| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07757298B2 |
Method and apparatus for identifying and characterizing errant electronic files
A computer system includes a, server having a memory connected thereto. The server is adapted to be connected to a network to permit remote storage and retrieval of data files from the memory. A file identification application is operative with the server to identify errant files stored in the memory. The file identification application provides the functions of: (1) selecting a file stored in said memory; (2) generating a unique checksum corresponding to the stored file; (3) comparing said unique checksum to each of a plurality of previously generated checksums, wherein the plurality of previously generated checksums correspond to known errant files; and (4) marking the file for deletion from the memory if the unique checksum matches one of the plurality of previously generated checksums. |
| US07757297B2 |
System for the storage and retrieval of confidential information
The invention relates to a system and a method for the storage and/or retrieval of confidential information for at least one user, by means of which a secret, in particular a project password, can be securely retrieved again. System for the storage and/or retrieval of confidential information for at least one user, particularly within the area of creating a project, with first means for encryption of the confidential information using a public key of an asymmetric method through a key service and for storage of the encrypted information in a generally accessible memory and at least one input device for entry of the private key associated with the public key through the key service for the retrieval of the information, whereby the system includes a selection device for the selection of at least one key service by the at least one user. |
| US07757293B2 |
Automated computer system security compromise
A system is provided for performing penetration testing of a target computer network by installing a remote agent in the target computer network. The system includes a local agent provided in a computer console and configured to receive and execute commands. A user interface is provided in the console and configured to send commands to and receive information from the local agent, process the information, and present the processed information. A database is configured to store the information received from the local agent. A network interface is connected to the local agent and configured to communicate with the remote agent installed in the target computer network via a network. Security vulnerability exploitation modules are provided for execution by the local agent and/or the remote agent. |
| US07757290B2 |
Bypassing software services to detect malware
A method, apparatus, and computer readable medium are provided by aspects of the present invention to determine whether a malware is resident on a host computer. In one embodiment, a method determines whether data that is characteristic of malware is loaded in the system memory of a host computer. More specifically, the method includes causing a device communicatively connected to a host computer to issue a request to obtain data loaded in the system memory. Then, when the requested data is received, a determination is made regarding whether the data is characteristic of malware. Since, the method causes data to be obtained directly from system memory without relying on software services on the host computer, malware that employs certain stealth techniques will be identified. |
| US07757285B2 |
Intrusion detection and prevention system
An intrusion detection and prevention device includes a retaining unit retaining at least one of attack suspicion threshold values of which levels are different from each other in order to detect a denial-of-service attack, and an attack determination threshold value, a detecting unit detecting an attack suspicion state when a frame count in the attack detection target flow exceeds the attack suspicion threshold value, and detecting an attack determination state when the frame count exceeds the attack determination threshold value, a notifying unit notifying of the attack suspicion state together with the corresponding flow information when the attack suspicion state is detected, a judging unit judging, based on a reliability level of at least one of the frame source terminal and the flow, whether the flow is blocked or not when notified of the attack suspicion state, and a requesting unit making a screening request together with notification of the corresponding flow information when the attack determination state is detected. |
| US07757269B1 |
Enforcing alignment of approved changes and deployed changes in the software change life-cycle
On a host, host content change requests are intercepted in real-time. In a tracking mode, the change requests are logged and allowed to take effect on the host. In an enforcement mode, the change requests are logged and additionally compared against authorized change policies and a determination is made whether to allow the change to take effect or to block the changes, thereby enforcing the authorized change policies on the host. Tracking and enforcement can be done in real-time. In either mode and at any time, the logged changes can be reconciled against a set of approved change orders in order to identify classes of changes, including changes that were deployed but not approved and changes that were approved but not deployed. |
| US07757266B2 |
Virtual channel table for a broadcast protocol and method of broadcasting and receiving broadcast signals using the same
A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel. |
| US07757252B1 |
Navigation system for a multichannel digital television system
The present invention provides a digital television system where access rights to a programme or channel are received analyzed by the decoder in determining whether to permit or prohibit full audio and visual access by the user to that programme or channel when displayed in respective windows of a mosaic formation. |
| US07757251B2 |
Technique for providing program guide data through a communications network delivering programming content
In order to efficiently utilize the limited transmission bandwidth of a communications network, e.g., a cable network, guide data for constructing an interactive program guide (IPG) is delivered to a set-top terminal using different methodologies. For example, the guide data associated with those programs which are likely of interest to a user is automatically provided piecemeal in a broadcast stream. The set-top terminal, along with other terminals, may retrieve from such a broadcast stream some or all of the guide data therein over time, which is cached in the terminal in anticipation of a user's invocation of an IPG. On the other hand, the guide data associated with those programs which are less likely of interest to a user is furnished upon request by the set-top terminal needing such guide data to realize an IPG desired by the user. In addition, guide data for each program may be divided into detail guide data providing details of the program (e.g., a synopsis of the program content), and grid guide data providing basic information about the program (e.g., title, channel and broadcast time). A first time window and a second time window may be defined such that the grid guide data associated with those programs broadcast within the first time window and the detail guide data associated with those programs broadcast within the second time window are automatically provided in the broadcast stream. The rest of the detail and grid guide data may be furnished upon request when needed. |
| US07757240B2 |
System and related interfaces supporting the processing of media content
A software enabled, matrix switch is presented wherein a scalable plurality of inputs, coupled to media content sources, provide media content which is recursively routed through select media processing object(s) coupled to a scalable plurality of matrix switch outputs in accordance with a user-defined media processing project. |
| US07757236B1 |
Load-balancing framework for a cluster
Various embodiments of a system and method for balancing nodal loading in a cluster are disclosed. In a cluster, each node may execute an instance of a distributed application component. A pluggable load balancer may receive requests targeted at the application component. For each request, the load balancer may invoke a pluggable load-balancing function to determine a next node to which the request should be forwarded to balance the workload of the cluster nodes. Each node of the cluster may include a load-balancing framework that provides a standard load-balancing API. In order to determine the next node to which a request should be milted, the load balancer may send requests for node information conforming to the API, to the cluster members. This information may include nodal CPU speed, memory capacity, number of queued requests, and number of requests serviced during a specified time period. |
| US07757224B2 |
Software support for dynamically extensible processors
A post-compilation tool can rewrite executable images produced by a compiler. The tool can add extension definitions, insert extension-trigger instructions, and add a security signature. Operating system software may be notified of extension capabilities when loading the executable image, and may proceed to load an appropriate processor extension. The operating system software can manage availability of processor extensions on behalf of the applications. |
| US07757219B2 |
Method for enhancing program analysis
Methods are discussed that enhance program analysis. One aspect of the invention includes a method for checking a model of a program. The method includes a control-flow graph having vertices from the model, applying a transfer function to each vertex to form a set of path edges, and analyzing the set of path edges of a vertex. The set of path edges includes valuations that are implicitly represented so as to inhibit an undesired explosion in the valuations that would hinder the act of analyzing. |
| US07757218B2 |
Method of instrumenting code having restrictive calling conventions
A development environment for computer programs in which programs under test may be instrumented with probe functions. The probe functions are called through a wrapper function structured to comply with restrictive calling conventions of the platform for which the computer program is developed. By complying with the calling convention, proper operation of the computer program is achieved during testing even if an exception handler, or other program element that relies on compliance with the calling convention, is invoked. Once instrumented, the computer program may be tested to determine whether it executes desired logic function to determine the performance of the program or for other test functions. |
| US07757200B2 |
Structure of an apparatus for programming an electronically programmable semiconductor fuse
A design structure for an apparatus for programming an electronically programmable semiconductor fuse. The apparatus applies a programming current to a fuse link as a series of multiple pulses. Application of the programming current as a series of multiple short pulses provides a level of programming current sufficiently high to ensure reliable and effective electromigration while avoiding exceeding temperature limits of the fuse link. |
| US07757172B2 |
Electronic equipment and method for displaying images
An electronic equipment includes: a storage unit that stores a plurality of facial images extracted from video data and time stamp information indicating time points when the plurality of facial images appear in the video data; and a processor that operates, based on the time stamp information, to: arrange a plurality of facial image display areas in a two-dimensional display area in a grid layout having a given number of rows and a plurality of columns, each of the columns being assigned with respective time zones divided from a total time length of the video data; and display the facial images, which belong to each of the time zones assigned to the columns, in the facial image display areas included in the respective columns. |
| US07757168B1 |
Meta-document and method of managing
A system includes a meta-document, i.e., a document including content information which has a set of document service requests associated with it. A document service is a process which uses a portion of the document content as a starting point to obtain other information pertaining to that content. A scheduler selects a document service request from the set, then initiates and manages managing communication with a service provider to satisfy the selected document service. Any results received from the selected document service are integrated into the document. |
| US07757149B2 |
Broadcast message passing decoding of low density parity check codes
Decoding by passing messages back and forth between a set of variable nodes and a set of check nodes, where at least one of the nodes broadcasts the same message to each of its associated nodes, is provided. For example, the variable nodes can broadcast and the check nodes can provide individual messages. Alternatively, the check nodes can broadcast and the variable nodes can provide individual messages. As another alternative, the variable nodes and the check nodes can both broadcast to their associated nodes. Broadcasting reduces the number of interconnections required between variable nodes and check nodes. Broadcasting is enabled by providing local storage within the nodes and/or by providing extra processing steps within the nodes. |
| US07757139B2 |
Boundary scan method, system and device
A boundary scan method, including generating a first parallel unipolarity boundary scan signal by a scan signal generation apparatus, sending the first parallel unipolarity boundary scan signal to a boundary scan controller; and converting, by the boundary scan controller, the first parallel unipolarity boundary scan signal into a serial boundary scan signal in a differential signaling form, and using the serial boundary scan signal for scanning a boundary scan device connected between a scan signal output and a scan signal input of the boundary scan controller. |
| US07757135B2 |
Method and apparatus for storing and distributing memory repair information
A system for repairing embedded memories on an integrated circuit includes an external Built-In Self-repair Register (BISR) associated with every reparable memory. Each BISR is serially configured in a daisy chain with a fuse box controller. The controller determines the daisy chain length upon power up. The controller may perform a corresponding number of shift operations to move repair data between BISRs and a fuse box. Memories can have a parallel or serial repair interface. The BISRs may have a repair analysis facility into which fuse data may be dumped and uploaded to the fuse box or downloaded to repair the memory. Pre-designed circuit blocks provide daisy chain inputs and access ports to effect the system or to bypass the circuit block. |
| US07757129B2 |
Generalized trace and log facility for first error data collection
A generalized trace and log facility is employed to collect data, including data associated with the first occurrence of an error. The facility provides standardized application programming interfaces to be used to collect data, print the data, and forward the data to a support team, if desired. |
| US07757128B1 |
System and method for multipath I/O support for fibre channel devices
A system and method enables a file server, to support multi path input/output operations for Fibre Channel devices. Upon each Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop initialization event generated, the system and method updates a path and device instance to track multiple paths to a given device. While the file server is attempting input/output operations, the failure of a given path can be corrected by the use of another path associated with a given device. The data structures generated by the low levels of the storage operating system are exposed for use by upper level services for routing a storage device identification purposes. |
| US07757127B2 |
Device retry mechanisms for content distribution
A system and method are provided for enabling a user device to retry a unicast transaction with a server. The user device includes a unicast retry module having both an inner loop retry module and an outer loop retry module. The inner loop retry module handles common transient error while the outer loop retry module allows additional retries alter all inner loop retries have been exhausted for device-initiated transactions. |
| US07757121B1 |
Requirement driven interoperability/compliance testing systems and methods
A system and method for requirement driven interoperability/compliance testing of Hardware and Software in a distributed environment. Three modules are configured as a default system: a test definition, a SUT definition and a test result. A series of tree elements are coupled to represent requirements to test case mapping. Test cases are executed and components in the system are assigned with test results while requirements coverage is computed. Auto-detection of additional parts and test cases enables validity checking of the requirement to test case tree and reports are generated. |
| US07757114B2 |
Data synchronization of multiple remote storage after remote copy suspension
A method and apparatus are provided for enhancing the performance of storage systems to allow recovery after all types of suspensions in remote copy operations. Data is synchronized after an interruption in transfer between a first storage volume of a primary storage system and a first storage volume of a secondary storage system which also includes a second storage volume. After the interruption is detected, at the primary storage system, a record is provided of the data written onto the first storage volume of the primary storage system, and at the secondary storage volume a record is provided of the data written onto the first storage volume of the secondary storage system. Then, at least a partial copy of the record of the data written onto the first storage volume of the primary storage system is written onto the second storage volume. Using the copy, the first storage volume of the secondary storage system is synchronized with the second storage volume of the secondary storage system. |
| US07757107B2 |
Maintaining a power budget
A server is capable of maintaining a power budget. The server comprises a central processing unit (CPU), a management processor, a power measurement circuit, and a comparison circuit. The comparison circuit receives real time power measurements from the power measurement circuit. A register includes a power budget value from the management processor. The management processor selects a system power performance state for the CPU that utilizes a level of power approximately equal to the power budget value. |
| US07757106B2 |
Sleep control signal sequence circuit
A sequence circuit includes a switch circuit (30) and a control circuit (50). The switch circuit has an input terminal connected with a node (11) and an output terminal connected to a super I/O chip (10). The control circuit includes a first transistor (Q4) and a second transistor (Q5), the first transistor has a gate connected to the node and a drain connected to a sleep control signal terminal (S3′), the second transistor has a base connected to the drain of the first transistor and a collector connected to the super I/O chip. When the computer is off or in one of the sleep states, the node is at low level and the output terminal of the switch circuit outputs a low level signal; when the computer is on, the node is at high level and the output terminal outputs a high level signal. |
| US07757105B2 |
Electronic device system and controller
In an electronic device system where a controller and a target device are connected to each other via an IEEE 1394 serial bus, the controller comprises: command sending means for sequentially sending via the bus a power control command to change the power status of the target between the power-on state and the power-off state and a power status command to inquire the power status of the target device; change time calculating means for calculating power status change time needed for the target device to change the power status between the power-on state and the power-off state based on a response to the power status command that is received from the target device; and time interval determining means for determining a time interval from sending of the power control command to sending of the power status command based on the power status change time. |
| US07757099B2 |
Validating an encryption key file on removable storage media
Provided are a method, system, removable storage cartridge, and article of manufacture for validating an encryption key file on a removable storage media. Copies of an encryption key file are written to multiple locations on a removable storage media, wherein data is encrypted and decrypted using an encryption key included in the encryption key file. A validation operation is performed on the copy of the encryption key file at one of the key locations, wherein the key locations comprise the locations on the removable storage media to which the encryption key files were written. In response to the copy of the encryption key file not validating, a command is sent to cause the data and valid copies of the encryption key file to be rewritten to a new storage media. |
| US07757096B2 |
Mobile unit with fingerprint sensor and attachment structure
A mobile unit with fingerprint sensor, includes a fingerprint sensor; a circuit board on which a plurality of circuit components are mounted, one of the circuit components processes an output signal output from the fingerprint sensor; a key case on which a plurality of key switches, used as operation keys of the mobile unit, are arranged, the key case being fixed to the circuit board; and a sensor-specific board that is provided separately from the circuit board and includes the fingerprint sensor thereon, and that is detachably attached to the key case and the fingerprint sensor is arranged adjacent to the operation keys. |
| US07757088B2 |
Methods of accessing and using web-pages
A method and system for conveying trust and security to consumers regarding the validity of a web page or the web-pages source by showing a feature from webpage as determined by a digital certificate associated with the webpage. The security of the method and system can be further enhanced by preventing any overwriting of the feature and by displaying the feature independent of the web-page being accessed by the user. |
| US07757085B2 |
Method and apparatus for encrypting data transmitted over a serial link
A system for implementing a content protection protocol to encrypt data, including transmitters and receivers to which key selection vectors of a vector set have been distributed, wherein a subset of the key selection vectors in the vector set has not been distributed to any of the transmitters or any of the receivers, and a method for enabling transmitters and receivers to implement a content protection protocol including by distributing key selection vectors of a vector set, and private key sets, to the transmitters and receivers while reserving a subset of the key selection vectors of the vector set. |
| US07757084B2 |
Method of validating consumable authentication chip
A method of validating a consumable authentication chip is provided having the steps of: numerously calling a trusted chip's test function with an incorrect value to generate an invalid response or not generate the response thereby invalidating the consumable chip; if generated, in the trusted chip, generating a secret random number, calculating its signature and symmetrically encrypting the number/signature using a first secret key; calling the consumable chip's read function with the encrypted number/signature to symmetrically decrypt the encrypted number/signature using the first key, calculate the decrypted number's signature, compare the signatures, and if they match, symmetrically encrypt the decrypted random number and a data message using a second secret key; calling the trusted chip's test function with the message and the encrypted number/message to symmetrically encrypt the number and message using the second key, compare the encrypted numbers/messages, validate the consumable chip if they match, and invalidate otherwise. |
| US07757072B2 |
Method and apparatus for presenting drivers stored on utility partition of hard disk through virtual floppy to operating system installer
Installable device drivers may be stored on a partition, e.g., Utility Partition (UP) or other OEM partition, of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) storage device, e.g., hard disk drive, by associating an INT13h Basic Input-Output System (BIOS) interrupt call, e.g., reading from floppy disk drive a: or drive b: a desired storage device driver during the normal course of installing an operating system (OS), e.g., Microsoft Windows, Linux, BSD, Unix, etc., on the information handling system, e.g., personal computer, server, blade server, storage array, workstation, etc. The run-time loading of a raw floppy image having OS installable drivers residing in the Utility Partition or other hidden partition on the hard disk may be presented as a virtual floppy disk drive to the OS installer, e.g., person (manual) or scripted (automated) process. |
