Document	Document Title
US07680233B1	Adaptive sampling rate converter Apparatus, methods and techniques for adjusting the phase offset used in sampling rate conversion uses a Farrow structure or the like to compensate for clock problems such as “clock jitter” and/or “clock drift” effects, which typically arise where one clock is truly independent of the other. A phase offset adjustment value Δμ based on the measured data flow between clock domains across a transition interface and/or through a buffer is calculated. Where an output FIFO buffer is used, the measured data flow value represents the number of data words written to and read from the FIFO buffer, such as the current number of data words stored in the FIFO buffer or a counter value representing the net number of data words written to the FIFO buffer. The measured data flow value is compared to a target data flow value, which may be a range of values. The phase offset adjustment value may be updated and/or recalculated continuously and/or periodically and is added to or subtracted from the phase offset μ as necessary. Such systems are useful in software defined radio and the like and may be implemented on a variety of devices, including PLDs.
US07680230B2	Frame format decoder and training sequence generator for wireless LAN networks A frame format decoder (22) and training sequence generator (24) for determining the frame format of received data which is compliant with the IEEE 802.1 1b standard for wireless local area networks, and for providing a training sequence for an adaptive equalizer (16). The received signal is first despreaded, demodulated and descrambled, so that the SYNC field is reconstructed, and then a counter 32 counts the number of consecutive bits having the same polarity or logic value until N such bits are counted (where N is an integer greater than 1). The polarity or logic value of the N counted bits enables the decoder (22) to determine whether the frame format is long or short. A training sequence, being a copy of the transmitted SYNC field eventually followed by an SFD field, is also generated for use by an adaptive equalizer (16).
US07680221B2	Ultratight navigation observation lock detector An observation lock detector receives I and Q correlations and measurement residuals and transforms the I and Q quadrature correlation outputs based upon computed code phase and carrier phase into transformed I and Q quadrature signals communicated to conventional output lock detectors to provide validity and confidence indicator signals for indicating that the residual estimates are valid for dynamic propagation of the residuals in a navigation receiver for improved performance especially in low signal-to-noise environments such as for use in an ultratight GPS navigation system.
US07680218B2	Method and apparatus for communication channel estimation A method and apparatus for predicting channel estimates for non-received signal frequencies provides knowledge of propagation channel characteristics for non-received frequencies. One embodiment predicts uplink (or downlink) channel estimates based on measured downlink (or uplink) channel estimates, which is advantageous in systems having different uplink and downlink frequencies. Another embodiment predicts channel responses for non-received OFDM sub carrier frequencies based on measuring channel responses for received OFDM sub carrier frequencies. Such processing may comprise, for example, measuring channel responses for received OFDM pilot sub carriers, predicting channel responses at frequency intervals corresponding to pilot sub carrier spacing, and interpolating between those values to predict channel responses at data sub carrier frequencies.
US07680212B2	Linear precoding for multi-input systems based on channel estimate and channel statistics A method, processor and system for linear precoding for a multiple-input communication channel described in terms of an effective mean and an effective correlation is provided. The effective mean and correlation can be the sample mean and correlation of the channel, or they can also include an estimate of the channel and a quality parameter of the estimate. The precode is derived by minimizing a Chernoff bound on the pairwise error probability. It is assumed the channel code is a matrix block code, which includes spatial multiplexing and space-time block codes (STBCs) as special cases. In some cases (e.g., an orthogonal STBC) the codeword separation matrix is a scaled identity matrix. In these cases, the precode that minimizes the Chernoff bound can be determined analytically. It may be necessary to perform a “dynamic water-filling” procedure in order to satisfy constraints on the optimization. In other cases, the codeword separation matrix is not a scaled identity matrix. In such cases, various precodes which approximately minimize the Chernoff bound are provided.
US07680211B1	MIMO maximum-likelihood space-time architecture A method for constructing architectures for multiple input transmit and multiple output receive (MIMO) systems with generalized orthogonal space-time codes (C0) and generalizations (H0) of the transmission matrix (H) that enable the MIMO equation to be written Y=H0∘C0∘X+No which factors out the input signal symbol vector X and allows a direct maximum-likelihood calculation of the estimate {circumflex over (X)} of X, and where Y is the received symbol vector and No is the received noise vector. The architectures spread the users uniformly over the transmission paths to provide improved bit error rate performance and are developed to support code division multiple access (CDMA) and variations including multi-carrier CDMA (MC-CDMA) for equalization, orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), and orthogonal Wavelet division multiple access (OWDMA) using waveforms that include multi-resolution Wavelets and with Walsh, Hybrid Walsh, generalized Hybrid Walsh orthogonal and quasi-orthogonal codes for CDMA and MC-CDMA and variations.
US07680200B2	Transceiving apparatus and method using space-frequency block-coded single-carrier frequency domain equalization Disclosed is a transceiving apparatus and method in which a space frequency block coding (SFBC) technique is applied to the SC-FDE technique. The transceiving method encodes an input signal into frequency-domain blocks so as to output at least two signal blocks in parallel to each other, inserts a cyclic prefix (CP) into the output signal blocks, and outputs the signal blocks through the same sub-channel using a corresponding antenna.
US07680194B2	Method and apparatus for signal processing, encoding, and decoding Apparatus and methods for processing a signal are disclosed. Data coding and entropy coding are performed with interconnection, and grouping is used to enhance coding efficiency. The subject matter includes a payload part having at least one of data coding information including pilot coding information per a frame and entropy coding information and a header part having main configuration information for the payload part.
US07680190B2	Video coding system and method using 3-D discrete wavelet transform and entropy coding with motion information A video encoding system and method utilizes a three-dimensional (3-D) wavelet transform and entropy coding that utilize motion information in a way to reduce the sensitivity to motion. In one implementation, the coding process initially estimates motion trajectories of pixels in a video object from frame to frame in a video sequence to account for motion of the video object throughout the frames. After motion estimation, a 3-D wavelet transform is applied in two parts. First, a temporal 1-D wavelet transform is applied to the corresponding pixels along the motion trajectories in a time direction. The temporal wavelet transform produces decomposed frames of temporal wavelet transforms, where the spatial correlation within each frame is well preserved. Second, a spatial 2-D wavelet transform is applied to all frames containing the temporal wavelet coefficients. The wavelet transforms produce coefficients within different sub-bands. The process then codes wavelet coefficients. In particular, the coefficients are assigned various contexts based on the significance of neighboring samples in previous, current, and next frame, thereby taking advantage of any motion information between frames. The wavelet coefficients are coded independently for each sub-band to permit easy separation at a decoder, making resolution scalability and temporal scalability natural and easy. During the coding, bits are allocated among sub-bands according to a technique that optimizes rate-distortion characteristics.
US07680181B1	Spooling during video format conversions Techniques are provided which allow computers with relatively less computational power to perform dynamic conversion of video from inter-frame dependent format to an independent-frame format while playing the video as it is being converted. If the conversion operation is not keeping up with the arrival of the incoming video, the video is spooled within the computer system. The playback and conversion operations proceed as the spooling is performed. Thus, to a viewer of the video, the video may appear to slow, but the playback and conversion operation proceed without losing frames.
US07680171B2	Semiconductor laser device, and image display device A semiconductor laser device and an image display device that efficiently release a heat from stripe active regions, and operated at a low-consumption current and a low-consumption electric power. A semiconductor laser element includes stripe active regions for emitting laser beams. On a base block, there are formed wirings electrically connected to stripe laser electrodes of the semiconductor laser element, respectively. The stripe laser electrodes corresponding to the stripe active regions are formed in proximity to a first surface of the semiconductor laser element, close to the active regions. An electric current is supplied to the active regions from connecting portions between each of the laser electrodes and the wirings.
US07680168B2	Surface emitting laser array, production process thereof, and image forming apparatus having surface emitting laser array A surface emitting laser array comprising a plurality of surface emitting laser devices each having a semiconductor layer containing a first reflection mirror, an active layer, a current confined portion and a second reflection mirror. The laser array further comprises a first metal material layer for dissipating heat formed through a first insulating layer on the semiconductor layer and a second metal material layer for injecting current into the active layer formed through a second insulating layer on the first metal material layer. The first metal material layer is commonly shared by the plurality of the surface emitting laser devices.
US07680166B2	Laser drive, optical disc apparatus, and laser-driving method A laser drive includes a variable output voltage source that can control an output voltage, a laser source connected to the variable output voltage source, a laser drive circuit that drives the laser source, and a monitoring controller that monitors an operating voltage of the laser drive circuit and controls the output of the variable output voltage source such that the monitored operating voltage becomes equal to a desired value.
US07680154B2	Methods and apparatus for synchronizing networked audio devices A method includes determining a network counter value indicative of a network clock time of a system at a first time instant and a second time instant occurring later in time than the first time instant. The method further includes determining an audio counter value indicative of an audio clock time of the system at a third time instant occurring the first and second time instants and a fourth time instant occurring later in time than the second time instant. The method further includes determining an offset based upon the determined network counter values and the audio counter values. The method further includes adjusting the audio clock time based upon the determined offset to synchronize operation of at least one audio component operating according to the audio clock with at least one audio component operating according to the network clock. An associated system is also disclosed.
US07680148B2	Communication apparatus and communication method A communication apparatus includes a receiving device configured to receive one physical frame in which a plurality of MAC frames are aggregated. This physical frame includes one acknowledgement request frame for the plurality of MAC frames. The apparatus includes an acknowledgement frame forming device configured to form an acknowledgement frame representing reception statuses of the plurality of MAC frames in response to the acknowledgement request frame. The apparatus also includes a transmitting device configured to transmit the acknowledgement frame. This acknowledgement frame includes a compressed acknowledgement frame representing an acknowledgement bitmap having a size equal to a maximum number of MSDUs (MAC Service Data Units) when one MPDU (MAC Protocol Data Unit) corresponds to one MSDU.
US07680129B2	Preemptive retransmission of buffered data in a network An apparatus for data transmission over a network includes a buffer and a timer mechanism for timing an optimum interval (less than the round-trip error response delay) for retransmission of data. A first accessor accesses data in the buffer for transmission and starts a first timeout clock. Second or further accessors of the buffer are responsive to a timeout to access the data, start a timeout clock and attempt to transmit the data on a path avoiding path elements used by prior accessors. A counter increments and decrements a count of the references to the buffer by accessors and signals when the count reaches zero. A memory manager returns the buffer to a free buffer pool responsive to the reference counter signaling that the count has reached zero. An analysis mechanism can be used to determine the optimum interval and tune the timer mechanism.
US07680121B2	Transmission apparatus, method and program A transmission apparatus connected to a first network obtains information on a device connected to a third network, to which a destination of communication with a communication device connected to a second network is connected, and transmits the obtained information to a device connected to the second network via the first network.
US07680117B1	Forwarding packets using next-hop information A method may include receiving a packet associated with a flow of packets, the packet including a destination address; selecting one of a plurality of memory banks, the selected memory bank being associated with the flow of packets, wherein each of the plurality of memory banks stores the same next-hop information for forwarding the packet to the destination address; accessing, in the selected memory bank, the next-hop information for forwarding the packet to the destination address; and forwarding the packet to the destination address based on the next-hop information.
US07680101B2	Method and system for routing calls from a standard telephone device to a voice over internet protocol network The invention enables accessing and using a Voice over Internet Protocol network, and can use a standard telephone to automatically access a VoIP network. A first aspect of the invention uses an auto dialer to transmit digits, such as a network access number, an account number and a PIN, which remain unchanged from call to call made through a given network service provider. A second aspect of the invention provides a speed dial feature for placing VoIP telephone calls. Speed dial numbers are recorded in a VoIP service provider's database on a server, which is accessible through the Internet from a personal computer (PC) or a conventional telephone. A third aspect of the invention enables callers to complete calls from conventional telephones to personal computers connected to the Internet. The VoIP network detects a flag such as leading “0,” determines that the call recipient station is a personal computer, looks up the IP address of the PC and routes the call to the PC.
US07680100B1	Internet protocol appliance manager A system and method for allowing remote access to an IP communications network is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for allowing access to an IP network comprises: sending a first message addressed to a first port of an IP communications network component, the first message comprising a command requesting the performance of a selected telecommunications function; a selected IP endpoint performing, in response to the first message, the selected telecommunications function; sending a second message addressed to a different second port of the IP communications network component, the second message comprising a request for information associated with the IP endpoint; and tunneling, in response to receiving the second message at the second port, the second message to the IP endpoint.
US07680083B2	Rake receiver architecture within a WCDMA terminal A baseband processing module includes an RX interface, a rake receiver combiner module, and may include additional components. The RX interface receives the baseband signals from an RF front end and creates baseband RX signal samples there from. The rake receiver combiner module includes control logic, an input buffer, a rake despreader module, and an output buffer. The rake despreader module is operable to despread the baseband RX signal samples in a time divided fashion to produce channel symbols including pilot channel symbols and physical channel symbols.
US07680070B2	Techniques to expedite retransmission of ARQ blocks using temporal relationships in wireless networks An embodiment of the present invention provides a method, comprising retransmitting Automatic Repeat request (ARQ) blocks from a subscriber station (SS) to a base station (BS) without waiting for a timer to expire or depending on an explicit NACK from the BS. An embodiment of the present invention may further comprise accomplishing the retransmission of ARQ blocks by performing ARQ acknowledgement state updates at the SS and BS that affect the other side at PHY frame boundary, keeping block transmission relationship to a PHY frame number at the SS, and positively deducing the outcome of a transmission at the sender by exploiting the temporal relationship between blocks transmitted in the same PHY frame.
US07680063B2	Method and apparatus for synchronizing transmissions from multiple transmitters A method and apparatus for transmitting packets in a wireless communication system (100). The method and apparatus determining a delay period from among the various delay times at each of a plurality of access nodes (106-110) wherein the delay time is the time it takes for a node to receive a data packet from a source (102) through a network (104). During transmission of data from the source, the nodes receive data packets and from the data packets, the wall clock time is determined. The packets are transmitted from the nodes at a time equivalent to the wall clock time and the delay period so that the packets are synchronously transmitted from the multiple nodes.
US07680056B2	Apparatus and method for extracting a test signal section from an audio signal For extracting signal test sections conforming to an auditory test from an audio signal, in particular for non-intrusive tests for a quality assessment of a transmission system, first of all a temporal structure of the audio signal is parsed in order to differentiate an information-carrying section of the audio signal from a preceding non-information-carrying section of the audio signal or a subsequent non-information-carrying section of the audio signal. Hereupon, a test signal section is generated based on the information-carrying section of the audio signal. Thus, test signal sections conforming to an auditory test are obtained, on the one hand determining the comparability with other auditory tests and, on the other hand, reducing a too inaccurate assessment of the transmission system based on system-immanent artefacts.
US07680055B1	Method and apparatus for increasing survivability in IP networks A method and apparatus for increasing the capability of a network topology model having a plurality of nodes connected by existing links to maintain service continuity in the presence of faults. The steps of the method include adding new links to the network topology model to protect against single node failures, and adjusting link weights for the network topology model to reduce at least one of a cost of network operation and an imbalance in link utilizations. Preferably, the link weights are adjusted to reduce the imbalance in link utilizations without deteriorating the cost of network operation. The link weights are preferably adjusted to reduce the cost of network operation without increasing the imbalance in link utilizations. Preferably, the link weights are adjusted to reduce the cost of network operation without increasing the imbalance in link utilizations while keeping the utilization for each link below a specific threshold. In addition, links can be added to the network topology model to reduce the cost of network operation.
US07680047B2	Maximum transmission unit tuning mechanism for a real-time transport protocol stream A Real-Time Protocol (RTP) source node of a network operates to send a first data packet of a first size to a destination node over a path of the network that includes a plurality of intermediate nodes, at least one of the intermediate nodes having a maximum transmission unit (MTU) size smaller than the first size such that fragmentation of the first data packet occurs. The destination node sends back to the source node a RTCP report that includes a number of fragments received and a largest minimum data packet size. In response, the source node sends subsequent data packets having a second size less than or equal to the largest data packet size of the fragments. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US07680043B2	Network processor having fast flow queue disable process In a first aspect, a network processor services a plurality of flows including a first flow and a discard flow. The first flow includes a first flow queue and the discard flow includes a discard queue that lists frames to be discarded. An indication is made that the first flow is to be disabled. In response to the indication, all frames included in the first flow queue are transferred to the discard queue. Because the first flow queue is now empty, reconfiguration of the first flow may proceed immediately.
US07680041B2	Node repair in a mesh network In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for sensing a change in a network topology using a discovery node in a mesh network; transmitting an explore frame, based at least in part on the sensed change, from the discovery node to a destination node using an intermediate node; receiving a response to the explore frame from the destination node; determining at least one functional network route from the discovery node to the destination node based at least in part on route information received in association with the response to the explore frame, wherein the route information includes a node path; and transmitting an instruction to the destination node from the discovery node based on a reverse node path.
US07680040B2	Adaptive coding and modulation for broadband data transmission A process is described to build physical layer frames with a modcode adapted to the signal quality of a destination terminal. Data packets assigned to the same modcode may be sent in the same frame, although packets associated with higher modcodes may be used to complete a frame before switching to the applicable higher modcode for construction of subsequent frames. After an interval, the order of progression is restarted with an out of order packet above a threshold age. Flow control filtering mechanisms and a variable reliability margin may be used to adapt dynamically to the current data traffic conditions.
US07680038B1	Dynamic bandwidth detection and response for online games Techniques for optimizing bandwidth usage while controlling latency. A latency mitigating congestion avoidance and control technique is described that is suitable for use with unreliable transport protocols. Embodiments of the present invention facilitate communication of data for applications that communicate using unreliable communication protocols and that would like to maximize use of available bandwidth but cannot tolerate high latencies. Techniques are described for preventing latency from exceeding a certain level, without destroying the ability of an application or system to probe for additional available bandwidth and maximize bandwidth usage.
US07680014B2	Objective optical system and optical pickup device using it An objective optical system is formed of a diffractive optical element with a diffractive surface formed on a virtual plane and an objective lens for focusing three collimated light beams of three different wavelengths at three different numerical apertures onto desired positions of three different recording media with substrates that include different thicknesses, such as an AOD, a DVD, and a CD, that introduce different amounts of spherical aberration in the focused beams. The objective optical system provides compensating spherical aberration to the three light beams by varying the distance between the diffractive optical element and the objective lens with the recording medium being used. The objective optical system focuses second-order diffracted light of one wavelength and first-order diffracted light of the other two wavelengths. An optical pickup device includes the objective optical system, the recording media, and a light source that provides the three light beams.
US07680006B2	Apparatus and method for producing optical recording medium, optical recording medium, apparatus and method for reproduction and apparatus and method for recording An optical recording medium having a plural number of recording layers includes a n-th recording layer (23) (n≧1), made up by a substrate (20) and a semi-reflective layer (21) carried by the substrate (20) and adapted for partially reflecting and partially transmitting the incident light, a (n+1)th recording layer (28), made up by another substrate (25) and a reflecting layer (26) carried by the substrate (25) and adapted for reflecting the incident light, and a light condensing layer (24) for condensing the light incident via the n-th recording layer (23) on the (n+1)th recording layer (28).
US07680002B2	Information recording medium, information recording apparatus and method, information reproducing apparatus and method, information recording/reproducing apparatus and method, recording or reproduction control computer program, and data structure containing control signal An information recording medium includes an object data file for storing object data as a series of content information such as video information and audio information and play list information file for storing play list information defining a reproduction sequence on play list basis. Furthermore, the medium includes a disc information file for storing a plurality of title play lists each containing information specifying play list information defining a play list to be reproduced, pre-command information and post-command information specifying commands to be executed before and after a reproduction, respectively, according to the play list information.
US07679994B2	Bi-directional interrogation of optical sensors Seismic sensor systems and sensor station topologies, as well as corresponding cable and sensor station components, manufacturing and deployment techniques are provided. For some embodiments, networks of optical ocean bottom seismic (OBS) stations are provided, in which sensor stations are efficiently deployed in a modular fashion as series of array cable modules deployed along a multi-fiber cable.
US07679990B2	Methods for acquiring and processing seismic data from quasi-simultaneously activated translating energy sources A method for obtaining seismic data is disclosed. A constellation of seismic energy sources is translated along a survey path. The seismic energy sources include a reference energy source and a satellite energy source. The reference energy source is activated and the satellite energy source is activated at a time delay relative to the activation of the reference energy source. This is repeated at each of the spaced apart activation locations along the survey path to generate a series of superposed wavefields. The time delay is varied between each of the spaced apart activation locations. Seismic data processing comprises sorting the traces into a common geometry domain and replicating the traces into multiple datasets associated with each particular energy source. Each trace is time adjusted in each replicated dataset in the common-geometry domain using the time delays associated with each particular source. This result in signals generated from that particular energy source being generally coherent while rendering signals from the other energy source is generally incoherent. The coherent and incoherent signals are then filtered to attenuate incoherent signals.
US07679981B2	Semiconductor device A semiconductor device may include a first logic unit for performing a logic operation with respect to a plurality of first control signals, each of which indicates whether a corresponding one of a plurality of banks of the semiconductor device is in an active state, a refresh detector for outputting a second control signal which is enabled when at least one of the banks performs a self-refresh operation or auto-refresh operation, and a second logic unit for performing a logic operation with respect to an output signal from the first logic unit and the second control signal to generate a third control signal having information about activation of the semiconductor device. The third control signal is enabled when at least one of the banks performs the self-refresh operation or auto-refresh operation even though it is in the active state.
US07679980B2	Resistive memory including selective refresh operation A memory includes an array of phase change memory cells and a first circuit. The first circuit is for refreshing only memory cells within the array of phase change memory cells that are programmed to non-crystalline states in response to a request for a refresh operation.
US07679977B2	Semiconductor memory device and test method thereof A semiconductor memory device including a memory cell array with electrically rewritable and non-volatile memory cells arranged therein, wherein the device has such a test mode that includes a page searching sequence for searching a fast page with the fastest write speed in the memory cell array.
US07679976B2	Circuit and method for testing multi-device systems A method and system for high speed testing of memories in a multi-device system, where individual devices of the multi-device system are arranged in a serial interconnected configuration. High speed testing is achieved by first writing test pattern data to the memory banks of each device of the multi-device system, followed by local test read-out and comparison of the data in each device. Each device generates local result data representing the absence or presence of a failed bit position in the device. Serial test circuitry in each device compares the local result data with global result data from a previous device. The test circuitry compresses this result of this comparison and provides it to the next device as an updated global result data. Hence, the updated global result data will represent the local result data of all the previous devices.
US07679963B2	Integrated circuit having a drive circuit An intergrated circuit having a drive circuit is disclosed. One embodiment provides an intergrated memory circuit arrangement with a drive circuit for an EEPROM. In one embodiment, the drive circuit contains tunnel field effect transistors and can be produced in particular on a small chip area.
US07679959B2	Semiconductor memory device which generates voltages corresponding to a plurality of threshold voltages A memory cell MC stores a plurality of bits of data using threshold levels 1, 2, . . . , n (n is a natural number). A storage section stores a plurality of items of parameter data for generating the threshold levels. An arithmetic circuit generates voltage data for generating voltages corresponding to the threshold levels by accumulating the parameter data read from the storage section. A voltage generating circuit generates a voltage on the basis of the voltage data generated by the arithmetic circuit. The arithmetic circuit, when reading data from the memory cell at threshold level k (k<=n), generates the voltage data by accumulating parameter data at the threshold levels i to k (i<=k).
US07679951B2	Charge mapping memory array formed of materials with mutable electrical characteristics A memory cell array including a data line; a capacitor; and a transistor coupled between the data line and the capacitor. At least one of the capacitor and the transistor includes a material with a mutable electrical characteristic.A memory cell array including a first transistor coupled between a first node, a second node, and a third node; and a second transistor coupled between the second node and a fourth node. The first transistor includes a material with a mutable electrical characteristic.
US07679949B1	Column select multiplexer circuit for a domino random access memory array A column select multiplexer circuit for a domino random access memory array including a plurality of column selector circuits for selecting a column from a plurality of columns of static random access memory cells.
US07679941B2	Power conversion system with galvanically isolated high frequency link A power conversion system has a three-phase AC input, where each AC input phase is linked to a string of cascaded single-phase AC-DC converters placed in series with a three-phase AC-DC converter. Each single-phase AC-DC converter in one embodiment includes a silicon carbide (SiC) pulse width modulated MOSFET H-bridge that placed in series with the three-phase AC-DC converter that includes a silicon (Si) SCR bridge. The single-phase AC-DC converters and the three-phase AC-DC converter together in one embodiment include a mixed silicon-carbide (SiC) and silicon (Si) device topology.
US07679897B2	Cover assembly for storage device A cover assembly includes a panel defining an opening therein for allowing a storage device to move in or out therethrough, a cover shielding the opening, a connecting member, and an elastic member. The connecting member is pivotably connected to the panel through a first pivoting mechanism formed therebetween along a first axis, and is pivotably connected to the cover through a second pivoting mechanism formed therebetween along a second axis separate from and parallel with the first axis. The elastic member is arranged between the cover and the connecting member, for restoring the cover to shield the opening of the panel.
US07679880B2	Electrostatic chuck and manufacturing method thereof The invention provides an electrostatic chuck in which a workpiece-chucking surface is made flat. An electrostatic chuck with a built-in electric heating means comprises a base plate formed of carbon or a carbon-based composite material and, successively formed on one surface of the base plate, an insulating layer (a1), an electroconductive layer (a2) to serve as a chucking electrode and an dielectric layer (a3) to form a workpiece-chucking surface and, successively formed on the other surface of the base plate, an insulating layer (b1) and an electroconductive layer (b2) to serve as an electric heater element, the electrostatic chuck improved in that the workpiece-chucking surface of the electrostatic chuck and an opposite surface thereof are warped to have a relationship selected from concavo-convex and convexo-concave, and in that the warping of the surfaces is in a manner such that the workpiece-chucking surface of the dielectric layer is rendered flat when the opposite surface of the electrostatic chuck is fastened to a machine.
US07679879B2	Air conditioning apparatus An air cleaner includes an ion generator arranged in a path from an inlet port to an outlet port, a humidifying filter arranged in the path at a position closer to the inlet port than the ion generator, a dust sensor and an odor sensor for detecting impureness of air, and a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor. When impureness is detected by the dust sensor and the odor sensor and when the temperature and the humidity attain a specific state (YES at S06 to S08), a fan motor is driven such that water is supplied to the ion generator in an amount larger than when the specific state is not attained (S14).
US07679871B2	Semiconductor device and method for determining fuse state A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a fuse which comprises a conductive material and is formed on a semiconductor substrate, a contacting target conductor region which is placed around the fuse on the semiconductor substrate and formed so as to make electrical contact with the fuse through the conductive material constituting the fuse when a process for cutting the fuse is carried out, and a determination unit which detects whether or not the fuse is electrically disconnected, and detects whether or not the contacting target conductor region and the fuse are electrically connected, and determines that the fuse is in a cut state when electrical disconnection of said fuse is detected or electrical connection between said contacting target conductor region and said fuse is detected.
US07679858B2	Method for differential timing based servo pattern for magnetic-based storage media Provided is a method for differential timing based servo pattern for magnetic-based storage media. A magnetic storage media includes a magnetic first-pole polarity initialized servo track segment and a magnetic second-pole polarity differential timing based servo pattern recorded on the magnetic first-pole polarity initialized servo track segment. The magnetic second-pole polarity differential timing based servo pattern represents magnetic encoded servo position information for facilitating a determination of a servo position error signal exclusive of noise.
US07679855B2	Write transducer and system implementing same A magnetic, head in one embodiment includes a substrate; a write transducer; leads coupled to the write transducer; and a resistor coupled between one of the leads and the substrate or a common line. A magnetic storage system in another embodiment includes a cable having a characteristic impedance associated with a pair of conductors; a write signal generator coupled to the pair of conductors; at least one first device coupled to the cable in series with the write signal generator and at least one of the cable conductors, the at least one first device providing a first impedance; at least one second device providing a second impedance and coupled to a second end of the cable in series with at least one of the cable conductors and the first device; and a head having a write transducer coupled to the at least one second device.
US07679842B2	High performance catadioptric imaging system A reduced size catadioptric objective and system is disclosed. The objective may be employed with light energy having a wavelength in the range of approximately 190 nanometers through the infrared light range. Elements are less than 100 mm in diameter. The objective comprises a focusing lens group configured to receive the light energy, at least one field lens oriented to receive focused light energy from the focusing lens group and provide intermediate light energy, and a Mangin mirror arrangement positioned to receive the intermediate light energy from the field lens and form controlled light energy for transmission to a specimen. The Mangin mirror arrangement imparts controlled light energy with a numerical aperture in excess of 0.65 and up to approximately 0.90, and the design may be employed in various environments.
US07679835B2	Downsize, high performance, and wide range magnification zoom lens and camera apparatus A zoom lens includes a first lens band having a positive focal length, a second lens band having a negative focal length, and at least third to fifth lens bands having positive focal lengths. An aperture diaphragm is located in the vicinity of the third lens band. When magnification i.e., zooming is performed from short to long focal point ends, the second lens band smoothly moves toward the third lens band and the fourth lens band simultaneously moves from the fifth lens band side toward a long focal point end so as to share a magnification function together with the second lens band.
US07679824B2	Polarizing device, cross dichroic prism, liquid crystal projector, and method for fabricating polarizing device A polarizing device having a synthetic resin film of a polarizing plate sandwiched and bonded between two glass members. At least a surface on one side of the polarizing plate is bonded to one of glass members by the use of a tackiness agent. Adjoining surfaces of the two glass members, which are located on the side of the sandwiched polarizing plate, are finished to a high degree of planeness, and at least one of the two glass members is in the form of a resilient glass plate capable of flexural deformation in a lateral direction.
US07679819B2	Feed-forward current injection circuits and semiconductor optical amplifier structures for downstream optical signal reuse method A reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA) and an operating system based on a downstream optical signal reuse method with feed-forward current injection are provided. The RSOA has two active regions and includes a reflecting plane that reflects an input optical signal; and an optical amplifying semiconductor including a rear portion, which is positioned at a side of the reflecting plane and to which a signal having polarity opposite to that of the input optical signal is injected, and a front portion, which is positioned at a side opposite to the side of the rear portion facing the reflecting plane and which the input optical signal is passed though and a signal used to modulate a reflected input optical signal from the reflecting plane to an output optical signal is injected into.
US07679818B2	Optical switch using rare earth doped glass The present invention provides an optical switch including a loss element having a signal loss, and a rare earth doped gain element optically connected in series with the loss element. The rare earth doped gain element is operable to produce a signal gain. The signal gain and the signal loss are about equal. The present invention also provides a method of optical switching including optically connecting a loss element in series with a rare earth doped gain element and passing an optical signal through the loss element and the gain element. The loss element attenuates the optical signal by a first amount. The method further includes selectively applying an optical pump to the gain element to perform the switching, the gain element amplifying the optical signal by the first amount in response to the optical pump.
US07679815B2	Information display panel and information display device In the information display panel, in which one or more groups of display media are sealed between opposed two substrates, at least one substrate being transparent, and, in which the display media, to which an electrostatic field generated between the substrates is applied, are made to move so as to display information such as an image, at least one substrate of the two substrates (both substrates in the figure) is a laminated substrate in which a first substrate, a low elastic layer and a second substrate are successively laminated from an outer surface, so that a stress concentration at a rib adhesion portion and so on of a partition wall can be reduced, If the laminated substrate with a laminated construction including a buffer layer for reducing stress concentration, it is possible to provide the information display panel, which can improve a mechanical strength with respect to an external force.
US07679799B2	Illuminating light source including a light intensity modulator that oscillates a light from a coherent light source in a non-integral multiple of one cycle and two- dimensional image display using the same In a laser display displaying a video by scanning a beam from a laser light source two-dimensionally on a screen, image quality is deteriorated markedly by speckle noises induced from coherency of the light source. A known method of oscillating the screen to remove the speckles has a problem that a large-scale device is necessary and the screen cannot be chosen without any restraint. A speckle pattern that is generated can be suppressed using a beam oscillating means that oscillates a light spot on the screen at a high speed, causing a viewer to perceive a time-mean image as not having speckle noises.
US07679794B2	Image scanning apparatus An image scanning apparatus includes a scanning section which scans an object opposite to a linear scanning area along a main scanning direction while moving the scanning area along a subscanning direction intersecting the main scanning direction. The scanning section generates image data on the basis of the result of the scanning. A control unit of the scanning section includes a first image acquiring section that acquires first image data by making the scanning section execute scanning at a first subscanning resolution. The control unit also has a pattern searching section that searches the first image data for the image of the predetermined pattern. A second image acquiring section of the control unit acquires second image data in such a manner that when the image of the predetermined pattern is not detected by the pattern searching section.
US07679787B2	N-color printing with hexagonal rosettes What is provided herein are systems and methods for digitally reproducing a moiré-free color halftone image using an enhanced halftone screen set consisting of a halftone screen for each of N colorants, where N>4. Also disclosed is an enhanced color halftoning screening apparatus for reproducing a moiré-free color halftone image using an enhanced halftone screen set consisting of a halftone screen for each of N colorants, N>4. Further disclosed are embodiments for generating a plurality of non-orthogonal halftone screen outputs for moiré-free enhanced color halftoning.
US07679784B2	Reference tone settings for monotone images A tone setting screen that includes a tone specifying area 110 for specifying a color tone of a monotone image using a single specification point is disclosed. A monotone image tone is determined according to the position of the specification point specified in the tone specifying area 110. The tone specifying area 110 is defined on the a* b* plane in the Lab* color space, where three reference tone points Pneutral, Pwarm, and Pcool, for the neutral, warm, and cool tones are disposed linearly in advance in the tone specifying area 110.
US07679775B2	Z-fold method and image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus is provided with an orientation setting part for setting a readable orientation of a document that enables an operator of the image forming apparatus to readily read and understand an image on the document when carrying out an image forming process to form the image on a recording medium, a folding direction setting part for setting a folding direction in which a Z-fold of the recording medium is to be made after the image forming process, and a Z-fold part for forming the Z-fold on the recording medium, based on the readable orientation and the folding direction.
US07679773B2	Image processing method and apparatus, storage medium, and program According to the present invention, in a borderless printing mode, a printing region is determined from an original image, a region expanded outward is determined for borderless printing based on the determined region. When the thus determined region exceeds the region of the original image, an image in the surplus portion is extrapolated based on an image at end portions of the original image, and printing data is formed based on the extrapolated image and image data of the expanded region.
US07679769B2	Data receiving system and data output method therefor, data receiving apparatus, and control program for implementing the data output method A data receiving system which enables, even when the location of a recipient is changed, a sender to always send data to the same transmission destination, and the recipient to obtain received data from a nearest output terminal apparatus. A server as the data receiving apparatus receives data addressed to an IP address, as received data through the Internet. A multi-function peripheral as an output terminal apparatus receives the received data from the server and outputs the same. In this case, the server selects the multi-function peripheral from registered multi-function peripherals based on the IP address to which the received data is addressed, and relationship map information, and then transfers the received data to the selected multi-function peripheral.
