Document Document Title
US07725589B2 System, method, apparatus, and computer program product for facilitating digital communications
A computer-implemented method and apparatus prevents unsecured access to a computer over a network by a client running on a remote computer. In one aspect of the present invention, a client policy is stored on the remote computer. The client policy includes a configuration of the remote computer that reduces the likelihood of a security breach of the computer as a result of the remote computer accessing the computer. A request is received from a user for access to the computer. It is verified that the remote computer conforms with the client policy, and the client is connected to said computer.
US07725585B2 Methods and systems for alerting a user interface with full destination information
According to embodiments of the present disclosure, expanded destination information is provided to prevent information theft. In some embodiments, a browser is configured to provide a user with information about a secure destination, for example, a SSL website. By providing the user with information about the secure destination, the user may confirm that the secure destination is the correct destination. In addition, embodiments of the present invention may indicate to the user whether the requested destination is “safe” or “unsafe” before the user submits any information to that destination. In particular, if form fields are being submitted by the user, then a safe/unsafe indication may be provided before the user submits any information. The safety of the submission may be indicated in various ways, such as making the background of the web page a prominent color, making the “submit” button a certain color, or by writing text into a part of the browser's display.
US07725582B2 Network based proxy control of content
A communications system serves as a proxy for a user device in a communications network. The communications system includes a network gateway that receives content in response to a user initiated content utilization attempt from a user device. A computer receives the content from the network gateway and, in response to receiving the content, determines whether the content utilization by the user can be permitted. The computer can also determine whether the content utilization by the user can be completed.
US07725576B2 Method and apparatus for measuring stream availability, quality and performance
A streaming measurement agent designed to experience, measure, and report on a media stream as an actual end user would experience the stream. Preferably, agent resides transparently within a streaming media player itself so that it can monitor stream packet flows within the player as the measured streams are being played. In an illustrative embodiment, the agent comprises a performance monitoring module (PMM), which is software that resides in an interface between an existing core module and a renderer of a media player. The agent PMM intercepts each useful packet as it goes from the core to the renderer and, as a result, it is able to compute quality metrics about the playback. The agent functions “transparently” to the media player by presenting the core with an application programming interface (API) that emulates the API that the renderer normally presents to the core. Thus, when the core believes it is calling the renderer, it is actually calling the agent PMM, which can then receive all the packets from the core and process them. After computing relevant performance metrics using the packets it receives, the agent PMM calls the renderer. A set of performance agents can be managed by a service provider to enable a content provider to determine how a stream is perceived by end users.
US07725571B1 Method and apparatus for service analysis in service level management (SLM)
Method and apparatus for service level management, wherein business processes are composed of services. A state of the service is defined by one or more service parameters, and the service parameters depend upon performance of network components that support the service, e.g., component parameters. The state of the service may depend, for example, on a collection of service parameter values for availability, reliability, security, integrity and response time. A service level agreement is a contract between a supplier and a customer that identifies services supported by a network, service parameters for the services, and service levels (e.g., acceptable levels) for each service parameter.
US07725560B2 Web service-enabled portlet wizard
A web service user interface can be automatically generated, thus simplifying development of web applications. Web service configuration data can be received and proxies to access the web service can be automatically generated. Communication code can also be automatically generated to facilitate communicate with said web service using the proxies. Display code can be automatically generated to display content provided by a web service. In one example, the web service user interface is a portlet.
US07725559B2 Virtual data center that allocates and manages system resources across multiple nodes
A virtualization infrastructure that allows multiple guest partitions to run within a host hardware partition. The host system is divided into distinct logical or virtual partitions and special infrastructure partitions are implemented to control resource management and to control physical I/O device drivers that are, in turn, used by operating systems in other distinct logical or virtual guest partitions. Host hardware resource management runs as a tracking application in a resource management “ultravisor” partition, while host resource management decisions are performed in a higher level command partition based on policies maintained in a separate operations partition. Host hardware I/O management is implemented in special redundant I/O partitions. Operating systems in other logical or virtual partitions communicate with the I/O partitions via memory channels established by the ultravisor partion.
US07725557B2 Client-side caching of streaming media content
Various functionality with respect to streaming media content is made available to users. Such functionality includes one or more of: streaming media content at a rate independent of the encoded bit rate of the content, allowing streaming of content to continue even when the user has selected various shuttle control options (e.g., pause, stop, fast forward, seek, rewind, etc.), allowing streaming content to be recorded for playback at a later time, and allowing streaming content to be time-shifted.
US07725554B2 Network object delivery system for personal computing device
A networked object delivery system for a personal computing device includes a network, a personal computing device at least part time coupled to the network, and a service agent server at least part time coupled to the network. The personal computing device is preferably a PDA or the like, but can also include personal computers, laptop computers, notebook computers, etc. The personal computing device locally operates on a requested document with at least one downloaded application module from the network. The service agent server will download a requested document and at least one application module to the personal computing device over the network in response to a request for the document and in response to a desired action to be performed on that document.
US07725551B2 System and method for enhanced messaging including a displayable status indicator relating to another user and an associated playlist or webpage
A system and method for enhancing the experience of a user using a communication program over the Internet or other network. The system and method according to one embodiment utilizes a user's status indicator in a communication program to share content such as music or videos among users. One system and method according to the present invention allows a user to display an indicator and to set an actionable status message which indicates to other users the media content that the first user is experiencing. In another embodiment, a user is given the ability to access content that other users are listening to or viewing at that time. The system and method in an alternate embodiment broadcast metadata about the user's content to other users and the other users are able to utilize that metadata to receive and experience the same or similar content that the first user is experiencing.
US07725542B2 Forwarding IM messages to E-mail
Systems for forwarding an E-mail message to a user when instant messages from a sender cannot be forwarded to a secondary IM processing device comprise a primary IM processing device configured to send and receive E-mail messages and a router configured to route E-mail messages between the primary IM processing device and a sender's processing device. An E-mail user agent is coupled to the router and configured to provide access to E-mail information including an address of the sender such that an E-mail message can be sent to the sender's processing device. The router is further configured to receive notification at the primary IM processing device of a reply from the sender's processing device. Other systems and methods are also provided.
US07725540B2 Method and apparatus for coordinating internet multi-media content with telephone and audio communications
Internet content is coordinated with audio communications, such that two or more parties can view the same media content on the Internet while simultaneously communicating over a traditional telephony network or via voice over network. A user computer displays shared content that corresponds to a second computer's display, such that both parties view the same content on their browsers. Either of the parties is allowed to update the visual content of their browsers. Updates in the visual content are transmitted to the other parties so that all parties view the same, shared content. The shared content can include web pages, forms, applications, images, conferences, and files among other information.
US07725539B2 Method, computer program, and system for carrying out a project
In a method, a computer program and a system for carrying out a project from a plurality of differently located electronic data processing (EDP) devices, which are connected via a data network with a main server serving the central data loading for the purpose of data exchange and whereby, during individual working time intervals, respectively one other from the plurality of EDP devices for carrying out the project is at least partially activated. A method, computer program and system provide that employees at other sites, located at a distance from the main server, are permitted full cooperation in a project. The data network is configured in a cross-locational manner, and that the individual EDP devices are located distributed at least partially in a cross-locational manner.
US07725537B2 Method of and system for retracting instant messages
A method of and system for enabling retraction of instant messages detects a command to send an instant message from an instant message window. The system determines if the command is the first command sent from the instant message window after the window has received focus. If so, the system delays the execution of the command for a delay time according to a retraction policy, and provides a retraction control for canceling said command. The system cancels the command in response to actuation of the retraction control. The system may cancel the instant message in response to actuation of the retraction control. The system sends the instant message in response to expiration of the delay time without an actuation of the retraction control. The system may provide a control for sending the instant message before expiration of the delay time. The retraction policy may provide different delay times for different categories of recipients. The delay time may be zero for certain categories of recipients. The retraction policy may be configurable by a user.
US07725536B2 Method and apparatus for limiting reuse of domain name system information
A method of limiting reuse of domain name information is disclosed. In accordance with the method, domain name information is received at a first domain name sewer. The domain name information includes a time limit and a request limit associated with subsequent distribution of the domain name information to at least one requestor. The received domain name information is validated from a second domain name server based on earliest expiration of the time limit and the request limit.
US07725535B2 Client-side storage and distribution of asynchronous includes in an application server environment
A process for facilitating distribution of asynchronous content by a result server includes subscribing at least one client in response to subscription requests for the asynchronous content received at the result server from the at least one client. The process further includes publishing the asynchronous content. The publishing leads to dissemination of the asynchronous content from the result server to the subscribed clients, and removal of the asynchronous content from the result server. The process further includes receiving a subscription request from additional client(s). The process further includes polling the subscribed clients for the asynchronous content and sending the asynchronous content to the additional client(s) upon receipt of the asynchronous content from any client belonging to the subscribed clients.
US07725527B2 Server-based computing environment
A server-based computing system includes at least one server (1) and at least one client computer (5), connected to the server (1) through a network (2). The server (1) includes apparatus for providing the client computer (5) with a user interface. The client computer (5) includes an input device (8) for providing input to an application through the user interface and a display device (7) for presenting output from an application through the user interface. The server (1) includes apparatus for running the application and the client computer (5) includes apparatus for locally running at least one further application. The system includes apparatus for controlling the locally run applications through the user interface provided by the server (1).
US07725526B1 System and method for web based sharing of search engine queries
While a user browses through a network, the present invention monitors and detects search queries. As a user enables queries to search for documents containing information necessary to the completion of a task, hobby, entertainment or to improve his or her general knowledge, the present invention detects that a query has been enabled and stores the query for later presentation to a user in an integrated browser list window. If a user wishes to share queries with other users in a global database, he or she must select a query string for sharing in an integrated browser list window. The query is stored locally and forwarded across a communication network to a hub processing unit for permanent storage in a global database accessible by a plurality of users. Also, the user can add annotations to the search query prior to its being forwarded to the hub processing unit. The hub processing unit in coordination with the global database organizes and manages the storage of selected shared query. Once stored in the global database, other users can benefit from the intelligence, work and experience of others by searching through categories of search queries as well as simply browsing through them. This is accomplished by a second user entering categorical data to his local graphical user interface which communicates with a search and retrieval program. The search and retrieval program returns a grouping or listing of headlines related to the category selected by the second user.
US07725520B2 Processor
The present invention provides a processor including data manipulating means for generating an arbitrary combination of elements of a first input vector and elements of a second input vector, arithmetic means for performing a product-sum operation on the combination, and repetition control means for controlling the generation of the combination by the data manipulating means and the product-sum operation by the arithmetic means according to a number of the elements of the first input vector and the second input vector.
US07725519B2 Floating-point processor with selectable subprecision
A floating-point processor with selectable subprecision includes a register configured to store a plurality of bits in a floating-point format, a controller, and a floating-point mathematical operator. The controller is configured to select a subprecision for a floating-point operation, in response to user input. The controller is configured to determine a subset of the bits, in accordance with the selected subprecision. The floating-point operator is configured to perform the floating-point operation using only the subset of the bits. Excess bits that are not used in the floating-point operation may be forced into a low-leakage state. The output value resulting from the floating-point operation is either truncated or rounded to the selected subprecision.
US07725503B2 System and method for unknown type serialization
A method of serializing and deserializing unknown data types in a strongly typed model. The method includes serializing an object to a data stream at first node and communicating the data stream to a second node. The second node may be another process, machine or a file on a disk. The data stream is deserialized at a later time, and the data types within the data stream are determined. Objects are instantiated in accordance with known data types, and unknown objects are created to retain information related to each unknown data type in the data stream. These unknown objects are used to regenerate the unknown data type when a serialization operation is performed at the second node on an unknown object.
US07725497B2 System and method for standardized process monitoring in a complex manufacturing environment
By monitoring a process flow in a complex manufacturing environment on the basis of a technique using standardized data structures, process-related evaluated data structures corresponding to a process history of objects may be recorded with a high degree of coverage. Furthermore, the respective data structures may be stored and maintained within a single database structure, thereby providing united handling of the respective process-related data and significantly increasing data reliability and completeness.
US07725494B2 System and method for networked media access
A method, system, and media management application for providing a user access to a media file from multiple locations on a network. In one aspect, a user communicates a desire to access a media file at a future time and is able to access the bookmarked media file from various locations on a network at any future time. In one aspect, the media file is available from multiple locations on the network and in different media formats.
US07725490B2 Collaborative file access management system
A collaborative file access management system. The system can include one or more secure, collaborative files, each secure, collaborative file including a security trailer specifying at least one of an access policy and associated digital rights. The system also can include a user-layer file management application configured to limit access to the secure, collaborative file based upon the access policy. Finally, the system can include a kernel-layer file security service configured both to detect kernel-level requests to access the secure, collaborative files, and also, responsive to the detected kernel-level requests, to invoke the file management application.
US07725489B2 Node for providing a file service to a mobile terminal
A node for providing a file service to a mobile terminal, the node comprises mobile terminal interface, and a file system for a plurality of users, each user having a user folder. The node is configured, in response to receiving a request for file access from a mobile terminal, to identify a user folder, to determine whether the file managing system manages the user folder and, in dependence upon whether the file managing system manages the user folder, to retrieve an entry point for the user folder and to transmit the entry point to the mobile terminal.
US07725487B2 Content synchronization system and method of similar web pages
The present claimed invention is a synchronized comparison and present system that presents a similar Web page, when a page in a Web site is presented, in a different site based on a search keyword automatically obtained in the page simultaneously and automatically and also controls a display mode of the similar page to be synchronous with a display mode of a basic Web page.
US07725482B2 Accessing objects in a service registry and repository using subclass inference
A service registry and repository method, system, computer program product and web service for managing an object database for objects where each node for locating objects for selection utilizes predicates for the object; inferring subclasses of an identified class if a predicate is a class classification function; consolidating object predicates including subclasses if a predicate is a class classification function; and appending specific clauses to the object query, then querying the object database using the object query.
US07725478B2 Localization of CIM-Based instrumentation
A system and method are disclosed for Common Information Model (CIM) management clients to predetermine a data provider's support for localization, select an available locale implementation, and receive the provider's indications and responses in the selected locale. A registered locale class is added to the CIM schema for instantiating predetermined locales within an Interop namespace and a referenced locale class is added to associate registered locale class instances to a registered profile class. Instances of the registered locale class are created by a CIM data provider in the Interop namespace for each supported locale. Element Conforms To Profile (ECTP) association classes are then implemented to create associations between registered locale classes with top level scoping classes and their corresponding locale namespace. The top level scoping class comprising its associated locale namespace is then established as the locale implemented by the data provider.
US07725477B2 Power filter for online listing service
A unique system and method that facilitates searching an online listing service by employing a plurality of attributes, parameters, and search terms in a search query is provided. The system and method involve using parameters such as the listed item's location and a trust category associated with the listed item to assist in providing more meaningful listings in response to the search query. These parameters can be applied to one or more search queries or can be modified for each search query. Categories, subcategories, and attributes can also be used to optimize the searching capability of the system and method. In particular, the set of available attributes displayed to a user can depend on the particular category and/or subcategory. Listing owners can manage their listings and increase traffic and/or revenue using such filtering and viewing modes.
US07725471B2 Method and apparatus for generating and utilizing qualifiers and qualified taxonomy tables
An embodiment of the invention comprises a method and apparatus for structuring, storing and retrieving data in database systems utilizing relational objects referred to as qualifiers. Catalog data are segregated into one or more primary tables (e.g., main tables), one or more lookup tables, and one or more qualified lookup tables following a predefined set of categories and a taxonomy. Qualified lookup tables comprise a special type of fields referred to as qualifiers. Searches are conducted in embodiments of the invention by determining a set of lookup fields, performing a lookup in one or more lookup tables, and retrieving data values which include association values with records that belong to one or more primary tables. The qualifiers are then used to narrow the search space by selecting only those values that satisfy the selection criteria with regard to the qualifiers. In embodiments of the invention, only a small set in the primary table are traversed to retrieve eligible records.
US07725464B2 Collection and delivery of internet ads
Advertisements over a network, such as the Internet, by extracting an index file of suppliers of search result sets for a plurality of keywords and/or an index of ads to be placed. A keyword in a received query may be matched to the suppliers of related search result sets and/or the ads to be placed in the index file(s). The search results may be ranked based on various criteria such as yield, click through rates and history of dealings. Search result sets for the keywords from the matching suppliers and the ads to be placed may be combined to produce a search result set ranked in accordance with estimated yields for advertisements associated with each result in the search result set and delivered in response to the received query. The search results in the combined set may be reranked and/or repriced.
US07725459B2 Method and apparatus for manipulating data within a remote database in a multiple tier environment
An embodiment of the present invention enables manipulation of data on a remote server and ensures uniqueness of data identifiers in a multi-tier environment, where a database client communicates through one or more intermediate servers to reach the target server containing the remote database. In particular, a client system transmits a query to the target server via a gateway system and receives a handle or data reference and a query identification for subsequent manipulation of data residing on that target server. A new query identification is generated by the gateway system and mapped with the query identification of the intended target server. When the client system transmits a query with the gateway query identification, the gateway system performs a lookup operation to identify the corresponding target server and subsequently forwards the query and target server query identification to the identified target server for processing.
US07725451B2 Generating clusters of images for search results
A method and system for generating clusters of images for a search result of an image query is provided. When an original image query is received, the search system identifies text associated with the original image query by submitting the original image query to a search engine. The search system identifies phrases from the text of the web page containing the search result. The search system uses each of the identified phrases as an image query and submits the image queries to an image search engine. The search system considers the image search result for each image query to represent a cluster of related images. The search system then presents the clusters of images as the images of the image search result of the original image query.
US07725448B2 Method and system for disjunctive single index access
A method for performing disjunctive single-index access on a database is disclosed. The method includes a query engine determining whether a first OR predicate and a second OR predicate map to a shared index. Responsive to the query engine determining that the first OR predicate and the second OR predicate map to the shared index, the first OR predicate and the second OR predicate are ordered in an ascending sequence. A first range of the first OR predicate is queued. A first row of the shared index is probed for the first range of the first OR predicate. Whether the first row is disqualified by the first OR predicate is determined. Responsive to determining that the first row is not disqualified by the first OR predicate, the row is reported in a result reporting structure. Responsive to determining that the row is disqualified by the first OR predicate, whether the first range of the first OR predicate overlaps a second range of the second OR predicate is determined, and, responsive to determining that the first range of the first OR predicate overlaps the second range of the second OR predicate, the row is checked against second range of the second or predicate.
US07725447B2 Method, apparatus, and system for searching based on search visibility rules
According to one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided in which a search request containing search criteria is received from a first user. A search is performed based upon the search criteria and the first user's organizational identifier to identify data records that match the search criteria and to which the first user is allowed to access based upon the first user's organizational identifier. In another embodiment, a search is performed based upon the search criteria and a list of categories to which the first user is authorized to access to identify records that match the search criteria and to which the first user is allowed to access based upon the list of categories.
US07725442B2 Automatic evaluation of summaries
A probability distribution for a reference summary of a document is determined. The probability distribution for the reference summary is then used to generate a score for a machine-generated summary of the document.
US07725441B2 Methods, systems, and computer program products for disaster recovery planning
Formulating an integrated disaster recovery (DR) plan based upon a plurality of DR requirements for an application by receiving a first set of inputs identifying one or more entity types for which the plan is to be formulated, such as an enterprise, one or more sites of the enterprise, the application, or a particular data type for the application. At least one data container representing a subset of data for an application is identified. A second set of inputs is received identifying at least one disaster type for which the plan is to be formulated. A third set of inputs is received identifying a DR requirement for the application as a category of DR Quality of Service (QoS) class to be applied to the disaster type. A composition model is generated specifying one or more respective DR QoS parameters as a function of a corresponding set of one or more QoS parameters representative of a replication technology solution. The replication technology solution encompasses a plurality of storage stack levels. A solution template library is generated for mapping the application to each of a plurality of candidate replication technology solutions. The template library is used to select a DR plan in the form of a replication technology solution for the application.
US07725438B1 Method and apparatus for efficiently creating backup files
A method and apparatus for creating backup files by creating an overhead segment for each file that is to be backed up and creating a data segment containing the data that is to be backed up for each file. After creating overhead segment and the data segment, the overhead segment is placed into an overhead stream and the data segment is stored in a memory. The overhead segment is also positioned in the overhead stream with a pointer that identifies the location of the data within the memory. As such, the backup file comprises a data segment and an overhead stream.
US07725434B2 Methods, systems, and computer program products for automatic creation of data tables and elements
A method for implementing standardized enterprise warehouse system processes, including: extracting content from one or more source systems that provide a feed for the content; loading extracted content into one or more standardized data layout tables of a data control structure based upon meta-data and rules that define the data control structure, wherein the extracted content is in condition for transformation and data warehouse loading, and the standardized data layout tables comprise a logical data model; propagating the extracted content into a physical data model, and updating the physical data model upon the detection of a data event.
US07725429B2 Master data management system for centrally managing core reference data associated with an enterprise
In one embodiment, a system is provided for centrally managing core enterprise reference data associated with an enterprise. A centralized master repository contains the core enterprise reference data. An internal services framework coupled to the centralized master repository provides internal services for managing the core enterprise reference data within the centralized master repository, one or more of the internal services having direct access to the core enterprise reference data stored in the centralized master repository for management purposes. An infrastructure services layer coupled to the centralized master repository includes: (1) a back side data access layer that (a) provides bulk data transfers of core enterprise reference data between the centralized master repository and one or more external operational systems according to one or more enterprise-level business workflows, and (b) provides the external operational systems with indirect access, for operational purposes, to associated external operation services within the system that indirectly access the core enterprise reference data stored in the centralized master repository; and (2) a front side data access layer that (a) transfers control data from the external operational systems to the system to control operations of the system, and (b) provides the external operational systems with direct access to certain of the internal services that directly access the core enterprise reference data within the centralized core repository.
US07725424B1 Use of generalized term frequency scores in information retrieval systems
Disclosed are methods and systems for selecting electronic documents, such as Web pages or sites, from among documents in a collection, based upon the occurrence of selected terms in segments of the documents. The method may be applied where index terms have previously been assigned to the documents. The method may be used to select supercategories of banner advertisements from which to choose an advertisement to display for a user.
US07725422B2 Search engine
The present invention provides for a method of updating an internet search engine database with the results of a user's selection of specific web page listings from the general web page listing provided to the user as a result of his initial keyword search entry. By updating the database with the selections of many different users, the database can be updated to prioritize those web listings that have been selected the most with respect to a given keyword, and thereby presenting first the most popular web page listings in a subsequent search using the same keyword search entry.
US07725409B2 Gene expression programming based on Hidden Markov Models
Computer programs (600, 700, 800, 900, 1000) and a programmed computer (1100) for automatically generating computer programs (i.e. sequences of instructions) are provided. The computer programs (600, 700, 800, 900, 1000) use Hidden Markov Models (400, 500) to generate sequences of program tokens, e.g., Gene Expression Programming chromosomes (100). Parameters of the Hidden Markov Models (400, 500) are numerically optimized, for example, by Differential Evolution with a goal of increasing the fitness of automatically generated programs.
US07725405B2 System and method for agency based posting and searching for job openings via a computer system and network
System and Method For Agency Based Posting and Searching For Job Openings Via a Computer System and Network for use by placement agents who normally would not have access to files in a career bulletin board. The system gives placement agents the opportunity to interact directly with corporate recruiters who are members of the system. Communication between the placement agent and the corporate member is permitted only if so designated by the corporate member. Utilities for the corporate member allow jobs to be defined, stored, and conveyed to preferred placement agents. Utilities for placement agents permit candidates to be registered, candidate profiles to be created, and sent to the corporate member who is the client of the placement agent.
US07725404B2 Secure electronic commerce using mutating identifiers
Methods and systems for performing electronic commerce using mutating identifiers. One method can include encrypting buyer transaction data with a first mutating identifier, transmitting the buyer transaction data to an authenticator device, decrypting the buyer transaction data, generating a payment request, encrypting the payment request with a third mutating identifier, and transmitting the payment request to a payment authenticator device.
US07725399B2 Content usage device and network system, and license information acquisition method
A content usage device includes (i) a license management unit that holds license information and (ii) a content output unit that uses a content in compliance with license information and outputs the content in at least one manner of a sound, video and data. The license management unit, upon receiving a request of license information from the content output unit, requests a license management unit of another content usage device to transfer the license information and acquires the license information, and passes the acquired license information to the content output unit. The content output unit uses a content in compliance with the license information passed from the license management unit.
US07725398B2 Method and system for selling goods and/or services over a communication network between multiple users
A method and system for selling goods and/or services over a communication network. The system provides an compilation of digital images that visually represent the goods and/or services to be sold. The digital images are forwarded the compilation to a requesting user over a communication network for presentation to the requesting user on a display device in a presentation format that still allows use of the display device for continued operation of other applications on the requesting user's device.
US07725391B1 Savings system based on time of transaction
A computer-assisted method for an automatic savings plan. The method includes calculating a savings amount from an indication of a time of transaction for each of a plurality of transactions. The method also includes transferring the savings amount from a first account to at least one receiving account.
US07725384B2 Construction payment management system and method with one-time registration features
A system and method for managing a construction payment process. One method embodying the invention can include electronically receiving registration information including payment information from a plurality of participants, electronically storing the registration information for use with multiple construction projects, and transferring a plurality of payments to a plurality of participants associated with a plurality of construction projects by electronically accessing the registration information.
US07725369B2 Method and server for management of electronic receipts
A system for managing electronic receipts is provided. According to one aspect, the system includes a portable device, a base device, a user device and an electronic receipts administration system. The electronic receipts administration system provides the base device with the appropriate data to allow the base device to generate, store and manage electronic receipts accordingly. A user uses the portable device to conduct a transaction with the base device. The base device uses a variety of information to generate an electronic receipt for the transaction. Such information includes, for example, information stored on the portable device, information stored locally on the base device and information stored on another device such as an electronic cash register. The electronic receipt is then stored on the portable device. The user device allows the user to subsequently retrieve the electronic receipt for management purposes.
US07725368B2 Method of selling and activating consumer products and services
A business method for products and services. The business model provides for retail purchase of a product or service. The product or service is then transported from the retail point of purchase to a professional. The professional then activates the product or service for the consumer.
US07725365B2 Custom gauge panel ordering apparatus method and system
A custom gauge ordering apparatus facilitates selecting options related to a gauge panel, previewing the selected options under daylight or nighttime conditions, and submitting orders for a gauge panel with the selected options. The order may be automatically received by an order fulfillment system and used to direct or control manufacture of the custom gauge panel. In another aspect of the invention, a custom gauge panel includes a user-selected design printed on a translucent medium that is bonded to an electro-luminescent substrate. In one embodiment, the custom gauge panel also includes substantially transparent layer that stiffens and protects the translucent medium and user-selected design printed thereon during manufacture, installation, and use. The simplicity of the custom panel reduces the material and labor costs associated with producing a custom gauge panel.
US07725363B2 Method of generating product categories from a metadata tag
Methods of the present invention allow a user to be enabled to create a metadata tag associated with a product on an ecommerce site. Using the metadata tag, a product category associated with the product may be dynamically created.
US07725360B2 Portable communication device and method of use
A portable communication device and method of use is provided. In one embodiment, the method of using a handheld mobile telephone includes capturing a plurality of images via an image input device; storing the plurality of images in a memory, receiving a first speech input, identifying command information in said first speech input; retrieving information from memory based, at least in part, on the command information. The method may further include generating a request related to an article of commerce that includes, at least in part, the information retrieved from memory, determining a destination for transmitting the request, and wirelessly transmitting said request through a mobile telephone network to the destination.
US07725359B1 Electronic realty systems and methods
Systems and methods for providing an interactive electronic real estate web site. Buyers, sellers and a variety of different service providers are electronically and communicatively connected with each other to facilitate residential and commercial real estate transactions. Through the use of customized online forms, buyers and sellers are guided through the real estate transaction process through the use of a virtual real estate agent. Direct communication in the form of internal messaging and document sharing between buyers and sellers (and service providers) makes the transaction process more efficient and replaces the need for brokers and broker commissions. A timeline approach to the real estate transaction process affords efficiency and realistic expectations to the parties involved, user rewards are used as incentives for buyers and sellers to use preferred service providers.
US07725354B2 Interface for generating business partners
An electronic procurement system may enable users, such as professional purchasers for an enterprise, to create new business partners for the enterprise using information in business partner directories hosted by external service providers. The electronic procurement system and external service providers may use a partner interface protocol to exchange partner information. The new business partner may be created during a business process using the partner information.
US07725353B2 Electronic service manual display control device
Disclosed is an electronic service manual display program whereby an order for a part can be easily and correctly issued across a network to a predetermined parts order receiving server, and in accordance with to this technique, a board diagram or a circuit diagram is displayed in a drawing display area. Furthermore, network connection destination information, which includes the URL information for a predetermined parts order receiving server, the information type to be transmitted to the server and a predetermined transmission method, is read, for example, from a local hard disk such as the one in a PC (personal computer). When a predetermined manipulation, such as right clicking, is performed for a graphics primitive in the board diagram or the circuit diagram, the network connection destination information is examined, and menu information that enables the selection of a predetermined parts order receiving server is generated and displayed. Further, when a parts order receiving server is selected in the menu information, a part corresponding to the selected graphics primitive is searched for and information for the part is obtained. Further, the quantity of the part is designated, and an order for the part is submitted to the predetermined parts order receiving server.
US07725348B1 Multilane vehicle information capture system
A system and method for accurate express tolling of highway vehicles. A multilane tolling system comprises a tolling (MVIC) unit that collects information from tolling subsystems arranged to take various vehicle measurements. Preferably, an intelligent vehicle identification subsystem sends vehicle information to the MVIC unit many times per second. Preferably, a vision tracking system (VTS) communicates with the MVIC unit and sends the latter information about the vehicle position using vision tracking sensors. Preferably, an RF subsystem conducts multiple reads of a transponder on a passing vehicle and forwards the read information to the MVIC unit. Preferably, a vehicle image capture unit (VICU) captures images of the passing vehicle when a camera in the VICU receives a trigger from the MVIC unit. Preferably, a driver alert module is used alert a driver passing through a tolling point as to account balance associated with a silent toll tag or pay by plate system.
US07725344B2 System and method for computer-aided technician dispatch and communication
A system and method for computer aided technician dispatch and communication are disclosed. The system comprises a communications system linking a plurality of subscribers, a team of technicians, a service representative, and a user; an input terminal (100) for receiving information, the information comprising service request information from the plurality of subscribers (116), and work order information from the team of technicians (110), a server (116) coupled to the input terminals for processing the information and generating a graphical representation of the information, and , a display (104) for receiving the graphical representation and presenting the graphical representation to a user (112). A method for computer aided technician dispatch and communication comprises five steps. Those steps are (1) communicating with a plurality of subscribers and team of technicians; (2) receiving information, the information comprising service request information from the subscriber and work order information from the team of technicians, (3) entering the information in an input terminal, the input terminal coupled to a server; (4) processing the information, the processing resulting in a graphical representation of the information; and (5) displaying the graphical representation to a user.
US07725340B2 Ranking-based method for evaluating customer prediction models
A method and system perform ranking-based evaluations for regression models that are often appropriate for marketing tasks and are more robust to outliers than traditional residual-based performance measures. The output provided by the method and system provides visualization that can offer insights about local model performance and outliers. Several models can be compared to each other to identify the “best” model and, therefore, the “best” model data for the particular marketing task.
US07725337B2 Quantifying revenue and profit impact of retiming flights while taking into consideration non-linear ramifications and constraints
A method, system and computer program product for efficiently quantifying the economic impact of retiming flights without the necessity of implementing the traditional airline forecasting system from scratch. A forecast module computes the difference in impact prior to and after the retiming of a flight. A flight grouping module, using the computed difference in impact, generates a new schedule, which is used by the forecast module to generate new changes in impact, until the schedule converges. A flyable module generates a list of retimed flights based on the converged schedule for resolving operational infeasibilities of the latter. The forecast module generates a profit for each of the retimed flights, which is used by a scheduling module to improve the schedule, which is used by the forecast module to revise the economic impacts for the list of all retimed flights. This process continues until no further economic improvement can be made.
US07725335B1 System and method for electronic remittance notice analysis
A system and method for analyzing electronic remittance notices (ERNs) is provided. The system includes a database component and a processor component for determining benchmark, for both denial rates and/or days sales outstanding, weighted average values for a particular provider and weighted average aggregate values based on a plurality of providers ERN claim adjudication information. The ERN information may originate from one or more third-party payers for claims for medical products or procedures. The weighting of these values may mimic or approximate a particular healthcare provider's mix of medical products and/or services to provide much more meaningful information. This benchmark values may be compared to various other ERN metrics of ERN claim adjudication information to compare to aggregate healthcare provider information. Equalizer values may also be calculated, analyzed and compared.
US07725334B2 Computerized method and system for estimating liability for an accident using dynamic generation of questions
Computer-implemented methods and systems for estimating liability for a vehicle accident are provided. In one embodiment, a question may be generated on one or more topics relating to the accident. The question may be associated with one or more answers. In some embodiments, at least one answer may be associated with a set of additional questions. An answer associated with a set of additional questions may be selected. In certain embodiments, a set of additional questions associated with the selected answer may be generated dynamically for use in estimating liability for the accident.
US07725333B2 Cluster of correlated medical claims in an episode treatment group
A computer-implemented method for profiling medical claims to assist health care managers in determining the cost-efficiency and service quality of health care providers. The method allows an objective means for measuring and quantifying health care services. An episode treatment group (ETG) is a patient classification unit, which defines groups that are clinically homogenous (similar cause of illness and treatment) and statistically stable. The ETG grouper methodology uses service or segment-level claim data as input data and assigns each service to the appropriate episode. The program identifies concurrent and recurrent episodes, flags records, creates new groupings, shifts groupings for changed conditions, selects the most recent claims, resets windows, makes a determination if the provider is an independent lab and continues to collect information until an absence of treatment is detected.
