Method and system for processing multi-dimensional measurement data
The invention provides a method for grouping measurement data obtained by effecting two or more techniques to provide characterization data characterizing at least one sample with respect to characterizing substances. According to one aspect of the invention, the grouping is effected on the basis of at least one statistical distribution of deviations (Δm/zi) of a respective characterizing measurement value. According to another aspect of the invention, the grouping is effected on the basis of at least one collective characteristic of a plurality of respective quantitative measurement values (Ii).
US07676326B2 VH Reservoir Mapping
A method and system of detecting and mapping a subsurface hydrocarbon reservoir includes determining ratio data for a plurality of orthogonal spectral components of naturally occurring low frequency background seismic data. The ratio data may be compared, plotted, contoured and displayed as a subsurface hydrocarbon reservoir map or a hydrocarbon potential map. The ratio data may represent a vertical spectral component of the seismic data over a horizontal spectral component of the seismic data. The subsurface hydrocarbon reservoir map may include contouring the ratio data over a geographical area associated with the seismic data.
US07676321B2 Hybrid vehicle propulsion system utilizing knock suppression
A hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle and method of operation are provided. As one example, the system comprises an engine including at least one combustion chamber, a motor configured to selectively propel the vehicle via the drive wheel, a fuel system configured to deliver a first substance and a second substance to the combustion chamber in varying relative amounts, wherein the first substance includes a fuel and the second substance includes a greater concentration of a knock suppressing substance than the first substance; and a control system configured to operate the fuel system to vary the relative amounts of the first substance and the second substance delivered to the combustion chamber in response to an operating condition while operating the motor to propel the vehicle.
US07676318B2 Real-time, table-based estimation of diesel engine emissions
A real-time, on board, diesel engine emissions estimation with an empirical, table-based approach that accounts for up to eight (8) input parameters, for optimum emissions estimation under steady state or transient engine operation. The method considers a steady state NOx model, steady state Particulate Matter model, transient NOx model and transient Particulate Matter models to populate a table in memory. The switch between steady state and transient models, real time emissions estimations is based on the rate of change of engine speed (RPM). If the rate of change of RPM exceeds a predetermined threshold, transient models for NOx and Particulate Matter are used to operate the engine and reduce emissions of NOx and Particulate Matter.
US07676313B2 Target speed control strategy for power-off shifts in a hybrid electric vehicle
A method for controlling a power-off shift from a current gear to a target gear in a hybrid electric powertrain including an engine, electric motor and automatic transmission includes the steps of determining an initial target speed for the current gear, operating the motor at the initial target speed, repetitively determining a current gear ratio, a output shaft speed during the gear ratio change, a time rate of change of output shaft speed, using the current gear ratio, the current speed of the output shaft and the time rate of change of output shaft speed repetitively to determine a current target speed, and operating the motor at the current target speed until a gear change to the next gear is completed.
US07676308B2 Method for operating a steering system of a motor vehicle
A method for operating a steering system of a motor vehicle, with a steering handling device for specifying a steering wheel angle (δS) as a measure of a desired steering angle (δFm) for at least one steerable wheel of the motor vehicle, a steering gear with a pinion, which converts a pinion angle (δG), which depends on the steering wheel angle (δS), into the steering angle (δFm) of the at least one steerable wheel of the motor vehicle, a superimposing arrangement for generating an additional angle (δM) by means of a control drive, especially an electric motor and for producing the pinion angle (δG) by superimposing the additional angle (δM) on the steering wheel angle (δS) by a superimposing gear mechanism and a control device for carrying out the method for operating the steering system and for triggering the control drive and being carried out by a control device of the steering system. At least one function, on the basis of a model, monitors the dynamics of the control drive.
US07676302B2 System and method of operating a cooling fan
A computer program product stored in a computing device has a processor and a communication interface to determine cooling specifications of a remote housing. The computer program product includes a machine-readable storage medium and machine-readable program code, stored on the machine-readable storage medium. The machine readable program code includes instructions, which when executed, to cause the processor, via the communication interface set a speed of a fan within the remote housing, set an alarm condition for the fan within the remote housing, set a temperature threshold for the fan within the remote housing, capture the cooling specifications of the fan for the remote housing, the cooling specification including a measured temperature; and increase the speed of the fan if the temperature threshold is exceeded.
US07676296B2 Substrate processing system, substrate processing method and computer-readable storage medium storing verification program
Disclosed is a method of verifying a recipe execution program. When a computer executes a recipe execution program, the computer sends instructions, which are issued based on a process recipe data defining specific operations to be performed by a substrate processing apparatus, to the substrate processing apparatus. When a computer executes a log output program, the computer outputs a log data indicating the instructions sent to the substrate processing apparatus. When a computer executes a comparing and checking program, the computer compares the log data which the process recipe data corresponding to the log data.
US07676289B2 System and method for industrial process control
This disclosure relates to a process control unit for controlling a process wherein the controller utilizes hardware and modular software to accomplish the control. The modular software for interfacing the process with the user allows the user to utilize predefined software interfaces with a human machine interface. A user need only define the text and parameters to be displayed and then map them to a specific element of the human machine interface therein expediting process parameter modification at a later time.
US07676285B2 Method for monitoring driven machinery
A method and system for operating a facility having a plurality of equipment combinations wherein each equipment combination is operating interactively with at least one of another of the plurality of equipment combination is provided. The method includes receiving, in real-time, for each of the plurality of equipment combinations, a plurality of measured process parameters, determining at least one derived quantity from the plurality of measured process parameters, and recommending a change to an equipment operation based on the measured process parameters and the derived quantities.
US07676280B1 Dynamic environmental management
A system is described herein for providing environmental management of a physical location using a sensor network having a plurality of environmental sensors and at least one primary actuator configured to provide an environmental change to the physical location. The system includes a communications module that operates to access the plurality of environmental sensors of the sensor network, and an application module that operates to: a) commission the plurality of environmental sensors of the sensor network; control an operation of the at least one primary actuator to provide environmental management of the physical location based on the commission of the plurality of environmental sensors of the sensor network; and c) provide a graphical layout of an environmental condition of the physical location based on both the commission of the plurality of environmental sensors and the control of the at least one primary actuator.
US07676279B2 Services for industrial control systems
A message component for an industrial automation system is provided. This includes a service component that is employed to locate functionality of applications associated with a control system message bus. An operations component exchanges messages with the message bus, where the service component and the operations component form an external view to facilitate communications between the applications.
US07676272B2 Implantable device system to collect parameter data for service center
An implantable device system comprising an implantable medical device, an external transceiver device and a service center. The implantable medical device comprises a battery and an electronic module including a stimulation pulse generator, a sensing stage, a control unit adapted to collect data representing values of operational parameters (e.g. peak or average current consumption, high/low/average voltage level) of the battery and the electronics. The external transceiver device comprises an external transceiver unit and a data communication interface and the service center comprises another data communication interface adapted to allow data communication with the external transceiver device. Service center includes a central database adapted to store data received from the external transceiver per implantable medical device over time, a data evaluation module adapted to evaluate including trending of data stored in the database and a user interface adapted to display trended data and to receive user inputs.
US07676270B2 Radially expandable gastrointestinal stimulation device
A fixation device for holding stimulating electrodes in electrical contact with the wall of a portion of the gastrointestinal tract is provided. The fixation device includes an expandable member that fixes the electrodes in electrical contact with the gastrointestinal tract wall.
US07676268B2 Medical methods and systems incorporating wireless monitoring
Medical systems and methods incorporate monitoring of at least two implanted markers, each of which is adapted to wirelessly transmit a signal in response to a wirelessly transmitted excitation signal; the response signals are converted into positional information for the two markers. The systems and methods further incorporate both, or one of, an implanted sensing member and/or an implanted therapy delivery device. Signals received from the sensing member may be collated with the positional information. A therapy delivered from the therapy delivery device may be adjusted according to the positional information.
US07676260B1 Implantable cardiac stimulation device that monitors progression and regression of heart disease responsive to differences in averaged electrograms and method
An implantable cardiac stimulation device monitors the progression and/or regression of heart disease. The device comprises a sensing circuit that senses activity of a heart and provides an electrogram for each one of a plurality of cardiac cycles, an averaging circuit that averages a number of the plurality of electrograms at spaced apart intervals to provide averaged trend electrograms, and a data generator that provides a metric reflective of progression or regression of heart failure responsive to a difference between a current averaged trend electrogram and a previous averaged trend electrogram.
US07676253B2 Medical sensor and technique for using the same
A medical sensor may be adapted to account for factors that cause irregularities in pulse oximetry measurements or other spectrophotemetric measurements. Sensors are provided with surface features that reduce the amount of outside light or shunted light that impinge the detecting elements of the sensor. The sensor is adapted to reduce the effect of outside light or shunted light on pulse oximetry measurements.
US07676250B2 Method for controlling audio signals to an FM transmitter and a loudspeaker of a hands-free adapter
A method (200) for controlling audio signals to an FM transmitter and a loudspeaker of a hands-free adapter first sends a first audio signal to the loudspeaker (242) and measures and records a loudspeaker audible artifact such as echo return loss (244) and/or echo tail length (246). Next, the hands-free adapter sends a second audio signal to the FM transmitter and the loudspeaker (252) and measures and records an FM transmitter and loudspeaker audible artifact such as echo return loss (254) and/or echo tail length (256). If the FM transmitter and loudspeaker audible artifact minus the loudspeaker audible artifact is greater than a threshold (263, 266), the hands-free adapter sends a third audio signal to the FM transmitter only (270), and if the FM transmitter and loudspeaker audible artifact minus the loudspeaker audible artifact is not greater than the threshold, the hands-free adapter sends the third audio signal to both the FM transmitter and the loudspeaker (280).
US07676246B2 Secure audio-visual communication device
A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing audio-visual communication between registered users. Similar to the traditional walkie-talkie, a user depresses a button to transmit audio information, such as voice, and releases the same button to receive audio information from a transmitting device. Additionally, when communicating to another unit, the transmitting unit can also simultaneously send streaming video or still pictures in conjunction with audio communication. Both the audio and streaming video are transmitted and received in real-time. Still pictures may be stored or transmitted at any time. Each unit comprises a transmitter, antenna, camera, speaker, display screen and battery that are compact enough to be taken anywhere and allow for mobility. To enable security of the device, users must register with each other while within range before any communication can begin. This invention will allow users to communicate with each other for both business and recreational purposes.
US07676240B2 Power control based on estimates of cumulative received energy
The present invention provides a method for power control based on estimates of cumulative received energy. The method includes accessing a plurality of slot detection metrics associated with a plurality of slots, combining the plurality of slot detection metrics, and determining a power control instruction based upon the combined slot detection metrics.
US07676233B1 System and method for accessing computer services via a wireless network
Server access is provided to a wireless apparatus via a wireless network. A message is received containing a service request. The service and sever capable of servicing the service request is determined. The service is requested from the server and a reply is received. The reply is formatted for communication over the wireless network and sent. Location dependent information may also be requested with a wireless apparatus including a global positioning device and a two-way wireless communication device. Such an apparatus can “know” its global location and therefore can request information dependent on that location. The apparatus receives signals from a global positioning system and calculates a location. The calculated location is included in the service request sent over the wireless network.
US07676232B2 Altitude determination and distribution in cellular communication systems
In the present invention, data of a digital altitude map of a cell in a cellular communication system is compressed in a first node by defining a polygon essentially representing the boundary of the cell. Each polygon corner is defined by a point having two lateral coordinates and an associated altitude parameter. In this manner a set of at least three points is defined. This set of points constitutes a relatively limited amount of data, which easily can be transferred over an interface to a second node. In the second node, the set of points is used as parameters for creating an altitude model. By using a pair of lateral coordinates as input arguments of the model, an estimation of an associated altitude can be derived.
US07676231B2 Methods and apparatus for selecting communication channels based on channel load information
Embodiments of methods and apparatus for selecting communication channels based on channel load information are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US07676229B2 Cellular-to-VoIP call establishment systems, methods, devices, and computer software
Various embodiments of systems, methods, devices, and computer software for establishing a cellular-to-VoIP call are provided. One embodiment is a method for establishing a VoIP media session between an originating cellular telephone and a VoIP destination device. One such method comprises: receiving a first data message from an originating cellular telephone, the first data message comprising an identifier associated with a VoIP destination device; sending a second data message to the originating cellular telephone, the second data message comprising information identifying a temporary directory number (TDN) associated with the VoIP destination device; detecting an incoming voice call to the TDN from the originating cellular telephone; sending an invite message to the identifier associated with the VoIP destination device; sending a ringing indication to the originating cellular telephone; receiving an accept reply from the VoIP destination device; and answering the incoming voice call from the cellular telephone and establishing a VoIP media session between the originating cellular telephone and the VoIP destination device.
US07676217B2 Method for malicious traffic recognition in IP networks with subscriber identification and notification
A technique for recognizing malicious traffic in IP networks coupled with an identification and notification of a mobile subscriber generating or receiving malicious traffic is provided. An embodiment of the present invention may include intrusively or non-intrusively monitoring in real-time the mobile subscriber's data traffic for malicious traffic as well as mobile security intrusion attempts. Another embodiment of the present invention may report the identification of those mobile subscribers generating or receive malicious traffic to an operator. By knowing the identity of the mobile subscriber, an embodiment of the present invention may block the mobile subscriber's subscription or alert the mobile subscriber in question about the malicious traffic. One embodiment of the present invention may be applied to mobile networks where the mobile subscriber's identity is known by an unique identifier (e.g., an IMSI or a phone number) and where a notification system may be implemented using a messaging service e.g., SMS, MMS, IM, email, or voice.
US07676209B2 Method and system for allocating channels in a cellular communication network
A method of channel allocation in a cellular communication network wherein a radio channel is to be selected for establishment of a connection in an environment with potentially interfering signals, the method comprising: establishing a radio channel candidate; processing the radio channel candidate with potentially interfering signals and calculating a carrier to interference ratio (CIR) for the selected carrier frequency of the radio channel candidate and the potentially interfering signals; calculating a dominant interference ratio (DIR) being the ratio of the strongest potentially interfering signal with respect to the other potentially interfering signals; and using criteria based on at least one of the dominant interference ratio and the carrier to interference ratio in a selection process for selecting a channel for the connection to be established.
US07676201B2 Selectable sideband transmission
The sideband used by a low-intermediate-frequency transmitter for transmitting signals on a channel is selectable. In some embodiments of the invention, the sideband used for transmitting signals is selected based on the location of the channel within a band of channels. In such embodiments, the lower sideband may be selected for transmitting signals if the channel is the lowest-frequency channel in the band, and the upper sideband may be selected for transmitting signals if the channel is the highest-frequency channel in the band. Such sideband selection results in image power falling within the band, which can be helpful in complying with out-of-band power limitations.
US07676200B2 Circuits and methods for high-efficiency on-chip power detection
Power detector integrally formed within a printed transmission line to capacitively couple a portion of signal power propagating on the printed transmission line and a power detector circuit that receives coupled power output from the power detector to detect a power level of the signal power. The power detector is designed such that capacitance of the coupling capacitor is absorbed into a distributed capacitance of the transmission line to maintain continuity of a characteristic impedance of the transmission line.
US07676194B2 Broadband repeater with security for ultrawideband technologies
An ultrawideband radio transceiver/repeater provides a low cost infrastructure solution that merges wireless and wired network devices while providing connection to the plant, flexible repeater capabilities, network security, traffic monitoring and provisioning, and traffic flow control for wired and wireless connectivity of devices or networks. The ultrawideband radio transceiver/repeater can be implemented in discrete, integrated, distributed or embedded forms.
US07676188B2 Developer conveying member, developer container, image forming apparatus, and method of assembling a developer conveying member
A developer conveying member includes: a conveying member body; an end-portion supporting member; and a supported member including: a first radiation direction extending portion; and a second radiation direction extending portion, the end-portion supporting member including: a cylindrical portion, and the supporting portion defining: a through hole; and a groove.
US07676181B2 Developing unit and image forming device
The present invention discloses a developing unit that can block unnecessary supply of liquid developer to an image support member and can prevent waste of liquid developer, and an image forming device comprising the same. The developing unit includes a developing member that is in contact with an image support member and supplies the image support member with liquid developer, a developer supply member that supplies the developing member with liquid developer, and an unattached region forming member that forms at least an unattached region that is free of liquid developer on the developing member, the unattached region extending from the contact point between the developing member and the image support member and the contact point between the developing member and the developer supply member.
US07676180B2 Liquid development apparatus, liquid development method and image forming apparatus
An objective of the present invention is to provide a liquid development apparatus that can form a uniformly thin layer of high-density liquid developer on the development roller, thereby forming images free of uneven density or toner fog, and another objective is to provide an inexpensive and compact liquid development apparatus which increases the flexibility in the arrangement. A liquid development apparatus in which a liquid developer supply head having a liquid developer discharge outlet for applying a liquid developer on the surface of the development roller is equipped with a section for reducing the viscosity of the liquid developer.
US07676176B2 Image forming apparatus including cover and supporting unit
An image forming apparatus includes a cover and a supporting unit. The supporting unit includes a holding member, a supporting member, a first biasing unit, and a positioning unit. The holding member holds the transferring member. The supporting member movably supports the holding member, so that the transferring member can move toward or away from a specific member arranged in the main body. The first biasing unit biases the transferring member toward the specific member. When the cover is in a closed state, the transferring member is pressed against the specific member. The positioning unit performs positioning of the supporting member with respect to the main body.
US07676175B2 Photosensitive drum for printer cartridge and method for mounting the same
A photosensitive drum for a printer cartridge, which can be easily mounted on a printer cartridge of which the positions of drum connectors are fixed, is disclosed. The photosensitive drum for a printer cartridge comprises a cylindrical drum having a photosensitive layer on a cylindrical surface thereof; and a pair of rotation shafts which is respectively mounted on the sides of the cylindrical drum for rotating and supporting the cylindrical drum, wherein at least one of the rotation shafts is insert-fitted to the side of the cylindrical drum.
US07676173B2 Methods and apparatus for remanufacturing toner cartridges
A cutting device for use in detaching a drum from a printer cartridge, the drum defining a hollow interior, the hollow interior being surrounded by an interior wall of the drum, the cutting device including a shaft and a pointed edge protruding from the shaft, the pointed edge being configured to rotate with the shaft when the drum is being detached from the printer cartridge.
US07676166B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus that can provide a quality image in a stable manner without lowering the productivity. A reference image forming unit forms reference images on a transfer member. A plurality of sensing units detect densities of the formed reference images. A control unit adjusts respective output values from the plurality of sensing units according to a difference between the output values from the plurality of sensing units. The control unit performs error processing according to the difference between the output values from the plurality of sensing units when the control unit adjusts the output values from the plurality of sensing units.
US07676164B2 Lifetime management device and image forming system
In an image forming system, a lifetime management device calculates remaining lifetime of process units, a transfer unit, a secondary transfer unit, a belt cleaning unit and a fixing unit mounted on an image forming apparatus based on an operation amount thereof and a predetermined lifetime index. Based on the remaining lifetime and a predetermined replacement index, the lifetime management device determines whether any unit needs to be replaced, and, if any, transmits a replacement request signal to an external information processor together with a signal indicating remaining lifetime of other units via a communication line.
US07676160B2 Supervisory controlling method and supervisory controlling system of optical repeater
The present invention aims at providing a technique capable of supervising and controlling optical repeaters, without affecting transmission characteristics and wavelength bands of signal lights, by utilizing the Raman effect. To this end, the present invention provides a supervisory controlling system of an optical repeater, in an optical amplifying-and-repeating transmission system for amplifying and repeatingly transmitting signal light propagated through an optical transmission path by the optical repeater, wherein the supervisory control signal light is amplified due to the Raman effect by the signal light acting as excitation light in an optical transmission path (Raman amplifying medium), to thereby supervise and control the optical repeater in accordance with the thus Raman amplified supervisory control signal light.