US07679765B2	Image processing apparatus, image processing system and image processing method An image processing apparatus includes an input unit inputting image data, a memory having a storage region for storing the image data inputted by the input unit, a printer printing the image data in response to an user's instruction of printing the image data stored in the storage region, a transmitting unit transmitting set information indicating setting of the storage region to an other image processing apparatus, and a control unit controlling the transmitting unit not to transmit the set information to the other image processing apparatus when a pass word for accessing the storage region is included in the set information, and to transmit the set information to the other image processing apparatus when the pass word for accessing the storage region is not included in the set information.
US07679756B2	Device for a goniometric examination of optical properties of surfaces A device for examining the optical properties of surfaces includes at least one first radiation device emitting radiation to a surface to be examined at least at a first predetermined spatial angle, at least one first detector for capturing the radiation emitted to and reflected back from the surface, wherein the detector, allowing a local resolution of detected radiation, is positioned at least at a second predetermined spatial angle relative to the surface. At least one spatial angle at which the radiation device and/or the detector are positioned, is variable and the radiation device and the detector are positioned in a space at least part of which exhibits light-reflecting properties.
US07679754B2	Arterial probe for OCT An apparatus and associated method for detecting vulnerable plaque within a lumen defined by an intraluminal wall is described. The apparatus includes a probe having a distal portion and a proximal portion. The apparatus includes an optical waveguide extending along the probe. The optical waveguide is configured to carry optical radiation between the distal and proximal portions, and has a distal end in communication with the intraluminal wall. The apparatus includes an interferometer coupled to the optical waveguide and configured to provide an interference signal for sub-surface imaging of the intraluminal wall, and a processing module configured to provide spectroscopic information from detected intensity of light collected from the intraluminal wall.
US07679732B2	Optical-fiber-characteristic measuring apparatus and optical-fiber-characteristic measuring method A measurement range is extended while maintaining the spatial resolution high by completely separating the increment of a probe light from noises. Modulations are performed on both probe light and pump light to differentiate both lights. Using the modulations, only the change in the probe light necessary for measuring the characteristic of a measurement-target optical fiber FUT can be separated. Accordingly, unlike the conventional technology, an optical wavelength filter becomes unnecessary. Further, in a case where an amplitude Δf of the frequency modulation of a light source 1 is made wide to some extent to make the measurement range wide while maintaining a spatial resolution Δz high, the amplitude Δf does not affect to detection of the change in the probe light. Therefore, the increment of the probe light can be completely separated from noises, thereby extending the measurement range while maintaining the spatial resolution Δz high.
US07679731B2	Detecting and characterizing mask blank defects using angular distribution of scattered light An embodiment of the present invention is a technique to inspect defects in mask blanks. A first iris diaphragm is located at an illumination source to limit an illumination angle of light emitted from the illumination source. A scattering limit unit is located at exit of a dark field optical unit to limit scattering angle of the light scattered after reflecting from a mask blank. A defect analyzer is optically coupled to the dark field optical unit to generate an angular distribution of the scattered light. The angular distribution is used to characterize criticality of a defect found on the mask blank.
US07679729B2	Light wave radar apparatus A light wave radar apparatus includes a frequency deviation detecting unit 12 for detecting a frequency deviation fchirp of a light signal, and a weighted average processing unit 13 for determining a systematic error ΔVoffset from the frequency deviation fchirp detected by the frequency deviation detecting unit 12, and subtracts the systematic error ΔVoffset from a wind velocity VW calculated by a Doppler signal processing unit 11. As a result, the light wave radar apparatus can carry out a measurement of the wind velocity VW with a high degree of precision.
US07679724B2	Determining target distance in imaging reader A target distance to a system target located at variable distances from an imaging system is determined by illuminating a calibration target at a calibration distance with a collimated light beam during a calibration mode of operation, by illuminating the system target at the variable target distance with the collimated light beam during an imaging mode of operation, by configuring the collimated light beam with a beam spot of a generally constant size during both modes of operation, by capturing return light of a calibration image size from the calibration target during the calibration mode, by capturing return light of a target image size from the system target during the imaging mode, and by determining the variable target distance based on the calibration distance, the calibration image size, and the target image size.
US07679720B2	Apparatus configured to position a workpiece An apparatus is configured to position a workpiece. The apparatus includes a planar base, and a movable stage configured to support the workpiece. The stage is configured to be moved over the planar base. The apparatus also includes an actuator configured to move the stage, a contactless position measurer configured to measure a position of the stage, and a first pump configured to generate a conditioned gas flow in a volume between the measurer and the stage. The base includes a plurality of gas channels provided in the base that provide a path of the conditioned gas flow through the base.
US07679718B2	Immersion exposure technique An exposure apparatus including a projection optical system which projects a pattern of an original onto an exposed surface of a substrate, and a supply nozzle configured to supply the liquid through a supply opening into a gap between a final surface of the projection optical system and a part of the exposed surface of the substrate. The supply opening is arranged more distant than the final surface of the projection optical system from the exposed surface of the substrate.
US07679713B2	Liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method thereof A liquid crystal display device includes an upper substrate; a lower substrate facing the upper substrate; a liquid crystal layer formed between the upper and the lower substrates; common electrodes and pixel electrodes formed parallel to each other in pixel regions of the lower substrate; and polymer walls formed between the upper and the lower substrates. A manufacturing method includes forming gate and data lines on a lower substrate, the gate and data lines intersecting each other to define a plurality of pixel regions; forming thin film transistors at respective intersections of the gate and data lines; forming common electrodes and pixel electrodes in parallel with each other in the pixel regions; joining an upper substrate with the lower substrate so that a liquid crystal layer is disposed between the upper and the lower substrates; and forming a plurality of polymer walls between the upper and the lower substrates.
US07679708B2	Ring-shaped seal for LCD and method formed of first and second different material sealing members with respective first and second connecting portions each having respective first and second abutting parts that are continuous with the sealing members A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer that is interposed between the first and second substrates, and a sealing member that is formed in peripheral portions of the first and second substrates. The sealing member includes a ring-shaped portion that seals the liquid crystal layer inboard of the sealing member and connecting portions that connect first and second regions of the sealing member to form the ring-shaped portion. The connecting portions are formed outboard of the ring-shaped portion.
US07679699B2	Liquid crystal display device and fabricating method thereof A liquid crystal display device, including: first and second substrates; a gate line on the first substrate; a data line crossing the gate line defining a pixel area with a gate insulating film therebetween; a thin film transistor including a gate electrode, a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a semiconductor layer with a channel between the source electrode and the drain electrode; a common line in parallel to the gate line on the first substrate; a common electrode extending from the common line into the pixel area; and a pixel electrode on the gate insulating film in the pixel area, wherein the drain electrode overlaps with the pixel electrode to connect to the pixel electrode; and wherein the semiconductor layer is removed from an area where it overlaps a transparent conductive film.
US07679698B2	Liquid crystal display device A vertical alignment liquid crystal display device includes: a pair of substrates which are arranged opposite each other; a liquid crystal layer which is interposed between the paired substrates; an interlayer insulating film which is formed on at least either the first substrate or the second substrate and provided with an aperture which is rectangular when viewed in plan and opened toward the other substrate; a transmissive region provided within the periphery of the aperture and performs transmissive display; and a reflective electrode which is arranged along the periphery of the aperture. The liquid crystal display device further includes a light shield for preventing light from passing through discontinuity regions which are included in a portion of the liquid crystal layer corresponding to the aperture and where liquid crystal molecules are oriented in a discontinuous manner.
US07679696B2	Liquid crystal display device A liquid crystal display device has support leg parts formed in one piece with a rear frame, and a support base part that has a base part formed in one piece with the support leg parts for supporting a printed wiring board. The rear frame and the support leg part are connected to each other through a first curved surface part, and the support leg part and the base part are connected to each other through a second curved surface part. The first curved surface part has a curvature radius greater than that of the second curved surface part, and the support leg part is formed perpendicular to the rear frame.
US07679694B2	Liquid crystal display device comprising a frame having through holes at a bottom portion and a frame-like mold having protrusions which insert into the through holes A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel having liquid crystal material sandwiched between a pair of substrates, optical components disposed behind the liquid crystal display panel, a frame-like mold which houses the liquid crystal display panel and the optical components, and a frame which houses the frame-like mold. The frame includes a bottom portion and a sidewall, and the bottom portion is provided with plural engaging through holes which are formed along the sidewall not to extend into the sidewall. The frame-like mold is provided with plural engaging protrusions which are disposed correspondingly to the engaging holes and protrude downward beyond a lower surface of the frame-like mold. The frame-like mold and the frame are fixed together by inserting each of the engaging protrusions into a corresponding one of the engaging through holes.
US07679686B2	Electronic device comprising a gamma correction unit, a process for using the electronic device, and a data processing system readable medium An electronic device includes at least one gamma correction unit including a first gamma correction unit. In one embodiment, the first gamma correction unit includes at least one tap that is configured to allow the gamma function for the first gamma correction unit to be changed after the electronic device has been fabricated. In another embodiment, a process for using the electronic device operating the array during a first time period using a first gamma function for the first gamma correction unit. The process also includes changing the first gamma function to a second gamma function. The process further includes operating the array during a second time period using the second gamma function for the first gamma correction unit. A data processing system readable medium has code that includes instructions for carrying out the process.
US07679685B2	System and method for processing video signals The disclosed embodiments relate to a system (100) that processes an analog video signal (502), the analog video signal (502) comprising luminance information (408), first chrominance information (410), and second chrominance information (410). An exemplary video system (100) comprises a first time-sampled analog filter (506) that extracts the luminance information (408) from a first aliased copy of the analog video signal (502), a second time-sampled analog filter (508) that extracts the first chrominance information (410) from a second aliased copy of the analog video signal (502), and a third time-sampled analog filter (510) that extracts the second chrominance information (410) from a third aliased copy of the analog video signal (502).
US07679683B2	Image display apparatus and operating method thereof Disclosed is a method of managing an image display apparatus of the present invention. The method includes the steps of: (a) obtaining a first information on a predetermined output image format; (b) obtaining a second information on an input image format and a data broadcasting contents format; (c) comparing the first information on the predetermined output image format with the second information on the input image format and the data broadcasting contents format; (d) controlling output modes of the input image format and the data broadcasting contents format according to the predetermined output image format based on a comparison result of the output image format, the input image and the data broadcasting contents format performed by the comparing unit; and (e) outputting on image display unit the input image and the data broadcasting contents output modes of which are processed.
US07679680B2	Apparatus in a TV receiver for automatically detecting the type of keyboard attached thereto A television apparatus includes a front panel keyboard having first and second keys, and a controller for detecting a type of operational logic of the front panel keyboard. The controller applies a keyboard operational voltage to the front panel keyboard according to the detected type of operational logic. If the controller determines that the type of operational logic is negative, the controller applies the keyboard operational voltage to the front panel keyboard. Otherwise, if the controller determines that the type of operational logic is positive, the controller applies no keyboard operational voltage to the front panel keyboard.
US07679672B2	Electronic flash, imaging device and method for producing a flash of light having a wavelength spectrum in the visible range and the infrared range using a fluorescent material An electronic flash, imaging device and method for producing a flash of light having a wavelength spectrum in the visible wavelength range and the infrared wavelength range uses a fluorescent material to convert at least some of the original light emitted from one or more light sources of the electronic flash to longer wavelength light to produce the flash of light. The light sources may be configured to generate light having a peak wavelength in an ultraviolet-and-visible wavelength range. The fluorescent material may include any combination of red, green, blue and yellow phosphors.
US07679671B2	Image capturing for capturing an image of an object by illuminating the object and receiving light from the object An image capturing apparatus illuminate and captures an image of an object using reflected light from the object. In the apparatus, a plurality of light-emitting devices are mounted in the periphery of an image sensor, and the light of the plurality of light-emitting devices is guided to an image capturing region by a light guide member for illumination. On the image capturing apparatus having the image capturing system disposed close to the illumination system, a hood is provided for optically intercepting the image capturing system from the illumination system, with a flange disposed thereon. The light reflected on the upper face of a filter can be intercepted from being incident on an image capturing system unit. Accordingly, output light not irradiating the object and causing an image capturing noise can be intercepted, which is effective for a clear photographed image.
US07679661B2	Imaging apparatus having a correction section for correcting a vertical stripe-like noise and a dark shading in the horizontal direction Disclosed herein is an imaging apparatus including: a pixel section having a plurality of pixels arranged in two dimensions for effecting photoelectric conversion; a light blocking section for blocking light to conceal the pixel section in accordance with a light blocking instruction signal; a region setting section for outputting the light blocking instruction signal and setting a correcting pixel region from which pixel data for correction are extracted within an effective pixel region of the pixel section where an object image is formed; a line memory for retaining pixel data from the correcting pixel region at the time of blocking light; and a correcting section for correcting an output of pixel data from the pixel section using the pixel data retained at the line memory.
US07679657B2	Image sensing apparatus having electronic zoom function, and control method therefor In an image sensing apparatus having an image sensing element that senses an object and outputs image data and an electronic zoom function, either a first processing mode or a second processing mode is set and an angle of view is designated. In the first processing mode, the image sensing element is driven by switching reading regions and reading methods of image data from the image sensing element based on the designated angle of view and the image data is read, processed, and the angle of view determined by the switched reading region is changed to the designated angle of view. In the second processing mode, the reading region and the reading method of the image data are fixed and the image data output from the image sensing element is processed, and the angle of view determined by the fixed reading region changed to the designated angle of view.
US07679654B2	Detecting phase and frequency of light source flicker and driving image sensor in phase when light source flicker is brightest An image sensor comprising a number of light sensor circuits each representing a unit pixel and capable of outputting a sensor signal corresponding to a photo current produced in a photoelectric converting element in proportion to light falling thereon, which is provided with a way of detecting a period and a phase of flicker in light from a light source and a way of determining timing of obtaining the maximum brightness of the light source based on the flicker detection signal and reading sensor signals from respective pixels at the timing determined. This image sensor can easily prevent the effect of flicker resulting from flicker of the light source to an image taken and displayed by the image sensor with no need for adjusting the time of accumulating a charge in the capacitor in accord with incident light thereon and compensating an image signal to be displayed.
US07679653B2	Digital image acquisition arranged to acquire image data related to different light configurations Image acquisition device, method and computer program for digital image acquisition, where the image acquisition device comprises an actuated user interface, where the image acquisition device receives control information from a user indicative of actuation of the user interface, initiates an image acquisition process by receiving lighting data on its sensor and detecting light information. A processor in the image acquisition device analyzes then the detected light information and converts these to image data and acquires image data related to at least two different light configurations, where at least one of the light configuration comprises an image acquired by means of a flash output in the image acquisition device.
US07679651B2	Image pickup apparatus, method and program with composite-image creating function An image pickup apparatus capable of creating various composite images easily, and also obtaining composite images such as would be obtained at different shutter speeds even after the frame images were picked up. Successive frame images of an object are picked up in a successive image-pickup mode at predetermined time intervals. The predetermined number of frame images obtained are then stored in time series in a buffer memory. Pointers indicating composition start and end positions slidable on a bar of a range selector specify therebetween a composition range in which some successive ones of the predetermined number of frame images fall on a composing picture. The respective frame images falling in the specified range are read from the buffer memory and processed, thereby producing a composite image. In this case, by changing the composition range with the range selector, a composite image such as would be obtained at a different shutter speed is displayed on a composite result display picture.
US07679634B2	Method and apparatus for image forming capable of detecting a reference signal for a lighting control An image forming apparatus includes a light emission source, a polygon mirror, a plurality of image carrying members, an optical detection mechanism, and an instruction mechanism. The light emission source outputs a plurality of optical beams in accordance with image data. The polygon mirror receives the optical beams at different mirror points, and deflects the beams into a first plurality of scanning optical beams in given directions to scan on predetermined scanning lines in a main scanning direction. The plurality of image carrying members rotating in a sub-scanning direction receive the first plurality of scanning optical beams to form primary separate color images. The optical detection mechanism detects a second plurality of scanning optical beams included in the first plurality of scanning optical beams. The instruction mechanism instructs the light emission source to light on and off at timings based on a plurality of detection signals from the optical detection mechanism.
US07679632B2	Thermal printer and method of controlling the same A first thermal head that comes into contact with a front surface of a thermal paper sheet, and a second thermal head that comes into contact with a rear surface of the thermal paper sheet are provided. Further, forward printing and backward printing of the first thermal head with respect to the front surface of the thermal paper sheet are selectively controlled. Furthermore, forward printing and backward printing of the thermal head with respect to the rear surface of the thermal paper sheet are selectively controlled.
US07679630B2	Horizontal color plane registration correction A method for detecting and correcting misregistration between a plurality of separations printed by a printing apparatus, comprising: producing a calibration print output on a substrate, the calibration print output including at least one calibration pattern, wherein the at least one calibration pattern translates horizontal misregistration into a detectable indicator of misregistration in a process direction; detecting misregistration; and, performing a fine adjustment of the horizontal position of at least one of the separations using the at least one calibration pattern.
US07679627B2	Controller and driver features for bi-stable display The invention comprises systems and methods for controller and driver features for displays, and in particular, controller and driver features that relate to displays with bi-stable display elements. In one embodiment, such a display includes at least one driving circuit and an array comprising a plurality of bi-stable display elements, where the array is configured to be driven by the driving circuit, and where the driving circuit is programmed to receive video data and provide a subset of the received video data to the array based on a frame skip count. In some embodiments, the frame skip count is programmable or dynamically determined. In another embodiment, a method of displaying data on an array having a plurality of bi-stable display elements comprises receiving video data comprising a plurality of frames, displaying selected frames based upon a frame skip count, measuring the change between each selected frame and a frame previous to the selected frame, and displaying non-selected frames if the measured change is greater than or equal to a threshold.
US07679624B2	Moving computer displayable content into a preferred user interactive focus area A system for displaying content, such as a computer's displayed desktop, to a user such that remote content may be easily accessed, is presented. An exemplary display system includes a preferred interaction area through which the user interacts with the displayed content. The display system detects a user's reposition action and repositions the displayed content on the display system according to the detected reposition action. A user may reposition any portion of the displayed content to any location within the preferred interaction area. That portion of the displayed content falling outside of the preferred interaction area is displayed according to the available display area outside of the preferred interaction area. The displayed content outside of the preferred interaction area may be scaled according to the available display area. Display areas uncovered by repositioning the displayed content may be displayed with empty space.
US07679622B2	Foveation-based error resilience algorithm A method for improving real-time video communications using a Foveation-based unequal error protection scheme (UEP) and error resilience. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a real time processing module partitions a video image into at least two data bit stream signals based on a directional pointing device or a pattern filter definition of “areas of importance.” These different data bit stream signals are then processed via different algorithms based on the importance of correcting errors in the data signals. The data is then transmitted. After reception at a receiving device, the data signals are regenerated and corrected to their original form.
US07679613B2	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.
US07679612B2	Configuration goals via video presenting network Resources of a video presenting network having plural outputs can be configured. A provisional configuration can be supported. Configuration of inputs can be performed separately from configuration of outputs. Interdependencies between network resources can be considered to restrict provided options to those co-functional with a provisional configuration. Responsibility for considering interdependencies can be delegated to a video driver, such as a video miniport. A client can use a variety of approaches to find a desired configuration. A variety of configuration goals (e.g., optimal configurations) can be achieved in light of the interdependencies.
US07679606B2	Handheld electronic device including automatic preferred selection of a punctuation, and associated method A method of enabling input on a handheld electronic device, which includes an input apparatus having a number of input members that are capable of being actuated, wherein at least one of the input members has a plurality of selectable output alternatives, includes detecting as a first input an actuation of an input member, generating a first output, detecting as a second input an actuation of an input member having a plurality of selectable output alternatives comprising at least a primary punctuation and a secondary punctuation, determining that said first output has a predetermined characteristic, preferring as a second output said secondary punctuation, and outputting said second output.
US07679595B2	Image sticking prevention circuit for display device An image sticking prevention circuit for a display. The image sticking prevention circuit comprises a diode, a first capacitor, a transistor, and a second capacitor. The first terminal of the diode is coupled to a first voltage terminal of a voltage converter. The first capacitor has a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the diode and a second terminal coupled to a first fixed potential. The transistor has a first terminal coupled to the first terminal of the first capacitor, a second terminal coupled to the first terminal of the diode and the first voltage terminal of the voltage converter, and a third terminal coupled to a second voltage terminal of the voltage converter and a gate driver circuit. The second capacitor has a first terminal coupled to the third terminal of the transistor and a second terminal coupled to a second fixed potential.
US07679594B2	Driving circuit built-in liquid crystal display panel A driving circuit built in liquid crystal display panel for increasing an area of a driving circuit by an overlap between the driving circuit and a sealant is disclosed. In the driving circuit built in the liquid crystal display panel, a liquid crystal cell matrix is provided in a display area of first and second substrates joined to each other by a sealant. A driving circuit is provided in a circuit area of a non-display area of the display panel at an outer portion of the display area to drive the liquid crystal cell matrix. A plurality of LOG-type signal lines are provided at a LOG area of the non-display area to supply a plurality of signals required for the driving circuit. The driving circuit area and the LOG area overlaps with the sealant.
US07679588B2	Display device and method of driving the same The present invention relates to a display device for providing charges discharged from data lines to a battery. The display device includes data lines, scan lines, pixels, a charge storing circuit and a discharging circuit. The pixels are formed in cross areas of the data lines and the scan lines, and driven on the basis of a driving voltage. The charge storing circuit is coupled to at least one data line during a first sub-discharge time of a discharge time, and stores electric charges discharged from the data line during the first sub-discharge time. The discharging circuit is coupled to the data line during a second sub-discharge time of the discharge time, and discharges the data line up to a certain discharge voltage during the second sub-discharge time.
US07679578B2	Headrest mountable video system A video system comprises a base portion mounted in a vehicle seat headrest, and a door pivotally attached to the base portion, wherein the door includes a display and a media player mounted to the door. The media player may be one of a slot-type device and a clamshell-type device.
US07679574B1	Tapered slot antenna EC method A Tapered Slot Antenna EC Method (NC #098517). The method comprising coupling a first antenna element to a second antenna element to for a tapered slot antenna pair; electrically coupling a first end cap to the first antenna element; electrically couples a second end cap to the second antenna element; and configuring the first and second end caps to provide induction-canceling, capacitive coupling when operating at frequencies below a theoretical cutoff frequency.
US07679572B2	Body mount for a vehicle antenna A mounting for a vehicle antenna including a mounting base which has an insertion portion for insertion through a hold in a vehicle body panel and a flange for engagement with an inner surface of the vehicle panel. The mounting further includes a temporary retainer at least two resilient temporary retention arms extending upward from engaging with the outer surface of the vehicle body panel after being inserted through the hole in the vehicle body panel. A retainer is then provided in the insertion portion to permanently mount the mounting to the vehicle body panel.
US07679566B2	Antenna structure having stable properties and headset An antenna structure includes a radiation conductor made of a metal plate that is supported by legs provided upright on a surface of a dielectric substrate and is spaced apart from the surface. The radiation conductor is circularly shaped such that the contour of the radiation conductor conforms to the outer periphery of the dielectric substrate and such that the radiation conductor includes an open portion. One of the legs functions as a feeding terminal and the other functions as a grounding terminal, whereby the radiation conductor operates as a dipole antenna. The radiation conductor has slots for adjusting impedance. Impedance can be adjusted by changing the length of the slots.
US07679562B2	Target detection apparatus and system A target detection apparatus that includes a transmission/reception device for generating a transmission signal for detection of a target, and extracting distance information about the target from a received signal; a number of sensors each of which transmits the transmission signal to respective different angle ranges, receives a signal reflected by the target, and transfers the received signal to the transmission/reception device; and a switch device for switching in a time division manner a connection between the transmission/reception device and one of the sensors to a connection between the transmission/reception device and another one of the sensors, where the switch device selects a first of the sensors for transmitting the transmission signal in a time slot and a second of the sensors for receiving the signal reflected by the target in the time slot.
US07679560B2	Method and apparatus for adaptive direction estimation of radio waves In an environment of spatially correlated additive noise, the direction estimation apparatus for coherent signals calculates (M−q−1) instantaneous cross-correlations between some array data, and selecting multiple pairs each of which is consisted of p instantaneous correlations from the (M−q−1) instantaneous cross-correlations to form a Hankel correlation matrix, where a length of a spatial correlation in terms of antenna elements is assumed to be q. Next, the apparatus divides that Hankel matrix into an upper submatrix and a lower submatrix, and then calculates a linear operator at time n by using the adaptive LMS algorithm with a fixed or time-varying step-size parameter. Then a noise subspace is estimated from that linear operator. Finally the directions of incident signals at a predetermined time is estimated and tracked by using that noise subspace with Newton approximation.
US07679557B2	Method and system for multi-function satellite positioning system receivers Multifunction satellite positioning receiver having a plurality of functions that are selectable in response to predetermined events or in response to user actions and enable more efficient use of the hardware and processing resources of a multifunction satellite position receiver.
US07679552B2	System for standard positioning service and precise positioning service cooperative operation A system for standard positioning service (SPS) and precise positioning service (PPS) cooperative operation is disclosed. In one embodiment, a PPS receiver is utilized to process a PPS data portion of a positioning signal. In addition, an SPS receiver is utilized to process an SPS data portion of the positioning signal. Furthermore, the PPS receiver and the SPS receiver are communicatively coupled such that the PPS data portion from the PPS receiver is cross-validated with the SPS data portion from the SPS receiver thereby corroborating the accuracy of the positioning signal.
US07679549B2	Waveform generation method, radar device, and oscillator for radar device It is possible to generate D/A conversion voltage in which an error generated by numeric irregularities of a D/A conversion element such as resistor constituting a D/A converter 11 is corrected. A waveform generation method characterized in that input data into a D/A converter 11 are provided to the D/A converter in order at a timing at which a voltage of a desired waveform which has D/A conversion data indicating a conversion amount of the input data obtained by varying the input data by a minimum conversion unit or a unit obtained by multiplying the minimum conversion unit by an integer, and which varies with time series, becomes substantially equal to a D/A-converted voltage, whereby the D/A-converted voltage is generated in accordance with the desired waveform.
US07679548B2	Radar apparatus A radar apparatus where the rate of writing detected image data into an image memory does not decrease, irrespective of an enlarged amount of the detected image data. When an azimuth direction enlargement section of a W data generator receives detected image data of a sweep, it outputs the data to an image memory, and delays the data, depending on a cycle of an azimuth direction shift timing signal. When detected image data of a next sweep is drawn into a pixel adjacent in a sweep moving direction to a pixel into which previous detected image data has been drawn and is located at the same distance in a sweep distance direction, the delayed data is compared with new data, and the greater data is drawn into the new pixel. When the delayed data is greater, this detected image data is enlarged in the azimuth direction.
US07679546B2	Apparatus and method of determining location of an object An apparatus and method of determining location of an object hidden from view. The apparatus includes an imaging tool for detecting hidden objects. The imaging tool includes a housing including a first end and a second end, a display supported by the first end of the housing, and a tracking device supported by the second end of the housing. The imaging tool also includes a transmitter supported by the housing and operable to transmit electromagnetic radiation toward a hidden target, an analysis module supported by the housing and operable to analyze feedback data related to the interaction between the target and the electromagnetic radiation, and an image module operable to receive data from the analysis module to generate an image on the display.
US07679544B2	Remote control device with directional mode indicator Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for a remote control device. Means for detecting orientation of the remote control device couples to a processor. The processor changes a mode of operation of the remote control device in response to a change in the orientation.
US07679542B2	Image sensor using auto-calibrated ramp signal for improved image quality and driving method thereof An image sensor comprises an active pixel sensor (APS) array, a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a ramp signal generator. The APS array includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, wherein the APS array generates a reset signal and an image signal for each selected column of the APS array. The first ADC includes a correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit array comprising CDS circuits that are arranged for each column of the APS array, wherein the first ADC generates a digital code from a signal corresponding to the difference between the reset signal and the image signal which are generated by the CDS circuit using a ramp signal. The ramp signal generator generates the ramp signal, wherein a second ADC receives a feedback of the generated ramp signal and generates a feedback reference code, and wherein the ramp signal generator calibrates the ramp signal based on a comparison using the feedback reference code.
US07679538B2	Current-steering type digital-to-analog converter A current-steering type digital-to-analog converter (DAC) is disclosed. The DAC includes a first sub-DAC, a second sub-DAC and a controlling device. Both the first sub-DAC and the second sub-DAC are configured to receive input signals. The controlling device selectively and periodically sends output signals of either the first sub-DAC or the second sub-DAC to a resistive load while sending output signals of the remaining one of the two sub-DACs to a dummy resistive load. An output of the DAC is provided at the resistive load.
US07679537B2	Precision microcontroller-based pulse width modulation digital-to-analog conversion circuit and method A precision digital to analog conversion circuit and method are provided. A regulated direct current (DC) voltage having a DC voltage magnitude is supplied to a device, such as a processor. The processor generates a pulse width modulation (PWM) output signal based, at least in part, on the regulated DC voltage. An analog output signal is generated from the PWM output signal. The regulated DC voltage is compared to a precision reference DC voltage, the DC voltage magnitude is selectively adjusted based on the comparison.
US07679533B2	Photodiode array for an optical encoder, photodiode detection system, and optical encoder A photodiode detector array for an optical encoder includes a sequence of photodiodes having a pitch between adjacent photodiodes that alternates between a first pitch and a second pitch, the second pitch being different than the first pitch.
US07679529B2	Method and apparatus for indicating operational state of aircraft engine A method and a system for indicating a target idle running speed, a predicted core speed, a predicted time to running, current engine state or automation modes of an operating aircraft engine, and indicating that the current core speed of the aircraft engine is less than a target idle running speed or is abnormally decreasing towards a target idle running speed. The indicators may be visual or aural. The visual indicators may include graphical or numeric symbols indicating the target idle running speed, the direction of core speed change, the predicted core speed at some future time, or current engine state or automation mode.
US07679522B2	Media enhanced shopping systems with electronic queuing A media enhanced shopping cart system comprises a shopping cart comprising a frame, a basket, a handle, a base tray, a plurality of wheels, a read component for performing a proximity scan of the shopping cart, a locationing component for determining a location of the shopping cart within a store based on the scan, and a display component for displaying at least one advertisement for a product based on the location of the shopping cart within the store, wherein the locationing component is further operable to determine a location of the product within the store relative to the shopping cart based on the scan, and wherein the display component is further operable to display an indication of the location of the advertised product relative to the location of the shopping cart.
US07679513B2	Method and apparatus using radio-location tags to report status for a container handler The invention includes apparatus and methods using a means for wirelessly communicating, preferably a radio location-tag unit, for reporting a sensed state of a container handler. The status reporting device may include: a micro-controller module, a means for wirelessly communicating, which may include means for wirelessly determining container handler location, and a means for sensing the state of the container handler.
US07679510B2	RFID product identification and tracking system Apparatus for RFID tagging of packages is provided, including a conveyor, along which tags having microchips and antennae are applied to packages, with the tags being encoded via radio waves, to contain information about packaged identification and other information, with the encoding being done upstream of a palletizer system, and with the palletizer system being provided for receiving encoded packages from the conveyor.
US07679508B2	Sensing device for detecting approaching object A sensing device for detecting an approaching object is composed of a sensor section that includes a detection electrode supplied with a detection source signal having a prescribed frequency and another detection electrode disposed in close vicinity to the detection electrode, a communication signal amplifier that amplifies the communication signal and outputs the amplified communication signal as an amplifier output signal, an integrator that integrates the amplifier output signal and outputs a judging signal for judging whether or not an object approaches the sensor section, and a detection sub-signal switch that is disposed between an output side of the communication signal amplifier and an input side of the integrator. A communication signal is obtained from the detection source signal that is transmitted to the other detection electrode from the detection electrode and attenuated thereat when an object approaches the sensor section. The detection sub-signal switch periodically switches on only during a prescribed period in which a peak value of the amplifier output signal is included in response to a detection sub-signal, wherein a frequency of the detection sub-signal is equal to that of the detection source signal, and the detection sub-signal maintains specific phase relation with the detection source signal, and further a duty ratio of the detection sub-signal is less than 50%.
US07679507B2	Video alarm verification A method for monitoring an alarm zone within a perimeter, border and/or building includes capturing video image data of an alarm event detected in the alarm zone, and automatically establishing a cell phone session with an end-user to verify a true or false nature of the detected alarm. The end-user may use the cell phone display to review the video during the cell phone session, and may use the cell phone's key for the verifying. The novel monitoring method with end-user alarm event verification avoids false alarms being raised where the nature of the detected alarm event is false, and the verifying occurs before a false alarm is raised/communicated.
US07679502B2	Tire management system A receiving module selects frequencies to be used for data request signals from all channels if there is no channel prohibited from being used, and if there are channels prohibited from being used, the receiving module selects frequencies to be used for data request signals from channels other than the channels prohibited from being used. In the case failed in acceptance of measured data from a sensor module, the receiving module sets communication channels failed in acceptance of measured data predetermined times to prohibited channels from being used. In this manner, when the receiving module transmits the data request signals to the sensor module, frequencies of channels having jamming radio waves and the like could not be selected by the receiving module, thereby enabling the receiving module to select the frequencies of high probability in communication reception.
US07679500B2	Wireless sensing system A wireless vehicular sensing system is disclosed. The wireless sensing system may include a radio frequency access control system including a plurality of antennas distributed within the vehicle and at least one radio frequency transceiver coupled to the plurality of antennas for effecting radio frequency interrogations of radio frequency access permission devices via the plurality of antennas in response to operator invoked interrogation requests, and a plurality of radio frequency sensors distributed within the vehicle and associated with systems other than vehicle access control. The at least one radio frequency transceiver effects radio frequency interrogations of the plurality of radio frequency sensors via the plurality of antennas in response to system invoked interrogation requests. The wireless sensing system may include a radio frequency tire monitoring system including a plurality of antennas distributed within the vehicle and at least one radio frequency transceiver coupled to the plurality of antennas for effecting radio frequency interrogations of tire monitor devices via the plurality of antennas in response to tire monitor device invoked interrogation requests, a plurality of radio frequency sensors distributed within the vehicle and associated with systems other than tire monitoring. The at least one radio frequency transceiver effects radio frequency interrogations of the plurality of radio frequency sensors via the plurality of antennas in response to system invoked interrogation requests.
US07679499B2	Warning system A warning system warns a driver of a vehicle that a vehicle location in a record of previously detected drive operation that indicates a violation of a safety standard and a current position of the vehicle are determined to be within a predetermined distance from each other based on repeated detections of a current vehicle position by a detector and a detection of the drive operation that indicates the violation of the safety standard transmitted through an interface from a drive recorder. In this manner, the warning system for warning the driver lightens a process load of a unit that performs a position detection process and a unit that performs a record keeping process.
US07679497B1	Recovering legal evidence of unfavorable events or conditions during vehicle operations A method for the driver of an automotive vehicle to avoid distraction from the task of driving, but yet to preserve and later recover legal evidence of events, objects, or conditions that may be encountered during the driving of the vehicle, by utilizing a perimeter optical viewing system in conjunction with a central digital recording system to (monitor and) record and subsequently retrieve images of those events, objects, or conditions.