US07725327B2 Computer system and method for generating healthcare risk indices using medication compliance information
A healthcare risk index is generated using a patient or individual's pharmacy claims. The index may be used to explain and predict variation in pharmacy-related costs and variation in total healthcare costs or utilization. In particular, the index is generated by first examining the individual's pharmacy claims to identify any chronic conditions possessed by the individual. Similarly, the individual's pharmacy claims are examined to identify any compliance medications prescribed to the individual. The chronic condition information is used to generate a chronic condition score by summing regression coefficients for each chronic condition possessed by the individual. Likewise, the compliance medication information is used to generate a compliance medication score by summing products of regression coefficients for each compliance medication prescribed to the individual with associated medication supply weights. From there, a modified chronic condition score is generated by multiplying the chronic condition score by an overall chronic condition regression coefficient. The modified chronic condition score may then be further modified by subtracting a no-claims weight from the chronic condition score in cases where the individual has no pharmacy claims. Finally, the risk index may be determined by summing the modified chronic condition score and the compliance medication score.
US07725320B2 Internet based speech recognition system with dynamic grammars
A speech-enabled WWW based computing system allows a user to interact with content associated with a web page and select items of interest using speech as a mode of input. Dynamic grammars can assist in the recognition operations to improve speed and comprehension.
US07725318B2 System and method for improving the accuracy of audio searching
A system and method for improving the accuracy of audio searching using multiple models to process an audio file or stream to obtain search tracks. The search tracks are processed to locate at least one search term and generate multiple search results. The number of search results is equivalent to the number of models used to process the audio stream. The search results are combined to generate a unified search result. The multiple models may represent different languages, dialects and accents.
US07725316B2 Applying speech recognition adaptation in an automated speech recognition system of a telematics-equipped vehicle
A speech recognition adaptation method for a vehicle having a telematics unit with an embedded speech recognition system. Speech is received and pre-processed to generate acoustic feature vectors, and an adaptation parameter is applied to the acoustic feature vectors to yield transformed acoustic feature vectors. The transformed acoustic feature vectors are decoded and a hypothesis of the speech is selected, and the adaptation parameter is trained using acoustic feature vectors from the hypothesis. The method also includes one or more of the following steps: the speech is observed for a certain characteristic and the trained adaptation parameter is saved in accordance with the certain characteristic for use in transforming feature vectors of subsequent speech having the certain characteristic; use of the trained adaptation parameter persists from one vehicle ignition cycle to the next; and use of the trained adaptation parameter is ceased upon detection of a system fault.
US07725307B2 Query engine for processing voice based queries including semantic decoding
An intelligent query system for processing voiced-based queries is disclosed. This distributed client-server system, typically implemented on an intranet or over the Internet accepts a user's queries at his/her computer, PDA or workstation using a speech input interface. After converting the user's query from speech to text, a natural language engine, a database processor and a full-text SQL database is implemented to find a single answer that best matches the user's query. Both statistical and semantic decoding are used to assist and improve the performance of the query recognition.
US07725306B2 Efficient phrase pair extraction from bilingual word alignments
A method is provided for identifying phrase alignment pairs between a source sentence and a target sentence. Boundaries for a phrase in the source sentence are identified by requiring that a source word be aligned with at least one target word in a target sentence in order to form a boundary for the source phrase. Boundaries for a phrase in the target sentence are identified based on alignments between words in the source phrase and words in the target sentence. The words in the target phrase are examined to determine if any of the words are aligned with source words outside of the source phrase. If they are not aligned with source words outside of the source phrase, the source phrase and target phrase are determined to form an alignment pair and are stored as a phrase alignment pair.
US07725301B2 System and method for estimating multi-phase fluid rates in a subterranean well
Methods and systems for estimating multi-phase fluid rates in a subterranean well (10). Stored and measured static (40) and transient (44) well conditions are used to model well conditions for comparison against additional transient data (42) relating to temperature, pressure, and flow. Multi-phase fluid rates are estimated by iteratively comparing well conditions with the model (30) for the well (10). Multi-phase fluid flow estimates may be obtained for the various liquid and gaseous fluids in the well (10) at multiple well locations (24).
US07725290B2 Contour measuring method for measuring aspects of objects
An exemplary contour measuring method for measuring aspects of objects includes: (1) providing a measuring device including two contour measuring probes and a processor, the contour measuring probe having a tip extension and a displacement sensor used to sense a displacement of the tip extension, the processor being electrically connected to the displacement sensors; (2) driving two tip extensions to contact two opposite surfaces of an object respectively; (3) driving the two tip extensions to move and contacting the two opposite surfaces of the object respectively, while the displacement sensors sending the displacement information on the tip extensions to the processor; (4) computing a cross-section of the object by the processor according to the displacement information on the tip extensions; (5) repeating the step (3) and (4), the processor computing a plurality of cross-sections of the object, the cross-sections compiled to obtain aspects of object.
US07725286B2 Device and method for measuring the body temperature of a living being
A device for measuring the body temperature of a living being is provided with a sensor housing containing a first temperature sensor which can be placed on the skin of the body for detecting the skin temperature of the living being, a second temperature sensor arranged on a side of the first temperature sensor facing away from the skin of the body at a spaced location from the first temperature sensor for detecting a temperature. An analyzing unit is provided in which the body temperature is calculated according to a predetermined temperature formula containing a temperature difference based on temperatures measured by the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor. A compensation term expands the temperature formula. The compensation term depends on a change over time in the sensor temperature and such parameters that a temperature correction value can be determined for taking into account the heating of the sensor housing and/or of a space surrounded by the sensor housing by the contact between the sensor housing and the skin of the body.
US07725285B2 Method and apparatus for determining whether components are not present in a computer system
A system that determines whether components are not present in a computer system is presented. During operation the system receives telemetry signals from sensors within the computer system. Next, the system dynamically generates a temperature map for the computer system based on the telemetry signals. The system then analyzes the temperature map to determine whether components are not present in the computer system.
US07725275B2 Telematics-based method and system of battery parasitic load validation for a vehicle fleet
Parasitic loads on a vehicular battery are evaluated based on an estimated reduction in the state of charge of the battery over the course of an engine-off state.
US07725273B2 Apparatus for monitoring height of liquid in storage tank
An apparatus for monitoring a height of liquid in a liquid storage tank is provided, the apparatus includes a first rotatable element rotatable in response to a change of a liquid level in a liquid storage tank and including a first magnetic component having a first magnetic field, and a second rotatable element rotatable in response to the rotation of the first rotatable element and including a second magnetic component having a second magnetic field. The apparatus further includes a sensor assembly which includes a first sensor component located within range of the first magnetic field and structured to be effective in providing a first signal indicative of a position of the first magnetic component, and a second sensor component located within range of the second magnetic field and structured to be effective in providing a second signal indicative of a position of the second magnetic component. The apparatus further includes a data transmitter/microprocessor assembly in electronic communication with the sensor assembly and structured to be effective in receiving the first and second signals from the first and second sensor components, respectively, and processing said first and second signals into data representing a height of liquid in a liquid storage tank.
US07725266B2 System and method for 3D frequency domain waveform inversion based on 3D time-domain forward modeling
According to a first preferred aspect of the instant invention, there is provided an efficient method of computing a 3D frequency domain waveform inversion based on 3D time domain modeling. In the preferred arrangement, 3D frequency domain wavefields are computed using 3D time-domain modeling and a discrete Fourier transformation that is preferably computed “on the fly” instead of solving the large systems of linear equations that have traditionally been required by direct frequency domain modeling. The instant invention makes use of the theory of gradient-based waveform inversion that estimates model parameters (for example velocities) by matching modeled data to field data sets. Preferably the modeled data are calculated using a forward modeling algorithm.
US07725263B2 Gravity azimuth measurement at a non-rotating housing
Aspects of this invention include methods for surveying a subterranean borehole. In one exemplary aspect, a change in borehole azimuth between first and second longitudinally spaced gravity measurement sensors may be determined directly from gravity measurements made by the sensors and a measured angular position between the sensors. The gravity measurement sensors are typically disposed to rotate freely with respect to one another about a longitudinal axis of the borehole. Gravity MWD measurements in accordance with the present invention may be advantageously made without imposing any relative rotational constraints on first and second gravity sensor sets. The present invention also advantageously provides for downhole processing of the change in azimuth between the first and second gravity sensor sets. As such, Gravity MWD measurements in accordance with this invention may be advantageously utilized in closed-loop steering control methods.
US07725255B2 Vehicular display system and method
A vehicular display system includes an in-vehicle navigation device and a vehicular meter device. The in-vehicle navigation device includes a display device, a character string storing device, and a character string converting device. The character string storing device stores a navigation display character string that is to be displayed in the display device. The character string converting device converts the navigation display character string into a meter display character string. The vehicular meter device includes a navigation display area. The meter display character string is displayed in a navigation display area.
US07725252B2 Device and method for positioning and controlling railway vehicles with ultra-large bandwidth
A device and method for positioning and controlling railway vehicles. The device includes fixed stations (1) including first elements for transmitting/receiving (2) signals and a central control station (3) to which the fixed stations (1) are connected. Each railway vehicle (4) includes second elements for transmitting/receiving (6) signals. The signals transmitted by the first and second transmitting/receiving elements (2, 6) including an identifier specific to the transmitter and at least one message and consist in non-sinusoidal radio signals with very large bandwidth whose spectrum ranges between 1 and 10 GHz. Each railway vehicle (4) and each fixed station (1) include processing elements (8) for determining the identifier and the at least one message of each received signal. The central control station (3) sends command control instructions.
US07725244B2 Control apparatus and method for internal combustion engine
A control apparatus and method for an internal combustion engine are provided for ensuring a stable combustion state and improving the fuel efficiency when an air-fuel mixture is burnt with self ignition while auxiliarily using a spark ignition. The control apparatus for an internal combustion engine which is operated in a plurality of modes including a torch self ignition combustion mode comprises an ECU. In the torch self ignition combustion mode, the ECU controls an internal EGR amount, calculates an actual exhaust closing angle, calculates a target exhaust closing angle, calculates a closing angle deviation, calculates a fuel injection amount for forming a homogeneous air-fuel mixture, calculates a correction coefficient in accordance with the closing angle deviation, and corrects a basic value by the correction coefficient to calculate a fuel injection amount for forming a stratified air-fuel mixture.
US07725236B2 Maneuver based aircraft gas turbine engine speed control
A system and method for controlling the rotational speed of a gas turbine engine in an aircraft includes appropriate devices and processes for determining a pressure of lubricant supplied to the turbine engine, and for determining a maneuver state of the aircraft. The rotational speed of the gas turbine engine is controlled based at least partially on the determined pressure and the determined maneuver state. Thus, if the aircraft is in a maneuver state that may cause a reduction or loss of lubricant to the gas turbine engine, the rotational speed of the gas turbine engine can be reduced to a magnitude sufficient to increase turbomachine tolerance to the reduced or no lubricant flow.
US07725235B2 Slip-control method and device
A method for controlling the slip of a tire (1) of an automobile, said tire comprising a tread (3). The method comprises adjusting said slip using the measurement of a variable linked to the surface temperature (T2) of the tread in the contact area (2) of the tire.
US07725230B2 Method and computer system for operating at least two interconnected control units
A method and a computer system for operating at least two interconnected control units. The control units access sensor data and each execute at least one computer program for controlling operational sequences, in particular in a vehicle. The control units exchange synchronization information with one another. In order to design and refine a computer system in a way that will enable even especially complex operational sequences, as required in a modern motor vehicle, for example, to be controlled and/or regulated simply and cost-effectively with the aid of the computer system, using conventional control units, the control units execute the same computer program time-synchronously using a settable time lag.
US07725228B2 Method and system for assisting a driver of a vehicle operating a vehicle traveling on a road
A system and method for assisting a driver operating a vehicle traveling on a road includes a reaction force device configured to determine a first reaction force value and a second reaction force value, a weighting device configured to weight the second reaction force value, a reaction force selection device configured to select one of the first and weighed second reaction force values, a driver controlled input device manually operable by the driver, and an actuator coupled to the driver controlled input device and configured to transmit the selected one of the first and weighed second force values to the driver by a reaction force input via the driver controlled input device.
US07725224B2 Method and device for detecting oscillatory failures in a position servocontrol subsystem of an aircraft control surface
A method and device for detecting oscillatory failures in a position servocontrol subsystem of an aircraft control surface. The detection device includes a estimation unit for estimating, using a control surface control instruction, a theoretical position corresponding to a reference position of the control surface, a computing unit for computing the difference between this theoretical position and an actual position measured by a sensor so as to form a residual value, and a comparison unit for comparing this residual value to a threshold value and making a count of the overshoots of this threshold value in order to detect an oscillatory failure.
US07725223B2 Control arrangement for a propulsion unit for a self-propelled floor care appliance
A self propelled upright vacuum cleaner is provided with a Hall effect sensor to provide a Hall voltage that varies according to the position of a handgrip maintained by the vacuum cleaner. A microprocessor generates a PWM control signal to control the movement of the vacuum based on the magnitude of the Hall voltage with respect to various response characteristics, including a non-linear logistic function. As such, the vacuum cleaner imparts a user-friendly responsiveness to the user during the operation of the vacuum cleaner.
US07725222B2 Control device and control method of hybrid vehicle
A control device of a hybrid vehicle including a motive power distribution mechanism that distributes output of an engine to a first motor-generator and to an output shaft, a second motor-generator that outputs power to the output shaft via a stepped type transmission, and an electricity storage device, and a control method. In an activating operation of the vehicle, a friction engagement device is engaged, and a ready-to-run state is set based on the engagement oil pressure of the friction engagement device detected. It is determined whether the vehicle is in a motor or a non-motor run region. If the vehicle is in the non-motor run region, the original pressure of the friction engagement device is set at a non-working pressure at which a hydraulic switch does not operate, as the engine is started up. After complete explosion of the engine, the original pressure is set at a working pressure at which the switch operates.
US07725220B2 Adaptive filtering for altimeters
A method of processing altitude measurements for an aircraft is disclosed. The method involves filtering raw altimeter data within an altimeter to substantially limit random variations in the altitude measurements for one or more altimeter measurement profiles.
US07725217B2 Ammunition loading vehicle and method
A motorized hydraulically-operated and driven aircraft loading vehicle is particularly suited for the loading of bombs, which are raised by a pair of hydraulically-operated arms. Vehicle has two selectable operation modes. A first, working mode provides four-wheel hydraulic steering and enables vehicle to be driven at a small turning radius, and at a speed of up to 10 km/h. A second, traveling mode automatically locks the rear wheel steering system allowing vehicle to be driven at a speed of up to 20 km/h, all being computer controlled.Safety devices include an emergency stop switch and a no-driver no-actuation switch, and devices preventing accidents if hydraulic power is lost.
US07725211B2 Control system and a control method for injection molding machines
A control system for injection molding machines comprises a memory means (16) for storing set values. Further, a signal input for the transmission of actual values to the control system is provided. A first control means (18) is used for the transmission of a control field with consideration to previous values. A second control means (20) is provided for the transmission of a correction value, in particular with consideration to a deviation of the actual value from the set value. A correlation means (22) serves to correlate the control field values with the correction value for outputting a control variable.
US07725210B2 Method of processing turbine components
A method of removing unwanted coating material from cooling passages of a turbine component includes determining coordinates of the position and orientation of cooling passages at the surface of the turbine component and determining reference points in the region of the cooling passages. After coating of the turbine component, the reference points are measured once again and the thickness of the coating is calculated. In a basic processing program, the data for the position, passage orientation and coating thicknesses and also CAD data for the cooling passages are interlinked and a laser processing program is automatically adapted for each individual cooling passage. Using the laser processing program, a pulsed laser is guided over disk-shaped volume segments of the unwanted coating material and the material is removed in the process.
US07725207B1 Systems for allocating multi-function resources in a process system and methods of operating the same
There are disclosed systems, as well as methods of operation, for allocating multi-function resources among a plurality of tasks within a process system. An exemplary resource allocator is introduced that allocates multi-function resources among tasks within a process system capable of executing at least one application process. The resource allocator comprises a monitoring controller, model of the process system and a resource allocation controller. The monitoring controller monitors measurable characteristics associated with the executing application process, multi-function resources and tasks, each of the measurable characteristics being one of a status characteristic and a logistical characteristic. The model represents mathematically the multi-function resources and the tasks, and defines relationships among related ones thereof as a function of the application process. The resource allocation controller operates the model in response to the monitored measurable characteristics and allocates ones of the multi-function resources among ones of the tasks within the process system to efficiently execute the at least one application process.
US07725204B2 Player and playing method and program
A player includes a playing section configured to play contents data based on a list selected from multiple lists each having multiple pieces of contents data, and a play control section configured to: cause the playing section to play contents data based on a first list selected from the multiple lists, determine whether all of contents data on the first list have been played by the playing section or not, extract attribute information of contents data, which satisfies a predetermined condition, from the first list based on the determination result, select a second list, which is not the first list, including contents data corresponding to the extracted attribute information from the multiple lists, and control the playing section to automatically start playing the contents data on the selected second list.
US07725196B2 Corpus callosum neuromodulation assembly
Neuromodulation assemblies with lead bodies having curvatures that mimic the curvatures of the splenium, trunk, genu, or rostrum of the corpus callosum. Methods of stimulating the corpus callosum and methods of securing an electrical lead in the brain are also provided.
US07725194B2 Telemetry-based wake up of an implantable medical device
A method for telemetry between an implantable medical device and an external programming component is disclosed. The telemetry circuitry of the implantable device is initially powered on for only a portion of the time needed to receive the entirety of a wake-up signal from the external component. During that time, only a first portion of the wake-up signal as received form the external component is checked against the implantable device's understanding of that first portion as stored in its memory. If the implantable device does not recognize the received first portion, powering on of the telemetry circuitry is terminated. However, if that first portion is recognized, then the implantable device continues to power on the telemetry circuitry to receive another (second) portion of the wake-up signal. If that received second portion is recognized, then the telemetry circuitry is further powered to receive a next (third) portion of the wake-up signal from the external component, etc., until the entirety of the wake-up signal is recognized by the implantable device as having been received.
US07725179B2 Catheter, in particular for insertion of heart-pacemaker-or ICD-electrodes into a patient'body
A catheter, in particular for insertion of heart-pacemaker- or ICD-electrodes into a patient's body, comprises a catheter wall and a reinforcement therein for stabilization of the catheter. The reinforcement is a profile element which is adjusted to the desired mechanical properties of the catheter in the axial and peripheral direction thereof.
US07725178B2 Method and system for the prediction of cardiac arrhythmias, myocardial ischemia, and other diseased condition of the heart associated with elevated sympathetic neural discharges
Methods and systems are provided for determining an increased likelihood of the occurrence of a cardiac arrhythmia, myocardial ischemia, congestive heart failure and other diseased conditions of the heart associated with elevated sympathetic neural discharges in a patient. The methods and systems comprise monitoring the sympathetic neural discharges of a patient from the stellate ganglia, the thoracic ganglia, or both, and detecting increases in the sympathetic neural discharges. The methods and systems may further comprise delivering therapy to the patient in response to a detected increase in the sympathetic neural discharge, such as delivering one or more pharmacological agents; stimulating myocardial hyperinnervation in the sinus node and right ventricle of the heart of the patient; and applying cardiac pacing, cardioversion or defibrillation shocks. Pharmacologic agents which may be used in connection with the delivery of include those which are known to exert anti-arrhythmic effect and anti-convulsant agents, such as phenytoin, carbamazepine, valproate, and phenobarbitone. Other pharmacologic agents may be used to treat impending myocardial ischemia and other diseased conditions of the heart associated with elevated sympathetic neural discharges.
US07725177B2 Filtered feedthrough assemblies for implantable medical devices and methods of manufacture
A feedthrough assembly for an implantable medical device includes an insulator element hermitically sealed to a ferrule and a feedthrough member, and a capacitive element spaced apart from the insulator element within the ferrule and coupled to the feedthrough member by a conductive material; the conductive material extends in an area between the capacitive element and the feedthrough member. The assembly further includes a heat and pressure deformed thermoplastic adhesive member that extends around the feedthrough member within the ferrule, is located between the capacitive element and the insulator element, and is sealed to an external surface of the capacitive element in order to isolate the conductive material.
US07725173B2 Measurement of responsiveness of a subject with lowered level of consciousness
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring the responsiveness of a subject with lowered level of consciousness. Physiological signal data is obtained from the subject and a first measure indicative of the level of consciousness of the subject is derived from the physiological signal data. In order to obtain an objective measure of the responsiveness of the subject and to improve the specificity of patient monitoring, a sequence of the first measure is recorded without inducing arousals in the subject and a second measure indicative of a responsiveness of the subject is determined based on the recorded sequence. The determination of the second measure may be independent of the unintentional stimuli that cause arousals in the patient or the stimuli causing such arousals in the clinical environment may be detected to find out their effect on the first measure.
US07725171B1 System and method for tracking ST shift data utilizing histograms
A method and system are provided for tracking ST shift data. The system includes an implantable medical device having an input configured to receive cardiac signals. Each cardiac signal has an associated heart rate and includes a segment of interest. The implantable medical device further includes a processor configured to determine segment variations of the segment of interest in the cardiac signals. The processor determines a heart rate associated with each of the segment variations with each heart rate falling within a corresponding heart rate range. The implantable medical device also includes a memory configured to store a group of histograms for a corresponding group of heart rate ranges. The histograms store distributions for the segment variations within corresponding heart rate ranges.
US07725167B2 Microwave imaging assisted ultrasonically
Disclosed is an apparatus and methodology for imaging objects, more particularly radiologically dense objects. The currently disclosed technology has particular applicability in the medical field as a tool and methodology for investigation of radiologically dense breast tissue of young patients by using microwave energy in concert with an ultrasonic initial investigation of the tissue. The use of an ultrasonic initial investigation operates as an initial evaluation point for the subsequent microwave investigation.
US07725164B2 Optimal view map v.0.01
A method is disclosed which allows for optimally viewing a portion of a patient vascular system to facilitate at least one of diagnosis and treatment the vascular system. The method includes acquiring a model of said vascular system based on image data generated by an imaging device, identifying a portion of interest of the vascular system including determining a central vessel axis for a vessel of interest, generating a foreshortening map of the portion of interest based on viewing angle of the imaging device position, with respect to the patient, generating an overlap map to determine an amount of overlap present for particular viewing angles based on imaging device position, and generating a feasibility map to model dimensions of the patient based on patient characteristics, imaging device configuration, foreshortening and overlap.
US07725161B2 Active MRI intramyocardial injeciton catheter with a deflectable distal section
A deflectable tip catheter that is safe and effective for use in a magnetic resonance imaging environment. The deflectable tip catheter is configured such that it includes a built-in antenna, such as a loopless antenna or a loop antenna. The built-in antenna permits the deflectable tip catheter to be actively tracked and/or visualized. Depending upon the specific configuration of the deflectable tip catheter, the catheter may be tracked and/or visualized as a single unit, it may be tracked and/or visualized separate and independent of other components or instruments associated with the catheter, such as pull wires, injection needles, surgical instruments, and the like. The catheters described herein include injection type catheters and/or guidance type catheters.
US07725153B2 Estimating visceral fat by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry
A system and a method of using dual-energy absoptiometry to estimate visceral fat metrics and display results, preferably as related to normative data. The process involves deriving x-ray measurements for respective pixel positions related to a two-dimensional projection image of a body slice containing visceral fat as well as subcutaneous fat; at least some of the measurements being dual-energy x-ray measurements, processing the measurements to derive estimates of metrics related to the visceral fat in the slice; and using the resulting estimates.
US07725150B2 System and method for extracting physiological data using ultra-wideband radar and improved signal processing techniques
Disclosed is a variant of ultra-wide band (UWB) radar known as micropower impulse radar (MIR) combined with advanced signal processing techniques to provide a new type of medical imaging technology including frequency spectrum analysis and modern statistical filtering techniques to search for, acquire, track, or interrogate physiological data. Range gate settings are controlled to depths of interest within a patient and those settings are dynamically adjusted to optimize the physiological signals desired.
US07725149B2 Devices, methods, and kits for non-invasive glucose measurement
Described are devices, methods, and kits for non-invasively measuring glucose. In general, the devices comprise skin patches for placement on a skin surface and measurement devices for measuring glucose collected in the patches. The patches may include an adhesive material, a collection layer, an interface layer, and a sweat-permeable membrane. The sweat-permeable membrane is configured to act as a barrier to epidermal contaminants and glucose brought to the skin surface via diffusion. In this way, non-correlatable skin surface glucose will not be measured. The patches may further include components to induce a local sweat response. The measurement device typically includes a display, a processor, and a measurement mechanism. The methods typically include the steps of wiping the skin surface with a wipe containing at least one solvent for removing glucose, placing a patch on a skin surface, and measuring glucose collected in the patch. Kits comprising the patch and measurement device are also described.
US07725146B2 System and method for pre-processing waveforms
A technique is provided for processing a physiological signal. The technique includes performing one or more multi-resolution decompositions on a physiological signal and one or more morphological operations on some or all of the respective decomposition components. In one embodiment, the technique is implemented as iteratively wavelet transformations where morphological operations, such as erosions and dilations, are applied to modify some or all of the respective wavelet coefficients. The modified wavelet coefficients may then be reconstructed to generate a clean version of the physiological signal from which some or all of the noise and/or artifacts have been removed.
US07725138B2 Apparatus for control of in-battery module
An apparatus (100) is provided for powering an in-battery electronic application module (118) without the use of an external on/off switch. A battery pack (102) is electrically coupled to a radio (104) via three interface contacts: power (108), ground (112) and single-wire serial data port (110). Circuitry is included within the battery pack (102) to sense and monitor data activity on the single-wire serial data port (110) generated as the radio (104) is turned on. Based on the level and timing (200) of the data activity present on the single-wire serial port (110), the electronic application module (118) can automatically be turned on (208), remain on (210) and turned off (212).
US07725134B2 Apparatus and method for processing alert message of mobile communication terminal
A mobile terminal and an apparatus and method for processing an alert message of a mobile communication terminal, are discussed. The apparatus includes at least one module for generating at least one alert message and outputting the generated alert message, and a controller for selectively displaying the outputted alert message on a second display unit according to a type of a task being executed on a first display unit.
US07725130B2 Printing content using a mobile device
A mobile telecommunications device for printing bill data on a print medium is disclosed. The mobile telecommunications device includes a sensor module for sensing data encoded on a surface of the print medium. A print media identifier is determined from the sensed data and bill data associated with the print media identifier is retrieved from a storage medium. A printer module is also provided for printing the bill data on the print medium.
US07725126B2 Hybrid communications link
A hybrid communications link includes a slow, reliable communications link and a fast unreliable communications link. Communication via the hybrid communications link selectively uses both the slow, reliable communications link and the fast, unreliable communications link.
US07725122B1 Method and system for controlling sector switching
A method and system for controlling switching of an access terminals between wireless coverage areas such as cell sectors. A measure of actual level of service, such as throughput, provided to the access terminal across the combination of wireless coverage areas over time is determined. Further, for each wireless coverage area, a measure of predicted level of service, such as throughput, that would likely be provided to the access terminal if it operated in just that wireless coverage area is determined. If the actual level of service is greater than each predicted level of service, then the access terminal is allowed to continue switching between wireless coverage areas. On the other hand, if at least one of the predicted levels of service is greater than the actual level of service, then the access terminal is restricted to the wireless coverage area where the level of service is deemed greater.
US07725120B2 Mobile station in wireless communication system and method of controlling signal-transmission power in wireless communication system
A mobile station in a CDMA wireless communication system, includes a receiver which receives power-control data by which power for transmitting a wireless signal is controlled, from a plurality of base stations during soft handover, a judging unit which judges tendency in accordance with which the power-control data varies, in accordance with predetermined standard, and a masking unit which masks the power-control data, based on the results transmitted from the judging unit.
US07725115B2 Paging operation for idle mode terminals with a plurality of wireless interfaces
Embodiments of the present invention provide paging operations for idle mode terminals with a plurality of wireless interfaces. In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes selecting, by a paging controller, a radio for a paging operation, the radio being included on a mobile station comprising at least two radios. The method also includes performing, by the paging controller, at least one paging operation for at least one of the at least two radios, wherein if only one paging operation is performed for only one radio, the selected radio and the radio for which the one paging operation is performed are different radios. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US07725110B2 Dynamically managing and reconfiguring wireless mesh networks
A wireless network with multiple subscriber systems in a lobe pool may operate by determining a state of the wireless network, identifying a new condition, the new condition including a new demand condition or a new network health condition, determining whether the new condition has a threshold impact on operations of the wireless network or component subscriber systems of the wireless network, and if the threshold impact exists, reconfiguring the wireless network to accommodate the new condition.
US07725095B2 RF circuit with stacked printed circuit boards
An RF unit comprises a tuner, a demodulator and a mixer. At least the tuner and the mixer are disposed on separate first and second substrates. The RF unit further comprises a housing accommodating the first and second substrates. The first substrate and the second substrate are arranged on different levels inside the housing and maintain a predetermined distance between each other.
US07725093B2 Method and apparatus for a power-efficient framework to maintain data synchronization of a mobile personal computer to simulate a connected scenario
An apparatus and method for a power-efficient framework to maintain data synchronization of a mobile personal computer (MPC) are described. In one embodiment, the method includes the detection of a data synchronization wakeup event while the MPC is operating according to a sleep state. Subsequent to wakeup event, at least one system resource is disabled to provide a minimum number of system resources required to re-establish a network connection. In one embodiment, user data from a network server is synchronized on the MPC without user intervention; the mobile platform system resumes operation according to the sleep state. In one embodiment, a wakeup alarm is programmed according to a user history profile regarding received e-mails. In a further embodiment, data synchronizing involves disabling a display, and throttling the system processor to operate at a reduced frequency.
US07725090B2 Method and apparatus for automatic frequency correction
A technique is provided for automatic frequency offset correction in a wireless communication system. After demodulating and decoding a received signal in a receiver, channel estimation is also performed. The technique further includes re-encoding and re-modulating the decoded and demodulated signal with a coding and modulation scheme different from the received signal. The signal is reconstructed signal on the basis of the re-encoded and re-modulated signal and estimated channel characteristics. A frequency error is estimated based on the reconstructed signal and the original received signal. A threshold for a comparator is determined on the basis of the estimated offset amount determined by the comparison threshold and the estimated frequency offset.
US07725089B2 System and method for human body communication
A human body communication system. The human body communication system includes a controlled device measuring a capacitance that corresponds to the distance to a human body, and transmitting information on the measured capacitance through a wireless medium; and a control device receiving the information, and then, based on the information, determining a transmission power and, with the determined transmission power, transmitting a control command of a user to the controlled device using the human body as a medium.
US07725082B2 Radio communication apparatus, radio communication method, antenna apparatus and first duplexer
Radio communication apparatus comprising an antenna, a transmitting circuit of outputting a transmitting signal in a first frequency band. A duplexer connected to the antenna and having a single-phase input terminal and a balanced output terminal, conveying the transmitting signal inputted to the single-phase input terminal to the antenna. The duplexer outputs a receiving signal in a second frequency band different from the first frequency band received from the antenna substantially as a differential signal from the balanced output terminal. A receiving circuit connected to the balanced output terminal and having a circuit in which a gain of a signal of a differential component is higher than that of a signal of an in-phase component, or a loss of the signal of the differential component is lower than that of the signal of the in-phase component.
US07725070B2 Waste toner collecting device and image forming apparatus loaded therewith
A waste toner collecting device includes: a waste toner collecting bag being stretchable; a toner conveyance part fitted with the waste toner collecting bag, and conveying a waste toner and also discharging the waste toner toward the waste toner collecting bag; and a holding member for the waste toner collecting bag, which holding member is attached to a terminal end part of the waste toner collecting bag, is capable of being fitted to the toner conveyance part by holding the waste toner collecting bag between the holding member and the toner conveyance part while folding the waste toner collecting bag more compactly than in a used state, and is attachable to and removable from the toner conveyance part.
US07725065B2 Fixing device, and image forming device
The invention provides a fixing device comprising a first rotary body having a thermosensitive magnetic metal layer, the thermosensitive magnetic metal layer including a thermosensitive magnetic metal material having a Curie point, a second rotary body contacting the first rotary body, and a magnetic field generating unit for generating a magnetic field, the unit being arranged to have a predetermined interval with respect to the inner circumferential face or the outer circumferential face of the first rotary body.
US07725051B2 Cartridge, image forming apparatus, and method for mounting and dismounting the cartridge in and from a main body of the image forming apparatus
A process cartridge, an image forming apparatus having the cartridge, and a method for mounting and dismounting the process cartridge in and from an image forming apparatus body are provided. The process cartridge includes at least one photosensitive body on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and a developing member for developing the electrostatic latent image, and a housing receiving and supporting at least one photosensitive body and the developing member. The housing includes first and second guide outwardly extending protrusions on a first surface and a second opposite surface of the housing in order to position the process cartridge in the image forming apparatus body, and a mount and dismount supporting part formed on a third surface to rotate the housing to mount and dismount the process cartridge from the image forming apparatus body.
US07725047B2 Fixing apparatus and image forming apparatus provided therewith, computer-readable medium storing a control program for the fixing apparatus, and a contact method for an external heating member in the fixing apparatus
A fixing apparatus including: a fixing roller, pressed against a printing paper at a fixing nip area, for fixing toner on the printing paper, and transporting the printing paper by undergoing rotation; an external heating section for heating a surface of the fixing roller by being brought into contact therewith; a release/contact operating section for causing the external heating section to be brought into contact with or separated from the fixing roller; and a cleaning section for cleaning the surface of the fixing roller. The release/contact operating section brings the external heating section into contact with the fixing roller at such a timing that a portion of fixing roller initially in contact with the external heating section does not make contact with the printing paper at the fixing nip area in one rotation of the fixing roller.
US07725044B2 Image forming apparatus for determining licensed or unlicensed products and method of controlling the same
An image forming apparatus and a method of controlling the same are provided. The image forming apparatus includes a device information storage unit, a determiner and a controller. The device information storage unit is included in a replaceable device of the image forming apparatus and stores device-related information. The determiner determines whether the replaceable deice is a licensed or recycled product by analyzing the information stored in the device information storage unit, and outputs the determination result. The controller controls an operation of the image forming apparatus in response to the determination result output from the determiner. Since an operation of the image forming apparatus can be controlled according to characteristics of the replaceable device installed in the image forming apparatus, printing quality can be prevented from being deteriorated, durability of the image forming apparatus can be lengthened, and a user can safely use the image forming apparatus.