US07676148B2 Camera, computer program product, and amount of light to be emitted calculation method
A camera includes: a photometric unit that acquires two dimensional photometric information of an image of a photographic subject; a separation unit that separates the image of the photographic subject into two groups, based upon photometric information acquired by the photometric unit during non-emission of light by a flash light emission device; and a calculation unit that multiplies the photometric information acquired by the photometric unit during a first light emission by the flash light emission device before photography, by different coefficients for the two groups, and calculates an amount of light required for photography that is to be emitted during a second light emission by the flash light emission device, based upon the photographic information after multiplication by the coefficients.
US07676131B2 Waveguide with a three-dimensional lens
Optical transmission structures include a waveguide and an optical lens wherein the optical lens has a sufficiently large thickness to allow the formation of a curved front lens surface that collimates transmitted light rays so that they travel within a plane that is coplanar to a working surface. The present invention also relates to a technique for manufacturing the optical transmission structure, which involves the use of a photopolymer material. The optical transmission structure can be implemented in various systems such as a system for optical data input.
US07676126B2 Optical device with non-equally spaced output ports
The invention relates to multiport routing devices for routing optical signals which also provide beam attenuation by imparting a controllable offset between an optical beam and a selected optical port. A multiport optical routing device of the present invention has a plurality of non-equally spaced optical ports disposed in a row to enable beam offset for attenuation without substantially increasing optical crosstalk between adjacent ports in a compact port arrangement.
US07676123B2 Optical and electrical circuit board and method of manufacturing the same
An optical and electrical circuit board includes a patterned electrical wiring and a micro convex lens. The micro convex lens is provided in at least one hole formed in the optical and electrical circuit board.
US07676121B2 Thermo-optic tuning of a multi-directional optical waveguide
Various embodiments provide an apparatus and a method for operating the apparatus. The apparatus, in one embodiment, may include an optical waveguide located over a substrate, the optical waveguide having a first segment and a second segment. The apparatus may further include a single heating element configured to heat both the first segment and the second segment, wherein a light propagation direction at a point in the second segment differs by at least 90 degrees with respect to a light propagation direction at the point in the first segment.
US07676118B2 Transformation of EXIF images
A system, media, and method for transforming a main image of a digital image in accordance with a parameter are provided. The main image that is transformed based on the parameter may be one stored in the Exchangeable Image File (“EXIF”) format. In turn, the metadata, including the thumbnail image, is updated to correspond to the transformed main image. The transformed main image and updated metadata are stored together in a file using the EXIF format. Thus, the transformed main image may be viewed using a digital camera or viewer software compatible with a properly formatted EXIF file.
US07676114B2 Imaging system for three-dimensional reconstruction of surface profiles
A system for three-dimensional reconstruction of a surface profile of a surface of an object is provided that utilizes a binary pattern projected onto the surface of the object. A binary string consisting of a series of “1”s and “0”s is first created, and a binary pattern of light that is constructed in accordance with the binary string such that bright and dark bands of light of equal widths correspond to “1”s and “0”s from the binary string respectively is projected onto the surface. The binary pattern is shifted with respect to the surface multiple times, during which an image of the binary pattern illuminating the surface is obtained at each position of the binary pattern. Thereafter, a height of each predetermined point on the surface is calculated relative to a reference plane based upon the images cumulatively obtained at said predetermined point.
US07676112B2 Optical device for correcting geostationary satellite imagery for earth curvature effects
An optical adapter for an imaging system correcting images of spherical or near spherical bodies such as the earth during satellite image collection. An imaging system includes an image collector that collects a two-dimensional image of the body from a distance above the body such as from a satellite in geostationary orbit. The collected image is disk shaped and includes distortion due to earth curvature, primarily in the form of a loss of resolution due to the foreshortening of earth features in a radial direction extending outward from the center of the image disk. The optical adapter receives the collected image, transforms the collected image to correct the distortion, and outputs a corrected image with essentially uniform spatial resolution across the areas for which the correction is applied. An image sensor such as charge-coupled device array senses the corrected image and creates a digital representation of the corrected image.
US07676103B2 Enhancing video sharpness and contrast by luminance and chrominance transient improvement
An apparatus, system, method, and article for enhancing video sharpness are described. The apparatus may include a media processing node to enhance sharpness of an input image. The media processing node may include a wavelet decomposition module to perform wavelet decomposition of the input image to detect and modify edge information. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07676094B2 Road surface reflection detecting apparatus
A road surface reflection detecting apparatus includes a road recognition unit for recognizing a road in a picture taken by a camera of a road existing in front of a vehicle. A road surface reflection detection unit extracts a picture from the road recognized by the road recognition unit and determines the degree of reflection of light from the surface of the road based on the picture extracted from the road. The picture includes the reflection of light beam radiated from vehicle headlights. If the reflection is determined to be high, the direction or intensity of the light beam from the vehicle headlights is regulated.
US07676088B2 Imprint lithography
An imprinting method is disclosed that, in embodiment, includes contacting first and second spaced target regions of an imprintable medium on a substrate with first and second templates respectively to form respective first and second imprints in the medium and separating the first and second templates from the imprinted medium.
US07676080B2 Method of creating color chart for color evaluation, and information processing apparatus thereof
There is provided a method of creating a color chart for color evaluation used in color evaluation, including: an obtaining step of obtaining standard color chart data corresponding to a standard color chart including a plurality of patches; a display step of displaying an evaluation target image on a display screen; a setting step of setting an area in the evaluation target image, which is used to create a color chart for color evaluation; a computing step of computing color element data which represent color features of an image within the set area based on image data of the set area; and a creating step of creating the color chart for color evaluation by extracting patch data corresponding to the computed color element data from the standard color chart data.
US07676078B2 Inspection method, processor and method for manufacturing a semiconductor device
An inspection method for an illumination optical system of an exposure tool includes coating a surface of an exposure target substrate with a resist film; placing a plurality of imaging components deviating from an optical conjugate plane of a surface of the resist film; generating a plurality of inspection patterns of the resist film having a plurality of openings, by projecting exposure beams output from a plurality of effective light sources onto the resist film via the imaging components; measuring one of the inspection patterns as a reference image, and processing the reference image so as to provide reference image data; and determining an abnormal inspection image by measuring inspection images of the inspection patterns and comparing a plurality of inspection image data provided by processing the inspection images with the reference image data.
US07676076B2 Neural network based method for displaying an examination image with normalized grayscale values
Image processing method for a digital medical examination image, the pixels of which are assigned a gray-scale value in each instance, with a minimum and a maximum gray-scale value being defined as limit values for the purpose of displaying the examination image, with the pixels being subjected to an evaluation by means of a neural network, in order to determine such pixels and to disregard them when defining the gray-scale values which are located in a direct radiation region or in a projected collimator region.
US07676073B2 System and method for reducing circular artifacts in tomographic imaging
A method of reducing ring artifacts in tomographic images including providing an original digitized projection measurement comprising a plurality of intensities corresponding to a domain of points on an 2-dimensional grid, operating on said original projection measurement with a filter wherein features of high radial frequency and low angular frequency are attenuated, forming a weighted mixture of said filtered projection measurement and said original projection measurement wherein ring artifacts in said original tomographic image are substantially reduced, and reconstructing the projection measurement to form a tomographic image. Alternatively, a first tomographic image is reconstructed from said original projection measurement, a second tomographic image is reconstructed from said filtered projection measurement, and a weighted mixture is formed from said first tomographic image and said second tomographic image.
US07676066B2 System and method for selectively encoding a symbol code in a color space
A system and related techniques generate and encode identification or transactional media such as passports, driver's licenses or others with a symbol set defined in a color space such as 8-bit color or grayscale, 24, 32, 48 or other bit depths or resolutions. Because blocks, lines or other symbol shapes may each take on more than a black or white color value, information density for the resulting bar code, biometric scan or other symbol set may be increased, and likewise take advantage of the resolution of close-contact scanners and other input devices. In embodiments, the symbols may be encoded using a selected subset of the overall color space, for instance by selecting an evenly spaced subset consisting of 4, 8 or 16 color values evenly divided within a 256 tone grayscale space, or using other values or subsets. In other embodiments the selected subset may be selected according to intervals or functions which are not evenly divided, for instance to approximate the gamma curve of a detection device, or according to other functions. The information density of the resulting IDs, credit cards, checks or other objects or media may therefore be increased, while still retaining a high degree of accuracy.
US07676058B2 System and method for detection of miniature security marks
A method is disclosed for detection of miniature security mark configurations within documents and images, wherein the miniature security marks may include data marks or a combination of data marks and anchor marks. The method includes sub-sampling a received image, which is a digital representation possible recipient(s) of the miniature security marks, to generate a reduced-resolution image of the received image. Maximum/minimum points detection is performed and the maximum/minimum points are grouped into one or more clusters according to location distances between the maximum/minimum points. Group configuration is checked to match the clusters with a pre-defined template configuration. Shape verification is then performed to verify mark location and configuration between the reduced-resolution image and the received image.
US07676056B2 Method and apparatus for determining encoding availability, and computer product
An embedding-availability determining unit determines an availability of embedding data into an image based on an input/output characteristic of a predetermined feature amount related to a combination of an output device that outputs an image in which the data is embedded to a medium and an input device that inputs the image that is output to the medium. A result output unit outputs a result of determination by the embedding-availability determining unit.
US07676055B2 Information-detecting apparatus and method
An information-detecting apparatus (1) including a receiving unit (3) operable to receive digital data (2) that includes several pieces of element data, in which a change amount is imparted to a value of each of first and second element data among the several pieces of element data, a first selecting unit (4) operable to select, as target data (6), a data set that includes the first and second element data, a second selecting unit (5) operable to select, as neighboring data (7), element data in proximity to each of the first and second element data, a calculating unit (8) operable to calculate, based on both of the target data (6) and the neighboring data (7), the change amount imparted to each of the first and second element data, and a detecting unit (10) operable to detect the additional information in accordance with the change amount.
US07676053B2 Electrodynamic loudspeaker
An electrodynamic loudspeaker 1 includes a magnetic circuit 10 and a vibrator 20. The magnetic circuit 10 includes a magnet 11 and poles 12 and 13 adhering to the magnet 11. The vibrator 20 includes a coil bobbin 21 and voice coils 22 and 23 wound around and fixed to a portion of the coil bobbin 21 facing the poles 12 and 13. A magnetic member 30 is fixed to the coil bobbin 21 of the vibrator 20 at a position spaced apart from the voice coils 22 and 23. The magnetic member 30 is fixed at a position on the coil bobbin 21 so as to extend over an area facing the magnet 11 of the magnetic circuit 10.
US07676046B1 Method of removing noise and interference from signal
A method of removing noise and interference from a signal by receiving the signal, calculating a joint time-frequency domain of the signal, estimating instantaneous frequencies of the joint time-frequency domain, modifying each estimated instantaneous frequency, if necessary, to correspond to a frequency of the joint time-frequency domain to which it most closely compares, redistributing the elements within the joint time-frequency domain according to the estimated instantaneous frequencies as modified, computing a magnitude for each element in the joint time-frequency domain as redistributed, plotting the results as the time-frequency representation of the signal, identifying in the plot any noise and interference components in the received signal, eliminating from the redistributed joint time-frequency domain elements that correspond to noise and interference, and recovering a signal devoid of noise and interference from the modified redistributed joint time-frequency domain.
US07676045B2 Mountable speaker assembly
Embodiments of a speaker assembly and cooperating suspension ring designed to allow installation of the assembly in a horizontal ceiling tile from below are disclosed. The speaker assembly includes a body or housing with a flange at one end. The body has a diameter that allows it to fit through a hole the ceiling tile and the suspension ring. The assembly is further provided with clamps attached to the flange next to the body. In order to bring the flange into contact with the ceiling tile, the assembly must be aligned so that the clamps penetrate cooperating voids in the suspension ring. The assembly is then rotated in a direction depending on the tile thickness and lowered into a position where the clamps engage with projections on the suspension ring so that the suspension ring supports the weight of the assembly.
US07676042B2 Terminal apparatus, server apparatus, and digital content distribution system
To reduce a frequency of recording communication management information for communication disconnection countermeasure. A digital content distribution system includes a license server (101) that issues a license, and a user terminal (103) that controls use of content based on the issued license. The license server (101) judges, according to the license to be issued, whether or not the communication management information for the communication disconnection countermeasure needs to be recorded, and notifies the user terminal of a result of the judgment. This enables the user terminal (103) to reduce the frequency of recording the communication management information.
US07676038B2 Secure printing method to thwart counterfeiting
A method for authenticating a target item with a security code is provided. The method includes the steps of determining a first content of security information to be coded, determining a second content of security information to be coded, printing a plurality of color tiles on a target item where the plurality of color tiles define the first content of security information, and printing one or more micro-markings on one or more of the color tiles located on the target item. The one or more micro-markings define the second content of security information.
US07676036B2 Input device and personal mobile terminal having the same
An input device provided for an apparatus (1) which is held with a hand of a person. The input device includes a plurality of input keys (5) which are operated with a finger holding the apparatus (1), wherein in a case where the apparatus (1) having the input device is held with the hand, each input key (5) situated apart from a base of the finger has a finger contact area smaller than that of each input key (5) situated close to the base of the finger.
US07676033B2 Methods, systems, and computer program products for automatically establishing a conference call having a plurality of different subscriber participation classes
Methods, systems, and computer program products for automatically establishing a conference call having a plurality of different subscriber participation classes includes maintaining at least one per conference call subscriber participation class list. The per conference call subscriber participation class list indicates contact information for a plurality of different subscribers and corresponding subscriber participation classes for the conference call. When a conference call is initiated, the call is automatically established using the contact information and the subscriber participation classes stored in the per conference call subscriber participation class list.
US07676027B2 Systems and methods to send and receive encrypted DTMF digits in a data flow
Systems and methods provide for embedding white noise signals representing DTMF digits into a voice data stream.
US07676022B2 Extra-oral digital panoramic dental x-ray imaging system
An extra-oral digital panoramic dental x-ray imaging system is disclosed for multi-layer panoramic and transverse X-ray imaging. The system includes an X-ray source and a digital imaging device capable of “real time” frame mode output. The source and imaging device are mounted in a mechanical manipulator defining the trajectory of a predetermined image layer. The imaging device communicates with a processor that generates a frames memory from which an image reconstruction mechanism composes the final images. For “real time” imaging, the frames memory is a fast data storage system such as RAM. The processing unit executes the reconstruction algorithms, allowing the system to selectively generate dental panoramic X-ray images, dental transverse x-ray images and dental tomosynthetic 3D images.
US07676018B2 Efficient iterative four-dimensional cardiac cone-beam CT reconstruction
The increasing cone angle of current high-end and future CT systems leads to a decrease in image quality if approximate cone-beam reconstruction methods are used. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an iterative four-dimensional cardiac CT reconstruction is provided, in which phase volumes are selected from the four-dimensional data set, each having the same spatial volume at different phase points. Corresponding voxels inside these phase volumes are then forward projected onto the same projection. After calculation of a different projection, these voxels are updated. This may provide for an efficient implementation of an iterative four-dimensional cardiac cone-beam CT reconstruction.
US07676014B2 Digital lock detector for phase-locked loop
A digital lock detector for a phase-locked loop. The PLL generates a feedback clock according to a reference clock. The digital lock detector includes a match detector and an arbiter. When a first clock transitions, the match detector checks that whether a second clock transitions in a predetermined time window or not. The match detector generates a match signal if the second clock transitions in the predetermined time window. The arbiter counts a number of the successive match signals and generates a lock signal to indicate a lock state when the number exceeds a first predetermined number.
US07676010B2 Synchronization signal detector, information recording/reproducing apparatus, and synchronization signal detecting method
Disclosed is a synchronization signal detecting apparatus that includes a window generating circuit for generating a synchronization detecting window, a re-synchronization window generating circuit for generating a re-synchronization window, and a synchronization detecting circuit for generating a re-synchronization detecting window of a time interval that excludes a re-synchronization window mask from the re-synchronization window, detecting a synchronization signal from an input bit stream and detecting the synchronization signal in the re-synchronization detecting window. If the synchronization signal is detected in the re-synchronization detecting window without being detected in the synchronization detecting window a prescribed number of times in succession, the time interval of the re-synchronization window is updated. If the synchronization signal is detected in the re-synchronization window a prescribed number of times in succession, a re-synchronization counter outputs a re-synchronization establishment signal, the window generating circuit resets the position of the synchronization detecting window and generates the synchronization detecting window at a predetermined synchronization period, and the re-synchronization window generating circuit resets the re-synchronization window.
US07676007B1 System and method for interpolation based transmit beamforming for MIMO-OFDM with partial feedback
Transmit beamforming with receive combining uses the significant diversity provided by multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, and the use of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) enables low complexity implementation of this scheme over frequency selective MIMO channels. Optimal beamforming uses channel state information in the form of the beamforming vectors corresponding to all the OFDM subcarriers. In non-reciprocal channels, this information should be conveyed back to the transmitter. To reduce the amount of feedback information, transmit beamforming combines limited feedback and beamformer interpolation. In this architecture, the receiver sends back a fraction of information about the beamforming vectors to the transmitter, and the transmitter computes the beamforming vectors for all subcarriers through interpolation of the conveyed beamforming vectors. Since a beamforming vector is phase invariant and has unit norm, a linear spherical interpolator uses additional parameters for phase rotation. These parameters are determined at the receiver in the sense of maximizing the minimum channel gain or capacity. The interpolator maybe combined with beamformer quantization.
US07676005B2 Wireless communication apparatus
In a wireless communication apparatus adopting a time division duplex system for executing transmission and reception using a plurality of antennas, deviation of amplitude and phase occurring between transmission and reception circuits is detected and corrected using a communication signal. Channel estimation means 105 detects channel information based on reception output of reception circuits 104-1 to 104-N provided in a one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of antennas 101-1 to 101-N. Correction value detection means 110 finds a correction value for correcting deviation occurring between each of transmission circuits 103-1 to 103-N and each of the reception circuits 104-1 to 104-N based on the channel information. A wireless communication apparatus 100 transmits an already known signal (training signal) to a base station with which the wireless communication apparatus conducts communications. The base station executes channel estimation based on the already known signal and generates and transmits a correction signal (probe signal). The correction value detection means 110 of the wireless communication apparatus 100 detects the correction value using the correction signal (probe signal).
US07676004B2 Combinational fuzzy-decision Viterbi decoding scheme and device for vehicular communications system via time-varying channels
The invention presents a combinational fuzzy-decision Viterbi decoder, which combines the modified Π and S-membership functions, to further improve the performance of the dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) system operated in the time-varying fading channel. The combinational fuzzy-decision Viterbi decoder includes parallel-to-serial converter, fuzzy-decision constellation decoder and analog Viterbi decoder. The coding gain of the DSRC system using the proposed combinational fuzzy-decision Viterbi decoder is compared with both the hard-decision and soft-decision Viterbi decoder for the BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM and 64-QAM OFDM DSRC systems. The improvement in performance of the DSRC system achieved by replacing the hard decision and soft decision Viterbi decoder with the proposed combinational fuzzy-decision Viterbi decoder will be validated with simulations.
US07676003B2 Carrier frequency-independent receiver
A method for processing a signal envelope generated by demodulating a received signal that includes a train of pulses that is transmitted at a carrier frequency and is modulated at a given baud rate with data symbols in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol, which defines features of the modulated signal. The method includes measuring a duration of a selected feature in the signal envelope as defined by the communication protocol. The baud rate of the signal is estimated based on the measured duration without counting the pulses in the received signal. The data symbols are decoded by processing the signal envelope responsively to the estimated baud rate.
US07675993B2 Reduction of average-to-minimum power ratio in communications signals
This invention, generally speaking, modifies pulse amplitude modulated signals to reduce the ratio of average power to minimum power. The signal is modified in such a manner that the signal quality remains acceptable. The signal quality is described in terms of the Power Spectral Density (PSD) and the Error Vector Magnitude (EVM).