| US07757070B1 |
Methods, apparatuses, and system for facilitating control of multiple instruction threads
A system, apparatus and method for multithread handling on a multithread processing device are described herein. Embodiments of the present invention provide a multithread processing device for multithread handling including a plurality of registers operatively coupled to an instruction dispatch block, including thread-control registers for selectively disabling threads. In various embodiments, the multithread processing device may include a thread-operation register for selectively providing a lock to a first thread to prevent a second thread from disabling the first thread while the first thread has the lock. In still further embodiments, the multithread processing device may be configured to atomically disable and release a lock held by a thread. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US07757066B2 |
System and method for executing variable latency load operations in a date processor
There is disclosed a data processor that executes variable latency load operations using bypass circuitry that allows load word operations to avoid stalls caused by shifting circuitry. The processor comprises: 1) an instruction execution pipeline comprising N processing stages, each of the N processing stages for performing one of a plurality of execution steps associated with a pending instruction being executed by the instruction execution pipeline; 2) a data cache for storing data values used by the pending instruction; 3) a plurality of registers for receiving the data values from the data cache; 4) a load store unit for transferring a first one of the data values from the data cache to a target one of the plurality of registers during execution of a load operation; 5) a shifter circuit associated with the load store unit for shifting the first data value prior to loading the first data value into the target register; and 6) bypass circuitry associated with the load store unit for transferring the first data value from the data cache directly to the target register without processing the first data value in the shifter circuit. |
| US07757056B1 |
System and method for efficiently calculating storage required to split a clone volume
A system and method efficiently calculates an estimated amount of storage required to split a clone volume from its parent volume. The system and method is illustratively embodied as a command line interface (CLI) command, i.e., a clone split estimate command, executed by an estimation module of a storage system. Notably, the estimation module cooperates with a file system of the storage system to quickly access data structures containing information used to perform the storage calculation without the need to access each block of the clone and parent volumes. |
| US07757026B2 |
Techniques for transferring status information between an accessory and a multi-communication device
A connector interface system for a communication device is disclosed. The interface includes a docking connector. The docking connector includes first make/last break contacts that minimize internal damage to the internal electronics. The docking connector also includes specific keying arrangement to prevent noncompliant connectors from being plugged in, and thereby minimizes potential damage to the multi-communication device. The connector interface system also includes a remote connector which provides for the ability to output audio, input audio, provides I/O serial protocol, and to provide an output video. Embodiments of the present invention allow for a standard headphone cable to be plugged in but also for special remote control cables, microphone cables, video cables could be utilized in such a system. The connector interface system also includes a serial protocol to control device features. These controls help a user sort and search for data more efficiently within the device. |
| US07757020B2 |
Point-to-point link negotiation method and apparatus
Point-to-point links between devices are brought up at a slowest available speed, and a faster link speed is negotiated after reaching an operational state. |
| US07757017B2 |
Adjusting direction of data flow between I/O bridges and I/O hubs based on real time traffic levels
Mechanisms for adjusting direction of data flow between input/output (I/O) bridges and I/O hubs based on real time traffic levels are provided. The mechanisms of the illustrative embodiments provide firmware and/or hardware for monitoring data flow through an I/O bridge loop and corresponding I/O hub in order to determine if a condition exists requiring reassignment of the direction each I/O bridge sends its data. In particular, the firmware/hardware determines whether a current traffic condition through the I/O bridges and I/O hub meets criteria indicative of one pathway through the I/O bridge loop being over-utilized while another pathway through the I/O bridge loop is under-utilized. If it is determined that such a condition exists, the configuration of the I/O bridges may be automatically modified to reassign which pathway is utilized by the I/O bridge in sending/receiving I/O data traffic through the I/O bridge loop. |
| US07757016B2 |
Data transfer device, semiconductor integrated circuit, and processing status notification method
According to an aspect of an embodiment, a data transfer device comprises a plurality of transfer circuits managed by a processor, a request accepting unit, a status information collecting unit and a notification data generating unit. The plurality of transfer circuits each controls transfer of data. The request accepting unit accepts a transfer request from at least one of the plurality of transfer circuits. The status information collecting unit collects status information indicating status of data transfer relating to all of the plurality of transfer circuits, upon acceptance of the transfer request. The notification data generating unit generates notification data including information of the transfer circuit regarding which the request accepting unit has received the transfer request and status information collected by the status information collecting unit. And the notification data generating unit transmits the generated notification data to the processor. |
| US07757015B2 |
Device, method and computer program product readable medium for determining the identity of a component
Method, device and computer program product for determining a characteristic of an identifiable component. The method includes: receiving identification information representative of an identity of components that belong to a group of components, determining at least one characteristic of an identifiable component in response to the received identification information, and performing at least one characteristic responsive operation. The device includes an identifiable component and a component characteristic determiner. The component characteristic determiner is adapted to receive identification information representative of an identity of components that belong to a group of components and to determine at least one characteristic of the identifiable component in response to a relationship between the received identification information and reference identification information. The device is adapted to perform at least one characteristic responsive information. |
| US07757014B2 |
Method for disconnecting a transceiver from a bus in multipoint/multidrop architecture
The present invention relates to a method for disconnecting a transceiver from a bus in multipoint/multidrop architecture. A central processing unit (CPU) and a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART) in a system are connected to a controller used for storing and transmitting data, and the controller is further connected with a bus through a transceiver that monitors/records data and a relay that connects or disconnects the transceiver from the bus. The controller comprises a signal comparator used to compare similarities and differences of data and a failure detection controller used to achieve connection or disconnection of the bus with the transceiver. In case of the transceiver's failure, the controller disconnects the transceiver from the bus to ensure that the bus does not fail to work due to breakdown of the transceiver. On the other hand, a signal feedback mechanism is also utilized for a maintenance person to shorten the time in failure detection and thus reduce enterprises' operating losses caused by breakdown of their communication equipments. |
| US07757010B2 |
Systems and methods for managing mass storage devices in electronic devices
Methods for managing mass storage devices are provided. An embodiment of a method for managing mass storage devices performed by an electronic device comprises the following steps. It is detected that the electronic device has connected to a computer system. One mass storage driver is selected from multiple mass storage drivers. Information regarding that the selection of the mass storage driver is transmitted to the computer system, thereby directing the computer system to activate the selected mass storage driver. |
| US07757004B2 |
System and method for enabling a graphical window modification command to be applied to a remotely generated graphical window
Techniques relating to enabling a graphical window modification command to be applied to a remotely generated graphical window are described. In one instance, a process detects a user command to modify a remotely generated application graphical window in a remote terminal session. The process determines whether to initiate the user command at a local machine upon which the remotely generated application graphical window is displayed or at a remote machine which generated the remotely generated application graphical window. |
| US07756999B2 |
Method and system for routing service requests based on throughput of teams of servers
A method and system are disclosed for creating portfolios of requests so as to reduce or minimize the variance in the workloads generated by those requests. The invention also takes into account the throughput of the servers that are servicing the requests. In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises the steps of establishing a set of system parameters; using said parameters to generate a model, said model including a defined optimization problem; and solving said optimization problem to output a set of mixing weights. The set of parameters and said mixing weights are used to generate a task; and the service requests are distributed to different service teams according to the generated task. Also, for example, the distributing may be done by distributing requests of type i to team j with weight proportional to wij. |
| US07756988B2 |
System and method for selecting an external user interface using spatial information
A method and system for selecting an external user interface using spatial information is described. In one configuration the floor space of a mailroom is mapped using a two dimensional grid. At least one machine is located on the mapped grid and an associated control zone is defined for that particular machine. The machine includes a wireless transceiver for providing user interface access. An external portable processor with a wireless transceiver is provided with user interface logic for the machine. A user then moves the external portable processor into the control zone of the machine. An indoor positioning system is utilized to provide relative or absolute position information relating to the machine and the external processor. The system determines that the external processor is in the machine control zone and allows the external processor to function as a user interface for the machine. |
| US07756987B2 |
Cybersquatter patrol
An exemplary method includes providing a typographically erroneous domain name, tracing the domain name where tracing includes entering the domain name as part of a URL and recording one or more subsequent URLs, identifying a domain parking service for the domain name based at least in part on information in one of the recorded URLs, determining client identification information in at least one of the recorded URLs where the client identification information identifies a customer of the domain parking service and blocking one or more domain names based at least in part on the client identification information. Other exemplary technologies are also disclosed. |
| US07756986B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing data management for a storage system coupled to a network
A data management technique for managing accesses to data at a shared storage system includes a filter at the storage system. The filter is coupled to a configuration table, which identifies which of a number of coupled host processors have accesses to each of the resources at the device. During operation, requests received from the host devices are filtered by the filter, and only those requests to resources that the individual host devices have privilege to access are serviced. Advantageously, data security is further enhanced by authenticating each of the requests received by the storage system to verify that the host processor that is represented as forwarding the request is the indicated host processor. In addition, transfers of data between the storage system and the host processor may be validated to ensure that data was not corrupted during the data transfer. |
| US07756981B2 |
Systems and methods for remote rogue protocol enforcement
A user agent residing within a remote client and configured to enforce message protocol policy is disclosed. The user agent includes a communications monitoring element that examines a communications connection between the client and an external message server to determine if the message server matches a restricted server attribute. The user agent also includes a communications controller element that works with the communications monitoring element to block communications between the client and the message server when the message server matches a restricted server attribute unless the communications are monitored by a protocol inspection gateway. The gateway intercepts the communications between the client and the message server and inspects a message protocol associated with the intercepted communications to determine if the message protocol matches a protocol definition file, and when a match occurs, apply a policy enforcement rule that overrides aspects of the message protocol associated with the intercepted communications. |
| US07756975B1 |
Methods and systems for automatically discovering information about a domain of a computing device
Methods and systems for automatically discovering information about a domain of a computing device are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the method may comprise receiving connection-characteristic information from at least one common-domain computing device located within the domain of the computing device, identifying, based on the connection-characteristic information received from the at least one common-domain computing device, at least one characteristic of the domain computing device, transmitting domain-characteristic information to a source computing device, the domain-characteristic information comprising the at least one characteristic of the domain of the computing device, and receiving domain-characteristic-dependent data from a source computing device. Corresponding systems and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US07756970B2 |
Feedback system for visual content with enhanced navigation features
A feedback system for visual content is described that allows individual users to obtain feedback regarding selected visual content. The feedback system includes a content navigation enhancer that provides useful navigation and feedback features to a feedback-providing user. When the selected visual content includes a plurality of screens of visual content, the content navigation enhancer may associate an identifier with each of the screens, where each identifier provides a link to its respective screen. The content navigation enhancer may ensure that all of the identifiers are displayed on a user interface, regardless of which screen of visual content is simultaneously displayed on the user interface. Thus, the feedback-providing user has access to all of the screens, regardless of which screen is currently being displayed. Accordingly, the feedback-providing user may select a desired screen to submit corresponding feedback, and may understand a flow or order of the screens of visual content. |
| US07756967B1 |
Apparatus and method of hosting internet content
The invention includes a method of hosting Internet content. The method includes the step of receiving an address of a definition from a computing device, where the definition defines a frame and a location of content with which to fill in the frame. The definition is located in a database utilizing the address. The definition is transmitted to the computing device. A method of the invention also includes permitting access to a database containing a set of definitions, where the set of definitions defines a frame and a location of content with which to fill in the frame. Instructions are received to modify a selected definition of the set of definitions. The selected definition is modified to create a new selected definition. |
| US07756948B2 |
Collected data providing apparatus and portable terminal for data collection
A collected data providing apparatus and a portable data collecting terminal capable of collecting valuable effective data from object of data collection. When a server receives a data-collection request from a data collection requester's terminal, the server examines whether or not there is a data collector with a terminal in the vicinity of a place of data collection included in the request. If there is, the server sends a data collection request to the portable terminal, which receives the request, collects data on the place at the request, and then sends the server the collected data. The server then delivers this collected data to the data collection requester's terminal (FIG. 1). |
| US07756945B1 |
Interacting with a shared data model
Interacting with a shared data model is disclosed. Interacting includes requesting information associated with an attribute from the shared data model, forming a request for content based on the information, and sending the request. |
| US07756933B2 |
System and method for deterring rogue users from attacking protected legitimate users
An active deterrence method and system deter rogue cyber activity targeting one or more protected legitimate users (PLUs). Methodologies and/or techniques are included to establish a PLU registry and/or enable a PLU to bear an identifying mark; detect rogue cyber activity; issue warnings to one or more rogue users (RUs) that target or attack PLUs with the detected rogue cyber activity; detect non-complying RUs that ignore or otherwise fail to comply with the warnings; and deploy one or more active deterrence mechanisms against the non-complying RUs. One active deterrence mechanism includes deploying a plurality of scripts to each PLU, and executing the scripts to issue complaints and request the non-complying RUs to clean their mailing lists of all PLUs. Other active deterrence mechanisms include alerting unaware business affiliates of the RUs, and notifying victims or law enforcement authorities of unlawful rogue cyber activity. |
| US07756924B2 |
Peer communities
A software architecture that permits for a unified mechanism for interfacing with multiple peer groups. The architecture includes multiple peer group interfaces, each facilitating communication between computing systems in a corresponding peer group. In addition, a perhaps configurable number and type of service modules are configured to use the peer group interfaces to facilitate communication between peer groups in a manner that facilitates the service. A peer community application program interface is configured to allow one or more peer applications to enlist the services of the plurality of services by interfacing with the peer community application program interface. |
| US07756923B2 |
System and method for intelligent multimedia conference collaboration summarization
A telecommunications system includes a network (102) and a multimedia server (104) operably coupled to the network. The multimedia server (104) is adapted to manage a multimedia conference and includes a memory (103) for storing selectable portions of the multimedia conference. The system further includes one or more client devices (122) operably coupled to the network and adapted to set recording cues for choosing portions of said multimedia conference for playback. The multimedia server or clients may include a voice recognition system (114) for transcribing audio portions of the conference. The voice recognition system may further be used to detect instances of the recording cues. |
| US07756922B2 |
Schema annotations for managing cached document fragments
The challenge of communicating document caching policies from document servers to client processes in the most generally applicable manner is solved by enabling the application of caching policies to classes of documents, rather than single instances of documents. Caching policies are applied to a given class of documents by specifying caching policies in metadata that describes the structure of the class of documents that conform to the metadata. In the context of XML data documents and document fragments, an XML schema can be annotated to include a representation of a caching policy, thereby specifying the caching policy for XML data documents and fragments that conform to the corresponding XML schema. |
| US07756913B1 |
System and methods for selecting content distribution
A GUI and CDN server device provide user modifiable selections of preferences for delivery treatment, and map the user selections to technical operational parameters in the CDN servers for effecting the requested delivery treatment. Users typically find it beneficial to interact with a file (content) entity in terms of the user visible delivery treatment. The server device provides the ability to define the delivery treatment according to the manner in which the user finds most beneficial. However, the CDN operational parameters for effecting such delivery are not readily available or understood by a typical user. Using the GUI, the CDN server identifies a content entity, and receives at least one user selection variable indicative of delivery treatment of the identified content entity. A correlator maps the received user selections to operational parameters according a set of rules, and a delivery engine effects delivery of the content entity according to the mapped operational parameters to provide delivery results according to the preferred delivery treatment. |
| US07756912B2 |
Method and system for minor garbage collection in a multitasking environment
A method for minor garbage collection in a multitasking environment involves marking cards as clean, where the cards designate ranges of memory locations in a shared older generation. The method further involves marking a card as dirty when a reference field of an object within the card is modified, where a memory location of the reference field is designated by the card, where the reference field references a live young object in a task-specific young generation, and where the task-specific young generation is associated with a first task. The method further involves marking the card as single-dirty when the card only includes roots of live young objects in the task-specific young generation, and optimizing task-specific minor garbage collection for a second task by skipping the card when the card is marked as single-dirty. |
| US07756910B2 |
Systems and methods for cache and pool initialization on demand
Users and processes are provided with various features to control the memory usage by a cache and pool dynamically at runtime. The cache and pool can be initialized on demand to remove idle objects of classes from them without the server being restarted. When the cache and pool reach their maximum sizes, idle objects in them may be removed to make room for newly active objects using various strategies in batches, where the schedule (periodicity), size and processing time of each batch can be dynamically adjusted. When a newly created object is being added to a full cache where each object is enrolled in a transaction, one or more active objects may be passivated from the cache based on various criteria to make room for the new instance to be added. Various features of the cache and pool can be defined in a configuration file. |
| US07756906B2 |
Schema-aware mid-tier binary XML implementation