US07725042B2 Automated optical transport system
An automated optical transport system is provided which provides for automatic discovery of system components, automatic inventory of system components, automatic topology detection, automatic provisioning of channels, and automatic characterization and tuning of system components and fiber. The invention provides automation capability through inclusion of management card capabilities at each station which communicates through a reverse propagating service channel. Dynamic and propagation direction independent segments are provided in conjunction with a token-based scheme to repeatedly tune, update and monitor the transport system.
US07725037B2 Optical switch based on parametric interaction
A method and apparatus for switching at least one wavelength component of an optical signal beam from a first state to a second state. The phase characterizing the optical signal component is incremented by interaction with one or more escort beams in a non-linear medium thereby switching the state of the optical signal component on the basis of its incremented phase. Multiple escort beams may also be employed to switch different wavelength components of the signal. The method may be employed to achieve high speed, and substantially transparent, switching of phase, intensity or polarization of a signal.
US07725035B2 Method and system for managing network traffic
A method for managing network traffic includes provisioning an internet protocol (IP) network for communicating traffic. The IP network comprises a plurality of nodes coupled by IP links. The method includes monitoring the IP network for a congestion event and, upon detecting a congestion event, selecting a label switched path (LSP) of the IP network for reroute. The method includes computing a hybrid path route for the selected LSP between a first node and a second node of the plurality of nodes. The hybrid path route comprises at least one lightpath of a wavelength division multiplex (WDM) topology coupled to the IP network. The method also includes determining whether performance of the hybrid path route for the selected LSP reduces costs and, if the hybrid path route reduces costs, activating a new IP link on each of the at least one lightpaths of the WDM topology and rerouting the selected LSP according to the hybrid path route.
US07725031B2 Passive optical network system and ranging system thereof
A station-side communication device connected to subscriber-side communication devices via an optical combining device; sending, to the subscriber-side communication devices, a distance measurement request signal; computing transmission delay times of optical signals from the individual subscriber-side communication devices by receiving distance measurement signals, and including: a threshold control part identifying the level of distance measurement signals; a signal detection part detecting breaks in the distance measurement signals from the threshold control part; a transmission granting part determining the timing at which transmission of optical signals is granted, and a reset timing generation part that, there is notification of detection of a break in the distance measurement signal from the signal detection part while it is being notified that distance measurement is carried out to and from the subscriber-side communication devices from the transmission granting part, sends a reset signal indicating that the voltage level is reset to the threshold control part.
US07725024B2 Optimizing use and performance of optical systems implemented with telecentric on-axis dark field illumination
Systems and methods are provided for imaging a planar specular object such as a semiconductor wafer. In one embodiment, an imaging system for imaging a defect on a planar specular object includes a telecentric lens having a sufficiently aspherical surface such that the telecentric lens is substantially corrected for an optical aberration. The imaging system also includes a telecentric stop including an aperture therein to block light reflected from the planar specular object while allowing light reflected from the defect to pass through the aperture. The imaging system further includes a lens group having a system stop positioned between the telecentric stop and the lens group. The lens group is substantially corrected for the optical aberration independent of the telecentric lens.
US07725023B2 Electronic device, photographing control method, and recording medium
An electronic device, such as mobile terminal devices, with a photographing function, and in the case where a photographing target is a person, enhances its function for protecting the photographing target from being photographed without consent by such as spy shots. This can be realized by an electronic device with a photographing function comprising a target judging part for judging whether the photographing target is a person or not; a photographing inquiry part for issuing an inquiry information for approval/disapproval of the photographing based on the judgment result of the target judging part if the target is a person and making an inquiry for the target about whether the photographing is approved or not with the inquiry information; a response information acquisition part (for acquiring a response information issued from the target; and a photographing control part for outputting in response to the inquiry information either a photographing approval information representing an approval of photographing the target or a photographing prohibition information representing a ban of photographing the target, based on the response information the response information acquisition part has acquired.
US07725013B2 Electronic endoscope with brightness adjustment function
An electronic endoscope has a video-scope with an image sensor, a light source that emits illuminating-light to illuminate an object, an image sensor driver, a luminance detector, one rotary shutter, and a brightness adjuster. The luminance detector detects a luminance of an object image on the basis of image-pixel signals read from the image sensor. The rotary shutter has a light-transmitting portion that transmits the illuminating light, and a shield portion that blocks the illuminating light. The brightness adjuster controls the rotary shutter to adjust an irradiation-interval of the illuminating-light in accordance with a charge accumulation interval. The brightness adjuster shifts a rotation-phase of the rotary shutter by changing a rotation-speed on the basis of the detected luminance, so as to maintain a brightness of the object image at a proper brightness.
US07725012B2 Movable radiant heat sources
A semiconductor processing apparatus including a processing chamber and a plurality of radiant heat sources. The radiant heat sources heat a workpiece within the chamber. At least one of the radiant heat sources is movable during processing in an oscillatory motion along a path less than about 10 mm from a geometric center of the oscillatory motion.
US07724997B2 Waveguide element, method for producing the waveguide element, and optical sensor
A waveguide element 21 including a photonic crystal waveguide including a core 4 that is constituted by a photonic crystal having a refractive index periodicity at least in one direction, and that propagates an electromagnetic wave in a direction in which the photonic crystal does not have the refractive index periodicity. At least one of materials forming the core 4 constituted by the photonic crystal, and at least a portion of a cladding in contact with a side face of the core 4 are constituted by a fluid 6. Thus, it is possible to provide a waveguide element that can be used as a light control element, can be produced easily and also can be applied to an optical sensor.
US07724996B2 Two-channel multimode rotary joint
An optical two-channel rotary joint that is also suitable for coupling of single-mode fibers comprises two housing parts that are rotatable relative to each other. Each of these housing parts accommodates a light-waveguide for supplying light and a light-waveguide for withdrawing light. The arrangement has two optical paths adapted to operate in opposite directions, with each light-waveguide for supplying light being coupled with a light-waveguide for withdrawing light. Furthermore, one focuser is disposed on each of the light-waveguides for supplying light, which focuses the light of the light-waveguide for supplying light onto the corresponding light-waveguide for withdrawing light.
US07724994B1 Digitally controlled optical tapped time delay modules and arrays
An optical time delay module has a plurality of time delay elements connected in a series and a plurality an optical output couplers wherein each of said optical output couplers is operationally connected between one or more time delay elements in said series, the optical output couplers providing a plurality of optical outputs from said module with different optical delays controlled by a digital control word.
US07724993B2 MEMS switches with deforming membranes
MEMS switches are formed with membranes or layers that are deformable upon the application of a voltage. In some embodiments, the application of a voltage opens switch contacts.
US07724988B2 Opto-electronic board
An opto-electronic board including a printed wiring board with an optical waveguide, a metallic area, and a hole, wherein an abutting face of the optical waveguide and an abutting face of the metallic area form a part of the side face of the hole. The opto-electronic board further comprises an opto-electronic circuit with a bonding pad, wherein the opto-electronic circuit is arranged in the hole and soldered with its bonding pad to the abutting face of the metallic area.
US07724987B2 Method and apparatus for dynamic polarization control
A dynamic polarization controller (“DPC”) that and method of dynamic polarization control useful in optical networks is disclosed. The DPC of the present invention has a polymeric optical waveguide formed on a substrate, such as a silicon wafer. An intermediate portion of the waveguide is suspended over a cavity, and a deflecting structure, such as an electrodes, is provided for controllably exerting a force on the suspended portion of the waveguide. Exerting a deflecting force on the suspended portion of the waveguide induces controllable birefringence in the waveguide core and, thereby allows dynamic control over the polarization properties of light passing through the DPC. An array of DPC's of the present invention can be formed on a single substrate and used in an optical network, for example a WDM system whereby plural light signals traveling through a single optical fiber are demultiplexed for processing. A plurality of the DPC may be formed in series on a substrate to increase the degree of polarization control. The DPC's of the present invention may be combined with differential group delay (“DGD”) compensators to dynamically compensate for polarization mode dispersion (“PMD”) of optical signals. The DPC's of the present invention can operate in millisecond time-frames, thereby providing real time PMD compensation.
US07724982B2 Estimation of lighting conditions based on near-gray pixel detection using cylindrical boundaries
This disclosure describes image processing techniques that facilitate the determination of the lighting condition associated with an image. Once the lighting condition is determined, white balance can be performed on the image such as by applying white balance gains defined for the lighting condition. According to the techniques of this disclosure, gray point lines are defined and plotted for the different lighting conditions, and cylindrical bounding volumes are defined around the gray point lines, e.g., in a three-dimensional color space. The image is then analyzed with respect to each of the cylindrical bounding volumes to determine how many pixels of the image fall within the respective cylindrical bounding volumes formed around the gray point lines for the different lighting conditions. Based on this analysis, the actual lighting condition can be determined. The use of cylindrical bounding volumes can significantly improve the process of determining lighting conditions relative to conventional techniques.
US07724978B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method and image processing program
According to the image processing apparatus, method and program of the present invention, images to be used can be automatically selected from inputted images for the number of images designated by a user. Moreover, a user can easily manually add an image to be used so that the number of images to be used is equal to or less than the number previously designated by the user.
US07724975B2 Design techniques and their circuit designs for versatile and scalable video coding
Design techniques and their circuit designs for versatile and scalable video coding are proposed, in which the inner product operation in the transform coding expression is taken apart into a series of add and shift operations, and the expression is partitioned into several sub-expressions. Taking each order of the add-and-shift series as a clock period, several adders/subtractors and a shift accumulator are used to carry out corresponding additions/subtractions and shift operations to finish the inner product operations. The calculating result is accumulated until all the orders are finished. The final accumulated value is the output of the transform coding. Data throughput rate can thus be enhanced to save the power consumption of the circuit system. Moreover, a dynamic guarded computation method and a switching power suppression technique are provided to further lower the power consumption.
US07724973B2 Methods and apparatuses for processing data representing a visual frame
The methods and apparatuses detect a plurality of pixels within a frame; separate a portion of the plurality of pixels into a lossless category based on inclusion of the portion of the plurality of pixels within a color list; and identify a particular pixel as an isolated pixel through a single point identification module wherein the particular pixel is within the portion of the plurality of pixels.
US07724967B2 Recording medium having recorded thereon coded information using plus and/or minus rounding of images
A recording medium having recorded thereon information related to coded data of an image sequence; wherein the information related to coded data of an image sequence is a set of coded frame information of a plurality of frames of an image sequence; wherein the coded frame information includes: information related to a difference image between an image of a current frame and a prediction image of the current frame, the prediction image being synthesized by performing motion compensation, information related to motion vectors estimated in performing the motion compensation, and rounding method information specifying either a positive rounding method or a negative rounding method for interpolating intensity values of pixels in performing the motion compensation when the input image is coded as a P frame, wherein no rounding method information is included in the coded frame information when the input image is coded as an I frame.
US07724942B2 Optical aberration correction for machine vision inspection systems
A high-accuracy optical aberration correction system and method. Z-heights determined by an auto-focus tool, which would otherwise vary depending on the orientation angle of surface features or edges in the focus region of interest, and on the location of the focus region of interest in the field of view, are corrected based on a novel error calibration method. Error calibration data includes a set of Z-corrections for a range of different feature orientation angles (e.g., 180 degrees), for multiple locations in the field of view. Error calibration data may be interpolated to correspond to the location of the current focus region of interest. During auto-focus measurements, a Z-correction may be adapted for a current measurement by weighting orientation-dependent error calibration data based on a histogram of the gradient (edge) directions present in the current focus region of interest.
US07724940B2 Method of accurately determining similarity between target image and reference image
Provided is a method of determining a similarity between a target image and a reference image. The method includes (a) obtaining related approximation pixel-values of the reference image pt having overall relationship between coordinates (x, y) and original pixel-values ft of pixels of the reference image; (b) obtaining related approximation pixel-values of the target image ps having overall relationship between coordinates (x, y) and original pixel-values fs of pixels of the target image; and (c) determining the similarity using the target related approximation pixel-values ps and the reference related approximation pixel-values pt.
US07724938B2 System and method for intelligent currency validation
Currency is validated by comparing identifying information extracted from the currency, such as a serial number associated with the currency, to identifying information in a list corresponding to invalid currency, such as counterfeit currency. If the extracted identifying information matches identifying information on the list, the currency is deemed invalid. A photograph or thumbprint image can be obtained by a person using the invalid currency to help in later identification of that individual. Optical character recognition techniques can be used to extract the identifying information.
US07724936B2 Image generation apparatus and image generation method for detecting abnormalities
An artificial image used for comparison with a medical image can be generated efficiently and accurately. A medical image including anatomically characteristic structures obtained by radiography of a predetermined part of a subject such as a human body is classified into segments having similar anatomic characteristics represented by the structures. The artificial image is generated for a specified one of the segments regarding the structures in normality.
US07724930B2 Systems and methods for automatic change quantification for medical decision support
A method of automatic change quantification for medical decision support includes: automatically detecting a structure in a set of medical images; characterizing the detected structure including modeling of deformation characteristics of the detected structure; matching images based on the characterization of the detected structure, wherein a size measure of the detected structure is constrained according to the deformation characteristics; and quantifying a change in the detected structure.
US07724925B2 System for generating thermographic images using thermographic signal reconstruction
A method for compiling thermographic data including obtaining data indicative of a monotonically changing characteristic of a specimen, sequencing the data or a surrogate of the data into a plurality of groups, categorizing, within each group, the frequency distribution of an attribute of the data or an attribute of said surrogate data, and compiling, from one or more groups, a collection of two or more of the frequency distributions.
US07724924B2 Person identification control method and system for implementing same
The invention relates to a person identification control method and to a system for implementing same. The inventive method comprises the following steps consisting in: detecting biometric data (23, 48, 79, 94, 108) relating to at least one person; seeking a concordance between the biometric data relating to the person and biometric data that have been pre-stored in a biometric database (26, 51, 83, 97, 110), said pre-stored biometric data relating to persons for whom identification means have already been generated; and, when no concordance is found, generating an identification means (29, 56, 84, 98, 103, 111) that is associated with the person from the biometric data relating to the person and at least one identity (24, 49, 80, 95, 117) for said person.
US07724922B2 Inter-step plate image inspection for printing prepress
Plate-image-inspection RIP data CD2, CD3 are prepared using the same RIP processing conditions from two print image data prepared in different steps of the prepress process, and inspection results are obtained by comparing these data CD2, CD3. Plate-image-inspection RIP data CD2, CD3 can be prepared in several methods: (1) a method for RIP processing respective non-RIP data using standard RIP processing conditions; (2) a method for respectively converting two RIP data to standard RIP processing conditions; and (3) a method for converting one of two RIP data such that it conforms to the RIP processing conditions of the other.
US07724919B2 Methods and systems for steganographic processing
Media content (e.g., audio or visual) can be steganographically encoded for a variety of purposes. One such purpose relates to tracing rendered media content back to a particular time and place. For example, one claim recites a method including: receiving data representing media content, the media content is to be rendered to an audience assembled at a location; and then encoding tracing information in the data utilizing at least a programmed electronic processor, said encoding alters at least some portions of the data to hide the tracing information in the data, the tracing information is associated with a time and location of rendering the media content to the audience assembled at the location, the tracing information will permit an illicitly captured version of the rendered media content to be traced back to the time and location of the rendering. Of course, other combinations and claims are presented as well.
US07724914B2 Dynamic microphone
There is provided a dynamic microphone which prevents, with a simple configuration, the lead of a voice coil from breaking even when a strong sound pressure or the like presses a diaphragm to a magnetism generating circuit. The dynamic microphone includes a diaphragm 11 having a voice coil 12 attached to a boundary between a center dome 11a and a sub dome 11b, and a magnetism generating circuit 20 which has a pole piece 22 provided on one pole of a permanent magnet 21, a ring yoke 24 provided on the other pole of the permanent magnet 21, and a magnetic gap formed between the pole piece 22 and the ring yoke 24, the voice coil 12 being supported in the magnetic gap so as to vibrate through the diaphragm 11, the voice coil 12 having a lead 12a wired along the inner surface of the sub dome 11b, wherein the lead 12a of the voice coil 12 is elastically held on the sub dome 11b at least through an elastic layer 30 applied to the inner surface of the sub dome 11b adjacent to the voice coil 12.
US07724909B2 Automobile audio system
The invention features a dual-mode audio system for an automobile which in one mode is configured for play while the doors to the automobile are closed, and in a second mode, is configured for play while a door, such as a tailgate, is opened. Additionally, the invention also features a battery monitor which monitors the operating condition of the battery and may estimate the energy capacity of the battery. The system may also take power conservation measures if the system determines that the engine is not running or the operating condition of the batter reaches a predetermined state. The invention also features a remote control integrated within a key fob for controlling the audio system. The invention features various orientations for mounting a pair of loudspeakers within an automobile which directly radiate sound out of a rear opening of the automobile.
US07724907B2 Mechanism for protecting the transfer of digital content
According to one embodiment, a method for delivering a mating key to a smart card coupled to a decoding device with a built-in descrambler. The mating key is used by the smart card to encrypt the derived descrambling key for the specific decoder with descrambler. The corresponding mating key is a derivation calculated within the descrambler circuit using a unique value stored in the decoding device, and is of a message that comprises a unique predetermined value that identifies a manufacturer of the decoding device, the digital device targeted to receive the encrypted key data, and the service provider.
US07724906B2 Decryption apparatus and decryption method
A decryption apparatus stores secret keys, each of which is specified by two nodes in tree structure in first memory, one of the two nodes indicated by ciphertext index information item of the decryptable ciphertext being an ancestor node of leaf and the other of the two nodes being a node which is not an ancestor node of leaf, and stores an identifier of decryption apparatus corresponding to a leaf in a tree structure in a second memory. The decryption apparatus acquires a plurality of ciphertexts, each ciphertext including a ciphertext index information item indicating two nodes in the tree structure which correspond to a decryption key for decrypting the respective ciphertext, and acquires a decryptable ciphertext from the plurality of ciphertexts. Further, the decryption apparatus selects, from the stored secret keys, a secret key corresponding to the respective ciphertext, and derives a decryption key from the selected secret key to decrypt the decryptable ciphertext by using the derived decryption key.
US07724905B2 Method and arrangement for generation of a secret session key
In a method for generation of a secret session key for cryptographically securing a communication channel between a first communication partner and a second communication partner, the first communication partner generates at least one first key parameter, receives at least one second key parameter generated by the second communication partner, and generates the secret session key using the first key parameter and the second key parameter. The first communication partner generates, stores and communicates to the second communication partner a first random number, receives from the second communication partner a sent-back random number, compares the sent-back random number with the stored random number, and releases the generated secret session key for use given the presence of a predeterminable correlation between the sent-back first random number and the stored random number.
US07724904B2 Authentication system and method thereof in a communication system
An authentication method and system in a communication system are provided. An MS, a BS and an AAA server acquire a first MSK by a first EAP authentication for the MS in an EAP-in-EAP scheme. After the first EAP authentication, they acquire a second MSK by a second EAP authentication for the MS in the EAP-in-EAP scheme.
US07724896B2 Method for transmitting messages between an emitter and at least on receiver and system for implementing said method
Example embodiments relate to a method and system for transmitting messages between an emitter and at least one receiver. The method may include encrypting a message (m) to be transmitted by means of a key (a) associated to the emitter, sending the encrypted message to a conversion module including at least a conversion key (πa→b) and a conversion function, the conversion module being placed between the emitter and the at least one receiver, converting the encrypted message received in the conversion module by at least one message encrypted in such a way as to be able to be decrypted by a key (b) specific to the at least one receiver, the conversion being carried out without the initial message appearing in plaintext in the conversion module, and resulting in as much messages in accordance to a number of receivers, sending the converted message to a certain receiver, and decrypting the converted message received by the certain receiver via the key b specific to the receiver, wherein the conversion key (πa→b) of the conversion module depends on a non trivial value raised to a power of the key (a) bound to the emitter and of the key (b) bound to the at least one receiver.
US07724892B2 Method and apparatus for optimizing speakerphone performance based on tilt angle
According to the present invention, a tilt sensor is used to determine the tilt angle of a speakerphone and the surface on which it rests. This information is used to optimize both the receive and transmit signals for the chosen tilt angle. The information can also be used to adjust performance of any beamformer(s) where the speakerphone incorporates a microphone array or loudspeaker array. In one embodiment, vibrational data is provided by the tilt sensor for enhancing the receive signal and acoustic echo cancellation.
US07724885B2 Spatialization arrangement for conference call
A method for distinguishing speakers in a conference call of a plurality of participants, in which method speech frames of the conference call are received in a receiving unit, which speech frames include encoded speech parameters. At least one parameter of the received speech frames is examined in an audio codec of the receiving unit, and the speech frames are classified to belong to one of the participants, the classification being carried out according to differences in the examined at least one speech parameter. These functions may be carried out in a speaker identification block, which is applicable in various positions of a teleconferencing processing chain. Finally, a spatialization effect is created in a terminal reproducing the audio signal according to notified differences by placing the participants at distinct positions in an acoustical space of the audio signal.
US07724880B2 Networked voicemail
An integrated messaging system for performing various types of messaging across different types of networks, including integrated user interfaces and administrator interfaces. Embodiments include a communication server that couples among networks of different types, and an interface module that couples to the communication server. The interface module may be hosted on a messaging server of a network. The interface module pulls various user information from the messaging server, including information relevant to at least the network that includes the messaging server. A cache couples to the communication server and to the interface module to hold information from the communication server and/or the user information pulled from messaging server. The interface module directs a message from the messaging server and/or the cache to at least one device on the networks using the user information.
US07724876B2 Multi-color X-ray generator
A multi-color X-ray generator includes an electron beam generator 10 which accelerates an electron beam to generate a pulse electron beam 1 and which transmits the beam along a predetermined rectilinear orbit 2, a composite laser generator 20 which successively generates a plurality of pulse laser lights 3a, 3b having different wavelengths, and a laser light introduction device 30 which introduces the pulse laser lights along the rectilinear orbit 2 to be opposed to the pulse electron beam 1, so that the plurality of pulse laser lights 3a, 3b successively head-on collide with the pulse electron beam 1 along the rectilinear orbit 2 so as to generate two or more types of monochromatic hard X-rays 4 (4a, 4b).
US07724872B2 Inspection method for thin film stack
An X-ray reflectivity measuring method is provided to measure and inspect, with higher accuracy, film thickness of a thin film stack as a sample where a thick film is provided on the thin film stack. This X-ray reflectivity measuring method can measure X-ray reflectivity of the thin film stack embedded within a thick film by applying the X-ray focused to ⅓ or less the thickness of a thick film on the thin film stack to an end surface of the thick film, transmitting the X-ray through the thick film, thereafter applying the X-ray to the thin film stack, transmitting again the reflected X-ray to the thick film, and then extracting the reflection X-ray from the end surface in the opposite side of the incident surface and also can inspect film thickness of the thin film stack embedded in the thick film with the Fourier transformation method and the minimum square analysis method with the theoretical curve.
US07724865B2 System and method of optimizing a monochromatic representation of basis material decomposed CT images
A system and method of a diagnostic imaging system includes a high frequency electromagnetic energy source that emits a beam of high frequency electromagnetic energy toward an object to be imaged, a detector that receives high frequency electromagnetic energy emitted by the high frequency electromagnetic energy source and attenuated by the object, a data acquisition system (DAS) operably connected to the detector, and a computer operably connected to the DAS. The computer is programmed to obtain CT scan data with two or more incident energy spectra, decompose the obtained CT scan data into projection CT data of two or more basis materials, reconstruct linearly weighted projections of the two or more basis materials, determine an optimized energy for the two or more basis materials within a region-of-interest (ROI), and form a monochromatic image of the projection CT data at the optimized energy using the two or more basis material projections.
US07724854B2 Synchronization methodology for systems employing data pull flow control
In one embodiment, a system comprises a signal source for generating a digital signal in response to a data pull signal; a digital-to-analog converter (DAC); a first plurality of shift registers for registering digital words of the digital signal before receipt by the DAC; a synchronizing logic element for generating the data pull signal, wherein the synchronizing logic element initially generates the data pull signal to cause the signal source to generate a number of data words, ceases communication of the data pull signal upon receipt of a mark signal, and resumes communication of the data pull signal upon receipt of a trigger signal; and a second plurality of shift registers for registering the mark signal before communication to the synchronizing logic element, wherein the first and second plurality of shift registers are enabled by the data pull signal.
US07724852B2 Drift cancellation technique for use in clock-forwarding architectures
A circuit includes a frequency synthesizer, N phase mixers coupled to the frequency synthesizer, a plurality of receivers, and a calibration circuit. The frequency synthesizer is to receive a reference clock signal and is to output a primary clock signal. A respective phase mixer in the N phase mixers is to output a respective secondary clock signal having a corresponding phase. A respective receiver in the plurality of receivers is coupled to two of the N phase mixers, and at a respective time is to receive data in accordance with the respective secondary clock signal from one of the two phase mixers coupled to the respective receiver. The calibration circuit is to calibrate a secondary clock signal output by a respective phase mixer in the N phase mixers by adjusting the phase of the secondary clock signal of the respective phase mixer.
US07724851B2 Receiver with multiple collectors in a multiple user detection system
A digital wireless communication system for increasing the number of users capable of communicating over a network permits multiusers to transmit information simultaneously on the same channel of frequency. The primary example of such a system would be that employing radio frequency transmissions, even optical transmissions; however, the invention will also apply to magnectic detections such as in the reading of information stored on a magnetic tape. It is possible to increase overall throughput in terms of total number of bits transmitted through the shared medium by all users of a multiple access system if the signals are allowed to interfere. The present invention provides a multiuser detection process and apparatus that is capable of pulling apart signals in heavy interference in real time by combining the signals received from two or more spatially seperated collectors or antennas. The present invention includes the step of taking more measurements of the received signal from two separate collections prior to definition of the multiuser algorithm parameters and combining the different collection of signals as one signal for multiple user detection processing.
US07724847B2 Techniques for reduction of delayed reflection inter-symbol interference
Techniques are described to reduce delayed reflection inter-symbol interference (ISI) in signals. In some implementations, a channel reflection canceller is provided at a signal receiver to reduce delayed reflection ISI in received signals. The channel reflection canceller may be provided with a signal from an equalizer output or a tentative or final decision from a forward-error correction (FEC) decoder. Based on the signal from the equalizer output or tentative or final decisions from the FEC decoder, the channel reflection canceller may generate a signal to reduce delayed reflection ISI in received signals. In addition or as an alternative, in some implementations, the remote transmitter of the signal generates a delayed reflection ISI reducing signal to reduce delayed reflection ISI present in the signal transmitted over a channel. The transmitter may generate the delayed reflection ISI reducing signal using information provided by the remote signal receiver.
US07724845B2 Method and system for down-converting and electromagnetic signal, and transforms for same
Methods, systems, and apparatuses, and combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for down-converting an electromagnetic (EM) signal are described herein. Briefly stated, in embodiments the invention operates by receiving an EM signal and recursively operating on approximate half cycles (½, 1½, 2½, etc.) of the carrier signal. The recursive operations can be performed at a sub-harmonic rate of the carrier signal. The invention accumulates the results of the recursive operations and uses the accumulated results to form a down-converted signal. In an embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to a baseband information signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is a frequency modulated (FM) signal, which is down-converted to a non-FM signal, such as a phase modulated (PM) signal or an amplitude modulated (AM) signal.
US07724843B2 Clock adjustment for a handheld audio system
A handheld audio system having a radio signal decoder that includes a method for adjusting a system clock. Adjusting the system clock includes receiving a signal at a rate of a receive clock, wherein the signal includes data at a transmit rate. An error term is determined between the receive rate and the transmit rate. Based on the receive clock and the error term, where the error term is non-zero, a clock signal is generated.
US07724839B2 Multilevel LINC transmitter
A multilevel LINC transmitter. The multilevel LINC transmitter comprises a multilevel signal component separator, a phase modulator block, and an RF block. The multilevel signal component separator comprises a multilevel scaler and converts a base band signal to constant envelope signals. The phase modulator block is coupled to the multilevel signal component separator. The RF block comprises a plurality of power amplifiers coupled to the phase modulator block and the multilevel scaler and a power combiner coupled to the power amplifiers.
US07724837B2 Efficient modulation of RF signals
Coherent modulator architectures of wireless communication devices are used for the processing of modulated RF signals. The circuitry comprises a DC/DC converter (204) which serves as an amplitude modulator, different amplification stages (204, 206, 212, 214), a bypass path (215) to selectively bypass at least one (214) of a cascade of class C, D, E, or F power amplifiers (212, 214), and an automatic power control (APC) loop (220) that guarantees power stability over time and temperature variations. To increase the efficiency of the amplification procedures needed for an amplitude modulation, the slow (narrowband) high-level components (222) and the fast (wideband) low-level components (224) of the signal representing the magnitude (I xLp (t) 1) of an I/Q modulation state (xLp (t)) are amplified in separate stages (204, 206) and are then combined by supplying the low-level components (224) to a power amplifier (206) whose gain is controlled depending on the amplified high-level components (222). At least one (214) of said cascade of power amplifiers (212, 214) can selectively be bypassed by a bypass circuitry (215), which is used for the sake of efficiency optimization. In the bypass mode, the DC power supply (Vbat) of the bypassed power amplifier (214) can selectively be switched off by means of a switch (SZ). It is used when the needed RF signal power is low and the driver PA (212) is able to produce enough gain.
US07724829B2 Signal compressing system
A multi-scanner scans a signal according to several different patterns. A scanning pattern selector determines which scanning pattern produced the most efficient coding result, for example, for runlength coding, and outputs a coded signal, coded most efficiently, and a selection signal which identifies the scanning pattern found to be most efficient.
US07724827B2 Multi-layer run level encoding and decoding
Entropy coding and decoding techniques are described, which may be implemented separately or in combination. For example, a video encoder uses two-layer run level coding to reduce bitrate for frequency transform coefficients in a quick and efficient manner, and a video decoder uses corresponding two-layer run level decoding. This two-layer coding/decoding can be generalized to more than two layers of run level coding/decoding. The video encoder and decoder exploit common patterns in run level information to reduce code table size and create opportunities for early termination of decoding. Using zoned Huffman code tables helps limit overall table size while still providing a level of adaptivity in encoding and decoding. Using embedded Huffman code tables allows the encoder and decoder to reuse codes for 8×8, 8×4, 4×8, and 4×4 blocks.
US07724818B2 Method for coding sequences of pictures
A method for encoding sequences of pictures into a bitstream, wherein parameters are defined in a parameter set and each picture comprises information of one or more slices. The method comprises defining parameters in a sequence parameter set; defining parameters in a picture parameter set; and defining at least one picture parameter in a slice header. The picture parameter remains unchanged at least in all slice headers of one picture.
US07724815B1 Method and apparatus for a programmably terminated receiver
A method and apparatus for a receive equalizer of a gigabit transceiver that is reconfigurable to support multiple communication standards. Communication standards having variable common mode and coupling requirements are accommodated through the use of reconfigurable integrated circuits (ICs), such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), that provide a plurality of reconfigurable transceivers that are programmable through configuration, or partial reconfiguration, events. The reconfigurable transceivers apply internally generated common mode voltage signals to the differential input in support of the various communication standards.
US07724809B2 Joint detection-decoding receiver of DS-CDMA system
A joint detection-decoding receiver using a multistage parallel interference canceller for selectively estimating a partial codeword corresponding to a state transition (branch) is disclosed. The JDD receiver of the DS-CDMA system includes a PIC that employs a state sequence to selectively carry out a symbol estimation of a partial codeword corresponding to the branch so as to reduce complexity and a calculation load as well as maintaining a high performance of the receiver according to the joint detection-decoding.
US07724795B2 Semiconductor optoelectronic device and method of fabricating the same
Provided is a semiconductor opto-electronic device that may comprise an active layer including a quantum well and a barrier layer on a substrate, upper and lower waveguide layers on and underneath the active layer, respectively, and upper and lower clad layers on and underneath the upper and lower waveguide layers, respectively. The semiconductor opto-electronic device may further comprise an upper optical confinement layer (OCL) between the active layer and the upper waveguide layer and having an energy gap smaller than the energy gap of the upper waveguide layer and equal to or larger than the energy gap of the barrier layer, and a lower OCL between the active layer and the lower waveguide layer and having an energy gap smaller than the energy gap of the lower waveguide layer and equal to or smaller than the energy gap of the barrier layer. Also provided is a method of fabricating the semiconductor opto-electronic device.
US07724781B1 Receive virtual concatenation processor
A receive virtual concatenation processor (processor) is adapted to receive time-slot interleaved data carried over SONET/SDH frames. The processor first generates per time-slot data and subsequently generates per channel data. The processor supports virtual concatenation, contiguous concatenation as well as mixed concatenation in which some channels are contiguously concatenated and others are virtually concatenated. The processor supports virtual concatenation at both STS-1 and STS-3c granularities and with arbitrary differential delay among constituent time-slots. The processor supports contiguous concatenation with any multiple of STS-3c granularity. The processor is highly scalable to support multiple channels and different frame sizes such as STS-12, STS-48, STS-192, etc.
US07724776B2 Method and ingress node for handling fragmented datagrams in an IP network
Problems caused by Internet Protocol datagram fragmentation are solved by creating a session context for the datagram fragments without actually reassembling the datagram from its fragments. The session context enables treatment of the datagram without actually reassembling it. Processing fragments can be followed by forwarding the processed fragments to another node that can further fragment the IP datagram.
US07724764B2 Adaptive synchronous media access protocol for shared media networks
In some embodiments of the present invention, asynchronous network nodes and synchronous network nodes coexist on a shared media network.
US07724761B1 Systems and methods for reducing reflections and frequency dependent dispersions in redundant links
A network device includes a group of high speed redundant transmission lines and a switch. The switch is configured to select one of the high speed redundant transmission lines. The switch causes reflections and frequency dependent dispersions in the selected high speed redundant transmission line. The network device further includes a transmitting device that is configured to adjust signals transmitted over the selected high speed redundant transmission line so as to reduce the reflections and frequency dependent dispersions.