US07675992B2 Method of dynamically assigning spreading sequences to users of a multi carrier transmission network
A method of dynamically assigning spreading sequences of a group of spreading sequences to users of a Multi-Carrier transmission network and/or to at least a common signal for a plurality of users of the Multi-Carrier transmission network. The spreading sequences are put in a natural order and are dynamically assigned according to their order to users of the Multi-Carrier transmission network and/or to at least a common signal to a plurality of users of the Multi-Carrier transmission network.
US07675990B2 Space-time codes for linearly labelled PAM, PSK, QAM and related constellations using gray mapping
General algebraic space-time code constructions are presented for Gray-mapped 2K-PSK, 2K-PAM, and 4K-QAM constellations. The space-time codes achieve the rate-diversity tradeoff—i.e., they allow the transmission of information at the maximum rate possible for the given signaling constellation and the achieved transmit diversity level. New codes created by applying a nonsingular linear or affine transformation to the constellation labels retain the optimality of the original codes with respect to the rate-diversity tradeoff. Extensions to pK-PSK, pK-PAM, p2K-QAM, and related constellations, for p prime, are also given.
US07675986B1 Method for reducing peak-to-average power ratios in a multi-carrier transmission system
The present invention provides a technique to reduce peak-to-average power ratio (PAR) of multi-carrier transmission systems. A non-empty subset of the subcarriers includes “PAR subcarriers.” The PAR subcarriers have constellations obtained by reducing a constellation that is higher than binary and invariant under multiplication by −1, so that an element is in the reduced constellation if and only if its negative is not. In this way, only one bit per PAR subcarrier is used for PAR reduction. The technique addressed in this invention multiplies a subset of the PAR subcarriers by −1 to reduce PAR at each multi-carrier symbol transmission. A method or apparatus is operated to select the subset of PAR subcarriers to be rotated. The receiver identifies the PAR subcarriers and estimates the subcarriers multiplied by −1 according to the reduced constellations and the received samples.
US07675982B2 Method and system for reducing peak-to-average power for OFDM signals
The invention provides a system and method for effectively reducing peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) in an OFDM signal. The method includes the steps of oversampling a signal in the time domain, gradually clipping an amplitude of the signal to a predefined level using a formula involving a hyperbolic tangent, bandpass filtering out-of-band spectral components of the signal due to non-linear clipping to be within a predetermined mask, and transmitting the signal.
US07675978B2 Transformer data coupler with high common mode immunity
A data coupler includes a transformer having primary and secondary windings, a data transmitter coupled to the primary winding of the transformer, and a data receiver coupled to the secondary winding. The data transmitter includes a first driver and a second driver having outputs coupled to respective ends of the primary winding. The first driver is responsive to a data signal and the second driver is responsive to a delayed version of the data signal, such that the primary winding is supplied with pulses representing a difference between the data signal and the delayed version of the data signal. The data coupler also includes an ac (alternating current) path to ground from the secondary winding for conducting to ground common mode signals coupled to the secondary winding via an inter-winding capacitance of the transformer.
US07675975B2 Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus
A video encoding method comprises selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations each including a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture, generating a prediction picture signal in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination, generating a predictive error signal representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal, and encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination.
US07675972B1 System and method for multiple channel video transcoding
A system and a method for transcoding multiple media channels is disclosed herein. The system includes a first processor to parse a media data stream having one or more media data channels and a vector processor to decompress, scale, and then compress the parsed media channel. A parsed media data channel, in one embodiment, is accessed using a bit manipulator and packetized into decoder instruction packets and transmitted to the vector processor using a sequencer. The vector processor decompresses the decoder instruction packets, scales a macroblock generated from the packets, and then compresses the scaled macroblock. As a result, the scaled and compressed output has less data associated with the media channel, allowing for faster and/or more efficient storage or transmission. A reduced sized scale buffer is associated with another disclosed embodiment.
US07675965B2 System and method of communication via embedded modulation
A single subscriber line multi-point communication system is disclosed. In general, the multi-point communication system can include a first transceiver coupled to a subscriber line capable of transmitting and receiving at least two modulation methods, either of said modulation methods being operable to transmit a test signal, and a second transceiver coupled to said subscriber line capable of transmitting and receiving said at least two modulation methods, the second transceiver being operable to receive the test signal and determine at least one channel parameter from the test signal. A master transceiver that can be used in various embodiments of a single subscriber line multi-point communication system, and a tributary transceiver are further disclosed.
US07675940B2 Method and system for providing cross-layer quality-of-service functionality in a wireless network
A method for providing cross-layer quality-of-service (QoS) functionality in a wireless network is provided. The method includes obtaining QoS data from each layer of an application stack for a particular application. A QoS matrix is generated based on the obtained QoS data. Packet distribution for the particular application may then be prioritized based on the QoS matrix.
US07675936B2 Passive optical network (PON) system
A PON system capable of utilizing the bandwidth of an optical transmission channel in the PON section. In a PON system including an OLT and a plurality of ONUs, the OLT has: a downstream frame processing unit that removes at least part of the header information in a layer 2 header from a downstream frame received from a wide area network, and converts the remaining frame portion into a frame having a header specific to the PON section; and a downstream frame processing unit that extracts a downstream frame portion to be transferred to a user terminal, from a received frame from a PON, and adds the layer 2 header information deleted in the OLT.
US07675930B2 Chip circuit for combined and data compressed FIFO arbitration for a non-blocking switch
A system for switching data packets through a multiple (m) input, multiple (n) output switching device providing switching having a fast one-cycle throughput. A respective switching device behaves like an output queued switch from a set of distributed output queues reading the incoming input control information from the plurality of input ports (IP) and compresses the information in a form which allows an easy association with a respective output port (OP) to which an individual input port is temporarily mapped.
US07675927B2 Trace information queueing system
A trace information queueing system receives a plurality of trace information signals and transmits them through a common connector. The multiple trace information signals may be multiplexed. Each edge of a clock signal may be used to enable transmission of different trace information signals. Alternatively, separate clocks signals may be provided for each trace information signal. A programmable logic device may be used to both multiplex the trace information signals and produce the clock signals necessary to enable their transmission.
US07675919B2 End system scheduling for switched networks
A method for scheduling one or more data packet transfers over a computer-based distributed network is disclosed. The method involves constructing a cyclic schedule from a plurality of data packets, wherein the cyclic schedule is constructed to ensure that each data packet transfer is substantially free of jitter. The method further involves synchronizing the cyclic schedule with at least one periodic processing schedule and transmitting the synchronized data packets as arranged by the cyclic schedule.
US07675917B2 Method for providing packet data service in a wireless communication system
Discloses is a method for providing a packet data service in a wireless communication system. A packet data service node (PDSN) or a home agent (HA) allocates an IP (Internet Protocol) address to a mobile station and then registers the allocated IP address information in a DNS (Domain Naming System) server along with a domain name of the mobile station. Alternatively, upon receiving an accounting request message from the packet data service node, an AAA (Authentication, Authorization and Accounting) server registers the IP address information of the mobile station in the DNS server in association with the domain name of the mobile station. Thus, a correspondent node (CN), though it does not recognize the IP address of the mobile station, can access the mobile station using the domain name.
US07675916B2 Systems and methods for dynamically adjusting QoS parameters
A method for dynamically adjusting QoS parameters associated with a virtual circuit is disclosed. The virtual circuit includes a first end connected to a first router and a second end connected to a second router. The method includes receiving an offer message at the second router, and sending a request message to the first router. The offer message includes a first set of QoS parameters and the request message includes a second set of QoS parameters. The method further includes receiving a request confirmation message at the second router, receiving a new offer message at the second router, and sending information compliant with the second set of QoS parameters to the first router. The new offer message includes the second set of QoS parameters.
US07675910B2 Distribution of status information from several virtual output queus over a plurality of switch cards of a packet switching device
A packet switching device is disclosed. The packet switching device includes at least one line card with a port control for storage and arrangement of packets in output queues and for generating status information of the output queue, and at least one switch card consisting of a crosspoint matrix and an arbiter to control the crosspoint matrix. The port control distributes the status information over several arbiters. Each responding arbiter is provided to cyclically receive a respective part of the status information from the port control.
US07675906B2 Media communication system, and terminal apparatus and signal conversion apparatus in said system
Disclosed is a media communication system in which communication of media such as sound, image and the like is performed between first and second terminals, each of which is constructed so as to be capable of IP communication, via an IP network. The system includes an IP packetizing unit for IP-packetizing and sending, to the IP network, a media signal sent from the first terminal, and for converting an IP packet received from the IP network to a media signal and sending the media signal to the first terminal, and a media signal transmitting unit for connecting a media/signal converter, which is provided within the first terminal, to the IP packetizing unit to transmit a media signal.
US07675904B2 VoIP terminal capable of having conversation through both internet and PSTN
A VoIP terminal, which supports to make a phone call through both PSTN and Internet is disclosed. A local subscriber may choose to have a conversation through PSTN or Internet on his own. Besides, by reference to a switch such as a relay, the VoIP terminal is able to establish a PSTN connection under some special cases, such as the terminal power off or Internet shutdown.
US07675898B2 Session relay apparatus for relaying data, and a data relaying method
A session identification unit (11) determines a session to which an incoming packet belongs, while a session relay unit (12-1-12-N) relays between a session with a transmission terminal and a session with a reception terminal. A packet scheduler (13) instructs and controls the delivery of packets from each session relay unit (12-1-12-N), and a delivery control unit (14) delivers packets from each session relay unit (12-1-12-N) based on the instruction. In the session relay unit (12-1), a transmission session processing unit (121-1) processes a session for transmitting data to the reception terminal, and a transmission buffer (122-1) stores received data until the end of a transmission. A reception session processing unit (123-1) processes a session for receiving data from the transmission terminal.
US07675897B2 Power line communications system with differentiated data services
A power line communications system that facilitates the provision of differentiated data services is provided. One embodiment of the present invention may include tagging downstream data at an ingress point, such as a point of presence or aggregation point. The tagging of data packets may allow the power line communication network elements such as backhaul points, bypass devices, and repeaters to determine the data type and class of service of each data packet and may allow the network elements to prioritize, queue and transmit the data packets accordingly. Such queuing may employ the use of multiple queues with some queues having different sizes and different weight factors from other queues.
US07675895B2 Method and apparatus for wireless communication using voice over internet protocol
The present invention provides a method of wireless telecommunication is provided. The method includes accessing a plurality of first data packets having a first size, accessing at least one second data packet having a second size, the second size being larger than the first size, forming a plurality of third data packets comprising portions of the at least one second data packet based upon the first and second sizes, and selecting at least one of the plurality of first data packets based upon the plurality of third data packets.
US07675889B2 Network terminal with means for wirelessly establishing secure private link with external terminal
In a communications network where first and second communication terminals are interconnected via a common communication medium such as a local area network, the terminals jointly establish an infrared light private communication link if they are brought close to each other. The first and second terminals communicate their network addresses to each other either via the local area network or via the private communication link, and establish a session between the communicated network addresses via the local area network if the strength of the infrared-light private communication link at the receiving end is higher than a decision threshold.
US07675888B2 Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing access (OFDMA) ranging
A method for Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing Access (OFDMA) ranging is provided. The method includes receiving a signal having OFDMA symbols. An FFT is performed on this signal. Matching ranging codes are found. The power for a given hypothesized ranging code is determined and compared to a power threshold to determine if the code was transmitted. The timing offset and power are reported as the result of ranging.
US07675886B2 Rate adaptive transmission scheme for MIMO systems
A rate adaptive transmission scheme for MIMO systems, which can transmit a variable number of data symbol streams, provide transmit diversity for each data symbol stream, and fully utilize the total transmit power of the system and the full power of each antenna. In one method, at least one data symbol stream is received for transmission from a plurality of antennas. Each data symbol stream is scaled with a respective weight corresponding to the amount of transmit power allocated to that stream. The scaled data symbol stream(s) are multiplied with a transmit basis matrix to provide a plurality of transmit symbol streams for the plurality of antennas. The transmit basis matrix (e.g., a Walsh-Hadamard matrix or a DFT matrix) is defined such that each data symbol stream is transmitted from all antennas and each transmit symbol stream is transmitted at (or near) the full power for the associated antenna.
US07675882B2 Hierarchical mesh network for wireless access
A wireless mesh network is configured as a multiple-level hierarchical network, with each level of the hierarchy having a plurality of nodes. Several clusters of nodes each acting as access points may be organized in numerous first-level meshes (102, 106, 110, 112), with each of the first-level meshes being coupled to a second-level mesh having several nodes that act as gateways (G1-G5) to the first-level meshes. The number of nodes in each of the first-level and second-level meshes may be limited to a predetermined number of nodes throughout the full topology of the mesh network in order to improve performance of the mesh network.
US07675879B1 Method, apparatus, and system for transmitting control information in a communication network
A communication method for a communication network includes transmitting first control information for a first frame from a hub to a plurality of user nodes, and transmitting a first data burst in the first frame from a first user node and a second data burst in the first frame from a second user node to the hub according to the first control information. A start of the first frame from the first and second user nodes occurs simultaneously at the hub. The method also includes transmitting second control information for a second frame from the hub after transmitting the first control information, transmitting a third data burst in the second frame to the hub according to the second control information, and receiving the second frame at the hub following the first frame.
US07675867B1 One-way data transfer system with built-in data verification mechanism
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a one-way data transfer system with built-in data verification mechanism, comprising three nodes (Send Node, Receive Node, and Feedback Node) wherein (1) the three nodes are interconnected with each other by a one-way data link, and (2) the Feedback Node is designed solely for processing and relaying data verification information from the Receive Node to the Send Node. In these embodiments, the Send Node is capable of verifying the status of data it transferred to the Receive Node over a one-way data link without sacrificing the unidirectionality of data flow in the system and thereby compromising the level of security provided by use of one-way data links.
US07675865B2 Transfer of error-analysis and statistical data in a fibre channel input/output system
A computer Input/Output system having a fabric, a control unit (CU) and a host computer including a channel, the channel having a channel port connected by a first link to a channel neighbor port of the fabric, and the control unit having a CU port connected by a second link to a CU neighbor port on the fabric. Then an error is detected in the link or protocol between the channel and the control unit, error data are reported to the channel by the channel, the channel port, the channel neighbor port, the control unit, the CU port and the CU neighbor port and sent to the channel. The error data are provided to the host computer for analysis.
US07675862B2 Networking hardware element to couple computer network elements and method of displaying a network layout map thereon
In one embodiment, a networking hardware element (1100, 3100) capable of coupling computer network elements (1010) comprises a network diagnostic mechanism (2140) that is capable of mapping the computer network elements and that is also capable of determining a connection status for the computer network elements. The networking hardware element also comprises a display (2110, 3110, 5110) that is capable of communicating with the network diagnostic mechanism and that is also capable of displaying a network layout map (2111, 5111) of representations of the computer network elements and the connection status of the computer network elements.
US07675856B2 Bandwidth estimation in broadband access networks
Measurement systems according to embodiments of the invention allow accurate bandwidth estimation even in non-FIFO scheduling and frame-level contention environments. In an embodiment of the invention, the approximate fraction of time that a link is idle is found by probing for idle periods (“gaps”). The fraction of idle time is then multiplied by the capacity to obtain an estimate of the available bandwidth. Gap time is estimated in an embodiment of the invention fraction by gathering samples of one-way delay (OWD) over the link in question. After the OWD is normalized and plotted, the knee in the cumulative distribution function (CDF) of OWD samples is used to identify the fraction of time that the channel is idle.
US07675854B2 System and method for an adaptive TCP SYN cookie with time validation
Provided is a method and system for TCP SYN cookie validation. The method includes receiving a session SYN packet by a TCP session setup module of a host server, generating a transition cookie including a time value representing the actual time, sending a session SYN/ACK packet, including the transition cookie, in response to the received session SYN packet, receiving a session ACK packet, and determining whether a candidate transition cookie in the received session ACK packet comprises a time value representing a time within a predetermined time interval from the time the session ACK packet is received.
US07675848B2 Dynamic forwarding adjacency
A technique treats a protected forwarding adjacency (FA) as a dynamic entity in that it allows a backup tunnel associated with the FA to carry traffic for the FA, when it's primary tunnel has failed, up to a predetermined amount of time. If after the predetermined amount of time has elapsed and the FA has not recovered (e.g., the primary tunnel has not been reestablished), a network topology change is automatically triggered causing the network to converge on a new network topology. By triggering the network topology change, a path that is more optimal than the path associated with the backup tunnel may be subsequently determined to carry the traffic.
US07675840B1 System and method for mitigating data flow control problems in the presence of certain interference parameters
A radar, or other repetitive interference, detection and data flow control system and method for RF data transmissions uses an RF detector and an omni directional antenna to detect radar or similar signals. The information from the RF detector is communicated to a hub data transmission unit which processes the data about the signal provided by the detector. This information is used by the hub to schedule communications between the hub and subscriber units so that none of the communications between the hub and subscriber fall within the time period of the interfering pulses. Although there are no communications during the time periods of the pulses, the efficiency of communications is improved because collisions and retransmission of data are avoided.
US07675836B2 Recording/reproducing apparatus with double-sided beam type probe
For providing a recording/reproducing apparatus, for recording/reproducing information through conduction of electricity upon contact of a probe, having large recording density and a large transfer speed, but less in deterioration of a probe chips thereof, and being long in the lifetime thereof, within the recording/reproducing apparatus, a multi-chip is formed, disposing probe chips in large numbers thereof at a tip of a cantilever, while the cantilever is of a double-sided beam type, and the multi-chip is disposed at a center of the beam, wherein recording/reproducing portions of the multi-chip are disposed to correspond to recording dots one by one, and the multi-chip forming surface is moved up and down in parallel with the surface of a recording medium, due to suction force, so as to bring it to be in contact with the recording dots, and electricity is conducted after the contact thereof, thereby conducting the recording, in the structure; wherein, since a large amount of data can be read/written at one time, therefore it is possible to improve data transfer speed. Also, with conducting the R/W by means of the multi-chip, comparing to the single chip, it is possible to reduce the traveling distance of the multi-chip, thereby to reduce the abrasion. Also, since the tip portion of the said chip has the curvature radius, being large, such as, equal to 50 nm or greater than that, and since it moves in parallel with the surface of the recording medium, it can be in contact with the surface under the condition of, not the point contact, but near to the plane contact, therefore, the abrasion can be further reduced, effectively.
US07675832B2 Optical element feeding device driving method and optical disk apparatus
An optical element feeding device driving method and an optical disk apparatus capable of detecting biting in a stepping motor and conducting restoration. The optical disk apparatus includes an optical element feeding device including a movable frame for supporting a spherical aberration correcting lens to move the lens in optical axis direction, a spring for applying force to the frame in the direction, a sensor for detecting a lens reference position, a stepping motor, and a lead screw and a nut for converting motor rotation into the direction, a motor driving circuit, a decision circuit for judging abnormality when an output of the sensor does not change even if the driving circuit outputs a driving signal to the motor after reference position detection, and a changeover circuit for lowering a driving frequency than in ordinary operation, based on an abnormality signal.
US07675820B2 Method of characterizing a vehicle crash event based on shear waves in the vehicle frame
A vehicle crash event is detected and characterized based on the transmission of acoustical shear waves through the vehicle frame. At least three, and preferably four or more, acoustical emission sensors longitudinally and laterally distributed on the vehicle frame produce acoustical signals that are processed to extract the shear wave energy due to impacts. Since shear waves are non-dispersive and travel through the vehicle frame at a known velocity, they can be detected in any part of the frame. The extracted shear wave signals are used not only to judge the severity of the impact, but also to characterize the type of crash and determine the direction of the impact based on when the shear wave is detected by each of the acoustical emission sensors.