Techniques for implementing a schema-aware mid-tier binary XML are provided. Token vocabularies are stored in a repository that is accessible to mid-tier applications from separate database systems. The token vocabularies are thus shared among the mid-tier applications of each database system. The repository may be part of a file system or database that is separate from any of the database systems, or the repository may be part of one of the database systems. |
| US07756903B2 |
Configuring a search engine results page with environment-specific information
An administrator for an environment may access an administration console to provide configuration information to tailor a search engine results page (SERP) for users in that environment. The administrator specifies which particular position on a SERP is to be reserved for environment specific information. The administrator may specify environment specific content that goes into a particular position. Rather than providing the content itself, the administrator might provide information to derive the environment specific content that goes into a particular position. The configuration information may be stored such that it is available for a search engine to configure a SERP with environment specific information. However, another device such as a proxy that is interposed between a client that issued the search query and the search engine may configure the SERP with environment specific information. |
| US07756898B2 |
Systems and methods for notifying listeners of events
In one embodiment, systems and methods are provided for tracking events wherein an event system monitors certain areas of a system. When an event occurs in one area of the system, the event system notifies the processes listening to that area of the system of the event. |
| US07756894B2 |
Use of keyword or access log information to assist a user with information search and retrieval
An apparatus, method, system, computer program and product, each capable of assisting a current user for information search or retrieval. Upon receiving keyword information from the user, a previous user who has accessed an inaccessible document having the keyword information or who has used the keyword information may be searched. |
| US07756884B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
To provide an information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program which can easily and appropriately inform the user of differences in results of searches performed based on the same search criteria at different times. An information processing apparatus retrieves first search results by searching a network for information using predetermined search criteria. The search criteria used in the search is registered. After the retrieval of the first search results, the information processing apparatus retrieves second search results by searching the network for information again using the registered search criteria. The information processing apparatus detects difference information from the retrieved information by comparing the first and second search results. |
| US07756881B2 |
Partitioning of data mining training set
A system that effectuates fetching a complete set of relational data into a mining services server and subsequently defining desired partitions upon the fetched data is provided. In accordance with the innovation, the data can be locally cached and partitioned therefrom. Accordingly, upon the same mining structure (e.g., cache) that has been partitioned, the novel innovation can build mining models for each partition. In other words, the innovation can employ the concept of mining structure as a data cache while manipulating only partitions of this cache in certain operations. The innovation can be employed in scenarios where a user wants to train a mining model using only data points that satisfy a particular Boolean condition, a user wants to split the training set into multiple partitions (e.g., training/testing) and/or a user wants to perform a data mining procedure known as “N-fold cross validation.” |
| US07756879B2 |
System and method for estimating user ratings from user behavior and providing recommendations
A recommendation system and method for generating a set of recommended items for a user who browses items from an item data store. The recommendation system estimates ratings for at least some of the items previously viewed by the user, and then constructs a representation of the user's implicit ratings of attributes of these items. These implicit attribute ratings are then used to estimate the user's ratings for unseen items in the item data store. |
| US07756871B2 |
Article extraction
An article is extracted from a document using a decision combiner to process a plurality of reading order alternatives. The text flow analysis generates the plurality of reading order alternatives of separate body text regions. |
| US07756864B2 |
System and method for performing a search and a browse on a query
A search and a browse on a single user query is performed. A refined query is selected from the results of the first user query. Thereafter, a list of concepts from a first directory associated with the refined query is obtained. The concepts are defined in a hierarchical relationship with concepts having broader scope being higher in the hierarchy and concepts having a narrower scope being lower in the hierarchy. Additionally, a list of web sites associated with the search concept is obtained from a second directory. |
| US07756848B2 |
Mapping system for accessing and mapping intellectual property data from a database
The present invention provides systems and methods for displaying a map conveying data and information related to intellectual properties. The system and method allows for a user to choose criteria for a search, which results are graphically displayed. The system and method also provides for applying filtering to the results based on system parameters, such as access permissions. |
| US07756847B2 |
Method and arrangement for searching for strings
This invention relates to methods of searching for a final number of result strings (30-33) having a partial or an exact match with a query string (34) in a database (80) comprised of many long strings or a long string, said method includes the steps of partitioning the query string in a first number of input query strings (35, 36, 37); determining a second number of neighboring strings (38-41, 42-45, 44-49, respectively) for each string in said first number of input query strings, wherein each string in said second number of neighboring strings has a predetermined first number of errors; searching the database for a third number of exact matches (50-61, 70-74) for each string in said second number of neighboring strings based on a search method; concatenating said searched exact matched strings from the database into a fourth number of intermediate strings (29, 30, 32, 33, 34) wherein said searched exact matched strings (50-61, 70-74) comprised in each of said intermediate strings are in succession to one another in said database; and determining the final number of result strings (30-33) based in said fourth number of intermediate strings, wherein each string in the final number of result strings has a maximum of predetermined second number of errors compared to said query string (34). This enables for a perfect match or a partial match containing only minor errors with respect to said query string, and for a fast search in larger databases with a relative low use of processing power. |
| US07756845B2 |
System and method for learning a weighted index to categorize objects
An improved system and method is provided for learning a weighted index to categorize objects using ranked recall. In an offline embodiment, a learning engine may learn a weighted index for classifying objects using ranked recall by training during an entire initial pass of a training sequence of a collection of objects. In an online embodiment, a learning engine may learn a weighted index for classifying objects using ranked recall by dynamically updating the weighted index as each instance of the collection of objects may be categorized. Advantageously, an instance of a large collection of objects may be accurately and efficiently recalled for many large scale applications with hundreds of thousands of categories by quickly identifying a small set of candidate categories for the given instance of the object. |
| US07756844B2 |
Methods of determining and searching for modified blocks in a file system
The invention relates to a method of determining if a block was modified in a file system by comparing the versions of the base snapshot, the delta snapshot, and the space map block entry (b, e). In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of searching for blocks modified in a tree structured file system. The invention relates to methods and systems of snapshot management of a file system in a data storage system. To represent the snapshots, the invention maintains pointers to the root block pointer of each snapshot. When the active file system is modified, this invention avoids overwriting any blocks used by previous snapshots by allocating new blocks for the modified blocks. When the invention needs to put an established block in a new location, it must update a parent block to point to the new location. The update to the parent block may then require allocating a new block for the new parent block and so forth. Parts of the file system not modified since a snapshot remain in place. The amount of space required to represent snapshots scales with the fraction of the file system that users modify. To maintain snapshot integrity, this invention keeps track of the first and last snapshots that use each block in space map blocks spread throughout the file system data space. When users delete snapshots, this invention may use a background process to find blocks no longer used by any snapshot and makes them available for future use. |
| US07756841B2 |
System and method for identity decisions and invalidation
A system and method for identity decisions and invalidation. Modified objects (e.g., files, executables, etc.) are flagged for reevaluation. Privileges associated with the object are only persisted if the modifications are determined to be authorized (e.g., updates and patches). In one embodiment, a tagging system registers to be notified of all writes, renames, truncations, moves, deletions, or any other relevant modifications to objects. If the tagging system detects a modification operation targeting the object, it invalidates all identity decisions cached with the object. The next time the object runs, the system does not recognize the object and it is forced to reevaluate its identity. Thus, patching and other write operations are still permitted, but the system detects the changed object and reevaluates the identity. |
| US07756833B2 |
Method and system for synthetic backup and restore
A method and system for backing up and restoring data. First, a full backup is performed to create a full dataset. Thereafter, incremental or differential datasets may be created by incremental or differential backups, respectively. When a new full dataset is needed, instead of performing a full backup, a previous full dataset may be combined with subsequent incremental or differential datasets to create the new full dataset. The new full dataset may be created on a computer other than the computer which hosts the data of the previous full dataset. The new full dataset may be used for offsite storage or to quickly restore data in the event of a failure or corruption of a computer's file system. |
| US07756824B2 |
Spreadsheet collaboration between rich and browser clients
Techniques for collaborating on a spreadsheet file by client computers in real time are disclosed herein. In particular, a revision manager module is preferably provided with a host machine which receives updates from the client computers, processes such updates, and then applies them to the spreadsheet file. Additionally, a technique is described for handling updates sent to the revision manager by clients simultaneously or near simultaneously. In this case, the revision manager determines whether the updates to the spreadsheet file are transformable or able to be merged. If so, the updates are combined into the spreadsheet file and applied thereto. If the updates are not transformable, the revision manager confirms that all clients have received all previous updates before applying the non-transformable update to the spreadsheet file. |
| US07756823B2 |
Dynamic reference repository
A method for maintaining a dynamic reference repository within an enterprise architecture domain, comprises discovering pertinent input(s) to the dynamic reference repository. These newly discovered pertinent inputs are then retrieved to the dynamic reference repository. After retrieval, the pertinent input(s) to the dynamic reference repository are managed and distributed within the enterprise architecture domain. |
| US07756810B2 |
Software tool for training and testing a knowledge base
A software tool for creating, training and testing a knowledge base of a computerized customer relationship management system is disclosed. The software tool includes corpus editing processes for displaying and editing text-based corpus items, and assigning selected categories to individual corpus items. Knowledge base construction processes construct a knowledge base by analyzing a first subset of the corpus items, and testing processes test the knowledge base on a second subset of the corpus items. Reporting processes generate reports containing indicia representative of the testing results, which may be utilized to edit the corpus items and retrain the knowledge base so as to improve performance. |
| US07756807B1 |
System and method for facts extraction and domain knowledge repository creation from unstructured and semi-structured documents
Provided are methods and systems that extract facts of unstructured documents and build an oracle for various domains. The present invention addresses the problem of efficient finding and extraction of facts about a particular subject domain from semi-structured and unstructured documents, makes inferences of new facts from the extracted facts and the ways of verification of the facts, thus becoming a source of knowledge about the domain to be effectively queried. The methods and systems can also extract temporal information from unstructured and semi-structured documents, and can find and extract dynamically generated documents from Deep or Dynamic Web. |
| US07756803B2 |
Method of predicting availability of a system
The computer availability is predicted by determining a hazard fail rate for the computer system that is based on the hazard fail rate of the individual computer components and the computer system structure s6, as well as the mean repair rate for the system. The computer hazard rates of individual computer system components are based on the error monitoring of those computer components during the computer system operation in real time. |
| US07756790B2 |
Life settlement/settlement with paid-up policy system and method
A method and system for structuring a life settlement with a paid-up policy transaction. An existing insurance policy holder exchanges an existing insurance policy for a paid-up insurance policy or life insurance group certificate purchased by a buyer on a secondary market. The policy holder could also exchange its policy for being named as a beneficiary of a second insurance policy purchased by a buyer on a secondary market. |
| US07756789B2 |
Method and system for debt recovery
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of debt recovery is provided. The method includes providing a device to a consumer owing a debt to a creditor. The device has a utility that becomes available to the consumer after being activated by the creditor. The method also includes indicating to the consumer that the utility of the device will be activated if the consumer contacts the creditor. |
| US07756784B2 |
System and method for account reconciliation
An account reconciliation system having a particular usefulness in the reconciliation of centrally billed accounts and more specifically, in the reconciliation of centrally billed accounts in the travel industry is provided. The system and methods of the present invention expand on the traditional match/non-match techniques and provide complete transaction management for every item on a client's account. In another sense, reconciliation is redefined to include each and every transaction on an account regardless of it's reconciliation status, i.e., matched, unresolved, pending, etc. Consequently, the present invention reconciles the client's account to the account balance. |
| US07756770B2 |
System and method for trading off upside and downside values of a portfolio
A system and method for valuing a portfolio in terms of its performance relative to a specified benchmark under a range of future scenarios is disclosed. In particular, a portfolio is taken and two values related to the portfolio are calculated: the first value corresponding to an amount by which the value of the portfolio is expected to fall below the value of a benchmark over a given time horizon, and a second value corresponding to an amount by which the value of the portfolio is expected to exceed the value of a benchmark over a given time horizon, in view of the range of different future scenarios. Means for determining the portfolio which optimally trades-off these two values, and to evaluate risk/reward performance measures using these two values which can be used to rank instruments, securities or portfolios are disclosed. Means for pricing portfolio insurance for optimal portfolios are also disclosed. |
| US07756764B1 |
Charitable contribution system
A method is described for transferring a tax-deductible donation from a donor's account with an asset holder to at least one qualified charitable organization for subsequent transfer to at least one charity. The donor electronically advises the asset holder of the asset to be donated and the charity that is to receive the donation. The asset holder then transfers the designated asset to at least one charitable organization. The charitable organization then transfers the asset to the identified charity, and transmitting information relating to the donation to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, and to the donor. |
| US07756760B2 |
System for determining shortage costs
A system that can determine shortage costs in a repeatable and sustainable manner. In certain embodiments, the system takes into account different shortage costs that impact different organizations and weight those shortage costs against the costs to expedite material in to cover those shortages. Additionally, in certain embodiments, the system can continue to be updated based on changing needs of the business and to reflect a true impact of unit shortages so accurate expedite decisions can continue to be made and accounted for that are of the most economic benefit to a manufacturer. |
| US07756751B2 |
Architecture for business process integration
A software architecture can include an artifact layer and a configuration layer. The artifact layer can contain multiple application independent artifacts. A configuration layer can contain at least one application. The application can include multiple states in which the application executes instructions. The states can exist within execution spaces that are distributed across a network. The application uses artifacts of the artifact layer, which can operate in a state dependent manner. |
| US07756747B2 |
RFID business process-decoupling of design and deployment time activities
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates implementing a binding between a radio frequency identification (RFID) process and a device. An RFID process can receive a tag read event from a device and make the tag read event available for at least one high level application. A binding engine can bind the RFID process to the device while decoupling a design time activity and a deployment time activity associated with the RFID process. In addition, the binding engine can include at least one of a device mapping component that employs a device binding; and a component configuration module that employs a component binding. |
| US07756744B2 |
User-driven data network communication system and method
A system is disclosed for messaging over a data network, such as the Internet and interactive TV, which allows every registered user to generate and update one or more user portfolio(s) containing information relative to Providers and/or individuals of which the user is willing to view their messages. The messages are displayed inside the space of the webpage where usually banners are shown. The system may provide benefits to the user upon displaying messages with commercial value to him. The disclosed messaging system allows an easy and effective communication path between providers and users any time publicly or privately in the banner area of a web site, which does not occupy additional space on the user's browser, and does not require the user to load another application besides his browser. |
| US07756737B2 |
User-based method and system for evaluating enterprise software services costs
A user-based method and system for evaluating enterprise software costs determines a support level for the integrated provision of a plurality of enterprise software support services by identifying a plurality of usage levels associated with each of a plurality of enterprise software support applications. The method and system identify a plurality of software services support levels associated with each of the usage levels. Then, a formulaic relationship is derived from the plurality of usage levels and the plurality of software services for determining a software services support level for a given usage level that is appropriate for a subset of said plurality of enterprise software support applications. The ability to dynamically change user levels, complexity variables, database size, and software services enables dynamical and precise software services business consulting in providing such services. |
| US07756731B2 |
System for managing travel vouchers and method of same
An on-line voucher management system which provides a user interface for travel agents, carriers and online customers to create and redeem vouchers is provided. The on-line portal has access to the GDS which stores PNRs. The voucher will be created as a standard PNR containing a fictitious air itinerary and its associated ticket data. Users specify the voucher amount and other required information through the user interface, and a PNR holding that information is created in the GDS. The PNR is then ticketed as for a standard booking process. Then voucher redemption is managed as a typical PNR reissue process. |
| US07756728B2 |
Healthcare system and user interface for consolidating patient related information from different sources
In a healthcare system, a method consolidates patient related information from multiple, different sources by performing the following steps. Patient identification data identifying a particular patient is received. Messages are generated for communication to a corresponding information sources. The generated messages incorporate the particular patient identification data and a request for information concerning the particular patient. The messages are communicated to the corresponding information sources. Response messages are received containing requested information concerning the particular patient from the information sources. The requested information is sorted and merged from the response messages to provide data representative of consolidated patient related information. |
| US07756720B2 |
Method and system for the objective quantification of fame
A system and method for establishing fame-related weighted values associated with persons, places, or things through the automated analysis and collection of quantitative and contextual fame-related data, and for presenting such objective measurement to one or more users of such system. |
| US07756715B2 |
Apparatus, method, and medium for processing audio signal using correlation between bands
Apparatus, method, and medium for processing an audio signal using a correlation between bands are provided. The apparatus includes an encoding unit encoding an input audio signal and a decoding unit decoding the encoded input audio signal. The encoding unit includes a correlation analyzer searching a most subband having a correlation of more than a predetermined value between a first subband and the most similar subband in each of the first subbands from second subbands and generating information about the second searched subband, and the decoding unit comprises a high frequency component restoring portion copying data about the second searched subband as data about the first subband, using the generated information about the second subband generated by the correlation analyzer and transmitted in a bit stream format, to perform decoding on the first subbands, and the first subbands are subbands that belong to a high frequency band in a band of a result of subband-filtering the input audio signal and the second subbands are subbands that belong to a low frequency band in a band of the result of subband-filtering. |