US07679489B2	Auto anti-theft system with door-mount wireless remote-control pushbutton An auto anti-theft system with door-mount wireless remote-control pushbutton includes a main controller installed in a car for controlling the operation of the anti-theft system; a remote controller being carried by a user for code matching; and a small-size wireless remote-control pushbutton, which includes a coupling section for mounting the pushbutton to a car of any version or brand on or near a car door, such as on a door handle, a keyhole, a door surface, or a door window. The wireless remote-control pushbutton, the main controller, and the remote controller cooperate with one another to provide the functions of releasing and enabling the anti-theft system directly beside the car without pressing the remote controller button, making the anti-theft system a humanized design.
US07679486B2	In-vehicle antitheft device and central authentication device An in-vehicle antitheft device and a central authentication device can improve a convenience of use of a user while maintaining a high security, which is a merit of a central-type authentication system. A use of a first group of vehicle functions, which has not been permitted, is permitted when an authentication by an in-vehicle local collation part is completed in agreement. A request signal of requesting a user authentication is transmitted to a central authentication device through a communication line. A use of a second group of vehicle functions, which have note been permitted, is permitted when the user authentication is completed in agreement in the central authentication device.
US07679480B2	Method for magnetizing casing string tubulars A method for magnetizing a wellbore tubular includes a positioning a wellbore tubular substantially coaxially in a plurality of longitudinally spaced magnetizing coils deployed on a frame. The coils are selectively connected and disconnected from electrical power such that a circumferential electrical current flows in each of the coils to impart a predetermined magnetic field pattern to the tubular. Exemplary embodiments of this invention provide for semi-automated control of tubular magnetization and thereby enable a repeatable magnetic pattern to be imparted to each of a large number of wellbore tubulars.
US07679475B2	Bandpass filter and high frequency module using the same and radio communication device using them A bandpass filter having a bandpass width appropriate for UWB, a high frequency module including the bandpass filter, and radio communication device including both is provided. The bandpass filter including a laminate composed of a plurality of dielectric layers 11; first and second ground electrodes arranged on the bottom and top surfaces, respectively, of the laminate; resonance electrodes 30a, 30b, and 30c arranged in an inter-digital structure on a first inter-layer surface of the laminate, one end of each of the resonance electrodes being grounded; an input coupling electrode 40a arranged on an inter-layer surface different from the first inter-layer surface of the laminate facing the resonance electrode 30a of the input stage in the inter-digital type; and an output coupling electrode 40b arranged on an inter-layer surface different from the first inter-layer surface of the laminate to face the resonance electrode 30b of the output stage. Accordingly, it can be possible to achieve a bandpass filter that has a flat and low-loss pass characteristic over the entire region of the broad passband that could not be achieved by a band pass filter using the conventional ¼ wavelength resonator.
US07679474B2	Surface acoustic wave resonator, and surface acoustic wave filter A surface acoustic wave resonator has a piezoelectric substrate (11), an IDT (13) formed of a plurality of electrode fingers (12) disposed on piezoelectric substrate (11), and reflectors (14) disposed near the opposite ends of IDT (13). The IDT (13) has a gradation region where the electrode finger pitch of the plurality of electrode fingers (12) at the opposite ends is different from the electrode finger pitch near the center of the IDT (13). In this gradation region, the electrode finger pitches are sequentially varied in the range from the electrode finger at the farthest end that is one end of the gradation region to the electrode finger lying at the other end of the gradation region. The electrode finger pitch of the electrode fingers at the farthest end that is one end of the gradation region is set to be 1 through 5% smaller than the electrode finger pitch near the center of the IDT (13).
US07679471B2	Signal splitter circuit with prevention circuitry to reduce generation of intermodulation products A signal splitter for reducing noise ingress and a cable television network incorporating such splitters. A signal splitter has an input and a plurality of outputs, where alternate outputs are connected to phase shifting devices. Prevention circuitry is provided for at least preventing the generation of intermodulation products in the phase shifting devices. The prevention circuitry is provided with a pre-connected filter in the form of a high-pass filter for stopping voltage peaks through reflection of the energy contained in the voltage peaks.
US07679470B2	Nonreciprocal circuit device A nonreciprocal circuit device includes a permanent magnet, a ferrite to which the permanent magnet applies a direct-current magnetic field, first and second central electrodes arranged on the ferrite, and a circuit board. The first central electrode includes electrode layers provided on main surfaces of the ferrite connected by an electrode provided on a top surface of the ferrite. A second central electrode includes electrode layers provided on the main surfaces of the ferrite connected by electrodes arranged on top and bottom surfaces of the ferrite. The second electrode is wound at least about three turns around the ferrite. A width dimension of the outermost electrode layers of the second central electrode is greater than a width dimension of the inner electrode layers of the second central electrode.
US07679452B2	Amplifier arrangement and method An amplifier arrangement having a transistor arrangement comprising a first transistor (1) in common-emitter configuration and a second transistor (2) in common-base configuration. A switching device (7) couples, in a first mode of operation, the first transistor (1) to an input (3) of the amplifier arrangement and while the second transistor (2) forms a cascade stage. In a second mode of operation the second transistor (2) is coupled to the input (3). While high gain is achieved during the first mode, the second mode allows for high linearity without requiring inductive degeneration.
US07679445B2	Independent dominant pole compensation of two loops using one compensating element Disclosed is a differential amplifier system that maintains high speed characteristics of the differential amplifier while providing stability from a common-mode loop by using dominant pole compensation. The disclosed system includes a first and second transconductance stage, a circuit having high impedance, and a compensation circuit.
US07679441B2	High frequency power amplifier A high frequency power amplifier comprises: an amplifier that amplifies signals received from a first input terminal and outputs amplified signals to an output terminal; a bypass route that connects a second input terminal to the output terminal without passing through the amplifier; a capacitor having a first end connected to the amplifier, and a second end connected to the output terminal; a first switch having a first terminal connected to the second end of the capacitor and to the output terminal, and a second terminal connected to the bypass route; an inductor connected in parallel with the capacitor; a second switch connected in parallel with the capacitor, and connected in series with the inductor; and a control unit that turns off the first switch and the second switch at a high power level and turns on the first switch and the second switch at a low power level.
US07679440B2	Feedforward amplifier There is disclosed a feedforward amplifier for compensating for distortion produced in an amplifier. The feedforward amplifier controls the phase in a vector adjuster effectively. The feedforward amplifier has a first variable phase shifter PH1—1 or PH2—1 for varying the phase of a signal passed through the first variable phase shifter and a second variable phase shifter PH1—2 or PH2—2 for varying the signal passed through the first variable phase shifter in either or both of a distortion detection loop for detecting the distortion and a distortion compensation loop for compensating for the distortion. A phase control portion controls the amount of variation in phase in the first variable phase shifter and values of the amount of variation in phase are concentrated toward either one of relatively-larger directions or relatively-smaller directions, the amount of variation in phase in the second phase shifter is controlled according to the concentrated values.
US07679439B2	Predistorter A predistorter for correcting distortion caused by a memory effect in amplifying a signal by an amplifier is provided. In the memory PD 2 provided to the predistorter, the level detection means 21 detects the level of the signal, the coefficient output means 22 outputs the coefficient corresponding to the detected level, the delay means 23 delays the output coefficient, the difference detection means 24 detects the difference between the output coefficient and the delayed coefficient, the multiplication means 25 multiplies the detected difference with the signal, and the combination means 26 combines the result of the multiplication and the signal. Thus, the result of the combination is output to the amplifier.
US07679438B2	High frequency circuit, semiconductor device, and high frequency power amplification device A small, high performance, multifunctional high frequency circuit that is multiband and multimode compatible reduces loss from a switch formed on the output side of a final stage amplification unit. The final stage amplification unit power amplifies an input signal and outputs an amplified signal. A first matching circuit impedance converts the amplified signal input thereto at a first input impedance, and outputs a first impedance-converted signal at a first output impedance. A control unit that generates a control signal denoting signal path selection information. A switch unit selects one of at least two signal paths based on the control signal, passes the first impedance-converted signal at an on impedance through the selected path, and outputs the pass signal. A second matching circuit impedance converts a pass signal input thereto at a second input impedance, and outputs a second impedance-converted signal at a second output.
US07679435B2	Digital input class-D amplifier A digital input class-D amplifier includes a decoder which outputs a plurality of lines of time-series digital signals having a density of 1 or 0 conforming to an input digital signal, an error integrator which integrates a difference between a drive waveform to be applied to a load and a sum of the plurality of lines of time-series digital signals output from the decoder, and a modulation circuit which generates a pulse modulated with a pulse width or a pulse density based on a result of integration performed by the error integrator. The load is driven in accordance with the pulse generated by the modulation circuit.
US07679432B2	Operation amplifier and circuit for providing dynamic current thereof An operation amplifier (op-amp) and a circuit for providing dynamic current thereof are disclosed. The circuit can be applied to any current op-amp. The circuit comprises two transistors which are simultaneously or non-simultaneously turned on as the input signals respectively received by the first input and the second input of the op-amp get a transition, namely, as the op-amp is in the transient state, so as to increase the bias current at the first input terminal or/and the second input terminal of the op-amp by a dynamic current. Therefore, not only the internal slew rate of the op-amp can be accelerated by the circuit of the present invention, but also the power consumption of the op-amp can not be increased by the circuit of the present invention as the op-amp in the steady state.
US07679427B2	Semiconductor device including a bias voltage generator A semiconductor device including a bias voltage generator formed from a junction field effect transistor (JFET). The JFET includes a control gate terminal and a first and a second source/drain terminal. The first and second source/drain terminals can form a first terminal of a p-n junction and the control gate terminal can form a second terminal of the p-n junction. The first terminal of the p-n junction can be provided with a first potential. The second terminal can be left essentially floating to provide a bias voltage. A bias receiving circuit can receive the bias voltage. The bias receiving circuit can be in close proximity on the semiconductor device to the bias voltage generator.
US07679412B2	Power supply circuit According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power supply circuit including: a detection circuit that is connected to an external power supply voltage and that outputs a first signal indicating whether the external power supply voltage is in a dropped-state in which the external power supply voltage is dropped below a reference voltage; a control circuit that includes: a delay circuit that outputs a second signal acquired by delaying the first signal for a reference time; and a determination circuit that outputs a third signal based on the first signal and the second signal; a generation circuit that generates internal power supply voltage from the external power supply voltage and that supplies the internal power supply voltage; and an interruption circuit that interrupts the internal power supply voltage supplied from the generation circuit based on the third signal.
US07679409B2	Semiconductor device having input circuit with auxiliary current sink A semiconductor device stabilizes an operation of an input buffer. A semiconductor device includes an input potential detection unit outputting a detection signal in response to a level of an input signal. An input buffer buffers the input signal by performing a differential amplifying operation through a first current sink unit. A second current sink unit, sharing an output with the input buffer, differentially amplifies the input signal of the input buffer in response to a level of the detection signal.
US07679407B2	Method and apparatus for providing peak detection circuitry for data communication systems Method and apparatus for providing a peak detection circuit comprising a diode including an input terminal and an output terminal the input terminal of the diode configured to receive an input signal, a capacitor operatively coupled to the output terminal of the diode, an output terminal operatively coupled to the capacitor and the output terminal of the diode for outputting an output signal is provided. Other equivalent switching configuration is further provided to effectively detect and compensate for a voltage droop from a power supply signal, as well as to electrically isolate the voltage droop from the system circuitry.
US07679404B2	Missing clock pulse detector A method to detect a missing a clock pulse is provided. The method begins by providing a clock signal and a delayed clock signal. The delayed clock signal is then sampled to generate a sample of the delayed clock signal. A missing clock pulse may be detected if the sample of the delayed clock signal does not equal an expected value of the delayed clock signal.
US07679400B2	System and method for local generation of programming data in a programmable device An apparatus for and method of programming a programmable logic device, the programmable logic device comprising a plurality of serially connected programmable logic regions. The method comprises the steps of receiving initial programming data for programming the plurality of serially connected programmable logic regions and receiving transformation data related to the presence and location of at least one faulty serially connected programmable logic region. The method also comprises the steps of generating bypass programming data which, in use, renders a serially connected programmable logic region logically invisible and generating effective programming data by incorporating, using information found in the transformation data, the bypass programming data into the initial programming data. Finally, the method comprises the step of programming the programmable logic device using the effective programming data such that the at least one faulty serially connected programmable logic region is programmed with the bypass programming data.
US07679397B1	Techniques for precision biasing output driver for a calibrated on-chip termination circuit Techniques are provided for controlling an on-chip termination (OCT) in an output driver. The OCT control circuit calibrates the effective resistance of transistors in the output driver to match an external resistor using a feedback loop. The feedback loop monitors the output voltage and generates an analog calibration signal that varies the output impedance of a selected group of the output transistors that are enabled to drive the output terminal. Digital signals under the control of the user select the number of output transistors to be enabled based on the output driver requirements of the circuit. The analog calibration signal varies the signal level driving the selected output transistors to modify the effective output impedance of the circuit for better termination matching.
US07679396B1	High speed integrated circuit Method and apparatus are disclosed for implementing low noise circuits. The method includes providing a first subcircuit and a second subcircuit, where the first subcircuit and the second subcircuit include substantially same circuit elements and have substantially same configuration and layout, providing one or more coupling capacitors configured to couple between a circuit power and a circuit ground that power the first subcircuit and the second subcircuit, providing one or more pairs of differential input signals to the first subcircuit and the second subcircuit, where the first subcircuit receives a differential signal and the second subcircuit receives a complement of the differential signal, operating the first subcircuit and the second subcircuit to generate one or more pairs of differential output signals using the one or more pairs of differential input signals.
US07679394B2	Power supply noise resistance testing circuit and power supply noise resistance testing method Provided is a power supply noise resistance testing circuit, in which a test pattern is applied to a data input portion of a functional block formed on a semiconductor chip and a voltage on which a power supply noise is superimposed is supplied to a power supply portion of the functional block, thereby testing a power supply noise resistance of the functional block. In the power supply noise resistance testing circuit, a power supply noise generating circuit for generating the power supply noise is provided around or inside the functional block. A power supply of the power supply noise generating circuit is connected with a power supply of the functional block through a connection path to transmit the power supply noise.
US07679378B2	Dual function capacitive sensor for seat occupant detection A dual function capacitive occupant detection sensor includes a capacitive load cell disposed below a seat cushion, an electric field emitter disposed above the seat cushion and a capacitance-responsive control circuit. The control circuit determines a seated weight of an occupant based on the load cell capacitance, and a coupling of the electric field through an occupant based on the capacitance between the electric field emitter and the vehicle ground. The measured seated weight and electric field coupling parameters are logically combined to detect an occupant and to distinguish between a normally seated occupant and a cinched down infant or child seat of similar apparent weight.
US07679375B2	System and method for detecting foreign objects in a product A system for detecting a change in material composition in a product including a microwave transmitter emitting a microwave signal at a predetermined microwave frequency composition, and an ultrasonic transmitter emitting an ultrasound signal at a predetermined ultrasound frequency composition into at least a part of the product to create a density displacement within the product. The system further includes a receiver to receive a microwave signal and/or an ultrasonic signal passed through at least apart of the product, device to measure the attenuation and/or runtime between each emitted signal and each received signal, respectively, under the influence of the created density displacement, and a comparator to compare the measured attenuation and/or runtime with a previously determined attenuation and/or runtime to determine a change in material composition to detect a possible change in material composition in a product.
US07679369B2	System and method to measure series-connected cell voltages using a flying capacitor A system and method for measuring voltage of individual cells connected in series includes a single flying capacitor. The capacitor stores the charge of one of the cells such that an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) connected to the capacitor may process an accurate representation of the voltage of the cell being measured. A plurality of switches electrically connects and disconnects the cells from the capacitor. A controller is in communication with the ADC and the switches for sequencing the switches and recording the voltage measurements of each cell. At least one precision voltage reference device is included to provide the ADC a reference voltage to provide self-calibration.
US07679368B2	Reflection coefficient measurement for water-based mud resistivity imaging A galvanic resistivity tool with one or more measurement electrodes and guard electrodes, and one or more shielding electrodes. The impedance seen by the measurement electrode (indicative of the formation resistivity) is determined by using a directional coupler that measures a reflection coefficient of an electrical signal.
US07679366B2	Selectable tap induction coil An electromagnetic logging tool includes a support configured for disposal in a well; at least one antenna mounted on the support; and a plurality of coils mounted on the support proximate the at least one antenna, wherein the plurality of the coils are configured for selective connection with the at least one antenna. A methods for balancing an induction array on an electromagnetic logging tool includes measuring a mutual coupling between a transmitter and a receiver on the electromagnetic logging tool; and selectively connecting a subset of a plurality of coils on the electromagnetic logging tool to the transmitter or the receiver based on the measured mutual coupling.
US07679364B2	Method and apparatus for high-gain magnetic resonance imaging An apparatus is disclosed for Magnetic Resonance Imaging with specialized imaging coils possessing high Signal-to-Noise-Ratios (SNR). Radio Frequency transmitting and/or Radio Frequency receiving elements include carbon nanotube material, a ballistic electrical conductor having a resistance that does not increase significantly with length. The shapes of the receiving and transmitting elements can be linear, curvilinear, or coiled. The carbon nanotube material can be layered. Due to their enhanced SNR properties, preferred embodiments have smaller static magnetic field strengths with imaging quality comparable to known field systems, leading to substantial reductions in system size and cost. Other preferred embodiments provide enhanced imaging with known MRI static magnetic field strengths.
US07679349B2	Switching systems and methods with current sensing Embodiments of the present invention include an electronic circuit for performing current sensing. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a first switching transistor and a second switching transistor both coupled to receive a first switching current and a switching signal, and one or more transistors coupled in a first series. A first terminal of an initial transistor in the first series is coupled to a second terminal of the second switching transistor. A second terminal of a last transistor in the first series is coupled to a reference voltage. The first switching current is coupled to a second node between the second terminal of the second switching transistor and the first terminal of the initial transistor in the first series. In this manner, the circuit produces a switching voltage corresponding to said first switching current.
US07679347B2	Closed-loop digital control system for a DC/DC converter A control system comprises a DC/DC converter that includes first and second inductances, that receives a first DC voltage and that generates a second DC voltage. A control module selectively charges or discharges the first inductance while discharging or charging the second inductance during a first mode and one of charges both of the first and second inductances or discharges both of the first and second inductances during a second mode.
US07679346B2	Power supply apparatus and operation-mode determining unit and method thereof A power supply apparatus and an operation-mode determining unit and a method thereof are provided. The power supply apparatus includes first and second control units, a switching unit, a power output unit, and an operation-mode determining unit. The first and second control units provide first and second control signals respectively. The switching unit selects to output the first or second control signal according to a switching signal. The power output unit adjusts its output power in accordance with the control signal output from the switching unit. The operation-mode determining unit compares an operation frequency in the power output unit with a reference frequency, and detects an inductor current in the power output unit. The operation-mode determining unit determines the state of a switching signal and outputs it to the switching unit in accordance with the comparison result and the detection result.
US07679343B2	Power supply system and method for controlling output voltage A power supply system including an external power supply unit generating direct-current output voltage and an electronic device connected to the external power supply unit and operable on the output voltage of the external power supply unit. The external power supply unit includes a voltage control circuit receiving control current and controlling the output voltage of the external power supply unit in accordance with the control current. The voltage control circuit controls the output voltage of the external power supply unit to be equal to the minimum voltage possible for the external power supply unit to generate when the control current is minimum.
US07679334B2	Power supply unit and electric apparatus Provided is a power supply unit for supplying power to an electric apparatus, comprising an indicator unit, an introduction-detecting unit for detecting introduction of the electric apparatus into a vehicle for transportation of the electric apparatus, a voltage-detecting unit for detecting the voltage of the power source, a memory unit for storing a first voltage and a second voltage lower than the first voltage, a judgment unit for determining whether the voltage of the power source detected by the voltage-detecting unit is higher than the first voltage and a forced discharge unit. The forced discharge unit is configured to cause the indicator unit to notify if the electric apparatus is in a state prohibiting introduction into the vehicle and forcibly discharge the power source.
US07679333B2	Delay time generation circuit, semiconductor device for protecting secondary batteries using delay time generation circuit, battery pack, and electronic device A delay time generation circuit is disclosed that includes a counter circuit composed of plural cascade-connected flip-flop circuits for counting a pulse number of an input clock signal and uses as a delay time signal an inverse signal of an output of the last stage or a predetermined stage of the flip-flop circuits of the counter circuit. In the delay time generation circuit, a delay time is generated by the use of an output signal of one of the flip-flop circuits precedent to the last stage or the predetermined stage flip-flop circuit of the counter circuit at testing an electronic circuit. This configuration makes it possible to reduce the delay time without using a special high-speed clock.
US07679332B2	Delay time control circuit in a battery protector to reduce delay time A battery protection IC using charging control pin, Cout, so as to reduce delay time during CP test or FT test for is disclosed. The battery protection IC has a delay time control circuit including a comparator and a delay signal selector. The comparator has a negative input terminal connected to VCC, a positive input terminal connected with the Cout pin and an output terminal connected to the delay signal selector. To perform foregoing test, a voltage source is added to activate the short delay time mode rather than a normal delay time one.
US07679330B2	Protection circuit A protection circuit is provided, which protects a battery pack from overcurrents and overvoltages using sensing means and a protection device having a heating resistor and a fuse element provided on a circuit board. This protection circuit allows for sharing a protection device regardless of the current rating and the voltage rating of the battery pack, thereby being manufactured at low costs.
US07679329B2	Method for compensating state of charge of battery, battery management system using the method, and hybrid vehicle having the battery management system In an SOC compensation method, a first SOC having at least two sections is detected, and a first OCV corresponding to the first SOC is calculated; a second OCV is calculated by using the measured pack current and voltage, and an internal resistance, and a second SOC corresponding to the second OCV is calculated; when a difference between the first and second OCVs is greater than a first reference, a first compensation value corresponding to the first SOC among at least two first compensation values corresponding to the two sections is used to compensate the first SOC; and when a difference between the first and second OCVs is less than a second reference, a second compensation value corresponding to the first SOC among at least two second compensation values corresponding to the two sections is used to compensate the first SOC value.
US07679327B2	Method of estimating state of charge of battery Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for accurately estimating a state of charge of a battery, which can measure a change of temperature and an open circuit voltage so as to estimate the state of charge at an initial time when a vehicle is not driven, and while measuring a decrement in a capacity of a battery according to charging and discharging of the battery when the vehicle is driven. The method includes the steps of: measuring a temperature in an initial estimation of the state of charge; measuring an open circuit voltage; obtaining parameters indicating a change of the open circuit voltage according to a change of temperature; and calculating the state of charge using the parameters and the open circuit voltage which is measured depending on the obtained parameters. The method further includes the steps of: measuring electric current in order to integrate the electric current during an estimation of the state of charge after initial time; calculating a decrement in capacity of the battery according to cycles; and estimating the state of charge by dividing a value, which is obtained by integrating electric current, by the decrement in the capacity of the battery according to the cycles.
US07679325B2	Battery management system and driving method for cutting off and coupling battery module from/to external device A battery management system for controlling a secondary battery module which includes a plurality of unit batteries includes a sensor, a comparator and a controller. The sensor sequentially measures respective voltages of the unit batteries. The comparator compares the respective voltages of the unit batteries to a cut-off voltage range and a recovery voltage range to determine if the voltages are within the cut-off voltage range and the recovery voltage range. The controller receives comparison results from the comparator, cuts off the secondary battery module from an external device when there is at least one unit battery within the cutoff voltage range, and couples the secondary battery module to the external device when all of the unit batteries are within the recovery voltage range.
US07679316B2	Method and apparatus for controlling a charging state in a mobile electronic device In accordance with the teachings described herein, a method and apparatus for handling a charging state in a mobile device is provided. A universal serial bus (USB) interface may be used for connecting the mobile device to a USB host. A processing device may be used to execute programs and to control operation of the mobile device, the processing device may be further operable to receive an enumeration acknowledgement signal from the USB host via the USB interface. A rechargeable battery may be used for powering the processing device. A voltage regulator may be coupled to the USB interface and operable to receive a USB bus voltage from the USB interface and use the USB bus voltage to power the processing device. A timing circuitry may be used to disable the voltage regulator from powering the processing device after a pre-determined amount of time has expired, the timing circuitry being operable to measure the passage of the pre-determined amount of time upon detecting the USB bus voltage. A battery charger may be used to receive the USB bus voltage from the USB interface and use the USB bus voltage to power the processing device and to charge the rechargeable battery. The processing device may enable the battery charger to power the processing device and to charge the rechargeable battery when the enumeration acknowledgement signal is received from the USB host.
US07679314B2	Multiple battery system for reliably supplying electrical energy to an electrical system A multiple battery system includes a battery housing, first and second batteries disposed in the battery housing, a one-way charging circuit, and at least one switching device. The battery housing includes at least one positive terminal and at least one negative terminal, which are electrically coupleable to an electrical system. Each battery includes respective positive and negative outputs. The negative output of each battery is electrically connected to the negative terminal(s) of the battery housing. The one-way charging circuit is electrically connected between the positive outputs of the two batteries and is configured to facilitate charging of, but prevent current flow from, the second battery when the first battery is supplying electrical energy to the electrical system. The switching device(s) is operable in at least two states to selectively electrically connect the positive terminal(s) of the battery housing to a selective one of the positive outputs of the two batteries.
US07679311B2	System and method for dynamic field weakening A field weakening control system for use with an induction motor is disclosed. The field weakening control system has a sensing device configured to generate a signal indicative of a speed of the induction motor and a controller. The controller is configured to determine an initial voltage command based on the signal and determine an acceleration of the induction motor based on the signal. The controller is also configured to generate a desired voltage command based on at least one of the initial voltage command and the acceleration.
US07679307B2	Electronic method for starting a compressor A motor starting apparatus (10) includes a motor starting relay (112) to switch a motor starting capacitor (110) into a motor circuit across a run capacitor (111). The system control (116) includes an electronic voltage measurement circuit to measure a winding voltage (113, 114) of the motor winding (102, 103). The system control (116) also includes a microprocessor to run an algorithm that causes the system control to switch the starting capacitor (110) out of the motor circuit when a measured winding voltage (113, 114) exceeds a winding voltage threshold. A method to start a motor includes the steps of determining a motor winding voltage (113, 114) threshold; closing the motor starting capacitor relay (112) when needed; closing a contactor (108, 109) to supply power to the motor starting apparatus and the motor circuit; measuring a winding voltage (113, 114); comparing the measured winding voltage (113, 114) to the voltage threshold; and opening the starting capacitor relay (112) when measured winding voltage (113, 114) exceeds the voltage threshold indicating that the motor has been started.
US07679294B1	Method and system to eliminate fluorescent lamp striations by using capacitive energy compensation A method and system for reducing and/or eliminating striations from gas discharge lamps powered by an electronic ballast charges a capacitive energy device, which is coupled in parallel with the lamp, when the capacitive energy device detects that a predetermined lamp voltage condition has been satisfied. The system/method supplements the current supplied to the lamp by the electronic ballast with current supplied from the capacitive energy device when the predetermined lamp voltage condition is not satisfied. The supplemental current supplied to the lamp creates a harmonic-rich lamp current waveform that reduces and/or eliminates striations.
US07679293B2	Anti-striation circuit for current-fed ballast An electronic ballast circuit having at least two distinct switching cycles also includes an anti-striation feature. More particularly the electronic ballast includes an input section configured to receive an input from a power source. A resonant section receives the signals from the input section in order to generate a resonant signal. An anti-striation component is connected within the electronic ballast circuit to affect operation of the resonant section, which results in an affected resonant signal. A switching arrangement is configured to receive the affected resonant signal from the resonant section and anti-striation component, and is further configured to generate an asymmetric output signal due to the affects of the anti-resonant component, wherein the anti-striation component causes parameters of the resonant section of the electronic ballast circuit to be different for different switching cycles of the electronic ballast circuit. An output section is provided to output the asymmetric output signal to a lamp system.
US07679286B1	Positive column tubular PDP A positive column gas discharge plasma display device with one or more ionizable gas filled elongated Plasma-tubes. The display may be a dual substrate or a single substrate device. One or more substrates may be of a flexible material. The ionizable gas produces photons in the UV, IR, and/or visible range during gas discharge. An impervious barrier is positioned between the gas discharge cells in adjacent tubes to minimize or prevent optical cross-talk between pixels in adjacent tubes. The photons may excite one or more luminescent materials located on or in close proximity to one or more Plasma-tubes. The plasma display device may contain at least one Plasma-shell filled with an ionizable gas that produces photons in the UV, IR, and/or visible range during gas discharge. Plasma-shell includes Plasma-disc, Plasma-dome, and Plasma-sphere.
US07679284B2	Light emitting device and electronic apparatus A light emitting device includes a substrate, a plurality of light emitting elements, an element layer, an auxiliary electrode, and an insulating layer. An effective region in which the plurality of light emitting elements are arranged and a peripheral region that surrounds the effective region are provided on the substrate. Each of the light emitting elements includes a first electrode, a second electrode and a light emitting layer located between the first electrode and the second electrode. A circuit element is arranged in the element layer to control emission of light of the light emitting elements. The auxiliary electrode is electrically connected to the second electrode. The second electrode covers the effective region and is formed uniformly so as to extend into the peripheral region. The auxiliary electrode extends through a gap between adjacent light emitting elements in the effective region and is formed partly in the peripheral region.
US07679283B2	EL display device, method of manufacturing the same, and electronic apparatus An EL display device has first and second pixel electrodes and a counter electrode formed of a transparent conductive film, a sealing-side light-emitting area for extracting light emitted from a light-emitting functional layer from a sealing member formed on the first pixel electrode, a substrate-side light-emitting area for extracting light emitted from the light-emitting functional layer from the substrate is formed on the second pixel electrode, a light-shielding layer which is adjacent to the first pixel electrode in the sealing-side light-emitting area and the counter electrode in the substrate-side light-emitting area is formed, and the light-emitting functional layer emits light independently in the sealing-side light-emitting area and the substrate-side light-emitting area.
US07679280B2	Substrate having a light emitter and image display device An image display device which prevents damage to an electron-emitting device from discharge between a faceplate and a rear plate is provided. A conductive plate 12 including a transparent conductive film is formed over a surface of a substrate 1, a distance specifying member 13 having a plurality of openings is formed on the conductive area 12, a fluorescent material 14 is arranged in the opening, and a conductive film 15 is arranged on the fluorescent material 14 to for a face plate. A resistance Rx between the adjacent conductive films 15 is set larger than a resistance Rz between the conductive film 15 and the conductive area 12. Discharge current generated between each conductive film 15 and a rear plate 21 is caused to flow into the conductive area 12 by applying anode voltage to the conductive area 12, which suppresses influence on an electron-emitting device 23.
US07679277B2	Light emitting device provided with semiconducting phosphor configured with four fluorescences having different emission peak wavelengths A light emitting device includes a light emitting element having an emission peak wavelength of 350 nm-420 nm and a phosphor absorbing light from this light emitting element and emitting fluorescence having a different emission peak wavelength. The phosphor is formed of a semiconductor material that allows the emission peak wavelength to be controlled by transition across the bandgap, and is configured with four or more fluorescences having different emission peak wavelengths. Thus, it is possible to provide a light emitting device which has a relatively simple structure to keep high theoretical efficiency limit and achieves good general color rendering index (Ra) and special color rendering index (R9).
US07679272B2	Multi-layer piezoelectric element To provide a multi-layer piezoelectric device having excellent durability in which the amount of displacement does not change even when the piezoelectric actuator is subjected to continuous operation over a long period of time under a high voltage and a high pressure, the multi-layer piezoelectric device comprises a stack formed by stacking piezoelectric layers and internal electrodes alternately one on another and external electrodes formed on a first side face and on a second side face of the stack, wherein one of the adjacent internal electrodes is connected to the external electrode formed on the first side face and the other internal electrode is connected to the external electrode formed on the second side face, while content of alkali metal in a range from 5 ppm to 300 ppm is contained.
US07679264B2	Driving mechanism A driving mechanism comprises: (i) an actuator comprising: an electro-mechanical conversion element; and a driving member which moves according to elongation and contraction of the electro-mechanical conversion element; (ii) a driven member frictionally engaged with the driving member; and (iii) a case, wherein the actuator allows the driven member to move along the driving member, and the actuator is supported by the case laterally in elongating and contracting directions of the electro-mechanical conversion element.
US07679262B2	Piezoelectric micro-pump and driving circuit thereof The present invention is a driving circuit applied to a piezoelectric activation element, which comprises: a driving period generation unit and a switch circuit unit. The driving period generation unit further comprises: a driving indication signal and a programmable micro-controller, in which the programmable micro-controller is to receive the driving indication signal, and to generate a programmable driving period signal in response to the driving indication signal; and, the switch circuit unit is connected to the driving period generation unit and the piezoelectric activation element, and to receive the driving period signal, and generate an alternate driving voltage in response to the driving period signal; in which, the half-wave leading edge of the alternate driving voltage has the waveform of a parabolic curve waveform, and the half-wave trailing edge of the alternate driving voltage has the waveform of approximately a vertical line waveform, and the alternate driving voltage is connected to the piezoelectric activation element.
US07679261B2	Electrostatic actuator, device comprising such actuators, microsystem comprising such a device and method for making such an actuator An electrostatic actuator including: at least one fixed electrode, fixed with respect to a substrate; at least one flexible electrode arranged to face the substrate; a pivot member extending from the flexible electrode, the pivot member being fixed to a face of the flexible electrode facing the fixed electrode, and the pivot member being made from a conducting material; and at least one suspending unit suspending the flexible electrode and holding the flexible electrode at rest at a distance from the substrate, wherein the suspending unit and the pivot member are different.
US07679258B2	Eccentric rotor and vibration motor incorporating the eccentric rotor A vibration motor includes a housing, a stator (10) received in the housing (30) and a rotor (20) rotatably disposed in the stator. The stator includes two claw-pole assemblies (11) arranged back-to-back, and a shaft (23) being fixedly connected with the two claw-pole assemblies. The rotor includes a bearing (22) rotatably mounted around the shaft, a permanent magnet (26) mounted around the bearing, and an eccentric weight (24) fixedly attached to the permanent magnet. The eccentric weight includes a main body (240) and at least one inserting portion (244) having a density higher than that of the main body.
US07679257B2	Planar commutator, rotor and direct current electric motor In a direct current electric motor, segment pieces of a commutator are generally planar and are arranged one after another in a circumferential direction about a rotational axis of the commutator. A slidably engaging surface of each segment piece, which is slidably engageable with a plurality of brushes of the motor, extends in a plane that is generally perpendicular to the rotational axis, and each segment piece includes a radially inner engaging portion at a radially inner end part of the segment piece. Each conductive line extends along a corresponding straight line and electrically interconnects between the radially inner engaging portions of corresponding two of the plurality of segment pieces to implement the same electric potential in the corresponding two of the plurality of segment pieces.