US07675819B2 Volumetric passive sonobuoy array of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) wires
A sonar system for detecting underwater acoustic signals includes a plurality of hydrophone units capable of converting acoustic impulses to electrical signals, the hydrophone units being substantially vertically oriented when deployed in a body of water, and the hydrophone units occupying at least some of the positions of an M×N horizontal array. Two-dimensional Chebyshev mathematical weighting is applied to the electrical signals from the individual hydrophone units such that each individual signal from each hydrophone unit is assigned a respective weighting number and a numerical value is assigned to each individual signal corresponding to the strength of the electrical signal as adjusted by the respective weighting number.
US07675816B2 Enhanced noise cancellation in VSP type measurements
A method and system for acquiring seismic data while conducting drill string operations in a wellbore. The seismic receiver combination set comprises a combination of orthogonal geophones and accelerometers, and an array of hydrophones.
US07675802B2 Dual voltage flash memory card
A voltage regulation circuit in a nonvolatile memory card accepts an input voltage from a host at two or more different voltage levels and provides an output voltage at a single level to components including a memory die. The voltage regulation circuit can provide an output voltage that is higher or lower than the input voltage.
US07675794B2 Design structure for improving performance of SRAM cells, SRAM cell, SRAM array, and write circuit
A design structure embodied in a machine readable medium to improve performance of an SRAM cell or an SRAM array comprising a plurality of SRAM cells is described. The design structure includes a write circuit for an SRAM cell or an SRAM array. The write circuit includes a gate to switch the write circuit on and off. The cell is supplied by a first, higher voltage. The cell is accessible for read and write operations via at least one bit line connected to a write circuit. The cell is further addressable by at least one word line in order to access it by the bit line. To access the cell for read or write operations, the word line is supplied by the first, higher voltage and the bit line is supplied by a second, lower voltage. During write operations, the write circuit is driven by the first, higher voltage while the bit lines are still at the lower voltage.
US07675783B2 Nonvolatile memory device and driving method thereof
Provided are a nonvolatile memory device and a driving method thereof. In the method of driving a nonvolatile memory device, a structural shape and position of a memory cell to be driven is determined, and then the memory cell is driven with an optimized operating condition according to a distribution of the memory cell using a determination result.
US07675781B2 Memory device, method for operating a memory device, and apparatus for use with a memory device
A memory device, including a non-volatile memory device, a method for operating a memory device, and an apparatus for use with a memory device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the memory device includes at least one evaluation circuit for amplifying a signal resulting from the reading of a memory cell, and a device for precharging an output of the evaluation circuit to a predetermined voltage level.
US07675777B2 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device using adjacent bit lines for data transmission and method of driving the same
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device, including a memory array having a plurality of first bit line groups and a plurality of second bit line groups that are alternately arranged to be adjacent each other, a plurality of data lines, a plurality of first page buffers, a plurality of second page buffers, and a plurality of switches. Each of the first page buffers is electrically connected to a corresponding one of the first bit line groups and arranged on a first side of the memory array. The first page buffers transmit data to the data lines. Each of the second page buffers is electrically connected to a corresponding one of the second bit line groups and arranged on a second side of the memory array. Each of the switches enables data transmission between a corresponding one of the first page buffers and a corresponding one of the second page buffers.
US07675775B2 Combined volatile nonvolatile array
A memory circuit includes volatile memory cells coupled to bit lines, and nonvolatile memory cells coupled to the volatile memory cells via the bit lines but not via complement bit lines.
US07675761B2 Method and apparatus to control two regulated outputs of a flyback power supply
A flyback power supply method and apparatus is disclosed. An apparatus according to aspects of the present invention includes an energy transfer element having a primary winding and first and second output windings. The first and second output windings are coupled to produce first and second output values, respectively. A primary switch is coupled to the primary winding. A control circuit is coupled to the primary switch to regulate a sum of the first and second output values. A steering circuit having first and second output switches is also included. The first and second output switches are coupled to the first and second output windings, respectively, to regulate a ratio of the first output value to the second output value. The first output switch is coupled to block current through the first output winding and the second output switch is coupled to block current through second output winding. At least one of the first and second output switches is coupled to be closed when the primary switch is opened.
US07675757B2 DC-DC converter
Disclosed is a DC-DC converter including: a first switching element ON/OFF controlling a current fed from a primary side to a secondary side; a second switching element provided in parallel to the first switching element, controlled at a substantially same timing as an ON/OFF timing of the first switching element and being lower in current rating than the first switching element; and a resistance inserted and connected between a node of a primary side of the second switching element and the primary side of the first switching element.
US07675754B2 Mechanically-assisted insertion and removal of modular device
A modular electronic system including a mechanism for releasably securing a modular device within a chassis, and for facilitating insertion and removal of the modular device. One embodiment provides a modular device that includes a handle secured to opposing pivotable lever arms. A follower pin secured to one end of the lever arms rides in a slot defined by the chassis. The slot is arranged so that pulling upward on the handle moves the follower pin in one direction along the slot to urge the modular device in a direction further into the device bay, and pushing downward on the handle urges the modular device in a direction out of the device bay, thereby providing a mechanical advantage to the user. When the modular device is fully inserted, retractable locking members provided on the modular device move into windows provided on the chassis, to releasably lock the modular device in the device bay. A module release mechanism includes a release plate that moves into engagement with a sloped or ramped surface of the locking members in response to squeezing the handle. Engagement of the release plate with the ramped surface moves the locking members inward and out of the windows on the chassis, to unlock the modular device from the device bay.
US07675746B2 Docking station for hand held electronic devices
A docking system is disclosed. The docking system includes a single docking station and a plurality of inserts that are placed in the docking station so that the docking station can accommodate hand held devices with differing sizes and shapes. The docking system is configured with a docking station and insert that matingly engage with one another via a rotating action. The docking system is also configured with a latching retention mechanism that secures the insert to the docking station when the insert is rotated into engagement with the docking station.
US07675742B2 Rack-mounted KVM module with positioning mechanism
A rack-mounted KVM module is configured for a server rack. An L-shaped supporting frame, which has a vertical plane and a horizontal plane, is coupled to the sever rack. A flat panel display is coupled to the vertical sliding rail to move along the L-shaped supporting frame horizontally. A keyboard module is coupled to the horizontal sliding rail to move along the L-shaped supporting frame horizontally. A positioning mechanism is disposed in the horizontal sliding rail. The positioning mechanism consists mainly of an outer rail, an inner rail, a link bracket, a latch and a positioning switch. The latch is swiveled to engage a notch of the latch in a block portion of the outer rail or to remove the notch thereof from the block portion to respectively lock or unlock a fixed position when the link bracket is slid along the inner rail by moving the positioning switch.
US07675732B2 Multilayer capacitor array
A multilayer capacitor array includes a capacitor body having rectangular first and second main faces opposing each other. In the capacitor body having a dielectric characteristic, first inner electrodes are arranged in a first region, second inner electrodes are arranged in a second region, and third and fourth inner electrodes are arranged so as to extend over the first and second regions. Each of the third inner electrodes opposes at least one of the first inner electrodes and at least one of the second inner electrodes. Each of the fourth inner electrodes opposes at least one of the first inner electrodes and at least one of the second inner electrodes. The third inner electrodes are adjacent to the fourth inner electrodes, respectively.
US07675726B2 Device for protecting electronic modules in a multi-voltage on-board electrical system against short circuits
A device for protecting electronic modules in a multivoltage on-board electrical wiring system comprising a first accumulator of a low on-board electrical wiring system voltage, against short circuits after a high on-board electrical wiring system voltage, consisting of a transistor whose drain-source path is inserted between the control device connection and the electronic module connection. The source connection of the transistor is linked to the electronic module connection. A gate resistor and a diode guiding the current in the direction of the plus pole of the first accumulator are parallel-mounted between the gate connection of the transistor and the plus pole of the accumulator. A Zener diode is arranged between the gate connection and source connection of the transistor.
US07675720B1 Motor protection using accurate slip calculations
An accurate slip calculation for providing monitoring and protection to an electric motor. The slip calculation is made using a minimum value of stator resistance as the initial stator resistance, where the minimum value of stator resistance is the minimum value of stator resistance calculated during an initiation period of the motor. The initiation period may be a predetermined time period or a predetermined number of cycles during the motor startup. The initiation period may start after a predetermined settling time or after a predetermined condition is met.
US07675718B2 Narrow track CPP head with bias cancellation
The problem of increased edge sensitivity associated with the reduction of the spacing between bias magnets in a CPP head has been solved by limiting the width of the bias cancellation layer and by adding an extra layer of insulation to ensure that current through the device flows only through its central area, thereby minimizing its edge reading sensitivity.
US07675717B2 Magnetic read head having increased electron exchange
A magnetic head of either CIP or CPP configuration is disclosed, having a read sensor with a strongly pinned ferromagnetic layer due to increased electronic exchange with the AFM layer. The read sensor includes a lower seed layer whose material is chosen from a group consisting of Ta, NiFeCr, NiFeCoCr, NiFe, Cu, Ta/NiFeCr, Ta/NiFeCr/NiFe, Ta/Ru and Ta/NiFeCoCr, and an upper seed layer where the upper seed layer material is chosen from a group consisting of Ru, Cu, NiFe, Cu(x)Au(1−x)(x=0.22-0.5) alloys, Ru(x)Cr(1−x)(x=0.1-0.5) alloys, NiFeCr and NiFeCoCr. An AFM layer is formed on the upper seed layer and a ferromagnetic pinned layer is formed on the AFM layer. The exchange coupling energy Jk between the AFM layer and pinned layers exceeds 1.3 erg/cm2. Also disclosed is a method of fabrication of a magnetic head including a read head sensor with a strongly pinned ferromagnetic layer due to increased electronic exchange.
US07675716B2 Composite thin-film magnetic head, magnetic head assembly and magnetic disk drive apparatus
A composite thin-film magnetic head includes a substrate, an under layer formed on the substrate, an MR read head element formed on the under layer and provided with a lower shield layer, an upper shield layer and an MR layer in which a sense current flows in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the MR layer through the upper shield layer and the lower shield layer, an inter-shield insulation layer laminated on the MR read head element, an inductive write head element formed on the inter-shield insulation layer and provided with a first magnetic pole layer, a nonmagnetic layer, a second magnetic pole layer whose end portion is opposed to an end portion of the first magnetic pole layer through the nonmagnetic layer, and a write coil, and an additional shield layer formed between the upper shield layer and the first magnetic pole layer.
US07675698B2 Fibrous micro-composite material
Fibrous micro-composite materials are formed from micro fibers. The fibrous micro-composite materials are utilized as the basis for a new class of MEMS. In addition to simple fiber composites and microlaminates, fibrous hollow and/or solid braids, can be used in structures where motion and restoring forces result from deflections involving torsion, plate bending and tensioned string or membrane motion. In one embodiment, fibrous elements are formed using high strength, micron and smaller scale fibers, such as carbon/graphite fibers, carbon nanotubes, fibrous single or multi-ply graphene sheets, or other materials having similar structural configurations. Cantilever beams and torsional elements are formed from the micro-composite materials in some embodiments.
US07675696B2 Lens barrel and imaging apparatus including the same
A lens barrel includes a first lens set configured to move manually along an optical axis, a second lens set configured to move electrically along the optical axis, a first holding member configured to hold the first lens set, a second holding member configured to hold the second lens set, a driving member configured to move the second holding member along the optical axis, a transmitting member configured to transmit a driving force of the driving member to the second holding member, and an urging member configured to relatively urge the transmitting member and the second holding member along the optical axis. The first lens set is movable within a range of motion of the second lens set. The urging member is displaced when the second holding member interferes with the first holding member.
US07675695B2 Optical element holding apparatus
A holding apparatus configured to hold an optical element includes a supporting member configured to support the optical element, a cylindrical member configured to support the supporting member, a plurality of sensors configured to detect a position of the optical element and the supporting member, and a drive unit configured to drive the supporting member based on outputs from the plurality of sensors. The supporting member includes a plurality of projection portions that contact the optical element. A direction of each vertex of a polygon formed by connecting the plurality of projection portions with a straight line substantially coincides with a direction of each vertex of a polygon formed by connecting the plurality of sensors with a straight line.
US07675693B2 Optical accessory arranged to change optical characteristic of shooting lens
An optical accessory having a high optical performance arranged to change an optical characteristic of a shooting lens and to be attached on the object side of a shooting lens is provided. The optical accessory FE is to be detachably attached to the object side of a master lens M and has at least one lens FE having a negative refractive power. The image-side surface r2 of the lens FE is designed to have an aspherical shape having a negative refractive power that decreases toward its periphery.
US07675683B2 Ambient light display and system for displaying data
A system for displaying data includes a display unit and a transmitting unit. A display unit has a housing that defines an ambient light window and a viewing window. A data display is positioned inside the housing, and optics are included for guiding light from the ambient light window through the display and out the viewing window.
US07675674B2 High-power-optical-amplifier using a number of spaced, thin slabs
The high-power-optical-amplifier of the present invention uses a number of spaced, thin slabs (e.g., disc-shaped doped-slabs that are stacked, with a space between discs), aligned to give an amplifier both with a high active cross-section and a very high surface area to volume ratio. More specifically, the present invention provides several methods that include the steps of aligning at least two or four slabs having a thickness dimension of less than one centimeter, substantially parallel to, and spaced from adjacent slabs, wherein the slab surfaces are rendered essentially non-reflective, optically pumping the slabs and passing an input beam through the surfaces wherein the beam is optically amplified in the slabs, and wherein the input beam is of an eye-safe wavelength.
US07675673B2 Apparatus for providing multiple time-division multiplexed independently controllable pulsed beams from a single, pulsed laser output-beam
An output beam from a laser is directed into an acousto-optic cell. The laser beam includes repeated sequences of two or more pulses. The acousto-optic cell is sequentially driven by RF voltages at two or more frequencies. A portion of the laser output beam is diffracted by the acousto-optic cell at two or more different angles to the laser output beam. This provides two or more secondary beams. One of the secondary beams includes only the first pulses of the sequences; the other includes only the second pulses of the sequences. The duration of the pulses in the laser beam is controlled to control time-averaged power in the secondary beams.
US07675671B2 Micro electro mechanical systems device
An aspect of the embodiment, a MEMS device includes a rotating unit, a first hinge, a first frame and an actuator. The actuator has a plurality of electrodes for rotating the rotating unit. The first frame has one of the electrodes. A portion of silicon layer by the electrode of the frame is chamfered.
US07675665B2 Methods and apparatus for actuating displays
This invention relates to display apparatuses having an array of light modulators and a plurality of apertures formed in a layer of material. Each light modulator corresponds to one or more apertures and has a portion which may overlap a corresponding aperture, where the size of the overlap is proportional to a distance between the array and the layer of material.
US07675664B2 Recording medium, reproducing apparatus, and reproducing method
A recording medium records therein image data for distributing contents as element holograms with interference fringes generated by interference between an object beam representing the image data and a reference beam. The image data to be distributed which are recorded as the element holograms in the recording medium are reproduced by applying reference beams to the recording medium.
US07675655B2 Moving object scanning apparatus and method
Apparatus for scanning a moving object includes a visible waveband sensor 12 oriented to collect a series of images of the object as it passes through a field of view 16. An image processor 14 uses the series of images to form a composite image. The image processor 14 stores image pixel data for a current image and a predecessor image in the series. It uses information in the current image and its predecessor to analyse images and derive likelihood measures indicating probabilities that current image pixels correspond to parts of the object. The image processor 14 estimates motion between the current image and its predecessor from likelihood weighted pixels. It generates the composite image from frames positioned according to respective estimates of object image motion. Image motion may alternatively be detected by a speed sensor such as a Doppler radar 200 sensing object motion directly and providing image timing signals.
US07675651B2 Moire-free color halftone configuration employing common frequency vectors
Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for moiré-free color halftone printing with up to four color image separations. The method and apparatus utilize a plurality of non-orthogonal halftone screens to produce outputs that are moiré free and form uniform periodic rosettes. The method and apparatus provide for defining a first and a second color halftone screen fundamental frequency vector for each of three halftone screens such that the halftone screen set output forms uniform hexagonal rosettes; then defining a fourth color halftone screen where a first fundamental vector of the fourth screen shares a fundamental frequency vector with one of said three halftone screens and a second fundamental frequency vector of the fourth screen shares a fundamental frequency vector with a different one of said three color halftone screens.
US07675642B2 Print apparatus and print method
A print apparatus and print method are provided in which the efficiency of a raster operation is improved according to destination images. The print method includes the steps of extracting a source image, a halftone image and a destination image from an image to be printed, determining an attribute of the destination image and converting raster operations (ROPs) of the source image, the halftone image and the destination image in accordance with the determination result, and performing the converted ROPs. If the attribute of the destination image is a written state, the conversion of the ROPs may be omitted, and if the attribute of the destination image is an initial state, the ROPs may be converted to more simplified operations using an initial state value of the destination image. Accordingly, by determining an attribute of the destination image D in advance, before the ROPs are performed, and converting the ROPs to simplified ROPs, the time required for rendering a result can be reduced and an entire printing time can be reduced.
US07675641B2 Method and device for converting scanned text to audio data via connection lines and lookup tables
Methods and devices for converting printed media into audio data. In one embodiment, a device includes a scanning platform for supporting the document to be scanned, a scanning mechanism for converting images on the document into image data, and a processor configured to convert the scanned image data into audio data. The device may further include printer components configured to create a hardcopy of the image data, an audio device such as a speaker, and an interface for outputting the image data or audio data.
US07675636B2 Document processing apparatus and document processing method
A document processing apparatus reads document data and carries out a preflight check. In the preflight check, the content of the document is interpreted page by page to determine resources that are needed for output. Then, it is determined for each page whether the resources needed for output are available in a printing system. If a resource that is not available is needed, a warning is issued for the page. If the resources are available, intermediate data for a printed output is generated for the page. Then, a result of the preflight check is output.
US07675628B2 Synchronous frequency-shift mechanism in Fizeau interferometer
An optical device for characterizing a test surface combines a Fizeau interferometer with a polarization frequency-shifting element. Two substantially collinear, orthogonally polarized beams having respective frequencies differing by a predetermined frequency shift are generated by the polarization frequency-shifting element and projected into the Fizeau optical cavity to produce a pair of test beams and a pair of reference beams, wherein the beams in each pair have orthogonal polarization states and have frequencies differing by the predetermined frequency shift. A second, substantially equal frequency shift is introduced in the Fizeau cavity on either one of the pairs of test and reference beams, thereby generating a four-beam collinear output that produces an interferogram without tilt or short-coherence light. The invention may also be implemented by reversing the order of the Fizeau cavity and the polarization frequency-shifting element in the optical train.
US07675616B1 Combustion plume absorption gauge
An absorption spectroscopy gauge to measure chemical concentrations in a post-detonation combustion cloud of energetic materials. A broadband light source coupled to an optical fiber guides light into a gauge via a first leg where a plano-convex lens collimates the light source internally. The light reflects off a mirror and passes through an absorption region before entering a second leg of the gauge where it is refocused into a different fiber and sent to a time-resolved spectroscopy system for analysis. The time-resolved spectroscopy system can include a spectrometer and a steak camera. The two legs of the gauge are arranged as separate halves connected by a plurality of rods that can be adjusted to change the length of the absorption region. The gauge is arranged to include stainless steel cone shaped tips to minimize added turbulence brought upon by its use.
US07675602B2 Board device and method for manufacturing display element
A pillar-shaped spacer is disposed at the position between the boundary line of adjacent liquid crystal cells and an OLB terminal so as to face the end portion of the OLB terminal and so as to be interposed between a first large-size substrate and a second large-size substrate. Even when the respective liquid crystal cells are separated from one another along the boundary lines of the adjacent liquid crystal cells, exfoliation of the OLB terminals is prevented by the pillar-shaped spacers, so that extra cutting margins between the adjacent liquid crystal cells can be reduced and the manufacturing performance and the built-in number of the liquid crystal cells can be enhanced.