| US07756704B2 |
Voice/music determining apparatus and method
A voice/music determining apparatus is configured to calculate first feature parameters for discriminating between a voice signal and a musical signal; and calculate second feature parameters for discriminating between a musical signal and a background-sound-superimposed voice signal. A first score is calculated to indicate likelihood that the input audio signal is a voice signal or a musical signal as a sum of weight-multiplied first feature parameters. A second score is calculated to indicate likelihood that the input audio signal is a musical signal or a background-sound-superimposed voice signal as a sum of weight-multiplied second feature parameters. It is determined whether the input audio signal is a voice signal or a musical signal on the basis of the first score. Further, it is determined whether the musical signal is the input audio signal is a background-sound-superimposed voice signal on the basis of the second score. |
| US07756702B2 |
Signal processing using pilot based coding
An apparatus for processing a signal and method thereof are disclosed. Data coding and entropy coding are performed with interconnection, and grouping is used to enhance coding efficiency. The present invention includes the steps of obtaining a pilot reference value corresponding to a plurality of data and a pilot difference value corresponding to the pilot reference value and obtaining the data using the pilot reference value and the pilot difference value. |
| US07756692B2 |
Crowd behavior modeling method and system
A method and system for simulating aggregates of individuals, using large numbers of interacting, independent, and unique decision models in order to simulate and study various types of behaviors. |
| US07756689B1 |
Numerical modeling of six-degree-freedom ship motion
The present invention's new calculative methodology models the motion of a seagoing vessel in six dimensions, uniquely employing a total velocity potential as the sole parameterization for taking into consideration all linear and nonlinear dynamical effects involved in interaction between the vessel and environmental water. The solid-body rotational motion of the vessel about the vessel's center of mass is determined in three dimensions (roll, pitch, yaw) by calculating the pressure torque and the buoyancy torque. The solid-body translational motion of the vessel's center of mass is determined in three dimensions (heave, surge, sway) by calculating the pressure force and the buoyancy force. The pressure torque and the pressure force are each associated with pressure (e.g., non-hydrostatic pressure) of water on the vessel's surface. The buoyancy torque and the buoyancy force are each associated with the displacement of the vessel with respect to the vessel's equilibrium position in the water. |
| US07756687B2 |
Method for predicting contributions of silicon interstitials to n-type dopant transient enhanced diffusion during a pn junction formation
A method for predicting the contribution of silicon interstitials to n-type dopant transient enhanced diffusion during a pn junction formation is disclosed. Initially, fundamental data for a set of microscopic processes that can occur during one or more material processing operations are obtained. The fundamental data are then utilized to build kinetic models for a set of reactions that contribute substantially to an evolution of n-type dopant concentration and electrical activities. The kinetic models are subsequently applied to a simulator to predict temporal and spatial evolutions of concentration and electrical activity profiles of the n-type dopants. |
| US07756683B2 |
Measuring device and method for measuring at least one environmental parameter
A process for measuring at least one environmental parameter with at least one sensor (7.1, 7.2, . . . ), wherein environmental parameters detected by the sensor are converted into measured values of physical variables and are retrievable via a long-distance data connection, is characterized in that the environmental parameters detected by the sensor (7.1, 7.2, . . . ) are taken over in the form of voltage signals from a processor system of a data acquisition and processing unit (6) which calculates therefrom physical measured values in two steps while taking into account the progressions of calibration, stores said calculated measured values in database form along with the voltage signals, preferably making them available via a web server function, wherein, in a first step, voltage values which have been digitized and, possibly, have been preprocessed by statistical arithmetic operations are made available and, in a second step, the measured values are calculated therefrom (FIG. 1). |
| US07756682B1 |
System and method for statistically monitoring and analyzing sensed conditions
A system and method of monitoring and analyzing a plurality of attributes for an alarm condition is disclosed. The attributes are processed and/or unprocessed values of sensed conditions of a collection of a statistically significant number of statistically similar components subjected to varying environmental conditions. The attribute values are used to compute the normal behaviors of some of the attributes and also used to infer parameters of a set of models. Relative probabilities of some attribute values are then computed and used along with the set of models to determine whether an alarm condition is met. The alarm conditions are used to prevent or reduce the impact of impending failure. |
| US07756678B2 |
System and method for advanced condition monitoring of an asset system
A method for advanced condition monitoring of an asset system includes using a plurality of auto-associative neural networks to determine estimates of actual values sensed by at least one sensor in at least one of the plurality of operating regimes; determining a residual between the estimated sensed values and the actual values sensed by the at least one sensor from each of the plurality of auto-associative neural networks; and combining the residuals by using a fuzzy supervisory model blender; performing a fault diagnostic on the combined residuals; and determining a change of the operation of the asset system by analysis of the combined residuals. An alert is provided if necessary. A smart sensor system includes an on-board processing unit for performing the method of the invention. |
| US07756673B2 |
Measuring device for measuring aspects of objects
An exemplary measuring device (100) for measuring aspects of objects includes a first contour measuring probe (10), a second contour measuring probe (20) and a processor (30). The first contour measuring probe (10) has a first tip extension (16) and a first displacement sensor (19). The first tip extension (16) is slidable in a first direction. The first displacement sensor (19) is used to sense a displacement of the first tip extension (16). The second contour measuring probe (20) has a second tip extension (26) and a second displacement sensor. The second tip extension (26) is slidable in the first direction. The second displacement sensor is used to sense a displacement of the second tip extension (26). The processor (30) is electrically connected to the first displacement sensor (19) and the second displacement sensor respectively. |
| US07756669B2 |
Systems and methods for estimating temperatures of power module components
Methods and systems are provided for modeling temperature characteristics of components in a system such as a power module for a hybrid or electric vehicle. A power dissipation value is calculated for each of the components in the system. A first filter is applied to the power dissipation value associated with a selected component to determine its estimated temperature. For each of the neighboring components located adjacent to the selected component, a cross-coupling temperature is estimated by applying other filters to each of the power dissipation values for the neighboring components. The estimated temperature of the selected component and the estimated cross-coupling temperatures for each of the neighboring components can then be added to thereby estimate the operating temperature for the selected component. Further, the operation of the system may be adjusted if the operating temperature determined for the selected component exceeds a threshold value. |
| US07756668B2 |
Maximal temperature logging
A computer implemented method, data processing system, and processor are provided for logging a maximal temperature in an integrated circuit. A digital thermal sensor senses a temperature in the integrated circuit. The sensed temperature of the digital thermal sensor is read and a determination is made as to whether the sensed temperature is higher than a current maximal temperature. The sensed temperature is logged in response to the sensed temperature being higher than the current maximal temperature. The sensed temperature becomes a new maximal temperature for the integrated circuit. |
| US07756647B2 |
Fill level measurement device
A fill level measurement device senses the fill level of an object within a container. A fill level measurement sensor provides a sensed fill level signal indicative of the level within the container. A signal processing device is responsive to the sensed fill level signal and includes a first removable and replaceable component that includes a first memory device. The signal processing device also includes a second removable and replaceable component that includes a second memory device containing component customer parameter data. The second removable and replaceable component transmits the component customer parameter data to the first removable and replaceable component via a data link that electrically isolates the first and second removable and replaceable components, and the first removable and replaceable component stores the received component customer parameter data into the first non-volatile memory device. |
| US07756638B2 |
Mobile terminal device and program
A control unit obtains a current position of a mobile phone by using a GPS receiver during the operation of the navigation function, while detecting a style of a device body based on detection of an opening/closing sensor. The control unit determines whether to perform route guidance or to perform direction guidance based on the detected style of the mobile phone. When the mobile phone is in “open style”, the control unit displays a detailed navigation screen including route indicating map images on a main display, while displaying a simple direction guidance on a sub display when the mobile phone is in “closed style”. |
| US07756632B2 |
System and method for performing 4-dimensional navigation
A system and method are disclosed for computing a vehicle's motion in four dimensions (e.g., three spatial dimensions and time) and reliably predicting the vehicle's arrival time at a predetermined location, by providing a graphical display to an operator of the vehicle's progress that enables the operator to adjust the vehicle's movement and achieve the desired arrival time. Specifically, a system and method are disclosed for computing the movement of an aircraft in four dimensions, predicting its arrival time at a predetermined waypoint, and displaying (in a highly intuitive format) the aircraft's progress in achieving that desired arrival time. The pilot can then adjust the movement (e.g., speed) of the aircraft in accordance with the parameter(s) displayed, in order to achieve the desired arrival time. Thus, for example, numerous aircraft could be scheduled to arrive at a specific final approach waypoint at a predetermined rate (e.g., one aircraft per minute), which would enable the traffic controllers to optimize runway traffic without having to stack the aircraft in holding patterns and thereby waste fuel. Notably, although an example of an aircraft navigation and control system and method is disclosed, the system and method can be implemented for any type of vehicle (e.g., aircraft, spacecraft, ship, submarine, bus, train, automobile, etc.) whose operator desires to reach a particular location at a specified time. |
| US07756626B2 |
Gas turbine output learning circuit and combustion control device for gas turbine having the same
A gas turbine output learning circuit is configured to compute a current combustion gas temperature TIT at an inlet of a gas turbine by linear interpolation by use of two characteristic curves A and B respectively representing relations between a pressure ratio and an exhaust gas temperature in the cases of the combustion gas temperature at the inlet of the gas turbine at 1400° C. and 1500° C., then to compute ideal MW corresponding to this combustion gas temperature TIT at the inlet of the gas turbine by linear interpolation according to 1400° C.MW and 1500° C.MW (temperature controlled MW), and then to correct the 1400° C.MW and the 1500° C.MW so as to match the ideal MW with a measured gas turbine output (a power generator output). |
| US07756623B2 |
Settings control of an agricultural vehicle
An agricultural vehicle with a plurality of controlled implements, is provided with a programmable computer having input devices for receiving data and instructions from the vehicle operator and connected to send control signals to the implements, and a display screen connected to the computer to display information regarding the operation of the vehicle and the implements. The computer is programmed to enable the operator to record the prevailing values of the settings of the different implements in a memory. |
| US07756616B2 |
Criteria-based alternative messaging for a vehicle email notification system
A criteria-based messaging method for use with a vehicle email notification system in which triggers are used to initiate the generation and transmission of email messages that provide diverse types of dynamic vehicle information to the owner or other authorized subscriber. The email notifications are triggered by different events, some of which are independent of the vehicle (e.g., a monthly trigger), and others of which occur at the vehicle, such as a mileage or low oil life trigger. The notification system builds and sends to the subscriber an email message that contains the dynamic vehicle information and identifies any detected vehicle condition for which action is needed. The vehicle data is also compared to predefined criteria which, if met, result in an alternative notification message (text message, voice message, etc.) being sent to the recipient by an alternative means such as a phone call to the vehicle. |
| US07756615B2 |
Traffic management system for a passageway environment
The present invention provides a system for coordinating multiple vehicles in a passageway environment (e.g., in underground mines). The system includes methods and apparatus for determining the global position and orientation of a vehicle in said passageway environment, and methods for planning routes and monitoring the travels of multiple vehicles in said passageway environment. A global position and orientation estimation system employs one or more odometric sensors and one or more range sensing devices. It works in three basic steps. In the first step, it records and processes sensor data that is descriptive of the passageway environment by moving the system through said passageway environment. In the second step, it generates a globally consistent map of said passageway environment. Finally, real-time localization is provided by employing odometric sensors and range sensing devices to determine the system's global position and orientation with respect to said globally consistent map, both initially and as it travels through the passageway environment. A route planning method accepts higher-level goals for a set of multiple vehicles in said passageway environment and generates a route plan for each vehicle that minimizes the travel time for the group of vehicles, while at the same time avoiding collisions between vehicles. Route plans are sent to the vehicles for implementation and a monitoring method tracks the global positions and orientations of the vehicles and ensures that both safety and efficiency are maintained. |
| US07756613B2 |
Signaling system
Trains and points are patrolled by a telegram containing the block occupancy information as a section that only one train is permitted to occupy, the information for giving lock position instructions to a point, and the point position information. This telegram is updated in order to get the right of block occupancy that is not held by other trains, and to give lock position instruction to the point. The train checks the block which this train is allowed to occupy, confirms that the point in this block has been set to the lock position specified by this train. Reading the aforementioned telegram, the point checks the lock position instruction given to itself and controls its lock position. A signaling system characterized by reduced designing and manufacturing costs is provided. |
| US07756607B2 |
Floor reaction force estimation method for two-legged walking mobile body
The direction of a component vector on a plane perpendicular to a predetermined axis of a floor reaction force acting on landing legs of a two-legged walking mobile body is determined such that the direction of a moment generated around a center-of-gravity of the body by a total sum of the component vectors on the plane is coincident with the direction of the component around the predetermined axis of a total rate of change of angular momentum by calculating the total rate of change of angular momentum, and the total floor reaction force acting on the body by sensing joint displacement, acceleration, angular velocity, and using a rigid link model. An estimated value of the component vector is found based on the determined direction and the obtained total floor reaction force. This enables finding an estimated value of the floor reaction force showing a smooth and continuous change. |
| US07756605B2 |
Floor reaction detector of legged mobile robot
In a legged mobile robot having at least a body and a plurality of legs each connected to the body through a first joint and a foot each connected to a distal end of each of the legs through a second joint, a floor reaction force detector is installed between the second joint and a contact end of the foot. More specifically, an upper portion of the floor reaction force detector is connected at a location near the second joint, and the contact end of the foot or thereabout is constituted by a spring mechanism that is lower in rigidity than a member constituting the second joint or thereabout such that a lower portion of the floor reaction force detector is connected to the contact end through the spring mechanism. With this, it becomes possible to provide the floor reaction force detector that can improve detection accuracy of the floor reaction force and prevent the performance of control from being degraded, while enabling to maintain a stable posture during standing and to decrease the impact at foot landing. |
| US07756603B1 |
System and methodology providing coordinated and modular conveyor zone control
The present invention relates to conveyor control system and methodology that may be operatively coupled with other such systems in order to implement a control strategy for a modular conveyor system. A module and/or series of modules are provided that clamp to a cable, the modules having associated logic and inter-module communications for control. This includes relatively inexpensive power distribution, interconnection and motion logic for industrial conveyor systems. |
| US07756601B1 |
Intuitive controller for vertical lift assist device
A vertical control mechanism for a vertical lift assist device is provided in which a rotational twist grip element is in direct communication with a control signal that generates analog input signals corresponding to an operator's intended vertical destination of an end-effector. A vertical lift mechanism is thereby controlled to provide a vertical assist lifting force that assists an end-effector in the manipulation of a load. |
| US07756599B2 |
Substrate processing apparatus, program for performing operation and control method thereof, and computer readable storage medium storing the program
A computer readable storage medium storing a program for performing an operation method of a substrate processing apparatus is provided. The operation method includes the steps of introducing a nonreactive gas into the vacuum preparation chamber before the gate valve is opened while the substrate is transferred between the vacuum preparation chamber of the vacuum processing unit and the transfer unit, stopping introducing the nonreactive gas when an inner pressure of the vacuum preparation chamber becomes same as an atmospheric pressure, starting an evacuation process of the corrosive gas in the vacuum preparation chamber and then opening to atmosphere performed by letting the vacuum preparation chamber communicate with an atmosphere, and opening the gate valve after the step of opening to atmosphere. |
| US07756588B2 |
Method of fabricating a multichannel electrode
The invention provides a multichannel electrode (“MC electrode”) which can perform multiple functions such as recording, stimulating and lesioning simultaneously or sequentially upon a single insertion into a target site. In one aspect, the MC electrode further provides imaging and drug delivery capabilities. The invention also provides interface connectors for connecting the MC electrode to external units such as data acquisition and/or stimulation systems. Although the MC electrode and associated connectors and system(s) provide an optimal way to perform deep brain surgical procedures, the MC electrode and associated connectors and system(s) are useful generally in any technique which relies on recording, activating, and/or inhibiting electrical signals produced by cells. |
| US07756583B2 |
Methods and apparatus for intravascularly-induced neuromodulation
Methods and apparatus are provided for intravascularly-induced neuromodulation using a pulsed electric field, e.g., to effectuate irreversible electroporation or electrofusion, necrosis and/or inducement of apoptosis, alteration of gene expression, changes in cytokine upregulation, etc., in target neural fibers. In some embodiments, the intravascular PEF system comprises a catheter having a pair of bipolar electrodes for delivering the PEF, with a first electrode positioned on a first side of an impedance-altering element and a second electrode positioned on an opposing side of the impedance-altering element. A length of the electrodes, as well as a separation distance between the first and second electrodes, may be specified such that, with the impedance-altering element deployed in a manner that locally increases impedance within a patient's vessel, e.g., with the impedance-altering element deployed into contact with the vessel wall at a treatment site within the patient's vasculature, a magnitude of applied voltage delivered across the bipolar electrodes necessary to achieve desired neuromodulation is reduced relative to an intravascular PEF system having similarly spaced electrodes but no (or an undeployed) impedance-altering element. In a preferred embodiment, the impedance-altering element comprises an inflatable balloon configured to locally increase impedance within a patient's vasculature. The methods and apparatus of the present invention may be used to modulate a neural fiber that contributes to renal function. |
| US07756575B2 |
Apparatus and method of diagnosing health using cumulative data pattern analysis via fast Fourier transformation of brain wave data measured from frontal lobe
Provided is a health diagnosis apparatus and method in which brain waves are sequentially measured from the frontal lobe of a human body that is to be diagnosed when the eyes are in an eyes-open and eyes-closed state, the measured brain waves are fast Fourier transformed to then be accumulated, and then the health conditions of the respective portions of the human body can be determined according to the patterns with respective frequencies. The health condition diagnosis method includes measuring brain waves; performing a fast-Fourier-transform on the measured brain waves; classifying the frequency-based brain wave data into opened and closed eye state brain waves to thus accumulate the classified result; finding a specific frequency and a pattern thereof which repeats from the accumulated brain wave data; correspondingly connecting the frequency and the respective portions of the human body based on the specific frequency pattern; and determining the health condition of the human body. The frequency-based health condition determination is based on clinic test results. |
| US07756559B2 |
Device for generating a detectable signal based upon antibody/antigen interaction