US07724757B2 Use of hardware to manage dependencies between groups of network data packets
A task obtained by a communications processor is decomposed into one or more requests that form a request group. The requests of the request group are sent to main memory and responses to those requests are expected. There may be requests for a plurality of request groups being processed concurrently. However, responses to the request groups are to be returned to the communications processor in the order in which the request groups were sent from the communications processor. To ensure this ordering, dependencies between the request groups are tracked by hardware coupled to the communications processor.
US07724756B2 Input/output buffer controller for optimized memory utilization and prevention of packet under-run errors
To avoid under-run conditions that result in corrupt packets at I/O interfaces, a FIFO buffer controller monitors key aspects of the contents of FIFO buffers of I/O interfaces. The FIFO buffer controller initiates transmission of data from the FIFO buffer when at least one complete packet is stored in the FIFO buffer or when the size of a partial packet stored therein is large enough so that the remainder of the packet would normally be received by the FIFO buffer before the stored part can be transmitted from the FIFO buffer; thereby avoiding an under-run error condition.
US07724751B2 System for supporting communications among ATM devices, device for supporting data transmission, method for sending data, and computer program product
A first communication device receives an ATM cell bound for a second ATM device from a first ATM device via an ATM interface, and then the first communication device sends a data frame including the ATM cell to the second ATM device via wide area Ethernet. In addition, the first communication device sends a synchronization frame to the second ATM device via the wide area Ethernet continuously at a predetermined time interval in accordance with a clock frequency of the first ATM device. A second communication device receives the synchronization frame and measures a clock frequency of the first ATM device in accordance with a time interval of receiving the synchronization frame so as to reproduce a clock having the same frequency as the measured clock frequency. After that, the second communication device sends the clock to the second ATM device via an ATM interface.
US07724745B1 Method and device for efficient transmission of flood data frames in a backbone network
A method and device for efficient transmission of flood data frames in a backbone network comprising a plurality of virtual local area networks (VLANs). A flood data frame is received at an intermediate network device communicatively coupled to a backbone network, wherein the destination of the flood data frame is unknown. A customer associated with the flood data frame is identified. A customer multicast group associated with the customer is identified, the customer multicast group identifying at least one destination intermediate network device coupled to the backbone network. The flood data frame is forwarded to at least one destination intermediate network device of the customer multicast group.
US07724728B2 Policy-based processing of packets
Disclosed are, inter alia, methods, apparatus, data structures, computer-readable media, and mechanisms, for policy-based processing of packets, including mechanisms for managing the policies. A user is authenticated and its user group identifier is identified. A packet is received and is associated with the user group identifier, and one or more fields (typically other than the source address field) of the packet are used to identify a second group identifier. A lookup operation is then performed on a policy based on the first and second group identifiers to identify a packet processing action to be performed on the packet. These identifiers are typically not network addresses, which disassociates the policy from physical network addresses (which often are dynamically assigned and may also vary based on the access point into the network of a user), and allows a switching device to process packets based on a policy stated using group identifiers.
US07724723B2 High-throughput scheduler with integer-based eligible number initialization
A scheduler is adapted to schedule packets or other data blocks for transmission from a plurality of transmission elements in timeslots of a frame in a communication system. In scheduling for a given frame, the scheduler determines eligible numbers for respective ones of the transmission elements that are eligible to transmit one or more data blocks in a given frame. The eligible numbers are initialized using a common designated integer value n, where n is a finite value greater than or equal to two. The scheduler selects from those of the transmission elements having eligible numbers within a particular range at least one of the transmission elements for scheduling in a next available timeslot. The scheduler then adjusts the eligible number(s) of the selected transmission element(s), and repeats the selecting and adjusting operations for one or more remaining timeslots of the given frame. The scheduler in an illustrative embodiment may be implemented in a network processor integrated circuit or other processing device of the communication system.
US07724721B2 Frame communication apparatus and method in broadband wireless communication system
A frame communication apparatus and method for a broadband wireless communication system are provided that employ a transmitter. In the transmitter, a control channel generating unit generates burst allocation information including a receiver identification (ID) with respect to a transmission packet, a burst generating unit constructs data burst by adding a header including a traffic ID to the transmission packet, and a transmitting unit transmits the burst allocation information and the data burst. An existing connection ID (CID) is subdivided into a user ID (UID) and a traffic ID (TID). The UID and the TID are recorded in a map channel message and a medium access control (MAC) header, respectively. Accordingly, an amount of information contained in a downlink map (DL-MAP) and uplink map (UL-MAP), and an amount of the MAC header of a data packet can be reduced.
US07724706B2 System and method for notifying completion of network re-entry procedure in a communication system
Provided is a system and method for notifying completion of a network re-entry procedure in a communication system. In the system, a mobile station (MS) completes the network re-entry procedure with a base station (BS), and then notifies the completion of the network re-entry procedure to the BS.
US07724705B2 Wireless transfer of data
The invention relates to a method of initiating a wireless transfer of data between two electronic devices. In order to make the initiation particularly user friendly, it is proposed that a concept called “hugging” is employed. A hugging state between two electronic devices is assumed to be given if a first electronic device and a second electronic device are determined to undergo a specific motion pattern relative to each other while being at least in close vicinity to each other. Only in case such a hugging state is detected at a first device, a data transfer channel is opened for transferring data between the first device and some other device, e.g. the second device. The invention relates equally to a corresponding device and to a software program product with a corresponding software code.
US07724701B2 Method and apparatus for controlling reverse link data rate of a mobile station in a communication system with reverse link common rate control
An efficient use of communication resources is provided by determining a behavior for selecting the payload size (data rate) of a reverse link transmission from a mobile station to a base station. The mobile station may store a predetermined table including the ratio of the power levels of the traffic channel and pilot channel (TPR), where each entry corresponds to one or more specific sizes of data payload, and consequently a data rate for transmission in a predetermined time frame. The payload size is selected based on an authorized-TPR. The authorized-TPR and a target-TPR are adjusted in accordance with a value of common TPR commands received from the base station. A fast-ramp-up behavior for adjustments of the authorized-TPR is followed when the authorized-TPR is less than the target-TPR. The down TPR commands are ignored in the adjustments of the authorized-TPR to allow following a fast-ramp-up behavior.
US07724696B1 Predictive reader power management
Power management features of a reader device control an amount of electrical energy supplied to the reader device. The power management features include several power control categories that a user may select to affect an amount of power consumed by the reader device. One power control category controls power consumption based on a genre of an electronic book being processed by the reader device. Another power control category controls power consumption based on a time of day an electronic book is being processed by the reader device. Power control instructions that control how much power a reader device consumes may also be generated based on a characteristic of a user's interaction with the device.
US07724694B2 Doppler frequency calculating apparatus and method and OFDM demodulating apparatus
A Doppler frequency calculating apparatus that calculates a Doppler frequency, which is the magnitude of a time-dependent fluctuation of a characteristic of the transmission path through which an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) signal is transmitted, includes a received signal point memory operable to store a received signal point of a sub-carrier having a reference carrier signal of the OFDM signal, a modulated component eliminating section operable to eliminate a modulated component from the received signal point stored in the received signal point memory, and a Doppler frequency calculating section operable to calculate a Doppler frequency by performing frequency analysis on the received signal point of each sub-carrier from which the modulated component has been eliminated by the modulated component eliminating section.
US07724692B1 Method and apparatus for autonegotiation between network devices
A physical layer device comprises a transmitter of a first network device that transmits an autonegotiation signal to a second network device. A receiver of the first network device receives a received signal from the second network device. An autonegotiation controller autonegotiates link parameters for a link between the first network device and the second network device, monitors autonegotiation pulses in the autonegotiation signal relative to autonegotiation pulses in the received signal received during a window, and selectively blinds autonegotiation based on the monitoring.
US07724681B2 Apparatus and method for routing packets in a network
In a packet switched network, network data can be recorded for measurement by transmitting a measurement packet across the network to store path records as it travels from an originating measurement device to a destination device. Some of the network devices located along the path traversed by the measurement packet are capable of recognizing that the measurement packet no longer has any further storage capacity for path records. The network device then copies or clones the measurement packet and erases the path record data from the original measurement packet. The original measurement packet then continues on its path to the destination address collecting further path records on the way, while the cloned packet is returned to the measurement host for processing of the path records when all cloned packets and the original measurement packet return to the measurement host.
US07724673B2 Apparatus and methods of determining configurations for handling communication path management traffic
Apparatus and methods of determining configurations for handling communication path management traffic are disclosed. Respective communication path management traffic handling configurations of communication system elements that terminate a communication link, which is a portion of a communication path, are determined. If the respective communication path management traffic handling configurations indicate that the communication system elements have been configured to pass communication path management traffic associated with the communication path toward endpoints of the communication path, then communication path management traffic for managing the communication path is exchanged through the communication link. Indications of a communication path management traffic handling configuration may be exchanged between the communication system elements during establishment of the communication link.
US07724656B2 Uplink congestion detection and control between nodes in a radio access network
Congestion in a radio access network (RAN) associated with transporting uplink information originating from one or more mobile terminals is detected. That detected RAN congestion is reduced using any suitable technique (several examples are described) and may be implemented in one or more nodes in the RAN. One advantageous (but non-limiting) application is to a RAN that supports high speed uplink packet access (HSUPA) and/or one or more enhanced uplink dedicated channels (E-DCHs).
US07724633B2 Aberration correcting apparatus, optical pickup, and aberration correcting method
An optical pickup to be used for both DVD and CD is provided with an aberration correcting device using liquid crystal on an input side of an objective lens. A spherical aberration of a CD is corrected by using an electrode for DVD spherical aberration correction and electrodes for DVD astigmatism correction.
US07724615B2 Apparatus and method for determining type of an optical disk
An apparatus and a method for determining the type of an optical disk are provided. Firstly, an RF signal of the optical disk in an optical disk drive is read out. Next, a bandpass signal is extracted from the RF signal by a bandpass filter whose central frequency is a wobble frequency. Then, whether the bandpass signal corresponds to a wobble signal is determined. If so, the optical disk is a recordable optical disk; otherwise, the optical disk is a read-only optical disk.
US07724611B2 Day of the month display mechanism for watch movement
Day of the month display mechanism for watch movement, comprising two mobiles (1), each bearing a sequence of digits (10). The two mobiles are disposed in such a manner that, at least for certain dates, the day of the month (3) displayed to the user corresponds to the combination of indications borne by the first mobile (1) and of indications borne by the second mobile (2), whilst for other dates, the day of the month (3) corresponds to the combination of two digits borne by the same mobile (2). The second mobile (2) is driven by the first mobile (1) through a star wheel (50) held by a jumper (51) to prevent the undesired rotation of said star. A banking element (511) is arranged in a manner to prevent said jumper from passing directly from one tooth (501) of the star to a non-adjacent tooth when the date changes.
US07724602B2 Memory controller with programmable regression model for power control
A memory controller uses a throttling mechanism which estimates a throttling delay for achieving a target power consumption, and periodically blocks all memory commands for a number of clock cycles corresponding to the throttling delay. Idle memory ranks of the memory device are powered down while the memory commands are blocked. A regression model bases the throttling delay on a plurality of operating factors and a plurality of regression coefficients for the operating factors. In the illustrative implementation the operating factors include power consumption, a current number of bank conflicts, a current number of read commands, and a current number of write commands. Different sets of regression coefficients can be programmably stored for use with different system configurations.
US07724598B1 Megafunction block and interface
A megafunction block is provided that includes a serial interface enabling a user to specify settings of a configurable block of a programmable logic device. The megafunction block includes a register array having the capability of translating address information into actual addresses for a memory of the configurable block. Thus, as future configurations/standards are developed that a programmable logic device with the megafunction block will interfaces with, the settings for interfacing with the standards may be added to the register array. Consequently, the pin count will not need to increase as the megafunction block is scalable through the register map. Control logic verifies that the translated address is a valid address and the control logic will generate a selection signal based on whether a read or write operation is to be performed.
US07724597B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device having dummy bit line with multiple sections
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device is disclosed having a dummy bit line formed from a plurality of dummy bit line sections. The particular dummy bit line sections are variously connected a common source line and a P-type well region.
US07724584B2 Semiconductor memory device and method of compensating for signal interference thereof
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cell array blocks, a plurality of pairs of first data lines for transceiving data with corresponding memory cell array blocks, a plurality of column selection signal lines disposed in an orthogonal direction to the pairs of first data lines, and a plurality of pairs of second data lines to transceive data with corresponding pairs of first data lines of the pairs of first data lines. The memory cell array includes a signal interference compensator that shifts a voltage level of a second data line signal of one of the pair of second data lines interfered by a column selection signal line, to a voltage level of a first data line signal of other of the pair of second data lines not interfered so as to compensate for a signal interference.
US07724579B2 Semiconductor memory devices and method for preventing mismatch of reference signals in data sending
Semiconductor memory devices and a method thereof are provided. An example semiconductor memory device may include a control signal generation unit configured to generate a plurality of control signals in response to a bias current, a reference current generation unit configured to generate a reference current in response to the plurality of control signals and a sense amplifier configured to sense and amplify data stored in a given memory cell based on the reference current and a current on a bit line connected to the memory cell. Another example semiconductor memory device may include a memory bank including a plurality of memory cells and a sense amplifier bank including a plurality of sense amplifier units sharing a common line, each of the sense amplifier units including a current source configured to form a current path between the common line and a first voltage supply in response to an enable signal and a gating signal and a sense amplifier configured to sense and amplify data stored in a corresponding memory cell among the plurality of memory cells based on a signal on a bit line connected with the corresponding memory cell and a signal on the common line.
US07724576B2 Soft programming method of non-volatile memory device
A non-volatile memory device includes a first cell group including memory cells other than memory cells adjacent to a drain select transistor in a block, and a second cell group including the memory cells adjacent to the drain select transistor in the block. An erase operation is performed on the memory cells in the block. The first cell group is programmed by applying a first soft programming voltage to the first cell group. The second cell group is programmed by applying a second soft programming voltage to the second cell group.
US07724575B2 Page-buffer and non-volatile semiconductor memory including page buffer
In one aspect a non-volatile memory device is provided which is operable in a programming mode and a read mode. The memory device includes a memory cell array which includes a plurality of non-volatile memory cells, a plurality of word lines, and a plurality of bit lines. The memory device further includes an internal data output line for outputting data read from the bit lines of the memory array, and a page buffer operatively connected between a bit line of the memory cell array and the internal data output line. The page buffer includes a sense node which is selectively connected to the bit line, a latch circuit having a latch node which is selectively connected to the sense node, a latch input path which sets a logic voltage of the latch node in the programming mode and the read mode, and a latch output path which is separate from the latch input path and which sets as logic voltage of the internal date output line according to the logic voltage of the latch node.
US07724563B2 Memory cell array with low resistance common source and high current drivability
In the present resistive memory array, included are a substrate, a plurality of source regions in the substrate, and a conductor connecting the plurality of source regions, the conductor being positioned adjacent to the substrate to form, with the plurality of source regions, a common source. In one embodiment, the conductor is an elongated metal body of T-shaped cross-section. In another embodiment, the conductor is a plate-like metal body.
US07724545B2 Switching converter having an activatable and deactivatable damping circuit
A switching converter for power factor correction which has-input terminals, an inductive storage element coupled to the input terminals, a rectifier arrangement, a control arrangement, and a damping circuit. The rectifier arrangement is connected to the inductive storage element and has output terminals for providing an output voltage. The control arrangement is configured to control a current drawn by the inductive storage element. The control arrangement is also configured to magnetize the inductive storage element during an actuation period for a magnetization time, demagnetize it for a demagnetization time, and wait a waiting time before a subsequent magnetization time. The damping circuit is coupled to the inductive storage element, and is configured to be activated and deactivated dependent at least in part on a magnetization state of the inductive storage element.
US07724543B2 Communication apparatus, information processing device, and external cable connection method
A communication apparatus which occupies small space and yet can be connected with numerous external cables and which permits a cooling arrangement to be constructed at low cost. An information processing device constituting the communication apparatus has external cable connection ports provided on both top and bottom surfaces thereof, and thus, more external cables can be connected than in the case of connecting the cables to the side surfaces. Also, the external cables connected to the ports are guided along the top and bottom surfaces toward the front of the communication apparatus with their heights restricted by external cable covers and, therefore, do not occupy substantial space above and below the device. Further, since the external cables are connected to the top and bottom surfaces, the front and rear surfaces of the device have spare space, making it possible to construct a ventilation arrangement such as vent holes and fans.
US07724538B2 Retaining device for PCI card
A retaining device for PCI card includes a chassis, a clipping plate configured for retaining a PCI card, and a latch member. The chassis has a rear wall. A mounting bracket secured on the rear wall. A blocking wall perpendicularly extends from the rear wall. The mounting bracket includes a sidewall opposite to the blocking wall. The clipping plate includes a first end engaged with the chassis and a second end abutting on the sidewall of the mounting bracket. The latch member is tightly sandwiched between the blocking wall of the chassis and the sidewall of the mounting bracket. The latch member depresses the second end of the clipping plate thereby forcing the second end of the clipping plate to abut against the sidewall of the mounting bracket.
US07724536B2 Circuit device
A circuit device capable of suppressing reduction of reliability resulting from heat generated in a circuit element is obtained. This circuit device comprises a first insulating layer having a first opening and a second opening, a first conductor filling up the first opening of the first insulating layer, a second conductor, formed along the inner side surface of the second opening of the first insulating layer, having a concave upper surface and a circuit element arranged above a region of the first insulating layer formed with the first opening.
US07724522B2 Heat sink device for a display card
A heat sink device for a display card includes a heat sink, the heat sink having a base and a plurality of heat-dissipating fins on the base, the base having two hooks respectively beside two lateral sides of the groove; a heat-dissipating fan, having a blade wheel and a power wire for the blade wheel, the blade wheel being on the base and the power wire being inside the groove of the base; and a fastener, having two engagement parts respectively corresponding to the hooks, wherein the fastener covers the groove so as to position the power wire by means of engagement of the hooks with the engagement parts. Therefore, the power wire of the heat-dissipating fan can be properly arranged on the heat sink.
US07724520B2 Protruding lock for notebook computer or other personal electronic device
A notebook/laptop computer or other personal electronic device locking assembly includes a locking base secured to a working surface. The locking base locks the notebook computer or other personal electronic device securely in place to a work surface such as a desk top or table top. The lock is adapted to engage the notebook computer or other personal electronic device screen in the open position, leaving a front surface of the screen viewable. The lock includes a locking member which prevents removal of the notebook computer or other personal electronic device from the work surface.
US07724516B2 Cooling enclosure for maintaining commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) equipment in vehicles
Apparatus and methods for thermal conditioning equipment. In a preferred embodiment, an equipment enclosure comprises a body, a wall, a fluid port, and a fixture. The body defines an outer plenum and an inner chamber in the latter of which the fixture retains the equipment. The wall, which is between the outer plenum and the inner chamber, isolates the thermally conditioned first fluid from a second fluid in the inner chamber. Since the wall is thermally conductive it allows heat to be transferred between the outer plenum and the inner chamber. The fluid port is in communication with the outer plenum to allow the thermally conditioned first fluid to flow into the outer plenum. Baffle plates are also provided to distribute flow of the second fluid to the equipment.
US07724513B2 Container-based data center
A computing system and method of operating a computing system is provided. The computer system includes: a housing comprising a shipping container having a first interior lateral wall and a second interior lateral wall; a first row of equipment provided along the first interior lateral wall with a first exhaust region between the first row of equipment and the first interior lateral wall; a second row of equipment provided along the second interior lateral wall with a second exhaust region between the second row of equipment and the second interior lateral wall; and an aisle provided between the first row of equipment and the second row of equipment; wherein said first and second rows of equipment each comprise a plurality of rack assemblies and a plurality of computers supported by the plurality of rack assemblies such that front sides of the computers face the aisle and back sides of the computers face either the first or second interior lateral walls, said front and back sides of the computers including vents enabling cooling air to pass through the computers between the aisle and the first and second exhaust regions.
US07724510B2 Electronic apparatus and assembly
An electronic apparatus includes: an enclosure having an opening; and an assembly fixed inside the enclosure and extending through the opening to the outside of the enclosure. The assembly includes a first arm and a second arm, the first arm entering the inside of the enclosure through the opening and extending along an inner wall of the enclosure in a first direction, the second arm entering the inside of the enclosure through the opening and extending along an inner wall of the enclosure in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The first arm has a member-side engagement section which is engaged with the enclosure, and the second arm has a member-side fixing section which is fixed to the enclosure. The enclosure has an enclosure-side engagement section with which the member-side engagement section is engaged and an enclosure-side fixing section to which the member-side fixing section is fixed.
US07724507B2 Arc flash enclosure
An enclosure assembly includes a first enclosure unit including a first door, a second enclosure unit, and a handle coupled to the second enclosure unit, the handle being operative so as to turn on or turn off power to the first enclosure unit, and wherein the first enclosure unit and the second enclosure unit are configured such that the first door cannot be opened if the handle has not been turned to a power-off position.
US07724505B2 Front panel assembly for use on casing body of electronic device and casing of vehicle-mounted electronic device
A front panel assembly for being detachably mounted on a front face of a casing body of a vehicle-mounted electronic device, the front face having a recording medium insertion slot, including: a panel frame adapted to be detachably mounted on the front face of the casing body; a lid supported on the panel frame for movement in directions to open and close the slot while the panel frame is mounted on the front face of the casing body; the panel frame having a rear face facing the front face of the casing body while the panel frame is mounted on the front face of the casing body; a slide member mounted on the rear face for reciprocating movement along the rear face; and an interlink mechanism mounted on the panel frame for moving the lid in the directions to open and close the recording medium insertion slot in response to reciprocating movement of the slide member.
US07724498B2 Low inductance capacitors, methods of assembling same, and systems containing same
A low-inductance capacitor exhibits a first characteristic inductance during use in a first capacitor subsection and a second characteristic inductance during use in a second capacitor subsection, and the first and second characteristic inductances act to neutralize each other. A process of forming the low-inductance capacitor includes heat curing. A package includes a low-inductance capacitor and a mounting substrate.
US07724486B2 Sensing a current signal in an integrated circuit
An integrated circuit including a voltage setting circuit configured to set the voltage level at a signal input to a value corresponding to a first supply voltage of the integrated circuit.
US07724469B2 High frequency field assisted write device
A magnetic writer includes a write element and an oscillation device disposed adjacent to the write element. The first oscillation device includes a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer having a magnetization vector including a component perpendicular to a major plane of the first magnetic layer. The first nonmagnetic layer disposed between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. The first oscillation device generates a high-frequency oscillation field when a current is directed perpendicular to the major plane of the first magnetic layer.
US07724465B2 Tape heads for use with multiple tape formats
A magnetic head according to one embodiment includes an array of elements, the elements being selected from a group consisting of data readers, data writers, and combinations thereof; wherein a first subset of the elements is operable for reading or writing data in a first tape format, wherein a second subset of the elements is operable for reading or writing data in a second tape format, at least some of the elements being present in both subsets, wherein a number of servo bands supported in each of the formats is one more than a number of data bands on a medium written in the particular format.
US07724459B2 Method for reading data from a magnetic recordign tape
A method for reading data from a magnetic recording tape having multiple adjacent data tracks according to one embodiment includes simultaneously detecting signals from a plurality of read devices, at least some of the read devices being positioned over multiple data tracks while other of the adjacent read devices are positioned over single data tracks; determining which of the read devices is positioned over a single data track; and simultaneously reading data from the data tracks using only those read devices over the single data tracks. A method for reading and writing data to a magnetic recording tape according to another embodiment includes simultaneously writing data tracks to a magnetic medium; and simultaneously reading the data tracks on the magnetic medium using a plurality of adjacent read devices; wherein the number of the adjacent read devices is at least twice the number of the adjacent write devices.
US07724432B2 Rear-projection screen for projection video display system, method of rear-projection collimation and projection video display system incorporating the same
Various embodiments of a rear-projection screen, a method of rear-projection collimation and a projection video display (PVD) system. In one embodiment, a rear-projection screen includes: (1) a total-internal-reflection (TIR) fresnel lens configured to aim light received at an incidence angle toward a central axis of the TIR fresnel lens at a convergence angle and (2) a refractive fresnel lens configured to refract the light received from the TIR fresnel lens and at least to reduce the convergence angle.
US07724428B2 Operating microscope having an arm frame
An operating microscope includes a base set on a floor surface, a post held for rotation around a vertical rotation axis with respect to the base, a horizontal motion arm held for rotation around a first horizontal rotation axis with respect to the post, a vertical motion arm held for rotation around a second horizontal rotation axis with respect to the horizontal motion arm, a lens barrel portion supported by the vertical motion arm, an elastic member which is provided between the post and the horizontal motion arm and cancels an angular moment around the horizontal motion arm, a fulcrum which is provided on the horizontal motion arm and receives a force from the elastic member, and a fulcrum moving mechanism configured to shift the position of the fulcrum in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the horizontal motion arm.
US07724406B2 Halftone independent color drift correction
A method for compensating for color drift in a printer includes determining a first true tone response curve for a color channel when said printer is in a first state. A first estimated tone response curve for the color channel is also determined when said printer is in the first state. A second estimated tone response curve for the color channel is determined when the printer is in a second, color-drifted state relative to the first state. A second true tone response curve for the color channel is mathematically predicted using the first true tone response curve, the first estimated tone response curve, and the second estimated tone response curve. The first and second estimated tone response curves are estimated using a 2×2 printer model. A printing apparatus includes an image processing unit for implementing the color-drift correction process.
US07724401B2 Image scanner having wireless carriage module
An image scanner having wireless carriage module is provided to overcome the abrasion problem occurred between the flat flexible cable and the transparent scanning platform. The image scanner includes a casing; a carriage module disposed inside the casing for picking up image data of an object to be scanned and converting the image data into digital data; a wireless transmitter incorporated into the carriage module for receiving and modulating the digital data into wireless signals and transmitting the wireless signals out; and a wireless receiver separate from the carriage module and being in communication with a processing system for receiving and demodulating the wireless signals from the wireless transmitter into the digital data and outputting the digital data to the processing system for further processing.
US07724395B2 Dot arrangement determination method, program and apparatus, threshold matrix creating method and program, and image forming apparatus
The dot arrangement determination method for determining an arrangement pattern when m dots (where m is a natural number) are arranged in a specific pixel area, the method comprises: a setting step of variably setting an arrangement pattern in which the m dots are arranged without overlapping at pixel positions in the specific pixel area; a first image evaluation value calculating step of calculating an image evaluation value of a halftone image formed by arranging the m dots in the specific pixel area in accordance with the arrangement pattern set in the setting step; a second image evaluation value calculating step of calculating an image evaluation value of a halftone image implemented according to the arrangement pattern set in the setting step when dots cannot be formed in an arbitrary pixel row in the specific pixel area; and a dot arrangement calculating step of determining the arrangement pattern with least image quality degradation for inability to form dots in an arbitrary pixel row in the specific pixel area by approximately solving a combinational optimization problem for the arrangement pattern using calculation results of the first and second image evaluation value calculating steps.
US07724391B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method and program
To provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing method and a program that can decrease the frequency at which the object is externally referenced at the time of drawing and improve the drawing efficiency by suitably adjusting the bandwidth so that each element block of a structured document data may be included in one band. Therefore, the image processing apparatus scans the page of the structured document data in dividing the structured document data having plural element blocks into plural bands. The number of element blocks where an object to be externally referenced on the scanned line is arranged is detected. And the line at which the detected number of element blocks is decrease is set up as a divided line of the structured document data.
US07724389B2 Method for printing mixed color and black and white documents and for recovering from interruptions
A method for recovering from an interruption while executing color split printing is described. The document is split into two sub-documents. N sets of the first sub-document are printed on a first printer, and N sets of the second sub-document are printed on a second printer while merging sheets of the first sub-document using a paper inserter unit. When an interruption occurs when printing and merging the nth set, the nth set is skipped and the remaining sets are finished first. Then, the second printer instructs the user to place the printed sheets of the nth set of the first sub-document starting from the first sheet after the point of interruption in the paper inserter unit. The second printer prints the nth set of the second sub-document starting from the point of interruption while merging sheets of the first sub-document using the paper inserter unit to complete the nth set.
US07724385B2 System for preserving security while handling documents
A mail handling system for handling mail pieces in a mail handling area is presented. The system avoids breaching confidentiality of the mail pieces, and includes a view port device, for providing filtered visual access to a portion of the mail handling area while at least some information contained in the mail pieces is filtered out. The system also includes a manual access area, for allowing manual access to the mail handling area while unfiltered visual access to the mail handling area is obstructed.
US07724381B2 Optical locating device
An optical locating device (100) for identifying position includes a light emitter (101), a reflector (20), and a light receiver (30). The light emitter is disposed on a moving member (10) for emitting light. The reflector is configured for reflecting the light. The light receiver has at least one linear image sensor (301) for receiving the light reflected by the reflector and thereby generating an image signal corresponding to the light, and a processor (302) connecting to the image sensor to process the image signal for identifying the position of the moving member.
US07724375B1 Method and apparatus for increasing metrology or inspection tool throughput
A method and system for performing measurements on a test sample with a metrology or inspection tool are disclosed. At least one of the test sample and the tool is moved with respect to the other from a first position to a second position. At the second position, the tool is aligned for measurement of a measurement target on the sample. A focus of the tool on the test sample is adjusted while moving from that first position to the second position.
US07724361B2 Apparatus and method of inspecting defects in photomask and method of fabricating photomask
A mura-defect inspection apparatus 10 includes: a light source 12 which irradiates light onto a photomask 50 having a repeated pattern that a unit pattern is regularly arranged on a surface 52A of a transparent substrate 52; and a light receiving member 13 which receives reflected light from the photomask to convert it to received light data, wherein an analyzer 14 analyzes the received light data to detect a mura-defect generated in the repeated pattern, wherein the light source 12 irradiates light onto a back side 52B of the transparent substrate in the photomask.
US07724360B2 Method and apparatus for inspecting foreign particle defects
The invention relates to a device production process for forming a circuit pattern on a substrate such as semiconductor device. To enable a stable inspection of a minute foreign particle and a pattern defect occurring in manufacture of a device at a high speed and with a high sensitivity, an object to be inspected on which a transparent film is formed, is irradiated with a beam which is emitted from an illuminator whose illumination direction and illumination angle are selected from a plurality of choices to be optimum, so that scattered reflected light from a minute foreign particle defect on the object or the transparent film is effectively detected by eliminating a noise from the pattern formed on the object, and a detection optical system is optimized by evaluating and adjusting, with an image forming performance checker, an image forming performance of the detection optical system included in an inspecting apparatus.
US07724356B2 Apparatus for measuring differential refractive index
The invention provides an apparatus for measuring the differential refractive index for liquid chromatography which greatly improves the sensitivity while having quick responsiveness to refractive index difference of sample liquid, as well as a differential refractive index detector and a measurement method for a differential refractive index using the same. The apparatus for measuring a differential refractive index having a flow cell deflecting a measurement beam in accordance with the refractive index difference between a reference liquid and a sample liquid for measuring the change of the deflection angle on the basis of the refractive index difference of the measurement beam transmitted between the reference liquid and the sample liquid, wherein the flow cell comprises three independent chambers including a first chamber, a second chamber adjacent to the first chamber and a third chamber adjacent to the second chamber.
US07724345B2 Color filter substrate and liquid crystal display panel equipped with same
A color filter substrate according to the present invention includes a transparent substrate; at least three colors of colored layers provided on the transparent substrate; first columnar structure bodies 101 provided in pixel outskirts within a display region, the first columnar structure bodies 101 defining a cell gap; and second columnar structure bodies 102 provided in the pixel outskirts within the display region or outside the display region, the second columnar structure bodies 102 having a smaller height than that of the first columnar structure bodies 101, such that a difference from the height of the first columnar structure bodies 101 exceeds a range of elastic deformation of the first columnar structure bodies 101.
US07724343B2 Liquid crystal display panel
An LCD panel including a first substrate, a second substrate disposed above the first substrate, a plurality of signal lines disposed on the first substrate, and a plurality of sub-pixel sets arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate. Each sub-pixel set includes a plurality of sub-pixels electrically connected to the corresponding signal lines. Each sub-pixel has at least one alignment pattern located therein. Additionally, the alignment pattern located in one sub-pixel of each sub-pixel set supports between the first substrate and the second substrate as a spacer.
US07724341B2 Liquid crystal panel seal barrier and method of manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display panel includes a color filter substrate, a TFT substrate, a loop-shaped sealant formed along the peripheries of the substrates, a loop-shaped seal barrier formed along the sealant in the interior of the sealant, and a liquid crystal layer surrounded by the seal barrier. The seal barrier includes an inclined face in the sealant side.
US07724335B2 Display device producing display by changing shape of refractive index ellipsoid of medium by applying electric field to medium
A display element according to the present invention is provided with a pair of substrates, at least one of which is transparent; a medium between the substrates, wherein optical anisotropy magnitude of the medium is changeable by and according to an electric field applied thereon; at least one pair of electrodes for applying, on the medium, the electric field substantially parallel to the substrates; and a shielding electrode overlapping at least a display portion of at least one of the substrates, and used for shielding the display element from static electricity.
US07724330B2 Biaxial film having local birefringence that varies periodically
The invention relates to an optically biaxial film comprising an anisotropic material with deformed helically twisted structure and locally varying birefringence, to methods and materials for its preparation, to its uses as retardation or compensation film in optical devices like liquid crystal displays, and to compensators and liquid crystal displays comprising such a biaxial film.
US07724328B2 Dual display apparatus
An apparatus for dual display includes a light unit providing a light and a display panel. The display panel includes a transmissive pixel transmitting the light from the light unit and a reflective pixel reflecting the light from the light unit. The display panel displays a first image on one side of the light unit by using the light transmitted by the transmissive pixel, and displays a second image on an opposite side of the light unit by using the light reflected by the reflective pixel. The display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate combined with the first substrate and disposed adjacent to the light unit, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and the second substrates. The display panel further includes a reflective layer formed on the first substrate corresponding to the reflective pixel. Therefore, a total thickness of the apparatus for dual display can be reduced considerably by using the light unit as a second display screen.