US07675600B2 Liquid crystal display panel and liquid crystal display apparatus having the same
Disclosed are a liquid crystal display panel and apparatus, which can prevent electrolytic corrosion or other corrosion of on-off pads in a test pad part. The liquid crystal display panel comprises: a pixel part having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix at intersections of a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines; a gate pad part having a plurality of gate pads, each of the gate pads connected with the corresponding gate lines to deliver a gate signal; a data pad part having a plurality of data pads, each of the data pads connected with the corresponding data lines to deliver a data signal; a test pad part having at least one or more on-off pads delivering a test signal to the gate lines or the data lines; and a switching device for cutting off the gate signal and/or the data signal so as not to be provided to the on-off pads upon driving the liquid crystal display panel.
US07675593B2 Display pixel using electroactive polymer and display apparatus employing the same
Provided are a display pixel using an electroactive polymer and a display apparatus employing the display pixel. The display pixel includes: an electroactive polymer layer, of which shape and/or size is displaced when a voltage is applied thereto; a diffraction grating, of which a pitch and a diffraction angle change according to a displacement of the electroactive polymer layer; and a liquid crystal layer disposed on the diffraction grating and controlling gradation according to a voltage applied thereto.
US07675592B2 Transflective liquid crystal display device
The manufacturing yield of transflective liquid crystal display devices is to be enhanced. In a transflective liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal display panel having a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal layer held between the pair of substrates, the liquid crystal display panel has a plurality of subpixels each having a transmissive part and a reflective part, wherein one of the pair of substrates has: an active element; a first insulating film disposed in a higher layer than the electrode of the active element and having a first contact hole; a counter electrode disposed in a higher layer than the first insulating film; a reflective electrode disposed in the reflective part in a higher layer than the counter electrode; a second insulating film disposed in a higher layer than the counter electrode and the reflective electrode and having a second contact hole; a pixel electrode disposed in a higher layer than the second insulating film; and an electroconductor formed in the first contact hole and electrically connected to the electrode of the active element, and the pixel electrode is electrically connected to the electroconductor via the second contact hole.
US07675591B2 Transflective display panel and display apparatus using the same
A transflective display panel and a display apparatus using the same are provided. The display panel includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix. Each of the pixels includes a plurality of subpixels, and each subpixel within a pixel outputs a different color of light. In addition, each of the subpixels includes a transflective mode region which has a reflection mode region with a diffraction grating and a transmission mode region; a liquid crystal layer which adjusts a transmittance of incident light through electric control; and a sub color filter which transmits light within a wavelength band of the incident light. Because the display panel includes the reflection mode region where the diffraction grating is formed, it can display a high-quality image with good white balance, even while outdoors or under bright illumination.
US07675590B2 Array substrate, liquid crystal display panel and liquid crystal display device having the same
An array substrate including a plurality of pixel regions transmitting light includes a switching element disposed in each of the pixel regions defined by gate and source lines, wherein the switching element is electrically connected to the gate and source lines, a pixel electrode electrically connected to the switching element, a first insulating layer disposed on the switching element, and a second insulating layer disposed under the first insulating layer, wherein a thickness of the second insulating layer is dependent on a peak wavelength of red light.
US07675585B2 Liquid crystal display with organic EL backlight comprising cap member with protrusions
A liquid crystal display and fabricating method thereof are disclosed, by which a backlight having a simple configuration, a reduced thickness and a low cost can be provided. The present invention includes a liquid crystal display panel having an upper substrate, a lower substrate and liquid crystals between the upper and lower substrates, an organic EL device provided under the lower substrate of the liquid crystal display panel to provide light to the liquid crystal display panel, and a cap boned to at least one of the lower substrate of the liquid crystal display panel and a substrate of the organic EL device to protect the organic EL device.
US07675583B2 Reflective liquid crystal display panel and device using same
There is disclosed an active matrix reflective liquid crystal display panel on which an active matrix circuit is integrated with peripheral driver circuits. Metal lines in the peripheral driver circuits are formed simultaneously with pixel electrodes. Thus, neither the process sequence nor the structure is complicated.
US07675581B2 Pixel structure and TFT array drain connected to pixel electrode without connection line from drain to top electrode therebetween
A thin film transistor array comprising a substrate, a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines, a plurality of thin film transistors, a plurality of common lines, a plurality of top electrodes, a plurality of connection lines and a plurality of pixel electrodes is provided. Wherein, each thin film transistor is disposed in one of the pixel areas and driven through the corresponding scan line and data line. Each thin film transistor includes a gate, a source and a drain. The drain of the thin film transistor is electrically connected to the corresponding top electrode by the corresponding connection line. Besides, the drain of the thin film transistor is electrically connected to the pixel electrode, and a portion of the connection line is not covered by the pixel electrode.
US07675580B2 Liquid crystal display with built-in touch screen having particles for pressure concentration
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel with a built-in touch screen capable of maintaining touch sensitivity at a certain level regardless of touch circumstances, and an LCD having the LCD panel with a built-in touch screen. According to the present invention, there are provided an LCD panel with a built-in touch screen, comprising a first substrate; a second substrate positioned opposite to first substrate; a liquid crystal layer injected between first and second substrates; a sensing unit including a conductive column spacer and a conductive pad spaced apart from conductive column spacer by a predetermined interval to sense a touch point; and a plurality of pressure particles with certain hardness positioned on an outer surface of first substrate. Further, there is provided an LCD having the LCD panel with a built-in touch screen.
US07675579B2 Liquid crystal driving electrode with protruded bent tip, liquid crystal display device, and manufacturing method thereof
A liquid crystal display device of a multiple-domain in-plane switching mode applies to mutually engaged comb-shaped electrodes for each pixel region. The comb-shaped electrode has bent portions each in a double V shape which is formed as a comb-tooth pattern by causing a bent tip being bent into a V shape to protrude further outward. This structure stabilizes turning directions of liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of a boundary between each two neighboring regions of multiple domains and suppresses display coloring attributable to a change in a view angle.
US07675577B2 Device and method for automatically changing broadcast channel of vehicle television with diversity antenna
A device and method for automatically changing a broadcast channel of a vehicle television with a diversity antenna is provided. The device includes an antenna switching unit connected with the diversity antennas and switching one of the diversity antennas; an image signal level detector for detecting an image signal level; an audio signal level detector for detecting an audio signal level; a storage unit for storing regional broadcast channel information, a channel change history, a value of number of switching times; and a controller for controlling the antenna switching unit, counting and storing the number of switching times, checking a quality of the broadcast signal, deciding a desired broadcast channel, and controlling the tuner to change into the decided broadcast channel.
US07675575B2 Display device with a detachable housing
A display device includes a detachable housing, a main body, and an interface unit. The interface unit electrically connects the detachable housing with the main body. The detachable housing includes an OSD unit for storing a plurality of OSD data; a command input unit for generating and sending signals in response to operations of a user; a processing unit for identifying operations of the user, and, if required by the operations, performing predetermined function to obtain OSD data, generating a corresponding control signal, and transmitting the OSD data and the control signal to the main body through the interface unit. The main body displays an OSD menu corresponding to the OSD data and adjusts the parameters of the display device, corresponding to the control signals.
US07675573B2 Global motion adaptive system with motion values correction with respect to luminance level
Global-adaptive deinterlacing systems and methods for reducing scintillation and feathering artifacts. Motion adaptive deinterlacing (MADI) local motion quantization thresholds are adaptively adjusted according to the amount of global motion present in the video sequence, thereby minimizing scintillation and feathering artifacts when deinterlacing the fields. A set of global motion scenarios are defined for the purpose of classifying fields, and a number of global motion indicators are used to detect on a field-by-field basis different global motion scenarios.
US07675571B2 Cradle for connecting to portable electronic apparatus
A cradle for connecting to a portable electronic apparatus is described. The cradle includes an AC adapter connector, a USB connector, a mini USB plug, and a USB signal detecting circuit. The USB connector is used to connect to a USB interface of a computer. The mini USB plug is used to connect to the portable electronic apparatus. The USB signal detecting circuit detects the USB_D+ and the USB_D− of the USB connector. When the computer is suspended from an operating state, the portable electronic apparatus is charged by the AC adapter through the mini USB plug. When the computer resumes normal operation, the USB connection between the portable electronic apparatus and the computer is automatically reestablished.
US07675569B2 Image sensing apparatus having an image sensor
An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor configured to image an object to generate image data, a flash control unit configured to control a main flash, to be performed by a flash unit configured to emit flash to an object, according to preliminary image data generated by the image sensor in association with a pre-flash performed by the flash unit, a first drive unit configured to adjust starting timings of exposures performed at a plurality of lines of the image sensor to a same timing when the pre-flash is performed, and a second drive unit configured to shield the image sensor from light before the preliminary image data is read from the image sensor.
US07675567B2 Camera, camera system, and lens apparatus
A camera is provided which includes an image capturing element; a memory for recording images obtained from the image capturing element; and a controller for changing the number of recorded pixels of the images stored in the memory based on information about a lens apparatus that can be operatively connected to the camera.
US07675556B2 Cameras, other imaging devices, and methods having non-uniform image remapping using a small data-set of distortion vectors
A camera has a body and an electronic capture unit mounted in the body. The electronic capture unit selectively captures and stores a scene image as a representational electronic image having a first array of pixels. A control system is mounted in the body. The control system provides a remapped electronic image having a second array of pixels. A memory unit is disposed in the body. The memory unit stores a data-set defining an non-uniform mapping between a plurality of primary input coordinates mappable on said first array of pixels and plurality of primary output coordinates mappable on said second array of pixels. The control system uses the data-set to remap the pixels of the input electronic image to provide the remapped electronic image.
US07675542B2 Camera controller
A camera controller establishes a desired shooting range as the direction of a camera is changed. Coordinate data on a pseudo subject-plane representing a subject-plane virtually covering a plurality of subjects to be shot by the camera are stored. The direction of the camera is indicated by a cursor or the like on the image displayed on a display unit. Coordinates of an intersection point of a straight line extending from the camera in the instructed direction with the pseudo subject-plane stored in the memory are determined, and the distance between the camera and the intersection point is calculated.
US07675541B2 Display apparatus and control method
A main unit (television receiver) displays a television broadcasting program and also detects its feature. In addition, the main unit detects a scene change from the feature of the television broadcasting program, and controls a subsidiary unit (television receiver) so as to display the image data of the frame immediately after the scene change. The subsidiary unit displays the frame immediately after the scene change. Then, when another scene change occurs in image data displayed on the main unit, the image data of the frame immediately after the scene change is displayed on the subsidiary unit, instead of the image data which has been displayed so far.
US07675534B2 Printer with short print-to-print cycle times
A receiver medium transport system for a thermal printer, a method for operating a receiver medium transport system and a thermal printer are provided that enable the recording of at least a portion of a second superimposed image on a second receiver medium during the recording of a first superimposed image on a first receiver medium.
US07675526B2 System and method for multi-sampling primitives to reduce aliasing
A method and system for performing multi-sample, antialiased rendering of images by performing multi-sample antialiasing at the primitive level. Geometric primitives used to represent a graphics environment are set-up, and then shifted by a sub-pixel offset and rendered to generate values for pixels of an intermediate image. The shifting and rendering is repeated for the geometric primitive, each time generating values for pixels of another intermediate image. The values for the pixels of the intermediate images are combined to produce values for the respective pixels of the resulting image.
US07675516B2 Apparatus and method for triangulating 3D image and computer-readable recording medium storing computer program for controlling the apparatus
Provided are an apparatus and method for triangulating a three-dimensional (3D) image, and a computer-readable recording medium storing a computer program for controlling the apparatus. The apparatus includes: a surface expression unit expressing the surface of the 3D image as triangles without holes; and an information output unit outputting a result obtained by the surface expression unit. The apparatus quickly and easily finds surface points and expresses the surface of the 3D image as a combination of triangles reliably, generally, and efficiently, more accurately obtains the 4-sided polygons, reduces the number of holes to be formed, is edited by personally recognizing modification of the surface of the 3D image, and can be used as a tool for expressing intuitive data to edit a dynamic object.
US07675510B2 Image display system and method
A method of displaying an image with a display device including a plurality of display pixels includes receiving image data for the image, the image data including individual pixels of the image; buffering the image data and creating a frame of the image, the frame of the image including a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows of the pixels of the image; defining a first sub-frame and at least a second sub-frame for the frame of the image, image data of the second sub-frame being offset from image data of the first sub-frame by an offset distance of at least one pixel; and displaying the first sub-frame with a first plurality of the display pixels and displaying the second sub-frame with a second plurality of the display pixels offset from the first plurality of the display pixels by the offset distance.
US07675509B2 Methods and apparatus for optical wireless communication
Methods and apparatus for optical wireless communication. In one embodiment, a wireless optical video system in which video content (e.g., DVI or HDMI) is transmitted wirelessly between a digital video source and a display device. This wireless optical communication is accomplished using a laser, encoded with the digital video data, directed from an optical transmitter to an optical receiver. In another embodiment, the data to be communicated includes high-definition video content.
US07675502B2 Color electrophoretic display device
Set forth is an electrophoretic display device including a display region between substrates, at least one of which is transparent, the display region including a multiplicity of pixels, wherein one or more of the pixels have three or more subpixels, the three or more subpixels being made up of individual reservoirs that each contain a display medium of one or more set of colored particles in a dielectric fluid. The display mediums include two different colors therein so that the subpixel is capable of exhibiting each of the two different colors, and each of the three or more subpixels include a display medium having a combination of two colors that is different from the combinations of two colors of the display mediums of the other of the three or more subpixels. A method of displaying a full color image with the display device is also provided.
US07675500B2 Liquid crystal display backlight with variable amplitude LED
A display is backlit by a source having spatially modulated luminance to attenuate illumination of dark areas of images and increase the dynamic range of the display.
US07675498B2 Dot-inversion display devices and driving method thereof with low power consumption
Display devices with low power consumption. In the display device, and first and second data lines, first and second gate lines, first and second supplemental lines, first and second pixels are provided. In the first pixel, a first transistor comprises a first terminal coupled to the first data line and a control terminal coupled to the first gate line, and a first storage capacitor comprises a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first transistor and a second terminal coupled to the first supplemental line. In the second pixel, a second transistor comprises a first terminal coupled to the second data line, and a control terminal coupled to the second gate line, and a second storage capacitor comprises a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the second transistor and a second terminal coupled to the second supplemental line.
US07675494B2 Organic light-emitting device and organic light-emitting display
An organic light-emitting device including: a light emitting diode that emits light by a signal current; a driving thin film transistor connected between a source voltage and a light emitting diode and connected at its drain to the light emitting diode and a current source, and that supplies the signal current to the light emitting diode depending on display data; a storage capacitor connected between the source voltage and a gate of the driving thin film transistor, and that stores the display data depending on a display data signal; a first switching unit connected between the drain of the driving thin film transistor and a data driver and connected at its gate with a first scan line, wherein the first switching unit and selects the data signal; a second switching unit connected between the gate and the drain of the driving thin film transistor and connected at its gate with a second scan line wherein, the second switching unit drives the driving thin film transistor; and a third switching unit connected between the drain of the driving thin film transistor and the light emitting diode and connected at its gate with a third scan line, wherein the third switch unit selects the signal current applied to the light emitting diode.
US07675490B2 Method and apparatus for uniformity compensation in an OLED display
A method of compensating the uniformity of an OLED device that includes measuring the performance of light-emitting elements at three or more different input intensity values. Calculation of parameters a and b, for each light-emitting element, is performed to minimize the sum, for each of the three or more input intensity values i, of a minimization function: ƒ(yi,i,(yi−g(yi,i,a,b))2) where yi is the performance value of the light-emitting element or groups of elements in response to an input intensity value i, and g is a function that is a simplified representation of the performance of the one or more light-emitting elements or groups of elements. A linear transformation function is formed as: ƒ(i)=mi+k, where m and k depend upon the function g, and the parameters a and b.
US07675486B2 Drive system of display device
This invention provides a drive system of a display device preventing an uneven display caused by output current values of current conversion circuits. A drive system of a display device of the invention has a plurality of pixels disposed in a matrix of m rows and n columns and having current drive elements, n pieces of current conversion circuits converting digital display signals inputted from outside into analog signals corresponding to the digital display signals, a first selector circuit selectively supplying the digital display signals to the n pieces of the current conversion circuits, and a second selector circuit selectively supplying current outputs of n pieces of the current conversion circuits to pixel groups divided in columns.
US07675484B2 Method for driving a gas electric discharge device
A method for driving an AC type surface-discharge display device which has cells arranged in a matrix. Each of the cells has at least three electrodes including a pair of main electrodes on every line of the matrix and an address electrode on every column of the matrix. The method includes providing an address preparation period applying a charge producing pulse and applying a charge adjusting pulse. The charge adjusting pulse has a waveform monotonously falling from a reference potential and a negative polarity and is applied to the second main electrode used as a scan electrode and generates feeble electric discharges between the first and second main electrodes. The feeble electric discharges are accompanied by a decrease of the wall voltage formed by the charge producing pulse.
US07675483B2 Dynamic false contour reducing method, dynamic false contour reducing circuit, display device, and program
A dynamic false contour reducing circuit which comprises a false contour detector, an error diffusion processing part, and a display controller. The false contour detector receives an input signal for displaying an image at a pixel of interest to detect a false contour magnitude at the pixel of interest when an image is displayed at the pixel of interest based on the input signal. The error diffusion processing part performs error diffusion processing for the input signal in a manner depending on the level of the false contour magnitude detected by the false contour detector. The display controller controls a display part such that an image is displayed based on the input signal which has undergone the error diffusion processing by the error diffusion processing part.
US07675470B2 Multi-band monopole antenna for a mobile communications device
A multi-band monopole antenna for a mobile communications device includes a common conductor coupled to both a first radiating arm and a second radiating arm. The common conductor includes a feeding port for coupling the antenna to communications circuitry in a mobile communications device. In one embodiment, the first radiating arm includes a space-filling curve. In another embodiment, the first radiating arm includes a meandering section extending from the common conductor in a first direction and a contiguous extended section extending from the meandering section in a second direction.
US07675463B2 Miniaturized integrated monopole antenna
The invention is related to a monopole antenna provided for short-range applications, having a conductive pattern arranged on a dielectric substrate. The conductive pattern has a first straight radiating element connected to an antenna feeding point, a second straight radiating element arranged essentially parallel to the first radiating element and interconnected to it, and further a third straight radiating element arranged between the first and second radiating elements and essentially parallel to both of the first and second radiating elements and interconnected to the second radiating element. The electric and magnetic fields of the first and the third radiating elements are thereby interacting constructively. The invention is also related to an integrated circuit having such monopole antenna, and a method for manufacturing such monopole antenna.
US07675459B2 Equivalent time sampling radar
A dither clock generating section 1 generates a dither clock. A transmission pulse generating section 2a generates a transmission pulse emitted to the outside from a transmitting antenna 2c on the basis of the dither clock. A sample hold section 6 samples a reception pulse, received by a receiving antenna 3a, on the basis of a sample pulse obtained by time sweeping of the changing timing of the dither clock, so as to produce a long-period reception pulse that is obtained by expanding the reception pulse on a time axis.
US07675454B2 System, method, and computer program product providing three-dimensional visualization of ground penetrating radar data
A system for analyzing and displaying radar information comprises: a transmit and receive unit operable to transmit radar signals to a survey volume and to receive radar returned radar signals, a processing unit operable to: receive radar data from the returned radar signals, reduce the data into depth bins, each with a score based on received signal strength, create connections among depth bins based on respective scores, and to eliminate ones of the depth bins that do not meet a threshold number of connections, the system further comprising a display unit operable to create a display of at least a subset of the depth bins that are not eliminated by the processing unit.