Utilization of a contact device placed on the eye in order to detect physical and chemical parameters of the body as well as the non-invasive delivery of compounds according to these physical and chemical parameters, with signals being transmitted continuously as electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared and the like. One of the parameters to be detected includes non-invasive blood analysis utilizing chemical changes and chemical products that are found in the conjunctiva and in the tear film. A transensor mounted in the contact device laying on the cornea or the surface of the eye is capable of evaluating and measuring physical and chemical parameters in the eye including non-invasive blood analysis. The system utilizes eye lid motion and/or closure of the eye lid to activate a microminiature radio frequency sensitive transensor mounted in the contact device. The signal can be communicated by wires or radio telemetered to an externally placed receiver. The signal can then be processed, analyzed and stored. Several parameters can be detected including a complete non-invasive analysis of blood components, measurement of systemic and ocular blood flow, measurement of heart rate and respiratory rate, tracking operations, detection of ovulation, detection of radiation and drug effects, diagnosis of ocular and systemic disorders and the like. |
| US07756554B2 |
Diversely openable dual display type mobile communication terminal
A diversely openable dual display type mobile communication terminal is disclosed. The mobile communication terminal is designed in due consideration of a design concept and a form factor to facilitate enhanced information input that includes a plurality of discrete information input parts separately formed on a key group in order to provide broadened information input areas, the input parts selectively openable by use of a folder portion and a slider portion. |
| US07756553B2 |
Folded flex assembly for personal media device
Systems and methods are provided for media devices including a housing, a frame disposed adjacent to the housing, a support panel that is integrated with the frame, and a flexible circuit that is disposed adjacent to the support panel such that the support panel provides support for the flexible circuit. |
| US07756550B2 |
Hands free device for a cellular phone
A hands free device for a cellular phone which has a telephone transceiving unit for a mobile radio network and in addition a communication device for the wireless transmission of audio and data signals, with a housing in which a communication device forming a wireless communication connection with the communication device of the cellular phone is located, provides for the activation by a cellular phone without or at least without voluminous permanent installations in a motor vehicle in that a telephone transceiving unit for a mobile radio network is integrated in the housing, which telephone transceiving unit is set up for receiving user-specific data from a cellular phone via the communication device and providing a user-specific cellular phone function, specified by the user-specific data, through the telephone transceiving unit, the telephone transceiving unit is connected to a display in the housing and the housing has a power supply connection and an antenna connection. |
| US07756542B1 |
Managing a radio environment without location information
In an access point operating in a wireless local area network, a method is disclosed for assisting a radio manager to manage a radio environment without location information. By performing radio discovery to receive beacon signals from neighboring access points, an initial configuration of a radio environment is generated based on said received beacon signals. Measurements are received from a client device that performs measurements by a user walking through a desired coverage area while operating the client device and the radio configuration is adjusted based on the received measurements. |
| US07756538B2 |
Wide area network handset assisted content delivery system and method of using same
A wide area network assisted multimedia content delivery system (200) includes a first wide area network handset (205) and a second wide area network handset (207) having one or more transceivers (208) for exchanging information over the wide band network as well as multimedia information via an ad hoc communication. A wide area base unit (201) is used for communicating with the first wide area network handset (205) and second wide area network handset (207) where a content distribution broker (203) associated with the wide area base unit (201) is used for brokering multimedia content (audio, video and text data) between the first wide area network handset (205) and the second wide area network handset (207). The transceiver (208) operates to exchange multimedia content in an ad hoc communication directly between the first wide area network handset (205) and second wide area network handset (207) when within a predetermined proximity. |
| US07756524B1 |
System and method for partially count-based allocation of vocoder resources
A system and method for allocating vocoder resources for interconnect calls includes consideration of what percentage of interconnect calls have been assigned to a particular vocoder type. In an embodiment a vocoder type is assigned to a given interconnect call based on a comparison of the available capacity of the telecommunications network to one or more threshold values, and a determination on whether or not the percentage of interconnect calls assigned to a given vocoder type has exceeded a threshold percentage. In certain embodiments, the vocoder is adapted to operate in one of at least two possible types, where the first type is characterized by a higher voice quality, but a lower network capacity, than the second type. |
| US07756519B2 |
Interference mitigation technique
A backhaul network for a mobile wireless network including a plurality of nodes forming links, the links utilizing a 1:n frequency re-use scheme in backhaul communication, where n equals 2 to about 16, wherein each link communicates over a different portion of an entire bandwidth of the network. |
| US07756517B2 |
Apparatus and method for verifying reception and execution status of telecommand in satellite control system
Provided are an apparatus and a method for verifying a reception and execution status of telecommand in a satellite control system. The inventive apparatus for informing a satellite control system of a reception and execution status of telecommand in a satellite comprises a telecommand receiver for receiving a telecommand signal transmitted from a satellite control system, a link control unit for extracting a command transfer frame from the telecommand signal received in the telecommand receiver, judging whether or not the extracted command transfer frame is valid, and providing corresponding link verification telemetry information to a telemetry transmitter, a telemetry information database for storing a set of telecommand execution verification telemetry mnemonics or measured values, a telecommand/telemetry unit, when the telecommand is executed, for acquiring an execution verification telemetry mnemonic responding to the telecommand from the telemetry information database, and the telemetry transmitter for generating a telemetry transfer frame having the link verification telemetry information provided by the link control unit and the telecommand execution verification telemetry mnemonic acquired by the telecommand/telemetry unit as data field, and sending the generated telemetry transfer frame to the satellite control system. |
| US07756516B2 |
High-frequency measuring system having spatially separated high-frequency modules
A high-frequency measuring system is provided for measuring a test device with a measuring device unit and at least one high-frequency module connected to the measuring device unit. Each high-frequency module is located spatially separated from the measuring device unit and is connected to the measuring device unit via a digital interface. |
| US07756515B1 |
Systems and methods of merchandising content to mobile telephones based on subscriber's purchase history
A system and method for merchandizing content to wireless subscribers that have upgraded their mobile station or service is disclosed. The wireless carrier maintains a database of identifying data for content downloaded to subscribers' mobile stations. When a subscriber upgrades his or her mobile station the wireless carrier searches the database for previously downloaded content, identifies the equivalent content that is compatible with the new mobile station and provides the information of available equivalent downloads to the mobile station. |
| US07756513B2 |
Command and control communications system with sub-networks and interface devices
A sub-network device and a method of communicating using a sub-network, interconnect device and a network as a backbone within a communications system includes receiving a request for information at the interconnect device from a wireless communications device to communicate with the interconnect device, the interconnect device interconnects the wireless communications device to the sub-network, transmitting the request for information from the wireless communications device to the network, the network including terrestrial communications and being connected to a public safety agency network, receiving the requested information at the sub-network from the public safety agency network over the network in response to the transmitted request for information and transmitting the requested information back to the wireless communications device through the interconnect device. |
| US07756511B2 |
Text message delivery features for an interactive wireless network
In general, in one aspect, one embodiment of the present disclosure features a message delivery method. The method includes the steps of receiving a message including delivery instruction and delivery information indicating a time at which the message is to be delivered to a communication device of a recipient; storing the message; and delivering the message to the recipient at a time indicated by the delivery information. Further, the delivery instruction and the delivery information are set by a sender of the message. Other embodiments are also provided. |
| US07756506B2 |
Method and system for discontinuous reception de-synchronization detection and recovery
A method and apparatus for recovery from discontinuous reception desynchronization, the method having the steps of: determining a most recent time that an explicit message indicating a change from an old discontinuous reception period to a new discontinuous reception period was sent; adding to the most recent time that the explicit message was sent the old discontinuous reception period multiplied by an integer, where the integer is selected to ensure the results of the adding step occur after a present time; and sending a continuous reception command at the time found in the adding step. |
| US07756503B2 |
High frequency module
Heretofore, a plurality of packages were used in a high frequency module in which a plurality of waveguide terminals were positioned resulting in problems, such as degradation of characteristics in the connection lines between packages, lower ease of assembly when mounting and connecting the connection lines, increased cost, and so forth. To solve these problems, a plurality of cavities having a part or the entire side metallized is formed in a multi-layer dielectric substrate. The multi-layer dielectric substrate is provided with a plurality of waveguide terminals, microstrip line-waveguide converters, RF lines, bias and control signal wiring, and bias and control signal pads. A high frequency circuit is mounted within the cavity and sealed with a seal and cover. This is intended to reduce the number of package, improve performance, improve fabrication, and lower the cost. |
| US07756501B2 |
Multipass noise detecting apparatus and FM receiving apparatus
A multipass noise detecting apparatus comprising: a smoothing process unit configured to receive input of a signal corresponding to electric field strength of a received signal and to smooth the signal; a delay process unit configured to delay the signal; an amplifying unit configured to amplify a signal output from the smoothing process unit; a pulse noise determining unit configured to compare a signal output from the delay process unit with a signal output from the amplifying unit to output a pulse noise determining signal indicating a period of presence of pulse noise; and a noise cancel process unit configured to carry out a process for removing pulse noise on the basis of the pulse noise determining signal, the process being applied to the signal output from the delay process unit. |
| US07756498B2 |
Channel estimator and method for changing IIR filter coefficient depending on moving speed of mobile communication terminal
Disclosed is a channel estimator and a method for changing a coefficient of an IIR filter depending on a moving speed of a mobile communication terminal. In the channel estimator, a coefficient changing unit receives I and Q signals from a current base station, and selects a coefficient of the IIR filter optimized depending on the moving speed of the current mobile communication terminal. The coefficient changing unit sets the selected coefficient of the IIR filter to the IIR filter of the channel estimator. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the performance degradation of the channel estimator caused by the speed of the mobile communication terminal. |
| US07756493B2 |
Feed forward amplifier system and method using the pilot frequency from a positive feedback pilot generation and detection circuit to improve second loop convergence
A pilot system and method is disclosed that increases the rate of convergence of the second loop alignment control in a feed forward amplifier. Both a pilot generation and detection system and search algorithm controlling the alignment are disclosed. By measuring the frequency of the generated pilot, phase information regarding the second loop cancellation transfer function can be inferred. Changes in the pilot frequency as the search algorithm makes steps in the second loop alignment indicate errors in the direction of the search. Using this pilot frequency measurement along with the existing log-power measurement of the residual pilot power improves the convergence speed because fewer steps will be made to reach the optimal alignment setting. |
| US07756491B2 |
Phase shifter
A phase shifter includes a plurality of variable gain elements, each variable gain element configured to receive one of a plurality of input signals, each input signal having a phase that is shifted with respect to each other input signal; and a control signal supplied to each variable gain element, where the control signals define a phase shift. |
| US07756487B2 |
Local oscillator with non-harmonic ratio between oscillator and RF frequencies using pulse generation and selection
A novel and useful apparatus for and method of local oscillator (LO) generation with non-integer multiplication ratio between the local oscillator and RF frequencies. The LO generation schemes presented are operative to generate I and Q square waves at a designated frequency while avoiding the well known issue of harmonic pulling. The input signal is fed to a synthesizer timed to a rational multiplier of the RF frequency L/N fRF. The clock signal generated is divided by a factor Q to form 2Q phases of the clock at a frequency of L(N*Q)fRF, wherein each phase undergoes division by L. The phase signals are input to a pulse generator which outputs a plurality of pulses. The pulses are input to a selector which selects which signal to output at any point in time. By controlling the selector, the output clock is generated as a TDM based signal. Any spurs are removed by an optional filter. |
| US07756481B2 |
Rake receiver with time-shared fingers
A rake receiver for processing a multi-path input signal received from a communications channel, wherein each multi-path component of the multi-path input signal comprises one or more symbols, comprises a plurality of fingers and a demodulator. Each of the plurality of fingers is adapted to receive the multi-path input signal and provide a sequence of input samples corresponding to a multi-path component of the multi-path input signal. The demodulator is adapted (i) during a single clock period, to receive and process one or more input samples corresponding to only one of the fingers, (ii) for each of the fingers, to accumulate multiple processed input samples to form a symbol, and (iii) to provide the formed symbols for all fingers. |
| US07756466B2 |
Audio control apparatus, audio system, and navigation apparatus
According to a user's recording instruction, a navigation apparatus acquires reception data (music information and identification information) from a satellite digital radio apparatus on a tune basis and records the data on a hard disk. After the recording is complete, the navigation apparatus uses a size of the reception data recorded on the hard disk to determine whether or not the recording is interrupted in the middle of a tune. When the recording is interrupted, the navigation apparatus registers the tune's identification information to an interrupted recording list. The navigation apparatus then acquires identification information about a tune being received from the satellite digital radio apparatus. When the interrupted recording list registers the identification information, that is, the recording-interrupted music is rebroadcast, the navigation apparatus acquires reception data from the satellite digital radio apparatus and re-records it on the hard disk. |
| US07756458B2 |
Fusing member rejuvenating method and system in a toner image producing machine
A fusing member rejuvenating method and apparatus for cleaning and rejuvenating an external surface of a fusing member of a toner image producing machine. The fusing member rejuvenating method and apparatus include (a) a cleaning cartridge including a movable cleaning material movable at a first speed for contacting and removing residual toner and dirt from an external surface of the fusing member; (b) a first articulating device connected to the movable cleaning cartridge for selectively moving the movable cleaning cartridge into and out of contact with the external surface of the fusing member; (c) a scouring cartridge including a movable scouring material movable at a second speed for contacting and scouring the external surface of the fusing member; and (d) a second articulating device connected to the movable scouring cartridge for selectively moving the movable scouring cartridge into and out of contact with the external surface of the fusing member. |
| US07756454B2 |
Hybrid single pass, multi-pass full color printing system
A hybrid single pass, multi-pass full color printing system is provided and includes (a) a moveable intermediate transfer belt (ITB) mounted within a machine frame and having a path of movement; (b) a plurality of single pass image output modules mounted along the path of movement, each having imaging devices including an image carrying member and a single developer housing containing a single color developer for forming an image in a single pass on the image carrying member for transfer onto the ITB; and (c) at least one single pass, multi-pass image output module mounted along the path of movement and having imaging devices including an image bearing member and a plural number of selectable developer housings, and each of the selectable developer housings containing a single spot color developer for forming spot color images in single passes and in multiple passes on the image bearing member for transfer onto the ITB. |
| US07756451B2 |
Rotary mounting structure for toner cartridge
A toner cartridge comprising a rotary 2 provided with an agitator 3 that agitates a toner, and a bearing that rotatably supports a shaft tip 6 of the rotary 2, comprises a retainer 10 at the shaft tip 6 of the rotary 2 and at the bearing 7 that inhibits the slipping out, in the axial direction, of the shaft tip 6 of the rotary 2 from the bearing 7. |
| US07756448B2 |
Traction-drive type driving-force transmission mechanism and image forming apparatus equipped therewith
A traction-drive force transmission mechanism, includes a sun roller rotatable about a first axis and a plurality of shafts. Each is disposed on an adjacent axis inclined relative to the first axis. Planetary rollers are disposed along an outer peripheral surface of the sun roller and are supported respectively by the shaft. A carrier holds each of the shafts in the inclined posture and is adapted to be rotated about the first axis together with the planetary rollers. A pressing member pressingly moves each planetary roller in a direction for reducing a distance to the first axis so as to press each planetary roller against the outer peripheral surface of the sun roller. Thus a driving force can be transmitted to a traction force between the sun roller and each of the planetary rollers. |
| US07756447B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method of preparing toner for use in image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus including at least one image bearing member; at least one charging device configured to charge a surface of the at least one image bearing member; and at least one developing device configured to develop an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the at least one image bearing member with a developer including a toner to form a toner image thereon, wherein the surface of the image bearing member has a friction coefficient of from 0.10 to 0.30. The image forming apparatus can include a lubricant applicator configured to apply a lubricant to the image bearing member. Alternatively, the outermost layer of the image bearing member can include a lubricant. |
| US07756440B2 |
Conveyed material conveying apparatus, image forming apparatus, conveying method, and image forming method
A conveying apparatus includes a conveying unit that includes a conveying passage for conveying a conveyed material, and a positioning and holding unit that holds the conveying unit while positioning the conveying unit. The positioning and holding unit includes a plate-shaped member having at least one protruding portion, the plate-shaped member constitutes a part of the conveying passage, and the at least one protruding portion protrudes towards the conveying passage which the conveyed material passes through. |
| US07756434B2 |
Image forming apparatus with electric power saving mode
An image forming apparatus includes a power switch for turning on and off a power source. An electric power saving mode designation acceptor can accept a designation to set a power saving mode to suppress power consumption. The apparatus further has an image former for forming a toner image on a sheet; a fixing device for thermally fixing the toner image; a heater for heating the fixing device; and an electric power saving controller for shifting to the power saving mode if the power saving mode designation is accepted by the power saving mode designation acceptor, and for controlling the heating section to heat the fixing device to a predetermined fixing temperature necessary for fixing the toner image on the sheet if the power saving mode designation is not accepted by the electric power saving mode designation acceptor, in response to shifting of the power switch from off to on. |
| US07756431B2 |
Image formation apparatus with controlled discharge current
An image formation apparatus that includes a photoconductor, a charging section that applies a bias voltage having an AC voltage superposed on a DC voltage and charges the photoconductor, a controller that controls at least one of the AC voltage and an AC current applied by the charging section, and a detector that detects an amount of discharge occurring between the photoconductor and the charging section. The controller controls at least one of the AC voltage and the AC current so that the amount of discharge detected by the detector falls within a predetermined range containing a singularity in change of the amount of discharge. |
| US07756428B2 |
Media path diagnostics with hyper module elements
A system for handling media sheets is provided which comprises a plurality of hardware components including a first image marking engine operative to mark media sheets, and a second image marking engine operative to mark media sheets. In addition, the plurality of hardware components can include a first object delivery path operative to transport media sheets presented by the first image marking engine to a first destination, and a second object delivery path operative to transport media sheets presented by the second image marking engine to a second destination. The first and second destinations may be a single destination, separate destinations, or interchangeable destinations. One of the first and second delivery paths can be redundant. At least one of the first and second delivery paths includes a hyper module for transporting a series of diagnostic media sheets in both forward and reverse directions through a first recursive loop through the plurality of hardware components within the system during a diagnostic sequence whereby a fault is detected. |
| US07756425B2 |
Error notification device notifying of occurrence of error