US07679253B2	Stator assembly with cascaded winding and method of making same A stator assembly for a dynamoelectric machine featuring a cascaded construction includes several conductors, each having a plurality of slot segments interconnected by plurality of end loop segments. The consecutive slot segments of a first conductor forms nearly all of a radially-outermost first layer of the stator winding, with the remaining portion of the radially-outermost winding layer being defined by a slot segment of a second conductor that is then inserted into the core to form nearly all of a second layer of the stator winding radially-inwardly of the first winding layer. The second winding layer is completed with an additional single slot segment of the first conductor.
US07679250B2	Device for fixing permanent magnets inside the cylinder head of a field winding of an electrical engine The invention relates to a device for fixing permanent magnets inside the cylinder head of a field winding of an electric engine. The inventive device comprises spring clips (12) which are disposed between the permanent magnets in order to ensure the angular positioning and the axial and radial support of said magnets against the inner wall of the head. The end of each clip (12) which first penetrates the head when the permanent magnets are being inserted, comprises means for axially sliding on the inner cylindrical wall of the head, while preventing any contact with an end edge of the clip. Moreover, the clip is set apart from the head by means of at least one boss (17) which is provided on the core (16), and said boss is in turn set back from the edge and disposed between two fins (14) for the axial locking of the magnets.
US07679245B2	Repulsive lift systems, flywheel energy storage systems utilizing such systems and methods related thereto Featured is a method for passively-repulsively lifting a rotor assembly (11) of a flywheel energy storage system (10), comprising the steps of mechanically coupling a first permanent magnet (204a) to the rotor assembly (11) and fixedly positioning a second permanent magnet (204b) proximal to the first permanent magnet (204a) so that a repulsive force is generated therebetween causing the first permanent magnet (204a) to move with respect to the second permanent magnet (204b), thereby causing the rotor assembly (11) to be lifted to an operating level. The method further includes applying a radial force sufficient in magnitude and direction to oppose a radial force being generated by the permanent magnet repulsive force. Also featured is a passive-repulsive rotor assembly lift system (100) for a flywheel energy storage system (10) and a flywheel energy storage system (10) including such a repulsive rotor lift system (100).
US07679230B2	Brushless motor and fan unit A stator core 35 includes a core back 352 of a substantially annular shape. At a radially outer end portion of the core back 352 four teeth 351 are arranged radially. At the teeth 351, a coil 371 is formed by winding a magnet wire 37 via an insulator 36. A first insulator 361 configuring a lower half of the insulator 36 includes a first core back insulating portion 3611, 1 first teeth insulating portion 3612, and a first cylindrical portion 3613. A hook portion 4 is formed at the first core back insulating portion 3611 at radially outer side, and between the teeth 351. The magnet wire 37 extracted from the coil 371 is hooked on the hook portion 4. The magnet wire 37 hooked on the hook portion 4 is lead the magnet wire 37 around the hook portion 4 as a base, and is soldered to a land 381 formed above a circuit board 38.
US07679228B2	Electromagnetic actuator In an electromagnetic actuator including a bearing member which slidably supports a variable core, a yoke for retaining a coil assembly by cooperation with a bottom wall of a housing is connected to the housing, and the bearing member is fitted into the yoke. A support for supporting an outward-facing flange formed at one end of the bearing member is mounted on the bottom wall, and a set spring for biasing the outward-facing flange toward the support is mounted under compression between the outward-facing flange and the first yoke. A low-friction material coating made of a fluorocarbon resin is formed on at least one of opposed sliding surfaces of the bearing member and a movable core. Thus, even if wear powder is generated between the set spring of the bearing member and a portion on which the set spring is pressed, the wear powder is prevented from entering inside the bearing member.
US07679227B2	Working machine with an electromagnetic converter Machine with an electromechanical converter, where a linear movable piston (30) is placed in a tubular cylinder casing (20). The piston supports a row of centrally placed annular permanent magnets (38) which produce an electromagnetic field of force. This is effective towards a surrounding row of annular coils (21). Such a machine can be driven as a motor or as a generator with a minimum of movable parts. At the ends of the closed cylinder is formed a chamber (40, 50), which forms a gas spring. In its simplest form the machine acts as a vibrator or as a vibration-driven generator. Additionally, to the gas springs, and at least at one end of the cylinder casing, can be placed a helical spring which ensures the central position of rest of the piston in the case of vertical installation. The piston can be connected to an axial bar (34) which is lead out of the machine on its one end for transmission of kinetic energy to or from the machine.
US07679217B2	Apparatus, system, and method for a high efficiency redundant power system An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a high efficiency redundant power system. First and second power supplies are connected in parallel to power a load. Each power supply includes a primary stage and a regulator stage. Each primary stage regulates voltage on an internal bus that is input for each regulator stage. Each regulator stage regulates a regulated bus connected to the load. A power meter detects power provided to the load and determines if the provided power is below a predefined power threshold. A regulator control module shuts down the regulator stage of the first power supply after the provided power falls below the predefined power threshold so the second power supply powers the load and the primary stage of the first power supply remains operational. A recovery module starts up the regulator stage of the first power supply after failure of the second power supply.
US07679212B2	Vehicle accessory touch switch A touch switch for controlling accessory equipment of a vehicle in such a manner that malfunctions caused by factors such as changes in atmospheric conditions, receipt of an electromagnetic impulse, or the like can be avoided. A vehicle accessory touch switch comprises a touch section having a sensor conductor plate which is touched by an operator, a capacitance measurement section which measures a change in electrostatic capacity of the sensor conductor plate to a ground conductor as a sensor conductor plate capacity change, and a control section which controls accessory equipment according to comparison between the sensor conductor plate capacity change and a control judgment value, wherein the vehicle accessory touch switch controls the accessory equipment according to an operator touching the touch section, a sub-conductor plate is disposed, the capacitance measurement section measures a change in electrostatic capacity between the sub-conductor plate and the ground conductor as a sub-conductor plate capacity change, and the control section decides the control judgment value according to the sub-conductor plate capacity change measured by the capacitance measurement section.
US07679210B2	Vehicle wheel electricity generating device A vehicle wheel electricity generating device for a automotive vehicle comprising a generator rotor winding (2) and a stator (4). A wind actuated component (3) is rotatably connected to a vehicle wheel (12), said rotator winding (2) is fixedly connected to the vehicle wheel (12), and said stator (4) is fixedly arranged on the wind actuated component (3). During the traveling of the automotive vehicle, the wind actuated component (3) rotates with respect to the vehicle wheel (12), such that the generator rotator winding (2) rotates with respect to the stator (4) to generate electricity.
US07679208B1	Apparatus and system for pitch angle control of wind turbine A pitch control apparatus for controlling the pitch value for a wind power generation system includes a generator comparing unit that calculates an error signal based on a difference between a generator measurement signal corresponding with an operation of the power generation system and a generator reference signal, and a reference pitch calculating unit that calculates a reference pitch value using the error signal. The pitch control apparatus further includes a compensation pitch calculating unit that calculates a compensation pitch value using an error value from the wind power generation system and a pitch calculating unit that calculates a pitch value using the reference pitch value and the compensation pitch value. The error value may be any one of a voltage error value from a direct-current capacitor, a voltage error value from a grid connection point, a speed error value from a rotor, and a frequency error value from a grid connection point.
US07679207B2	Augmented wind power generation system using continuously variable transmission and method of operation A wind power generating apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of vertically stacked wind acceleration modules that are shaped to accelerate wind passing between them. At least one of the modules includes a rotor assembly, a continuously variable transmission (CVT) mechanically coupled to the rotor assembly, and an electrical generator mechanically coupled to the CVT. The electrical generator is capable of converting mechanical energy transferred by the CVT from the rotor assembly into electrical energy. A sensor may be mechanically coupled to the rotor assembly or the electrical generator and electrically coupled to a controller. The controller may control the CVT according to a signal received from the sensor such that the electrical generator operates within a predetermined range of rotational velocities.
US07679202B2	Semiconductor device having symbol pattern utilized as identification sign A plurality of device patterns constituting part of an electronic circuit are formed over the surface of a substrate. A symbol pattern to be used for an identification sign is formed in the same layer as the device patterns. A width of the device pattern is within a pattern width range on a design rule. The symbol pattern is formed by a plurality of isolated element patterns. The element pattern is either a linear pattern or a dot pattern. A width of the element pattern is equal to or larger than 0.8 time a lower limit value of the pattern width range and equal to or smaller than 1.2 times an upper limit value of the pattern width range.
US07679199B2	Semiconductor apparatus A semiconductor apparatus capable of simply detecting a crack generated in plural semiconductor chips while the design freedom is improved, includes a first semiconductor chip and a second semiconductor chip that is laminated on the first semiconductor chip, in which a first wiring that is formed along the outer periphery of the first semiconductor chip and a second wiring that is formed along the outer periphery of the second semiconductor chip are connected in series.
US07679188B2	Semiconductor device having a bump formed over an electrode pad To provide a high-performance, highly-reliable semiconductor device in which an adhesive used to mount (e.g., flip-chip mount) a semiconductor chip on a substrate has less air bubbles, and a low-cost, efficient method for manufacturing the same. Semiconductor device 10 of the present invention includes semiconductor chip 11 having a plurality of electrode pads 12, and substrate 14 having a plurality of electrode terminals 15 at positions corresponding to electrode pads 12. A plurality of bumps 13, each composed of base part 13A and protruding part 13B having a diameter smaller than the diameter of base part 13A, is formed on at least one of electrode pads 12 in such a way that the respective base parts 13A of bumps 13 are in contact with each other, and semiconductor chip 11 is bonded to substrate 14 with adhesive 17 in a state where bumps 13 are electrically connected to electrode terminals 15.
US07679180B2	Bond pad design to minimize dielectric cracking An improved via arrangement for a bonding pad structure is disclosed comprising an array of vias surrounded by a line via. The line via provides a barrier to cracks in the dielectric layer encompassing the via array. Although cracks are able to spread relatively unhindered between the vias of the via array, they are blocked by the line via and thus can not spread to neighboring regions of the chip or wafer. The line via can be provided in a variety of shapes and dimensions, to suit a desired application. Additionally, due to its substantially uninterrupted length, the line via provides added strength to the bond pad.
US07679179B2	Castellation wafer level packaging of integrated circuit chips Systems and methods for packaging integrated circuit chips in castellation wafer level packaging are provided. The active circuit areas of the chips are coupled to castellation blocks and, depending on the embodiment, input/output pads. The castellation blocks and input/output pads are encapsulated and held in place by an encapsulant. When the devices are being fabricated, the castellation blocks and input/output pads are sawed through. If necessary, the wafer portion on which the devices are fabricated may be thinned. The packages may be used as a leadless chip carrier package or may be stacked on top of one another. When stacked, the respective contacts of the packages are preferably coupled. Data may be written to, and received from, packaged chips when a chip is activated. Chips may be activated by applying the appropriate signal or signals to the appropriate contact or contacts.
US07679178B2	Semiconductor package on which a semiconductor device can be stacked and fabrication method thereof A semiconductor package on which a semiconductor device can be stacked and fabrication method thereof are provided. The fabrication method includes the steps of mounting and electrically connecting at least one semiconductor chip on the substrate, mounting an electrical connecting structure consisting of an upper layer circuit board and a lower layer circuit board on the substrate and electrically connecting the electrical connecting structure to the substrate, where the semiconductor chip is received in a receiving space formed in the electrical connecting structure; forming an encapsulant on the substrate encapsulating the semiconductor chip and the electrical connecting structure, and after the encapsulant is formed, exposing top surface of the upper layer circuit board with a plurality of solder pads from the encapsulant to allow at least one semiconductor device to electrically connect the upper layer circuit board so as to form a stack structure.
US07679177B2	Integrated circuit packaging system with passive components An integrated circuit packaging system comprising: fabricating a system-in-package substrate; mounting a first integrated circuit die on the system-in-package substrate; mounting a second integrated circuit die on the system-in-package substrate; and coupling a passive component over and between the first integrated circuit die and the second integrated circuit die.
US07679168B2	Printed circuit board with differential pair arrangement A printed circuit board (PCB) with a differential pair arrangement includes a mounting area for receiving a chip, a plurality of first pads located near one edge of the mounting area, a plurality of second pads located near an opposite edge of the mounting area, the first pads and the second pads are arranged for receiving pins of the chip. A pair of vias is used for connecting layers of the PCB. The second pads are located between the vias and the mounting area. A differential pair includes two signal traces, one of the signal traces is connected to one of the first pads and routed to one of the vias through the mounting area, the other of the signal traces is routed through the mounting area and connected to one of the second pads and then routed to the other one of the vias.
US07679167B2	Electronic assembly for image sensor device and fabrication method thereof A package module for an image sensor device is disclosed. The package module comprises a device chip disposed between lower and upper substrates. A first conductive layer is over a first sidewall of the lower substrate and insulated from the device chip. A first protective layer is on the first conductive layer and exposes a portion of the first conductive layer over the first sidewall of the lower substrate. A first pad is on the bottom surface of the lower substrate and is electrically connected to the first conductive layer. The invention also discloses an electronic assembly for an image sensor device and a fabrication method thereof.
US07679155B2	Multiple magneto-resistance devices based on doped magnesium oxide The present invention provides a low resistance high magnetoresistance (MR) device comprised of a junction of two magnetic elements separated by a magnesium oxide (MgO) layer doped with such metals as Al and Li. Such device can be used as a sensor of magnetic field in magnetic recording or as a storage element in magnetic random access memory (MRAM). The invention provides a high-MR device possessing a diode function, comprised of a double junction of two outer magnetic elements separated by two MgO insulating layer and a center MgO layer doped with such metals as Al and Li. Such device provides design advantages when used as a storage element in MRAM. The invention with MR wherein a gate electrode is placed in electrical or physical contact to the center layer of the double tunnel junction.
US07679153B2	Sealed surface acoustic wave element package An electronic component includes: a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposing to the first surface; a trans-substrate conductive plug that penetrates the semiconductor substrate from the first surface to the second surface; an electronic element provided in the vicinity of the first surface of the semiconductor; and a sealing member that seals the electronic element between the sealing member and the first surface, wherein the electronic element is electrically connected to the trans-substrate conductive plug.
US07679149B2	Method of removing refractory metal layers and of siliciding contact areas A method of formation of contacts with cobalt silicide since is disclosed. For example, after siliciding with the SOM solution, both unreacted sections of the deposition layer including, for example, cobalt as initial layer for the siliciding and an oxidation protection layer including titanium and deposited by means of cathode beam sputtering, for instance, may be removed rapidly and with high selectivity relative to the cobalt silicide and other, densified metal structures and metal layers.
US07679135B2	FinFET device with gate electrode and spacers A semiconductor device includes a source region, a drain region, and a fin that connects the source region to the drain region. A gate electrode having a substantially planar surface overlies the fin and is positioned between the drain region and the source region. A first set of spacers is positioned between a first sidewall of the gate electrode and the source region and between a second sidewall of the gate electrode and the drain region. A second set of spacers is positioned on at least a portion of a top surface of the source region and the drain region and alongside at least a portion of the first set of spacers. At least a portion of sidewalls of the second set of spacers contacts a portion of the first or second sidewall of the gate electrode.
US07679134B1	FinFET device with multiple fin structures A semiconductor device includes a group of fin structures. The group of fin structures includes a conductive material and is formed by growing the conductive material in an opening of an oxide layer. The semiconductor device further includes a source region formed at one end of the group of fin structures, a drain region formed at an opposite end of the group of fin structures, and at least one gate.
US07679133B2	Vertical-type non-volatile memory devices In a semiconductor device, and a method of manufacturing thereof, the device includes a substrate of single-crystal semiconductor material extending in a horizontal direction and a plurality of interlayer dielectric layers on the substrate. A plurality of gate patterns are provided, each gate pattern being between a neighboring lower interlayer dielectric layer and a neighboring upper interlayer dielectric layer. A vertical channel of single-crystal semiconductor material extends in a vertical direction through the plurality of interlayer dielectric layers and the plurality of gate patterns, a gate insulating layer being between each gate pattern and the vertical channel that insulates the gate pattern from the vertical channel.
US07679128B2	Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, comprising a semiconductor substrate; a gate insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate; a plurality of first polycrystalline silicon layers formed on the gate insulating film and including recesses formed therebetween; an inter-gate insulating film formed along the recesses on the first polycrystalline silicon layers; a second polycrystalline silicon layer having an upper flat surface and formed directly on the inter-gate insulating film; an etch-stopping insulating film made from a material different from a material of the inter-gate insulating films and formed on the second polycrystalline silicon layers into a flat plate shape, the etch-stopping insulating film being located immediately above the recesses between the first polycrystalline silicon layers so as to cover the first polycrystalline silicon layers and the recesses between the first polycrystalline silicon layers; and a third polycrystalline silicon layer formed on the etch-stopping insulating film.
US07679125B2	Back-gated semiconductor device with a storage layer and methods for forming thereof A method of making a semiconductor device includes providing a first wafer and providing a second wafer having a first side and a second side, the second wafer including a semiconductor substrate, a storage layer, and a layer of gate material. The storage layer may be located between the semiconductor structure and the layer of the gate material and the storage layer may be located closer to the first side of the second wafer than the semiconductor structure. The method further includes boding the first side of the second wafer to the first wafer. The method further includes removing a first portion of the semiconductor structure to leave a layer of the semiconductor structure after the bonding. The method further includes forming a transistor having a channel region, wherein at least a portion of the channel region is formed from the layer of the semiconductor structure.
US07679120B2	Method for the production of a semiconductor substrate comprising a plurality of gate stacks on a semiconductor substrate, and corresponding semiconductor structure A semiconductor structure having a plurality of gate stacks on a semiconductor substrate provided with a gate dielectric. The gate stacks have a lower first layer made of polysilicon, an overlying second layer made of a metal silicide, and an upper third layer made of an insulating material, and a sidewall oxide on the sidewalls of the first and second layers. The sidewall oxide is thinned or removed on one of the sidewalls, and the gate stacks have sidewall spacers made of the insulating material.
US07679114B2	Image pickup device and camera for converting charges into voltage An object is to provide a solid state image pickup device and a camera which do not worsen a sensor performance in terms of an optical property, a saturated charge amount and the like. A solid state image sensor including a pixel region having a plurality of pixels includes at least a photodiode and an amplifying portion amplifying photocharges outputted from the photodiode in the pixel region, and further includes a well electrode for taking well potential of a well region in which the amplifying portion is arranged. Between the well electrode and the photodiode, no element isolation regions by an insulation film are arranged. Moreover, on the surface of a first semiconductor region in which the photodiode stores the charges, a second semiconductor layer of a conductivity type reverse to that of the first semiconductor region is arranged.
US07679109B2	Semiconductor device, layout design method thereof, and layout design device using the same A semiconductor device having a multilayer structure, each layer including: a dummy pattern for ensuring a flatness thereof; a pad area in which a bonding pad is formed; an input-output circuit area in which an input-output circuit is formed, the input-output circuit area being adjacent to the pad area in plan view; and a dummy pattern confined area for forbidding an arrangement of the dummy pattern in every layer included in the semiconductor device, the dummy pattern confined area being provided between the pad area and the input-output circuit area in plan view.
US07679108B2	Semiconductor memory and fabrication method for the same A semiconductor memory includes a plurality of active regions; a plurality of bit line contacts disposed on respective active regions; a plurality of first local lines formed in an island shape and in contact with upper surfaces of the plurality of bit line contacts; a plurality of first via contacts in contact with the upper surfaces of the plurality of first local lines and aligned in a direction parallel to the active regions; a first bit line in contact with one of the plurality of first via contacts and extending in a direction parallel to the active regions; and a plurality of second via contacts arranged above the first via contacts that are not in contact with the first bit line through respective second local lines.
US07679096B1	Integrated LED heat sink A heat sink for use with a high output LED light source is disclosed. The heat sink is used with an LED and conical reflector. The heat sink has a cylindrical back end holding the light emitting diode. The heat sink includes a conically shaped wall having an inner and outer surface and an open front end. The open front end has a rim with notches. The reflector has a front flat surface with arms which are fixed in the notches with a fastener. The heat sink includes a plurality of slits formed on the inner and outer surfaces extending between the back and front ends. A plurality of vanes extend radially from the inner surface. The heat sink is fabricated from a thermally conductive material. The conical shape of the heat sink, the slits and vanes increases exposed surface area to assist in dissipating heat generated from the LED.
US07679085B2	Display device, method for fabricating thin film transistor and method for fabricating thin film transistor array substrate using the said method A method for fabricating a thin film transistor (TFT) on a substrate includes forming a gate electrode; forming a semiconductor layer being insulated from the gate electrode and partially overlapped with the gate electrode; sequentially forming first and second gate insulating layers between the gate electrode and the semiconductor layer, wherein the first gate insulating layer is formed of a material different from the second gate insulating layer and at least one of the first and second gate insulating layers includes a sol-compound; and forming source and drain electrodes at both sides of the semiconductor layer.
US07679084B2	Thin film transistor array panel and method for fabricating the same A TFT array panel and a method for fabricating the same is disclosed, wherein an adhesion force between an elongated wire and a TFT array panel pad is improved by increasing the contact area of a bonding pad. The TFT array panel pad includes a first conductive layer formed in a pad region on an insulating substrate. The first conductive layer includes a plurality of conductive islands and holes. A second conductive layer is formed over and covers the first conductive layer.
US07679077B2	Superlattice nano-device and method for making same A nanodevice (1) for a desired function includes a substrate (11), a one-dimensional nanostructure (12), a functional layer (20) having a desired function, a conductive thin film electrode (30), and an insulating layer (40). The one-dimensional nanostructure is operatively extends from the substrate. The functional layer surrounds at least a portion of the one-dimensional nanostructure. The conducting thin film electrode surrounds/encompasses the functional layer. The insulating layer is positioned between the substrate and the conductive thin film electrode, thereby electrically insulating the one from the other. Further, the nanodevice can incorporate one or more functional units 50, each unit including a one-dimensional nanostructure and a respective functional layer. The units may or may not share the same conductive thin film electrode and/or insulating layer.
US07679076B2	Optical semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same Provided is an optical semiconductor device, which includes a GaAs substrate (or a semiconductor substrate) 20; an n-type contact layer (or a doping layer) 21 formed on one surface 20a of the GaAs substrate 20; an active layer 25 formed on top of the n-type contact layer 21 and including at least one quantum dot 23; a p-type contact layer (or a contact layer) 26 formed on top of the active layer 25 and being of an opposite conduction type to the n-type contact layer 21; an insulating layer 29 formed on top of the p-type contact layer 26 and including a first opening 29a whose size is such that a contact region CR of the p-type contact layer 26 lies within the first opening 29a; a p-side electrode layer 33c formed on top of the contact region CR of the p-type contact layer 26 and on top of the insulating layer 29 and including a second opening 33a lying within the first opening 29a; and a n-side electrode layer (or a second electrode layer) 37 formed on the other surface 20b of the GaAs substrate 20.
US07679071B2	Electron beam drawing apparatus An example electron beam drawing apparatus includes an electron beam emitting unit which emits an electron beam, a rotary stage which rotatably supports a turntable for retaining a drawing object, and a sample stage which is supported by the turntable in a range including a rotating center of the turntable to retain an adjustment sample. A rotationally symmetrical pattern such as a concentric pattern and a radial pattern can be drawn in the drawing object by irradiating the drawing object with the electron beam during rotation of the turntable. Before the pattern is actually drawn in the drawing object, beam adjustment and rotating center adjustment are performed using an adjustment sample. The adjustment sample is retained by the sample stage, and the sample stage is supported by the turntable in the range including the rotating center of the turntable. Therefore, the beam adjustment and the rotating center adjustment can be performed using the adjustment sample supported by the turntable, and the different stage for placing the adjustment sample is not required, which allows the apparatus to be miniaturized.
US07679061B2	Radiographic image sensing system An x-ray imaging source comprises a radiation source (12) providing x-ray radiation. A substrate comprised of a scintillating material (16) responsive to a level of incident radiation provides output light according to the level of incident radiation. A Fresnel lens (40) is disposed proximate to the substrate for directing the output light toward a second lens. The second lens directs the output light to an image sensor for converting light levels to the digital data, forming an image thereby.
US07679054B2	Double stage charged particle beam energy width reduction system for charged particle beam system The present invention relates to e.g. a charged particle beam energy width reduction system for a charged particle beam with a z-axis along the optical axis and a first and a second plane, comprising, a first element acting in a focusing and dispersive manner, a second element acting in a focusing and dispersive manner, a first quadrupole element being positioned such that, in operation, a field of the first quadrupole element overlaps with a field of the first element acting in a focusing and dispersive manner, a second quadrupole element being positioned such that, in operation, a field of the second quadrupole element overlaps with a field of the second element acting in a focusing and dispersive manner, a first charged particle selection element being positioned, in beam direction, before the first element acting in a focusing and dispersive manner, and a second charged particle selection element being positioned, in beam direction, after the first element acting in a focusing and dispersive manner. Thereby, a virtually dispersive source-like location without an inherent dispersion limitation can be realized.
US07679047B2	Infrared gas sensing apparatus and method An infrared gas sensing apparatus for sensing gas includes an infrared source for emitting infrared light, a wavelength tunable filter for selectively allows passage of the infrared light at a specific wavelength, an infrared detector for detecting the amount of the filtered infrared light, and a control circuit for controlling the wavelength tunable filter. The control circuit has a check circuit that checks whether the wavelength tunable filter selects a collect wavelength. The check circuit controls the wavelength tunable filter so that the wavelength tunable filter allows passage of the infrared light at a wavelength within a wavelength range where atmospheric gases do not absorb the infrared light. The check circuit checks whether the wavelength tunable filter operates normally by comparing the amount of the filtered infrared light with a reference value.
US07679046B1	Infrared camera calibration systems and methods Systems and methods are disclosed herein to provide infrared camera systems and infrared camera calibration techniques in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. For example in accordance with an embodiment, a method of calibrating an infrared camera includes capturing video images of a calibration vessel having one or more chambers filled with a gas; displaying the video images from the capturing; and adjusting settings of the infrared camera such that colors of the displayed video images of the one or more chambers approximately match predetermined colors of one or more corresponding sections of a video overlay.
US07679045B2	Method for correcting a control of an optical scanner in a device for imaging a sample by scanning and the device for performing the method Method for correcting control of an optical scanner in a laser scanning microscope for imaging of a sample by scanning, the microscope guiding at least one beam path section of an illumination beam path of the microscope over the sample from an illumination device to the sample and/or an imaging beam path of the microscope from the sample to an acquisition device of the microscope in order to obtain an image of the sample, generating control signals corresponding to a predefined target movement using parameters and/or a transfer function of the scanner that are used for control and/or regulation and moving the at least one beam path section in response to the control signals, whereby an image of a reference sample having predefined structures imageable by the microscope is obtained by generating control signals corresponding to a predefined target test movement and moving the at least one beam path section in response to the control signals, thereby obtaining the image. From the image thereby obtained, a deviation in the actual positions of the predefined structures of the reference sample from the predefined target positions is determined and the transfer function or parameters are corrected as a function of the deviations at least one of the parameters used for control and/or regulation, so that when using the corrected parameter for control or regulation and/or when using the corrected transfer function, the deviation in the actual position of at least one of the structures from the target position of the structure is reduced.
US07679039B2	Compositions and methods for drop boundary detection and radiation beam alignment The invention provides an apparatus and method for determining the position of a radiation beam. The apparatus includes (a) a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface, the reflective surfaces being placed to form the reflective exterior of a wedge; (b) a first detector placed to detect radiation reflected from the first reflective surface, and (c) a second detector placed to detect radiation reflected from the second reflective surface. The method includes the steps of (a) directing a radiation beam to the reflective exterior of a wedge formed by a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface; (b) selectively detecting radiation reflected from the first reflective surface; (c) selectively detecting radiation reflected from the second reflective surface; and (d) determining the position of the radiation beam based on the difference in the amount of radiation detected from each surface.
US07679022B2	Vacuum insulated switchgear A vacuum insulated switchgear comprising a case having a switch section, a bus-bar section and a cable section, each being partitioned by an earthed metal plate, a vacuum double break three point switch disposed in the switch section and having breaking and disconnecting function, an operator, a bus-bar disposed in the bus-bar section of the case, and a cable connection terminal connected to a cable in the cable section.
US07679017B1	Switch structure A switch structure includes a switch body, a holding member, a torsion member, and a swinging lever. The switch body includes a base included a front surface and a rear surface, a pushing portion, two fixing portion, each fixing portion defining a guiding slot. The holding member defines two cavities. The switch body is rotatably installed onto the holding member by inserting the fixing portion into the cavity. The torsion member includes two elastic arms and a connecting pole, one of the elastic arm is hooked to the holding member. The swinging lever includes a first end movably connected to the switch body, a second end movably connected to the other elastic arm, and a connecting portion connecting the first and second end, the swinging lever rotatably installed to the holding member via the connecting portion.
US07678994B2	Encapsulating permanent wire connector An encapsulating permanent wire connector is comprised of a housing provided with a first port and a second port. At least one division wall extends coaxially in a portion of the housing to a side of a straight central axis of the housing and defines an electrically isolating cavity in the housing. The housing has an opening to inject a sealing substance therein. Air evacuation holes are associated with the electrically isolating cavity for the escape of air therefrom when a sealing substance is injected within the housing with soldered wire connections being disposed in the housing and isolated from one another by the electrically isolating cavity. In a preferred embodiment, there are two spaced-apart electrically isolating cavities with a central cavity therebetween.
US07678982B2	Device and method for automatic tuning of a string instrument in particular a guitar A device and method for automatic tuning of a string Instrument, in particular, a guitar, comprising a recording device, for recording a tone generated by striking a string and for the output of a digital signal corresponding to the recorded tone, a memory device for storage of given digital signals which correspond to a desired tone, a comparator device for comparison of the digital signal output by the recording device with a digital signal corresponding to the desired tone stored in the memory device, an adjuster device for altering the tension of the strings, at least one actuator, for operating the adjuster device, a controller connected to the comparator device, which controls the at least one actuator using a bus line, by means of a difference determined in the comparator device between the signals representing the generated tone and the desired tone. The above is improved with relation to conventional techniques in so far as the above may be integrated in an instrument, in particular, a guitar, with minimal effect on the sound properties and with the smallest and least possible number of elements. The controller and the at least one actuator are arranged in the string instrument, on opposing sides of the strings viewed in the longitudinal direction of the strings and a string, made from a conducting material or wound or coated with such, is used as bus line between the controller and the at least one actuator. Furthermore, a method for the automatic tuning of a string instrument is disclosed.
US07678980B2	End blown flute having an acoustic air space The present invention is directed to musical instruments that are based on the operation of an air reed and, in particular, encompasses end-blown flutes comprising an acoustic air space and a fluid air space. The communication between the acoustic and fluid air spaces is positioned so as to minimally interfere with the flow of air introduced, i.e., blown, into the fluid space and enables the instrument to produce rich, in-tune tones across a three octave range. The acoustic air space is formed by a hollow tuning chamber positioned opposite the air reed. In alternate embodiments, the invention encompasses a head-joint of a musical instrument, which head joint comprises a an acoustic space and a fluid space. The head joint of the invention may be used to replace or in place of the head joint or mouthpiece of common musical instruments of the woodwind family, e.g., the Western flute, saxophone, clarinet, oboe, nay, shakuhachi, or recorder.
US07678977B2	Repetition lever of grand piano There is provided a repetition lever for a grand piano, which is excellent in shape retainability and dimensional stability and is light in weight and high in rigidity, thereby enabling required operations to be stably performed and improving the capability of repeated key striking. A repetition lever 4 for a grand piano, which performs the operation of pushing up a hammer 30 after the hammer has struck a string, is formed by a molded article of a thermoplastic resin containing long fibers for reinforcement, the molded article being molded by a long fiber process. The repetition lever 4 has reduced cross-sectional area portions 49, 50, and 54 for reducing weight thereof. The long fibers for reinforcement are carbon fibers, and the thermoplastic resin is an ABS resin.
US07678976B2	Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH811261 According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH811261. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH811261, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH811261 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH811261.
US07678963B2	Soybean variety D5896414 The invention relates to the soybean variety designated D5896414. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety D5896414. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety D5896414 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety D5896414 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US07678961B2	Soybean variety 92M75 According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated 92M75. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety 92M75, to the plants of soybean 92M75 to plant parts of soybean variety 92M75 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety 92M75 with another soybean plant, using 92M75 as either the male or the female parent.
US07678952B2	Process to prepare a gasoline A process to prepare a gasoline fuel by contacting a Fischer-Tropsch product with a catalyst system of an acidic matrix and a large pore molecular sieve wherein the Fischer-Tropsch product has a weight ratio of compounds having at least 60 or more carbon atoms and compounds having at least 30 carbon atoms in the Fischer-Tropsch product of at least 0.2 and wherein at least 30 wt % of compounds in the Fischer-Tropsch product have at least 30 carbon atoms.
US07678948B2	Synthesis of 3-(5-nitrocyclohex-1-enyl) acrylic acid and esters thereof This application discloses provides a process for the introduction of nitro-group functionality into a compound which contains also a site of unsaturation and/or oxygen functionality by direct (one step) oxidation of an oxime functional group mediated by a molybdenum VI/VII peroxo complex, the process comprising: (a) providing a substrate of Formula I containing an oxime functional group; wherein R1 and R2 are selected independently from linear, branched or cyclic alkyl and linear, branched or cyclic alkenyl groups, optionally substituted, with the proviso that at least one of R1 or R2 contains a carbon/carbon double bond; and (b) contacting said substrate of Formula I with a molybdenum oxidation complex, thereby oxidizing said oxime functional group to a nitro functional group to yield the structure of Formula III. Where R1 and R2 are as defined above.
US07678946B2	2,4,6,-trisubstituted having anesthetic properties Trisubstituted phenol compounds and methods of using the compounds, e.g., for anesthetizing a subject, are disclosed.
US07678941B2	Polyoxyalkylene ammonium salts and their use as antistatic agents The present invention provides polyoxyalkylene ammonium imide or methide salts and their use as antistatic agents. Another embodiment provides articles comprising these salts, and processes for making and using these salts.
US07678940B2	Process for producing carboxylic acid A process for producing a purified carboxylic acid having “n+1” carbon atoms comprises feeding a carboxylic acid stream containing a carboxylic acid having “n+1” carbon atoms, a hydrogen halide, a lower boiling point (bp) component, a higher bp component, and others to a first distillation column; separating a lower bp fraction containing part of the lower bp component and a higher bp fraction containing part of the higher bp component in the first column; withdrawing a side stream containing at least the carboxylic acid by side cut from the first column; feeding the side stream to a second distillation column; separating a lower bp fraction containing part of the lower bp component and a higher bp fraction containing part of the higher bp component in the second column; and withdrawing a side stream containing the carboxylic acid by side cut from the second column to recover a purified carboxylic acid; and the process further comprises feeding at least one first component (A) selected from the group consisting of an alcohol, corresponding to the carboxylic acid, having “n” carbon atom(s), and an ester of the alcohol with the carboxylic acid to the first column, and if necessary water. Such a process ensures reduction of the concentration of the hydrogen halide in the purified carboxylic acid.