US07675453B2 Power saving apparatus
A power saving apparatus that uses a plurality of switches, including a switch provided in a remote controller receptacle mounted on a device, to turn on or off power to a device according to whether a remote controller is received in the remote controller receptacle, thereby saving standby power of the device. The power saving apparatus includes first, second, and third switches, and a controller. The first switch is used to power on/off the device. The second switch is provided in the remote controller receptacle to turn on/off power to the device according to whether or not a remote controller is received in the remote controller receptacle. The controller outputs a control signal to turn on/off power to the device when power is supplied through the first or second switch. The third switch turns on or off the power to the device according to the control signal output from the controller.
US07675452B2 Successive approximation register analog to digital converter with improved immunity to time varying noise
An SAR ADC provides increased immunity to noise introduced by time varying noise components provided on reference potentials (VREF). Reference voltage noise contributions are canceled by introducing a reference voltage component to a pair of binary weighted capacitor arrays (NDAC and PDAC) during bit trials, which are presented to a differential comparator as a common mode signal and rejected. During sampling, select elements in either the PDAC or the NDAC also obtain a reference voltage contribution. Although the sampled VREF signal may have a noise contribution, the noise is fixed at the time of bit trials, which can improve performance. Generally, the scheme provides a 50% reduction in noise errors over the prior art for the same VREF noise. Additional embodiments described herein can reduce noise errors to 25% or even 12.5% over prior art systems.
US07675448B1 Continuous-time sigma-delta modulator using dynamic element matching having low latency and dynamic element matching method thereof
In a continuous-time sigma-delta modulator, by using dynamic element matching (DEM) with respect to comparators of a quantizer, or by generating a plurality of candidate DEM results in advance for selecting an approximate DEM result, a time slot for DEM operations in each cycle of a sampling signal is significantly increased without being rushed.
US07675424B2 Perishable product electronic label including time and temperature measurement
An electronic assembly may be contained in a label that performs time-temperature integration (TTI) and indicates that time and/or temperature levels have been reached that may compromise the quality, shelf life, or safety of the item to which the label is affixed. The label may be used on a wide variety of objects that require careful handling in terms of temperature and/or time elapsed before use. The labeling system includes circuitry that measures and calculates, and indictor(s) that signal that the time has come for discounted sale, and, later, that the time has come for disposal rather than sale. Optionally, the circuitry may act as an “over-temperature alarm” system, to measure, calculate, and indicate when a one-time temperature violation has occurred that is of such a magnitude that the item is immediately considered compromised, or spoiled.
US07675420B2 Read apparatus of RF tag and method of controlling read of RF tag
An RF tag system includes a first reader/writer unit and a second reader/writer unit. A first reader/writer control unit is configured to control the first reader/writer unit to read a first data from a first RF tag, and to detect a trouble state of the first reader/writer unit. A second reader/writer control unit is configured to control the second reader/writer unit to read a second data from a second RF tag, and to detect a trouble state of the second reader/writer unit. A monitoring section is configured to issue a selection instruction and to monitor the first reader/writer unit through the first reader/writer control unit, and the second reader/writer unit through the second reader/writer control unit. A switching section is configured to select one of the first reader/writer control unit and the second reader/writer control unit in response to the selection instruction from the monitoring section.
US07675417B2 Fence alarm
A fence alarm for detecting and identifying a location in a fence which is broken. The fence alarm comprises a power source for providing power to the alarm components, the components including a plurality of detectors, each detector providing termination of a segment of the fence, each detector having a unique identifier, whereby the detector outputs its unique identifier when the segment is broken. The alarm includes a transmitter for transmitting the unique identifier, by means of an integrated antenna, which is received by a receiver. The fence alarm may also have computing or logic elements to provide additional storage or processing of signals, or data associated with the fence or the alarm.
US07675413B2 Wireless intrusion sensor for a container
An intrusion sensing device includes an intrusion detection sensor enclosed within a housing and operable to detect an intrusion into a container. A mounting detection mechanism contacts the surface of the container when the housing is mounted thereto and is operable to detect when the housing is not in contact with the surface of the container. An access detection mechanism is operably connected to an access panel of the housing and operable to detect removal of the access panel from the housing. A control module is operable in a setup mode and an active mode. The control module is adapted to receive an alarm message from the intrusion detection sensor and operable to initiate an alarm event during the setup mode which varies from an alarm event initiated during the active mode. A wireless transmitter is operable to transmit an alarm indication signal to a remote monitoring system.
US07675412B2 System and method for dynamically tracking and state forecasting tagged entities
A method is provided for dynamically tracking a plurality of entities progressing through an operation each having an electronic tagging device associated therewith. The method includes sensing signals emitted by each of the plurality of tagging devices, at predetermined instances or when triggered by external events, by a plurality of sensors located at predetermined sites with respect to the operation, each signal including information uniquely identifying the corresponding tagging device, communicating the sensed signals and corresponding energy levels at which they were sensed by each of the plurality of sensors to a data processor, processing the unique identification information provided by the signals and their energy levels to determine a location of each tagging device relatively to the predetermined sites of the sensors, and dynamically updating a path of each tagging device and the associated entity based on the determined location with respect to at least a portion of a displayed map of the operation.
US07675399B2 Remote controller device and method for hand operation of floor-mounted audio effects processors
Disclosed is a device for the remote operation of the variable audio controls of floor-mounted audio effects devices, such devices typical of those used by performing artists on stage. The vast majority of devices of this type are operated by a foot pedal-controlled on/off switch and rotary operated potentiometer switch(es) to vary the audio output. The present inventive concept uses a variety of mechanical connectors, which couple the rotary switches of the floor device to a hand-operated controller mounted on a microphone or accessory stand. In this manner a performer is able to operate the effects device, with his/her hand, from a more natural standing position during a musical performance, rather than having to crouch down during said performance.
US07675394B2 Capsule medical apparatus and current-carrying control method
An object of the present invention is to readily initiate an operation of a capsule medical apparatus which is inserted into a subject and executes a predetermined function. In a capsule endoscope 3 according to the present invention, a reed switch 14 connected to a power supply unit and a function executing unit is arranged parallel to a direction of a longitudinal axis t of a capsule-like casing 16 in the substantially cylindrical capsule-like casing 16 of the capsule endoscope 3. A pair of movable electrodes of the reed switch 14 operates according to magnetic induction of a magnetic field of a magnet 6 applied substantially parallel to the direction t of the longitudinal axis of the capsule-like casing 16, and come into contact with each other. As a result, power supply from the power supply unit to the function executing unit is allowed.
US07675385B1 N-way reconfigurable power divider
The present disclosure is directed to a method, apparatus, and system for dividing power. An N-way power divider comprises a power input, a switched transformer, a switched power divider, and plurality of power outputs. The switched power divider is configurable to take input power and provide the power to any of the power outputs (matching the impedance utilizing the switched transformer). An antenna system comprises an input, a reconfigurable switched network operably coupled to the input, and a plurality of antenna elements. The reconfigurable switched network is configurable to provide power from input to any of the plurality of antenna elements. Each element can be provided power, or not provided power with the reconfigurable switch. The reconfigurable switched network is configurable to take in power and transform the impedance of the power to match the impedance of the active antenna elements.
US07675366B2 Integrated amplifier circuit
An integrated amplifier circuit includes an input, an output, a transistor with a transistor-input terminal, the transistor-input terminal being coupled to the input, and a transistor-output terminal. The transistor-output terminal is coupled to the output by means of a DC-path. The DC-path includes a first inductive element and a parallel resonant circuit including a second inductive element and a first capacitive element. The first inductive element and the parallel resonant circuit are connected in series between the transistor-output terminal and the output.
US07675351B2 Frequency output circuit
Unwanted electromagnetic waves are eliminated in a frequency output circuit comprising an open-collector output terminal whereby radio noise can be reduced. A frequency output circuit 10 comprises an open-collector transistor Q4 with an open-collector output terminal connected to a pull-up resistor Rf connected to an external power supply Vex. A current limiting circuit 16 limits a current through the output terminal such that a high potential and a low potential of the output waveform of a frequency signal outputted by an output circuit 12 are smoothly switched. The current limiting circuit 16 is formed by a differential pair circuit of transistors Q1 and Q2 each with a resistor provided in the emitter thereof, and a current mirror circuit comprising an open-collector transistor, for example.
US07675335B1 Phase detecting module and related phase detecting method
A phase detecting module includes a phase detecting unit, a comparator and a counter. The phase detecting unit is arranged to compare a first input signal and a second input signal to generate a phase detecting result. The comparator is arranged to compare the phase detecting result and a predetermined voltage to generate a comparing result. The counter is arranged to count one of the first input signal and the second input signal to generate a counting value. The phase detecting result and the counting value are reset if the counting value reaches a predetermined value, and the comparing result is outputted to a target device from the comparator if the counting value reaches a predetermined value.
US07675334B2 Delay locked loop circuit and semiconductor integrated circuit device
A technology capable of avoiding malfunction of a delay locked loop without generating a constant phase error in a delay locked loop circuit is provided. In a delay locked loop circuit, a control circuit is disposed in the outside of a delay locked loop, and in phase comparison of the delay locked loop, the control circuit outputs a control signal to the delay locked loop so that the relation in the phase comparison between a reference signal and an output signal is shifted by a set cycle.
US07675332B1 Fractional delay-locked loops
Phase detection circuitry in a delay-locked loop compares a periodic input signal to a feedback signal. The phase detection circuitry generates a delay signal that controls delays of the delay circuits. Two or more output signals of the delay circuits are transmitted to an input of the phase detection circuitry. The delay-locked loop can be configured so that the period of the periodic input signal divided by a delay of one of the delay circuits equals a non-integer rational number when the phase and frequency of the periodic input signal are constant. A frequency multiplier can be coupled to the delay circuits to generate a periodic output signal. The periodic output signal has an average frequency that is a product of the frequency of the periodic input signal multiplied by a fractional non-integer number when the phase and frequency of the periodic input signal are constant.
US07675329B2 Transmitter and control method for same
A transmitter of the invention, according to a first aspect, has first and second driving circuits with reverse-current prevention elements connected between output terminals and power supply terminals, and a control circuit which controls the outputs of the first and second driving circuits, the control circuit controlling the first and second driving circuits, during a transition from a first state in which the first and second driving circuits output a first or a second logic level to a second state in which the first and second driving circuits output an intermediate level between the first and second logic levels, to induce a third state in which a through current flows in the first and second driving circuits via the reverse-current prevention elements.
US07675319B2 Programmable logic device having complex logic blocks with improved logic cell functionality
A CLB-based PLD with logic cells having improved logic, register, arithmetic, logic packing and timing functions and capabilities is disclosed. The CLBs of the PLD are arranged in rows and columns of an array and are interconnect by a plurality of interconnect lines. Each of the plurality of CLBs has a first slice of logic cells and a second slice of logic cells arranged in a first column and a second column. First and second carry chains are provided between each of the logic cells of each column. At least one of the logic cells includes one or more Look Up Tables for implanting logic functions on a set of inputs provided to the one logic cell and an arithmetic logic circuit configured to receive a carry-in signal and to generate a carry-out signal forming part of the first carry chain. In one embodiment, the logic cell further includes a first output register and a second output register and the set of outputs generated by the logic cell are partitioned among the first output register and the second output register. In another embodiment, an output of one of the registers is provided as an input to one of the Look Up Tables of the cell through a register feedback connection. In yet another embodiment, the set of inputs provided to a first and a second of the Look Up Tables are different, enabling a higher degree of logic efficiency or “packing” by enabling each cell to perform logic functions on two different sets of inputs as opposed to only the same set of inputs. Finally, in another embodiment, the arithmetic logic circuit is capable of generating two SUM output signals.
US07675313B1 Methods and systems for storing a security key using programmable fuses
Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide improved security key techniques for programmable logic devices. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method of providing data security for a programmable logic device (PLD) includes programming a plurality of programmable fuses that stores a security key comprising a plurality of data bit values, wherein each data bit value is associated with a respective subset of at least three of the fuses. The security key is retrieved from the fuses using the data bit values stored by each subset of the fuses. An encrypted configuration data bitstream is decrypted using the retrieved security key to obtain an original configuration data bitstream to configure the PLD.
US07675308B1 Test circuit and test method for power switch
For on-chip testing an on-chip power switch coupled to a core logic and to a decoupling capacitance, after the power switch enters a test mode, the decoupling capacitance is pre-charged or discharged; the power switch is turned ON or OFF according to test patterns; and a voltage level at the decoupling capacitance is analyzed or a leakage current flowing the power switch is measured. So that, whether the power switch is passed or failed is identified.
US07675305B2 Vertical-type electric contactor and manufacture method thereof
A vertical-type electric contactor connected to a bump of an electric contactor is provided. The vertical-type electric contactor includes a support beam, vertically bonded with the bump, in which at least two elastic parts are spaced apart from each other; a fixed part disposed at the bottom end of the support beam for fixing the support beam; and a tip part disposed at the bottom end of the fixed part, the tip part and the fixed part being a single body. According to the vertical-type electric contactor, a reaction force generated at a tip part is effectively distributed to test electric devices without damage of the vertical-type electric contactor.
US07675296B2 Method and apparatus for detecting the head pose of a vehicle occupant
Driver distraction in a motor vehicle is assessed by capacitively detecting the driver's head pose relative to the forward direction of vehicle motion. A symmetrical array of sensor electrodes is disposed in the cockpit ceiling above the driver's head, and pairs of electrodes disposed along varying axes of rotation with respect to the forward direction are successively activated for capacitance measurement. The capacitance measurements are combined to form a signal whose strength depends on the degree of alignment between the driver's head (i.e., the head pose) and the respective axes of rotation, and the driver's head pose is calculated to assess driver distraction.
US07675291B2 Method and device for monitoring deterioration of battery
A battery characteristic detecting method according to the invention includes a first step in which constant current discharge from a battery is performed at a predetermined current value, and a voltage during constant current discharge is measured; a second step in which overpotential for mass transfer control in the battery or resistance for the mass transfer control in the battery is calculated based on the voltage measured in the first step; and a third step in which a determination that a characteristic change has occurred in the battery is made, when the overpotential for the mass transfer control in the battery or the resistance for the mass transfer control in the battery calculated in the second step is larger than a predetermined threshold value.
US07675290B2 Electromagnetic surveying for hydrocarbon reservoirs
A method of electromagnetic surveying of an area of seafloor that is thought or known to contain a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir is described. The method includes broadcasting an EM signal from a horizontal electric dipole (HED) transmitter and obtaining vertical electric dipole (VED) response data at a remote receiver in response thereto. Survey data are analyzed by comparing the VED response data with background data which are not sensitive to the postulated hydrocarbon reservoir. Accordingly, differences between the VED response data and the background data allow for the identification of buried hydrocarbon reservoirs. The background data may be provided by magneto-telluric surveying, controlled source electromagnetic surveying or from direct geophysical measurement. By employing VED response data in this way, surveys may be performed in shallower water than has previously been possible since the VED detector is not sensitive to air-wave components of the EM field induced by the HED transmitter at the VED detector.
US07675288B2 Tunable magnetic field amplifying device
Provided is a tunable magnetic field amplifying device capable of easily adjusting resonance frequencies and tuning usable bands by using discrete elements to vary electric properties of elements that are used for amplifying a magnetic field of a specific microwave band. The tunable magnetic field amplifying device includes a Swiss roll formed by winding a metal sheet coated with a dielectric in a spiral cylinder shape once or several times; and a tunable capacitor connected between an inner sheet of and an outer sheet of the metal sheet for tuning a resonance frequency.
US07675280B2 Power factor correction boost circuit
The invention relates to a power factor controller for use in a power factor correction circuit. The power factor controller comprises a first input (VinSense) for receiving an input voltage (Vin) of the power factor correction circuit, a second input (VoSense) for receiving an output voltage (Vout) of the power factor correction circuit, and a controllable current source (VCCI) having a control input coupled to the first input, and a current supply output coupled to the second input, wherein said controllable current source (VCCI) sources a current to the second input (VoSense) that is inversely proportional to the input voltage.
US07675275B2 DC-DC converter
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a DC-DC converter including a high-side transistor, a low-side transistor, a first current detector, a second current detector and a driver. The first current detector monitors a first current flowing through the high-side transistor and outputs a first control signal when the first current becomes smaller than a first reference value. The second current detector monitors a second current flowing through the low-side transistor and outputs a second control signal when the second current becomes smaller than a second reference value. The driver turns on the low-side transistor based on the first control signal and turns on the high-side transistor based on the second control signal.
US07675273B2 Wideband low dropout voltage regulator
A method and apparatus for regulating a supply voltage to an integrated circuit is disclosed. The method and apparatus provides good power supply noise rejection characteristics over a wide bandwidth as well as low dropout voltage. In the disclosed methods and apparatus, native NMOS source followers may be stacked and coupled to a supply rail to supply a regulated voltage to a load. The gates of the native NMOS source followers may be coupled to the outputs of internal regulators. The internal regulators may also contain stacked NMOS source followers. In an embodiment, the internal regulators may be supplied by a high voltage source, while native NMOS source followers may be supplied by a low voltage source. In another embodiment, lo-pass filters may filter the signal from the internal regulators to the NMOS source followers. In yet another embodiment, the gates of the source followers may be coupled to the sources of the transistors with the internal regulators.
US07675272B2 Output impedance compensation for linear voltage regulators
In a method and system for regulating an output voltage, a linear voltage regulator (LVR) includes an adjustable shunt regulator (ASR) having a limited gain, a feedback circuit (FC), and a compensation resistor (CR). The limited gain causes the output voltage of the ASR to change in response to a change in an input current of the ASR. The FC generates a feedback voltage reference in proportion to the output voltage, the feedback voltage reference being provided to the ASR to control the output voltage. The CR is coupled to the ASR and the FC. The input current flows through the CR to provide a compensating voltage across the CR. The compensating voltage is provided to the feedback circuit to compensate the limited gain, thereby providing the output voltage that is substantially independent of the input current.
US07675266B2 Battery pack
A battery pack is disclosed. The battery pack includes a battery; a current detecting unit which detects charging and discharging currents of the battery and outputs an analog signal corresponding to the charging and discharging currents; a modulating unit which modulates the analog signal to be a PDM (pulse density modulation) signal by applying a PDM modulation to the analog signal; a memory in which a conversion program for converting the PDM signal into PCM (pulse code modulation) data and a remaining battery charge calculating program for calculating a remaining battery charge by accumulating the PCM data are stored; and a CPU, which converts the PDM signal into the PCM data which are digital data by being supplied the PDM signal from the modulating unit while executing the conversion program stored in the memory, and calculates the remaining battery charge by accumulating the PCM data while executing the remaining battery charge calculating program stored in the memory.
US07675265B2 Battery charger capable of suppressing the temperature increase of the power source circuit
Battery pack may include rechargeable battery cells Battery charger may include power source circuit. Power source circuit may be connected with an external power source and battery cells. The external power source may supply power to the power source circuit and then, the power source circuit may supply charging current to battery cells. Battery charger may also include voltage detector for detecting the voltage input from the external power source to power source circuit. Battery charger may further include processor for controlling power source circuit. Processor may determine the amount of charging current supplied to battery cells based upon the external power source voltage detected by the voltage detector.
US07675260B2 Motor driving apparatus
In a motor driving apparatus, a control unit detects a rotation frequency of a motor to be driven and generates a control voltage Vcnt in a manner such that the rotation frequency thereof is brought close to a desired rotation frequency. A clamping circuit sets an upper limit Vcu and a lower limit Vcl of the control voltage Vcnt. A drive unit drives the motor based on the control voltage Vcnt generated by the control unit. A start circuit fixes the control voltage Vcnt to a predetermined initial voltage Vinit at the start of driving the motor.
US07675258B2 Operator-control device for a machine
A machine includes an operator seat and an armrest adjacent the operator seat. The machine may also include a control system, which may include a control handle extending at least partially upward from the armrest. The control system may also include a force feedback device drivingly connected to the control handle and operable to supply feedback force to the control handle. The force-feedback device may include at least one of an actuator or a brake. Additionally, the control system may automatically adjust the magnitude of the feedback force supplied to the control handle by the force feedback device in at least some circumstances.