When an error occurs in an image processor, error information including a performer of the job having been processed upon occurrence of the error, the type of the job, and the type of the error is transmitted to a host. In the host, a transmission destination of support information is determined based on the type of the job having been processed upon the occurrence of the error, and the support information is retrieved from a knowledge base, based on the type of the error in the job, and transmitted to the transmission destination. |
| US07756414B2 |
Image capturing apparatus with pop-up flash structure
An image capturing apparatus includes a pop-up flash. Pop-up flash includes a flash housing configured for receiving a flash therein, a drive lever and a locking lever. Flash housing is pivoted on image capturing apparatus, and moves between a first position and a second position relative to image capturing apparatus. Flash housing includes at least one positioning hole. Drive lever moves between a third position and a fourth position relative to image capturing apparatus. Locking lever abuts against drive lever. At least one locking protrusion perpendicularly extends upward from a longitudinal side thereof. When drive lever is at third position, at least one locking protrusion engages with at least one positioning hole to lock flash housing at first position; while when drive lever moves from third position to fourth position, flash housing is released to second position after at least one positioning hole separated from at least one locking protrusion. |
| US07756405B2 |
Interchangeable lens, and a camera system including an interchangeable lens
An interchangeable lens selectively mountable to a first-type camera body and a second-type camera body, the first-type camera body including a first mount ring to which the interchangeable lens is mountable, the second-type camera body including a second mount ring to which the interchangeable lens is mountable, an outer diameter of the second mount ring being smaller than an outer diameter of the first mount ring. The interchangeable lens includes an annular packing made of a resilient material. An inner peripheral surface of the annular packing is positioned radially outside the second mount ring when the interchangeable lens is mounted to the second-type camera body. The inner peripheral surface of the annular packing is positioned radially inside an outer peripheral surface of the first mount ring when the interchangeable lens is mounted to the first-type camera body. |
| US07756402B2 |
Method and circuit for controlling rotation speed of computer fan
An exemplary method for controlling rotation speed of a computer fan includes: judging the type of a fan by comparing two rotation speeds detected before and after changing a duty cycle of a PWM signal respectively; controlling the computer fan as a 4-pin fan the PWM signals if the rotation speeds are different; and controlling the computer fan as a 3-pin fan via voltage signals converted from the PWM signals if the rotation speeds are equal. And an exemplary circuit for controlling rotation speed of a computer fan is capable of controlling rotation speed of the 4-pin fan via PWM signals, and controlling rotation peed of the 3-pin fan via voltage signals converted from PWM signals. |
| US07756401B2 |
Digital audio-video information reproducing apparatus and reproducing method for reproducing subtitle file and file-based audio-video file
A digital audio-video information reproducing apparatus and a reproducing method thereof are provided, in which a predetermined time point or a keyword from users is used as a basic for controlling the reproduction of a file-based AV file. If the subtitle is in a bitmap format, the bitmap subtitle is transformed to text contents. If the subtitle is in a text format, the subtitle is directly interpreted. Then, the interpreted/transformed text content is compared with the keyword, so as to interpret a matched time point corresponding to the subtitle, and the matched time point is set as a start or end point for reproducing the AV file. Alternatively, the comparison result may be applied in analyzing a correlation between the AV file and the keyword. |
| US07756398B2 |
Recording medium and method and apparatus for reproducing text subtitle stream for updating palette information
A buffer initially preloads a text subtitle stream recorded on a recording medium. The preloaded text subtitle stream includes a dialog style segment and a plurality of dialog presentation segments. The dialog style segment defines a group of region styles and palette information. Each dialog presentation segment contains at least one region of dialog text, where each region of dialog text is linked to a selected one of the group of region styles defined in the dialog style segment. A text subtitle decoder reads a palette update flag included in each dialog presentation segment and presents each dialog presentation segment according to an indication of the palette update flag. The palette update flag indicates whether to use the palette information defined in the dialog style segment or to use new palette information when presenting each dialog presentation segment. |
| US07756397B2 |
Video transmission system
In order to avoid disturbance in synchronization establishment at the time of data transmission in a system includes different communication protocols (e.g., a DV system and a MPEG system), a transmission system side which complies with a plurality of communication protocols, includes a reproduction phase control unit for generating common synchronization information which can be shared among the plurality of communication protocols; and a transmission packet processing unit for multiplexing the common synchronization information generated by the reproduction phase control unit with information to be transmitted and for transmitting the resultant information to a reception apparatus, and a recording system side includes a recording control unit for controlling data recording operation according to the common synchronization information. |
| US07756383B2 |
Service blocker device and method
A device and method of blocking customer access to a fiber optic distribution cable. A service blocker is positioned between a fiber distribution cable and a customer drop cable within a fiber optic adapter. The service blocker includes a body which does not permit optical transmission between the fiber distribution cable and the customer drop cable. The service blocker includes a first end configured to be inserted within the fiber optic adapter and a second end configured connect with a fiber optic cable connector. A system for mounting fiber optic cables including a service blocker positioned within a bulkhead mounted adapter between two fiber optic cables. |
| US07756379B2 |
Fiber optic enclosure with internal cable spool
A fiber optic enclosure assembly includes a housing having an interior region and a bearing mount disposed in the interior region of the housing. A cable spool is connectedly engaged with the bearing mount such that the cable spool selectively rotates within the housing. A termination module disposed on the cable spool so that the termination module rotates in unison with the cable spool. A method of paying out a fiber optic cable from a fiber optic enclosure includes rotating a cable spool, which has a subscriber cable coiled around a spooling portion of the cable spool, about an axis of a housing of the fiber optic enclosure until a desired length of subscriber cable is paid out. A termination module is disposed on the cable spool. |
| US07756370B2 |
Method of producing a ferrule with an optical fiber
In a state in which a front end of a single-core fiber is passed through an end surface portion of a reinforcing pipe, an inner surface of the reinforcing pipe and an outer peripheral surface of the single-core fiber are glued together by means of adhesive. By using the same adhesive, an adhesive portion is formed by curing it so as to protrude and taper from the end surface portion of the reinforcing pipe toward the front end of the single-core fiber. Thereafter, a coated optical fiber formed with the adhesive portion is inserted in a ferrule until an end surface portion of the coating of the single-core fiber abuts against the first tapered hole and until the end surface portion of the reinforcing pipe abuts against the second tapered hole. Then, the optical fiber is glued in the ferrule by means of adhesive. |
| US07756368B2 |
Flex spectrum WSS
Switching optical signals containing a plurality of spectral channels characterized by a predetermined channel spacing is described. A selected beam deflector array may be selected from among a plurality of available beam deflector arrays configured to accommodate spectral channels of different channel spacings. The selected beam deflector array is configured to accommodate spectral channels of the predetermined channel spacing. The spectral channels are selectively optically coupled to the selected beam deflector array, which selectively optically couples the spectral channels between one or more input ports and one or more output ports. |
| US07756364B2 |
Digital pen and paper system
A digital pen and paper system comprising a digital pen adapted to acquire disposition data representing a position and orientation of the pen relative to a portion of a carrier using a position-determining pattern on the carrier, the pen comprising a display operable to present to a user of the system display data representing at least one character for transcription by the user, the or each character transformed to appear to the user as if it is printed on the carrier, and a method for effecting transcription of information using such a system. |
| US07756359B1 |
Use of local or global quality of match to estimate cone beam CT reconstruction artifact correction weight in image registration
Disclosed are systems for and methods of registering a deformable image with a reference image subject to a local or global quality of match. These systems and methods may use the quality of match to reduce effects of artifacts within the deformable image or the reference image on a deformation algorithm. The registration includes modifying the deformable image to match similar features in the reference image. The systems include a deformation engine configured for performing the deformation algorithm subject to the local or global quality of match. The systems and methods allow for correcting for cone beam computed tomography artifacts in one or more of the images. |
| US07756349B2 |
Image processing apparatus and computer-readable storage medium
Provided are an image processing apparatus and a computer-readable storage medium capable of adjusting to an optimum bit rate. In a case where an average bit rate is smaller than a target bit rate, a mobile communication terminal sets an encoding parameter for high image quality in an internal register of an encoding parameter manager to increase the bit rate. In a case where the average bit rate is larger than the target bit rate, the mobile communication terminal sets an encoding parameter for low image quality in the internal register of the encoding parameter manager to reduce the bit rate. Therefore, the mobile communication terminal can encode YUV data at an optimum bit rate. |
| US07756332B2 |
Metadata extraction from designated document areas
A method and device are described for extracting metadata from an image of pixels, such as a title or author of a document. At least part of the image is shown on a display for a user. A pointing control element in a user interface, such as a mouse or a touch screen, is operated by a user to generate a selection command. The selection command includes a selection point in a metadata element in the image. A region of foreground pixels is determined, the region containing pixels that are connected to the selection point. An extraction area is constructed around the region. Finally metadata is extracted by processing pixels in the extraction area. |
| US07756330B2 |
Producing an extended dynamic range digital image
A method of producing a digital image with extended dynamic range, includes capturing at least a first full resolution digital image of a scene; combining pixels of a first full resolution digital image to produce a lower resolution digital image identifying dark regions in a first full resolution digital image and replacing the dark regions in the full resolution image with corresponding regions from the brighter, lower resolution image to thereby provide a digital image with extended dynamic range. |
| US07756329B2 |
Color conversion apparatus and method for selectively adjusting input image colors
A color conversion method of selectively adjusting input colors, and an apparatus to perform the method, the method comprising converting an input color signal to a color signal in a color space that is based on a luminance component and a chromaticity component; determining whether the input color signal of each pixel is in a particular gamut to which the color is converted, within the whole color gamut of a color reproducing apparatus; performing a color conversion of the input color signal according to a shape of the particular gamut using a reference color, which is a reference of a conversion amount of the input color signal and present in the particular gamut, and a target color which is converted from the reference color; and converting the input color signal, which is converted to the color space having the luminance component, to a color signal in a color space displayable on the color reproducing apparatus. |
| US07756327B2 |
Image processing system having multiple imaging modes
An image processing system is used for dentistry. Upon creating a false tooth of a patient (59), a plurality of illuminating light of LEDs with different wavelengths emit light and a photographing apparatus (1A) photographs a tooth portion of the patient (59), thereby obtaining image data. The image data is sent to a dentistry filing system (2A) serving as a processing apparatus, and color reproducing data is obtained by calculation. The color reproducing data is sent to a dentistry factory (55) via a public line. Data is searched from a database (56) for calculating a ceramic compounding ratio, compound data of the ceramic false tooth is obtained, matching the color of the tooth portion of the patient (59), and the false tooth approximate to the tooth color of the patient (59) is created. |
| US07756324B2 |
3-dimensional image processing apparatus
A three-dimensional image processing apparatus includes a storage unit that stores data of a plurality of mask images obtained by radiographing a subject to be examined in a different direction before contrast medium injection and data of a plurality of contrast images obtained by radiographing the subject to be examined in a different direction after the contrast medium injection, a reconstruction unit that reconstructs first three-dimensional image data from the plurality of mask image data and second three-dimensional image data from the plurality of contrast image data, a positional deviation correcting unit that corrects positional deviation of the first three-dimensional image with respect to the second three-dimensional image based on comparison between an anatomical structure of the first and second three-dimensional image data, and creates third three-dimensional image data, and a processing unit that performs subtraction between the second and the third three-dimensional data and creates fourth three-dimensional image data. |
| US07756320B2 |
Defect classification using a logical equation for high stage classification
With little efforts, to estimate the appropriateness of automatic defect classification, and to make classification criteria settable with a guarantee for the better classification performance, defects unknown with their classification classes are classified based on two different classification criteria. Also, defects differed in classification results are collected, and each thereto, a defect classification class is provided by using a manual. Then, the defects provided with the classification classes are divided into two types of groups: one is a setting group for the classification criteria; and the other is an evaluation group. Based on the classification criteria that is so set as to classify the defects included in the setting group with the maximum performance, the classification performance of a case where classification is applied to defects included in the evaluation group is calculated, and the appropriateness of thus set classification criteria is evaluated. |
| US07756316B2 |
Method and system for automatic lung segmentation
Disclosed is a systematic way of automatically segmenting lung regions. To increase the efficiency of a lung segmentation technique, a region-based technique, such as region growing, is performed by a computer on a middle slice of the CT volume. A contour-based technique is then used for a plurality of non-middle slices of the CT volume. This allows the implementation to be multithreaded and results in an improvement in the segmentation algorithm's efficiency. |
| US07756310B2 |
System and method for segmentation
A method and system for segmenting structures such as lesions in an image is provided. The method comprises selecting one seed inside a lesion in an image either by a user or automatically. The method further includes deriving a directionally statistical model based on a background region or a foreground region of the lesion and determining candidate voxels along a radial direction. The candidate voxels represent the lesion. The method further includes segmenting the lesion using the candidate voxels. |
| US07756302B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting face orientation, and recording medium having recorded program for executing the method
In order to detect an orientation of a human face included in an image consisted of a plurality of pixels, a face region is determined within the image so as to include the human face. A plurality of detecting regions are set so as to be adjacent to the face region. A plurality of first amounts are acquired. Each of the first amount is characteristic to one of the detecting regions. The first amounts are compared to each other to judge the orientation. |
| US07756299B2 |
Face region estimating device, face region estimating method, and face region estimating program
The invention provides a face region estimating device capable of extracting a person's face region even when an illumination environment, for example, is changed and persons with different skin colors are contained in a picked-up image taken by a camera. The face region estimating device includes: a mobile body detecting unit for extracting the outline of a mobile body from the picked-up image and for generating an object distance image composed of pixels corresponding to a distance in which the mobile body exists; a head region setting unit for setting a head region based on the pixel distribution in the object distance image corresponding to a predetermined range on the basis of a pixel position at the upper part of the outline; and a face region extracting unit for extracting the person's face region from the picked-up image based on the color distribution in the picked-up image corresponding to the head region. |
| US07756298B2 |
Image processing device for vehicle
An image processing device for a vehicle includes a radar for transmitting a radio wave outside of the vehicle and detecting an object in a first area outside of the vehicle by using a reflected wave of the transmitted radio wave; a camera for acquiring an image in a second area including the first area; and an image processing unit for processing the acquired image to detect, in the acquired image, the object detected by the radar. Visibility outside of the vehicle is detected based on result of detection of the radar and result of detection of the camera. |
| US07756297B2 |
Camera based sensing in handheld, mobile, gaming, or other devices
Method and apparatus are disclosed to enable rapid TV camera and computer based sensing in many practical applications, including, but not limited to, handheld devices, cars, and video games. Several unique forms of social video games are disclosed. |
| US07756296B2 |
Method for tracking objects in videos using forward and backward tracking
A method tracks an object in a sequence of frames of a video. The method is provided with a set of tracking modules. Frames of a video are buffered in a memory buffer. First, an object is tracked in the buffered frames forward in time using a selected one of the plurality of tracking module. Second, the object is tracked in the buffered frames backward in time using the selected tracking module. Then, a tracking error is determined from the first tracking and the second tracking. If the tracking error is less than a predetermined threshold, then additional frames are buffered in the memory buffer and the first tracking, the second tracking and the determining steps are repeated. Otherwise, if the error is greater than the predetermined threshold, then a different tracking module is selected and the first tracking, the second tracking and the determining steps are repeated. |
| US07756292B2 |
System and method of generic symbol recognition and user authentication using a communication device with imaging capabilities
A system and method for recognizing symbols and identifying users or services, including the displaying of an image or video clip on a display device in which identification information is embedded in the image or video clip, the capturing the image or video clip on an imaging device, the transmitting of the image or video clip from the imaging device to a communication network, the transmitting of the image or video clip from the communication network to a processing and authentication server, the processing of the information embedded in the image or video clip by the server to identify logos, alphanumeric characters, or special symbols in the image or video clip, and converting the identified logos or characters or symbols into a digital format to identify the user or location of the user or service provided to the user, and the using of the processed information in digital format to provide one or more of a variety of additional applications. |
| US07756288B2 |
Method and apparatus for analog insertion of low frequency watermarks
A method and apparatus for inserting a watermark onto an illuminated image sequence. A light modulator modulates a light source. A controller controls the light modulator such that a low frequency watermark is inserted onto the illuminated image sequence. |
| US07756285B2 |
Hearing aid with tuned microphone cavity
A hearing aid comprises a microphone that receives incident sound waves from one or more sources external to the hearing aid, and converts the sound waves into electronic signals; a circuit that amplifies the electronic signals; a receiver that converts the amplified electronic signals into amplified sound waves; and a tuned resonant cavity between the microphone and the at least one external sound source. At least one parameter of the tuned resonant cavity is selected to modify the frequency response of the incident sound waves that are received by the microphone. In particular, the geometry of one or more openings through which sound waves enter the chamber, the geometry of the chamber itself, and/or the geometry of one or more openings through which sound waves exit the chamber, are selected to condition the incident sound waves by modifying the frequency response of the audio signal prior to the signal being received at the microphone. |
| US07756280B2 |
Audio processing system and method for automatically adjusting volume
The present invention relates to an audio processing system and method for automatically adjusting volume. The method includes steps of: calculating a noise level as a reference noise level; periodically calculating a new noise level of a predetermined time period, and dividing the reference noise level by the new noise level to obtain a ratio; sampling digital audio signals generated by a decoding unit to obtain a plurality of amplitude values, periodically calculating an audio energy value of the predetermined time period; multiplying the audio energy value by the ratio to obtain a reference audio energy value; calculating a gain value according to the reference audio energy value and the default gain value; updating the default gain value with the gain value; and signaling the gain amplifier to amplify the analog audio signals received with the gain value, thereby protecting users' hearing. |
| US07756264B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing telephone support for internet sales