US07678934B2	Propylene copolymer, polypropylene composition and uses thereof, transition metal compound and olefin polymerization catalyst A transition metal compound represented by the following formula (2a):
US07678922B2	Processes for the preparation of 1,2,4-oxadiazole benzoic acids Provided herein are processes for the preparation of compounds useful for the treatment, prevention or management of diseases associated with a nonsense mutation. More specifically, provided herein are processes for the synthesis of 1,2,4-oxadiazoles. In particular, provided herein are processes useful for the preparation of 3-[5-(2-fluorophenyl)-[1,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl]-benzoic acid.
US07678912B2	Process for preparation of 4-amino-1-isobutyl-1H-imidazo[4,5-C]-quinoline (Imiquimod) A process for preparation of 1-isobutyl-1H-imidazo-[4,5-c]-quinoline-5-N-oxide, comprising oxidation of 1-isobutyl-1H-imidazoquinoline with meta-chloroperbenzoic acid.
US07678911B2	1,6 naphthyridines useful as inhibitors of SYK kinase Disclosed are compounds of formula (I): wherein R3, R5, R7 and R8 are defined herein, which are useful as inhibitors SYK kinase and are thus useful for treating diseases resulting from inappropriate mast cell activation, which include allergic and inflammatory diseases. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and processes for preparing these compounds.
US07678909B1	Dipeptidyl peptidase inhibitors Compounds are provided which may be used to inhibit DPP-IV comprising the formula: wherein the substituents are as described in the specification and claims.
US07678902B2	Process for the preparation of 11-(4-[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethyl]-1-piperazinyl)dibenzo[b,f][1,4]thiazepine Disclosed is a process for the preparation of 11-(4-[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethyl]-1-piperazinyl)-dibenzo[b,f][1,4]thiazepine. In the process, low-priced 2,2′-dithiosalicylic acid as starting material is subjected to bond formation reaction with 1-chloro-2-nitrobenzene in a basic aqueous solution, a nitro group reduction reaction is conducted, cyclization and chlorination reactions are simultaneously carried out in the presence of a equivalent amount of halogenating agent, a reaction with piperazine is continuously conducted without separation, and a reaction with 2-haloethoxyethanol is conducted, thereby it is possible to economically producing Quetiapine, that is, 11-(4-[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethyl]-1-piperazinyl)-dibenzo[b,f][1,4]thiazepine, in an environmentally friendly manner. Particularly, the process is advantageous in that economic efficiency is assured because of use of the low-priced starting material, use of an organic solvent is minimized because a reaction is conducted in an aqueous solution, and it is possible to achieve the environmentally friendly and economical process having high commercial usefulness because the number of reaction steps of the process is reduced and because generation of acidic waste is minimized.
US07678892B2	Dye-labeled ribonucleotide triphosphates The invention provides novel dye-labeled ribonucleotide analogs and methods for synthesizing those analogs. The compounds of the invention are especially useful for DNA sequencing by the polymerase chain reaction.
US07678883B2	Solubility tags for the expression and purification of bioactive peptides Peptide tags, referred to here as inclusion body tags, are disclosed useful for the generation of insoluble fusion peptides. The fusion peptides comprise at least one inclusion body tag operably linked to a peptide of interest. Expression of the fusion peptide in a host cell results in a product that is insoluble and contained within inclusion bodies in the cell and/or cell lysate. The inclusion bodies may then be purified and the protein of interest may be isolated after cleavage from the inclusion body tag.
US07678881B2	Transparent resin material The present invention has an object to provide a transparent resin material having a low water absorption ratio without deteriorating various properties such as transparency which transparent resin has and also having a controllable refractive index. The present invention provides a transparent resin material containing a polymer capable of forming a formed product having transparency, wherein the transparent resin material comprises a fluorine atom-containing polymer and/or compound and contains 0.3 to 35% by weight of a fluorine atom in 100% by weight of the formed product.
US07678878B2	Process for producing polyester with metal phosphonic acid complex catalysts Disclosed is a method for the preparation of a polyester, which method comprises in a first step, reacting a dicarboxylic acid or a C1-C4 dicarboxylic diester with a diol at a suitable temperature and pressure to effect esterification or transesterification to prepare a precondensate and in a second step, reacting the precondensate to effect polycondensation at a suitable temperature and pressure to prepare a high molecular weight polyester, where a metal phosphonic acid complex compound of the formula is employed in the first step, in the second step or in both the first and second steps as a reaction catalyst.
US07678876B2	Hydroxy-aromatic compound, process for the preparation thereof, and use of the compound Hydroxy-aromatic compounds of formula (I) are provided: wherein at least one of the set consisting of R1, R3, and R5 is a group of formula (II); any remaining one or two of the set consisting of R1, R3, and R5 being H, OH, a C1-C12 alkyl group or an oligomeric or polymeric system; R2 and R4 are H, OH, a C1-C12 alkyl group or an oligomeric or polymeric system; wherein formula (II) is the following group: wherein EWG is an electron-withdrawing group.
US07678872B2	Process for preparing water-soluble polyhydroxyaminoether A water soluble polymer comprising a copolyhydroxyaminoether having side-chains of polyalkylene oxides, an aqueous solution of said polymer and process for preparing the copolyhydroxyaminoether.
US07678868B2	Self limiting catalyst composition and propylene polymerization process A catalyst composition for the polymerization of propylene comprising one or more Ziegler-Natta procatalyst compositions comprising one or more transition metal compounds and one or more esters of aromatic dicarboxylic acid internal electron donors; one or more aluminum containing cocatalysts; a selectivity control agent (SCA) comprising at least one silicon containing compound containing at least one C1-10 alkoxy group bonded to a silicon atom, and one or more activity limiting agent (ALA) compounds comprising one or more aliphatic or cycloaliphatic carboxylic acids; alkyl-, cycloalkyl- or alkyl(poly)(oxyalkyl)-(poly)ester derivatives thereof; or inertly substituted derivatives of the foregoing.
US07678864B2	Silylated polycarbonate polymers, method of making, and articles formed therefrom A silylated polycarbonate comprises silylated carbonate units, where the silylated carbonate units can be derived from a silylated dihydroxy aromatic compound of the formula (1a): wherein Ga and Gb are each independently C1-12 alkyl, —OSi(C1-12 alkyl)3, C1-12 arylalkyl, or —OSi(C1-12 arylalkyl)3; Za and Zb are each independently a straight or branched C2-18 alkylene, a C8-18 arylalkylene, or a C8-18 alkylarylene, Xa is a direct bond, a heteroatom-containing group, or a C1-18 organic group, and r and s are each independently 1 or 2. A method of forming the silylated dihydroxy aromatic compound, and for forming the silylated polycarbonate, are disclosed. Also disclosed is a thermoplastic composition comprising the silylated polycarbonate, and an article comprising the thermoplastic composition.
US07678857B2	Polymer mixtures for printed polymer electronic circuits In order to increase the viscosity of semiconductive polymers in solution, they are mixed with non-semiconductive polymers.
US07678856B2	Binders curable at room temperature with low blocking Topically-applied binder materials for imparting wet strength to soft, absorbent paper sheets, such as are useful as household paper towels and the like, include an azetidinium-reactive polymer, such as a carboxyl-functional polymer, an azetidinium-functional polymer and, optionally, a component useful for reducing sheet-to-sheet adhesion (blocking) in the product. These binder materials can be cured at ambient temperature over a period of days and do not impart objectionable odor to final product when wetted.
US07678844B2	Pigmented ink-jet inks with improved print quality and reliability Compositions, systems, and methods of printing an ink-jet image are provided. The composition can include a liquid vehicle including water, a liquid vehicle having from 5 wt % to 35 wt % of total organic solvent content; from 1 wt % to 6 wt % of acid-functionalized pigment solids; and from 0.001 wt % to 6 wt % of styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, said styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer having a weight average molecular weight from about 400 Mw to 15,000 Mw.
US07678841B2	Increasing the gas transmission rate of a film comprising fullerenes A method of increasing the gas transmission rate of a packaging film comprises providing a packaging film that comprises at least about 0.001 weight % of fullerene material selected from spherical fullerenes, bowl-shaped fullerenes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, carbon nanocones, and carbon nano-onions. The packaging film is exposed to an amount of radiation energy effective to increase the oxygen transmission rate of the packaging film by at least about 100 cc (STP)/m2. day (1 atm, 0% RH, 23° C.).
US07678839B2	Expanded polypropylene resin beads, method of producing foam molding of expanded polypropylene resin beads and foam molding obtained by the method Expanded beads including cell walls which define a plurality of cells and which comprise a base resin containing a polypropylene resin, each of the beads having a through hole extending therein from one end to the other end. The expanded beads have a maximum diameter D0 (mm), an average cell diameter LCV in a radial direction, an average cell diameter LCH in a circumferential direction and a maximum through hole diameter HD (mm) satisfying the following conditions: LCV/LCH is at least 1.05, HD/D0 is 0.08 to 0.4 and the ratio HD/LCV is 0.1 to 10, where D0, LCV and LCH are as defined in the specification. The expanded beads may give a foam molding by an in-mold molding method.
US07678831B2	Butanoic acid derivatives, processes for the preparation thereof, pharmaceutical compositions comprising them, and therapeutic applications thereof Compounds of the formula (I): in which R, R1 and R2 are as defined in the description, the use thereof for the treatment of dyslipidaemia, atherosclerosis and diabetes, pharmaceutical compositions comprising them, and . processes for the preparation of these compounds. Compounds of formula (I) are activators of PPARα and PPARα isoforms.
US07678829B2	Oculoselective drugs and prodrugs Compounds of the following formula are disclosed: Methods of preparing the compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, and methods of treating patients by administration of the pharmaceutical compositions, are also disclosed.
US07678827B2	Non-polymeric lipophilic pharmaceutical implant compositions for intraocular use Solid or semi-solid intraocular implant compositions are disclosed. The compositions contain a lipophilic compound but lack a polymeric ingredient.
US07678826B2	Organic compounds for the treatment of inflammatory or allergic conditions Compounds of formula (I) in free or pharmaceutically acceptable salt form, where R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, m, n, w, X, and Y have the meanings as indicated in the specification, are useful for treating conditions mediated by the CRTh2 receptor, especially inflammatory or obstructive airways diseases.
US07678822B2	Induction of immune tolerance Methods of inducing immune tolerance by administering an immunosuppressive agent and a compound represented by Formula (I) are disclosed: Additionally methods of suppressing an immune response by administering an immunosuppressive agent and a compound represented by Formula (I) are disclosed. Further disclosed are methods for treating autoimmune diseases by administering an immunosuppressive agent and a compound represented by Formula (I). The variables of Formula (I) are described herein.
US07678817B2	Enteric medicinal composition for oral use An enteric medicinal composition comprising a drug ingredient, pectin, alginic acid, or a derivative thereof, and water is provided that is easy to swallow.
US07678807B2	Isoquinoline and benzo[H] isoquinoline derivatives, preparation and therapeutic use thereof as antagonists of the histamine H3 receptor The invention concerns a compound of formula (I): Wherein A, l, m, n, R1 and R2 are as defined herein. The compounds of this invention are useful as medicaments, particularly, in the treatment of disorders improved by modulation of the histamine H3 receptor.
US07678801B2	Compounds Novel substituted 2,4,8-trisubstituted 8H-pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7-one containing compounds and compositions, and their use use in therapy as CSBP/RK/p38 kinase inhibitors.
US07678800B2	2-(1H-indolylsulfanyl)-aryl amine derivatives for use in the treatment of affective disorders, pain, ADHD and stress urinary incontinence The present invention relates to 2-(1H-indolylsulfanyl)-aryl amine derivatives of the general formula I as the free base or salts thereof and their use for the treatment of affective disorders, pain, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and stress urinary incontinence.
US07678790B2	Platelet ADP receptor inhibitors Novel compounds of formula (I) to (VI), which more particularly include sulfonylurea derivatives, sulfonylthiourea derivatives, sulfonylguanidine derivatives, sulfonylcyanoguanidine derivatives, thioacylsulfonamide derivatives, and acylsulfonamide derivatives which are effective platelet ADP receptor inhibitors. These derivatives may be used in various pharmaceutical compositions, and are particularly effective for the prevention and/or treatment of cardiovascular diseases, particularly those diseases related to thrombosis. The invention also relates to a method for preventing or treating thrombosis in a mammal comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formulae (I)-(VI), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US07678789B2	[1,2,4]-dithiazoli(di)ne derivatives, inducers of gluthathione-S-transferase and NADPH quinone oxido-reductase, for prophylaxis and treatment of adverse conditions associated with cytotoxicity in general and apoptosis in particular The present invention relates to 5-imino-5H-[1,2,4]-dithiazol-3-yl-amine and [1,2,4]-dithiazolidine-3,5-diylidene-diamine derivatives as inducers of gluthathione-S-transferase (GST) and NADPH quinone oxidoreductase (NQO), to methods for the preparation of these compounds and to novel intermediates useful for the synthesis of said [1,2,4]-dithiazoli(di)ne derivatives. The invention also relates to the use of a compound disclosed herein for the treatment of adverse conditions associated with cytotoxicity in general and apoptosis in particular. The invention relates to compounds of the general formula (I): wherein wherein the symbols have the meanings given in the specification.
US07678786B2	Benzoazepin-oxy-acetic acid derivatives as PPAR-delta agonists used for the increase of HDL-C, lower LDL-C and lower cholesterol The invention is directed to compounds of Formula (I) useful as PPAR agonists. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treating one or more conditions including, but not limited to, diabetes, nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, polycystic ovary syndrome, hypertension, ischemia, stroke, irritable bowel disorder, inflammation, cataract, cardiovascular diseases, Metabolic X Syndrome, hyper-LDL-cholesterolemia, dyslipidemia (including hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, mixed hyperlipidemia, and hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia), atherosclerosis, obesity, and other disorders related to lipid metabolism and energy homeostasis complications thereof, using compounds of the invention are also described.
US07678783B2	Macrocyclic tertiary amine beta-secretase inhibitors for the treatment of alzheimer's disease The present invention is directed to macrocyclic tertiary amine compounds represented by general formula (I) which are inhibitors of the beta-secretase enzyme and that are useful in the treatment of diseases in which the beta-secretase enzyme is involved, such as Alzheimer's disease. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the treatment of such diseases in which the beta-secretase enzyme is involved.
US07678775B2	ILK inhibitors for the treatment of renal disease The invention relates to the treatment of renal diseases using modulators of integrin linked kinase. Methods of treatment as well as therapeutic agents including antisense, small molecules, catalytic peptides and antibodies are disclosed. The agents of the invention may also be used in combination with traditional therapies for renal disease including ACE inhibitors. An advantage of the invention is that it treats one of the causes of renal disease, rather than just ameliorating symptoms, and can help prevent the progression of renal disease to the point of acute renal failure.
US07678772B2	7-hydroxy chromones as potent antioxidants The present invention describes the identification and purification of 7-hydroxychromes that exhibit potent antioxidant activity. In one embodiment the present invention includes a method for providing an antioxidant to a host in need thereof, comprising administering an effective amount of a 7-hydroxychrome or a mixture of 7-hydroxychromones. The present invention includes methods that are effective in inhibiting free radical and oxidation caused damage through the simultaneous suppression of free radical generation and the suppression of the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The present invention also includes methods for preventing and treating ROS mediated diseases and conditions and diseases and conditions associated with other oxidative processes. The method for preventing and treating ROS mediated diseases and conditions and diseases and conditions associated with other oxidative processes is comprised of administering to a host in need thereof an effective amount of a composition comprised of a 7-hydroxychrome or a mixture of 7-hydroxychromones and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Included in this invention is an improved method to isolate and purify 7-hydroxychromones from plant sources.
US07678765B2	Synthetic methods for aplidine and new antitumoral derivatives, methods of making and using them The invention relates to aplidine derivatives of the general formula: which are useful for the treatment of tumors.
US07678752B2	Fabric care composition comprising organosilicone microemulsion and anionic/nitrogen-containing surfactant system Systems, compositions and methods for fabric laundering comprising selected organosilicones which are formulated into microemulsions for improved deposition onto fabrics to provide fabric care benefits.
US07678751B2	Composition for removing photoresist, method of removing photoresist and method of manufacturing a semiconductor device using the same Disclosed are a composition for removing photoresist, a method of removing photoresist and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device using a composition. The composition may include a ketone compound and a first polar aprotic solvent. The composition may also include the ketone compound and a second polar aprotic solvent. Moreover, the composition may include the first polar aprotic solvent and a second polar aprotic solvent with or without the ketone compound. The first polar aprotic solvent has at least one of an ether compound and an ester compound, and the second polar aprotic solvent has at least one of a sulfur-containing compound and a nitrogen-containing compound.
US07678750B2	Cleansing composition comprising a coated synthetic fluorphologopite and a ternary surfactant mixture The present invention is related to an aqueous cleansing composition especially for keratin fibers such as human hair with shine enhancing effect. More specifically subject matter of the present invention is an aqueous cleansing composition especially for keratin fibers such as human hair comprising one or more surfactant selected from anionic, non-ionic and amphoteric ones at a concentration of 5 to 50% by weight calculated to total composition, wherein the composition does not comprise any monoethanolamide surfactant, and at least one color effect pigment consisting of synthetic mica coated with metal oxide or oxides and having a volume particle size distribution in the range of 1 to 750 μm at a concentration of 0.01 to 10% by weight, calculated to total composition.
US07678738B2	Method for treating saturated activated coke A method for treating saturated activated coke comprises the following steps: A) The saturated activated coke is subjected to a dehydration treatment so that the water content in the activated coke is ≦25%; B) The product obtained from step A is dried at a starting temperature of 120° C.-150° C.; C) The product obtained from step B is subjected to dry distillation and the condition of the dry distillation is that: by heating to a final temperature for the drying of 500° C.-600° C. at a speed of 4° C.-10° C./min and maintaining for 10-60 minutes, the organics adsorbed on the surface and in the pores of the activated coke is cracked, volatilized and carbonized; D) The product obtained from step C is activated and the activation condition is that: after heating to 800° C.-950° C. at 2° C.-8° C./min, a stream is supplied, wherein the weight ratio of the activated coke to the stream is 1:0.5-5 and the activation time is 0.5-2 h. The activated coke after several times of treatment can be used as the fuel.
US07678714B2	Method for manufacturing dynamic random access memory The present invention has an object to provide a method for manufacturing a dynamic random access memory capable of reducing a defect rate even if the memory has a large packing density. The method of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a dynamic random access memory having memory array areas and a peripheral circuit area arranged in a semiconductor substrate and a silicon nitride film provided over the memory array areas and the peripheral circuit area, the method having at least a step (1) of eliminating the silicon nitride film provided in the peripheral circuit area; and a step (2) of processing in an atmosphere of a hydrogen gas a substrate-to-be-processed obtained by the step (1).
US07678713B2	Energy beam treatment to improve packaging reliability The present invention provides a process for improving the hardness and/or modulus of elasticity of a dielectric layer and a method for manufacturing an integrated circuit. The process for improving the hardness and/or modulus of elasticity of a dielectric layer, among other steps, includes providing a dielectric layer having a hardness and a modulus of elasticity, and subjecting the dielectric layer to an energy beam, thereby causing the hardness or modulus of elasticity to increase in value.
US07678710B2	Method and apparatus for fabricating a high dielectric constant transistor gate using a low energy plasma system The present invention generally provides methods and apparatuses that are adapted to form a high quality dielectric gate layer on a substrate. Embodiments contemplate a method wherein a metal plasma treatment process is used in lieu of a standard nitridization process to form a high dielectric constant layer on a substrate. Embodiments further contemplate an apparatus adapted to “implant” metal ions of relatively low energy in order to reduce ion bombardment damage to the gate dielectric layer, such as a silicon dioxide layer and to avoid incorporation of the metal atoms into the underlying silicon. In general, the process includes the steps of forming a high-k dielectric and then terminating the surface of the deposited high-k material to form a good interface between the gate electrode and the high-k dielectric material. Embodiments of the invention also provide a cluster tool that is adapted to form a high-k dielectric material, terminate the surface of the high-k dielectric material, perform any desirable post treatment steps, and form the polysilicon and/or metal gate layers.
US07678696B2	Method of making through wafer vias A method of making a through wafer via. The method includes: forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate, the trench open to a top surface of the substrate; forming a polysilicon layer on sidewalls and a bottom of the trench; oxidizing the polysilicon layer to convert the polysilicon layer to a silicon oxide layer on the sidewalls and bottom of the trench, the silicon oxide layer not filling the trench; filling remaining space in the trench with an electrical conductor; and thinning the substrate from a bottom surface of the substrate and removing the silicon oxide layer from the bottom of the trench. The method may further include forming a metal layer on the silicon oxide layer before filling the trench.
US07678691B2	Method of making a semiconductor device having improved contacts A semiconductor device and fabrication process wherein the device includes a conductive layer with a localized thick region positioned below the contact hole. In one embodiment of the invention, the thick region to which contact is made is formed by means of an opening in an underlayer of material. This embodiment of the device includes an underlayer of material having an opening therein; a layer of thin conductive material formed on the underlayer and in the opening; and overlayer of material having a contact hole therethrough formed on the layer of thin conductive material; a conductor contacting the layer of thin conductive material through the contact hole; and wherein the opening in the underlayer is positioned below the contact hole and sized and shaped to form a localized thick region in the layer of thin conductive material within the opening.
US07678690B2	Semiconductor device comprising a contact structure with increased etch selectivity By providing additional etch stop layers and/or etch protection layers, a corresponding etch process for forming contact openings for directly connecting polysilicon lines and active areas may be controlled in a highly reliable manner. Consequently, conductive line erosion and/or penetration into extension regions may be significantly reduced, thereby improving the reliability and performance of corresponding semiconductor devices.
US07678688B2	Method for forming metal interconnection in image sensor A method for forming a metal interconnection in an image sensor includes forming a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer having a contact plug over a substrate, forming a diffusion barrier layer over the first ILD layer, performing a forming gas annealing, forming a second ILD layer over the diffusion barrier layer, etching the second ILD layer and the diffusion barrier layer to form a trench, forming a conductive layer to fill the trench, and planarizing the conductive layer to form a metal interconnection electrically connected to the contact plug.
US07678687B2	Method for manufacturing semiconductor device and semiconductor device In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, insulation resistance of the porous film is stabilized, and leakage current between adjacent interconnects provides an improved reliability in signal propagation therethrough. The method includes: sequentially forming over a semiconductor substrate a porous film and a patterned resist film; forming a concave exposed surface of the substrate; forming a non-porous film covering the interior wall of the concave portion and the porous film; selectively removing the non-porous film from the bottom of the concave portion and the non-porous film by anisotropic etch; forming a barrier metal film covering the porous film and the interior wall; and forming a metallic film on the barrier metal film to fill the concave portion. The anisotropic etch process uses an etching gas with mixing ratio MR, 45≦MR≦100, where MR=((gaseous “nitrogen” containing compound)+(inert gas))/(gaseous “fluorine” containing compound).
US07678686B2	Semiconductor device having copper metal line and method of forming the same A method of forming a copper metal line in a semiconductor device includes depositing an interlayer insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate having a lower metal line, forming a via contact hole and a metal line pattern in the semiconductor substrate, sequentially depositing a barrier metal film and a copper seed layer, forming a copper film on a surface of the semiconductor substrate, removing the copper film and the barrier metal film, other than the portion of a copper metal line to be formed, removing a native oxide film existing on a surface of the copper metal line of the semiconductor substrate, depositing a silicon layer on the semiconductor substrate, making the deposited silicon layer and copper metal react to each other to form a copper silicide layer, removing a remaining silicon layer without being reacted, and depositing an insulating anti-diffusion film over the semiconductor substrate.
US07678685B2	Interposer and method for producing the same and electronic device An interposer includes a substrate made of an inorganic material; a through wiring including conductors embedded in through holes; and an upper wiring and (or) a lower wiring. The through wiring, the upper wiring and the lower wiring are respectively formed on preliminary wiring patterns that are additionally simultaneously or sequentially formed on layers made of an insulating material applied to at least wiring forming parts of the substrate, and are formed with a metal mold itself used for forming the preliminary wiring patterns or layers made of a wiring material applied by a printing operation, a plating operation or a deposition on the preliminary wiring patterns formed on the layers of the insulating material by transferring a fine structure pattern of the metal mold.
US07678682B2	Ultraviolet assisted pore sealing of porous low k dielectric films Processes for sealing porous low k dielectric film generally comprises exposing the porous surface of the porous low k dielectric film to ultraviolet (UV) radiation at intensities, times, wavelengths and in an atmosphere effective to seal the porous dielectric surface by means of carbonization, oxidation, and/or film densification. The surface of the surface of the porous low k material is sealed to a depth less than or equal to about 20 nanometers, wherein the surface is substantially free of pores after the UV exposure.
US07678672B2	Carbon nanotube fabrication from crystallography oriented catalyst A device and method associated with carbon nanowires, such as single walled carbon nanowires having a high degree of alignment are set forth herein. A catalyst layer is deposited having a predetermined crystallographic configuration so as to control a growth parameter, such as an alignment direction, a diameter, a crystallinity and the like of the carbon nanowire. The catalyst layer is etched to expose a sidewall portion. The carbon nanowire is nucleated from the exposed sidewall portion. An electrical circuit device can include a single crystal substrate, such as Silicon, and a crystallographically oriented catalyst layer on the substrate having an exposed sidewall portion. In the device, carbon nanowires are disposed on the single crystal substrate aligned in a direction associated with the crystallographic properties of the catalyst layer.
US07678669B2	Method for manufacturing semiconductor substrate The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor substrate in which a semiconductor wafer, formed of a material less likely to increase the hole diameter, is processed to a semiconductor substrate actually applicable to an existing manufacture line. An SiC wafer 12 is temporarily fixed to a Si wafer 18 through a wax 20. The SiC wafer 12 temporarily fixed to the Si wafer 18 is overlapped with a Si wafer 14 having the same hole diameter as the Si wafer 18 through an SOG film 16P. Orientation flats 14A and 18A are aligned, and while the Si wafers 14 and 18 are overlapped with each other, heating is performed under pressure to solidify the SOG film 16P, whereby an SOG solidified film 16S is formed. With the aid of the SOG solidified film 16S, the SiC wafer 12 is adhered to the Si wafer 14. The SiC wafer 12 is adhered at a predetermined position of the Si wafer 14 facing the SiC wafer 12 so as to be transferred from the Si wafer 18 to the Si wafer 14. The unneeded Si wafer 18 is detached, and the wax 20 is then removed.
US07678668B2	Manufacturing method of SOI substrate and manufacturing method of semiconductor device It is object to provide a manufacturing method of an SOI substrate provided with a single-crystal semiconductor layer, even in the case where a substrate having a low allowable temperature limit, such as a glass substrate, is used and to manufacture a high-performance semiconductor device using such an SOI substrate. Light irradiation is performed on a semiconductor layer which is separated from a semiconductor substrate and bonded to a support substrate having an insulating surface, using light having a wavelength of 365 nm or more and 700 nm or less, and a film thickness d (nm) of the semiconductor layer which is irradiated with the light is made to satisfy d=λ/2n×m±α (nm), when a light wavelength is λ (nm), a refractive index of the semiconductor layer is n, m is a natural number greater than or equal to 1 (m=1, 2, 3, 4, . . . ), and 0≦α≦10 is satisfied.
US07678654B2	Buried bitline with reduced resistance A memory cell array includes a number of memory cells, each of the memory cells including a source and a drain region defined by corresponding bitlines within a semiconductor substrate. Each of the bitlines has a doped semiconductor region as well as a conductive region in direct electrical contact with the doped semiconductor region.
US07678651B2	Method for fabricating semiconductor device A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes: providing a substrate structure in which a plurality of gate lines are already formed; forming a capping layer over the substrate structure; oxidizing the capping layer; and forming an insulation layer over the oxidized capping layer. The capping layer may include a nitride-based material. The insulation layer may include substantially the same material as the capping layer. The oxidizing of the capping layer may comprise performing a radical oxidation process.
US07678637B2	CMOS fabrication process Ultra high temperature (UHT) anneals above 1200 C for less than 100 milliseconds for PMOS transistors reduce end of range dislocations, but are incompatible with stress memorization technique (SMT) layers used to enhance NMOS on-state current. This invention reverses the conventional order of forming the NMOS first by forming PSD using carbon co-implants and UHT annealing them before implanting the NSD and depositing the SMT layer. End of range dislocation densities in the PSD space charge region below 100 cm−2 are achieved. Tensile stress in the PMOS from the SMT layer is significantly reduced. The PLDD may also be UHT annealed to reduce end of range dislocations close to the PMOS channel.
US07678629B1	Method for fabricating a recessed ohmic contact for a PHEMT structure According to an exemplary embodiment, a PHEMT (pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistor) structure includes a conductive channel layer. The PHEMT structure further includes at least one doped layer situated over the conductive channel layer. The at least one doped layer can include a heavily doped layer situated over a lightly doped layer. The PHEMT structure further includes a recessed ohmic contact situated on the conductive channel layer, where the recessed ohmic contact is situated in a source/drain region of the PHEMT structure, and where the recessed ohmic contact extends below the at least one doped layer. According to this exemplary embodiment, the recessed ohmic contact is bonded to the conductive channel layer. The recessed ohmic contact is situated adjacent to the at least one doped layer. The PHEMT structure further includes a spacer layer situated between the at least one doped layer and the conductive channel layer.
US07678628B2	Methods of fabricating nitride-based transistors with a cap layer and a recessed gate An anneal of a gate recess prior to formation of a gate contact, such as a Schottky contact, may reduce gate leakage and/or provide a high quality gate contact in a semiconductor device, such as a transistor. The use of an encapsulation layer during the anneal may further reduce damage to the semiconductor in the gate recess of the transistor. The anneal may be provided, for example, by an anneal of ohmic contacts of the device. Thus, high quality gate and ohmic contacts may be provided with reduced degradation of the gate region that may result from providing a recessed gate structure as a result of etch damage in forming the recess.
US07678626B2	Method and system for forming a thin film device A method of forming a thin film device on a flexible substrate is disclosed. The method includes depositing an imprintable material over the flexible substrate. The imprintable are stamped material forming a three-dimensional pattern in the imprintable material. A sacrificial layer is formed over the three-dimensional pattern. A conductive layer is deposited over the sacrificial layer. The sacrificial layer is removed, leaving portions of the conductive layer as defined by the three-dimensional pattern.
US07678625B2	Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices including channel layers having improved defect density and surface roughness characteristics A method of fabricating a semiconductor device including a channel layer includes forming a single crystalline semiconductor layer on a semiconductor substrate. The single crystalline semiconductor layer includes a protrusion extending from a surface thereof. A first polishing process is performed on the single crystalline semiconductor layer to remove a portion of the protrusion such that the single crystalline semiconductor layer includes a remaining portion of the protrusion. A second polishing process different from the first polishing process is performed to remove the remaining portion of the protrusion and define a substantially planar single crystalline semiconductor layer having a substantially uniform thickness. A sacrificial layer may be formed on the single crystalline semiconductor layer and used as a polish stop for the first polishing process to define a sacrificial layer pattern, which may be removed prior to the second polishing process. Related methods of fabricating stacked semiconductor memory devices are also discussed.
US07678615B2	Semiconductor device with gel-type thermal interface material Various methods and apparatus for establishing a thermal pathway for a semiconductor device are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes forming a metal layer on a semiconductor chip and forming a gel-type thermal interface material layer on the metal layer. A solvent and a catalyst material are applied to the metal layer prior to forming the gel-type thermal interface material layer to facilitate bonding between the gel-type thermal interface material layer and the metal layer.
US07678611B2	Spacer die structure and method for attaching A semiconductor spacer structure comprises in order a backgrinding tape layer, a spacer adhesive layer, a semiconductor spacer layer, an optional second spacer adhesive layer, a dicing tape layer. In a first method a spacer wafer having first and second sides, a backgrinding tape layer and a spacer adhesive layer between the first side and the backgrinding tape layer, is obtained. The second side is background and secured to a dicing tape. The backgrinding tape is removed and the resulting structure is diced to create spacer/adhesive die structures. A second method backgrinds the second side with the backgrinding tape layer at the first side. A protective cover layer is secured to the second side with a spacer adhesive layer therebetween. The backgrinding tape layer is removed and the remaining structure is secured to a dicing tape with the protective cover layer exposed. The protective cover layer is removed and the resulting structure is diced thereby creating spacer/adhesive die structures. The thickness of the second spacer adhesive layer may be selected to accommodate an uneven support surface.
US07678609B2	Semiconductor package with redistributed pads A method for fabricating a semiconductor package which includes coupling an electrode of a semiconductor device to a portion of a lead frame, overmolding at least a portion of the die, and then removing a portion of the die to obtain a desired thickness.
US07678599B2	Process for the fabrication of an inertial sensor with failure threshold A process for the fabrication of an inertial sensor with failure threshold includes the step of forming, on top of a substrate of a semiconductor wafer, a sample element embedded in a sacrificial region, the sample element configured to break under a preselected strain. The process further includes forming, on top of the sacrificial region, a body connected to the sample element and etching the sacrificial region so as to free the body and the sample element. The process may also include forming, on the substrate, additional sample elements connected to the body.
US07678585B2	Magnetoresistive sensor module and method of manufacturing the same A composite arrangement has a substrate material with a main surface, a metal-insulator arrangement including a metal sheet with an insulation area on the main surface, and a magnetoresistive structure on the metal-insulator arrangement. Thereupon, a cover layer arrangement is heated, so that the same at least partially covers the magnetoresistive structure with a target thickness D, and finally the magnetoresistive structure is heated by light radiation with given wavelength λ. The absorbed portion of the emitted radiation depends on the actual thickness D′ of the cover layer arrangement and the wavelength λ, wherein the target thickness D of the cover layer arrangement is adjusted so that, if the cover layer deviates from the target thickness D in a range of ±20% with reference to the target thickness D, a change of the absorbed portion of the emitted radiation in the magnetoresistive structure of less than ±40% is caused.
US07678580B2	Methods for using a diagnostic test strip for collecting and detecting an analyte in a fluid sample A test strip for use of the determination of an analyte in a fluid sample according to one embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The test strip comprises a base having a top and a bottom, a collection chamber that extends between the top and the bottom of the base, a containing ring that is disposed on the bottom of the base and surrounds the collection chamber, and a capillary channel formed in top of the base that has an inlet fluidly coupled to the collection chamber, a test element disposed within the capillary channel. A lid is attached to the top of the base and covers the collection chamber, the test membrane, and at least a portion of the capillary channel.
US07678576B2	Chemical analysis apparatus and chemical analysis cartridge The invention provides a chemical analysis apparatus which easily agitates and warms up. A chemical analysis apparatus has a motor, a retaining disc which can be rotated by the motor, a plurality of inspection cartridges which are arranged on the retaining disc, a punching machine for punching the inspection cartridges, a warming apparatus and a detection apparatus. The inspection cartridge includes a container formed by a concave portion and a base plate having a flow path. A cover covering the container and the flow path is installed to the base plate. A liquid solution is moved to the container in an outer peripheral side with respect to a rotation axis from the container in an inner peripheral side with respect to the rotation axis via the flow path, by utilizing a centrifugal force generated on the basis of the rotation of the retaining disc. The inspection cartridge is provided with an agitating means for agitating the liquid solution within the container and a warming means for warming up the liquid solution within the container.