US07675253B2 Linear actuator using magnetostrictive power element
A linear actuator includes a substantially cylindrical magnetostrictive element disposed in a housing. A retainer is cooperatively engaged with the housing and an exterior of the magnetostrictive element such that relaxed portions of the magnetostrictive element are frictionally retained in the retainer. An actuator rod is functionally coupled to one longitudinal end of the magnetostrictive element. A biasing device is disposed between the housing and the retainer to maintain the retainer in lateral compression. The actuator includes magnets arranged to induce peristaltic motion in the magnetostrictive element.
US07675251B2 Apparatus and method for compensating for reduced light output of a light source having a lumen depreciation characteristic over its operational life
A method, apparatus, and system for compensating for lamp lumen depreciation. The method includes operating the lamp under rated wattage for a period towards the first part of operating life of the lamp. Operating wattage is increased at one or more later times. Energy savings are realized. The increases also restore at least some light lost by lamp lumen depreciation. The apparatus uses a timer to track operating time of the lamp. A few wattage changes made at spaced apart times can be made in a number of ways, including changing capacitance to the lamp, or using different taps on the lamp ballast.
US07675249B2 Apparatus and method for driving backlight unit
The present invention is directed to a drive apparatus for a backlight unit (20) in which plural LED (Light Emitting Diode) elements are cascade-connected every three primary colors, which comprises a signal generating unit (44) for generating a signal having an arbitrary amplitude, an adjustment unit (50) for adjusting light emission quantities of groups of LED elements (30) on the basis of the signal which has been generated by the signal generating unit (44), a voltage applying unit (41) for applying a predetermined voltage every the groups of LED elements (30), light emission quantity detecting units (33) for detecting quantities of rays of light which have been emitted from the groups of LED elements (30), calorific value detecting units (32) for detecting calorific values emitted from the groups of LED elements in accordance with the voltage which has been applied to the voltage applying unit (41), and a control unit (50) for controlling the signal generating unit (44) on the basis of light emission quantities which have been detected by the light emission quantity detecting units (33) and calorific values which have been detected by the calorific value detecting units (32).
US07675247B2 Remote control transmitter which is capable of controlling a plurality of light fittings without the need for a slidable switch
A remote control transmitter is capable of controlling a plurality of light fittings without the need for a slidable switch. The remote control transmitter includes a memory for storing data representing a plurality of control signals for respective channels corresponding respectively to the light fittings, a measurer for calculating a period of time during which the operation button is pressed based on a detected event starting when the operation button is pressed and ending when the operation button is released, and outputting a signal representing the calculated period of time, a transmitter for outputting a control signal based on the data stored in the memory, and a controller for setting one of the channels based on the signal output from the measurer, and controlling the transmitter to output a control signal based on the data stored in the memory in association with the set channel.
US07675244B2 System and method for power supply for lamp with improved constant power mode control and improved boost current circuit
A power supply and method for operating a power supply for a short arc lamp are provided herein. The power supply and method can operate to provide to a number of advantageous operations. One aspect herein provides a power supply which utilizes a constant power mode type of operation. However, the constant power mode is modified to allow for some variation in power in order to provide for a more constant light output by the lamp. A second aspect herein provides for controlling the operation of a boost voltage applied to the lamp at start up. This control allows for adjusting the applied boost voltage to accommodate the changing characteristics of the lamp itself, and these adjustments can allow for extended life of the lamp.
US07675242B2 Electronic ballast
An electronic ballast for the operation of a lamp arrangement includes at least one lamp, in particular, a low-pressure discharge lamp and at least one transformer for balancing the lamp currents, whereby the transformer has two windings, provided for one or more lamps of the lamp arrangement. The transformer is embodied as a saturation balancing choke.
US07675239B2 Power management method and device for low-power displays
A device and method for supplying a display, such as a liquid crystal display, for example a bistable ChLCD, with drive voltages for extremely low power operation. The method and the device implementing the method provides an energy storage device and a voltage converter being utilized to store energy in the storage device, such that a display can be driven during an inactive, powered-down phase of the converter by using the stored energy to drive the display.
US07675233B2 Organic light emitting display device and method of fabricating the same
An OLED display device and a method of fabricating the same. The OLED display device has at least one of a common power bus line or a cathode bus line formed at a peripheral portion of the OLED display device. By forming a lower line when a gate electrode of a thin film transistor is formed, and forming an upper line connected to the lower line through a contact hole when source and drain electrodes of the thin film transistor are formed, a dual structure of lower and upper lines is formed. As such, the OLED display device can reduce the width of interconnections without a high voltage drop to thereby increase an emission area of a light emitting portion of the OLED display device.
US07675228B2 Electroluminescent iridium compounds with silylated, germanylated, and stannylated ligands, and devices made with such compounds
The present invention is directed to electroluminescent complexes of iridium(III) with silylated, germanylated and stannylated ligands. The invention is further directed to electronic devices in which the active layer includes an electroluminescent Ir(III) complex with silylated, germanylated and stannylated ligands.
US07675225B2 Energy saving lamp having isolated bulb and base structure
An energy saving lamp, containing an isolated bulb set and assembling base, wherein the bulb set is comprised of a main body, a bulb and a lid, and the assembling base is comprised of a main seat, a circular wall, a ballast and a bottom lid. A conductive and assembling structure are provided between said bulb set and the assembling base such that the bulb set and the assembling base can be disassembled and re-assembled freely, thus making it feasible to replace the malfunctioned parts of the lamp, achieving in the purpose of lower cost and reparability.
US07675223B2 Clip
A clip for securing a sleeve to the body of a piezoelectric actuator in an actuator assembly. The clip takes the form of a band and has at least a first and a second stable state. The minimum separation of the walls of the band when the clip is in one of the stable states is less than the minimum separation of the walls of the band when the clip is in an unstable state. The clip is forced into an unstable state in order to be fitted over the sleeve of the actuator assembly. The force is then removed to allow the clip to revert towards a stable state. The dimensions of the clip are such that the clip is unable to fully revert to a stable state when fitted to the actuator assembly thereby maintaining sufficient additional strain energy to maintain a sufficient clamping force between the sleeve and the body of the actuator.
US07675220B2 Method of driving piezoelectric devices
The driving method includes a first drive step of applying a specified drive voltage to a piezoelectric film to drive a piezoelectric device during a first drive period, a standby step of suspending a drive of the piezoelectric device to keep the piezoelectric device on standby during a drive standby period and a second drive step of applying the specified drive voltage to the piezoelectric film to drive the piezoelectric device during a second drive period that follows the first drive period. During the drive standby period between the first drive period and the second drive period, a reverse electric field with respect to a drive electric field formed in the piezoelectric film by the specified drive voltage routinely applied during a drive of the piezoelectric device is applied to the piezoelectric film for a specified period of time.
US07675215B2 Electrical drive unit
The present invention relates to an electrical drive unit with an electric motor and a transmission, wherein the motor has a rotor shaft (6), to which a rotor (10) and a commutator (11) are fitted in a manner fixed against rotation, wherein a commutator sliding contact (23) is provided in order to make contact with the commutator (11), and wherein an electrical connection is provided between an electrical terminal (18) and the commutator sliding contact (23). According to the invention, one cable and one special step in the manufacturing process are dispensed with by virtue of the fact that the electrical connection runs via the rotor shaft (6).
US07675210B2 Hydrodynamic bearing and method for manufacturing the same, and spindle motor and method for manufacturing the same
The object of the present invention is to provide a hydrodynamic bearing, a method for manufacturing the same, and a spindle motor, with which the gap in the axial direction required for the smooth operation of a bearing can be sufficiently ensured. A method for manufacturing a hydrodynamic bearing comprising a shaft, a sleeve attached so as to be capable of relative rotation with respect to the shaft, a first flange unit 6 fixed to or integrated with the shaft, and a second flange unit fixed to the shaft, the method comprising at least inserting the shaft into the sleeve, and inserting the shaft into the second flange unit, pressing the top face of the second flange unit in the axial direction, and fixing the second flange unit to the shaft by welding the shaft and the second flange unit while maintaining the pressing state.
US07675206B2 Rotating electric machine and manufacturing method thereof
A rotating electric machine which includes: a stator having a stator core fixed inside a bottomed frame and a stator winding wound around the stator core; a bracket fixed to an opening side of the frame; a rotor having a shaft penetrating the bracket and rotatably supported by a bracket side bearing and by a frame side bearing, the rotor being arranged inside the stator core interposing a gap therebetween; a respective phase lead wire electrically connected to the stator winding and led out from the bracket; a rotation sensor that detects a rotational position of the rotor; and a sensor signal wire connected to the rotation sensor and led out from the bracket. A front end portion of the respective phase lead wire is introduced to inside the bracket from outside an opening portion provided at the bracket, thereby electrically connecting to the stator winding.
US07675199B2 Disconnection detecting circuit
In a disconnection detecting mode, first and second MOSFETs are turned off, a transistor is turned on, and charges of a capacitor are initialized. After that, third and fourth MOSFETs are alternately turned on/off by drive signals and having a complementary relation. When an antenna is connected normally, a pulse AC signal is transmitted to an output terminal via the antenna, and current flows from the output terminal into the capacitor via a resistor, a diode, and a resistor. When a voltage across terminals becomes equal to or higher than a determination reference voltage, a disconnection detection signal is changed to the H level (a connection state).
US07675197B2 Apparatus and method for inductive power transfer
Apparatus is disclosed for allowing an inductive power distribution system pick-up to be located at an extended distance from the system primary conductive path. The apparatus has an elongate housing (40) which has a first coil (14) at one end to receive energy from a magnetic field associated with the primary conductive path. A second coil (16) is provided at the other end of the housing and is electrically connected to the first coil to produce a magnetic field for the supply of electrical energy to the pick-up. The circuit formed by the two coils is tuned to have a desired resonant frequency.
US07675189B2 Power generation system including multiple motors/generators
An electric power-generating system configured to convert a source of energy to electricity by turning a rotor shaft with the source of energy includes a mounting plate coupled to the rotor shaft, a drive gear coupled to the rotor shaft and configured to move when the rotor shaft moves, and a plurality of motor/generator devices mounted to the mounting plate. Each motor/generator device includes an output shaft configured to rotatably couple with the drive gear. Each motor/generator device couples independently to the drive gear to provide a plurality of redundant power generating motor/generator devices.
US07675185B2 Epoxy resin molding material for sealing and electronic component
An epoxy resin molding material for sealing which comprises an epoxy resin, an epoxy resin curing agent, and a pitch, as well as an electronic component comprising an element that is sealed with the molding material. This molding material exhibits favorable coloring properties, and even when used in packages with narrow distances between pads or wires, shorting defects caused by conductive materials can be prevented, as the molding material contains no conductive carbon black.
US07675180B1 Stacked electronic component package having film-on-wire spacer
A film-on-wire spacer covers an entire upper surface of a lower electronic component. Accordingly, an upper electronic component is supported above bond pads and lower bond wires of the lower electronic component. This decreases the stress on the upper electronic component, e.g., during wirebonding, and thus decreases the chance of cracking the upper electronic component. Further, the lower bond wires are enclosed in and protected by the film-on-wire spacer. Further, the film-on-wire spacer is thin resulting in a minimum height of the stacked electronic component package.
US07675179B2 Device and method to eliminate shorting induced by via to metal misalignment
The present invention provides an interconnect that can be employed in an integrated circuit. The interconnect includes a metal line located over a substrate, a dielectric layer located over the metal line, and an interconnect located in the dielectric layer, including a landed portion located over the metal line and an unlanded portion located along at least a portion of a lateral edge of the metal line. The unlanded portion is at least partially filled with a polymer, and the landed portion is substantially filled with a conductive material. A method for manufacturing the interconnect is also provided.
US07675177B1 Forming copper interconnects with Sn coatings
A copper interconnect with a Sn coating is formed in a damascene structure by forming a trench in a dielectric layer. The trench is formed by electroplating copper simultaneously with a metal dopant to form a doped copper layer. The top level of the doped copper layer is reduced to form a planarized surface level with the surface of the first dielectric layer. The doped copper is annealed to drive the metal dopants to form a metal dopant capping coating at the planarized top surface of the doped copper layer.
US07675163B2 Carbon nanotubes for active direct and indirect cooling of electronics device
A system for cooling a semiconductor device is disclosed. The system includes a lid encasing the semiconductor device, a first plurality of carbon nanotubes disposed within the lid, and a fluid system configured to pass a fluid through the lid. Furthermore, a second system for cooling a semiconductor device is disclosed. The second system includes a lid, a first plurality of carbon nanotubes disposed within the lid, and a fluid system configured to pass a fluid through the lid. The lid is configured to be mounted over and encase the semiconductor device. Additionally, a method for cooling a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes disposing a first plurality of carbon nanotubes within a lid, mounting the lid over the semiconductor device, and passing a fluid through the lid.
US07675161B2 Semiconductor device with wirings having varying lengths
A semiconductor device comprising a plurality of first wirings provided in a predetermined layer on a substrate with being lined up, and formed to extend longer or contract shorter from one side toward the other side along a direction in which the first wirings are lined up, adjacent one-end portions of the first wirings being arranged in positions displaced from one another in a direction crossing at right angles the direction in which the first wirings are lined up.
US07675153B2 Semiconductor device having semiconductor chips stacked and mounted thereon and manufacturing method thereof
Chips are stacked and mounted on a circuit board having external connection electrodes and mounted thereon by wire bonding. At least one of the chips stacked on the chip includes overhung portions each of which has a start point inside bonding pads, is made thinner in a direction towards the outer periphery to an end point reaching the side wall and forms a space used to accommodate ball bonding portions between the overhung portion and the main surface of the chip arranged in the lower stage on a backside corresponding in position to the bonding pads, and insulating members formed to cover the overhung portions and prevent bonding wires of the chip arranged in the lower stage from being brought into contact with the upper-stage chip.
US07675148B2 Power module having stacked flip-chip and method of fabricating the power module
Provided are a power module having a stacked flip-chip and a method of fabricating the power module. The power module includes a lead frame; a control device part including a control device chip; a power device part including a power device chip and being electrically connected to the lead frame; and an interconnecting substrate of which the control and power device parts are respectively disposed at upper and lower portions, and each of the control and power device chips may be attached to one of the lead frame and the interconnecting substrate using a flip-chip bonding method. The method includes forming bumps on power and control device chips on a wafer level; separately sawing the power and control device chips into individual chips; adhering the power device chip onto a thermal substrate and the control device chip onto an interconnecting substrate; combining a lead frame, the thermal substrate, and the interconnecting substrate with one another in a multi-jig; and sealing the power and control device chips, and the control and power device chips may be attached to one of the lead frame and the interconnecting substrate using a flip-chip bonding method.
US07675147B1 Methods and apparatus for providing a power signal to an area array package
An area array device has a grid array of primary electrical contacts coupled to a coupling surface of the device and configured to carry data signals between the area array package and a circuit board. The area array device also has an additional series of secondary electrical contacts coupled to the coupling surface of the device and configured to carry power signals between the area array package and the circuit board. The additional series of secondary electrical contacts provides a relatively large amount of power to the area array package while allowing a manufacturer to maintain the number of primary electrical contacts of the grid array configured to carrying data signals and therefore maintain the overall performance of the area array package.
US07675142B2 Electromechanical non-volatile memory devices
Electromechanical non-volatile memory devices are provided including a semiconductor substrate having an upper surface including insulation characteristics. A first electrode pattern is provided on the semiconductor substrate. The first electrode pattern exposes portions of a surface of the semiconductor substrate therethrough. A conformal bit line is provided on the first electrode pattern and the exposed surface of semiconductor substrate. The bit line is spaced apart from a sidewall of the first electrode pattern and includes a conductive material having an elasticity generated by a voltage difference. An insulating layer pattern is provided on an upper surface of the bit line located on the semiconductor substrate. A second electrode pattern is spaced apart from the bit line and provided on the insulating layer pattern. The second electrode pattern faces the first electrode pattern.
US07675141B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
In a semiconductor device of the present invention, an N type epitaxial layer is divided into a plurality of element formation regions by an isolation region. In one of the element formation regions, an NPN transistor is formed. Around the NPN transistor, a protection element having a PN junction region is formed. The PN junction region has a junction breakdown voltage lower than that of a PN junction region of the NPN transistor. By use of this structure, when negative ESD surge is applied to a pad for a base electrode, the PN junction region of the protection element breaks down. Accordingly, the NPN transistor can be protected.
US07675140B2 Semiconductor circuit device and display data line driver
An N-type diffusion layer fixed at a potential equal to or above 0V is provided in a segregating region between terminals, and a P-type diffusion layer having a potential equal to that of the N-type diffusion layer on an N-type well constitute a drain of a transistor.
US07675134B2 Temperature compensated work function based voltage reference
A temperature compensated voltage reference is created from an operational amplifier circuit having two substantially identical P-channel metal oxide semiconductor (P-MOS) transistors with each one having a different gate dopant. The different gate dopants result in different threshold voltages for each of the two otherwise substantially identical P-MOS transistors. The difference between these two threshold voltages is then used to create the voltage reference equal to the difference. The two P-MOS transistors are configured as a differential pair in the operational amplifier circuit and the output of the operational amplifier is used as the voltage reference. The transistor widths of two P-MOS transistors are adjusted to minimize voltage variation over a temperature range.
US07675129B2 Spin injection device, magnetic device using the same, magnetic thin film used in the same
A spin injection device capable of spin injection magnetization reversal at low current density, a magnetic apparatus using the same, and magnetic thin film using the same, whereby the spin injection device (14) including a spin injection part (1) comprising a spin polarization part (9) including a ferromagnetic fixed layer (26) and an injection junction part (7) of nonmagnetic layer, and a ferromagnetic free layer (27) provided in contact with the spin injection part (1) is such that in which the nonmagnetic layer (7) is made of either an insulator (12) or a conductor (25), a nonmagnetic layer (28) is provided on the surface of the ferromagnetic free layer (27), electric current is flown in the direction perpendicular to the film surface of the spin injection device (14), and the magnetization of the ferromagnetic free layer (27) is reversed. This is applicable to such various magnetic apparatuses and magnetic memory devices as super gigabit large capacity, high speed, non-volatile MRAM and the like.
US07675126B2 Metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor and method of fabricating the same
There are provided a MOSFET and a method for fabricating the same. The MOSFET includes a semiconductor substrate, a first epitaxial layer in a predetermined location of the semiconductor substrate, a second epitaxial layer doped with high concentration impurity ions on the first epitaxial layer, a gate structure on the second epitaxial layer, and source/drain regions with lightly doped drain (LDD) regions. The first epitaxial layer supplies carriers to the second epitaxial layer so that short channel effects are reduced.
US07675118B2 Semiconductor structure with enhanced performance using a simplified dual stress liner configuration
A semiconductor structure including an nFET having a fully silicided gate electrode wherein a new dual stress liner configuration is used to enhance the stress in the channel region that lies beneath the gate electrode is provided. The new dual stress liner configuration includes a first stress liner that has an upper surface that is substantially planar with an upper surface of a fully silicided gate electrode of the nFET. In accordance with the present invention, the first stress liner is not present atop the nFET including the fully silicided gate electrode. Instead, the first stress liner of the present invention partially wraps around, i.e., surrounds the sides of, the nFET with the fully silicided gate electrode. A second stress liner having an opposite polarity as that of the first stress liner (i.e., of an opposite stress type) is located on the upper surface of the first stress liner as well as atop the nFET that contains the fully silicided FET. In accordance with the present invention, the first stress liner is a tensile stress liner and the second stress liner is a compressive stress liner.
US07675117B2 Multi-gate field effect transistor
A planar, double-gate transistor structure comprising upper and lower gate stacks that each comprises a single-phase high-K dielectric gate dielectric is disclosed. The transistor structure is particularly suitable for fully-depleted silicon-on-insulator electronics having gate-lengths less than 65 nm.