Methods and apparatus for providing manned, e.g., live customer support to customers, e.g., people using the Internet to purchase goods and/or services are described. A person viewing a Web Site, e.g., a customer, is presented with a button which provides the opportunity to talk to a customer service representative. Upon activating the button, e.g., by clicking on it, the customer's computer or other Internet browser device sends a signal, e.g., a call request message, over the Internet indicating that the customer wants to talk with a service representative. The call request message includes the customer's telephone number and/or IP address. In response to the call request message, calling equipment is used to establish a customer service call between the customer and a customer service representative. The equipment can be owned by the telephone company thereby avoiding the need for E-business companies to make investments in telephone equipment. In addition, a customer service representative can be located either at the E-business site or remotely, e.g., at the customer service representative's private home or other site, with the representative being called by the conference equipment as required to service a customer. Voice over IP conference equipment may be used instead or in conjunction with telephone conference equipment where one or both of the customer and service representative have voice over IP capability. |
| US07756258B2 |
Communications system with direct access mailbox
A communication system (1) in which a user (A) can elect to leave a message directly in the mailbox (11a) of another user (B) without calling or disturbing user (B). A store (database 7) is generated and maintained which identifies those users who are allowed direct access to the mailbox of user (B). The store is automatically updated whenever user (B) sends a communication to other users. |
| US07756254B1 |
Method and apparatus for re-originating emergency calls on failure conditions
A method and apparatus for enabling a signaling message to be sent in response to an emergency call, e.g., an E911 call, set up message to provide information as to whether or not the E911 call has been successfully completed are disclosed. An indicator of a failed call setup will trigger the call to be re-originated transparently to an emergency center where live operators can handle the call on a 24hours/day basis. In one embodiment, an emergency center is a call center that is operated by a network provider or a third party provider to support emergency calls when a PSAP cannot be reached by a caller for various reasons. The emergency center is capable forwarding a call to the appropriate PSAP for call termination on behalf of the E911 caller. |
| US07756250B2 |
X-ray detector
An X-ray detector to make possible digitization of an existing X-ray imaging apparatus is to be realized. Also an X-ray detector excellent in versatility is to be realized. This is an X-ray detector having a flat panel type detector unit for detecting the two-dimensional intensity distribution of incident X-rays and an interface unit for a detection signal utilizing device, and the interface unit conforms to open standards regarding images for medical use and communication. The interface unit has a first node on the detector unit side, a second node on the detection signal utilizing device side and a network linking them. The network is the Ethernet. The first node and the second node perform communication conforming to TCP/IP. The first node is integrated with the detector unit. The open standards regarding images for medical use and communication are the DICOM standards. |
| US07756242B2 |
X-ray CT apparatus and scan control method
The present invention is directed to realize an X-ray CT apparatus and a scan control method of performing contrast imaging by a helical shuttle scan with a smaller exposure amount. An X-ray CT apparatus for performing contrast imaging by repeating a reciprocating helical scan on a region in a subject repeats the helical shuttle scan (solid-line arrow) including, in shuttle (broken-line arrow) of a helical shuttle scan using an X-ray of a first X-ray dose, a helical scan using an X-ray of a second X-ray dose higher than the first X-ray dose. The start timing of the helical scan using the X-ray of the second X-ray dose is determined on the basis of a change in the CT number of a region of interest of an image captured by a helical scan using the X-ray of the first X-ray dose. |
| US07756238B2 |
Switch set of bi-directional shift register module
A switch set used in a bi-directional shift register circuit includes a plurality of switch devices. Each switch device is controlled by corresponding control signals to switch the direction of the input signal. One of the switch devices includes a first switch unit for transmitting a shift register signal from a previous shift register to a shift register according to a first control signal, a second switch unit for transmitting a shift register signal from a next shift register to the shift register according to a second control signal. The first and the second control signals have the same frequency as the clock signal of the shift register circuit. |
| US07756236B2 |
Phase detector
A phase detector is described, comprising a pair of output-latched half-transparent (OLHT) module each receiving two input terminals with an inverse connection relationship with respect to two input signals as compared to each other, wherein each OLHT module of the pair comprises two stages of logic operation unit connected in series and a latch circuit electrically connected to a latter one of the two stages of logic operation unit and latching and output an output signal. |
| US07756233B2 |
Data receiving device and data receiving method
A receiving device (50) is provided to allow appropriate clock regeneration even for a VBR TS when a stream including video and audio data, such as an MPEG2 TS, is transmitted or received in real time through a network having jitter. When the received packet data is stored in a memory (53) and the packet data is output in accordance with time information added to the received packet data, a clock frequency deviation between a sending device and a receiving device is calculated on the basis of the integration result of the amount of the received packets temporarily stored in the memory (53), the number of the received packets which have been processed, and the measurement result of the integration time used for integrating the amount of the received packets. A read timing offset of the received packet is obtained on the basis of the calculation result of the clock frequency deviation. |
| US07756226B2 |
Method and system for converting logarithmic values into linear values in digital logic
A method for converting logarithmic values into linear values in digital logic is provided. The method includes receiving a logarithmic gain signal. A shift signal is generated based on the logarithmic gain signal. A remainder signal is generated based on the logarithmic gain signal. A linear gain is applied to a digital input signal based on the shift signal and the remainder signal to generate a digital output signal. |
| US07756220B2 |
Circuit and method for baseline wandering compensation
A circuit and a method for baseline wandering compensation for solving the problem of baseline wandering in receivers of a communication system are provided. Two paths of baseline wandering compensation are provided on the basis of a slicer error. One of the paths adjusts a direct current (DC) bias of an input signal, and the other path adjusts the determining levels of the slicer, and thus, the present invention avoids input saturation of an analog-to-digital converter, enhances the signal-to-noise ratio, and achieves a precise baseline wandering compensation. |
| US07756215B2 |
Radio communication base station apparatus and radio communication method in multi-carrier communications
Provided is a radio communication base station device capable of acquiring both a multi-user diversity effect and a frequency diversity effect simultaneously in multi-carrier communications. In this device, modulation units (101-1 to 101-n) modulate data to mobile stations (MS#1 to MS#n) individually to create data symbols. A separation unit (102) separates each data symbol inputted, into an Ich (in-phase components) and a Qch (orthogonal components). An Ich arrangement unit (103) and a Qch arrangement unit (104) arrange the Ich and Qch, respectively, in a plurality of sub-carriers constituting an OFDM symbols, and output the same to a synthesization unit (105). This synthesization unit (105) synthesizes the Ich and Qch arranged for each sub-carrier, to create the synthesized symbol. |
| US07756214B2 |
System and method for inserting pilot symbols in continuous phase modulation systems
A system and method for creating a number of phase reference points in a data frame is provided. When a sequence of data bits is to be transmitted, the sequence is precoded into data symbols and organized as data frames. For each data frame, an x number of phase reference points at predetermined intervals within the data frame are required to allow a receiver to sufficiently estimate channel effects on the transmitted data frame. To set the phase reference points, one of the phase reference points is first selected. An x-1 number of pilot symbol sets are then created and inserted into the data frame such that each of the other reference points has the same phase state as the selected phase reference point. |
| US07756210B2 |
Method for transmitting optimally diversified information in a MIMO telecommunication system
A method for transmitting data in a telecommunication system including at least one transmitter including at least two transmitting antennas and at least one receiver including at least one receiving antenna. The method includes: transforming a plurality of bits of the data to be transmitted into a plurality of symbols by modulating the plurality of bits of the data at the transmitter; generating a first vector formed by the plurality of symbols at the transmitter; preparing a modified matrix by modifying an original matrix based on a number of rows of the first vector, the original matrix being predefined at the transmitter; generating a second vector by multiplying the first vector with the modified matrix at the transmitter; and transmitting symbols forming the second vector over communication channels established between the at least two transmitting antennas of the transmitter and the at least one receiving antenna of the receiver. |
| US07756201B2 |
System for random access to content
A method for accessing a desired point in time-synchronized data within a stream, the stream being associated with time information, the method including providing a desired presentation time associated with a desired point within a time-synchronized data stream, determining a stream access point, decoding the stream beginning at the stream access point, and assigning a time associated with the stream access point as a utilization time. Related apparatus and methods are also disclosed. |
| US07756200B2 |
Combining least squares and least mean squares algorithms to determine equalizer tap values
A method of operating an equalizer includes combining a Least Mean Squares (LMS) algorithm and a Least Squares (LS) algorithm to determine a set of equalizer tap values to be used in processing a signal. A channel impulse response (CIR) is computed, and an equalizer taps interval is then determined based on the CIR. The LS algorithm is used to determine a set of equalizer major taps based on the interval, and the LMS algorithm is used to determine a set of equalizer minor taps based on the interval. |
| US07756199B2 |
Simultaneous physical and protocol layer analysis
A method and apparatus for capturing an analog waveform on a serial bus. The method comprises the steps of designating a predetermined digital data sequence, decoding a serial data signal carried on a serial data bus, and comparing the decoded serial data signal to the predetermined digital data sequence. When it is determined that a portion of the decoded serial data matches the predetermined digital data sequence, the portion of the serial data signal corresponding to the matching portion of the decoded serial data signal is marked. |
| US07756198B2 |
System and method for assigning channels in a wireless network
A method for assigning channels in a wireless network includes receiving from each of a plurality of a first type of wireless components a total average data rate. Each total average data rate is based on an average data rate for each of a first plurality of a second type of wireless components coupled to the respective first type of wireless component. The method also includes determining at least one channel parameter for a first wireless component of the plurality of the first type of wireless components based on a ratio of the total average data rate associated with the respective first wireless component to the total average data rate associated with the plurality of the first type of wireless components. The method further includes allocating a channel to the first wireless component based on the determined at least one channel parameter. |
| US07756196B1 |
Efficient adaptive filters for CDMA wireless systems
A CDMA radio system uses an adaptive filter in a receiver to mitigate multipath radio propagation and to filter out interfering signals. Characteristics of an initial stage of the filter preferably are determined by cross correlation of a generated pilot signal and the input signal with the integration of the correlation performed over a time period selected to be an integral number of symbol periods. The integration causes the portions of the cross correlation corresponding to the user subchannels to average substantially to zero, so that the pilot channel signal correlation is the primary contribution to the signal used to characterize the channel to establish the coefficients of the adaptive filter for the receiver. |
| US07756191B2 |
Deconvolution searcher for wireless communication system
Disclosed is a method, an apparatus and a mobile station embodiment to receive a CDMA signal from a radio channel. The method includes inputting a CDMA signal received through the radio channel to a searcher and processing the received signal in the searcher to obtain a multi-path profile of the radio channel. Processing includes at least partially removing an effect of at least one of a transmit and a receive filter on the multi-path profile. In one embodiment at least partially removing the effect of at least one of the transmit and receive filter on the multi-path profile involves passing the received CDMA signal through an N-tap Finite Impulse Response filter having a filter characteristic that approximates an inverted amplitude response of the at least one of the transmit and a receive filter, while in another embodiment software external to the searcher is used to process the searcher output data. |
| US07756190B2 |
Transferring voice and non-voice data
A wireless communication unit comprises circuitry configured to receive a voice data associated with a first logical channel. The circuitry further configured to receive a non-voice data associated with a second logical channel. The voice data and non-voice data carried by a wireless channel set during a time period. The wireless channel set comprises a plurality of wireless channels. The wireless channel is associated with a subscriber unit. Circuitry is configured to insert information into the non-voice data, when the non-voice data is missing in the wireless channel set during the time period. |
| US07756187B2 |
Optical device including multilayer reflector and vertical cavity surface emitting laser
Provided are an optical device including a multilayer reflector having a layer whose optical thickness is not λ/4, and a vertical cavity surface emitting laser using the optical device. A resonance frequency shift or a reduction in reflectivity which is caused by a deviation from an optical thickness of λ/4 can be suppressed to improve characteristics and yield. The optical device for generating light of a wavelength λ includes a reflector and an active layer. The reflector is a semiconductor multilayer reflector including a first layer and a second layer which are alternatively laminated and have different refractive indices. The first layer has an optical thickness smaller than λ/4. The second layer has an optical thickness larger than λ/4. The interface between the first layer and the second layer is located at neither a node nor an antinode of an optical intensity distribution within the reflector. |
| US07756185B1 |
Hardened pump laser and method of making the same
A hardened pump laser comprises a hardened pump chamber that combines the functions of a conventional flash lamp and a conventional laser cavity flow tube. The hardened pump chamber comprises a hardened filter tube and electrodes. The electrodes are sealed to the hardened filter tube. A chamber in the hardened filter tube is filled with gas through the electrodes, then sealed. The hardened pump chamber performs the laser pumping function while further performing filtering and diffusion functions. |
| US07756179B2 |
Semiconductor laser apparatus
A semiconductor laser apparatus can improve electric conversion efficiency to a satisfactory extent. The apparatus includes an n-type cladding layer, an n-type cladding layer side guide layer, an active layer, a p-type cladding layer side guide layer, and a p-type cladding layer, wherein electrons and holes are injected into the active layer, transverse to the active layer, through the n-type cladding layer side guide layer and the p-type cladding layer side guide layer. The p-type cladding layer side guide layer is thinner than the n-type cladding layer side guide layer to position the active layer closer to the p-type cladding layer, and, at the same time, the refractive index of the p-type cladding layer side guide layer is higher than the refractive index of the n-type cladding layer side guide layer. |
| US07756175B2 |
Pumped semiconductor laser systems and methods
A method for emitting laser radiation includes: emitting first laser radiation using a first laser, wherein said first laser is a laser diode; receiving the first laser radiation by a second laser comprising CdSe(1-x)Sx (cadmium selenium sulfide, cadmium selenium, or cadmium sulfide), wherein x is between 0 and 1, inclusively; and responsive to receiving the first laser radiation by the second laser, emitting second laser radiation by the second laser via the CdSe(1-x)Sx; wherein the second laser radiation has a wavelength between 487 nm and 690 nm; and wherein the wavelength of the second laser radiation is responsive to the value of x, which represents the relative concentration of selenium and/or sulfur. |
| US07756174B2 |
Laser projector safety monitoring system
An apparatus and method for a laser light projector, including a laser beam generated by a laser light source; a scanner associated with the laser light source and having one or more moving mirrors capable of scanning the laser beam along X-Y coordinates; a power meter positioned for quantifying the laser beam's power in real time; a fault detector operably connected in the laser light projector to detect a fault condition and automatically generate a fault signal in response thereto; a modulator responsive to the fault signal for reducing power in the laser beam; and a fault shutter operably associated with the laser light source and responsive to the fault signal so as to shut off the laser beam. |
| US07756169B2 |
Diffractive method for control of piston error in coherent phased arrays
A high-power laser system includes a laser master oscillator, a plurality of fiber laser amplifiers producing intermediate output beamlets, a combiner for combining the intermediate beamlets into a combined output beam, and a piston error controller for minimizing errors related to beam combination that may degrade the quality of the combined output beam. A piston error controller processes a sample of the combined output beam using a Diffractive Optical Element to isolate a signal representing the total piston error of the combined beam. The controller uses amplitude modulation based on Hadamard code words to tag each non-reference intermediate beamlet with a unique code sequence orthogonal to those used for the other beamlets. For each intermediate beamlet, the associated piston error contribution is recovered using a Hadamard decoder. A very small phase dither is also introduced to allow the sign or direction of the piston error to be recovered. The decoded piston error contribution is processed by a cascaded product detector unit to derive a piston error control signal, which is provided to a phase modulator to thereby adjust the phase of a beamlet and minimize the piston error contributed thereby. |
| US07756168B2 |
Method for improving high frequency operation of a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) with monolithically integrated bridge arm
A vertical cavity laser apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an electrically responsive substrate; a support block positioned on the electrically responsive substrate; a bridge arm structure coupled to the support block, the structure having a base; a laser active area on the bridge arm structure, a tuning pad on the bridge arm structure, a laser bond pad on the bridge arm structure with traces connecting the laser bond pad to the laser active area and base. The traces are positioned and shaped to be symmetric to avoid problems due to the asymmetry of the injection current. Additionally, in this embodiment, the laser bond pad is kept at a height of the base in order to minimize device capacitance and the traces are also kept at the height of the base. Methods are also provided whereby impedance matching and high speed performance can be accomplished irregardless of the mechanical configuration of the bridge arm structure. |
| US07756163B2 |
Method and system for multi-channel data transmission to a plurality of subscribers in a bluetooth network
The invention relates to a method for data transmission, in particular on the basis of the Bluetooth standard, in which data packets can be interchanged by radio by means of a timeslot method, in which communication channels are set up between a master subscriber and at least one slave subscriber, at least two communication channels are operated with reduced activity in a first operating mode, such that the data interchange takes place periodically during first time slots which are then followed by second time slots during which no data interchange is intended, a first communication channel, which can be operated in the first operating mode, is synchronized to at least one second communication channel which can be operated in the first operating mode. The invention also relates to a data transmission system which operates on the basis of the Bluetooth method, in particular for carrying out the method according to the invention. |
| US07756154B2 |
Shared implementation for multiple system interfaces
A shared implementation for multiple system interfaces. An embodiment of a method includes receiving a command for a system, the command being a command for one of a plurality of interfaces for the system; generating a data structure for the command, the data structure including an opcode from a common library; and parsing the command using one of a plurality of parsing functions, parsing of the command including inserting an argument from the command into the data structure for the command. |
| US07756146B2 |
Flooding reduction method
In receiving a MAC (media access control) frame whose destination address is any of a broadcast address, an unknown multicast address and an unknown unicast address, the flooding is reduced by broadcasting the received MAC frame to all the other ports than one that has received the MAC frame. An output control that attains this object is realized by using a destination group identifier (ID) look-up table (2-T1) which enables a look-up of a destination group ID by using, as a key, any one or combination of header information of the MAC frame, a port which received the MAC frame and a service VLAN (virtual local area network) ID corresponding to the MAC frame and a backbone port look-up table (2-T2) which enables a look-up of at least one backbone port which is to transmit or at least one backbone port which is not to transmit by using the destination group ID as a key. |
| US07756145B2 |
Methods and apparatus providing an airborne e-enabled architecture as a system of systems
A network architecture for implementation in a vehicle is described that comprises an Ethernet gateway module (EGM) and network interface module (NIM). The EGM comprises an Ethernet switch and router therein and is configured to provide an open data network (ODN) connection to the network architecture for a plurality of open data network devices. The NIM is configured to provide an isolated data network and comprises an Ethernet switch to connect a plurality of secure devices to an isolated data network (IDN), the secure devices related to operation and navigation of the vehicle, a router and a gateway/router. The router is configured to interface the IDN to the open data network connections and comprises a packet filtering function to determine which, if any, data from the ODN may be passed through to the IDN and applied to operation and navigation of the vehicle via the secures devices connected to the IDN. The gateway/router provides network address and protocol translation to connect the IDN to a secure common data network associated with vehicle operation. The architecture provides segregation between network devices in the IDN and CDN related to operation and navigation of the vehicle, and network devices in the ODN. |