US07724324B2 Color filter array substrate, a liquid crystal display panel and fabricating methods thereof
A liquid crystal display panel includes: a thin film transistor array substrate; a color filter array substrate opposite the thin film transistor array substrate; and a liquid crystal layer between the thin film transistor array substrate and the color filter array substrate, wherein the color filter array substrate includes: a black matrix partitioning sub pixels; a plurality of color filters at respective sub pixels; and a spacer-integrated planarizing layer arranged on the color filters and the black matrix, wherein the spacer-integrated planarizing layer includes a planarized surface at each of the sub pixels and a spacer pattern integrated with the planarized surface and protruding at the black matrix to maintain a cell gap between the thin film transistor array substrate and the color filter array substrate, wherein the spacer-integrated planarizing layer includes a liquid crystalline material.
US07724313B2 Automatic dust-removing device for a liquid crystal panel and projector using the same
A projector (100) includes a light source unit (20), a light polarizing module (11), a color light separation optical module (12), a reflection mirror group (13), a liquid crystal panel group (17), a cross dichroic prism (18), a projection lens (19), and two automatic dust-removing devices (16) for removing dust from the liquid crystal panel group. The liquid crystal panel group includes three liquid crystal panels (171, 172, 173). Each of the liquid crystal panels includes a mounting frame (179) and a liquid crystal lens (178) attached to the mounting frame. The automatic dust-removing devices are attached to opposite sides of the mounting frames. Each of the automatic dust-removing devices includes a fastening element (161), two vibration elements (163) and an optical lens (164). The fastening element is attached to the mounting frame. The vibration elements and the optical lens are attached to the fastening element.
US07724312B2 Driving circuit of display element, image display apparatus, and television apparatus
A driving circuit for display elements, comprises a modulation circuit that outputs a modulating signal to be applied to wiring to which display elements are connected; and an output circuit that serializes modulation data including height value data for determining a height value of at least part of waveform of the modulating signal and pulse width data for determining a pulse width of at least part of waveform of the modulating signal so that the modulation data can be transmitted to the modulation circuit by transmission paths, the number of which is smaller than the number of bits of the modulation data, and outputs the serialized modulation data.
US07724311B2 Optical projecting system
An optical projecting system includes a light-splitting unit for splitting composite source light into a plurality of composite light beam components, and a reflective color wheel rotatable about a rotation axis and including a plurality of multi-layer light-reflecting sections for further splitting each of the composite light beam components into a plurality of colored light beam components for subsequent modulation and projection. Each of the multi-layer light-reflecting sections includes a plurality of light-filtering layers stacked along the rotation axis, and each being capable of reflecting light within a predefined distinct wavelength range, and permitting transmission of light outside the predefined distinct wavelength range therethrough. Sequences of the light-filtering layers of an adjacent pair of the multi-layer light-reflecting sections are different from each other.
US07724304B2 Method and apparatus for motion adaptive deinterlacing
An adaptive filter calculates a target pixel from an interlaced video signal. The video signal comprises a plurality of frames, each of which comprises an even and an odd field. The filter comprises a quantized motion calculator and a filter selector. The quantized motion calculator estimates an amount of motion about the target pixel. The filter selector selects a filter in accordance with the estimated amount of motion. The filter applies a first weighting factor to a plurality of current field pixels and a second weighting factor to a plurality of previous field pixels for creating the target pixel.
US07724289B2 Imaging apparatus
A imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit, a photographing function setting unit that optionally sets operation conditions of the imaging unit, a recording unit that classifies image signals obtained by the imaging unit into groups and records the image signals on a recording medium, a group condition setting unit that optionally sets conditions for classifying the image signals into a plurality of groups, and a mode switching unit that switches between a recording manual setting mode for causing the imaging unit to execute photographing in accordance with the operation conditions set by the photographing function setting unit and the recording unit to classify and record the image signals in accordance with the conditions set by the group condition setting unit and a recording automatic setting mode for causing the imaging unit to execute photographing in accordance with predetermined operation conditions and the recording unit to classify and record the image signals in accordance with predetermined conditions.
US07724284B2 Multi-camera system and method having a common processing block
A system and method for realizing a multi-camera system having two optical paths with a single processing path for the two optical paths. Such a multi-camera system typically includes a first image-capture device associated with a first optical train wherein the first image-capture device is typically pointed in a first direction (i.e., away from the user). The multi-camera system further includes a second image-capture device having a second optical train wherein the second image-capture device is typically pointed in a second direction (i.e., toward the user). The multi-camera system further includes a single processing block coupled to the first image-capture device and the second image-capture device. The processing block is typically operable to process image data captured at each image-capture device.
US07724282B2 Method of processing digital image to correct for flash effects
An image captured by a digital camera with a flash is processed by locating distortions of said captured image due to said flash such as “red-eye” effects and removing them. The process includes the steps of determining if the flash is on (step 11), if so, determining any faces within the captured image (step 12), locating eyes within said faces (step 13), determining if “red-eye” removal is required (step 14), and if so, correcting for such effects (step 15) and storing corrected image (step 16) in a memory device of the digital camera.
US07724273B2 Thermal printer
Accumulation of foreign matter on the surface of the thermal head that can cause printing defects can be reliably prevented. The downstream edge 54a of the surface 52 of the thermal head 5 is substantially flush with the downstream end of the paper nipping area C of the thermal head 5 and the platen roller 8 in the thermal printer 1. The downstream end 54 extending from the downstream edge 54a in a direction perpendicular to the back side is connected to a through-hole 66 (foreign matter receptacle) formed in the heat sink 6. Foreign matter on liner-less label paper 11 clings to the downstream end 54 of the thermal head 5 after passing the paper nipping area C, and is then fed along the downstream end 54 into the through-hole 66 on the back. Foreign matter does not accumulate on the surface 52 of the thermal head 5, and problems such as streaking and other printing defects caused by foreign matter on the surface 52 of the thermal head 5 do not occur.
US07724271B2 Apparatus and method of transforming multidimensional video format
Provided are an apparatus and a method of transforming a format of a multidimensional image so that the multidimensional image can be output by any type of display device. The apparatus includes a scaler and a formatter. The scaler receives the multidimensional image and scales up or down a resolution of the multi-dimensional image. The formatter receives property information about a display device and transforms the format of the multi-dimensional image to conform to properties of the display device. Accordingly, a three-dimensional image or a stereo image can be easily displayed by any type of display device.
US07724264B2 Calculating display mode values
Values are calculated which control the manner in which a display streamer directs the movement of display data. The values are stored in the display streamer.
US07724254B1 ISO-surface tesselation of a volumetric description
A multi-threaded graphics processor is configured to generate a tessellated iso-surface from a volumetric description using slices of values that are stored in render targets. The volumetric description can be a complex mathematic equation, a sum of metaballs, a pre-computed scalar field represented as a 3D volume texture, or a rendered volume. Slices are aligned along an axis and spaced before being intersected with the volume to determine iso-surface intersections for the x, y, and z axes. The intersections are stored in render targets and are processed by a shader program to produce a tessellated iso-surface.
US07724253B1 System and method for dithering depth values
A system, and method are provided for dithering depth values. The depth values include a plurality of first depth values associated with a first object and a plurality of second depth values associated with a second object. Additionally, the first depth values and the second depth values are stored in a depth map in a predetermined configuration. In addition, the predetermined configuration takes on a checkerboard pattern.
US07724244B2 Slide-type input device, portable device having the input device and method and medium using the input device
A slide-type input device, a portable device provided with the input device and a method and medium of using the input device, which more freely move a pointer displayed on a screen, and more conveniently and exactly select a specific object, is provided. The slide-type input device includes a slide button movable in a specific direction, a motion control hole providing a movement area of the slide button, a location-detection module detecting location-change information according to the movement of the slide button, and a controller controlling a pointer displayed on the screen based on the location-change information of the slide button, wherein the slide button is moved in the specific direction by an external force applied by a user, and is then returned to an original location by an elastic force when the external force of the user is removed.
US07724239B2 Handheld electronic device, cursor positioning sub-system and method employing cursor scaling control
A track ball cursor positioning sub-system is employed by a handheld electronic device including an operating system and a plurality of applications having a plurality of predetermined scaling values. The cursor positioning sub-system includes a track ball cursor positioning device adapted to output a plurality of device pulses, and a track ball cursor resolution controller adapted to repetitively input the device pulses and to responsively output to the operating system a plurality of cursor movement events. The cursor resolution controller is further adapted to be controlled by the operating system or by the applications to learn which one of the applications is active and to automatically scale a number of the cursor movement events for a corresponding number of the device pulses based upon a corresponding one of the predetermined scaling values of the active one of the applications.
US07724236B2 Methods and systems for providing programmable computerized interactors
A computerized interactor system uses physical, three-dimensional objects as metaphors for input of user intent to a computer system. When one or more interactors are engaged with a detection field, the detection field reads an identifier associated with the object and communicates the identifier to a computer system. The computer system determines the meaning of the interactor based upon its identifier and upon a semantic context in which the computer system is operating.
US07724233B2 Driving circuit and LCD incorporating the same
A driving circuit of a liquid crystal display (LCD) (23) includes a system driver (28), a power supply device (26) and a system control device (25). The power supply device provides a votage to the system driver. The system control device generates a control signal, a data signal, and a backlight driving signal, and applies them to the system driver. The system driver drives an LCD panel (21) and a backlight of the LCD according to the backlight driving signal, the data signal and the control signal. The configuration of the driving circuit is simple.
US07724229B2 Liquid crystal display device
A voltage corresponding to desired image data is applied to a ferroelectric liquid crystal having a spontaneous polarization at a predetermined cycle to rewrite the displayed image (period A), and then, all voltages applied to the ferroelectric liquid crystal are removed (timing C) to retain the displayed image before the removal (period B). A gate selection period (voltage application period to the ferroelectric liquid crystal) t2 before stopping the voltage application is set longer than a gate selection period (voltage application period to the ferroelectric liquid crystal) t1 in the normal display. Increasing the voltage application period to the ferroelectric liquid crystal provides a sufficient response of the liquid crystal during the gate selection period, thereby realizing high memory ability.
US07724228B2 Liquid crystal display device and driving method thereof
A display device including a liquid crystal display (LCD) device with an improved image quality is provided. The LCD includes a liquid crystal (LC) panel having horizontal lines and vertical lines arranged in a matrix configuration; a gate driver for supplying a scan signal to the horizontal lines; and a data driver inverting a polarity of interlace pixel data by a unit of at least two fields, converting the interlace pixel data every field according to a gamma voltage, and supplying the converted pixel data to the vertical lines.
US07724226B2 Driving circuit and driving method for liquid crystal display panel
A driving circuit for a LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panel is provided which is capable of performing overdriving operations in all shades of gray and of obviating the necessity of predetermining a driving pattern based on experimental results. The driving circuit for the LCD panel includes an operational amplifier to a non-inverted input terminal of which a voltage to charge a pixel for current gray level display is applied and to an inverted input of which a voltage for charging a corresponding pixel occurred one field before, a NAND circuit to detect an output state of operational amplifiers, a P-channel MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) to switch operational states from one state in which the operational amplifier operates as a comparator to perform overdriving operations using source voltages to one state in which a pixel to be charged using a gray level voltage.
US07724224B2 Display device
A display device includes: a display panel including pixels; a signal controller that stores FRC patterns including data elements having first or second value, selects one of the FRC data patterns based on input image data having a first bit number, and converts the input image data into output image data having a second bit number based on the selected FRC data pattern; and a data driver applying to the pixels data voltages corresponding to the output image data supplied from the signal controller. The data voltages have first or second polarity, and the number of the pixels supplied with data voltages that correspond to the output image data converted based on the first value and have the first polarity is equal to the number of the pixels supplied with data voltages that correspond to the output image data converted based on the first value and have the second polarity.
US07724220B2 Driving system of light emitting diode
The invention relates to an LED current driving system. The LED current driving system comprises an LED driver. The LED driver comprises at least one LED driving unit for outputting a driving current to an LED. Each LED driving unit comprises a plurality of current sources and a plurality of switches. The switches are connected to the corresponding current source. Each switch controls the ON/OFF state of the corresponding current source in accordance with the duty cycle control signal and a current control signal. Therefore, by integrating the LED driver on the LCOS panel, the LED current driving system of the invention can decrease the pin number of the LCOS chip, the overall area and the system cost so as to improve the yield of the LED current driving system. Besides, the LED current driving system utilizes the current sources to form the driving current to stably and precisely control the driving current flowing through the corresponding LED so that the color quality of the image can be improved.
US07724195B2 Antenna apparatus
An antenna apparatus includes an antenna case housing an antenna; a connector to be connected to a device which connector is electrically connected to the antenna; and an antenna case supporting mechanism which supports the antenna case and enables changing a position of the antenna case at least to a horizontal position and a vertical position.
US07724178B2 Traffic alert collision avoidance system (TCAS) devices and methods
A device for determining the bearing of a vehicle using Inertial Reference Unit (IRU) and Traffic Alert Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) data. The device includes a means to communicate with the vehicle such as a transmitter, receiver, and antenna. The device also includes a processor configured to receive the IRU and TCAS data from the vehicle via the communication means and then generate a bearing value using the received data.
US07724175B2 Method for reducing interference signal influences on a high-frequency measurement device and high-frequency measurement device
A method for reducing interference signal influences on a high-frequency measurement device, in particular a method for operating a high-frequency position finder, in which an analog measurement signal (22) detected by a receiver unit (23) of the high-frequency measurement device is supplied to at least one analog/digital converter (28) of an evaluation unit for the measurement signal.According to the present invention, the scan rate of the at least one analog/digital converter (28) is varied as a function of an interference signal measurement value correlated with the interference signals.
US07724163B2 Apparatus of multi-stage network for iterative decoding and method thereof
An apparatus and method of multi-stage network for iterative network are disclosed. The apparatus has M stages, and each stage uses N multiplexers to transmit N codeword partitions simultaneously. Every starting terminal, either the output port of memories, soft-in soft-out decoders, or multiplexers, has two paths to couple with two different multiplexers at next stage. One path connects the source to the first data port of one multiplexer; the other connects the source to the second data port of another multiplexer. The two multiplexers will be controlled with the same 1-bit signal, so each source has only one valid path to next stage. The invention can guarantee that the transmission of N data blocks is free from contention.
US07724156B2 Apparatus and method for character entry in a portable terminal
A character entry method and apparatus in a terminal in which characters are grouped into a plurality of character sets and a representative character of each of the character sets is imprinted on a respective key are provided. In the character entry method, when a key imprinted with a representative character is pressed, characters belonging to a character set represented by the representative character are displayed and any one of the displayed characters is marked with a selection indication. When a move key is pressed, the duration of the key press of the move key is measured and the selection indication is sequentially moved. When input of the move key is released, a character marked with the selection indication is entered.
US07724149B2 Apparatus, and associated method, for selecting distribution of processing tasks at a multi-processor data center
Apparatus, and an associated method, for selecting at which processing unit of a plurality of processing units positioned at a data center that a processing task is to be performed. Temperature sensors are positioned throughout the data center and associated with the individual ones of the processing units. Indications of sensed temperature levels are collected and monitored by a collector and monitor. The indications of the sensed temperatures are used both pursuant to cooling operations, controlled by a cooling controller, and pursuant to processing-task placement, determined by a workload placement controller.
US07724147B2 Medical notification apparatus and method
A medical notification apparatus and method for use with a preexisting healthcare facility nurse call system are disclosed. The apparatus sends a message signal to the healthcare facility call system when the apparatus receives and identifies an acoustic signal indicative of a medical device alarm or other parameter. The apparatus comprises an acoustic sensor, a signal processing unit, and an interface unit. A band pass filter, timing gate, and a processor are configured in one embodiment to process the received acoustic signal to identify an acoustic alarm. A memory device may be used to store a set of identification criteria for identifying a variety of acoustic alarms, and to store a set of message signals. The sent message signal is selected from among the stored set of message signals.
US07724141B2 Dynamically reconfigurable antennas for RFID label encoders/readers
A dynamically reconfigurable antenna system for an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) reader/encoder includes a plurality of antenna elements; and a mechanism constructed and adapted to dynamically and selectively configure said plurality of antenna elements during operation thereof. The antenna elements may be arranged in a pattern of conductive areas, and each antenna element is switchably connectable to ground or to a transmission line connectable to the RFID reader/encoder. Each antenna element may be square, rectangle, circular, or diamond shaped. The antenna elements may located on an inner layer of the multi-layer printed circuit and wherein regions above the antenna elements are a dielectric layer or a slot aperture. The antenna system may be incorporated into an RFID encoder/reader.
US07724138B2 Method and system for tracking clustered items
A method and system for tracking each item in a cluster of items. Each item has an associated item ID. The method and system involve the following steps. Storing a plurality of item records. The plurality of item records includes, for each item in the cluster of items, an associated item record for storing the associated item ID for the item. Each item record in the plurality of records is then linked to the other item records in the plurality of item records. Using the associated item record for each item in the threshold number of items, and the link between each item record and the other item records, the item records for the associated item ID of each item in the cluster that are not in the threshold number of items are determined.
US07724132B1 Covert alarm and locator apparatus for miners
An article of footwear, such as a work shoe, is worn by miners. The footwear includes a location determining module which is able to locate its position by means of the timing and data contained in signals sent by it to locator devices which are placed at known locations throughout the mine, and which respond to transmissions made by the locator module. The footwear also contains a low frequency RF module which enables it to selectively transmit an alarm signal encoded with its location upon the selective activation by the wearer. In various embodiments, the invention can include sensors which are able to monitor physiological data of the wearer or the survivability of the ambient conditions where the footwear is located. Embodiments of the invention also provide the wearer with two-way communications capability. The various electronic components of the invention, can be formed in as a flexible modular unit which can be attached to existing footwear, or formed to new footwear during the manufacturing process, or thereafter.
US07724131B2 System and method of reporting alert events in a security system
A system and method for reporting alert events to a terminal device of a user of the security system. In one aspect, a security device of the system generates data of an image or a video clip indicative of an alert event in a detection zone of the security system and further generates a message including an indicium associated with the data. A security control panel of the system receives the message including an indicium associated with the data, identifies an address associated with the terminal device, and sends an instruction message including the indicium and the address to the security device. Upon receiving the instruction message, the security device generates an alert message including the data based on the indicium, and sends the alert message to the address of the user device.
US07724129B2 Multiple color pointer for a gauge or instrument
An indicating instrument such as a gauge may employ a light source, a face plate located in front of the light source, and a pointer that is rotatably mounted adjacent the face plate to indicate face plate positions. The pointer may be configured to emit at least two colors of light from a single color light source. The pointer may have a bottom surface, and a top surface that defines a channel to create lands on two levels. The top lands and bottom pointer surface may be equipped with hot-stamp foils of chosen colors to reflect or emit different colors of light from the pointer. A bottom foil may reflect light through the pointer while a top foil may emit light of a chosen color. The pointer shaft may be molded from a light-transmitting plastic material such as acrylic or polycarbonate.
US07724126B2 Movable barrier operator operating parameter transfer method and apparatus
Operating parameters as were previously learned by a first movable barrier operator (18) are transferred to a second movable barrier operator (10) such as, for example, to a replacement movable barrier operator. Pursuant to a preferred approach, such information transfer occurs via a receiver interface (13) that ordinarily serves to couple the movable barrier operator (10) to one or more remote user interfaces (11). Pursuant to one approach this transfer occurs during a learning mode of operation.
US07724124B2 Ceramic material used for protection against electrical overstress and low-capacitance multilayer chip varistor using the same
A low-capacitance multilayer chip varistor has capacitance lower than 0.5 pF at 1 MHz and has a characteristic of resisting more than thousands of times of 8 KV electrostatic shock, which comprises a ceramic main body, outer electrodes disposed at two ends of the ceramic main body and inner electrodes disposed therein; the ceramic main body comprises inorganic glass of 3˜50 wt % and semi-conductive or conductive particles of 50˜97 wt % with particle size of more than 0.1 μm, and a layer of inorganic glass film covers the surface of semi-conductive or conductive particles, wherein the inorganic glass film contains semi-conductive or conductive particles of submicron or nanometer which is smaller than 1 micron, and the quantity contained of semi-conductive or conductive particles is less than 20 wt % of that of inorganic glass.
US07724123B2 Varistor and method of producing varistor
A varistor is provided with a varistor element, and an external electrode disposed on the varistor element. The varistor element contains ZnO as a principal ingredient and contains a rare-earth element and Ca. The external electrode is formed by baking on an outer surface of the varistor element and contains Pt. When the external electrode is formed by baking on the varistor element, a compound of the rare-earth element and Pt and a compound of Ca and Pt are formed near an interface between the varistor element and the external electrode, and exist there. The existence of these compounds enhances the bonding strength between the varistor element and the external electrode.
US07724118B1 Pulse transformer with a choke part
A pulse transformer includes a core unit and a coil unit. The core unit includes an annular core part, and an annular choke part that is disposed in contact with the annular core part. The coil unit includes a plurality of coils, each of which is wound around both of the annular core part and the annular choke part.
US07724117B2 Multilayer passive circuit topology
A multilayer passive circuit topology is disclosed. In one embodiment, a multilayer circuit is provided. The multilayer circuit comprises a multilayer inductor comprising a first set of parallel conductive traces formed on a first layer, a second set of parallel conductive traces formed on a second layer spaced apart from the first layer; and a plurality of vias that connect respective parallel conductive traces from the first and second layer to form inductor windings. The multilayer circuit further comprises a multilayer capacitor connected to an end of the inductor by a coupling via, the capacitor comprising a first conductive plate and a second conductive plate being spaced apart from one another and being formed on different layers.
US07724113B2 System and method for producing a slide lock mechanism
An improved field emission system and method is provided that involves field emission structures having electric or magnetic field sources. The magnitudes, polarities, and positions of the magnetic or electric field sources are configured to have desirable correlation properties, which may be in accordance with a code. The correlation properties correspond to a desired spatial force function where spatial forces between field emission structures correspond to relative alignment, separation distance, and the spatial force function.
US07724104B2 Constant gain amplifier system with positive and negative feedback
Constant and accurate signal gain systems based on controlling oscillator loop gain. A constant gain positive feedback network and an amplifier form an oscillator. Only when the oscillator loop gain is at least one does the oscillator produces an AC signal. Negative feedback of the oscillator's AC signal level is used to keep the loop gain close to or at the value of one by controlling the loop gain of the oscillator circuit. By maintaining the loop gain of the oscillator circuit substantially constant the signal gain is also maintained substantially constant.
US07724098B2 Gyromagnetic precession oscillator
The present invention is, in one aspect, a radio frequency source, comprising a gyromagnetic precession oscillator. In a second aspect, the gyromagnetic precession oscillator comprises a closed, non-magnetic, cylindrical outer conductor defining a cavity therein; an axial field solenoid wound about the outer conductor; a non-magnetic, cylindrical inner conductor disposed within the cavity and coaxially aligned with the outer conductor; a plurality of cylindrical ferrite precessors, each defining a respective bore through which the inner conductor runs; a plurality of dividers disposed within and defining a resonant chamber in the cavity; and a dielectric material filling the cavity. In a third aspect, the radio frequency source is actively tunable. In a fourth aspect, the radio frequency source that is tunable pulse-to-pulse.
US07724092B2 Dual-path current amplifier
A dual-path current amplifier having a slow high-gain path and a fast low-gain path is described. In one design, the slow high-gain path is implemented with a positive feedback loop and has a gain of greater than one and a bandwidth determined by a pole. The fast low-gain path has unity gain and wide bandwidth. The two signal paths receive an input current and provide first and seconds currents. A summer sums the first and second currents and provides an output current for the dual-path current amplifier. The dual-path current amplifier may be implemented with first and second current mirrors. The first current mirror may implement the fast low-gain path. The first and second current mirrors may be coupled together and implement the slow high-gain path. The first current mirror may be implemented with P-FETs. The second current mirror may be implemented with N-FETs, an operational amplifier, and a capacitor.
US07724091B2 Matrix balun
An active input matrix balun and a method for the same. The matrix balun has one input transmission line with an RF-in terminal for receiving a single ended RF-in signal and a first output transmission line with a first RF-out terminal and an adjacent second output transmission line with a second RF-out terminal. Two balanced RF-out signals at the first and at the second RF-out terminal, where each RF-out signal has an amplitude level equal to or exceeding the amplitude level of the RF-in signal and where the RF-out signals have a mutual phase difference of 180° and are of equal amplitude levels.
US07724089B2 Amplifying circuit
First and second voltage buffers are added to an amplifying circuit including input and output amplifying stages in which a P-MOS transistor and an N-MOS transistor operate as a push-pull circuit. An input of the first voltage buffer is connected to an output of the amplifying circuit, and an output of the first voltage buffer is connected via a first phase compensating capacitor to a gate electrode of the P-MOS transistor, and is connected via a second phase compensating capacitor to a gate electrode of the N-MOS transistor. An input of the second voltage buffer is connected to the output of the amplifying circuit, and an output of the second voltage buffer is connected via a third phase compensating capacitor to the gate electrode of the P-MOS transistor, and is connected via a fourth phase compensating capacitor to the gate electrode of the N-MOS transistor.
US07724088B2 Push-pull amplifier
A push-pull amplifier includes a voltage inversion circuit 9 that uses an output of the differential amplifier 1 as an input signal, and includes a set of resistors 7a, 7b, and a differential amplifier 8 for inverting the polarity of the input signal, a level shifting circuit 3 that shifts the level of an output signal of the voltage inversion circuit 9 to a prescribed level, while inverting the polarity of the output signal, and an output amplifier circuit 4 that includes complementary transistors which are different from each other in polarity. The transistors are inputted with the above-mentioned input signal and the output signal of the level shifting circuit 3, respectively for carrying out push-pull amplification.
US07724071B2 Voltage boosting device and method for semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes: a pump circuit that boosts an output node connected to a memory cell array; an oscillator that outputs a clock to the pump circuit; and a detection circuit that outputs an actuating signal to the oscillator. In this semiconductor device, the actuating signal actuates the oscillator when the voltage of the output node of the pump circuit is lower than a first reference voltage, and the actuating signal stops the oscillator when the voltage of the output node is higher than a second reference voltage. In accordance with the present invention, when the voltage of the output node of the pump circuit is higher than the target voltage, the oscillator is stopped, and so is the pump circuit. Thus, unnecessary charge flow to the ground can be prevented, and the power consumption of the booster circuit can be reduced.
US07724067B1 Enhanced transmission gate
A body switch system includes a timing module that generates a plurality of clock signals, an input node that receives an input signal, an output node that transmits an output signal; and a body switch circuit that selectively couples a body of a first transistor of a plurality of transistors to one of the input node and the output node and a body of a second transistor of the plurality of transistors to the other one of the input node and the output node based on the plurality of clock signals.
US07724064B2 Circuit arrangement having a transistor component and a freewheeling element
A circuit arrangement configured to drive a load is disclosed herein. The circuit arrangement comprises a first and a second supply potential terminal for application of a first supply potential and a second supply potential. A load terminal is provided between the first and second supply potential for connection of the load. The circuit arrangement further comprises a first transistor component of a first conduction type. The first transistor component includes a load path and a control terminal, with the load path connected between the first supply potential terminal and the load terminal. The circuit arrangement also comprises a freewheeling element. The freewheeling element is provided as a second transistor of a second conduction type connected up as a diode. The second transistor is connected between the load terminal and the second supply potential terminal. The first transistor component and the freewheeling element are integrated in a common semiconductor body.
US07724059B2 Clock scaling circuit
Techniques for scaling and switching clocks in a glitch-free manner are provided. For example, in one aspect of the present invention, a technique for switching a frequency associated with a master clock includes the following steps/operations. Two phase clocks are generated from a master clock, wherein the two phase clocks do not transition at substantially the same time. Then, one of the two phase clocks is used to create multiple frequencies by dividing the one phase clock, and the other phase clock is used to switch between the multiple frequencies of the one phase clock. Further, one of the two phase clocks may be in phase with the master clock and the other of the two phase clocks may be 180 degrees out of phase with the master clock such that they do not transition at the same time. Also, the two phase clocks may be non-overlapping.
US07724055B2 Clock receivers
A clock receiver is provided. A receiving unit receives a pair of complementary clocks and generates a first clock, and a calibration unit detects whether a cross point of the complementary clocks has shifted, generates a detected result and accordingly adjusts toggling of the first clock.
US07724049B2 Multiphase generator with duty-cycle correction using dual-edge phase detection and method for generating a multiphase signal
Embodiments of a multiphase generator with duty-cycle correction are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the multiphase generator comprises controllable delay stages arranged in series and dual-edge phase detector circuitry. The dual-edge phase detector circuitry may generate a control signal to adjust the delay provided by the delay stages based on corresponding rising edges and corresponding falling edges of same-state signals operated on by the delay stages. Other circuits, systems, and methods are described.
US07724039B2 Conversion circuit for converting differential signal into signal-phase signal
A conversion circuit for converting a differential signal into a single-phase signal 1 has a source-follower amplifier 10 and a source-grounded amplifier 20. The source-follower amplifier 10 outputs a non-inverted signal IN of the differential signal the phase of which is not inverted. The source-grounded amplifier 20 inverts an inverted signal INX of the differential signal and adjusts its phase to that of the non-inverted signal IN. At point A, differential signals IN, INX are added and output as a single-phase signal OUT.
US07724037B2 Apparatus and methods for self-biasing differential signaling circuitry having multimode output configurations for low voltage applications
The present disclosure relates to a differential signaling circuit including differential signaling circuitry having at least one output and one input, that can operate in multiple mode of operations while using a single, low voltage supply source. Two or more switches are included and configured to selectively couple a supply voltage to the output dependent on a mode of operation of the differential signaling circuitry. The circuit also includes a switch control biasing circuit operatively coupled to at least one of the switches and to the output of the differential signaling circuitry. The switch control biasing circuit provides a switch control biasing voltage to control a state of the switch based on a voltage level of the output. Further, a bulk biasing circuit is included and operatively coupled to the switch. The bulk biasing circuit selectively provides a bulk biasing voltage to the switch based on the voltage level of the output.
US07724035B2 Data transmission system and cable
A data transmission system capable of transmitting data at high speed without being bound by a counterpart's power supply voltage can be realized. The data transmission system comprises multiple electronic equipment having individual power supplies, a cable for connecting between the multiple electronic equipment so as to transmit signals therebetween, digital data transmitting circuits extending between the multiple electronic equipment and the cable and each having an open drain type output section at the transmitting end, and an input section provided with a pull-up type resistor at the receiving end, wherein the resistor and the output section are moved from the electronic equipment to the connector of the cable so that parasitic capacitance for restricting time constant of waveforms of signals when rising is changed from a capacitance to a small capacitance.
US07724024B2 Semiconductor device with its test time reduced and a test method therefor
In a semiconductor device, when a voltage regulator is halted from operating and a test supply voltage is supplied to second logics, the device is initialized by a reset signal. A register included in the device is then reset by an input signal via first logics. The voltage regulator is halted by a power-down signal. Testing is then carried out as the test supply voltage is applied to the second logics. When plural test items are executed successively, a test reset signal is applied to a test reset terminal for each item. As the initialized state of the register is canceled, the first and second logics are initialized.
US07724023B1 Circuit apparatus including removable bond pad extension
Embodiments of the invention include an electrical circuit arrangement including a switchably removable bond pad extension test pad that allows improved testing of a corresponding electrical circuit device via enhanced placement of testing probes. The bond pad extension test pad is removably coupled to one of the electrical circuit device's electrical components, e.g., a bond pad. Because the bond pad extension test pad can be disconnected from the electrical component when not testing, the bond pad extension test pad does not contribute additional parasitic effects to the corresponding electrical circuit device. The electrical circuit arrangement automatically detects when a testing voltage is applied to the bond pad extension test pad, then connects the bond pad extension test pad in response to the detection of the applied testing voltage. When a testing voltage is not applied to bond pad extension test pad, the electrical circuit arrangement disconnects the test pad from the associated electrical component.
US07724021B2 Method and device for programmable power supply with configurable restrictions
The invention involves a programmable power supply device with configurable restrictions to the programmability of the power supply device, wherein the programmable power supply device comprises a number of freeze/programmability levels, each freeze/programmability defining a dedicated access restriction to the programmability of the power supply device.
US07724010B2 Torsion spring probe contactor design
The present invention relates to a probe for making electrical connection to a contact pad on a microelectronic device. A foot having a length, a thickness, a width, a proximal end, and a distal end, is connected to a substrate. The length of the foot is greater than its width. A torsion bar having a length, a width, a thickness, a proximal end, and a distal end, is connected to the distal end of the foot at the proximal end of torsion bar. The torsion bar lies in a first plane. A spacer having a length, a width, and a thickness, is connected to the distal end of the torsion bar. An arm having a length, a width, a thickness, a proximal end, and a distal end is connected to said spacer at the arms proximal end. The arm lies in a second plane and the second plane is in a different plane than the first plane. A first post having a top side and a bottom side is connected to the arm near the distal end of the arm. A tip is electrically connected to the top side of the post.
US07724009B2 Method of making high-frequency probe, probe card using the high-frequency probe
A high frequency probe preparation method for making a high frequency probe for high frequency testing to assure signal integrity by means of making a sleeve assembly subject to the size of a predetermined bare needle and then sleeving bare needle by the sleeve assembly to form a high-frequency probe is disclosed to include the steps of: a) providing an insulated tube, and b) forming a conducting layer on the outer surface of the insulated tube which having a metal layer for grounding. The insulated tube and the conducting layer constitute the sleeve assembly. The metal layer is formed by means of physical deposition, chemical deposition, mixture of physical and chemical deposition or electrochemical deposition.
US07724005B1 High-frequency structures for nanoelectronics and molecular electronics
Disclosed is an apparatus and methodology for characterization of small devices. On-chip subtraction of parasitic effects including coupling capacitive effects is provided by way of a rat-race employing a pair of gaps. A device or material being tested is positioned in a test position gap and an output signal is extracted from the rat-race at a position displaced along the rat-race between the test position gap and the other gap to provide subtractive cancellation of any parasitic effects associated with the rat-race and especially associated with the test position gap.
US07724004B2 Probing apparatus with guarded signal traces
A probing apparatus can comprise a substrate, conductive signal traces, probes, and electromagnetic shielding. The substrate can have a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and the electrically conductive first signal traces can be disposed on the first surface of the first substrate. The probes can be attached to the first signal traces, and the electromagnetic shielding structures can be disposed about the signal traces.