US07678574B2	Sensitivity controls for blood serology prepared from modified cells The invention provides for a process for preparing a sensitivity control for blood group determination including dissolving an amount of an antigen in water to give an antigen solution of known concentration, contacting the antigen solution with cells to allow insertion of antigen molecules into the cell membranes of the cells to give transformed cells or contacting the antigen solution with cells that have been modified by the insertion of a linker molecule into the membranes of the cells to allow attachment of antigen molecules to the linker molecules to give transformed cells, washing the transformed cells to give a transformed cell solution, and determining the concentration of the transformed cell solution to enable the solution to be used as a sensitivity control for blood group determination.
US07678572B2	Methods for preparing T-cells for cell therapy T-cells are generated with enhanced immunostimulatory capabilities for use in self therapy treatment protocols, by utilizing a biodegradable device with a biodegradable support that has one or more agents that are reactive to T-cell surface moieties. The biodegradable devices are mixed with the T-cells sufficiently so that the one or more agents cross-link with the T-cells' surface moieties and deliver a signal to the T-cells to enhance immunostimulatory capabilities.
US07678570B2	Human cell strains for protein production, provided by selecting strains with high intracellular protein and mutating with carcinogens A novel human cell strain enabling the continuous production of a desired protein with high efficiency, comprising a novel human cell strain established by transforming a human cell strain whose total intracellular protein weight is 0.1 to 1 mg per 1,000,000 cells; with the novel human cell strain being further characterized in that after a gene encoding a desired protein is transfected into it, the transfected cell is subsequently cultured.
US07678568B2	Incubator The invention provides an incubator 1 wherein stackers 3 having a plurality of microplate accommodating portions are arranged in a chamber 11, and a microplate transport device 5 is arranged for transporting a microplate 31 within the chamber 11 and moving the microplate 31 into or out of a desired microplate accommodating portion. A camera 7 is provided on a position opposed to a microplate accommodating portion of an uppermost stage in the stacker 3. The camera 7 faces said microplate accommodating portion, whereby a sample on the microplate 31 can be photographed.
US07678563B2	Method and apparatus for controlling air pressure in an organ or tissue container An organ perfusion apparatus and method monitor, sustain and/or restore viability of organs and preserve organs for storage and/or transport. Other apparatus include an organ transporter, an organ cassette and an organ diagnostic device. The apparatus and methods include the organ cassette with one or more openings configured to allow tubing to pass through the openings and be connected to the organ or tissue within the cassette, and including a pressure control device to allow pressure inside the portable housing to be varied.
US07678562B2	Addressable nanopores and micropores including methods for making and using same Featured are devices and systems embodying one or more electrically-addressable-solid-state nanopores useful for sensing and/or characterizing single macromolecules as well as sequencing DNA or RNA. In one aspect of the present invention, there is featured a linear or 2-D electrically-addressable array of nanopores, where the nanopores are located at points of intersections between V-shaped grooves formed in an upper surface of the insulating member and a V-shaped groove formed in a lower surface of the insulating member. In another aspect of the present invention the solid-state nanopore of the present invention the width and/or length of the nanopore is defined or established by sharp edges of cleaved crystals that are maintained in fixed relation during the formation of the insulating member including the nanopore.
US07678559B2	Microbial composition and a process useful for the neutralization of alkaline waste-waters The invention relates to a microbial composition for the neutralization of alkaline waste waters by biological means and a method of neutralization of alkaline waste waters using a synergistic mixture of the bacterial strains of Bacillus alkalophilus and Bacillus sp.
US07678558B2	Method for overexpression of zwitterionic polysaccharides The present invention is directed to methods for producing and selecting novel mutant strains of B. fragilis that constitutively express a particular capsular polysaccharide or only selected capsular polysaccharides; compositions directed to the novel mutant strains of B. fragilis that constitutively express a particular capsular polysaccharide or only selected capsular polysaccharides; improved methods for purification of individual capsular polysaccharides; and compositions directed to novel res02 and inv19 genes and their gene products. Significantly, the present invention provides methods and compositions for overexpressing and purifying immunomodulatory capsular polysaccharide A (PSA) in high yield.
US07678549B2	Polyphenol inhibition of nucleoside diphosphate kinase-B activity and cancer metastasis Aggressive human tumor cells from disparate tissues were found to secrete nucleoside diphosphate kinase-B (NDPK-B) as a phosphoprotein into the extracellular environment. The secreted enzyme was capable of trasphosphorylation activity in the absence of a phosphoryl donor, thereby producing elevated level of extracellular ATP that plays a significant role in angiogenesis required for the growth of cancer cells and cancer metastasis. A series of structurally related non-nucleotide anticancer compounds such as ellagic acid (EA), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and epicatechin gallate (ECG) were found to inhibit the activity of secreted nucleoside diphosphate kinase-B as well as angiogenesis. The nucleoside diphosphate kinase-B inhibition data disclosed herein can be used in predicative models to design novel inhibitors of nucleoside diphosphate kinase-B activity.
US07678546B1	Solid-state NMR method for screening cell membrane protein binding drug candidates Disclosed is a method for detection of ligand-cell membrane protein binding by solid state NMR spectroscopy. The method starts by forming a lipid bilayer inside nanopores of an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) substrate, the lipid bilayer containing a membrane protein sample. The AAO substrate is treated with multiple candidate ligands having potential binding affinity for the membrane protein. Solid-state NMR analysis is performed on the treated AAO/lipid preparation so as to generate an NMR spectrum for the treated membrane protein. The solid-state NMR spectrum of the treated membrane protein is compared with the spectrum of the same preparation of membrane protein in the absence of the ligands. It is then determined whether the solid-state NMR spectrum of the treated membrane protein has shifted from the NMR spectrum of the untreated membrane protein, a shift being indicative of protein binding by the candidate ligand.
US07678539B2	Arrays of biological membranes and methods and use thereof The present invention overcomes the problems and disadvantages associated with prior art arrays by providing an array comprising a plurality of biological membrane microspots associated with a surface of a substrate that can be produced, used and stored, not in an aqueous environment, but in an environment exposed to air under ambient or controlled humidities. Preferably, the biological membrane microspots comprise a membrane bound protein. Most preferably, the membrane bound protein is a G-protein coupled receptor, an ion channel, a receptor serine/threonine kinase or a receptor tyrosine kinase.
US07678533B2	Heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor A heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor is disclosed which comprises a support having a hydrophilic surface and a coating which does not dissolve in an aqueous alkaline developer in the unexposed areas and which becomes soluble in an aqueous alkaline developer in the exposed areas, and an intermediate layer between said hydrophilic surface or said hydrophilic layer and said coating, wherein the intermediate layer comprises a first polymer having a first monomeric unit of formula I wherein R1, R2 and R3 are independently a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl group, R4 and R5 are independently an optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or arylalkyl group. The precursor exhibits an excellent differentiation in dissolution kinetics between the exposed and non-exposed areas of the coating and a high chemical resistance against printing liquids and press chemicals.
US07678531B2	Positive-working imageable elements Positive-working imageable elements have a substrate and an imageable layer that can be used to prepare lithographic printing plates. The imageable elements also include a radiation absorbing compound, and a mixture of first and second polymers in the same imageable layer. The first polymer has two or more centered H-bonds (hydrogen bonds) within a non-covalently bonded unit, and the second polymer is a polyvinyl acetal. This mixture of polymers in the same imageable layer provides improved solvent resistance and processing latitude without a loss in imaging speed.
US07678530B2	Lactone-containing compound, polymer, resist composition, and patterning process Lactone-containing compounds having formula (1) are novel wherein A1 is a polymerizable functional group having a double bond, R1 is a monovalent C1-C10 hydrocarbon group in which some or all hydrogen atoms are substituted by fluorine atoms, and W is CH2, O or S. They are useful as monomers to produce polymers for the formulation of radiation-sensitive resist compositions which have high transparency to radiation of up to 500 nm and exhibit good development properties. Radiation-sensitive resist compositions comprising the polymers as base resin exhibit high resolution and prevent dissolution in water and penetration of water when processed by immersion lithography.
US07678525B2	Imaging apparatus and improved toner therefor The invention relates to a liquid toner and imaging apparatus provided with an imaging surface having a liquid toner image formed thereon on fibrous toner particles and carrier liquid. The fibrous toner particles can be composed of a polymer portion and pigment dispersed therein, where the polymer portion comprises a surface of the fibrous toner particles and is insoluble in the carrier liquid at temperatures below 40° C., so that the polymer portion will not dissolve or solvate in storage. The polymer portion also is solvatable by the carrier liquid only at temperatures above 50° C. The carrier liquid has, as a major component, first liquid hydrocarbon having a first rate of evaporation, and, as a minor component, second liquid hydrocarbon having a second rate of evaporation which, at room temperature, is at least an order of magnitude less than the first rate of evaporation.
US07678522B2	Toner, and developer, image forming method, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge using the toner A toner is provided prepared by a wet granulation method, comprising a binder resin and a colorant, wherein the toner adsorbs ammonia (NH3) in an amount of from 70 to 400 μmol/m2 per unit of specific surface area and carbon dioxide (CO2) in an amount of not greater than 10 μmol/m2 per unit of specific surface area.
US07678521B2	Electrophotographic toner and image forming apparatus There are disclosed an electrophotographic toner including a compound represented by formula (1) and a compound represented by formula (2). In Formula (1), R1, R2, R3, and R4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aromatic group, and X− represents a molybdate anion or a tungstate anion. In Formula (2), R5+ and R6+ each independently represent a hydrogen ion, an ammonium ion, an iminium ion, or a phosphonium ion, and R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, and R14 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group.
US07678511B2	Reflective-type mask blank for EUV lithography There are provided a substrate with a reflective layer and an EUV mask blank, which can prevent particles from adhering to a surface of the reflective layer or an absorbing layer, or into a reflective layer or an absorbing layer during formation thereof by eliminating electrical connection between a film formed on a front surface of the substrate and a film formed on a rear surface of the substrate.A substrate with a reflective layer, which is usable to fabricate a reflective mask blank for EUV lithography, comprising a chucking layer formed on a rear surface opposite a surface with the reflective layer formed thereon, the chucking layer serving to chuck and support the substrate by an electrostatic chuck, wherein the reflective layer has no electrical connection to the chucking layer.
US07678509B2	Method of producing phase shift masks A light-shielding film pattern 2a having a main opening 5 and auxiliary openings 6 is formed in a first process and, then, recess etching of a transparent substrate (formation of a substrate etched portion 8) is performed in a second process. Thus, the main opening and auxiliary openings can be simultaneously exposed in the first process and the positioning accuracy of them becomes excellent. Patterning of a light-shielding film 2 is performed by the use of an etching mask layer 3a and therefore the processing accuracy of the light-shielding film becomes excellent. The etching mask layer 3a is removed in a third process as the final process and thus the light-shielding film pattern 2a can be protected by the etching mask layer 3a upon recess-etching the transparent substrate in the second process. Thus, it is possible to prevent damage to the light-shielding film pattern 2a in the recess etching of the transparent substrate. Specifically, the etching mask layer 3a itself is damaged in the recess etching of the transparent substrate and this etching mask layer 3a is removed in the third process, causing no problem.
US07678508B2	Method of manufacturing mask blank and method of manufacturing mask To prevent foreign matters from adhering to a substrate, etc., thereby causing inconveniences during storing and transporting a mask blank, or during manufacturing the mask blank and a mask. Thin films 2 and 3 formed in a mask thin film forming step of a mask blank manufacturing steps are covered by a dust-free protective film 5 formed of water-soluble material, thereby preventing foreign matters from adhering to the surface of the mask blank itself and preventing the surface of the mask blank from being damaged in the subsequent step, and when the mask blank is used, the dust-free protective film is removed.
US07678504B2	Lithium secondary battery and a method for preparing the same A lithium secondary battery of the present invention comprises a positive electrode; a negative electrode; a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes; and an electrolyte on the separator, wherein the electrolyte includes a non-aqueous organic solvent, a lithium salt, and a linear polymer having P═O bonds. The electrolyte improves the swelling characteristics of lithium secondary batteries. A lithium secondary battery with the electrolyte and a method for preparing the electrolyte and battery is described.
US07678500B2	Expandable battery compartment In a battery-powered electrical device, an expandable battery compartment for accommodating batteries of varying size, and a method for altering the size of the battery compartment, is disclosed. The battery compartment includes a battery casing defining a substantially cylindrical recess for at least partially encapsulating a battery. The recess has an open end for receiving a battery and a closed end. A first electrical contact element is positioned on or adjacent the closed end of the recess for contacting a terminal of a battery. A cover is configured to be releasably mounted to the open end of the recess for selectively concealing the open end and defining the battery compartment. A second electrical contact element is provided for contacting an opposing terminal of the battery. The second electrical contact element is selectively positionable at multiple locations on the cover to accommodate batteries of varying size within the battery compartment.
US07678492B2	Battery vent and pressure blowout relief frit The present invention is directed to an improvement in a battery cover having a vent opening, the improvement is a frit that has two functions; namely, it acts to allow gases to escape while preventing liquid to escape and in addition acts as a blowout disk when a pressure within the battery exceeds a predetermined pressure that blows the frit out of the cover preventing the explosion of the battery.
US07678487B2	Discharged fuel diluter A discharged fuel diluter for a fuel cell includes: a dilution case which defines a dilution space; an offgas introduction pipe which penetrates the dilution case, supplying offgas discharged from the fuel cell in the case; a partitioning member having a rib provided in the dilution case; and a dilution gas pipe which penetrates the dilution case.
US07678485B2	Fuel cartridge, fuel cell and portable electrical appliance including fuel cell The operability of a fuel cell which uses a fuel cartridge housing a liquid fuel is improved. A fuel cartridge 1400 houses a liquid fuel 124. The fuel cartridge 1400 includes a gas-liquid separation film 1408 which divides a fuel housing section 1402 into a liquid housing chamber 1402a and a gas housing chamber 1402b. A fuel gas, which is the vaporized liquid fuel, is housed in the gas housing chamber 1402b. A gas exhaust pipe 1410 is connected to the gas housing chamber 1402b, and the fuel gas housed in the gas housing chamber 1402b is discharged to outside the fuel cartridge 1400 via a gas discharge port 1414.
US07678480B2	Fuel cell system At system shutdown, supply of hydrogen to a fuel electrode of a fuel cell stack is stopped, and at the same time dry air is supplied to an oxidant electrode. The dry air is subsequently supplied also to the fuel electrode, and finally the system is shut down. This allows optimal conditioning of a fuel cell at system shutdown, and effectively suppresses deterioration of a proton exchange membrane or a catalyst layer of the fuel cell which is caused at system shutdown as well as during storage. Furthermore, a fuel cell system excellent in safety and the like can be provided.
US07678475B2	Spin-torque devices Spin-torque devices are based on a combination of giant magnetoresistance (GMR) and tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) effects. The basic structure has various applications, including amplifiers, oscillators, and diodes. For example, if the low-magnetoresistance (GMR) contact is biased below a critical value, the device may function as a microwave-frequency selective amplifier. If the GMR contact is biased above the critical value, the device may function as a microwave oscillator. A plurality of low- and high-magnetoresistance contact pairs may be induced to oscillate in a phase-locked regime, thereby multiplying output power. The frequency of operation of these devices will be tunable by the external magnetic field, as well as by the direct bias current, in the frequency range between 10 and 100 GHz. The devices do not use semiconductor materials and are expected to be exceptionally radiation-hard, thereby finding application in military nanoelectronics.
US07678472B2	Compound and organic light-emitting diode and display utilizing the same An organoluminescent compound. The compound has formula (I) wherein X1 and X2 independently represent C10-25 aryl, heteroaryl, stilbenyl, silylaryl, or arylsilyl; n represents an integer of 0 to 2; L represents aryl or heteroaryl; and A1, A2, and A3 independently represent aryl or heteroaryl. The invention also provides an organic light-emitting diode and a display utilizing the organoluminescent compound.
US07678471B2	Surface modification to improve fireside corrosion resistance of Fe-Cr ferritic steels An article of manufacture and a method for providing an Fe—Cr ferritic steel article of manufacture having a surface layer modification for corrosion resistance. Fe—Cr ferritic steels can be modified to enhance their corrosion resistance to liquid coal ash and other chemical environments, which have chlorides or sulfates containing active species. The steel is modified to form an aluminide/silicide passivating layer to reduce such corrosion.
US07678470B2	Reinforced matrix for molten carbonate fuel cell using porous aluminum support and method for preparing the molten carbonate fuel cell comprising the reinforced matrix Disclosed is a reinforced matrix for a molten carbonate fuel cell comprising a porous aluminum support and a lithium aluminate tape-cast on the porous aluminum support. Further, disclosed is a method for preparing the molten carbonate fuel cell comprising the reinforced matrix comprising steps of tape-casting a lithium aluminate on a porous aluminum support so as to prepare a reinforced matrix (S1), making a unit cell or a stack of the unit cells using the reinforced matrix (S2) and heat treating the unit cell or the stack so as to oxidize aluminum in the support into lithium aluminate (S3). According to the present invention, the method is simple and economic, and the mass production of the matrix is easy, and strength of the matrix can be increased effectively and therefore there is no worry about fracture or crack.
US07678465B2	Aluminum phosphate compounds, compositions, materials and related metal coatings Aluminophosphate compounds, compositions and/or materials as can be used for substrate coatings.
US07678454B2	Method for forming finely-structured parts, finely-structured parts formed thereby, and product using such finely-structured part In a formation method for forming a fine structure in a workpiece (30) containing an etching control component, using an isotropic etching process, a mask (32, 34) having an opening (36) is applied to the workpiece, and the workpiece is etched with an etching solution (38) to thereby form a recess (40), corresponding to a shape of the opening, in a surface of the workpiece. The etching of the workpiece is stopped due to the etching control component eluted out of the workpiece in the etching solution within the recess during the isotropic etching process.
US07678451B2	Laser light absorbing additive Laser light absorbing additive comprising particles that contain at least a first polymer with a first functional group and 0-95 wt. % of an absorber, the weight percentage relating to the total of the first polymer and the absorber and the first polymer being bound in at least a part of the surface of the particles by means of the first functional group to a second functional group, which is bound to a second polymer.
US07678449B2	Iridescent magnetic effect pigments comprising a ferrite layer Iridescent magnetic pigments are produced by depositing a ferrite layer and a second metal oxide layer in succession on a substrate. The substrate may be platy and is coated with the ferrite, which is then coated with the second metal oxide layer to provide interference color effect. At least one of the layers is magnetic. The magnetic pigment may be used in coatings such as paints.
US07678448B2	Gas barrier film and gas barrier laminate The gas barrier film of the present invention is a gas barrier film comprising a base material, and an inorganic thin film composed of a silicon oxide film formed on one or both surfaces of the base material, wherein radical density of the Pb center of the silicon oxide film observed by an electron spin resonance method (ESR method) is from 1×1016 to 1×1019 spins/cm3, or a gas barrier film comprising a base material, an inorganic thin film containing silicon oxide and the other metal component formed on one or both surfaces of the base material, wherein radical density of the Pb center of the silicon oxide in the inorganic thin film observed by an ESR method is from 13×1014 to 3×1017 spins/mol, and a laminate wherein at least one paper and/or plastic film is laminated on the gas barrier film.
US07678447B2	Protective cover for display panel and its use A protective cover for a display panel, comprising a transparent substrate, and an anti-reflection, transparent medium layer comprising hollow, transparent, fine particles dispersed in a transparent resin matrix and sealed without gap between the a transparent substrate and an image-displaying area of the display panel, the refractive index N1 of the anti-reflection, transparent medium layer and the refractive index Ns of the transparent substrate meeting the following relation (1): No
US07678428B2	Plasma spraying method A method of forming a thermally insulating layer system on a metallic substrate surface is disclosed. The method includes: forming a plasma beam; introducing a coating material in the form of a powder having particles in the range between 1 and 50 μm, carried by a delivery gas into the plasma beam, so as to form a powder beam; defocusing the powder beam by using the plasma beam with a sufficiently high specific enthalpy and by maintaining a process pressure between 50 and 2000 Pa for at least partially melting and vaporizing at least 5% by weight of the powder, so as to form a vapor phase cloud; and forming from the vapor phase cloud onto the metallic substrate surface an insulating layer, being a part of the insulating layer system, having an anisotropic columnar microstructure having elongate particles; wherein the anisotropic columnar microstructure is aligned substantially perpendicular to the metallic substrate surface and low-density transition regions with little material delimit the elongate particles relative to one another.
US07678419B2	Formation of catalytic regions within porous structures using supercritical phase processing A method of forming a catalytic region on a porous structure having an exterior surface and a plurality of pores, the method comprising: forming a supercritical dispersion, wherein the supercritical dispersion comprises a plurality of particles dispersed in a supercritical fluid; exposing the porous structure to the supercritical dispersion; and depositing the plurality of particles from the supercritical dispersion onto the porous structure, wherein each one of the deposited plurality of particles is catalytic, thereby forming one or more catalytic regions on the porous structure. The method is particularly well suited for creating catalytic regions within pre-formed microporous structures.
US07678415B2	Method of coating fine particles with lipid film An object of the present invention is to provide a safe, convenient and efficient method for coating fine particles with lipid membrane.There is provided a method for coating fine particles with lipid membrane, characterized in that, the rate of a polar organic solvent in an aqueous solution containing the polar organic solvent where the fine particles are dispersed and lipid is dissolved, is decreased.
US07678414B2	Rollable floor mat with non-slip surface Thin gage, rollable plastic vinyl floor mats can be provided with an abrasive and grit coating that will not deteriorate or degrade when the mats are rolled or otherwise substantially deformed. A special blend of epoxy adhesive and MEK is used to permanently bond the grit to the vinyl surface.
US07678409B2	Deposition of layers on substrates A process for filling or lining the pores of a porous silicon, silica or alumina substrate with a material which exhibits voltage-dependent index of refraction n is provided comprising providing precursors for the deposited material as a precursor solution, forming a fine mist of droplets of precursor solution and applying the droplets to the porous substrate. The invention provides for the first time porous silicon, silica and alumina substrates having a fill fraction of at least 60%. Fill fractions of close to l00% can be achieved. When provided with top and bottom electrodes, filled porous silicon, silica and alumina wafers can be used as voltage-dependent photonic devices. The same process can be used for lining trenches in the surface of a silicon substrate, for instance for use in production of microelectronic devices such as random access memories.
US07678402B1	Animal chew A novel dog chew is disclosed made of raw hide which has a large plurality of closely spaced perforations cut there through during manufacture of the dog chew. Typically the perforations are created in first rows that are generally parallel to each other and in second rows that are also generally parallel to each other, and the first rows intersect the second rows to create a cross hatching pattern. The intersecting sets of perforations created by the cross hatch pattern define a large number of small sections on the rawhide. The small sections of the dog chew individually break off when chewed by a dog instead of large pieces that may choke the dog.
US07678399B2	Phytosterol containing deep-fried foods and methods with health promoting characteristics Deep frying oils combined with phytosterols are instrumental in deep-fried food products and methods for enhancing health characteristics. The deep frying compositions have a phytosterol ester content of up to about 50 weight percent, and at least about 50 weight percent of the phytosterols are transferred into the food product.
US07678392B2	Colour reduction in canola protein isolate In the recovery of canola protein isolates from canola oil seeds steps are taken to inhibit the formation of coloring components and to reduce the presence of materials tending to form coloring components, to obtain a lighter and less yellow canola protein isolate.
US07678391B2	Formulations and methods of using nitric oxide mimetics against a malignant cell phenotype The present invention relates to methods and formulations for inhibiting, treating and preventing a malignant cell phenotype, cell, tumor and/or disease. Administration of nitric oxide mimetics, such as low doses, is sufficient to increase, restore or maintain nitric oxide-mediated signaling in cells so that malignant cell phenotypes, cells, tumors and/or diseases are inhibited or prevented. These methods and formulations are particularly useful in treating and preventing cancer in animals.
US07678389B1	Treatment of optic and otic inflammation There is provided a method of treating irritations and inflammation of the eye or ear by the topical administration of an aqueous composition containing magnesium, potassium and sodium halides. The eye treating compositions have an osmolarity between 140 and 180 mOsm/l and are hypotonic.
US07678383B2	Aminoacetonitrile compounds for controlling endoparasites The invention relates to aminoacetonitrile compounds of the formula wherein m is 1, 2 or 3; R1 is C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-haloalkoxy or halogen, whereby the substituents may respectively be identical or different, if m is greater than 1; and R2 is C1-C4-haloalkyl; and optionally enantiomers thereof; and the use of aminoacetonitrile compounds of formula I in the control of endoparasites, especially helminths, in warm-blooded productive livestock and domestic animals.
US07678381B2	Stabilized body care products, household products, textiles and fabrics Disclosed are stabilized body care products, household products, textiles and fabrics comprising an effective stabilizing amount of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of formula (I)-(III) where G1 and G2 are independently alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms or are together pentamethylene, Z1 and Z2 are each methyl, or Z1 and Z2 together form a linking moiety which may additionally be substituted by an ester, ether, hydroxy, oxo, cyanohydrin, amide, amino, carboxy or urethane group, X is an inorganic or organic anion, and where the total charge of cations h is equal to the total charge of anions j; and an organic UV filter selected from (c1) dibenzoylmethane derivatives; (c2) cinnamic acid esters; (c3) camphor derivatives; and (c4) trianilino-s-triazine derivatives.
US07678374B2	Viral vectors expressing fusion of viral large envelope protein and protein of interest The present invention provides a virus-like particle (VLP) comprising i) a polypeptide comprising a polypeptide of interest (POI) and at least a particle-associating portion of a large envelope (L) polypeptide of an avian hepadnavirus or a functional derivative or homolog thereof, and ii) a small envelope (S) polypeptide of an avian hepadnavirus or a functional derivative or homolog thereof. By introducing one or more POIs into the L polypeptide, the POI is translocated along with L into a particle structure made up primarily of S polypeptide. The present invention furthermore provides methods for producing a recombinant virus-like particle.
US07678373B2	Anti-FGF19 antibodies and methods using same The invention provides anti-FGF19 antibodies, and compositions comprising and methods of using these antibodies, methods using anti-FGF19 antibodies, and methods comprising detection of FGF19 and/or FGFR4.
US07678370B2	Methods of preventing peritonitis by administering lactic acid bacterium The present invention relates to the use of lactic acid bacteria capable of adhering to the mucosa of the intestine and especially colonizing it for the prevention of peritonitis. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of such lactic acid bacteria for the prevention of peritonitis caused by cirrhosis of the liver. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for preventing peritonitis in a patient in need of such prevention. This method includes administering to the patient a lactic acid bacterium that is capable of adhering to the intestine's mucosa and essentially colonizing it for the preparation of an ingestable carrier. The invention also relates to a peritonitis preventing composition of a lactic acid bacterium that is capable of adhering to the intestine's mucosa and essentially colonizing it for the preparation of an ingestable carrier. The carrier is preferably a food or pharmaceutical composition.
US07678367B2	Method for reducing odor using metal-modified particles A method for reducing odor is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises forming a coordination complex between particles having a positive zeta potential and a transition metal. The method further comprises contacting the coordination complex with an odorous compound, the transition metal providing one or more active sites for capturing the odorous compound. For example, in one embodiment, the particles are formed from alumina-coated silica. In addition, the coordination complex may be formed using a bifunctional chelating agent.
US07678363B2	Methods of treating psychiatric conditions comprising administration of muscarinic agents in combination with SSRIs The instant disclosure describes methods for treating diseases and conditions of the central and peripheral nervous system by stimulating or increasing neurogenesis. The disclosure includes compositions and methods based on muscarinic receptor modulation, such as via inhibition of acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity, alone or in combination with another neurogenic agent to stimulate or activate the formation of new nerve cells.
US07678359B2	Preparation method of white light quantum dot The invention provides a preparation method of Zn1-xCdxA quantum dot capable of emitting white light, in which A is S or S1-ySey; 0
US07678357B2	Electrical connection structure, production method thereof, and electric wiring method An electrical connection structure that is able to electrically connect wiring to a biopolymer, a production method of the electrical connection structure, and an electric wiring method which is able to perform wiring on a nanometer-scale. A first aspect of the production method of the present invention uses a carbon nanotube as an electrode, and makes the carbon nanotube contact the biopolymer. A second aspect of the production method applies electric current between the electrode and the biopolymer of the first aspect. The electrical connection structure of the present invention comprises at least the electrode formed by the carbon nanotube and the biopolymer, wherein the electrode is in contact with the biopolymer. In the electric wiring method of the present invention, the electrode formed by the carbon nanotube contacts the biopolymer to complete an electrical connection.
US07678355B2	Method for producing perovskite-type complex oxide A method for producing a highly crystalline perovskite-type complex compound is provided that exhibits stably a high Seebeck coefficient and a low electric resistivity even at higher temperatures. A method for producing a complex perovskite-type compound with less environmental load is also provided. The method comprises a step of dissolving a nitrate salt containing a rare earth element, a nitrate salt containing an alkaline earth metal element, a nitrate salt containing manganese, and an organic polymer into a solvent to form a solution, a step of mixing and stirring the solution, a step of preparing a precursor powder from the solution through heating and drying thereof, and a step of calcining the precursor powder in atmosphere.
US07678344B2	Process and device intended for regeneration of used absorbents from thermal generator fumes treatment Process and device for regeneration of a used absorbent from a desulfurization zone or from the desulfurization of a gas containing sulfur oxides, comprising regeneration simultaneously with filtering of the absorbent, in a reducing atmosphere, wherein partial combustion of a regeneration gas is also carried out upstream from regeneration, the products of the partial combustion being mixed with the used absorbent prior to the regeneration-filtration stage. The absorbent may be, e.g., solid absorbents based on magnesium oxide. The regeneration gas may be hydrogen sulfide and/or a hydrocarbon. For example, H2S can be partially combusted and the products of the partial combustion, including H2S, H2, SO2 and sulfur, mixed with the used absorbent prior to the regeneration-filtration stage.
US07678341B2	Loop reactor heat removal The present invention provides a process for cooling a polymerization reactor having at least four leg jackets. In the four leg jacket embodiment, the process comprises pumping a first coolant through a first pair of leg jackets, and pumping a second coolant through a different pair of leg jackets. In this process, the first coolant does not contact the second coolant while inside the leg jackets.
US07678339B2	Fine particle powder production A vaporised flow quenching reactor for producing a fine-powder from one or more reactant materials. The reactor comprises a first heat source selected from one of a DC plasma torch and RF plasma torch, a first reaction chamber within which energized reactant materials react and a first convergent-divergent nozzle for quenching the heated reactant materials from the first reaction chamber. The reactor also comprises a second reaction chamber provided for congregation of nano particles formed therefrom and a second convergent-divergent nozzle to deliver the nano particles to a collection chamber.
US07678338B2	Fluid retaining assembly and method of using the same The invention provides a fluid retaining assembly. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the fluid retaining assembly may include a base assembly including a cavity and a reservoir assembly disposed in the cavity of the base assembly. The reservoir assembly may include a body portion having a well in which fluid is retainable and a membrane covering the well. The reservoir assembly may further include an absorbent strip disposed in the well and covered by the membrane. The base assembly may be provided to include at least one attachment member. The attachment member serves to attach the reservoir assembly to the base assembly. A plurality of reservoir assemblies may be retained by the base assembly.
US07678327B2	Cemented carbide tools for mining and construction applications and method of making same A cemented carbide cutting tool insert/button for mining and construction comprising hard constituents in a binder phase of Co and/or Ni and at least one surface portion and an interior portion in which surface portion the grain size is smaller than in the interior portion is disclosed. The surface portion with the smaller grain size has a lower binder phase content than the interior portion. A method to form the cemented carbide cutting tool insert/button is also disclosed.
US07678322B2	Method of producing manufactured aggregates The invention relates to a method of fabricating manufactured aggregates (10), characterized in that the following steps are performed: supplying a first material (12) comprising particles; supplying elements (16, 18, 20, 22) for forming a second material (14); mixing a predetermined quantity (Q12) of said first material (12) with a predetermined quantity (Q16, Q18, Q20, Q22) of each of said elements (16, 18, 20, 22) of said second material (14), so as to obtain a mortar (M12-14) made up of inclusions (12) corresponding to the first material and a matrix (14) corresponding to the second material (14); subjecting a first cure (T1) to the mortar (M12-14) for a predetermined first cure duration (t1); and crushing (C) said mortar (M12-14) to obtain manufactured aggregates (10).
US07678320B2	Anti-drool mechanism for a sprue bushing A shut-off valve for preventing drool from an injection molding apparatus is provided in a melt channel of a sprue bushing. The shut-off valve includes a fixed member located in the melt channel and a reciprocating member coupled to the fixed member. The reciprocating member is biased toward an extended position in which an inlet of the sprue bushing is blocked thereby. The reciprocating member is movable from the extended position towards a retracted position in which the inlet of the sprue bushing is clear by the force of a melt stream entering the melt channel of the sprue bushing.
US07678317B2	Concrete mixing drum manufacturing method A method for making a concrete mixing drum includes forming a first layer of at least one polymeric material having a surface providing at least a portion of a barrel wall of the drum and a spiral mixing blade projecting from the wall on an inner surface of the drum and forming a second layer on the formed first layer.
US07678315B2	Process for producing adhesive film A process for producing an adhesive film includes laminating an adhesive layer containing thermoplastic polyimide onto at least one surface of a highly heat-resistant polyimide layer by coextrusion casting method, wherein a chemical dehydrator and a catalyst are contained in a precursor solution of the highly heat-resistant polyimide and/or a solution containing either the thermoplastic polyimide or a precursor of the thermoplastic polyimide.
US07678314B1	Prophylaxis cup having perlite particles, methods of forming and method of use A prophylaxis cup formed of a silicone elastomer having perlite particles incorporated therein as an abrasive material. The silicone elastomer and perlite particles are processed in a 3-roll mill so that the perlite particles have a predetermined size and are uniformly dispersed throughout the prophylaxis cup. As the prophylaxis cup is used to clean and polish teeth, the prophylaxis cup disintegrates upon contact with the teeth releasing the perlite particles which act as a cleaning and polishing agent between the prophylaxis cup and the teeth.
US07678308B2	Molded woody article and process for producing molded woody article A method for manufacturing a molded article includes the step of pressing a pre-molding material that is prepared by dispersing a polylactic acid-base aliphatic polyester and a compatible copolymer into kenaf fibers. The compatible copolymer contains a first polymerizable monomer and a second polymerizable monomer. The pressing step is performed at a temperature that permit the polylactic acid-base aliphatic polyester to be changed to a softened state or a molten state. The first polymerizable monomer has a polymerizable double bond part and a hydrophilic group. The second polymerizable monomer has a polymerizable double bond part and an epoxy group.
US07678304B2	Apparatus for blow moulding of plastic objects An apparatus for blow moulding of bottles in plastic material comprising a rotating turntable provided with moulds (4) on its outer circumference. Each mould (4) has three moulding forms (5, 6, 7) that can be controlled separately during the parison blowing operations so as not to blow those forms that may not have been supplied with parisons (12).