US07675116B2 Semiconductor device with ESD protection function and ESD protection circuit
A semiconductor device with an ESD protection function has an SOI substrate, first to fourth diffusion layers, and a gate. The SOI substrate has a semiconductor layer on an insulation layer. The first diffusion layer is of a first conductivity type and is formed on the semiconductor layer. The second diffusion layer is of the first conductivity type and is formed on the semiconductor layer. The third diffusion layer is of a second conductivity type and is formed on the semiconductor layer so as to be adjacent to the first and second diffusion layers. The fourth diffusion layer is of the second conductivity type and is formed on the semiconductor layer so as to be adjacent to the first diffusion layer and electrically connected to the second diffusion layer. The gate is formed over the third diffusion layer.
US07675113B2 Insulated gate transistor
A charge storage layer of first conductive type is formed on the first principal surface of a semiconductor substrate. A base layer of second conductive type is formed on the charge storage layer. Each trench formed through the base layer and the charge storage layer is lined with an insulating film and filled with a trench gate electrode. Dummy trenches are formed on both sides of each trench. Source layers of first conductive type are selectively formed in the surface of the base layer and in contact with the sidewalls of the trenches. The source layers are spaced apart from each other and arranged in the longitudinal direction of the trenches. A contact layer of second conductive type is formed in the surface of the base layer and between each two adjacent source layers arranged in the longitudinal direction of the trenches. A collector layer of second conductive type is formed on the second principal surface of the semiconductor substrate.
US07675100B2 CMOS image sensor and method for fabricating the same
CMOS image sensor and method for fabricating the same, the CMOS image sensor including a second conductive type semiconductor substrate having an active region and a device isolation region defined therein, wherein the active region has a photodiode region and a transistor region defined therein, a device isolating film in the semiconductor substrate of the device isolation region, a first conductive type impurity region in the semiconductor substrate of the photodiode region, the first conductive type impurity region being spaced a distance from the device isolation film, and a second conductive type first impurity region in the semiconductor substrate between the first conductive type impurity region and the device isolation film, thereby reducing generation of a darkcurrent at an interface between the photodiode region and a field region.
US07675094B2 Image sensor pixel having a transfer gate formed from P+ or N+ doped polysilicon
An active pixel using a transfer gate that has a polysilicon gate doped with P+ is disclosed. The pixel includes a photosensitive element formed in a semiconductor substrate and an n-type floating node formed in the semiconductor substrate. An n-channel transfer transistor having a transfer gate is formed between the floating node and the photosensitive element. The transfer gate is doped with a p-type dopant.
US07675092B2 Radiation tolerant CCD structure
A CCD structure (20) tolerant to the adverse formation of traps resulting from exposure to irradiation by particles such as protons and neutrons is described. The CCD comprises an image plane (22) having a number of parallel transfer channels. Path defining structures (24), such as barrier implants, define a principal electron flow path through the channel, and define a number of secondary paths which converge on the principal path. The paths ensure that signal charge generated across the entire width of the channel is collected together into regions of smaller area so that the likelihood of interaction with traps is reduced, and charge containment is maintained near the optimum for all signal levels up to the full well.
US07675080B2 Uniform color filter arrays in a moat
A method and apparatus for improving the planarity of a recessed color filter array when the recessed region or trench depth exceeds the thickness of the color filter film. The method includes the steps of coating the entire wafer with an additional coating material after applying the CFA, then planarizing that resist layer using CMP and then using a dry etch to transfer that planar surface down as far as required to achieve a planar color filter with a uniform thickness.
US07675078B2 Pixel structure
A pixel structure including a control unit, an organic electro-luminescent (OEL) unit, and a filter structure is provided. The control unit is disposed on a substrate and is driven by a scan line and a data line. The OEL unit is disposed on the substrate, and includes a transparent electrode, a light-emitting layer, and a metal electrode. The transparent electrode is electrically connected with the control unit, and the light-emitting layer and the metal electrode are sequentially placed on the transparent electrode. The filter structure is sandwiched between the substrate and the OEL unit, and the filter structure includes a plurality of the first and second dielectric layers. The first and second dielectric layers are alternately stacked, and the refractive index of the first dielectric layers is different from that of the second dielectric layers.
US07675075B2 Semiconductor light emitting device, light emitting module, lighting apparatus, display element and manufacturing method of semiconductor light emitting device
An LED array chip (2), which is one type of a semiconductor light emitting device, includes an array of LEDs (6), a base substrate (4) supporting the array of the LEDs (6), and a phosphor film (48). The array of LEDs (6) is formed by dividing a multilayer epitaxial structure including a light emitting layer into a plurality of portions. The phosphor film (48) covers an upper surface of the array of the LEDs (6) and a part of every side surface of the array of LEDs (6). Here, the part extends from the upper surface to the light emitting layer.
US07675073B2 Integrated circuit package provided with cooperatively arranged illumination and sensing capabilities
An integrated circuit package includes an angled one-piece substrate having a light source fixed to one area and a sensor die fixed to a second area, such that the light source is directed to illuminate the field of view of the sensor die when a surface of interest is imaged. The integrated circuit package is well suited for generating navigation information regarding movement relative to a surface. In one method of forming the integrated circuit package, the single-piece substrate is originally a generally flat lead frame to which the sensor die and light source are attached. After the components have been connected, the lead frame is bent to provide the desired light source-to-sensor angle. In an alternative method, the lead frame is pre-bent. For either method, optics may be connected to the integrated circuit package, thereby providing a module that includes the optics, the light source, the sensor and the packaging body.
US07675061B2 Display device and driving method thereof
A display device includes a first pixel and a second pixel. The first pixel and the second pixel are defined by a first gate bus line, a second gate bus line, a first power supply line and a second power supply line. A data bus line between the first supply line and the second supply line divides the first pixel from the second pixel line. Accordingly, the pixel shares a data bus line or a power supply line with adjacent pixel. Advantageously, thereby, more space between lines prevents defects caused during fabricating the display device and improve a reliability of the display device.
US07675060B2 Semiconductor device and method for producing it
Disclosed is a technique of improving the heat resistance of the aluminum gate electrode in bottom-gate-type TFT of which the active layer is made of a crystalline silicon film. A pattern of a laminate of a titanium film 102 and an aluminum film 103 is formed on a glass substrate 101. The pattern is to give a gate electrode 100. Then, the titanium film 102 is side-etched. Next, the layered substrate is heated to thereby intentionally form hillocks and whiskers on the surface of the aluminum pattern 103. Next, the aluminum pattern 103 acting as an anode is subjected to anodic oxidation to form an oxide film 105 thereon. The anodic oxidation extends to the lower edge of the aluminum pattern 103, at which the titanium layer was side-etched. Next, a gate-insulating film 106 and an amorphous silicon film are formed. A mask is formed over the pattern, which is to give the gate electrode, and then a nickel acetate solution is applied to the layered structure. Thus, nickel is kept in contact with the surface of the structure. Next, this is heated to induce crystal growth in the silicon film from the region contacted with nickel to the masked region. In the bottom-gate-type TFT thus produced, the active layer is made of a crystalline silicon film. In this process, since the anodic oxide film is formed as in FIG. 1(C), aluminum does neither melt to flow away nor diffuse away. Thus, the heat resistance of the aluminum electrode formed is improved.
US07675057B2 Photoactive component with organic layers
The invention relates to a photoactive component, especially a solar cell, comprising organic layers and formed by at least one stacked pi, ni, and/or pin diode. The diodes are characterized in that they comprise at least one p-doped or n-doped transport layer having a larger optical band gap than that of the photoactive layer. The individual diodes are characterized by a high internal quantum yield, but can be optically thin (peak absorption <80%). A high external quantum yield is obtained by either enlarging the optical path of the incident light in the diodes using light traps, or by stacking a plurality of the diodes. The transition between two diodes being facilitated by transition layers for the purposes of improved recombination and generation. Both forms of embodiment have a number of specific advantages using the doped transport layers with a large band gap.
US07675053B2 Memory device comprising a memory layer and a metal chalcogenide ion-source layer
A memory element in which data recording and data readout can be performed stably without difficulties and which can be manufactured with a comparatively simplified method is provided.The memory element 10 includes a memory layer 4 and an ion source layer 3 positioned between the first electrode 2 and the second electrode 6, in which the ion source layer 3 contains any of elements selected from Cu, Ag, Zn and any of elements selected from Te, S, Se, and the ion source layer further contains boron (or rare-earth elements and silicon).
US07675050B2 Apparatus and method for ion beam implantation using ribbon and spot beams
An ion implantation apparatus with multiple operating modes is disclosed. The ion implantation apparatus has an ion source and an ion extraction means for extracting a ribbon-shaped ion beam therefrom. The ion implantation apparatus includes a magnetic analyzer for selecting ions with specific mass-to-charge ratio to pass through a mass slit to project onto a substrate. Multipole lenses are provided to control beam uniformity and collimation. A two-path beamline in which a second path incorporates a deceleration or acceleration system incorporating energy filtering is disclosed. Finally, methods of ion implantation are disclosed in which the mode of implantation may be switched from one-dimensional scanning of the target to two-dimensional scanning.
US07675049B2 Sputtering coating of protective layer for charged particle beam processing
A coating is applied to a work piece in a charged particle beam system without directing the beam to work piece. The coating is applied by sputtering, either within the charged particle beam vacuum chamber or outside the charged particle beam vacuum chamber. In one embodiment, the sputtering is performed by directing the charged particle beam to a sputter material source, such as a needle from a gas injection system. Material is sputtered from the sputter material source onto the work piece to form, for example, a protective or conductive coating, without requiring the beam to be directed to the work piece, thereby reducing or eliminating damage to the work piece.
US07675046B2 Terminal structure of an ion implanter
An apparatus includes a conductive structure and an insulated conductor disposed proximate an exterior portion of the conductive structure to modify an electric field about the conductive structure. The insulated conductor has an insulator with a dielectric strength greater than 75 kilovolts (kV)/inch disposed about a conductor. An ion implanter is also provided. The ion implanter includes an ion source configured to provide an ion beam, a terminal structure defining a cavity, the ion source at least partially disposed within the cavity, and an insulated conductor. The insulated conductor is disposed proximate an exterior portion of the terminal structure to modify an electric field about the terminal structure. The insulated conductor has an insulator with a dielectric strength greater than 75 kV/inch disposed about a conductor.
US07675043B2 Mesh and method of observing rubber slice technical field
Left and right sides of the mesh sandwiching the placing region therebetween are set as left and right to-be-fixed portions to be fixed to sample holder separation portions respectively to be moved in a stretch direction. A slit for dividing use is formed from a portion of the periphery of the mesh disposed between the left and right to-be-fixed portions thereof toward the rubber slice-placing position of the mesh in a direction orthogonal to the stretch direction of the rubber slice or a direction inclined thereto. When the to-be-fixed portions are moved in a separation direction by moving the sample holder separation portions, the mesh is divided into left and right parts by the slit for dividing use so that the rubber slice fixed to the left and right sides of the mesh is stretched.
US07675041B2 Method and apparatus for gamma ray detection
A high sensitivity, three-dimensional gamma ray detection and imaging system is provided. The system uses the Compton double scatter technique with recoil electron tracking. The system preferably includes two detector subassemblies a silicon microstrip hodoscope and a calorimeter. In this system the incoming photon Compton scatters in the hodoscope. The scattered gamma ray could be absorbed by the calorimeter, or the calorimeter could act as a second scatter layer. The recoil electron in the hodoscope is tracked through several detector planes until it stops. The x and y position signals from the first two planes of the electron track could be used to determine the direction of the recoil electron while the energy loss from all planes could be used to determine the energy of the recoil electron.
US07675039B2 Phosphor sheet for radiation detector, radiation detector and apparatus for radiographic equipment
A phosphor sheet 8 for a radiation detector used by being attached to a photoelectric conversion film 20 of a radiation detector 4 includes a sheet-shaped support 11, and a phosphor layer 12 provided thereon. The phosphor layer 12 contains a europium-activated rare earth oxysulfide phosphor having a europium concentration in a range of 0.01 to 3.5 mol %. The radiation detector 4 includes the phosphor sheet 8 being irradiated with radiation rays transmitted through a specimen and converting the radiation rays into light, a photoelectric conversion film 20 for converting the light from the phosphor sheet 8 into electric charges, and a charge information reading section 30 for reading out the charges generated on the photoelectric conversion film 20 for each of a plurality of pixels 31.
US07675032B2 Matrix-free MALDI mass spectrometry
Particles and monoliths are used for providing an ionized analyte for mass analysis by photon desorption having a size in the range of 0.5-100 μm, wherein the particles or monoliths are modified with a chemical compound capable of absorbing photons having a wave-length of at least 300 nm. The particles and monoliths allow the use of MALDI-MS for the high throughput screening of molecules having a molecular weight lower than 700 μ without interfering signals or with only a limited number of background signals.
US07675012B1 Apparatus and method for cooperative multi target tracking and interception
The invention described herein provides an apparatus and a method to cooperatively track and intercept a plurality of highly maneuvering asymmetric threats using networks of small, low-cost, lightweight, airborne vehicles that dynamically self-organize into an ad hoc network topology. This is accomplished using distributed information sharing to maintain cohesion and avoid vehicle collisions, while cooperatively pursuing multiple targets. An oracle vehicle relays network information to a control base.
US07675008B2 Attachment of connector bushings to tubular electric heating elements
Connector bushings are crimped to the terminal ends of tubular electrical heating elements for heating equipment, particularly equipment intended for use in hazardous environments, e.g. where there is a risk of explosion.
US07674997B2 Spinner for fiberizing glass and method
A spinner for fiberizing glass has fiberizing holes formed in the spinner sidewall by a process utilizing an electron beam perforating process. A backing material used in the process is deposited on the walls of the fiberizing holes for increasing the corrosion resistance of the fiberizing holes. With regard to the formation of each fiberizing hole, an interaction of the backing material with an electron beam during the electron beam perforating process creates a gaseous backing material that expands through a hole created by the electron beam in the spinner sidewall to eject molten alloy material of the spinner sidewall made molten by the electron beam from the hole and deposit a thin substantially uniform coating layer of the backing material on the wall of the hole to increase the corrosion resistance of the fiberizing hole thus formed.
US07674991B2 Pedal assemblies and methods for signal control
Pedal assemblies and methods provide for signal control, such as for controlling audio and/or effects path signals used in generating audio from a musical instrument. The pedal assemblies may provide for simultaneous audio and effects control via electrical pathways dedicated to each. Rotation of the pedal about one or more axes of rotation results in modifying an electrical characteristic of devices of the pedal that control the audio and effects path signals. A particular axis of rotation that modifies the electrical characteristic of a device may be configured to produce a particular audio or effects path control based on which of the jacks are in use such that by changing the jacks that are in use, the function of a particular axis of rotation may change. Furthermore, a pedal assembly may provide for two axes of rotation where the centers of rotation of the two axes are non-coincident. The two axes of rotation may be better isolated as a result.
US07674988B2 Shielded circuit board and method for shielding a circuit board
A shielded circuit board includes a first metal layer with a first surface area, and first and second portions. A second metal layer includes first and second surface areas. At least one signal transmission line is arranged in a first dielectric material, the first dielectric material separating the first portion of the first metal layer and a first portion of the second metal layer. The first surface area of the first metal layer is arranged on the first portion facing the first surface area of the second metal layer and is arranged on the second portion facing the second surface area of the second metal layer. A method relates to shielding a circuit board.
US07674987B2 Multilayer printed circuit board
The multilayer printed circuit board according to the present invention is a multilayer printed circuit board, in which conductor circuits and insulating layers are formed and layered, an optical path for transmitting an optical signal comprising a resin composite is formed, and conductor circuits are formed on an outermost insulating layer. Herein, an end portion of the above described optical path for transmitting an optical signal protrudes from the surface of the outermost insulating layer.
US07674986B2 Circuit board structure having capacitor array and embedded electronic component and method for fabricating the same
A circuit board structure having a capacitor array and an embedded electronic component and a method for fabricating the same are proposed. Two carrier boards and a high dielectric constant material layer are provided, wherein the carrier boards have electronic components embedded therein and one surface of each carrier board has a plurality of electrode plates. The two carrier boards are laminated with the dielectric constant material layer interposed between them. The electrode plates on the surfaces of the carrier boards are opposite to each other across the high dielectric constant material layer to constitute a capacitor array. Therefore, the capacitor assembly for design of electronic devices is provided.
US07674984B2 Wiring board
In order to prevent stress caused by bending a flexible wiring board from being applied to the connection section between the flexible wiring board and a driving IC, solder is deposited as a reinforcement member, on both sides of the driving IC connected onto the flexible wiring board.
US07674975B2 Safety guard apparatus for an electrical outlet
Safety guard apparatus for an electrical outlet having one or more electrical receptacles for restricting access to the receptacles by a young child. The apparatus includes a base plate having one or more openings for registry with the electrical receptacles. The base plate is mounted to the electrical outlet in a similar fashion to a conventional wall plate. One or more cover plates are slidably engaged to the base plate along a path that is generally perpendicular to the base plate into and out of the wall to which the electrical outlet is mounted. In a fully extended position, the one or more cover plates are pivotal to cover the one or more openings to restrict access to the electrical receptacles. A lock system prevents the one or more cover plates from being opened by young child.
US07674969B2 Finger musical instrument
The present invention relates to a finger musical instrument, including a first glove and a second glove, some performance keys distributed on a fingertip of each of the gloves, and a sound box positioned at each of the gloves. The finger musical instrument further includes a combination key positioned at palm heel of each of the gloves. Each of the sound boxes is connected with a controller. The performance key and the combination key on the same glove are all connected with the corresponding controller. Therein the performance key and the combination of the performance key and the combination key of one glove gives out one octave sound, while the performance key and the combination of the performance key and the combination key of the other glove gives out another octave sound. Each of the controllers is provided with a range regulation switch used for making a sound higher or lower by an octave on each of the gloves. With regulation of the range regulation switch, the finger musical instrument is able to give out a range of two octaves through the sound box. The finger musical instrument of the present invention covers a range of three octaves and can exhibit a vivider music, and the controller can switch between a performance mode and a teaching mode, thus enhancing interaction between the finger musical instrument and a performer.
US07674968B2 Musical instrument with electronic proof system, electric system and computer program
An automatic player musical instrument is a combination of an acoustic piano and an electric system, which serves as an automatic playing system and an electronic proof system, and a controller of the electric system has an information processing capability; when a user instructs the electric system to check performance on the keyboard, a subroutine program for electronic proof starts to run; while the user is fingering a music tune, the controller monitors the keys with key sensors to see whether or not the user correctly plays the music tune; when the user mistakenly depresses a key instead of another key, the controller gives rise to vibrations of the mistakenly de-pressed key so as to give a notice of incorrect fingering to the user.
US07674967B2 Body movement detecting apparatus and method, and content playback apparatus and method
A body movement detecting apparatus includes a measuring section which outputs, as at least one time-series signal, at least one result of measurement obtained by measuring body movement, a detecting section in which, after slicing off a part of the time-series signal output from the measuring section to generate a reference signal having a predetermined interval length from a predetermined position in the time-series signal, the detecting section detects the intensity of correlation between the reference signal and each different part of the time-series signal in the vicinity of the reference signal, the different part having the predetermined interval length, and a determining section which, on the basis of the detected intensity of correlation detected by the detecting section, performs one or both of determining whether or not the body movement is periodic, and determining the period of the body movement.
US07674957B2 Stress responsive transcription factor involved in plant growth and development and methods thereof
The disclosure relates to transgenic plants over-expressing a unique light-regulated transcription factor, Z-box binding factor involving in plant growth and development, found in plant. Overexpression of the Z-box binding factor in plant results in early flowering, lateral root development and increased tolerance to environmental and abiotic stresses compared to wild type and mutant plants. The disclosure further provides identification and functional characterization of Z-box binding factor. The disclosure also provides a method for modifying a plant's traits, such as enhanced productivity and increased tolerance to environmental and abiotic stresses.