US07724002B2 Capacitive sensor
A capacitive sensor with at least one reference impedance and at least one measuring condenser (5), with at least one electrical alternating signal source (6), with a current supply network as well as with an analysis unit (7) in which the reference impedance and the measuring condenser (5) are connected via the current supply network to the alternating signal source (6) and the analysis unit (7) in such a way that the charge and discharge currents of the reference impedance and the measuring condenser (5) can be analyzed—at least partially—by the analysis unit (7). The capacitive sensor avoids—at least partially—drawbacks in the known capacitive sensors in that the reference impedance can be tuned.
US07724001B2 Capacitance sensing circuit
A circuit that senses a process variable includes a voltage divider that includes first and second capacitances. At least one of the capacitances is varied by the process variable. Divider ends receive modulated potentials, and a divider center tap coupled to a detector. The detector has a detector output representing carrier frequency range components. A control circuit controls a baseband envelope of the modulated potentials as a function of the detector output.
US07723998B2 Integrated circuit protection and detection grid
A mesh of conductors forms a grid in a multi-layered electronic device. The mesh of conductors includes (1) a first set of conductors disposed in one layer forming parallel lines in the one layer, and (2) a second set of conductors disposed in another layer forming parallel lines in the other layer. The first set of conductors is configured to provide a first voltage reference, and the second set of conductors is configured to provide a second voltage reference. At least one grid check circuit is coupled to the first set of conductors and the second set of conductors for monitoring presence and/or absence of the first or second voltage references. The parallel lines formed in the one layer and the parallel lines formed in the other layer are substantially perpendicular to each other.
US07723991B2 Apparatus and method for azimuthal MWD resistivity imaging at multiple depths of investigation
A combination of a shallow-reading and a deep-reading, azimuthally sensitive, multiple propagation devices is used for providing depth images the earth formation with different depth of investigation. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which 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.
US07723990B2 Method of displaying digital image for digital locating system and device for underground object detection
An underground digital locating system includes a receiver capable of acquiring a signal produced by an underground object and displaying a digital representation of the orientation of underground object and of its depth. The system includes a carrying case for the digital locating receiver, the carrying case further including a transmitter for energizing underground objects to emit a magnetic field. A method of locating an underground object using the described system is also disclosed, as well as methods of measuring a flux field and translating a flux field signal of an underground object into a visual representation of the underground object on the display screen of the locating receiver.
US07723986B2 Installation for investigating objects using magnetic resonance
An installation for investigating objects (10a) using magnetic resonance comprising a safety room (1) which has gastight walls (1a-c) and having a magnet system (9) for producing a homogenous magnetic field in an investigational volume (13), the magnet system (9) comprising a gastight outer shell (19) which is penetrated in a shell region (29) by feed-throughs (39a-d) into the interior of the magnet system (9), is characterized in that the magnet system (9) is arranged in the safety room (1), and one of the gastight walls (1a-c) is penetrated in an access region (1e), wherein a gastight connecting element (14) is present between the access region (1e) and the shell region (29) which, at its ends, is connected in a gastight manner to the gastight wall and the gastight outer shell (19) respectively, so that access from outside the safety room (1) is available to the shell region (29) and the feed-throughs there (39a-d), that access being sealed in a gastight manner with respect to the safety room (1). A part of the gastight shell of the magnet system thereby effectively becomes part of the wall of the safety room.
US07723982B2 Testing and manufacturing method of magnetic heads
A magnetic head suffers mechanical stresses by striking against a magnetic disc surface and dust, so that there are problems such as the reduction of reproduction output due to the mechanical stresses and the reversal of output polarity due to the mechanical stresses. Embodiments in accordance with the present invention relate to a method of testing reliability of reproduction elements of a magnetic head against outside stress. In a first step, a Giant Magnetoresistive (GMR) element on a row bar of the object of inspection, or a GMR element on a slider is measured for the output against external magnetic field. In the next step, prescribed shearing stress is applied with indenter to the edge where the GMR element-formed surface of the row bar or slider and the air-bearing surface are crossed. Then, output of the GMR element is measured again. Lastly, the outputs of the GMR element before and after application of stress are compared. When the amount of degradation is higher than the prescribed standard, the product is regarded as disqualified. Satisfaction of the prescribed standard is regarded as acceptance.
US07723980B2 Fully tested wafers having bond pads undamaged by probing and applications thereof
Methods and apparatus for producing fully tested unsingulated integrated circuits without probe scrub damage to bond pads includes forming a wafer/wafer translator pair removably attached to each other wherein the wafer translator includes contact structures formed from a soft crushable electrically conductive material and these contact structures are brought into contact with the bond pads in the presence of an inert gas; and subsequently a vacuum is drawn between the wafer and the wafer translator. In one aspect of the present invention, the unsingulated integrated circuits are exercised by a plurality of test systems wherein the bond pads are never physically touched by the test system and electrical access to the wafer is only provided through the inquiry-side of the wafer translator. In a further aspect of the present invention, known good die having bond pads without probe scrub marks are provided for incorporation into products.
US07723978B2 Instrumentation device and interface combining multiple elements
An instrumentation device having multiple elements includes at least one power supply module, a plurality of test and measurement instruments operatively coupled to the at least one power supply module and a user interface configured to select the at least one power supply module and to select at least one of the plurality of test and measurement instruments to provide power supply functionality and test and measurement functionality.
US07723976B2 Self-adjusting hold-off trigger
A self-adjusting hold-off trigger circuit and method detects a threshold crossing between consecutive samples of a digitized input signal as edge events, identifies the crossing as a qualified trigger event if the crossing is in a desired direction based upon trigger criteria, and provides a trigger output when the qualified trigger event occurs greater than an approximate average or peak time after a preceding edge event.
US07723975B2 Current detecting circuit
Indirect detection of current using a current mirror circuit is performed with good accuracy, with a small sized circuit. In a current detection circuit, a current detection current mirror circuit includes an output current transistor which supplies an output current, and a current detection transistor which supplies a detection current proportional to the output current. A compensation current mirror circuit is connected to a current supply side of the current detection current mirror circuit, so as to make a collector voltage of the output current transistor and a collector voltage of the current detection transistor equal. A current detector detects the detection current, to indirectly detect the output current.
US07723962B2 High voltage protection for a thin oxide CMOS device
A circuit includes a voltage regulator (208) for outputting a voltage at a regulated level, a protection circuit (260), and a load circuit (210) coupled to the voltage regulator. The protection circuit includes means for preventing the voltage regulator from outputting a voltage at a level higher than the regulated level during a start-up period of the voltage regulator.
US07723958B2 Battery charge indication methods, battery charge monitoring devices, rechargeable batteries, and articles of manufacture
Battery charge indication methods, battery state of charge monitoring devices, rechargeable batteries, and articles of manufacture are described. According to one aspect, a battery charge indication method includes first determining a state of charge of a battery at a first moment in time using a first method, second determining a state of charge of the battery at a second moment in time using a second method different than the first method, and providing information regarding the state of charge of the battery at the first and second moments in time using information of the first and second determinings.
US07723954B2 Method and device for supplying at least one load
The invention relates to a method and a device for supplying at least one load consumer during a mains failure. According to said method, a plurality of batteries acts as an emergency voltage source during the failure of a mains voltage source in order to supply the load consumer(s). The plurality of batteries is connected to the mains voltage source. The batteries are interconnected in series in order to form the emergency supply for the load consumer. To permit a simple, cost-effective emergency supply with a reliable charging of the batteries, the plurality of series-connected batteries is sub-divided into at least two battery groups using a splitter circuit and each of said battery groups is connected to the mains voltage source for charging purposes by means of a corresponding connection circuit.
US07723952B2 Cordless power system with system component identification and/or battery pack control
A cordless system has cordless system components that include a cordless device, such as a cordless power tool, a battery pack and a charger. The battery pack is mated with either the cordless device to provide power to operate the cordless device or to the charger to charge the battery cells in the battery pack. In an aspect, the cordless system has an identification and communication system by which the battery pack identifies and communicates information about the battery pack to the cordless device or to the charger to which the battery pack is mated. In an, the battery pack of the cordless system is capable of multiple modes, such as controlling the cordless device and controlling the charger. In an aspect, the battery pack validates the cordless device or charger to which it is mated. in an aspect of the invention, the cordless system uses any of a wired interface, radio frequency interface, an optical interface or a magnetic interface to communicate information between the battery pack and the cordless device or charger to which the battery pack is mated. In an aspect, female terminals are used in a terminal block of the battery pack to protect against foreign objects contacting the terminals. In aspect, the terminals in the terminal block of the battery pack are staggered or scattered to reduce the likelihood of a short circuit. In an aspect of the invention, the battery pack has a trap door that closes when the battery pack is not mated to a cordless device or charger to protect the terminal block of the battery pack. In an aspect of the invention, multi-spring, split contact terminals are used in the terminal block of at least one of the cordless system components. In an aspect of the invention, the battery cells are Lithium Ion battery cells.
US07723950B2 Electrical device having a boost converter and an energy limiter
An intrinsically safe battery powered device (100) includes a housing (102), a battery receiving region (104), an intrinsically safe power supply (108, 110), and device electrical circuitry (112). The power supply (108, 110) uses energy from batteries (106) received in the batter receiving region (104) of the device (100) to power the circuitry (112). In one implementation, the power supply includes an intrinsically safe charge pump circuit.
US07723932B2 Propulsion system
A propulsion system for a vehicle is provided. The propulsion system includes a first traction drive system and a second traction drive system. The first traction drive system includes a heat engine and a first drive motor. The heat engine supplies energy to the first drive motor to propel the vehicle. The second traction drive system includes a second drive motor and a first energy storage device. The second drive motor both supplies energy to the first energy storage device and receives energy from the first energy storage device. Also provided is a propulsion system for a vehicle that includes the first traction drive system and a propulsion means for supplying energy to a first energy storage device and for receiving energy from the first energy storage device.
US07723926B2 Shunting type PWM dimming circuit for individually controlling brightness of series connected LEDS operated at constant current and method therefor
A dimming circuit for driving a string of LEDs at constant current has a power converter. A control circuit is coupled to the power converter. A plurality of shunt switches is provided. An individual shut switch is coupled to each LED. Each LED can be shunted individually by the individual shunt switch. The control circuit corrects an internal DC state based on a feedback signal VO so that the output current of the power converter remains unchanged when at least one LED is shunted.
US07723923B2 Electroluminescent element driving apparatus
The present utility model discloses an electroluminescent element driving apparatus, which mainly resolves the problems caused by insufficient supplying of an electric power to affect the service life of the apparatus in the prior art. The electroluminescent element driving apparatus disclosed by the present utility model includes a power supply, a controlling IC, an electroluminescent element driving unit, a electroluminescent cell comprised of an electroluminescent element, and a charging unit connected to the power supply. The power supply continually storage's electric power while it supplies the power to the controlling IC and the electroluminescent element driving unit, respectively, the controlling IC supplies a flash to at least one electroluminescent element driving unit, the electroluminescent element driving unit transmits a signal having the flash to the electroluminescent cell, and the electroluminescent cell displays the signal having the flash. Since the electroluminescent element driving means disclosed by the present utility model includes the charging unit, although the electroluminescent element will consumes much power, a battery may be charged by exterior when its electricity is lack, thereby it may be reused. Thus, the present utility model advantageously eliminates the problems of lack of the electric power and a shorting life when applied to a flashing equipment.
US07723922B2 Light emitting diode driving device
There is provided an integrated LED driving device including: a DC/DC converting part converting and outputting a DC voltage inputted from the outside by switching of a switch into a driving voltage of a magnitude suitable for driving a plurality of LED arrays; a constant current controlling part receiving at least one of information on the current flowing through the LED array and information on a voltage applied to the LED array by feed-back, the constant current controlling part including a PWM controller PWM-controlling a switching duty of the switch of the DC/DC converting part, and controlling a switching duty of each of the switches of the switching part to allow the current to flow through the LED array with a predetermined magnitude; and a control logic receiving a control signal by a user and controlling the PWM controller in response to the control signal.
US07723918B2 Plasma display apparatus with angle formed by pattern units
The present invention relates to a plasma display apparatus. The plasma display apparatus includes a PDP, and a filter formed at the front of the panel. The filter includes an external light shielding sheet including a first base unit, and first pattern units formed in the first base unit, and an EMI shielding sheet including second pattern units. A thickness of the external light shielding sheet is 1.01 to 2.25 times greater than a height of each of the first pattern units, and an angle formed by the first pattern units and the second pattern units is set in the range of 20 to 65 degrees. Thereby, external light can be shielded and an EMI shielding effect can be improved.
US07723914B2 White organic light-emitting diode
A white organic light-emitting diode includes two symmetric emission layers and a middle emission layer. The two symmetric emission layers emit a first color light with approximately the same frequency components. The middle emission layer is located between the two symmetric emission layers. The middle emission layer emits a second color light with frequency components different from main frequency components of the first color light. When the voltage applied to the organic light-emitting diode changes and leads to a decrease of luminescent intensity of one of the symmetric emission layers, the other symmetric emission layer automatically increases the luminescent intensity to compensate for the reduced light intensity.
US07723912B2 Flat panel display with improved white balance
Disclosed is a flat panel display capable of enhancing a white balance by making a doping concentration or shape and size of drain offset regions of driving transistors different, in R, G and B unit pixels of each pixel. A flat panel display, comprises a plurality of pixels, where each of pixels including R, G and B unit pixels to embody red (R), green (G) and blue (B) colors, respectively. Each of the unit pixels includes a transistor with source/drain regions. Transistors of at least two unit pixels of the R, G and B unit pixels have drain regions of different geometric structures. In each unit pixel, a resistance value of the drain region of the transistor to drive a light-emitting device having the highest luminous efficiency among the transistors is higher than that of the drain region of a transistor to drive the light-emitting device having a relatively low luminous efficiency.
US07723908B2 Flat panel display incorporating a control frame
A flat panel display including: a plurality of electrically addressable pixels; a plurality of thin-film transistor driver circuits each being electrically coupled to an associated at least one of the pixels, respectively; a passivating layer on the thin-film transistor driver circuits and at least partially around the pixels; a conductive frame on the passivating layer; and, a plurality of nanostructures on the conductive frame; wherein, exciting the conductive frame and addressing one of the pixels using the associated driver circuit causes the nanostructures to emit electrons that induce the one of the pixels to emit light.
US07723904B2 Resonator, unit having resonator, oscillator having unit and electronic apparatus having oscillator
An electronic apparatus comprises a display portion and at least one oscillating circuit comprising an amplifier, at least one resistor, a plurality of capacitors, and a unit having a case and a resonator. The resonator is vibratable in a flexural mode and has first and second vibrational arms, and at least one groove is formed in at least one of opposite main surfaces of each of the first and second vibrational arms, and at least one mounting arm protrudes from the base portion and extends in a common direction with at least one of the first and second vibrational arms. An output signal of the at least one oscillating circuit comprising the resonator is a clock signal for use in operation of the electronic apparatus to display time information at the display portion.
US07723898B2 Device for the vibrational detection of fill-level limit state and a process for the vibrational detection of a fill-level limit state
A device for the vibrational detection of a fill-level limit state and a process for the vibrational detection of a fill-level limit stateThe invention relates to a device for the vibrational detection of a fill-level limit state, and to a corresponding process, with a vibrational resonator (10), at least one piezoelement (11) that is loaded with a piezo-capacitance in order to induce a vibration in the vibrating resonator (10) by providing a drive frequency, and in order to detect a vibration in the vibrating resonator (10); two connecting conductors (12, 13) for the piezoelement (11), and circuit components (18-20) for evaluating a vibration in the vibrating resonator (10) detected by the piezoelement (11), where a branch with a compensating capacitor (2) is connected in parallel to a branch exhibiting the piezoelement (11) in order to compensate a recharging current in the piezoelement (11), which recharging current is dependent on the piezo-capacitance.
US07723897B2 Electrical component and method for the production thereof
An electrical component includes a body made from a stack of ceramic layers. The body has a cavity that is accessible external to the body. The cavity is defined by a wall. A contact surface is on the wall. A contact device is electrically connected to the contact surface. At least part of the contact device is external to the body. The contact device includes a connection part and a spring. The spring is between the body and the connection part. The spring is for exerting a spring force on the contact surface.
US07723893B2 Brush assembly including biasing member for applying force
A brush assembly may include a support member, a conductive arm having a first end portion and a second end portion, where the first end portion is coupled to the support member, a brush coupled to the second end portion of the conductive arm, and a biasing member configured to apply a force to the conductive arm.
US07723892B2 Synchronous motor having multiple coil segments
A synchronous motor includes multiple coil segments, each of which has an iron core in the form of a core stack that is wound with a coil. The coil segments are characterized in that the coils press fastening elements having at least two legs against two opposite surfaces of the substantially right parallelepiped iron core. In each case, at least one leg of the fastening element abutting against the iron core is pressed against the iron core, and at least one free leg of the fastening element projects away from the iron core. The free legs are fastened to connecting elements that connect multiple coil segments to one another.
US07723886B2 Continously controllable magnetodynamic gear
The invention relates to a continuously controllable gear comprising a driving rotor rotatably driven by a power source which is provided with magnets uniformly distributed on the periphery thereof and produces, during the rotation thereof, a magnetic multipolar field in an ambient space rotating therewith. Said driving rotor is surrounded in the radial direction outwards with the primary air gap of a coaxial field concentrator which forms magnetoconductive pole shoes and is separated from a coaxial stator by means of a secondary air gap. The grooves of the stator are provided with sequentially short-circuitable windings.
US07723885B2 Hybrid drive unit
A hybrid drive unit for installation between an internal combustion engine and a vehicle transmission in a motor vehicle. The hybrid drive unit has an electric machine operable, alternatively, as a motor and a generator and having at least one stator and one rotor, the rotor having bearings on a transmission side and on an internal combustion engine side. One set of bearings is provided on the transmission side and, on the internal combustion engine side, the hybrid drive unit is supported on the crankshaft bearings of the internal combustion engine. A non-rotary connection can be established, for example, by means of a flexplate or a torsional vibration damper, between the rotor of the electric machine and the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine. Before the rotor is connected to the crankshaft, the rotor is supported on bearings on the transmission side. A radial safety mechanism is provided on the internal combustion engine side in order to prevent the rotor from tilting around the bearing on the transmission side and from establishing contact with the stator. When the rotor and the crankshaft are not connected to each other, the radial safety mechanism prevents contact between the rotor and the stator, and thus destruction of the electric machine.
US07723882B2 Electric motor
A closer is configured into a generally cylindrical shape and is provided to a rotatable shaft of an electric motor to rotate integrally with the rotatable shaft relative to a housing. The closer is at least partially received in an opening of a bearing receiver of the housing, which receives a bearing. The closer has an opposed end surface, which is axially opposed to an outer end surface of the bearing and defines a lubricant holding space in cooperation with the outer end surface of the bearing, an inner peripheral surface of the bearing receiver and an outer peripheral surface of the rotatable shaft. A lubricant is applied to the outer end surface of the bearing.
US07723881B2 Flat type motorized vibrators with high vibration output
The present invention involves a type of flat, motor-driven vibrator that does not increase the outer physical dimensions of the vibrator while increasing the amount of vibration by changing the mass and balance of the eccentric rotor. The base structure of the eccentric rotor is made of high-density alloy. Two or more coils are installed over the protuberances of the alloy oscillator and a circuit board is installed into the other end of the oscillator. A self-lubricating and wear-resistant, low-density plastic material is injected into the gap between the coils, the oscillator, and the circuit board to mold them together. A cylindrical bore in the middle of the molded plastic is used as a rotor bearing.
US07723879B2 Motor having multiple busbar plates and wire for the same
A stator of a motor includes a plurality of busbar plates, each laminated above a stator core in an axial direction and connected to a plurality of wires having a substantially U-shaped configuration. Each busbar plate includes a plurality of busbars arranged in a circumferential direction, and a busbar holder of insulating quality to which the plurality of busbars are integrally affixed. The wires include a line portion, and a connecting end portion having a substantially columnar shape protruding from an end surface of the line portion. The busbar makes contact with the end surface of the line portion and is connected by welding to the connecting end portion.
US07723877B2 Motor
A stator of a motor includes a stator core formed of a plurality of teeth and an annular yoke connecting the teeth to each other, and windings wound on the teeth. A rotor of the motor confronts the stator while supported rotatably, and includes a rotor magnet, a rotor core, and a position sensing magnet. The motor further includes a position sensor for sensing a rotational position of the rotor and a circuit board for supplying an electric current to the windings in response to the rotational position of the rotor. The rotor magnet, the rotor core, and the position sensing magnet are integrated into one unit, which is mounted on a shaft of the rotor.
US07723875B2 Bearing and cover assembly for a rotating electrical machine and a rotating electrical machine containing such an assembly
Protective bearing and cover assembly, for an internally ventilated rotating electrical machine, has centrally an axially orientated axis and comprises on the one hand at least one electronic component carried by the bearing and protected by the cover having at least one radial opening for the passage of air, at least one axial opening for the entry of air, a generally axially orientated skirt and a generally transversely orientated base part, in which is located the axial air inlet opening, which is offset axially in relation to the radial opening for the passage of air, and on the other at least one shaft for the cooling of the generally axially orientated electronic component; the radial opening for the passage of air constitutes the outlet of the cooling shaft whereas the skirt constitutes one of the internal and upper walls of the cooling shaft. The rotating electrical machine consists of an alternator or a starter-alternator or an alterno-starter comprising such an assembly.
US07723871B2 Heating power supply apparatus
A plural number of bridge circuits, each having a rectifier circuit with positive half wave control electrodes and a rectifier circuit with negative half wave control electrodes, and each of the plural number of the bridge circuits is connected to one winding of a power supply transformer; the rectifier circuit with negative half wave control electrodes selected from the plurality of the bridge circuits is electrically conducted when a predetermined the rectifier circuit with positive half wave control electrodes of the plurality of the bridge circuits is electrically conducted; the rectifier circuits with positive half wave control electrodes and the rectifier circuits with negative half wave control electrodes are connected by a plurality of loads.
US07723864B2 AC-to-DC electrical switching circuit
An electrical circuit and method for switching an input voltage onto a load by way of an AC control voltage is provided. A voltage magnitude reduction circuit is configured to be driven by the AC control voltage. A rectifier circuit is operably coupled with the voltage magnitude reduction circuit. Also, a voltage limiter circuit is operably coupled with the rectifier circuit, and an energy storage circuit is operably coupled with the voltage limiter circuit. The voltage magnitude reduction circuit, the rectifier circuit, the energy storage circuit and the voltage limiter circuit cooperatively generate a switch control voltage. An electronic switching unit is then configured to switch the input voltage across the load when the switch control voltage is active. In one embodiment, the input voltage is a DC voltage generated by an AC-to-DC voltage converter circuit configured to convert an AC supply voltage to the DC voltage.
US07723863B2 Power systems and methods using an uniterruptible power supply to transition to generator-powered operation
A loss of a power source for a bus is detected. Responsive to detecting the loss of the power source, a voltage is generated on the bus using an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). A generator is transitioned to a desired output state concurrent with generating the voltage on the bus using the UPS. The generator is coupled to the bus responsive to the generator attaining the desired output state. The UPS may be used to provide power to a load connected to the bus while the generator is in transition. For example, detecting the loss of the power source may be preceded by operating a converter of the UPS coupled to the bus as a rectifier and generating the voltage on the bus using the UPS may include operating the converter of the UPS as an inverter.
US07723860B2 Pipeline deployed hydroelectric generator
The hydroelectric generator of the present invention provides a pre-sealed, watertight device in which the rotor that includes the induction magnets is deployed within the main flow passage of the pipeline and thereby sealed within the pipeline, and he induction coil assembly is deployed outside of the pipeline such that the fluid is sealed within the pipeline away from the induction coils.
US07723858B2 Power plant having a heat storage medium and a method of operation thereof
A power plant for generating electricity has a high temperature heat reservoir and a low temperature heat reservoir. The plant is operated to store heat during off peak power periods and to use the stored heat during peak power periods to produce additional electricity.
US07723857B2 Turbo generator and fuel cell system having the same
Provided are a turbo generator and a fuel cell system having the same. The turbo generator includes a housing; an air inlet formed on the same axis as the axis of the housing on a first side of the housing; a rotor, a stator winding unit, impeller, and a turbine wheel mounted in the housing; and a tie-shaft installed to pass through the impeller and the turbine wheel and rotatably and integrally support the rotor.
US07723855B2 Pad and circuit board, electronic device using same
A pad for soldering a contact of a surface mounted component is provided herein. The pad includes a central portion and a plurality of separate extending portions extending from the central portion. All of the plurality of separate extending portions includes a free end and a connected end connected to the central portion. A width of the free end is larger than a width of the connected end. A circuit board and an electronic device are also provided.
US07723854B2 Assembly and method of assembling by soldering an object and a support
This assembly of an object and a support is achieved by using solder bumps. At least two wettability areas are made respectively on an object and on a support. Each solder bump ensures electrical contact and mechanical fixing firstly to one of the wettability areas of object and secondly to one of the wettability areas of support. The melting temperature of solder bumps is lower than the melting temperature of each of the wettability areas. Each wettability area of the object forms an angle of 70° to 110° with respect to each wettability area of the support and the object and the support are mutually distant from one another.
US07723848B2 Semiconductor device and method for designing same
A silica residue is generated, due to a presence of a step formed by a presence of the first layer metallic interconnect, and then, the residual silica is etched to form hollow portions when vias for the metallic interconnect provided in a layer above thereof is formed, and further, insulating materials remained above the hollow portions flakes off to create contaminants, leading to a reduction in the production yield. In the present invention, interconnects provided in a layer underlying a via group, which are provided for coupling to the upper layer interconnect layer, are disposed so as to cover vias composing its via group.
US07723847B2 Semiconductor device having an electrode pad, a bump provided above the electrode pad and a bump foundation layer therebetween
When a nickel (Ni) layer is formed on an electrode pad made of aluminum-silicon (Al—Si) by an electroless plating method, prior to the precipitation of zinc (Zn) which becomes a catalyst, copper (Cu) is formed in the form of discontinuous spots or islands on the surface of the electrode pad, thereby providing a copper (Cu) thin layer.
US07723846B2 Power semiconductor module and method of manufacturing the same
A power semiconductor module and a method of manufacture thereof includes a lead frame carrying lead having inner and outer lead portions. The outer lead portions, which are connected by soldering to semiconductor chips simultaneously, eliminate the need for using bonding wires. Since no bonding wire is used for connecting the leads and the semiconductor chips, a sufficient current capacity is obtained. The bonding between an insulating circuit board and the semiconductor chips and the bonding between the semiconductor chips and the leads can be made simultaneously in a single step of reflow-soldering. As a result, the mounting time can be shortened and the power semiconductor module can be manufactured more efficiently.
US07723836B2 Chip stack structure having shielding capability and system-in-package module using the same
A chip stack structure having a shielding capability may comprise a wiring substrate, the wiring substrate including a ground layer. The structure may also comprise a first chip attached on an upper surface of the wiring substrate and electrically connected to the ground layer. The structure may also comprise a plurality of first bonding wires which electrically connect the first chip to the wiring substrate. The structure may also comprise a shield plate attached to the first chip and detached from at least one of the plurality of first bonding wires, the shield plate being configured to cover the first chip and at least one of the plurality of first bonding wires. The structure may also comprise a grounding wire which connects the shield plate to the ground layer of the wiring substrate. The structure may also comprise a second chip attached to and supported by the shield plate. The structure may also comprise a plurality of second bonding wires which connect the second chip directly or via the shield plate to the wiring substrate.
US07723830B2 Substrate and method for mounting silicon device
A substrate on which a silicon device is mounted in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of protrusions extending upward from a top surface of the substrate and a solder layer formed on the top of the substrate such that the plurality of protrusions extends through the solder layer and a top portion of each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions is stamped down to be level with a top surface of the solder layer such that the silicon device is supported on the plurality of protrusions when placed on the substrate. The protrusions are preferably gouged up from the surface of the substrate with a needle like tool. A stamper tool is used to stamp the protrusions down to their desired height such that they are properly positioned to support the silicon device. The solder layer may be a solder pre-form or may be a layer of solder paste. The solder layer is heated to form liquid solder to bond the substrate and the silicon device, however, the protrusions support the silicon device to prevent movement thereof when the solder is in liquid form.
US07723829B2 Embedded metal heat sink for semiconductor
An embedded metal heat sink for a semiconductor device is described. The embedded metal heat sink for a semiconductor device comprises a metal thin layer, a metal heat sink and two bonding pads. The metal thin layer including a first surface and a second surface on opposite sides, wherein at least one semiconductor device is embedded in the first surface of the metal thin layer, and the semiconductor device has two electrodes with different conductivity types. The metal heat sink is deposited on the second surface of the metal thin layer. The bonding pads are deposed on the first surface of the metal thin layer around the semiconductor device and are respectively corresponding to the electrodes, wherein the electrodes are electrically and respectively connected to the corresponding bonding pads by at least two wires, and the bonding pads are electrically connected to an outer circuit.
US07723822B2 MEMS element having a dummy pattern
A first electrode is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A second electrode is formed separately at a predetermined interval from the first electrode, and has at least one opening. An actuator layer is connected to the second electrode, and drives the second electrode.
US07723807B2 Semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device includes at least two adjacent memory cell blocks, each of the memory cell blocks having a plurality of memory cell units, each of memory cell units having a plurality of electrically reprogrammable and erasable memory cells connected in series, a plurality of cell gates for selecting the plurality of memory cells within the two adjacent memory cell blocks, each of the plurality of cell gates being formed with roughly rectangular closed loops or roughly U shaped open loops, each of the loops being connected to a corresponding cell of the memory cells in a corresponding memory cell unit of the plurality of memory cell units within one of the two adjacent memory cell blocks and being connected to a corresponding memory cell of the memory cells in a corresponding memory cell unit of the plurality of memory cell units within the other memory cell block of the two adjacent memory cell blocks and a plurality of pairs of first and second selection gates for selecting the memory cell block, the plurality of cell gates being located between one pair of the first and second selection gates within a corresponding block of the memory cell block.
US07723803B2 Bipolar device compatible with CMOS process technology
The present invention discloses a bipolar device. An emitter is formed in a semiconductor substrate. A collector is laterally spaced from the emitter in the substrate. A gate terminal is formed on the substrate, defining a space between the emitter and the collector. An extrinsic base is formed on the substrate with a predetermined distance from either the emitter or the collector, wherein the base, the emitter, the collector and the gate terminal are located in an active area defined by a hole in a surrounding isolation structure in the substrate.
US07723799B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a P-substrate, an N-well disposed in the P-substrate, an NMOS transistor disposed in the P-substrate and having one of a source and a drain connected to a ground voltage, a P-tap disposed in the P-substrate and connected to a low voltage so as to provide the P-substrate with the low voltage to be lower than the ground voltage, a PMOS transistor disposed in the N-well and having a source connected to a power supply voltage, an N-tap disposed in the N-well and connected to the power supply voltage so as to provide the N-well with the power supply voltage, and a depression-type PMOS transistor having a drain connected to the low voltage and a source connected to the ground voltage so as to prevent a parasitic transistor, which may exist among the PMOS transistor, the N-well, the NMOS transistor, and the P-substrate, from causing a latchup between the power supply voltage and the ground voltage due to the low voltage rising higher than the ground voltage, and for becoming in a conductive state brought by a gate substantially connected to the ground voltage to maintain the low voltage to be substantially at the ground voltage until a possibility that the low voltage rises higher than the ground voltage is eliminated.
US07723789B2 Nonvolatile memory device with nanowire channel and method for fabricating the same
A nonvolatile memory device with nanowire channel and a method for fabricating the same are proposed, in which side etching is used to shrink side walls of a side-gate to form a nanowire pattern, thereby fabricating a nanowire channel on the dielectric of the side walls of the side-gate. A nonvolatile memory device with nanowire channel and dual-gate control can thus be achieved. This nonvolatile memory device can enhance data writing and erasing efficiency, and also has the capability of low voltage operation. Moreover, through a process of low cost and easy steps, highly reproducible and mass producible fabrication of nanowire devices can be accomplished.
US07723783B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes: a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type; a first semiconductor region of the first conductivity type and a second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type alternately arranged in a lateral direction on the first semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type; a third semiconductor region of the second conductivity type formed on the first semiconductor region; a fourth semiconductor region of the first conductivity type formed on a portion of the surface of the third semiconductor region; a control electrode provided via an first insulating film in a groove formed in contact with the fourth semiconductor region, the third semiconductor region, and the first semiconductor region; a first main electrode electrically connected to the first semiconductor layer; a second main electrode forming a junction with the third and fourth semiconductor region; and a fifth semiconductor region of the second conductivity type. The fifth semiconductor region is formed in contact with the first insulating film, the first semiconductor region, and the second semiconductor region. The bottom face of the fifth semiconductor region is deeper than the bottom face of the control electrode. Alternatively, the fifth semiconductor region may be spaced apart from the first insulating film.
US07723782B2 Trench structure semiconductor device and method for producing it
A trench structure semiconductor device is disclosed. In one embodiment, field electrode devices are arranged in a trench structure, in direct spatial proximity in comparison with essentially planar or smooth conditions, have an enlarged common interface region with an insulation material in between, whereby a comparatively stronger electrical coupling of the directly adjacent field electrode devices is achieved.
US07723769B2 Capacitor device of a semiconductor
Embodiments relate to a capacitor having a high capacitance, a semiconductor device having the same, and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device. In embodiments, the capacitor may include a lower electrode having a predetermined pattern, a dielectric layer formed on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode formed on the dielectric layer.
US07723759B2 Stacked wafer or die packaging with enhanced thermal and device performance
An apparatus includes a metallization region including a plurality of metal layers on a device layer of a substrate, a via extending through the substrate and the device layer, and a heat spreading and stress engineering region in the substrate and adjacent to the device layer. The via contacts a metal layer in the metallization region.