US07678303B2	Measurement method for injection molding machines A measurement method including a main measurement process Sa in which measurement is performed by rotating a screw in the forward direction with a back-flow prevention valve installed on its tip and a post-measurement process Sb which is performed by rotating the screw in a reverse direction after the main measurement process Sa is finished, the post-measurement process Sb being performed after completing the main measurement process Sa, in which the screw is moved forward in a free rotational state, the rotational state of the screw during the forward movement being monitored, and if the rotation of screw comes to a halt, the screw is rotated in a reverse direction by a specified amount of rotation.
US07678300B2	Optical film manufacturing method and apparatus An optical film manufacturing method, comprising steps of: forming a film by casting a liquid-state resin; embossing both ends of the formed film in a lateral direction of the film so as to form embossed sections for conveying the film; conveying the film having the embossed sections by a freely rotatable conveyance roller; trimming and removing the embossed sections of the film after the conveying step; and winding up the film.
US07678298B2	Tantalum carbide nitride materials by vapor deposition processes Embodiments of the invention generally provide compositions of tantalum carbide nitride materials. In one embodiment, a composition of a tantalum carbide nitride material is provided which includes the chemical formula of TaCxNy, wherein x is within a range from about 0.20 to about 0.50 and y is within a range from about 0.20 to about 0.55, an interstitial/elemental carbon atomic ratio of about 2 or greater, and a crystalline structure. In some examples, the composition provides that x is within a range from about 0.25 to about 0.40, preferably, from about 0.30 to about 0.40, and y is within a range from about 0.30 to about 0.50, preferably, from about 0.35 to about 0.50. The interstitial/elemental carbon atomic ratio may be about 3, about 4, or greater. The composition further may have a sheet resistance within a range from about 1×104 Ω/sq to about 1×106 Ω/sq.
US07678296B2	Black conductive thick film compositions, black electrodes, and methods of forming thereof This invention is directed to black conductive compositions, black electrodes made from such compositions and methods of forming such electrodes. In particular, the invention is directed to a single layer bus electrode.
US07678294B2	Illuminator with fluorescent substance An illuminator includes a light emitting light source and a fluorescent substance. The fluorescent substance includes a crystal of nitride or oxy-nitride having a β-type Si3N4 crystal structure having Eu+2 solid-dissolved into it and emitting a fluorescent light having a peak within a range of 500 nm to 600 nm in wavelength by being irradiated with an exciting light.
US07678285B2	Apparatus and method for separation of water from an emulsion or mixture of water and oil The invention refers to an oil recover unit (1) having at least one container (5) for retrieval of a mixture/emulsion of mainly water (3) and oil (4) for separation of the water (3) from the oil (4). The retrieval is provided via at least one inflow (6), located at lower part (24) of the container (5), where the mixture/emulsion (2) is soaked up and under pressure pressed upwards into the container (5) by at least one pump (8) at the same time as the oil (4), which has a lower density than the water (3), floats upwards in the form of oil particles (16) in the surrounding water (3) and creates an oil bed (17) on the water (3), whereby on at least one place, where the oil particles (16) move upwards, somewhere under the oil bed (17), at least one collecting place (9) is connected in direct or indirect connection to at least one discharge canal (11), through which the surrounding water (3) in the mixture/emulsion (2), possibly containing a small quantity of oil (4), is dischargeable from the container (5), as discharged water (13), via at least one existing lower discharge (14), placed at the lower part (24) of the container (5) at the same time as the oil bed (17) is dischargeable at the upper part (12) of the container via at least one existing upper discharge (15).
US07678284B2	Tertiary filter A filter cloth of long pile fiber bundles is used as a tertiary filter in a wastewater processing method. The filter may be backwashed by a rotating suction head which does not touch the filter cloth. A combination of countercurrent and horizontal flow dislodges entrained solids from the filter cloth. Mounting of the filter media as modular components permits increased capacity within a single tank while avoiding down time in changeover of filter media.
US07678282B2	Method of determination of the conditions of exhaustion of a filtering cartridge for filtering carafes with replaceable cartridge and carafe operating in compliance with such method A method of determination of the conditions of exhaustion of a filtering cartridge for filtering carafes with replaceable cartridges is described, in which an initial identification of impedance of the water to be filtered is provided for in order to consequently calculate an important parameter for definition of the efficient lifespan on the filtering cartridge. Furthermore a carafe operating in compliance with such method is also described.
US07678279B2	Metal compound removal The present invention relates to a process for separating at least one metal compound and/or a component thereof from a mixture, said process comprising contacting the said mixture with a heteropoly acid or heteropoly acid anion, thereby producing a precipitate comprising the heteropoly acid or heteropoly acid anion and the metal compound and/or a component thereof. The present invention further relates to a process for the purification of a mixture containing at least one metal compound, said process comprising contacting the said mixture with a heteropoly acid or heteropoly acid anion, thereby producing a precipitate that is substantially insoluble in the said reaction mixture and recovering the reaction mixture.
US07678274B2	Wastewater treatment system Disclosed is a system for treating wastewater. The system includes a microorganism clad structure positioned in a body of wastewater such that the microorganism clad structure is at least partially submerged in the body of wastewater. The apparatus also includes an aeration device, such as a propeller-type, surface mounted aeration device, supplying a horizontal flow of oxygenated water to the microorganisms attached to the microorganism clad structure such that the microorganisms may carry out a biological process.
US07678262B2	Hydrocracking process with recycle, comprising adsorption of polyaromatic compounds from the recycled fraction on an adsorbant based on silica-alumina with a controlled macropore content The invention concerns an improved hydrocracking process with a recycle having a step for eliminating polyaromatic compounds from at least a portion of the recycled fraction by adsorption on a particular adsorbent based on alumina-silica with a controlled macropore content.
US07678261B2	Apparatus and method for measuring reaction result of samples on biosensor Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for determining whether or not a biosensor comprising two working electrodes and one reference electrode is well manufactured, and for rapidly and accurately quantifying a specific substance contained in a biological sample. The method comprises the steps of: sequentially supplying the respective working electrodes with power supply voltage; sequentially detecting the amounts of current flowing in the respective working electrodes by virtue of the supplied power supply voltage; re-supplying the two working electrodes with power supply voltage after a predetermined time to redetect the amounts of current flowing in the respective working electrodes; reading concentrations corresponding to the amounts of current detected from a memory, and calculating an average value from the read concentrations; and checking whether or not the concentrations read from memory are within a predetermined critical range to display an error message or the calculated average value.
US07678256B2	Insulator-based DEP with impedance measurements for analyte detection Disclosed herein are microfluidic devices for assaying at least one analyte specie in a sample comprising at least one analyte concentration area in a microchannel having insulating structures on or in at least one wall of the microchannel which provide a nonuniform electric field in the presence of an electric field provided by off-chip electrodes; and a pair of passivated sensing electrodes for impedance detection in a detection area. Also disclosed are assay methods and methods of making.
US07678255B2	Mask and method for electrokinetic deposition and patterning process on substrates A mask for application to a substrate to facilitate electrokinetic deposition of charged particles onto the substrate, the mask comprising a conducting layer, a dielectric layer, and mask openings. A method for applying a pattern of charged particles to a substrate comprising applying the foregoing the substrate to yield a masked substrate; immersing the masked substrate in a bath containing the charged particles; and establishing an electrical potential between the conducting layer of the mask and a counter-electrode thereby electrokinetically depositing the particles through the mask openings onto areas of the substrate exposed in the mask openings. Products made by this method.
US07678253B2	Atmospheric corrosion sensor An electrochemical sensor for corrosive gases that contains at least two electrodes is described. The presence of a target corrosive gas results in the formation of metal ions that can be reduced at an electrode producing an electrical current that depends on the instantaneous corrosive gas concentration and deposition of the metal on the electrode. Extension of this deposit to a second electrode through further deposition will result in a short circuit, the longer the time to the short circuit, the lower the cumulative corrosive gas concentration.
US07678243B2	Internal heat spreader plating methods and devices An improved plating system comprises a plurality of non-electrically conductive shields forming an elongated upper channel and an elongated lower channel, the upper and lower channels each having a width less than or equal to one inch; a plurality of part holding clamps electrically coupled to a power source and positioned within the upper channel or the lower channel; a plating solution sparger comprising a series of inlets oriented to direct any plating solution flowing through the inlets into the lower channel and towards the upper channel; and a plurality of anodes positioned outside and along the length of the upper and lower channels. An improved method of plating a work piece comprises: submerging a work piece to be plated in a volume of plating solution; positioning a work piece to be plated at least partially within an upper plating channel and a lower plating channel, the upper and lower plating channels comprising non electrically conductive sides, the channels being positioned opposite each other and being separated from each other, the separation between the channels forming a pair of solution egress slots positioned approximately over the center of the work piece to be plated; causing electrical current to flow between the work piece and one or more anodes, the current flow passing through the solution egress slots; and moving the work piece to be plated along the length of the plating channels to form one or more internal heat spreaders on a surface of the work piece which is essentially parallel to the shields.
US07678240B2	Method for controlling plasma density or the distribution thereof Magnetron source has a target configuration with a sputter surface, a magnet configuration generating above the sputter surface a magnetic field which forms, in top view onto the sputter surface, at least one magnet field loop. Viewed in a cross-sectional direction upon the target configuration, a tunnel-shaped arc magnet field is formed and further an electrode configuration is provided which generates, when supplied by a positive electric potential with respect to an electric potential applied to the target configuration, an electric field which crosses at an angle the magnetic field and wherein the electrode configuration comprises a distinct electrode arrangement in a limited segment area of the electrode configuration, which is substantially shorter than the overall length of the magnet field loop. The electrode arrangement along the limited segment area is electrically isolated from the remainder of the electrode configuration so as to be electrically operated differently than the remainder of the electrode configuration.
US07678238B2	Method and apparatus for underwater decomposition of organic content of electrically conductive aqueous waste solutions The object of the present invention is a method and an apparatus for underwater decomposition of organic content of aqueous waste solutions, involving the measurement and, if necessary, adjustment of the pH and electric conductivity of the solution, maintaining optimum pH and/or electric conductivity during the process, and further involving the partial or total decomposition of organic materials contained by the solution. The apparatus comprises a feed tank, at least one decomposition loop, and a storage tank. The method according to the invention is characterized by submerging electrodes in the solution, producing and maintaining an electric arc between the electrodes and the electrically conductive the solution, where the arc is produced by an electric current of at least 0.5 A/cm2 current density at a voltage of at least 70 V and by a symmetrical alternating current having preferably a frequency of at least 10 Hz; and by decomposing the organic content of the solution into water, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen.
US07678235B2	Water purification system Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for water purification. The systems have a preheater, a degasser, an evaporation chamber, a demister, and a control system, wherein the control system permits operation of the purification system through repeated cycles without requiring user intervention or cleaning. The system is capable of removing, from a contaminated water sample, a plurality of contaminant types including: microbiological contaminants, radiological contaminants, metals, salts, volatile organics, and non-volatile organics.
US07678232B2	Process for incorporating poorly substantive paper modifying agents into a paper sheet via wet end addition Synthetic co-polymers having moieties capable of forming hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, or covalent bonds with cellulose fibers and paper modifying moieties capable of modifying a paper sheet are disclosed. These synthetic co-polymers are derived from the reaction of an aldehyde functional polymer and an aldehyde reactive paper modifying agent containing a non-hydroxyl aldehyde reactive functional group.
US07678229B2	Process for high engagement embossing on substrate having non-uniform stretch characteristics The present invention provides a process for producing a deep-nested embossed paper product comprising the steps of delivering one or more plies of paper to an embossing apparatus and embossing the one or more plies of the paper between two opposed embossing cylinders. The one or more plies of paper have a first direction and a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction where both the first and second directions are in the plane of the paper and the one or more plies of paper have a stretch characteristic in the first direction that is higher than the stretch characteristic in the second direction. Each of the embossing cylinders having a plurality of protrusions, each of which have a height, where the embossing protrusions are disposed in an overall non-random pattern where the respective overall non-random patterns on the cylinders are coordinated to each other and the two embossing cylinders are aligned such that the respective coordinated overall non-random patterns of embossing protrusions nest together such that the protrusions engage each other to a depth of greater than about 1.016 mm. The overall non-random pattern of protrusions comprises a plurality of emboss regions where each of the emboss regions comprising a fraction of the total number of protrusions in the overall non-random pattern. All of the protrusions within an embossing region have about the same height and the pattern of protrusions within an emboss region creates a localized primary line of stress on the paper as the plies of paper are embossed where the line of stress has a component in the first direction and a component in the second direction. The height of the protrusions within an embossing region having a higher line of stress component in the first direction is greater than the height of the protrusions in an embossing region having a lower line of stress component in the first direction.
US07678228B2	Binders curable at room temperature with low blocking Topically-applied binder materials for imparting wet strength to soft, absorbent paper sheets, such as are useful as household paper towels and the like, include an azetidinium-reactive polymer, such as a carboxyl-functional polymer, an azetidinium-functional polymer and, optionally, a component useful for reducing sheet-to-sheet adhesion (blocking) in the product. These binder materials can be cured at ambient temperature over a period of days and do not impart objectionable odor to final product when wetted.
US07678223B2	Catheter having a multi-section tubular member and method of making the same A multi-section tubular member including a sleeve surrounding and bridging a joint between a first section and a second section of the tubular member, and a method of forming a multi-section tubular member are disclosed. A polymeric sleeve may extend over a portion of the first section and an adjoining portion of the second section. A length of heat shrink tubing may be placed over the sleeve and heated, thereby compressing the heat shrink tubing around the sleeve. The sleeve may then be thermally bonded to each of the first section and the second section. The heat shrink tubing may then be removed, leaving the sleeve securely joining the first section and the second section to form a multi-section tubular member.
US07678221B2	Pet waste absorption sheet and process for manufacturing the same A pet waste absorption sheet includes: a liquid-impermeable backsheet; a liquid-permeable topsheet; and an absorbent core disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet. The topsheet has a chemical solution containing at least one component selected from the group consisting of perfume, deodorant, and sterilant.
US07678218B2	Production method of an electroacoustic transducer diaphragm, electroacoustic transducer diaphragm, and an electroacoustic transducer A production method for an electroacoustic transducer diaphragm includes producing an adhered sheet by adhering a sheet member on a surface of a wooden sheet having a thickness of from 0.01 mm to 3 mm, and the sheet member being made of a material different from the wooden sheet, immersing the adhered sheet into one of a solution including 0.01-1 wt % of a penetrating agent and a solution including 0.01-1 wt % of penetrating agent and 0.01-20 wt % of a wetting agent, and molding the adhered sheet obtained by the immersing step so that the immersed adhered sheet has a predetermined shape of the electroacoustic transducer diaphragm.
US07678217B2	Method for manufacturing an endovascular graft section A device and method for the manufacture of medical devices, specifically, endovascular grafts, or sections thereof. Layers of fusible material are disposed upon a shape forming member and seams formed between the layers in a configuration that can produce inflatable channels in desired portions of the graft. After creation of the seams, the fusible material of the inflatable channels may be fixed while the channels are in an expanded state. A five axis robotic seam forming apparatus may be used to create the seams in the layers of fusible material.
US07678216B2	Tire filled with core and curable elastomeric material and method A tire having a core located in a tire cavity and a cured and foamed elastomeric material located in the tire cavity adjacent the core. The core is made of a solid material, a precured and foamed elastomeric material or a hollow rigid structure. The core may be a single piece or fabricated from multiple pieces.
US07678215B2	Installation method for non-slip sanitary flooring A method of installing flooring and resulting structure are disclosed. The method is particularly useful for sanitary nonslip applications such as kitchens. The method includes the steps of positioning a first sheet of polymer flooring material with an upwardly-facing step cut along one edge of the first sheet on a floor to be covered, and applying a second sheet of polymer flooring material with a complementary downwardly-facing step cut along one edge of the second sheet to the upwardly facing step cut of the first sheet and to the floor adjacent the first sheet while concurrently sealing the respective faces to one another in a step lap joint.
US07678206B2	Manufacturing method of rocker arm bearing apparatus Quenching heat treatment is performed on a whole rocker arm bearing assembly in which shaft ends of a supporting shaft are fixed to inner peripheral edges of shaft end insertion holes of a pair of opposite sidewalls, and by the outer ring is rotatably supported on a raceway portion of an shaft intermediate portion of the supporting shaft through a plurality of rolling elements or directly, thereby manufacturing a rocker arm bearing apparatus.
US07678205B2	Aluminum alloy products having improved property combinations and method for artificially aging same Aluminum alloy products, such as plate, forgings and extrusions, suitable for use in making aerospace structural components like integral wing spars, ribs and webs, comprises about: 6 to 10 wt. % Zn; 1.2 to 1.9 wt. % Mg; 1.2 to 2.2 wt. % Cu, with Mg≦(Cu+0.3); and 0.05 to 0.4 wt. % Zr, the balance Al, incidental elements and impurities. Preferably, the alloy contains about 6.9 to 8.5 wt. % Zn; 1.2 to 1.7 wt. % Mg; 1.3 to 2 wt. % Cu. This alloy provides improved combinations of strength and fracture toughness in thick gauges. When artificially aged per the three stage method of preferred embodiments, this alloy also achieves superior SCC performance, including under seacoast conditions.
US07678204B2	Good-workability and high-strength cold-rolled steel sheet excellent in post-painting corrosion resistance The present invention: provides a good-workability and high-strength cold-rolled steel sheet excellent in post-painting corrosion resistance to the extent of securing excellent resistance to salt warm water immersion which is a good-workability and high-strength cold-rolled steel sheet excellent in post-painting corrosion resistance characterized in that: said steel sheet contains, in mass, 0.16 to 0.19% C, 1.10 to 1.30% Si, 1.50 to 1.60% Mn, not more than 0.1% P and 0.015 to 0.050% Al, with the balance consisting of Fe and unavoidable impurities; the average of the amount of Si incrassating on the surface of said steel sheet is not more than 20 times the Si concentration in said steel sheet; and the area percentage of the portions where the ratio of the Si concentration on the surface of said steel sheet to the Si concentration in said steel sheet is not less than 10 is not more than 95%.
US07678195B2	Seeded growth process for preparing aluminum nitride single crystals A method of growing bulk single crystals of an AlN on a single crystal seed is provided, wherein an AlN source material is placed within a crucible chamber in spacial relationship to a seed fused to the cap of the crucible. The crucible is heated in a manner sufficient to establish a temperature gradient between the source material and the seed with the seed at a higher temperature than the source material such that the outer layer of the seed is evaporated, thereby cleaning the seed of contaminants and removing any damage to the seed incurred during seed preparation. Thereafter, the temperature gradient between the source material and the seed is inverted so that the source material is sublimed and deposited on the seed, thereby growing a bulk single crystal of AlN.
US07678189B2	Foaming plaster A method of producing a foamed plaster comprises the following steps: (a) mixing plaster of Paris and calcium carbonate; (b) supplying water, and (c) adding phosphoric acid. The phosphoric acid reacts with the calcium carbonate to release gaseous carbon dioxide. It also reacts with any steel present to form an insoluble iron phosphate coating.
US07678175B2	Metalothermic reduction of refractory metal oxides High purity refractory metals, valve metals, refractory metal oxides, valve metal oxides, or alloys thereof suitable for a variety of electrical, optical and mill product/fabricated parts usages are produced from their respective oxides by metalothermic reduction of a solid or liquid form of such oxide using a reducing agent that establishes (after ignition) a highly exothermic reaction, the reaction preferably taking place in a continuously or step-wise moving oxide such as gravity fall with metal retrievable at the bottom and an oxide of the reducing agent being removable as a gas or in other convenient form and unreacted reducing agent derivatives being removable by leaching or like process.
US07678171B2	Process of preparing soil additive of fertilizer from fish A process for preparing fertilizer from fish, and a fertilizer prepared from said process, is disclosed. The fertilizer is for use on soil and plants. The process involves hydrolysis of fish with a phosphorus containing acid, preferably an inorganic phosphorus based acid, under normal ambient conditions. Typically, phosphoric acid is used. The fertilizer prepared from the disclosed process contains 1 to 10% by weight of the phosphorus based acid.
US07678168B2	Multiple urethane tuned exhaust damper for vertical exhaust The present disclosure provides an exhaust system support assembly (10) for coupling an exhaust member (F) to a vehicle (A). The exhaust system support assembly (10) includes an exhaust member mount assembly (52) couplable to the exhaust member (F), an isolation pin (32) received within at least a portion of the exhaust member mount assembly (52), and at least one resilient member (44,46) disposed between the exhaust member mount assembly (52) and the isolation pin (32). The exhaust system support assembly (10) further includes a pivot assembly (16) couplable to the vehicle (A), wherein the pivot assembly (16) slidably and rotatably receives the isolation pin (32).
US07678167B2	Device and method for oxidizing, reducing, calcining, sintering, or melting dusts In a device for oxidizing, reducing, calcining, sintering or melting dusts such as, e.g., furnace or steel dusts, marl and lime dust mixtures, shredder light fractions, mineral dusts such as, e.g., glass dusts, cement kiln bypass dusts, dry sewage sludge, paper slurries or oil-containing grinding dust suspensions, using a dosing cyclone into which the dusts are charged and to which a tangential connector for feeding carrier gases is connected, and a combustion chamber following the dosing cyclone in the axial direction, wherein fuel and optionally additional carrier gas are injected into the combustion chamber coaxially with the discharge opening of the cyclone, a lance is arranged in the interior of the dosing cyclone, coaxially with the discharge opening of the dosing cyclone, for the introduction of liquid substances, substances dissolved in liquids or suspended in gases, or gaseous oxidizable substances and, in particular, fuels. According to the proposed method, the dosing cyclone is operated at a pressure reduced relative to the pressure prevailing in the fuel lance.
US07678157B2	Use of an anionic hydrotrope for the colouring of keratinous fibres, composition comprising it and colouring processes employing it A subject-matter of the present invention is the use, in the coloring of keratinous fibers, of a specific anionic hydrotropic agent of formula: in which X represents CH or N, n represents an integer ranging from 0 to 12, R1 represents COOM or SO3M, R2 represents a hydroxyl or a C1-C4 alkyl, R3 represents hydrogen or a C1-C4 alkyl, R2 and R3 can together form a ring and M represents hydrogen or one or more inorganic cations providing the electrical neutrality of the compound of formula (I). The invention likewise relates to a dyeing composition comprising at least one dye and such an anionic hydrotrope and to coloring processes employing this dyeing composition.
US07678144B2	Prosthetic valve with slanted leaflet design The invention relates to a prosthetic valve for regulating fluid flow through a body lumen. The valve includes a frame and a valve member comprising at least one semi-rigid leaflet and at least one flexible leaflet. The at least one semi-rigid leaflet comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion attached to the frame and the second portion free of the frame. The at least one semi-rigid leaflet is slanted in a retrograde direction from the second portion to the first portion. The at least one flexible leaflet comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion attached to the frame and the second portion free of the frame. The at least one flexible leaflet is slanted in a retrograde direction from the first portion to the second portion when at rest.
US07678140B2	Photoreceptor system for melatonin regulation and phototherapy The present invention involves a light system for stimulating or regulating neuroendocrine, circadian, and photoneural systems in mammals based upon the discovery of peak sensitivity ranging from 425-505 nm; a light meter system for quantifying light which stimulates or regulates mammalian circadian, photoneural, and neuroendocrine systems. The present invention also relates to translucent and transparent materials, and lamps or other light sources with or without filters capable of stimulating or regulating neuroendocrine, circadian, and photoneural systems in mammals. Additionally, the present invention involves treatment of mammals with a wide variety of disorders or deficits, including light responsive disorders, eating disorders, menstrual cycle disorders, non-specific alerting and performance deficits, hormone-sensitive cancers, and cardiovascular disorders.
US07678139B2	Pedicle screw assembly Disclosed are spinal fusion assemblies for use in skeletal systems. The assembly includes a coupling element that can be coupled to a fixation element, such as, for example, a screw with a head that removably mates with the coupling element. The coupling element and fixation element are configured to be coupled to an elongate stabilizer, such as a rod, that is positioned between a top and a bottom saddle. A compression member, such as a compression nut, is configured to mate with the coupling element and provides a compressive force to the top and bottom saddles to secure the elongate stabilizer therebetween. The top and bottom saddles are movably positioned within the coupling element such that they can gradually reposition and self-align into a secure engagement with the stabilizer as the compression member provides the compressive force.
US07678136B2	Spinal fixation assembly This disclosure relates to spinal fixation assemblies for use in spinal fixation constructs. The final fixation assemblies include fastening arrangements for clamping components of the assemblies at desired positions. The fastening arrangements are moved from pre-finally clamped orientations to finally clamped orientations through the use of linear force. An installation tool can be used to inhibit linear force from being transferred to the patient.
US07678131B2	Single-wire expandable cages for embolic filtering devices A single-wire expandable cage for an embolic filtering device includes a single cage wire coupled to an elongated member, such as a guide wire, and adapted to expand from an unexpanded position to an expanded position in a patient's body vessel. The wire includes a first end and a second end which are coupled to the guide wire. A filter element is attached to the single-wire cage. The single-wire cage may be rotatably mounted to the guide wire or may be slidably disposed on the guide wire to allow the composite cage and filter element to be slid over the guide wire in an over-the-wire fashion once the guide wire is delivered to the target location in the patient's vasculature. One embodiment of the single-wire cage utilizes an offset arrangement in which the guide wire remains extended along the wall of the body vessel once the single-wire cage is deployed. Another embodiment of the device centers the guide wire within the body vessel.
US07678125B2	Surgical ligation clip A surgical ligation clip for double ligating a vessel, duct or other fluid carrying structure and a method for double ligating such structure.
US07678118B2	Releasable basket A medical retrieval device includes a basket formed of two or more loops. The basket may be used to retrieve material (e.g., a urinary stone) from a body. The basket opens and closes for end-encapsulation of a stone and is strengthened by support members that interconnect the basket loops. A captured stone may be released from the basket with the basket still in the body by opening the loops.
US07678115B2	Unicondylar knee implants and insertion methods therefor A method of preparing a knee joint for receiving a unicondylar knee implant includes preparing a first seating surface at a proximal end of a tibia, and providing a combination bur template and spacer block, the bur template having an upper end, a lower end and a curved surface extending between the upper and lower ends thereof that is adapted to conform to a femoral condyle of a femur and the spacer block extending from the lower end of the bur template and having top and bottom surfaces. The method includes flexing the knee joint so that the prepared first seating surface at the proximal end of the tibia opposes a posterior region of the femoral condyle and inserting the combination bur template and spacer block into the knee joint so that the top surface of the spacer block engages the posterior region of the femoral condyle and the bottom surface of the spacer block engages the first seating surface at the proximal end of the tibia. While the spacer block is maintained between the femur and the tibia, the knee joint is extended until the curved surface of the bur template engages the femoral condyle of the femur. The bur template is anchored to the femur and used to guide burring of the femoral condyle for preparing a second seating surface on the femur. After burring the distal end of the femoral condyle, the posterior region of the femoral condyle is resected.
US07678113B2	Antero-lateral plating systems and methods for spinal stabilization A plating system for stabilization of a bony segment includes a plate engageable to at least first and second bony elements. For spinal stabilization, the plate is attached to the antero-lateral portions of at least first and second vertebrae and is structured to facilitate engagement of the plate to the vertebrae from an approach extending in the anterior-posterior directions.
US07678102B1	Wound suction device with multi lumen connector Apparatus is disclosed for applying negative pressure to a wound site to promote healing. The apparatus includes a porous pad for application to the wound, a suction tube linking the porous pad to a source of negative pressure, a container for collecting fluid exudate from the wound interposed between the porous pad and the source of negative pressure and a quick disconnect connector linking a first section of the suction tube leading to the porous pad with a second section leading to the container, said connector comprising two separable and non-interchangeable parts, said first section of the suction tube comprising a multi-lumen tube, one lumen being provided for applying suction to the porous pad and another being provided for monitoring pressure, said multi-lumen tube being fixedly attached at one end to the container and at the other end to one of said separable parts, said one separable part including sealing means whereby the lumens are connected in air-tight manner to said second section of the suction tube.
US07678100B2	Apparatus for establishing access to the body An apparatus and method for access to the inside of a body includes a transparent sheath with a radiopaque marking and fastener for securing a guidewire or catheter. The transparent sheath permits objects located within and near the sheath to be visualized with an external imaging system. Objects located near the sheath can also be observed with an imaging device disposed inside the sheath. The radiopaque marker permits accurate positioning of the sheath in the body. The sheath can be inserted into the body over an interventional device. A fastener prevents migration of a guidewire or catheter during the procedure.
US07678095B2	Pre-expanded tampon pledget The present invention provides a pre-expanded tampon pledget formed from cellulosic absorbent fibers. The fibers are not tightly compressed, thus, the pledget has a reduced fiber density. As a result, a softer, more pliable pledget is formed that not only increases user comfort during use, but also affords a user with comparable and/or increased leakage protection over conventional tampons or tampon pledgets.
US07678093B2	Permeable, close to the body liner for swim wear A swimwear garment having a material which is permeable to liquid but substantially impermeable to bowel movement material. In one embodiment, the garment can comprise a stand-alone disposable pant liner in the form of a swimpant with waist elastics and leg elastics. In other embodiments, a mesh liner can be a layer within a disposable swimpant. The mesh liner can be attached to the disposable swimpant around the perimeter of the composite structure, or in swimpants containing containment flaps, to the containment flaps. The mesh liner can, optionally, further include elastic strands attached under the mesh liner to provide further lift and hold the mesh liner close to the body of the wearer.
US07678085B2	Injection device An injection device for injecting selectable amounts of a substance includes an activating mechanism including an axially moveable operating button which can rotated in a resting position only, a tubular drive element non-rotatably connected to the operating button, an axially fixed and non-rotatable guiding element, and an axially moveable driven member held non-rotatably in the device. A rotational grid is operationally between rotatable and non-rotatable components of the injection device such that the operating button can be moved two rotational directions when in the resting position whereby a selected amount of the substance to be injected can be selectively varied. For example, a dosage inadvertently selected too large by rotating the operating button too far in one direction can, in accordance with the present invention, be reduced by rotating the operating button in the opposite direction. In some embodiments, the rotational grid is adapted to produce a clicking sound when the operating button is rotated.
US07678082B2	Esophagus stoma button The purpose of this invention is to provide an esophagus stoma button capable of safely forming and maintaining a stoma hole provided in an esophagus and reducing the discomfortableness of a patient. To achieve the object, in the present invention, the stoma button 9 is comprised of a shaft part 1 and a flange part 2 provide at the rear end of the shaft part rounded at the tip thereof. More specifically, in the esophagus stoma button 9, a flange part is provide at the rear end of the shaft part rounded at the tip thereof, and a lumen having a generally circular cross section in the area ranging from the shaft part to the flange part is provided, a means for fixing a catheter for infusion is provided in the flange part with a flat and generally circular shape and a means for tightly closing the opening of the flange part is provided at the opening thereof.
US07678080B2	Intravenous catheter introducing device An intravenous catheter introducing device includes a needle hub slidably inserted into a barrel and holding a needle cannula, a biasing member disposed to bias the needle hub to a rear position so as to retract the needle cannula in the barrel, and an easy release unit including an engaging wall segment which is attached to an outer surface of the barrel, two flexible squeezed wall segments which extend from the engaging wall segment and which is squeezable so as to move two latch members to steer clear of a retained end of the needle hub through an access hole in the barrel, thereby permitting the biasing member to bias the needle hub towards the rear position.
US07678048B1	Medical diagnostic ultrasound system and method A medical diagnostic ultrasound system comprises several subsystems, such as a transmit beamformer, a receive beamformer, a B-mode processor, a Doppler processor and a scan converter. These subsystems are within the ultrasound data processing path for processing ultrasound data. One or more of these subsystems are implemented with one or more re-programmable logic devices. For example, one or two field programmable gate arrays are used is each subsystem to perform most or almost all of the subsystems essential functionality.
US07678047B2	Chaologic brain function diagnosis apparatus In an apparatus for diagnosing a brain function of a subject 20 by giving a load to a functional site of a living organism of the subject 20, receiving reactions emitted from the living organism of the subject 20 as an electric signal 40, 50, 60 or 70 and analyzing the electric signal 40, 50, 60 or 70, the electric signals 40, 50, 60 and 70 are a voice signal 40, an nystagmus signal 50, a pulse wave signal 60 and a gravity center swinging signal 70. The apparatus selects at least two from among them, calculates chaos theoretical indexes such as Lyapunov exponents according to a chaos theoretical technique, detects changes in the chaos theoretical indexes with passage of time, and collectively evaluates and diagnoses the brain function.
US07678045B2	Endoscope optical system An endoscope observation optical system capable of improving the observation resolution of a mucous membrane of a living body is provided. The endoscope includes an observation optical system compatible with both standard visible-light observation and blood-vessel-enhancement observation, whose main component of a displayed image is an absorption peak of hemoglobin present in a waveband lower than 480 nm, wherein some longitudinal chromatic aberration remains in the endoscope observation optical system due to undercorrection at a wavelength of 415 nm, and wherein the focal position during blood-vessel-enhancement observation is set closer to a near point than the focal position during standard visible-light observation.
US07678032B2	Exercise apparatus, method of using and/or configuring same An exercise apparatus is disclosed having a base, an longitudinally extending bottom member rail directed generally transverse to the base, and an upright support. The exercise apparatus also has a lever arm, including an exercise bar, that is connected to the upright support and pivotable thereabout. The lever arm of the exercise apparatus is movable to a folded stage adjacent the upright support, and the bottom rail is movable toward the upright support to a folded stage, adjacent the folded lever arm in the folded stage.
US07678030B2	Dumbbell retail/storage rack A dumbbell retail/storage rack that has a first section with a bottom side that is designed to sit on a flat surface, and a top side that defines one or more dumbbell-receiving structures. Each of these structures has two spaced saddles for receiving the enlarged ends of a dumbbell. The retail/storage rack also has a second section that is integrally coupled to the first section and has a bottom that is essentially perpendicular to the bottom of the first section. This arrangement creates an “L”-shaped rack that can be placed on the bottom of either the first section or the second section, to display or to hold two or more dumbbells, as desired.
US07678027B2	Ball exerciser for arms and torso An exercise ball device for exercising by a user while in a prone position. The exercise ball device includes a semi-circular shaped housing having an outer curved surface and an interior curved compartment having an inner curved surface. The housing has a retaining member positioned on the perimeter edge of the housing. The exercise ball device also includes a rolling ball positioned within the interior curved compartment, and the rolling ball is removably restrained within the interior curved compartment by the retaining member. Further, the outer curved surface of the housing has a restraint member attached thereto for receiving the hand of a user. Additionally, the rolling ball is approximately the same size as the interior curved compartment so that the rolling ball rotates or rolls within and relative to the housing.
US07678016B2	Control apparatus for vehicle A vehicle having, in a power transmission path, a continuously variable transmission mechanism and a clutch mechanism, whose torque capacity is smaller than that of the continuously variable transmission mechanism. The vehicle also has a control system to prevent a large torque capacity difference with the continuously variable transmission mechanism and clutch mechanism and to prevent an unnecessary slip of the clutch mechanism by setting an engagement force of the clutch mechanism based on the torque capacity of the continuously variable transmission mechanism. There is also avoided a decline of the learning accuracy of the clutch mechanism by prohibiting a learning control of the clutch mechanism when an engagement force of the clutch mechanism is set based on the torque capacity of the continuously variable transmission mechanism.