US07723758B2 Method for dopant calibration of delta doped multilayered structure
In a calibration method, the relation between dopant concentrations of δ-doping layers in a multilayered semiconductor structure and process parameters is determined S1 based on multiple bulk specimens of the material in which the δ-doping layers are located. A desired dopant concentration is selected S2, and the semiconductor structure with predetermined doping levels can be generated S3 based on the relation between the process parameters and the predetermined doping concentrations.
US07723745B2 Horizontal emitting, vertical emitting, beam shaped, distributed feedback (DFB) lasers by growth over a patterned substrate
A structure using integrated optical elements is comprised of a substrate, a buffer layer grown on the substrate, one or more patterned layers formed on the buffer layer and one or more active layers formed on or between the patterned layers, for instance by Lateral Epitaxial Overgrowth (LEO), and including one or more light emitting species. The patterned layer comprises a mask (made of insulating, semiconducting or metallic material) and material filling holes in the mask. The patterned layer, due to a large index difference with the active layer and/or variations of a refractive index between the mask and materials filling holes in the mask, acts as an optical confinement layer, a mirror, a diffraction grating, a wavelength selective element, a beam shaping element or a beam directing element.
US07723736B2 Light emitting device having a plurality of light emitting cells and package mounting the same
Disclosed is a light emitting device having a plurality of light emitting cells and a package having the same mounted thereon. The light emitting device includes a plurality of light emitting cells which are formed on a substrate and each of which has an N-type semiconductor layer and a P-type semiconductor layer located on a portion of the N-type semiconductor layer. The plurality of light emitting cells are bonded to a submount substrate. Accordingly, heat generated from the light emitting cells can be easily dissipated, so that a thermal load on the light emitting device can be reduced. Meanwhile, since the plurality of light emitting cells are electrically connected using connection electrodes or electrode layers formed on the submount substrate, it is possible to provide light emitting cell arrays connected to each other in series. Further, it is possible to provide a light emitting device capable of being directly driven by an AC power source by connecting the serially connected light emitting cell arrays in reverse parallel to each other.
US07723731B2 Semiconductor light emitting device
A first conductivity type cladding layer 2, a first side multilayer 9, an active layer 4, a second side multilayer 10, and a second conductivity type cladding layer 3 are provided in a semiconductor light emitting device. The first side multilayer 9 is provided between the first conductivity type cladding layer 2 and the active layer 4, and the second side multilayer 10 is provided between the active layer 4 and the second conductivity type cladding layer 3. Each of the multilayer 9, 10 is transparent with respect to the light generated at the active layer 4, having a bandgap larger than that of the active layer 4, and lattice-matched with the active layer 4.
US07723730B2 Carrier layer for a semiconductor layer sequence and method for producing semiconductor chips
A carrier layer (1) for a semiconductor layer sequence comprising an electrical insulation layer (2) containing AlN or a ceramic. Furthermore a method for producing semiconductor chips is described.
US07723721B2 Light emitting device having TFT
The present invention provides a TFT that has a channel length particularly longer than that of an existing one, specifically, several tens to several hundreds times longer than that of the existing one, and thereby allowing turning to an on-state at a gate voltage particularly higher than the existing one and driving, and allowing having a low channel conductance gd. According to the present invention, not only the simple dispersion of on-current but also the normalized dispersion thereof can be reduced, and other than the reduction of the dispersion between the individual TFTs, the dispersion of the OLEDs themselves and the dispersion due to the deterioration of the OLED can be reduced.
US07723720B2 Methods and articles incorporating local stress for performance improvement of strained semiconductor devices
A packaged semiconductor device (450) includes a semiconductor chip (400) having at least one selectively thinned substrate (cavity) region (410). A package (460) is provided for mounting, enclosing and electrically connecting the chip (400) to the outside world, and structure for applying external stress (470) to induce strain in the thinned substrate region (410). The external stress is preferably adjustable, such as by varying the gas flow (or a vacuum) applied through a pressure valve.
US07723719B2 Light emitting devices with inhomogeneous quantum well active regions
A method of fabricating a light emitting device includes modulating a crystal growth parameter to grow a quantum well layer that is inhomogeneous and that has a non-random composition fluctuation across the quantum well layer.
US07723717B2 Semiconductor memory device and fabrication method thereof
A semiconductor memory device comprises a heater electrode, a phase change portion, and an upper electrode. The phase change portion is connected to the heater electrode in a first direction. The upper electrode has an upper surface, a lower surface and a hole. The hole pierces the upper electrode between the upper and the lower surfaces in the first direction. The hole has an inner wall, which is connected to the phase change portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
US07723715B2 Memory device and method of making same
A radial memory device includes a phase-change material, a first electrode in electrical communication with the phase-change material, the first electrode having a first area of electrical communication with the phase-change material. A second electrode in electrical communication with the phase-change material, the second electrode having a second area of electrical communication with the phase-change material, and the second area being laterally spacedly disposed from the first area. Additionally, the radial memory device includes a dielectric layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the dielectric layer having an opening therethrough, the phase-change material being disposed in the opening, wherein the phase-change material is disposed at least partially above the second electrode. Further, a method of making a memory device is disclosed.
US07723703B2 Multidirectional electromagnetic wave irradiation system of workpiece and laser material processing system employing it
A system for multidirectional electromagnetic wave irradiation of an object to be processed has at least one of a side face irradiation prism system capable of irradiating a top face and one, two or more side faces of the object, and a bottom face irradiation prism system capable of irradiating a bottom face of the object. The side face irradiation prism system has an optical path direction changing prism placed so that each of the optical paths through which electromagnetic waves entering the optical path from above travel extends via the optical path direction changing prism to reach the side face of the object, without being obstructed. In this way, a laser machining apparatus or the like can be implemented which can simultaneously irradiate the faces of the object to be processed with electromagnetic waves with accuracy without moving the object to be processed.
US07723702B2 E-beam lithography system for synchronously irradiating a plurality of photomasks and method of fabricating photomasks using the same
Disclosed is an E-beam lithography system for synchronously irradiating surfaces of a plurality of substrates. The E-beam lithography system may include a loading unit loading and unloading substrates, an alignment chamber aligning the substrates, a transfer chamber transferring the substrates from the loading unit or chambers, a lithography chamber radiating one or more electron beams onto the substrates, and a vacuum chamber creating a vacuum in the chambers. A stage may be installed in the lithography chamber such that the substrates may be mounted on the stage and radiated with one or more electron beams.
US07723693B2 Radiation detecting apparatus and radiation imaging system using the same
At a radiation incident side of light generating means comprising light guiding means 300 including a light source such as an LED 301, a light guiding plate 303, a reflecting plate 304, a diffusing plate 305, and the like, radiation shielding members 401 to 403 for shielding the radiation are provided. As the radiation shielding members, those absorbing or reflecting 70% of the incident radiation are preferably used. Further, the radiation shielding member is disposed between a radiation detecting panel 500 and a light generating source such as the LED 301 and the like or disposed between the radiation detecting panel and a drive circuit which drives the light source such as the LED 301, and the like.
US07723692B2 Solid state radiation sensor and manufacturing method of the same
A solid state radiation sensor, in which an electrode is disposed on each side of a recording photoconductive layer, and charges generated in the recording photoconductive layer by the irradiation of radiation, with a predetermined bias voltage being applied between the electrodes, are detected as electrical signals. Here, a predetermined region is provided between the electrodes, and the average density of an alkali metal in the predetermined region is greater than or equal to 10 times the average density of the alkali metal in the area between the electrodes other than the predetermined region.
US07723687B2 Lanthanide halide microcolumnar scintillators
The present invention provides an imaging scintillation radiation detector comprising a doped lanthanide halide microcolumnar scintillator formed on a substrate. The scintillation radiation detectors of the invention typically comprise a substrate. The substrate can be either opaque or optically transparent. In a particular embodiment of the present invention the microcolumnar scintillator is a lanthanide-halide (LaHalide3) doped with at least cerium. The invention also provides methods for the vapor deposition of a doped microcolumnar lanthanide-halide scintillator film.
US07723686B2 Image sensor for detecting wide spectrum and method of manufacturing the same
An image sensor for detecting a wide spectrum includes a plurality of infrared ray receiving layers which individually receive infrared rays having different wavelengths for each pixel, the plurality of infrared ray receiving layers stacked to each other. The image sensor, which is an integrated image sensor where at least two micro bolometers are stacked, acquires spectrum information about visible rays and near-infrared rays as well as two or more infrared rays applied on an object, without mechanical/thermal/optical distortion, and provides the spectrum information to a silicon-based semiconductor such as a photodiode, thereby improving photoelectric conversion efficiency.
US07723681B2 Observation method with electron beam
For the purpose of repeatedly observing the bottom of a contact hole with a high aspect ratio, the potential of an electrostatic charge in each of a pattern to be observed and a vicinity of a range to be observed is stabilized by pre-charging a range on which to irradiate a beam of electrons while changing the range on a step-by-step basis.
US07723676B2 Method and apparatus for ion fragmentation in mass spectrometry
A method for fragmentation of analyte ions for mass spectroscopy and a system for mass spectroscopy. The method produces gas-phase analyte ions, produces gas-phase radical species separately from the analyte ions, and mixes the gas-phase analyte ions and the radical species at substantially atmospheric pressure conditions to produce fragment ions prior to introduction into a mass spectrometer. The system includes a gas-phase analyte ion source, a gas-phase radical species source separate from the gas-phase analyte ion source, a mixing region where the gas-phase analyte ions and the radical species are mixed at substantially atmospheric pressure to produce fragment ions of the analyte ions, a mass spectrometer having an entrance where at least a portion of the fragment ions are introduced into a vacuum of the mass spectrometer, and a detector in the mass spectrometer which determines a mass to charge ratio analysis of the fragment ions.
US07723671B2 Positional information detecting device
A light via first and second index scales is split by a beam splitter, and one of the split lights is received by a first light-receiving element via a movable scale and also the other of the split lights is received by a second light-receiving element via a reference scale, and therefore by computing positional information of the movable scale using an output of the first light-receiving element (a first output) and an output of the second light-receiving element (a second output), movement information of the movable scale can be measured with high precision without being affected by drift of the modulation center (the oscillation center) of the beam.
US07723667B2 Phototransistor with source layer between barrier layer and photosensitive semiconductor layer and a gate layer for controlling the barrier height of the barrier layer
A photo transistor has an active region spaced from a source by barrier. A drain is laterally spaced from the active region. Light incident on the active region creates electron-hole pairs. Holes accumulate at the barrier and modulate the effective barrier height to electrons. A gate reset voltage then is applied to gate which lower the barrier allowing the holes to escape.
US07723659B1 System and method for screening semiconductor lasers
A system and method are provided for screening a semiconductor laser. The method includes: (i) operating the laser at a first of a number of drive currents; (ii) acquiring a number (N) of frames of data from a sensor in an optical navigation system (ONS) receiving speckle pattern in light from the laser reflected from a surface proximal to the ONS, the sensor data including differential signal values; (iii) calculating an average differential signal value (AVG) for the N frames of data; (iv) sorting the N frames of data across a plurality of bins including a Bin_0 for frames of data having a differential signal value within a predetermined amount of the AVG; and (v) determining if a number of frames of data in any bins other than Bin_0 exceed a predetermined threshold, and if so recording the drive current.
US07723651B2 Heating pad
A heating pad is disclosed. The heating pad has a heating line received in a bag, wherein a plurality of heat preservation elements are slipped over the heating line; when the heating pad is electrified, a controller controls the temperature of the heating line for heat applying on a human body; when a electric source is turned off, the heating line stops being heated up, the heat preservation elements keeps on scattering heat outwards to extend the time of heat applying. The heat preservation elements can be ceramic pipes able to emit far infrared ray, so that during heat applying, the ceramic pipes can emit far infrared ray to get an effect of health care.
US07723635B2 Electrode wire for electric discharge machining and manufacturing method of the same
Enhanced electrode discharge machining properties of an electrode wire are achieved when the electrode wire comprises a coil, a covering layer formed on a periphery of the coil, and grains formed on the covering layer. The grains comprise a copper-zinc alloy including about 0.01 to 0.5 weight % of at least one additive element selected from the group consisting of aluminum, tin, magnesium, lanthanum, cerium, nickel, manganese, titanium, and zirconium.
US07723613B2 Angled double-wall junction
An enclosure (302), an electronic device (300) that includes the enclosure, and a method (600) for forming the enclosure. The enclosure can include a first enclosure portion (304) and a second enclosure portion (306). The first enclosure portion can include a first wall (410), which can include a first side (412) and at least a second side (414). In one arrangement, an angle (θ) between the first side and the second side is not greater than 70°. The second enclosure portion can include a second wall (420), which can include a third side (422) and at least a fourth side (424). In one arrangement, an angle between the third side and the fourth side is not greater than 70°.
US07723604B2 Apparatus and method for generating musical tone according to motion
An apparatus and method to output a musical tone is disclosed. More particularly, disclosed is an apparatus and method to output a musical tone according to motion, which divides a space in which a terminal can move into a plurality of subspaces, and matches the subspaces with different musical tones, so that the terminal can output a musical tone matched with a specific subspace when the terminal has moved into the specific subspace.
US07723601B2 Shared buffer management for processing audio files
This disclosure describes techniques that make use of a summing buffer that receives waveform samples from audio processing elements, and sums and stores the waveform sums for a given frame. In one example, a method comprises summing a waveform sample received from an audio processing element to produce a waveform sum associated with a first audio frame, storing the waveform sum in a memory, wherein the memory is logically partitioned into a plurality of memory blocks, and locking memory blocks containing the waveform sum associated with the first audio frame, transferring contents of locked memory blocks to an external processor, unlocking a memory block after contents of the memory block have been transferred to the external processor, and storing a waveform sum associated with a second audio frame within the unlocked memory block concurrently with transferring contents of remaining locked memory blocks associated with the first audio frame.
US07723595B2 Universal, portable sheet reading stand
A sheet music holder having a golpe board with a non-porous surface for gluing into a guitar body with a porous surface, a twist lock power-assisted suction device, a clamp with a single tightening nut, and a sheet tray to hold the sheet music. The twist lock power-assisted suction device allows a user to easily create a strong vacuum attachment that will last fro hours so a complete performance will not be interrupted. The golpe board is included where the guitar body has a porous surface that would otherwise frustrate the suction attachment. The double-ball-and-socket clamp and arm allows a variety of positioning possibilities for the user to best read the sheet music in the tray.
US07723592B1 Drum spur extension apparatus
A drum spur extension apparatus having an elongate member having a predetermined length, a longitudinally extending axis and a longitudinally extending inner bore that is sized for receiving a drum spur. The elongate member has a closed end and an opposite open end defining an opening in communication with the longitudinally extending bore. Other embodiments of the spur extension apparatus of the present invention are disclosed herein.
US07723572B2 Plant amino acid biosynthetic genes
This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding an aspartate kinase. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the aspartate kinase, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the aspartate kinase in a transformed host cell.
US07723570B2 Edible vaccines expressed in soybeans
The present invention relates to vaccines that are made in transgenic soybeans for use in humans, animals of agricultural importance, pets, and wildlife. These vaccines are used as vaccines against viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic or prion related diseases, cancer antigens, toxins, and autologous or self proteins. The transgenic soybeans of the instant invention also can be used for inducing tolerance to allergens or tolerance to autoimmune antigens, wherein an individual shows hypersensitivity to said allergen or has developed autoimmunity to autologous or self proteins, respectively. The invention also relates to prophylatically treating individuals and/or populations prior to showing hypersensitivity to allergens. Other aspects of the invention include using the transgenic soybeans as an oral contraceptive, and the expression of protein adjuvants in transgenic soybeans.
US07723569B2 Method for producing ubiquinone-10 in plant
A plant which expresses a large amount of ubiquinone-10 and a method for producing ubiquinone-10 using the plant are provided. A dietary supplement, a food and a food additive which contains ubiquinone-10 produced by the plant or the method are provided. The plant is produced by transformation using an expression cassette in which a decaprenyl diphosphate synthase gene is operatively linked with a mitochondrial targeting sequence.
US07723564B2 Compositions and methods for modulation of KSR1 and KSR2 interactions
Materials and methods for identifying agents which modulate KSR mediated signal transduction are provided.
US07723563B2 Transgenic proteins from multi-gene systems, methods, compositions, uses and the like relating thereto
A non-human transgenic mammalian animal, as described above, contains one or more exogenous double stranded DNA sequence(s) stably integrated into the genome of the animal, which comprises trans-acting regulatory units controlling expression of DNA sequences encoding proteins to be secreted into the milk of transgenic mammals. The DNA sequence of the trans-regulatory gene encodes transcriptional activating proteins, which are not secreted but made in a temporally controlled and mammary tissue specific manner. The DNA sequence containing the protein to be secreted in the milk is constructed on a separate gene sequence under the regulation of a minimal promoter and a trans-activation binding domain. The transgenic mammals are preferably pigs, cows, sheep, goats and rabbits. A related composition and method for making transgenic proteins which require specialized propeptides for proper post-translational processing is also described.
US07723557B2 Method for the preparation of linear alpha-olefins and reactor system therefore with improved disposal of high molecular weight oligomers
The present invention relates to a method for processing high molecular weight oligomer waste products formed during the production of linear alpha-olefins by oligomerization of ethylene in a reactor in the presence of a solvent and a catalyst, characterized in that the high molecular weight oligomers are separated in a separation unit from a product stream of the reactor comprising the solvent, the catalyst, linear alpha-olefins and high molecular weight oligomers having a solidification temperature in the range of about 60-100° C., then diluted with a dilution medium and heated to about 130° C. to about 200° C., the diluted high molecular weight oligomers are then transferred to a disposal device, wherein at least some of the dilution medium may be recovered and recycled for addition to the dilution medium.
US07723552B2 Process for making chlorotrifluoroethylene from 1,1,2-Trichlorotrifluoroethane
A process for the making chlorotrifluoroethylene. The process has the step of reacting 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane with a reducing metal in the presence of a polar aprotic solvent under conditions sufficient to form chlorotrifluoroethylene.
US07723548B2 Bis(phosphine) boronium salt, production method of bis(phosphine) boronium salt, and bis(phosphine) boronium salt produced by the production method
The present invention aims to provide a bis(phosphine) boronium salt to be used as a building block or the like for producing a diphosphine compound effective mainly for various kinds of transition metal-catalyzed reactions and further to provide a preferable production method of the bis(phosphine) boronium salt and a bis(phosphine) boronium salt to be produced by the production method.The present invention provides a bis(phosphine) boronium salt having the structure defined by the following formula (1).
US07723544B2 Process for recovery of iopromide, suitable for pharmaceutical purposes, from mother liquors
This invention describes a process for recovery of iopromide, suitable for pharmaceutical purposes, by heat treatment of the mother liquors or the secondary crystallizate in a reactor and subsequent crystallization.
US07723540B2 Method and apparatus for producing polyhydroxy carboxylic acid
The object is to provide a method and apparatus for producing a polyhydroxy carboxylic acid according to which an annular dimer can be efficiently obtained in the production of polyhydroxy carboxylic acid which is small in distribution breadth of molecular weight in depolymerization and opening ring polymerization steps. There are provided a depolymerization device 11 which depolymerizes hydroxy carboxylic acid or a polycondensate thereof into an annular dimer, a upper distillation column 13 which condenses the annular dimer vaporized in the depolymerization device 11, and lower distillation column 12 which refluxes the annular dimer and is provided between the depolymerization device 11 and the upper distillation column 13, said depolymerization device 11 having a polycondensate feed opening 54 and an annular dimer discharge opening 55 which are provided at a casing 50, a liquid film being formed inside the casing 50 and heated by a heating part.
US07723529B2 Process for preparing nitrooxy esters, nitrooxy thioesters nitrooxy carbonates and nitrooxy thiocarbinates, intermediates useful in said process and preparation thereof
The present invention relates to a process for preparing nitrooxy esters, nitrooxy thioesters, nitrooxy carbonates and nitrooxy thiocarbonates of compounds having at least an hydroxyl or thiol functional group, according to the following reaction scheme The invention also relates to intermediates useful in said process and to their preparation.
US07723524B2 8-cyanoquinolonecarboxylic acid derivative
To provide a quinolone antibacterial drug and a therapeutic agent for infectious diseases, which exhibit potent antibacterial activity on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and which is highly safe.A compound represented by the following formula (1): (wherein R1 represents a C3-C6 cycloalkyl group which may have a substituent or the like; R2 represents a hydrogen atom or the like; R3 and R4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a C1-C6 alkyl group, or a substituted carboxyl group derived from an amino acid, a dipeptide, or a tripeptide, and, in the case where each of R3 and R4 represents a C1-C6 alkyl group, the alkyl group may be substituted by one or more atoms or groups selected from among a hydroxyl group, a halogen atom, a C1-C6 alkylthio group, and a C1-C6 alkoxy group; and n denotes an integer of 1 to 3), a salt thereof, and a hydrate of the compound or the salt. Also, antibacterial drugs and therapeutic agents for infectious diseases are prepared.
US07723520B2 Red electroluminescent compounds and organic electroluminescent device using the same
The present invention relates to novel red phosphorescent compounds exhibiting high luminous efficiency, and organic electroluminescent devices comprising the same.
US07723518B2 Preparation of 9-hydroxy-3-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-methyl-4H-pyrido[1,2-A]pyrimidin-4-one
The present invention concerns a process for preparing crystalline 3-(2-chloro-ethyl)-9-hydroxy-2-methyl-4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-one substantially free of 2-acetylbutyrolactone.
US07723516B2 Method for the treatment of triazine-containing water of a melamine plant
The invention relates to a method for treating triazine-containing water of a melamine plant. The method is characterized in that the water containing ionic and non-ionic triazines in a dissolved form is fed to at least one membrane filtration unit, the water is separated into an ionic triazine-rich fraction and a non-ionic triazine-rich fraction in the membrane filtration unit, whereupon the ionic triazine-rich fraction is discharged and the non-ionic triazine-rich fraction is redirected into the melamine plant. The inventive method allows a great portion of the melamine contained in the triazine-containing water to be redirected into the process while the yield is increased along the entire melamine process. Furthermore, the need for fresh water in the wet part of the melamine plant is decreased. The disclosed method can be carried out continuously and in liquid phase.
US07723512B2 Oligonucleotides comprising a non-phosphate backbone linkage
One aspect of the present invention relates to a ribonucleoside substituted with a phosphonamidite group at the 3′-position. In certain embodiments, the phosphonamidite is an alkyl phosphonamidite. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a double-stranded oligonucleotide comprising at least one non-phosphate linkage. Representative non-phosphate linkages include phosphonate, hydroxylamine, hydroxylhydrazinyl, amide, and carbamate linkages. In certain embodiments, the non-phosphate linkage is a phosphonate linkage. In certain embodiments, a non-phosphate linkage occurs in only one strand. In certain embodiments, a non-phosphate linkage occurs in both strands. In certain embodiments, a ligand is bound to one of the oligonucleotide strands comprising the double-stranded oligonucleotide. In certain embodiments, a ligand is bound to both of the oligonucleotide strands comprising the double-stranded oligonucleotide. In certain embodiments, the oligonucleotide strands comprise at least one modified sugar moiety. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a single-stranded oligonucleotide comprising at least one non-phosphate linkage. Representative non-phosphate linkages include phosphonate, hydroxylamine, hydroxylhydrazinyl, amide, and carbamate linkages. In certain embodiments, the non-phosphate linkage is a phosphonate linkage. In certain embodiments, a ligand is bound to the oligonucleotide strand. In certain embodiments, the oligonucleotide comprises at least one modified sugar moiety.
US07723511B2 Synthesis of sulfurized oligonucleotides
Methods for the formation of sulfurized oligonucleotides are provided. The methods allow for the formation of phosphorothioate linkages in the oligonucleotides or derivatives, without the need for complex solvent mixtures and repeated washing or solvent changes. Oligonucleotides having from about 8, and up to about 50, nucleotides can be sulfurized according to the methods of the invention with higher yields than have been previously reported.
US07723510B1 MicroRNA molecules
In Caenorhabditis elegans, lin-4 and let-7 enclode 22- and 21-nucleotide RNAs, respectively, that function as key regulators of developmental timing. Because the appearance of these short RNAs is regulated during development, they are also referred to as “small temporal RNAs” (stRNAs). We show that many more 21- and 22-nt expressed RNAs, termed microRNAs, (miRNAs), exist in invertebrates and vertebrates, and that some of these novel RNAs, similar to let-7 stRAN, are also highly conserved. This suggests that sequence-specific post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms mediated by small RNAs are more general than previously appreciated.
US07723507B2 Diagnostic test for Collie Eye Anomaly
The invention relates to a method for identifying dogs which are genetically normal, heterozygous for, or homozygous for the mutation primarily responsible for Collie eye anomaly (CEA). The method comprises the steps of obtaining a biological sample from a dog and testing DNA in the biological sample for the presence or absence of a 7.8 kilobase deletion within chromosome 37 in which the CEA mutation is located. No deletion is indicative of a normal dog. A deletion on one allele of chromosome 37 is indicative of a dog that is heterozygous for the CEA mutation. A deletion in both alleles of chromosome 37 are indicative of a dog that is homozygous for the CEA mutation. Also provided is a kit for identifying a dog as normal, heterozygous for, or homozygous for the CEA mutation.
US07723506B2 Tetrahymena heat inducible promoters and their use
A method characterizes samples having units by monitoring fluctuating intensities of radiation emitted, scattered, and/or reflected by the units in at least one measurement volume, the monitoring being performed by at least one detection device, the method comprising the steps of: a) measuring in a repetitive mode a number of photon counts per time interval of defined length, b) determining a function of the number of photon counts per the time interval, and c) determining a function of specific brightness of the units on basis of the function of the number of photon counts.
US07723500B2 Immunostimulatory nucleic acid molecules
Nucleic acids containing unmethylated CpG dinucleotides and therapeutic utilities based on their ability to stimulate an immune response and to redirect a Th2 response to a Th1 response in a subject are disclosed. Methods for treating atopic diseases, including atopic dermatitis, are disclosed.
US07723489B1 Use of blocking anti-TSH-receptor-antibodies in the therapy of hyperthyreoses and monoclonal antibodies for a use of this type
Use of blocking antibodies against the human TSH receptor (hTSH receptor) or their specifically binding fragments for the treatment of, or for preparation of drugs for the treatment of, hyperthyroidism which is attributable to stimulating autoantibodies against the hTSH receptor (Graves' disease) or overstimulation of the thyroid gland by endogenous TSH or to activating mutations of the hTSH receptor, and for the treatment of Graves' ophthalmopathy, and specific blocking monoclonal antibodies which recognize the minimum sequence FDSH corresponding to the positions 381 to 384 of the human TSH receptor.
US07723487B2 Method for purifying cancer-specific proliferating cell nuclear antigen
The method for developing an antibody that exclusively binds to csPCNA.
US07723486B2 Antibodies to TGF-β
The present invention relates to antibody molecules, in particular antibody molecules that bind Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGFβ), and uses thereof. More particularly, the invention relates to antibody molecules that bind and preferably neutralize TGFβ1, TGFβ2 and TGFβ3, so-called “pan-specific” antibody molecules, and uses of such antibody molecules. Preferred embodiments within the present invention are antibody molecules, whether whole antibody (e.g. IgG, such as IgG1 or IgG4) or antibody fragments (e.g. scFv, Fab, dAb).
US07723484B2 Anti-EGFR antibodies
The present invention encompasses EGFR specific monoclonal antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof. These antibodies, or antigen-binding portions thereof, have high affinity for EGFR, inhibit the activation of EGFR, and are useful for the treatment of EGFR mediated cancers.
US07723478B2 DKR polypeptides
Disclosed are nucleic acid molecules encoding novel DKR polypeptides. Also disclosed are methods of preparing the nucleic acid molecules and polypeptides, and methods of using these molecules.
US07723476B2 Anticalins
The invention relates to the production of novel proteins exhibiting bonding activity for certain ligands, the so-called anticalins. To this end, the structure of peptides of the lipocalin family is modified by amino acid replacement in their natural ligand binding pocket using generic engineering methods. Alike immunoglobulin, the anticalin thus obtained can be used to identify or bond molecular structures.
US07723475B2 RTVP-GliPR-like compositions and methods for the detection, treatment and prevention of prostate cancer
The invention is directed to purified and isolated novel RGL2 polypeptides, the nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides, processes for production of recombinant forms of such polypeptides, antibodies generated against these polypeptides, fragmented peptides derived from these polypeptides, and the uses of the above.
US07723468B2 Antimicrobial peptide, compositions, and uses therefor
The invention refers to small peptides with low hemolytic activity, presenting similar antiparasitic, antifungal and antibacterial activities.More specifically, it refers to a peptide called gomesin, with 18 amino acid residues, configured as a hairpin structure consisting of two anti-parallel beta-folded sheets joined by a beta turn, containing four invariable residues of cysteine forming two disulphide bridges, configurable as a cyclic chain with open or closed ends.
US07723465B2 Method for producing polyether alcohols
The invention provides a process for continuously preparing polyether alcohols using DMC catalysts, which comprises, in a first step, in a continuous reactor, adding alkylene oxides onto H-functional starter substances and transferring the output of this reactor to a second step in a reactor which is divided by closed trays into mutually separate sections, known as compartments, which are connected to one another by external pipelines, in which the output of the reactor from the first step of the reaction passes through the compartments in succession.
US07723460B2 Shape-memory resin performing remoldability and excellent in shape recovering property, and molded product composed of the cross-linked resin
It is possible to provide a shape-memory molded product having excellent shape-memory properties and recycling efficiency by using a shape-memory resin having a glass transition temperature (Tg) within the range of 40° C. to 200° C. and a dissociation temperature (Td) of a thermo-reversible reaction within the range of 50° C. to 300° C. and satisfying the relationship: Tg+10° C.≦Td, wherein the resin is deformed at a temperature of Tg to less than Td, and cross-linked through a thermo-reversible reaction in which a covalent bond is formed by cooling and dissociated by heating.
US07723459B1 Polymeric polysorbate softeners
The present invention is directed to a class of polyesters that are lightly crosslinked polyesters made by reacting polysorbate units (linked by the reaction of their hydroxyl groups) to the carboxyl group of dimer acid. As will become clear, lightly crosslinked as used herein relates to reactions in which there is an excess of hydroxyl groups on a molar basis to carboxylic groups on the dimer acid. The polymers and a contribute softness, lubricity and antistatic properties when applied to hair, skin, textile fiber and paper.
US07723456B2 Crosslinked silicone polymers based upon spider esters
The present invention relates to a series of crosslinked silicone polymers that by virtue of the nature of a polar loving spider ester crosslinker, have unique solubility and film forming properties. These include improved tolerance for oily materials and water-soluble materials. These polymers find use in personal care applications like pigmented products. In the personal care arena, solid products that do not experience syneresis are important.
US07723452B2 Composition of an oligomeric fluorosilane and surface treatment of retroreflective sheet
The invention relates to a method of treatment of a retroreflective sheet with a treatment composition that comprises a fluorinated compound having one or more silyl groups and an auxiliary compound selected from the group consisting of (i) one or more non-fluorinated compounds of an element M selected from Si, Ti, Zr, B, Al, Ge, V, Pb and Sn and (ii) an organic compound having a Si—H group. The invention also relates to compositions comprising (i) a fluorinated compound comprising one or more silyl groups and (ii) an auxiliary compound selected from the group consisting of organic compounds having a Si—H group.
US07723445B2 Curable resin composition, molded product, and process for producing the same
By heating, allowing to stand at normal temperature, or irradiating in the presence of a photo-polymerization initiator, a curable resin composition which contains (A) a resin material having a radical polymerizable unsaturated group and an epoxy group, (C) a radical polymerization initiator, (D) an amine compound and/or a mercaptan compound containing one or more of active hydrogen in one molecule, and (E) a compound, which is an adduct in which the (D) amine compound and/or a mercaptan compound, is reacted with the radical polymerizable unsaturated group of the (A) resin material, thereby a cured product can be obtained.
US07723443B1 Multifunctional linear silicone resin polymers
The present invention relates to a series of crosslinked silicone polymers that by virtue of the nature of the crosslinking undecylenic acid ester based crosslinker, have unique solubility and properties. These include improved tolerance for oily materials and improved skin feel. These polymers find use in personal care applications like pigmented products. In the personal care arena, solid products that do not experience syneresis are important. Syneresis is a condition that exists in a solid product that causes a liquid that is incompatible to ooze out, which is cosmetically unacceptable.
US07723439B2 Process for producing a polyfluoroalkyl (meth)acrylate
A process for producing a polyfluoroalkyl (meth)acrylate, which comprises isolating, from a reaction mixture containing a polyfluoroalkyl (meth)acrylate obtained by reacting a polyfluoroalkyl iodide of the formula CnF2n+1(CH2)mI (wherein n is an integer of from 2 to 7, and m is an integer of from 1 to 4) with a metal (meth)acrylate in tert-butanol, said polyfluoroalkyl (meth)acrylate by the following steps (1) to (3): (1) a step of taking out a crude liquid from the reaction mixture by solid-liquid separation; (2) a step of distilling the crude liquid to separate it into compound group A of compounds having a lower boiling point than the polyfluoroalkyl (meth)acrylate and compound group B of the polyfluoroalkyl (meth)acrylate and compounds having a higher boiling point than the polyfluoroalkyl (meth)acrylate; and (3) a step of distilling and purifying the polyfluoroalkyl (meth)acrylate from the compound group B in the presence of a polymerization inhibitor.
US07723436B2 Bimodal acrylate pressure-sensitive adhesive compounds
The invention relates to a polyacrylate which as a result of a polymerization process has a broad, bimodal molecular weight distribution. These acrylate pressure-sensitive adhesives are preferably processed from the melt. The low molecular weight fraction lowers the flow viscosity, while the high molecular weight fraction results in the achievement of a high shear strength, following appropriate crosslinking, for the acrylate pressure-sensitive adhesive.
US07723433B2 Clear, impact modified, heat resistant polyvinyl halide compositions
A clear, impact modified, heat resistant polyvinyl chloride composition is provided comprising (a) at least one polyvinyl halide; (b) at least one clear impact modifier possessing a refractive index which is not more than about 2% above or below the refractive index of the polyvinyl halide; and (c) at least one clear heat modifier comprising a terpolymer obtained by the copolymerization of a vinyl aromatic monomer, an acrylonitrile and an alkyl acrylate or alkyl methacrylate, wherein the terpolymer possesses a refractive index which is not more than about 2% above or below the refractive index of the polyvinyl halide and possesses a weight average molecular weight ranging from about 75,000 to about 400,000.