US07678013B2	Launch control of a hybrid electric vehicle A method for controlling the launch of a vehicle having a powertrain that includes a first power path for driving a first wheel set and including an engine, a transmission having an input driveably connected to a crankshaft of the engine, a current gear, an input clutch associated with the current gear and an output connected to first wheel set, and a second power path including an electric machine for driving a second wheel set. The method includes determining a desired magnitude of wheel torque to be produced at the first wheel set, using the desired magnitude of wheel torque to be produced at the first wheel set to determine a magnitude of crankshaft torque, producing a predetermined magnitude of torque capacity at the input clutch, determining a crankshaft speed error, determining a change in magnitude of torque at the crankshaft that will reduce the crankshaft speed error, and operating the engine to produce a desired engine torque, whose magnitude is determined from the change in magnitude of torque at the crankshaft and the magnitude of desired crankshaft torque.
US07678009B2	8-speed transmission The transmission has a plurality of members that can be utilized in powertrains to provide eight forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio. The transmission includes three planetary gear sets having six torque-transmitting mechanisms and two fixed interconnections. The powertrain includes an engine and torque converter that is continuously connected to one of the planetary gear members and an output member that is continuously connected with another one of the planetary gear members. The six torque-transmitting mechanisms provide interconnections between various gear members, the transmission housing and with the input member, and are operated in combinations of three to establish eight forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio.
US07678008B2	Multi-step automatic gearbox A multi-step automatic gearbox comprising a drive shaft (AN), a driven shaft (AB), a double planetary front mounted gearset (VS), a main gearset (HS) which is embodied as a coupled planetary gearset comprising at least three non-coupled input elements and an output element, in addition to six shift elements (A to F) and closing takes place in pairs enabling at least eight forward gears to be shifted therein. One input element of the front mounted gearset is connected to the drive shaft. One output element of the front mounted gearset rotates at a rotational speed which is slower than the rotational speed of the input of the drive shaft. One element of the front mounted gearset is secured to a gearbox housing (GG). The fifth and sixth shifting elements (E, F) together form a component comprising a disk support (ZYLEF) for the fifth and sixth shifting element and for the fifth and sixth shifting element, respectively, a disk packet (500, 600) and a servodevice (510, 610) which is used to activate the respective disk packets.
US07678007B2	Reclining device incorporation by reference The present invention relates to a reclining device that includes an external teeth gear and an internal teeth gear and in which the rotation axis of one of the external teeth gear and the internal teeth gear revolves around the rotation axis of the other. The present invention aims to provide a reclining device of which the operation force is small and the operation force varies little. To achieve the aim, one of (a) the plane of each of the external teeth 31b that engages with the internal teeth 32b and (b) the plane of each of the internal teeth 32b that engages with the external teeth 31b is arranged to be flat, and the other of (a) and (b) is arranged to be convex.
US07678003B2	Hybrid vehicle transmission with a mechanical reverse function A hybrid electric vehicle powertrain has an engine, a motor, a generator and a battery that define electro-mechanical power flow paths to vehicle traction wheels in both a forward drive operating mode and a reverse drive operating mode. The engine drives a power input element of a power-dividing gearset and the generator is connected to a reaction element of the power-dividing gearset. A torque reversing gearset drivably connects a power output element of the power-dividing gearset to final drive gearing to complement reverse driving motor torque.
US07677996B2	Device for supplying a drive element The invention relates to a device for supplying a hydraulic medium to a rotatably mounted drive element in a transmission case, the hydraulic medium being routed to a channel in the drive element by way of at least one channel in a coaxially adjacent element which corresponds to the drive element. Structurally favorable and reliable supply with hydraulic medium is achieved in that the drive element is nonrotatably connected to the other element and that the contact connection is at least one unthreaded conduit which is inserted tightly into the two channels and which extends directly from the element to the drive element.
US07677989B2	Golf club stand for remembering clubs A golf club stand to prevent the forgetting of spare clubs by standing them upright in a noticeable position when they are carried to a shot but are not used. The club stand folds into a compact configuration resembling a golf club for convenient carrying in a gold bag when not in use. The device generally comprises a shaft with a grip-handle similar to that of a golf club, and a sharp point at the distal end of the shaft to allow the club to be inserted into the ground. In addition, a dual-pivot arm is secured to the upper end of the shaft for supporting the handle(s) of one or more golf clubs. The ends of the dual-pivot arm are formed as cradles and may be pivoted into a transverse in-line position relative to the shaft. When the shaft is inserted vertically into the ground and the cradle ends of the pivot arm are horizontally disposed, a plurality of clubs may be supported by the club stand, the head of each club resting on the ground and the handle of all clubs supported by the transverse arm in one of the cradle ends. This keeps the clubs off the ground and highly visible. When they are standing upright in plain view they are harder to overlook and forget.
US07677985B1	Cue stick A cue stick includes a shaft, a solid force-transmitting pipe, a butt, and a wooden fitting portion. This shaft includes a tip, a solid portion, a hollow portion and a connecting portion. This solid force-transmitting pipe contains an inner space. The butt connects with the shaft. The wooden fitting portion fills in the inner space. The density of the wooden fitting portion is between 80% and 120% of the density of the solid portion. So, the weight and size are nearly same as the ones of a traditional solid wood cue stick. The total weight of the cue stick is proper. Its internal force transmission is evenly distributed. Plus, the feedback feeling for striking the cue ball is excellent.
US07677972B2	Gaming system and method for enabling a player to select progressive awards to try for and chances of winning progressive awards The present disclosure provides a gaming device, a gaming system and a method for operating a gaming device or gaming system with a plurality of progressive awards. The gaming device enables a player to select one of the progressive awards. The player's selection of which progressive award to play for is based, at least in part, on a relative probability of the player winning the selected progressive award compared to the relative probabilities of the player winning the non-selected progressive awards. After selecting which award to play for, the gaming device either provides the selected progressive award to the player or modifies the relative probability that the player will win the selected progressive award with one or more of any award selections remaining. Such a configuration enables the player to strategically select which award to play for and the order that the player will play for the awards.
US07677966B2	Game device In order to output event content of a related match during execution of a main match, there is provided a virtual start time decider for deciding virtual start times for a plurality of matches, a related match selector for selecting, from the plurality of matches, at least one match, taking place at least partially at the same time as a main match a player's team is taking part in, as one or more matches related to the main match based on virtual start times for each match, a related match simulator for simulating the related matches, event storage unit for storing event time and event content for prescribed types of events occurring in the related matches, a main match executor for executing the main match, an event time arrival monitor for monitoring for arrival of the event time stored by the event storage unit during execution of the main match, and an event content output unit for outputting event content corresponding to the event time when it is determined that the event time has arrived during execution of the main match.
US07677964B1	Air exhausting apparatus with draining passage An air-exhausting apparatus, device, method of assembly and use for an attic and rooftop fan, which prevents water intrusion into the housing. The fan can include a tubular base having a bottom side mounted on a roof of a room, and an upper end portion converging toward a top side of the base. A coupling sleeve unit has a first coupling end portion sleeved fixedly on the base and cooperating with the base to define an annular draining passage therebetween, and a second coupling end portion opposite to the first coupling end portion. A fan unit is mounted in the coupling sleeve unit, and is operable so as to exhaust air outwardly of the room via air holes in the second coupling end portion of the coupling sleeve unit. A cover unit includes a cover body disposed on the second coupling end portion of the coupling sleeve unit, and a supporting frame interconnecting fixedly the cover body and the coupling sleeve unit. Wear and/or sound absorbers can also be included.
US07677961B2	Fume hood drive system to prevent cocking of a sash A fume hood comprised of first and second side walls, a back wall, a work surface, and a top wall, the walls and work surface defining a work area, an access opening for providing a user access to the work area, a movable sash member disposed for vertical movement across the access opening, and an anti-cocking drive mechanism mechanically coupling a drive motor to the movable sash member. The anti-cocking drive mechanism is comprised of a first and a second forward friction wheel, a first flexible coupling mechanically engaging, either directly or indirectly, the first forward friction wheel and a first rear friction wheel and coupled to the movable sash member on one end, a second flexible coupling mechanically engaging the second forward friction wheel and a second rear friction wheel and to the movable sash member on one end, and a drive shaft connecting the first components to the second components such that each are rotated simultaneously by the drive motor and the sash member is raised and lowered evenly on both sides.
US07677956B2	Compositions and methods for dielectric CMP The invention is directed to a chemical-mechanical polishing composition comprising (a) an abrasive consisting essentially of aggregated silica, (b) an acid, and (c) a liquid carrier, wherein the polishing composition has a pH of about 5 or less. The invention is also directed to a method of polishing a substrate comprising a dielectric layer using the polishing composition.
US07677954B2	O.D. centerless grinding machine In one aspect of the present invention, an outer diameter (O.D.) centerless grinding machine for use in grinding a diamond workpiece has a grinding wheel positioned parallel to a regulating wheel which is adapted to press a cylindrical workpiece into the grinding wheel as the regulating wheel rotates. Electronic equipment may be adapted to adjust a pressure of the regulating wheel against the grinding wheel. Also, a carrier may be adapted to house the workpiece, the carrier being attached to a translation mechanism adapted to move the carrier between the wheels such that the workpiece is in contact with both wheels.
US07677951B2	Adjustable breast positioning system for women's garment Adjustable breast positioning system for a breast received within a breast cup of a woman's garment comprising a platform situated within a lower region of the breast cup; a shaping member at least partially overlaying the platform wherein the platform and shaping member are open to the top portion of the breast cup; and a connector having one end coupled to the platform and another end connected to an anchor moveably mounted to the garment for adjusting the platform for reducing the available volume for the breast within the breast cup and for concomitantly pushing the shaping member upward and inward for displacing the breast upward, forward, and inward toward the center of the wearer's chest while simultaneously increasing the volume of the breast outside the top portion of the breast cup for providing an improved visual presentation of the breast.
US07677946B2	Apparatus for child activity and occupational therapy The present invention provides interchangeable activity centers having a variety of themes, complexity, or content. Parents, teachers, therapists, or others can select, combine, and arrange two or more activity centers according to a user's interests and capabilities at that time. As the user develops greater skills or begins to lose interest, one or more of the activity centers may be removed, rearranged, or substituted for one or more other activity centers. This may lead to longer interest in the device and better correlate its subject matter with information or materials needed for further development.
US07677942B2	Method of making a plasma display panel and green sheet for forming dielectric layers of the plasma display panel A method of making a plasma display panel, whereby an address electrode is formed on a front substrate, a green sheet is formed to cover the address electrode, a dielectric layer pattern is formed by exposing, developing, and firing the green sheet, a composition for a display electrode is filled in the dielectric layer pattern and then fired to form a patterned display electrode, and a dielectric layer is formed to cover the patterned display electrode, thereby fabricating a front substrate. The green sheet includes a first green sheet that is formed using a dielectric composition, and a second green sheet that is formed on the first green sheet and using a photosensitive dielectric composition.
US07677935B2	Right-angle connector A connector forms a connection by inserting a socket connector and a plug connector into a housing. The housing is configured by integrally forming a plug insertion recessed part and a socket insertion recessed part in an L shape. A socket terminal of the socket connector, which is inserted in a socket insertion recessed part, is connected to and pinched by a plug terminal of the plug connector, which is inserted in and attached to the plug insertion recessed part.
US07677930B2	Next high frequency improvement by using frequency dependent effective capacitance A connector is provided for simultaneously improving both the NEXT high frequency performance when low crosstalk plugs are used and the NEXT low frequency performance when high crosstalk plugs are used. The connector includes a first compensation structure provided on an inner metalized layer of the PCB at a first stage area of the PCB, and a second compensation structure, provided at a second stage area of the PCB, for increasing compensation capacitance with increasing frequency.
US07677928B2	Filter connector A filter connector includes a dielectric housing having a mounting face. At least one row of terminal-receiving passages are formed in the housing through the mounting face. A row of filter-receiving pockets are formed in the housing through the mounting face respectively in alignment with the passages, and with one side of each pocket communicating with its respective passage. A slot is formed in the mounting face of the housing and extends along the row of pockets in communication with opposite sides thereof. A plurality of terminals are mounted into the passages. A plurality of filters are inserted into the pockets through the mounting face, with one side of the filters respectively engageable with the terminals. A single shorting bar is inserted into the slot in the housing through the mounting face and into engagement with opposite sides of the filters.
US07677927B2	High bandwidth connector Male or female connector having at least one pair of pins for a two-wire, high-speed link. The connector comprises two parallel pins, an insulating insert, a metal casing and a connection printed circuit.
US07677923B1	Double visual-interface socket A double visual-interface socket compliant with socket design rules set forth in the Digital Visual Interface standard comprises: a lower socket unit including plural L-shaped terminal pins; an upper socket unit disposed above the lower socket unit and including plural terminal pins; an adapter module including plural L-shaped pins arranged in rows; and a circuit board having plural terminal guide holes and plural extension guide holes. The terminal guide holes are inserted by, soldered to, and therefore electrically connected with the terminal pins of the upper socket unit, respectively. The extension guide holes are electrically connected with the terminal guide holes, respectively, and are inserted by, soldered to, and therefore electrically connected with ends of the L-shaped pins of the adapter module, respectively. The opposite ends of the L-shaped pins of the adapter module are substantially aligned with bottom ends of the L-shaped terminal pins of the lower socket unit.
US07677919B1	Battery connector A battery connector includes an insulating frame having a plurality of parallel partitioning boards spaced from each other in a direction, with a positioning slot defined between two of the partitioning boards adjacent to each other. A pair of terminals is received in each positioning slot. Each pair of terminals includes a first terminal and a second terminal. Each of the first and second terminals includes a body having a first end and a second end. A welding portion extends from the second end. A bend is formed between the body and the welding portion. The first end includes a resilient contact portion having a contact end. The contact ends of each pair of terminals together define a coupling space for coupling with one of a plurality of contact blades of a connector.
US07677913B1	Plug-type connector A plug-type connector includes a connector main body having a first end formed into a plug portion and an opposite second end formed into a pull portion; a pinch unit movably coupled to the pull portion, and having at least a vertical plate corresponding to an end face of the pull portion and a pinch plate perpendicularly extended from the vertical plate and corresponding to a back face of the pull portion; and an elastic element located between the back face of the pull portion and the pinch plate. Two plug-type connectors can be plugged in a two-leveled housing back to back. The connector main bodies are normally firmly connected to the housing by the pinch units, and any one of the two connector main bodies can be easily removed from the housing simply by pulling the pinch unit thereof without being interfered by the other pinch unit.
US07677907B2	Card edge connector with a metallic reinforcement piece A card edge connector (100) for receiving a module (200), includes an insulative housing (1) having a receiving slot (12) for receiving the module and a pair of arm portions (10) located at opposite ends thereof. Each arm portion has a pair of side walls (15) and a resilient arm (16) with a retaining embossment (162) for locking the module. The side walls are integrally formed on the insulative housing and include a projection (157). A number of terminals (2) are mounted on said insulative housing and extend into the receiving slot thereof. A pair of latches (3) are attached to the arm portions and move with the resilient arms. Each latch includes a base (31) and a stopping plate (37) extending from the base. The stopping plates engage with said projections of the side walls thereby open said resilient arms when the module detaches from the card edge connector.
US07677905B2	Electronic device and manufacturing method of the same An electronic device includes a printed circuit board with multiple lands and through holes and an electronic element with multiple terminals on the board. Each terminal is coupled with the land through a solder. The lands include a surface land on the board and an insertion land on a sidewall of the through hole. The terminals include a branch terminal having an insertion member and a surface member. The insertion member is coupled with the insertion land through the solder. The surface member is coupled with the surface land through the solder. The surface member is parallel to the printed circuit board. The insertion member is perpendicular to the printed circuit board. The insertion member extends from a part of the surface member, which faces the surface land and disposed above the through hole.
US07677903B1	Board-to-board connector assembly A board-to-board connector assembly includes a receptacle connector having a plurality of first terminals, and a plug connector having a plurality of second terminals. Each of the first terminals has two contact portions located oppositely and each of the second terminals has two contact arms located face-to-face. When the plug connector is mated with the receptacle connector, the contact portions of the first terminal are clipped between the contact arms of the corresponding second terminal to electrically contact the corresponding contact arms tightly such that ensures the first terminal and the corresponding second terminal electrically connected with each other steadily.
US07677897B2	Models and methods of using same for testing medical devices Disclosed herein are synthetic anatomical models that are designed to enable simulated use testing by medical device companies, medical device designers, individual inventors, or any other entity interested in the performance of medical devices. These models are unique in possessing a level of complexity that allows them to be substituted for either a live animal, an animal cadaver, or a human cadaver in the testing of these devices. These models are further characterized by a similarity of geometry, individual component physical properties, and component-to-component interfacial properties with the appropriate target tissue and anatomy.
US07677895B2	Arithmetic measurement system Arithmetic Measurement System quantifies arithmetic operations just by measurement and without arithmetic calculation or even counting. Playing cards may be annotated with size-coded marks or card tags to represent face value. For example, a tag representing a face value 5 is half the size of one representing a value 10 using a linear tag scale, or about 7/10th the size using a log10 tag scale. Users align linear tags in a contiguous row to add values or overlap tags to subtract values. Users align logarithmic tags in a row to multiply values or overlap tags to divide values. Integrated and separate measures with corresponding linear or logarithmic tag-scales quantify a total value of aggregate or net tag row size. Product developers may use the Arithmetic Measurement System of tags and measures to provide novel educational math manipulatives and playing card games for players unskilled in arithmetic.
US07677890B2	Dental handpiece A dental handpiece is disclosed including a turbine construction creating a radial in flow of air onto the impeller blades about the whole circumference of the turbine. This generates additional torque and avoids asymmetrical thrust on the impeller wheel. A pair of axially spaced air bearings support the turbine. Air supply to the bearings is controlled in such a way that the air bearings are floated before drive air is supplied to the turbine and after drive air to the turbine has been shut off. This ensures that the air bearings are always operational irrespective of the operational state of the turbine. The handpiece has an improved ergonomic shape, especially the shape and configuration of the front or drive head, which provides additional tooth clearance and a better field of view. An angled swivel connection to the umbilical cord is provided which reduces physical strain on the dentist's wrist. A self adjusting lock and key type torque connection between the dental burr and the chuck is provided which accommodates both conventional burrs and the burr of the lock and key arrangement. An auto stop arrangement for the turbine is disclosed which prevents a vacuum buildup during run-down of the turbine. The specific construction of the auto stop valve in accordance with the invention closes both the drive and exhaust air conduits.
US07677887B2	Shape memory self-ligating orthodontic brackets Self-ligating orthodontic brackets with archwire retainers formed of materials exhibiting shape memory. Each bracket which includes a base from which extends two spaced and opposing pairs of tie wings each pair of which define an archwire guide slot therebetween. The retainers include at least one flange to retain an archwire within the archwire guide slot but which is yieldable to permit insertion and/or removal of the archwire relative to the archwire guide slots. Portions of the brackets and/or retainer may be coated to reduce friction between the archwire and the bracket and to promote aesthetics and overall bracket appearance.
US07677884B2	Burner A burner for burning a gaseous fuel containing hydrogen with a gaseous oxidizer containing oxygen, having a combustion chamber in which the combustion reaction takes place during operation of the burner and having a wall structure which seals off the combustion chamber on the input end and which has multiple fuel openings through which the fuel is introduced into the combustion chamber during operation of the burner and has multiple oxidizer openings through which the oxidizer is introduced into the combustion chamber during operation of the burner.
US07677878B2	Slide having a fixing mechanism of a slide insert A slide having a fixing mechanism of a slide insert includes a slide body, a slide insert and a slide core. The slide body has a connecting portion and an inserting portion. The connecting portion defines a locating hole which stretches through the top surface to bottom surface of the connection portion. The inserting portion defines an inserting hole passing through the front and back surface of the inserting portion. A core hole is defined at the junction of the connecting portion and the inserting portion. The slide insert is located in the inserting hole. One end of the slide insert protrudes around to form a preventing part. The slide core is inserted in the core hole to fix the preventing part between the back surface of the inserting portion and the slide core. Then the slide insert is fixed in the slide.
US07677875B2	Injection molding machine for controlling measurement of an in-line screw A method for controlling measurement in a motor-driven in-line screw type injection molding machine using servo-motors as a measurement driving source and an injection driving source. Control is made so that all of a measured value of back pressure controlled by the measurement servo-motor, a measured value of an astern speed of a screw controlled by the injection servo-motor, and a measured rotational speed of the screw turn zero concurrently at timing when the screw reaches a measurement completion position. Thus, suck-back can be made dispensable.
US07677870B1	Screw in blade/vane A turbo machine airfoil, such as a blade or a vane in a compressor, in which the airfoil root portion includes screw threads having a dove tail cross sectional shape, and the rotor disk includes holes having similar screw threads such that a blade or vane can be easily replaced by unscrewing the old blade or vane and screwing in a new blade or vane. A locking pin biased by a spring is located in the root of the airfoil to lock the airfoil in the threaded hole to prevent the airfoil from loosening due to vibrations and to lock the airfoil in place at a desired angle of attack for maximum efficiency of the turbo machine. The removable cover plate is located on the casing and over the rotor disk such that the blade can be removed through the opening without the need to disassemble the turbo machine.
US07677868B2	Self-lubricated actuator for on-blade rotor control A self-lubricated actuator for a rotor blade flap of a helicopter having a housing; a motor having a shaft disposed in a bearing is provided. The actuator further has an output rod and a mechanism operatively associated with the motor and the output rod to transmit movement from the motor to the output rod. The housing includes a lubrication medium capable of substantially immersing the bearing, the motor shaft and the mechanism during operation.
US07677866B2	Device for adjusting the centring of a turbo-engine pivoting vane control synchronization ring The invention relates to a device for adjusting the centring of a turbo-engine pivoting vane control ring, comprising a control ring (26) centred on a longitudinal axis (X-X) of the turbo-engine and provided with a plurality of tapped holes (36) running in a radial direction and a plurality of pad holders (32), each comprising a threaded rod (34) screwed into one of the ring's tapped holes (36), each pad holder (32) holding, at an inner end, a pad (30) intended to come into contact with a cylindrical shell (28), coaxial with the ring. The control ring (26) comprises, in addition, a plurality of slots (38) running in a tangential direction, each slot (38) communicating with one of the ring's tapped holes (36) The device comprises means (40, 42a, 42b) of pinching, in a longitudinal direction, each of the slots (38) in such a way as to lock the pad holders (32) in position.
US07677859B2	Substrate loading and uploading station with buffer A substrate processing apparatus having a station for loading and unloading substrates from the apparatus, includes an aperture closure for sealing a loading and unloading aperture of the station, apparatus for removing a door of a substrate magazine and thus opening the substrate magazine, and for operating the aperture closure to open the aperture, and an elevator for precisely positioning the open substrate magazine along a vertical axis within a usable range of motion. The station may also include a sensor for mapping locations of the substrates, and a mini-environment for interfacing the station to a substrate processing system.
US07677855B2	Conditioned sheets for binding and method/apparatus for making same Apparatus and method of increasing adhesion of thermal binder strips to coated papers by conditioning an edge of the sheet by splitting the edge which results in an expansion of the edge followed by compressing the edge so as to reduce or eliminate the expansion. In the case of a stack of sheets, the edge of the stack is conditioned by piercing the edge of the stack and in the case of an individual sheet, the conditioning is carried out by splitting at least a portion of the edge of the sheet.
US07677854B2	Self-boring and self-tapping screw The invention relates to a self-boring and thread-forming tapping screw having a screw shaft with a screw tip at one end and at the other end a force application member for the transmission of a turning moment. The screw shaft includes a threaded section with the screw tip and an adjacent thread-free section of the shaft including the force application member. The threaded section has a shaft core and a self-tapping thread. The threaded section includes a core section axially displaced from the tip and having a polygonal core cross section. Corners of the core cross section define an enveloping circle with an enveloping circle diameter larger than a shaft diameter of the thread-free section.
US07677851B2	Fastener assembly A fastener assembly includes a male threaded fastener and a washer captured between a head of the fastener and a thread of the fastener. A terminal portion of the thread adjacent the washer is provided with crest depressions to thereby form material of the thread run out into elevations of the thread between adjacent depressions, to thereby maintain the specified major diameter of the thread adjacent the washer.
US07677849B2	Cargo guard Embodiments of the present invention provide a cargo guard that is readily coupled to and/or removed from a binding strap, and further readily adapted to be repositioned with respect to the strap. The cargo guard may include one or more segments and/or one or more retainers.
US07677844B2	Electronic clutch for tool chuck with power take off and dead spindle features A power driver may include a motor that rotates upon receiving an input current. A tool chuck may have chuck jaws to hold an accessory. The tool chuck may be coupled to the motor. A power take off mechanism may be connected between the motor and the tool chuck. The power take off mechanism may be adjustable into a CHUCK MODE to one of open and close the chuck jaws while the motor rotates. An electronic clutch may interrupt the input current to the motor if the power take off mechanism is in the CHUCK MODE and if the input current exceeds a trip value.
US07677843B2	Cutting implement A cutting implement comprises a substrate having a cutting edge, and plurality of hardfacing beads deposited on the substrate transverse to the edge of said substrate.
US07677835B2	Drainage cell modular raintank and water storage system A modular raintank and water storage system are described. A modular raintank comprises a plurality of interconnected external sidewall modules. The sidewall modules have a plurality of openings which allow water to freely flow into and out of the modular raintank. The water storage system comprises a plurality of interconnected modular raintanks. The adjacent modular raintanks of the water storage system can share a sidewall, and can be stacked on top of each other and connected in a side-by-side pattern. The shared sidewall comprises a plurality of locking lip members arranged in rows to facilitate the attachment of additional modular plates of adjacent raintanks and a plurality of U-shaped openings to facilitate visual inspection of the tank while underground.
US07677832B2	Precast concrete slab system and method therefor A pre-fabricated concrete slab system and method have matching rectangular slabs with cooperatively fitting male and female type connectors which fit adjacent to each other in a checkerboard fashion. The slabs include spaced reinforcing rods extending longitudinally and transversely therethrough. In at least some of the slabs, the rods' distal ends protrude outwardly away from one or more side edges of the slabs to form a plurality of male connectors. Correspondingly, at least some of the slabs include a plurality of corresponding female sockets on one or more sides thereof, each female socket receiving a corresponding male connector when dropped therein. Through interconnection of corresponding female sockets and male connectors by steel reinforcing bars extending in both the longitudinal and transverse directions, a continuous tension reinforcement is established between adjacent slabs in both the longitudinal and transverse directions.
US07677825B2	Stylized writing instrument A stylized writing instrument which is shaped like a proprietary and/or familiar object. In general, embodiments of the invention include a housing shaped like the proprietary and/or familiar object, a writing element, and internal mechanisms provided within the housing for extending the writing element from, and retracting the writing tip into, the housing. The internal mechanisms may comprise a wide variety of actuation systems for extending and retracting the writing element, including a cam actuation assembly, an edge slide actuation assembly, a gravity actuation assembly, a pressure actuation assembly and a push button actuation assembly.
US07677817B2	Device comprising camera elements A device comprising a housing; a first camera element located on a first side of the housing for forming image information on a view seen by the first camera element; a second camera element located on a second side of the housing for forming image information on a view seen by the second camera element; an activator for providing a signal from either the first camera element or the second camera element according to a selection, the activator comprising a detector for detecting the selection; and a processor for processing the obtained image information.
US07677813B2	Electro-optical hybrid connection assembly An electro-optical hybrid connection assembly provides an optical connection of at least a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber that define a fiber axis and an electrical connection of at least a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor. The assembly includes a first connector and a second connector. The first connector includes a first ferrule that encloses the first optical fiber, a centering sleeve surrounding the first ferrule and projecting beyond at least one end of the first ferrule, and at least one electrical plug-in contact connected to the first electrical conductor. The second connector includes a second ferrule enclosing the second optical fiber, and at least one electrical plug-in contact connected to the second electrical conductor. Each of the two optical fibers has a plane fiber end aligned at right angles to the fiber axis and provided with an anti-reflection coating.
US07677811B2	Lightpipe mounting assembly and method A lightpipe mounting assembly comprises a panel having at least one opening extending from a front side of the panel to a rear side of the panel. The panel also comprises at least one hook extending rearwardly from a periphery of the opening. The mounting assembly also comprises a lightpipe adapted to engage the at least one hook to secure the lightpipe to the panel to enable visibility of the lightpipe from the front side of the panel.
US07677810B2	Bearing washer for thrust bearing and thrust bearing Manufactured by quench hardening, a bearing washer for a thrust bearing inexpensive and excellent in durability is used without being subjected to grinding after quenching. In a bearing washer group including a plurality of bearing washers for the thrust bearing, when camber/waviness of each bearing washer constituting the bearing washer group that is randomly extracted is measured, a value obtained by adding a value three times as large as standard deviation of camber/waviness to an average value thereof is at most 40 μm.
US07677803B2	Quick release coupling device for a linear guideway A quick release coupling device for a linear guideway comprises a rail, a slide block, a pair of end caps and a pair of connectors. Each of the end caps has a through hole in which are annularly arranged a slant rotary abutment surface and a plurality of grooves. The connectors each has an end fixed to the slide block, and another end of the connectors is defined with a wing-shaped portion, the wing-shaped portion has an abutment surface for mating with the rotary abutment surface of the end caps.
US07677792B2	Automatic stirring system The present invention relates to an automatic stirring system that is selectively mounted to a cooking vessel. The cooking vessel includes a handle, an opening for receiving food items, and a lid. The automatic stirring system includes a housing mounted to the handle, a ring gear rotatably mounted to the cooking vessel, a drive assembly for rotating the ring gear, and at least one stirring vane attached to the ring gear. In various other embodiments, the automatic stirring system includes at least one forward swept stirring vane, at least one aperture in the stirring vane, a variable speed control unit, and a component orientation that provides substantially unimpeded access to the opening of the cooking vessel.
US07677788B2	Curved blade mixing device The aim of the invention is to improve an existing mixing device in such a manner that for a predetermined reactor length, retention time is increased and the material which is to be processed is transported at essentially the same speed irrespective of the radial distance thereof from the rotational axis. As a result, at least one row of blades is arranged on each shaft and each row of blades comprises at least two individual blades and the blades are fixed to the shaft at an incidence angle α in relation to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The blades are curved in themselves, such that the blades form an angle of incidence α at the fixing point on the shaft and an angle of incidence β on the outer diameter DA. By virtue of the fact that a row of individual blades is used instead of a continuous screw, efficient mixing of charging material and coke can be achieved, the angle of incidence is reduced from the inside to the outside and the axial speed of the particles which are to be mixed is evened out on the total cross section of the reactor, thereby enabling a stop-type flow to be obtained.
US07677786B2	Method for producing concrete and standardizing system for concrete production There is provided a process for producing concrete, comprising: in producing concrete, previously providing at least one premix composition for a concrete mix, which has been measured and prepared by automatic control means according to properties required of the concrete; and kneading and mixing the previously provided premix composition for a concrete mix with cement, coarse aggregate, fine aggregates, and water. There is also provided a standardizing system for concrete production, characterized by comprising: measuring constituents of a premix composition for a concrete mix with an automatic control device; mixing these constituents together essentially without through human power to prepare a premix composition for a concrete mix according to properties required of the concrete; storing the premix composition; measuring the mass of a slurry composition of the premix composition with an automatic control device essentially without through human power; and kneading and mixing the slurry composition with cement, coarse aggregate, water, and a chemical admixture. There is further provided a standardizing system for concrete production in a concrete production plant, comprising kneading and mixing the above slurry composition of the premix composition with cement, coarse aggregate, fine aggregate and water in the concrete production plant.Concrete satisfying designed and planned property requirements can be provided in an easy and stable manner.
US07677779B2	Vehicle lamp collapsible closeout A collapsible closeout for a gap between a vehicle lamp and closure, and particularly well suited for a gap between a headlamp and a hood, is disclosed. The closeout may include a base mounted to a lamp housing, a closeout wall extending from the base, and a contact flange extending under the hood and having a free end extending toward a headlamp lens. The closeout may also include first support ribs extending from the closeout wall toward the headlamp and opposed second support ribs extending from the closeout wall.
US07677777B2	LED apparatus for world homologation A lamp assembly including a plurality of light sources, a plurality of light guides, and at least one lens. The plurality of light guides are optically connected to the plurality of light sources, and selected plurality of light sources emit light that is selectively propagated through the plurality of light guides. The at least one lens is optically connected to the plurality of light guides.
US07677775B2	Exterior rear-view mirror for vehicles, especially for motor vehicles An external rearview mirror assembly is designed for a motor vehicle. The external rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror housing. A mirror glass carrier is operatively connected to the mirror housing. A piece of mirror glass is fixedly secured to the mirror glass carrier and is movable with respect to the mirror housing. The mirror glass defines a peripheral edge. An attaching part is fixedly secured to the mirror glass carrier wherein the attachment part extends about a portion of the peripheral edge.
US07677772B1	Navigation light system using spatially separated partial arc navigation running lights A navigation light system for a watercraft including multiple lights of a common color and that are spatially separated on the watercraft to collectively operate as a navigation running light that has a specified horizontal beam sector of less than 360 degrees. Each light is separately masked to emit light outwardly from the watercraft within a partial arc horizontal beam sector which is less than the specified horizontal beam sector. The navigation light system may include first and second running lights of first and second colors, respectively, where each running light includes multiple commonly-colored lights that are separately masked within a corresponding one of mutually exclusive partial arc horizontal beam sectors within the specified horizontal beam sector.
US07677766B2	LED lamp device and method to retrofit a lighting fixture A device and method for retrofitting a light fixture from use with a lamp socket that employs a conventional incandescent or metal halide lamp, to use with a light emitting diode (LED)-based lamp assembly. The lamp fixture has a collar with a base and an annular outer wall extending out from the base. The LED lamp device includes a neck base having an annular outer wall having a shaped outside surface that is placed into direct surface contact with the inner surface of the annular outer wall of the collar, to establish an effective heat-transferring interface. The shaped outer surface of the neck base provides proper fitting of the LED lamp device into the lighting fixture, and provides a heat-transferring interface over substantially all of the outer surface of the neck base, to dissipate heat away from the LED module. Aluminum material provides high thermal conductivity, light weight, availability, and low cost.
US07677752B2	Power tool equipped with light A power tool includes a main housing, a motor, a hammer case, an end-tool holding part, a driving-force transmitting mechanism, a light-unit mounting part, a light unit, and a cover. The motor is accommodated in the main housing and is configured to generate a driving force. The hammer case has an outer peripheral surface. The end-tool holding part is configured to hold an end tool. The driving-force transmitting mechanism is accommodated in the hammer case. The driving-force transmitting mechanism is configured to transmit the driving force to the end-tool holding part. The light-unit mounting part is formed integrally with the hammer case. The light unit is mounted to the light-unit mounting part. The cover covers the outer peripheral surface of the hammer case and accommodates the light-unit mounting part and the light unit.

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