US07723432B2 Method for the preparation of 1-benzotriazolyl carbonate esters of poly(ethylene glycol)
The invention provides a method for preparing a 1-benzotriazolylcarbonate ester of a water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer by reacting a terminal hydroxyl group of a water-soluble and non-peptidic polymer with di(1-benzotriazolyl)carbonate in the presence of an amine base and an organic solvent. The polymer backbone can be poly(ethylene glycol). The 1-benzotriazolylcarbonate ester can then be reacted directly with a biologically active agent to form a biologically active polymer conjugate or reacted with an amino acid, such as lysine, to form an amino acid derivative.
US07723416B2 Peroxide dispersions
A hardener composition useful in a two part resin system. The hardener composition includes a reactive carrier, a peroxide catalyst, a thickener and thixotropic agent selected from fumed silica and precipitated silica, and optionally a filler. The hardener composition can have a shelf life of over six months. A two-part polyester resin system and a method of making a polyester resin composition are also disclosed.
US07723409B2 Coupling agents between filler and elastomer
The invention describes a composition comprising a) a naturally occurring or synthetic elastomer susceptible to oxidative, thermal, dynamic, light-induced and/or ozone-induced degradation, b) a white reinforcing filler, and c) as coupling agent, at least one compound of the formula (I) wherein the general symbols are as defined in claim 1, or an oligomeric hydrolysis product of the compound of the formula (I).
US07723407B2 Resin composition, method of its composition, and cured formulation
It is an object of the present invention to provide a resin composition which can form cured formulations having various excellent properties such as an insulating property, thermal shock resistance, moldability/formability and strength, and exhibit an excellent appearance in which transparency is enhanced, a resin composition whose cured thin film has excellent flame retardancy, good mechanical property and heat resistance, a dispersing element containing an inorganic microfine particle which can give a flame retardancy to a resin, to which the inorganic microfine particle is added, and can reduce a hygroscopic property to the extent possible, a method for producing the same and a cured formulation obtained by using the resin composition. The present invention relates to a resin composition comprising a compound having at least one of a glycidyl group and/or an epoxy group and an inorganic microfine particle, a resin composition comprising three components of a phenolic compound, a compound having at least one of a glycidyl group and/or an epoxy group and an inorganic microfine particle, a flame retardant resin composition comprising a polyhydric phenol and an inorganic microfine particle, and a dispersing element containing an inorganic microfine particle obtained by a hydrolysis condensation reaction of alkoxide and/or metal carboxylate in a dispersion medium.
US07723405B2 Self-healing coating system
A self-healing coating includes a polymer matrix, a polymerizer, and a set of capsules containing a corresponding activator for the polymerizer. The polymerizer may be present in another set of capsules, or the polymerizer may be phase separated from the polymer matrix. The coating may be prepared by depositing a coating composition on a substrate and solidifying the coating composition, where the coating composition includes the polymerizer, the activator capsules and a matrix precursor. A combination of polymerizer capsules and activator capsules may be part of a kit, which may be used to provide self-healing properties to a coating. The polymerizer and the activator may be wet-curable, and coatings containing the polymerizer and activator may be able to self-heal when in contact with water.
US07723402B2 Ink formulations and uses thereof
The present invention provides a chemical ink comprises a solvent, a binder polymer, a colorant and optionally a crosslinker. The ink of the invention has one or more of the following characteristics: a viscosity lower than about 50 centipoises; a surface tension of from about 20 mN/m to about 60 mN/m; a particle size of less than about 5 μm; prolonged stability; an appropriate color level (visible by eye); uniform drop formation; jet stability; good adhesion to contact lenses; good transfer from a mold to a lens made in the mold; and stability of ink in inkjet nozzles. The ink of the invention is useful for inkjet printing of a high-quality color image on a contact lens or a mold so as to produce a colored contact lens.
US07723393B2 Cycloalkylidene compounds as selective estrogen receptor modulators
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I) with a variety of therapeutic uses, more particularly the substituted cyclic alkylidene compounds are useful for selective estrogen receptor modulation.
US07723377B2 Inhibitors of cognitive decline
Compounds that are central nervous system drug candidates for the treatment of cognitive decline and, more particularly, Alzheimer's disease are provided. Methods of treating, inhibiting, and/or abatement of cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease with a derivative of ginger oil are also provided. Also provided is a method of conditioning biological extracts, such as a medicinal plant extract, by a reductive amination process to give nitrogen-containing derivatives.
US07723370B2 1, 2-diaryl pyrazoles useful as analgetic and antiinflammatory agents
The present invention relates to new compounds of formula (I), (I) wherein the meaning of R1 is hydrogen atom, C1-C5 acyl group, benzoyl group or R2—COOR3 group, Y is hydrogen atom or alkali ion, R2 is C1-C4 straight or branched alkylidene group and R3 is hydrogen atom, C1-C4 alkyl group or alkali ion, and/or stereoisomers and/or diastereomers and/or pharmaceutically acceptable salts and/or hydrates and/or solvates thereof, which are suitable for the treatment of pain of acute and chronic inflammation origin as well as postoperative pain and dysmenorrhea. The invention also relates to the process of the synthesis of compounds of formula (I) as well as the pharmaceutical composition containing the same and the use for treatment of pain, inflammation and disorders associated with inflammation.
US07723366B2 Azole compounds as malonyl-CoA decarboxylase inhibitors for treating metabolic diseases
The present invention relates to methods of treatment of certain metabolic diseases, and to the use of compounds and their prodrugs, and/or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds useful in treating such diseases. In particular, the invention relates to the use of compounds and compositions for treatment of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers, acidosis, and obesity through the inhibition of malonyl-CoA decarboxylase (MCD). These compounds have the following formulae: (I) and (II) Wherein Y, C, R1, R2, R6, and R7 are defined herein.
US07723359B2 Benzoimidazole compounds
Benzoimidazole compounds, compositions, and methods of using them in leukocyte recruitment inhibition, in modulating H4 receptor, and in treating conditions such as inflammation, H4 receptor-mediated conditions, and related conditions.
US07723351B2 Multi-arm polymeric conjugates of 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin for treatment of breast, colorectal, pancreatic, ovarian and lung cancers
A four arm-polyethylene glycol-7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin conjugate, such as, is disclosed. Methods of making the conjugates and methods of treating mammals using the same are also disclosed.
US07723347B2 Substituted phenylamino-pyrimidines
The invention relates to substituted phenylaminopyrimidines, to a process for their preparation and to their use for preparing medicaments for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases in humans and animals, in particular cardiovascular disorders.
US07723345B2 Multicyclic amino acid derivatives and methods of their use
Compounds of formulae I and II are disclosed, as well as compositions comprising them and methods of their use to treat, prevent and manage serotonin-mediated diseases and disorders:
US07723344B2 Dipeptidyl peptidase inhibitors
Compounds, pharmaceuticals, kits and methods are provided for use with DPP-IV inhibitors comprising Formula I: wherein the substituents are as described herein.
US07723342B2 Heterocycles as nicotinic acid receptor agonists for the treatment of dyslipidemia
A compound having the general structure of Formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, ester, or tautomer thereof, wherein: Q is selected from the group consisting of: and L is selected from the group consisting of: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, ester, or tautomer thereof, are useful in treating diseases, disorders, or conditions such as metabolic syndrome and dyslipidemia.
US07723341B2 Compounds for the treatment of inflammatory diseases
Dihydrothienopyrimidines of formula 1 and the pharmacologically acceptable salts, enantiomers, racemates, hydrates, or solvates thereof, which are suitable for the treatment of respiratory or gastrointestinal complaints or diseases, inflammatory diseases of the joints, skin, or eyes, diseases of the peripheral or central nervous system or cancers, as well as pharmaceutical compositions which contain these compounds.
US07723336B2 Fused heterocyclic compounds useful as kinase modulators
Compounds having the formula (I), and enantiomers, and diastereomers, pharmaceutically-acceptable salts, thereof, are useful as kinase modulators, including MK2 modulation, wherein one of E and F is a nitrogen atom and the other of E and F is a carbon atom, Z is N or CR3, and R1, R2, R3, X and Y are as defined herein.
US07723319B2 Acyclic nucleoside phosphonate derivatives, salts thereof and process for the preparation of the same
The present invention relates to an acyclic nucleoside phosphonate derivative which is useful as an antiviral agent (particularly, against hepatitis B virus), pharmaceutically acceptable salts, stereoisomers, and a process for the preparation thereof.
US07723317B2 RNAi modulation of ApoB and uses thereof
The invention relates to compositions and methods for modulating the expression of apolipoprotein B, and more particularly to the downregulation of apolipoprotein B by chemically modified oligonucleotides.
US07723312B2 Compositions and methods for treatment of prostate and other cancers
Therapeutic agents which target heat shock protein (hsp) 27 in vivo are used to provide treatment to individuals, particularly human individuals, suffering from prostate cancer and other cancers that overexpress hsp27. A therapeutic agent, for example an antisense oligonucleotide or RNAi nucleotide inhibitor with sequence specificity for hsp27 mRNA, for example human hsp27 mRNA, is administered to an individual suffering from prostate cancer or some other cancer expressing elevated levels of hsp 27 in a therapeutically effective amount. The therapeutic agent is suitably formulated into a pharmaceutical composition which includes a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and packaged in dosage unit form. A preferred dosage unit form is an injectable dosage unit form.
US07723304B2 Systems for delivery and release of angiotensin-(1-7)
The prior art lacks a formulation, application or product of D-Ala7-Angiotensin-(1-7) (A-779) and analogues and derivatives, D-Pro7-Angiotensin-(1-7) and analogues or derivatives or of Ang-(1-7) analogues or derivatives using cyclodextrins, liposomes, biodegradable polymers and its derivatives for the study or treatment of arterial hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases, wounds, burns, arrhythmia, tumors, diabetes mellitus, sperm mobility, nephropathy, gastrointestinal and gynaecologicalgynecological disorders, angiogenesis, angioplatsy, alopecia and blood diseases in warm blooded animals, or as ligands for de G-protein-coupled receptor MAS. This characterizes the present invention as a more effective option for the study and treatment of pathologies associated or not to this receptor. A combination of two different technologies are provided: the molecular encapsulation of the peptide angiotensin-(1-7) and its analogues and derivates in cyclodextrin and the microencapsulation in biodegradable polymers and liposomes. It is also characterized by the increase of this peptides and its analogues and derivatives using the formulation.
US07723303B2 Peptides and peptide mimetics to treat pathologies characterized by an inflammatory response
This invention provides novel active agents (e.g. peptides, small organic molecules, amino acid pairs, etc.) peptides that ameliorate one or more symptoms of atherosclerosis and/or other pathologies characterized by an inflammatory response. In certain embodiment, the peptides resemble a G* amphipathic helix of apolipoprotein J. The agents are highly stable and readily administered via an oral route.
US07723287B1 Treatment of the eye with a pharmaceutical composition
A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of disorders of the anterior segment of the eye or for the preservation of isolated cornea. The composition comprises, as an active ingredient, an agent capable of causing a net efflux of cholesterol from cells.
US07723281B1 Stable aqueous antimicrobial enzyme compositions comprising a tertiary amine antimicrobial
The invention relates to an enzyme stabilization system, compositions with the enzyme stabilization system, and methods of using the enzyme composition. Preferred ratios of acid to amine are effective at stabilizing enzyme. Optional nonionic surfactants and solvents also positively contribute to enzyme stability. The compositions are useful in cleaning applications.
US07723272B2 Methods and compositions for fracturing subterranean formations
Viscoelastic surfactant (VES) gelled aqueous fluids containing water, a VES, an internal breaker, a VES stabilizer, a fluid loss control agent and a viscosity enhancer are useful as treating fluids and particularly as fracturing fluids for subterranean formations. These VES-based fluids have faster and more complete clean-up than polymer-based fracturing fluids. The use of an internal breaker permits ready removal of the unique VES micelle based pseudo-filter cake with several advantages including reducing the typical VES loading and total fluid volume since more VES fluid stays within the fracture, generating a more optimum fracture geometry for enhanced reservoir productivity, and treating reservoirs with permeability above the present VES limit of approximately 400 md to at least 2000 md.
US07723260B2 Methanol oxidation catalyst
A methanol oxidation catalyst is provided, which includes nanoparticles having a composition represented by the following formula (1): PtxRuyMozTu  (1) In the formula (1), the T-element is at least one selected from the group consisting of W and V, x is 20 to 80 at. %, y is 10 to 60 at. %, z is 1 to 30 at. % and u is 1 to 30 at. %. The area of the peak derived from oxygen bond of T-element is 80% or less of the area of the peak derived from metal bond of T-element in a spectrum measured by an X-ray photoelectron spectral method.
US07723254B2 Magnesium compound, solid catalyst component, olefin polymerization catalyst, and method for producing olefin polymer
A method of producing a magnesium compound by reacting the following components (i), (ii) and (iii): (i) metal magnesium (ii) an alcohol (iii) a metal dihalide compound represented by the general formula (I) containing at least 0.001 mole of M relative to one mole of magnesium of the metal magnesium (i) MX2  (I) where X is a halogen atom and M is Mn, Fe, Co or Zn.
US07723252B2 Catalysts and methods for synthesizing aliphatic hydrocarbons from CO and H2
There is disclosed in embodiments catalysts produced by a two-stage loading of a zeolite carrier with an aqueous solution of a cobalt compound, with drying in an air current after each loading. Methods using the catalysts to produce synfuel are disclosed.
US07723251B2 Method of regeneration of SCR catalyst
A method of regeneration of a SCR catalyst for use in a power plant facility burning fossil fuels, bio-based fuels, or a combination thereof, wherein poisons are removed from the catalyst. The method is suitable for use during neutralization using C1 to C8 carboxylic acids.
US07723247B2 Method for pressurelessly sintering zirconium diboride/silicon carbide composite bodies to high densities
A method of sintering a ZrB2—SiC composite body at ambient pressures, including blending a first predetermined amount of ZrB2 powder with a second predetermined amount of SiC powder, wherein both powders are characterized by the presence of surface oxide impurities. Next the blended powders are mixed to yield a substantially homogeneous powder mixture and a portion of the substantially homogeneous powder mixture is formed into a green body. The body is fired to a first temperature, wherein substantially all surface oxide impurities are reduced and/or volatilized to substantially eliminate oxides from the green body, and the body is heated to a second temperature and sintered to yield a composite body of at least about 99 percent theoretical density and characterized by SiC whisker-like inclusions distributed substantially evenly in a ZrB2 matrix.
US07723244B2 Method for internal electrical insulation of a substrate for a power semiconductor module
A method for internal electrical insulation of a substrate for a power semiconductor module having a framelike insulating housing with a cap and having an insulating substrate. The substrate has conductor tracks and power semiconductor components mounted thereon. The power semiconductor components are connected to connection elements, e.g., further conductor tracks or power semiconductor components, by means of bond connections. The method is characterized by the following steps: a) forming the substrate; b) coating the substrate with a viscous dielectric insulation compound in a casting process or immersion process; c) initiating the cross-linking of the insulation compound; d) with the substrate in a suspended position, permitting excess insulation compound to drip off, and securely enveloping the bond connections with insulation compound; and e) placing the substrate in the housing.
US07723240B2 Methods of low temperature oxidation
A method for forming a dielectric is provided. The method includes providing a substrate having a silicon-containing semiconductor layer within a process chamber. The process chamber is capable of ionizing a process precursor to a plasma comprising an oxygen-containing element and a fluorocarbon-containing element. A surface portion of the silicon-containing material is oxidized by using the plasma to convert the surface portion into an oxidized dielectric material.
US07723235B2 Method for smoothing a resist pattern prior to etching a layer using the resist pattern
After a polycrystalline silicon film (5) is formed on a semiconductor substrate via an insulating film for a gate insulating film (step S1), an organic antireflection film (21) is formed on the polycrystalline silicon film (5) (step S2), and a resist pattern (22) is formed on the antireflection film (21) (step S3). Then, a passivation film (23) is deposited on the antireflection film (21) so as to cover the resist pattern (22) by plasma using fluorocarbon gas while a bias voltage is being applied to the semiconductor substrate (step S4). Then, the passivation film (23) and the antireflection film (21) are etched by plasma using gas containing oxygen gas (step S5). Thereafter, the polycrystalline silicon film (5) is etched using the resist pattern (22) with reduced line edge roughness as an etching mask to form a gate electrode (step S6).
US07723233B2 Semiconductor device and method of fabricating a semiconductor device
A method is proposed for the fabrication of the gate electrode of a semiconductor device such that the effects of gate depletion are minimized. The method is comprised of a dual deposition process wherein the first step is a very thin layer that is doped very heavily by ion implantation. The second deposition, with an associated ion implant for doping, completes the gate electrode. With the two-deposition process, it is possible to maximize the doping at the gate electrode/gate dielectric interface while minimizing risk of boron penetration of the gate dielectric. A further development of this method includes the patterning of both gate electrode layers with the advantage of utilizing the drain extension and source/drain implants as the gate doping implants and the option of offsetting the two patterns to create an asymmetric device. A method is also provided for the formation of shallow junctions in a semiconductor substrate by diffusion of dopant from an implanted layer contained within a dielectric layer into the semiconductor surface. Further, the ion implanted layer is provided with a second implanted species, such as hydrogen, in addition to the intended dopant species, wherein said species enhances the diffusivity of the dopant in the dielectric layer.
US07723229B2 Process of forming a self-aligned contact in a semiconductor device
A process is implemented to form a contact opening in a semiconductor device that includes a gate electrode on a substrate, a spacer on a sidewall of the gate electrode and a dielectric material covering the gate electrode. The process comprises forming a photoresist pattern on a surface of the dielectric material, etching the dielectric material until the bottom liner layer is exposed, forming a protective layer on a sidewall of the spacer while etching the dielectric material, and etching the bottom liner layer.
US07723213B2 Manufacturing method of semiconductor chips and semiconductor device having the semiconductor chips
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor chip having through electrodes includes forming, in a semiconductor wafer, a plurality of electrode forming holes for forming through electrodes, superimposing bump forming masks formed with a plurality of bump holes over the front and back surfaces of the semiconductor wafer respectively so that the electrode forming holes and the bump holes are brought into alignment, placing the semiconductor wafer with the bump forming masks superimposed thereon over a stage, embedding conductive paste into the bump holes and the electrode forming holes from the bump forming mask disposed over the surface on the side opposite to the stage, of the semiconductor wafer, detaching the bump forming masks from the semiconductor wafer after the conductive paste has been embedded, and dividing the semiconductor wafer into fractions after the bump forming masks have been detached.
US07723205B2 Semiconductor device, manufacturing method thereof, liquid crystal display device, RFID tag, light emitting device, and electronic device
There is provided a semiconductor device, in which characteristics of the semiconductor device are improved by thinning a gate insulating film and a leak current can be reduced, and a manufacturing method thereof. An aluminum film which is a metal film is formed over a polycrystalline semiconductor film, and plasma oxidizing treatment is performed to the aluminum film, whereby an aluminum oxide film is formed by oxidizing the aluminum film, and a silicon oxide film is formed between the polycrystalline semiconductor film and the aluminum oxide film.
US07723199B2 Method for cleaning post-etch noble metal residues
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is presented. In one aspect, the method comprises forming conductive and ferroelectric material layers on a semiconductor substrate. The material layers are patterned to form electrodes and a ferroelectric layer of a ferroelectric capacitor, wherein a conductive noble metal-containing polymer is generated on sidewalls of the ferroelectric capacitor. The method also comprises converting the conductive noble metal-containing polymer into a non-conducting metal oxide. Converting includes forming a water-soluble metal salt from the conductive noble metal-containing polymer and reacting the water-soluble metal salt with an acqueous acidic solution to form a metal hydroxide. Converting also includes oxidizing the metal hydroxide to form the non-conducting metal oxide.
US07723197B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device and semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes implanting an impurity into a crystalline semiconductor film that is formed over a base and includes a first part in contact with the base, a second part and a third part, so that at least the second part and the third part are doped with the impurity while the first part is prevented from being doped with the impurity, and forming a source and a drain in the second part and the third part, respectively. The implanting includes depositing a material of the crystalline semiconductor film over the base. The forming includes heating at least the second part and the third part.
US07723189B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device having recess gate
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device having recess gates includes forming an etch stop film on a semiconductor substrate; forming an etch stop film pattern selectively exposing the semiconductor substrate by patterning the etch stop film; forming a semiconductor layer on the semiconductor substrate; forming a hard mask film pattern exposing regions, for forming trenches for recess gates, on the semiconductor substrate; removing the semiconductor layer using the hard mask film pattern as a mask until the etch stop film pattern is exposed; forming the trenches for recess gates by removing the etch stop film pattern from the semiconductor substrate; and forming gate stacks, each of which is formed in the corresponding one of the trenches for recess gates.
US07723184B2 Semiconductor device and manufacture method therefor
A semiconductor device is provided which is suitable for a DRAM with word lines and configured to have a trench gate transistor and suppress an increase in the capacitance of a word line without affecting the transistor characteristics. The semiconductor device includes a trench gate transistor which is provided with: a trench which is provided with vertical sides and is formed in a semiconductor substrate; a gate electrode which is formed inside the trench via a gate dielectric film; and a source and a drain which are provided at the semiconductor substrate in the vicinity of the gate electrode via the gate dielectric film, wherein at least one of the thickness of the gate dielectric film in a region contacting the source and the thickness of the gate dielectric film in a region contacting the drain are larger than the thickness of the gate dielectric film formed inside the trench.
US07723180B2 Multilevel nonvolatile memory device containing a carbon storage material and methods of making and using same
A method of making a non-volatile memory device includes forming a first electrode, forming a steering element, forming at least one feature, forming a carbon resistivity switching material on at least one sidewall of the at least one feature such that the carbon resistivity switching material electrically contacts the steering element, and forming a second electrode.
US07723177B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device that may include steps of forming a pad oxide layer and an insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate; and then performing a first etching process on the semiconductor device to form an insulating layer pattern exposing a portion of the pad oxide layer in a trench area; and then performing a second etching process with respect to the pad oxide layer by using the insulating layer pattern as a mask; and then performing a blanket ion implantation process with respect to the insulating layer pattern and the exposed portion of the pad oxide layer to form an ion layer in the semiconductor substrate; and then performing a third etching process with respect to the semiconductor substrate to simultaneously form a pad oxide layer pattern and a trench in the semiconductor substrate; and then forming an insulating layer on the semiconductor substrate including the trench; and then performing a planarization process with respect to the semiconductor substrate including the insulating material and removing the pad oxide layer pattern and the insulating layer pattern, thereby forming an isolation layer in the trench.
US07723176B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
Element characteristics disadvantageously fluctuate because the composition of the resultant silicide varies according to the change of the gate length when a full silicide gate electrode is formed by sintering a metal/poly-Si structure. The element characteristics also fluctuate due to element-to-element non-uniformity of the resultant silicide composition. By first forming full silicide having a metal-rich composition, depositing a Si layer thereon, and sintering the combined structure, the metal in the metal-rich silicide diffuses into the Si layer, so that the Si layer is converted into silicide. The entire structure thus is converted into full silicide having a smaller metal composition ratio.
US07723174B2 CMOS device comprising MOS transistors with recessed drain and source areas and a SI/GE material in the drain and source areas of the PMOS transistor
The present disclosure relates to semiconductor devices and a process sequence in which a semiconductor alloy, such as silicon/germanium, may be formed in an early manufacturing stage, wherein other performance-increasing mechanisms, such as a recessed drain and source configuration, possibly in combination with high-k dielectrics and metal gates, may be incorporated in an efficient manner while still maintaining a high degree of compatibility with conventional process techniques.
US07723157B2 Method for cutting and molding in small windows to fabricate semiconductor packages
A method for cutting and molding in small windows of a window-type semiconductor package and the semiconductor package fabricated from the same are revealed. According to the method, a substrate strip has a plurality of small windows disposed at the sides or at the corners of the substrate strip. The external surface of the substrate strip includes a plurality of window molding areas surrounding the small windows and extending to the scribe lines. A plurality of chips are disposed on the substrate strip. Then, an encapsulant is formed in the small windows to encapsulate the electrical connecting components and formed on the window molding areas so that the encapsulant extends to the scribe lines. Therefore, the mold flashes at the small windows can be effectively reduced. Additionally, the encapsulant on the window molding areas is cut when singulating the substrate units so that the adhesion area of the encapsulant to the substrate strip is increased to prevent the delamination of traces and solder mask of the substrate units.
US07723156B2 Electronic system modules and method of fabrication
This specification describes techniques for manufacturing an electronic system module. The module includes flexible multi-layer interconnection circuits with trace widths as narrow as 5 microns or less. A glass panel manufacturing facility, similar to those employed for making liquid crystal display, LCD, panels is preferably used to fabricate the interconnection circuits. A multi-layer interconnection circuit is fabricated on the glass panel using a release layer. A special assembly layer is formed over the interconnection circuit comprising a thick dielectric layer with openings formed at input/output (I/O) pad locations. Solder paste is deposited in the openings using a squeegee to form wells filled with solder. IC chips are provided with gold stud bumps at I/O pad locations, and these bumps are inserted in the wells to form flip chip connections. The IC chips are tested and reworked. The same bump/well connections can be used to attach fine-pitch cables. Module packaging layers are provided for hermetic sealing and for electromagnetic shielding. A blade server or supercomputer embodiment is also described.
US07723150B2 Image sensor and fabricating method thereof
A method for fabricating an image sensor, which includes the following steps, is provided. A semiconductor substrate including a sensor array, a pad and a passivation layer is provided, and the passivation layer covers the sensor array and the pad. An opening, which comprises tapered sidewalls not perpendicular to a bared surface of the pad, is formed in the semiconductor substrate to expose the pad. An under layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate, and covers the pad and the passivation layer. A color filter array is formed on the under layer and over the corresponding sensor array. A planar layer is formed on the color filter array. A portion of the under layer is removed to expose the pad. A plurality of U-lenses is formed on the planar layer.
US07723145B2 Solid-state imaging device and manufacturing method for the same
A solid-state imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate including: a plurality of light-receptive portions that are arranged one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally; a vertical transfer portion that transfers signal electric charge read out from the light-receptive portions in a vertical direction; a horizontal transfer portion that transfers the signal electric charge transferred by the vertical transfer portion in a horizontal direction; a barrier region adjacent to the horizontal transfer portion, the barrier region letting only surplus electric charge of the horizontal transfer portion pass therethough; a drain region adjacent to the barrier region, into which the surplus electric charge passing through the barrier region is discharged; and an insulation film adjacent to the drain region. A portion of the drain region is located beneath the insulation film.
US07723142B2 Growth method of GaN crystal, and GaN crystal substrate
A method of producing a GaN crystal is directed to growing a GaN crystal on a GaN seed crystal substrate. The method includes the steps of preparing a GaN seed crystal substrate including a first dopant such that the thermal expansion coefficient of the GaN seed crystal substrate becomes greater than that of the GaN crystal, and growing the GaN crystal to a thickness of at least 1 mm on the GaN seed crystal substrate. Accordingly, there can be provided a method of producing a GaN crystal that can suppress generation of a crack and grow a thick GaN crystal, and a GaN crystal substrate.
US07723139B2 Quantum well intermixing
Embodiments of a method of quantum well intermixing (QWI) comprise providing a wafer comprising upper and lower epitaxial layers, which each include barrier layers, and a quantum well layer disposed between the upper and lower epitaxial layers, applying at least one sacrificial layer over the upper epitaxial layer, and forming a QWI enhanced region and a QWI suppressed region by applying a QWI enhancing layer over a portion of the sacrificial layer, wherein the portion under the QWI enhancing layer is the QWI enhanced region, and the other portion is the QWI suppressed region. The method further comprises the steps of applying a QWI suppressing layer over the QWI enhanced region and the QWI suppressed region, and annealing at a temperature sufficient to cause interdiffusion of atoms between the quantum well layer and the barrier layers of the upper epitaxial layer and the lower epitaxial layer.
US07723133B2 Method for forming pattern, and method for manufacturing liquid crystal display
A method for forming a pattern, comprises: forming a bank film on a substrate; performing a lyophobic treatment on a surface of the bank film; patterning the bank film on which the lyophobic treatment has been performed to form a bank; performing a surface modification treatment in which a hydroxyl group on a surface of a pattern forming region partitioned by the bank is alkylated; disposing a functional liquid in the pattern forming region; and firing the functional liquid to form a pattern.
US07723130B2 Tooling method for fabricating a semiconductor device and semiconductor devices fabricated thereof
A tooling method for fabricating semiconductor devices includes identifying two adjacent device lines having a device-to-device spacing width in an active region of a substrate, performing an operation to selectively define a first region as a region between the two adjacent device lines overlapping the active region, forming a first block pattern corresponding to the first region on a photomask when the device-to-device spacing width is equal to a predetermined value, and transferring the first block pattern to the substrate.
US07723124B2 Method for the rapid diagnosis of targets in human body fluids
More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for the detection of a target, e.g. pathogen in a human body fluid wherein a body fluid sample is collected with a swab member.
US07723123B1 Western blot by incorporating an affinity purification zone
An upstream affinity purification region is used to bind one or more component of interest in a mixture of components prior to separating the mixture of components. Detection of the separated components and a released component of interest provide identification of the component of interest. In addition, post separation dilution is optionally used to improve detection of the mixture of components and the released component of interest. Microfluidic devices and systems suitable for performing such analyses are also provided.
US07723117B2 Means for detecting pathological transformation of the APP protein and their uses
Pathological modifications of the APP protein can be detected in a sample by use of markers consisting of catabolic and/or metabolic fragments of the carboxyl-terminal part of the APP (APP-Cter fragments) resulting from a neurodegenerative condition wherein the APP participates in the etiology. Methods for detecting such markers provide diagnostic and therapeutic applications in degenerative pathologies such as Alzheimer's Disease.
US07723114B1 Methods and systems for detection of radionuclides
Disclosed are materials and systems useful in determining the existence of radionuclides in an aqueous sample. The materials provide the dual function of both extraction and scintillation to the systems. The systems can be both portable and simple to use, and as such can beneficially be utilized to determine presence and optionally concentration of radionuclide contamination in an aqueous sample at any desired location and according to a relatively simple process without the necessity of complicated sample handling techniques. The disclosed systems include a one-step process, providing simultaneous extraction and detection capability, and a two-step process, providing a first extraction step that can be carried out in a remote field location, followed by a second detection step that can be carried out in a different location.
US07723112B2 Compositions and methods for treating and diagnosing cancer
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for characterizing, treating and diagnosing cancer. In particular, the present invention provides a cancer stem cell profile, as well as novel stem cell cancer markers useful for the diagnosis, characterization, prognosis and treatment of cancer and in particular the targeting of solid tumor stem cells.
US07723108B2 Soft tissue processing
The present invention is a process for preparing soft tissue such as tendons, ligaments, cartilage, fascia, dermis, human valves and human veins for implant in a human and removes cellular components and forms an decellular matrix having as major components collagens and elastins while sterilizing the tissue. The process comprises the following steps: (1) isolating from a suitable donor a desired soft tissue sample of the biological material; (2) processing and decellularizing the soft tissue including inspection for visual defects, trimming and soaking the tissue in a detergent depending on whether the tissue is fascia or dermis and rinsing same with sterile water; (3) sterilizing the soft tissue in a vacuum and soaking the tissue in an antibiotic composition or peracetic acid depending on whether the soft tissue is fascia or dermis and rinsing same; (4) processing the tissue by cutting the tissue to size and perforating the tissue; and (5) dipping the tissue in 70% ethanol and packaging the tissue.
US07723091B2 Composition comprising beta-mannanase
Enzymes of a particular class, characterized by the ability to cleave a linkage that effects release of a cell-surface protein or carbohydrate, which does not contain an anti-infection agent, display significant anti-infectious activity. Upon oral administration, these enzymes are effective, for example, in the treatment of digestive tract infections in humans and in animals. In the latter, there are benefits of significantly improved growth rate, feed efficiency, and overall health.
US07723086B2 Apparatus for encapsulating cells
An apparatus for encapsulating cells is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the apparatus includes an indirect-pumping dispenser for dispensing a cell suspension into an encapsulation solution through an outlet of the dispenser. The apparatus also includes a dipping mechanism that is attachable to the outlet of the dispenser. The dipping mechanism is adapted to dip the dispenser outlet in the encapsulation solution to allow the cell suspension dispensed thereat to come into contact with the encapsulation solution.
US07723081B1 Bacteria containing aspartate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, and transhydrogenase to produce L-lysine in escherichia, and methods of using same
An Escherichia bacterium (1) which harbors dihydrodipicolinate synthase of which feedback inhibition by L-lysine is desensitized and aspartokinase of which feedback inhibition by L-lysine is desensitized, (2) in which intracellular activity of dihydrodipicolinate reductase is enhanced, and (3) in which a diaminopimelate dehydrogenase gene is introduced or intracellular activities of tetrahydrodipicolinate succinylase and succinyl diaminopimelate deacylase are enhanced, wherein intracellular activity of aspartate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase or phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase is enhanced, is cultured in a suitable medium to produce and accumulate L-lysine in culture, and the L-lysine is collected from the culture.
US07723079B2 Trichoderma reesei glucoamylase and homologs thereof
The present invention is related to glucoamylases having at least 80% sequence identity to a Trichoderma glucoamylase having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 and biologically functional fragments thereof. The invention is also related to DNA sequences coding for the glucoamylases, vectors and host cells incorporating the DNA sequences, enzyme compositions and methods of using the glucoamylases in various applications.
US07723076B2 Use of selective labeling to detect and characterize molecular interactions by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Methods of detecting interactions of a putative ligand with a selectively labeled target molecule, methods of screening for compounds which bind to a selectively labeled target molecule, methods for calculating the dissociation constant of a ligand that binds to a selectively labeled target molecule, and methods to determine the specific amino acids of a target molecule affected by the binding of a ligand, as well as compounds identified by these screening methods, are provided.