| US07756137B2 |
Method of controlling QoS in IP network using router control and multi-path routing
A QoS controller, in an IP network having one or more routers, is disclosed. The controller includes a storing unit configured to assign a first bit area and a second bit area within a field in an IP header of an IP packet. The storing unit stores first bits for controlling the routers into the first bit area and second bits for routing at the routers into the second bit area. A reporting unit is configured to report to the routers the first bits and the second bits stored by the storing unit. |
| US07756136B2 |
Spatial and temporal loss determination in packet based video broadcast system in an encrypted environment
A method for determining spatial and temporal loss in a packet based video broadcast system in an encrypted environment involves measuring video coding layer information at an unencrypted head end of a video stream and network layer information at an encrypted downstream end of the same video stream. Video coding layer information is correlated with network layer information having a corresponding time stamp to compute the spatial and temporal loss. The video coding layer and network layer information is taken from discrete segments of the video stream including access units, slices or macroblocks. Impairments in the video stream are determined using the computed spatial and temporal loss. |
| US07756133B2 |
Method for processing a sequence of data packets in a receiver apparatus, as well as a receiver apparatus
The invention relates to a method for processing a sequence of data packets in a receiver apparatus, in particular a sequence of audio and/or video data packets, as well as to a receiver apparatus. The method comprises the following steps: reception of a data packet in the sequence of data packets in the receiver apparatus via a data link; determination of identification information for the data packet, which information indicates the position of the data packet in the sequence of data packets; sorting of the data packet into a sequence of data packets to be processed in a queue corresponding to the identification information, with the data packets to be processed comprising the sequence of data packets; determination of a time value from a time marking of a first data packet to be processed in the queue and of a further time value from a time marking of a last data packet to be processed in the queue; determination of the time difference between the time value and the further time value; and transfer of at least the first data packet to be processed in the queue for processing to a processing device if the time difference is greater than or equal to a predetermined time threshold value. |
| US07756127B2 |
Mobile terminal
An efficient retransmission control method, whereby a wasteful retransmission request and retransmission of a packet are not carried out when packet loss occurs. A receiving unit sends the received retransmission request information to a retransmission determining unit. When receiving the retransmission request information, the retransmission determining unit reads out refresh data time information, packet type information of the packet for which a retransmission request is issued, and the time information thereof from a packet information monitoring unit. The retransmission determining unit makes a determination as to whether or not to issue a retransmission request using the read-out refresh data time information, packet type information of the packet for which a retransmission request is issued, and the time information thereof. |
| US07756119B2 |
Terminal initiated context preservation
A method, a system, a network device, a terminal device, and computer programs for controlling a packet data protocol context in a mobile communication system. According to an example embodiment, an enhanced context modification request may be generated at a terminal device of the mobile communication system by adding a preservation information indicating a desired preservation of a packet data protocol context. The enhanced context modification request may be transmitted towards a core network of the mobile communication system, and a context-related decision may be controlled at the core network based on the preservation information. |
| US07756110B2 |
Network-based control of audio/video stream processing
A method for controlling media stream processing comprises: (a) transmitting a media stream, via a first packet-based network, to an operator; (b) receiving from the operator, via a second packet-based network, a control signal for processing the media stream; (c) processing the media stream based on the control signal; and (d) transmitting the processed media stream to one or more users other than the operator. In another embodiment, an apparatus for controlling media stream processing comprises a server adapted to effect transmission of a media stream, via a first packet-based network, to an operator. The apparatus further comprises a processor adapted (i) to effect processing of the media stream based on a control signal received from the operator via a second packet-based network, and (ii) to provide the processed media stream to a transmitter for transmission to one or more users other than the operator. |
| US07756107B1 |
Dial-out with dynamic IP address assignment
Packet network addresses, such as Internet Protocol addresses, may be assigned dynamically to computer systems accessed from the packet network by dial-out calls through a telephone network. A dial-out destination system will have an assigned name, typically a domain name. In response to a request for translation of the name, a network access server capable of reaching the destination obtains or assigns an address on a temporary basis. The network access server initiates the call to the destination system through the telephone network. The system initiating communication to the destination system uses the assigned address in any subsequent packet data communications. When the communication ends, the address is again available for a new assignment. This approach provides a dynamic address assignment technique for use on dial-out access services. |
| US07756105B1 |
On-hook signal detector
A method and apparatus are disclosed to minimize wasted bandwidth by suppressing communications between a trunking gateway and a media gateway until a telephone service-related signal is detected during an on-hook state. In an embodiment, the trunking gateway and the media gateway are part of a telecommunications network that utilizes a single fabric for both voice traffic and data traffic. For example, the network could transport all traffic via Internet Protocol packets. |
| US07756101B2 |
Efficient resolution of relinquishment requests in a wireless communications network
A first device receives a request from a remote device to relinquish at least a portion of an existing reservation in a wireless communications network (e.g., a WiMedia network). The existing reservation is between the first device and a second device. Also, the existing reservation was initiated by the second device and includes a first allocation of resources of the wireless communications network. The first device forwards the request from the first device to the second device, and sends to the second device information indicating a current view of resource utilization in the wireless communications network. This view is from a perspective of the first device. Also, first device may receive a request from the second device for a second allocation of resources of the wireless communications network between the first device and the second device. Such a request may be based on the resource utilization information provided by the first device. Further, the first device may also send, to the second device, an acceptance of the request for the second allocation of resources. Based on this acceptance, the first and second device may communicate according to the second allocation of resources. |
| US07756099B2 |
Method and system for selecting antennas adaptively in OFDMA networks
A method selects antennas in an OFDMA network. A channel state of a downlink is measured using a downlink subframe received in a mobile station from a base station. A channel state of an uplink is measured using an uplink subframe received in the base station from the mobile station. Next, the method compares the channel states to determine whether the downlink and the uplink are reciprocal or not. The mobile station can perform receive antenna selection based on the quality of the downlink channel state. The mobile station can also perform transmit antenna selection when instructed by the base station. |
| US07756098B2 |
Spread spectrum communication device and spread spectrum communication method
In a compressed mode, a spread spectrum communication device interleaves bit units across multiple frames using an interleaver, reduces the spreading factor using a framing/spreading unit, outputs the compressed mode frames at a predetermined compressed mode frame timing, and increases the average transmission power in the compressed mode at a radio frequency transmitter. Furthermore, a handover between different frequencies is carried out by establishing synchronization to another frequency carrier, based on a first search code and a second search code which have been detected, and moreover, a handover between different communication systems is carried out by establishing synchronization to a GSM, based on an FCCH and a SCH which have been detected. |
| US07756092B1 |
In-band QoS signaling reference model for QoS-driven wireless LANs connected to one or more networks
A station, such as a point coordinator (PC) or a non-PC station, in a basic service set (BSS) in a wireless local area network (WLAN) includes a frame classification entity (FCE), a frame scheduling entity (FSE) and a QoS management entity (QME). The FCE contains at least one classifier entry with a virtual stream identifier (VSID) and a frame classifier. A received data frame containing in-band quality of service (QoS) signaling information is classified to a selected VSID contained in a classifier entry in a classification table based on a match between an in-band frame classification information contained in a received frame and a frame classifier contained in the classifier entry. The FSE has a frame scheduling table containing at least one entry containing a VSID and a QoS parameter set identified by the VSID and schedules a transmission opportunity (TO) for the classified data frame. |
| US07756090B2 |
System and method for performing fast channel switching in a wireless medium
The present invention relates to a method for performing fast channel switching in a wireless local area network (WLAN). The method generally includes the steps of: determining that the wireless medium has been idle during a PCF interframe space (PIFS) period, transmitting a first management frame during a slot time following the PIFS period; wherein the transmission at said slot time substantially guarantees priority access said wireless medium; and performing fast channel switching in the network in accordance with directives contained within the management frame. Fast channel switching as defined herein includes one of quieting the current channel and/or switching from a current channel of operation to a new channel of operation. The method overcomes the latencies associated with contention based services, such as the DCF service. The method may further include the additional step of transmitting one or more additional management frames, whose format is identical to said first management frame, each additional frame preferably separated by the PIFS interframe space to provide a higher degree of transmission reliability. The method is preferably performed at an access point (AP) in an infrastructure network or in an STA in an ad-hoc network. |
| US07756083B2 |
Network access device, network connection establishing method, and mobile communication system using the same
A network access device (10) for using in a mobile communication system includes a receiving module (100), a parsing module (110), a determining module (120), a storage module (130), and a sending module (140). The receiving module receives a packet, and the packet includes a source address and a destination address. The parsing module connected to the receiving module parses the packet to retrieve the source address and the destination address of the packet. The determining module connected to the parsing module determines whether a source of the packet has been authenticated. The storage module connected to the determining module saves notification messages indicating that the source of the packet has been authenticated. The sending module sends the packet to a destination corresponding to the destination address of the packet when the source of the packet has been authenticated. |
| US07756081B2 |
Method of data communication in a wireless communication system
A method of data communication in a wireless communication system is disclosed. A method of receiving data in a user equipment of a wireless communication system comprises receiving scheduling information from a network, the scheduling information including downlink (DL) resource assignment information and an indicator; if the scheduling information includes a first UE identity and the first indicator has a first value, utilizing the scheduling information as configuration information of a persistent scheduling to receive a downlink data packet from the network; and if the scheduling information includes the first UE identity and the first indicator has a second value, utilizing the scheduling information to receive a retransmission data packet from the network. |
| US07756079B2 |
Radio communication scheme for providing multimedia broadcast and multicast services (MBMS)
A radio communication scheme applicable to UMTS providing packet data services, such as multimedia broadcast and multicast services (MBMS), to one or more users by modifying (augmenting) certain existing radio communication protocols while employing a new transport channel (a point-to-multipoint DSCH), and/or by establishing new physical downlink shared channels (C-PDSCH and D-PDSCH). An RLC layer is provided in a single CRNC so that the same MBMS can be transmitted to a plurality of terminals via a point-to-multipoint DSCH, without having to repetitively provide many RLC layers in many SRNCs. Alternatively, a C-PDSCH (physical downlink shared channel for control) and a D-PDSCH (physical downlink shared channel for data) are established to allow periodic transmission of MBMS, permitting users to simultaneously access one or more MBMS. |
| US07756072B1 |
System and method for passively monitoring customer control messages in a multicast VPN
A system and method to passively monitor multicast control traffic in the provider backbone. A monitoring station is located within the service provider network. Upon creation of an MVPN session, this monitoring station joins the default multicast distribution tree (“MDT”) in the provider backbone used to handle traffic within that MVPN session, and receives the customer's multicast control traffic encapsulated in packets addressed to the default MDT. Using these two kinds of packets, the monitor learns the following information: the identity of the PE routers participating in the MVPN; the identity of the customer multicast groups that are carried on each provider multicast data tree (MDT); the identity of one or more PE routers participating in each customer group, and the identity of the MDT that it is carried on. This information is collected for each customer multicast group, both upstream and downstream at each PE router. |
| US07756071B2 |
Multiple access spread spectrum switching methodology
A low-cost, low-power, low-complexity, small, high-reliability, robust, seamless satellite communication network is described. The network performs encoding of a user signal at the customer premises to enable routing of the user signal to an appropriate destination beam at the satellite requiring low power user signal processing. Routing information is embedded at the periphery of the network CPE's rather than at the satellite. Embedding the routing information in this way greatly reduces on-board switching complexity and increases signal to interference ratio for the user. |
| US07756068B2 |
Selecting an interface in a multi-radio enabled device
A device may identify interfaces, determine an energy-time product for each of the identified interfaces, and transmit data through one of the identified interfaces based on the determined energy-time products. |
| US07756059B1 |
Differential signal-to-noise ratio based rate adaptation
Systems and methods for implementing a differential signal to noise ratio (DSNR) based rate adaptation for wireless networks are disclosed. The described methods probabilistically adapt the rate of data transmission based on an assessment of the causes of data loss. The described methods include determining a DSNR for data transmission during a predetermined window of time and adapting the transmission rate in a probabilistic manner responsive to the differential SNR and a differential SNR threshold for the data transmission. |
| US07756057B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining transmission rate based on number of unused slots
A radio communication terminal, being used in a radio communication systems in which the transmission rate varies depending on radio wave conditions and communication statuses of other users, comprises a reception module which receives packets transmitted by a base station in an idle state of the radio communication terminal, a signal processing module which estimates a transmission rate available in communication based on the packets received by the reception module, and a display module which displays information indicating the transmission rate estimated by the signal processing module. |
| US07756056B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing quality of service in integrated network of heterogeneous mobile network
An apparatus and method for managing QoS in an integrated network system are provided. The apparatus includes: an information provider, a condition calculator, a policy deciding unit, and a resource allocator. The information provider is for providing policy information based on a network equipment control algorithm, a user profile and network information. The condition calculator is for calculating conditions that are used for selecting a policy based on the user profile and the network information received from the information provider. The policy deciding unit is for deciding a network equipment control algorithm in accordance with the conditions, receiving the policy information corresponding to the decided network equipment control algorithm from the information provider, and requesting resource allocation. The resource allocator is for receiving the request of resource allocation from the policy deciding unit and allocating resources. |
| US07756055B2 |
Method of transmission
A method of transmission comprises receiving at a first destination, a transmission from a first source; determining from the transmission from the first source, the maximum permitted additional interference subject to which the first destination can still communicate; sending an acknowledgement of the transmission and including in the acknowledgement an indication of the determined maximum permitted additional interference. A second source determines whether it has received the transmission from the first source, or the acknowledgement from the first destination, at a power level lower than that of the maximum permitted additional interference given in the indication; and if so, the second source sends a transmission to a second destination, which at least partially overlaps in time, communication between the first source and first destination. |
| US07756053B2 |
Memory agent with error hardware
A memory agent that communicates with another memory agent over links may include error hardware to monitor errors in the links. In some embodiments, the error hardware may include logic to classify the errors into different severity levels, control corrective action based on the severity level of errors, and/or perform various levels of reset based on the severity level of errors. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed. |
| US07756047B2 |
Method and apparatus for documenting network paths
Methods and apparatus for documenting network path connectivity are described that allow a network management system/revision management system (NMS/RMS) to determine what equipment and ports support a network path by interrupting and restoring Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) service on the network path. Upon detecting a loss of PoE service, communication active jacks that support network path connectivity may activate an internal switch that interrupts downstream connectivity. Each communication active jack along the network path may then begin broadcasting a unique message in the upstream direction that is addressed to the NMS/RMS. Upon receiving a unique active jack message, the NMS/RMS may record the information contained within and instruct the communication active jack to reestablish connectivity to the next downstream device. In this manner, as each device along a network path regains connectivity the network path information stored within the NMS/RMS is updated until a complete view of the network path is documented. |
| US07756041B2 |
Embedded routing algorithms under the internet protocol routing layer of a software architecture protocol stack in a mobile Ad-Hoc network
A novel software architecture protocol stack with embedded routing algorithms under the Internet Protocol (IP) routing layer in order to provide high quality distribution of multimedia (voice, video, and data) services. These routing algorithms may include Logical Link Control, Adaptive Transmission Protocol, Neighbor Discovery, Traffic Control, Ad-Hoc Routing, Flow Processing, Intelligent Access and Admission Control. These routing algorithms when implemented further provide for advantages in speed of service, reliability of service, self-healing in case of catastrophic failure of an infrastructure component, load-balancing and geographic reuse. |
| US07756040B1 |
System and method for relaying information in order to enable services in a network environment
A method for relaying information in a network environment is provided that includes establishing primary and secondary packet data protocol (PDP) links on behalf of an end user and communicating traffic pattern information associated with the primary and secondary PDP links to a client services packet gateway (CSPG), the traffic pattern information providing data associated with how traffic flows propagating via each of the primary and secondary PDP links are to be treated in a network. |
| US07756036B2 |
Synchronous data communication
Methods, apparatus, and computer program products that synchronously communicate data packets between a first node and a second node. Data packets are transmitted from the first node without waiting for acknowledgment of receipt by the second node. Acknowledgment of receipt of a given data packet is subsequently received at the first node. The acknowledgement is received substantially at a predetermined time following transmission of the given data packet. The acknowledgement indicates that the second node received the given data packet uncorrupted. |
| US07756033B2 |
Systems and methods for managing multicast data transmissions
A system enables monitoring a multicast data feeds over a network. The system may include a multicast-enabled network device for transmitting a multicast feed from a multicast feed source to a user device via a computer network. A feed agent may be operatively coupled to the multicast-enabled network device for collecting and storing multicast feed data from the multicast feed source. A management server may be operatively connected to the feed agent for receiving multicast feed data collected by the feed agent. The management server may include a web server for receiving requests for multicast feed data over the network via a web interface. |
| US07756032B2 |
Method and apparatus for communicating data within measurement traffic
The present invention is directed to using measurement packets to compute network performance. Embodiments that send, receive and both send and receive measurement packets are described. Some embodiments are described that compute statistics based at least partly on measurement traffic. Some embodiments are described that communicate computed statistics within measurement traffic. Some embodiments are described that rank and select paths based at least partly on computed statistics. |
| US07756030B2 |
Downlink routing mechanism
The present technology relates to protocols relative to utility meters associated with an open operational framework. More particularly, the present subject matter relates to protocol subject matter for advanced metering infrastructure, adaptable to various international standards, while economically supporting a 2-way mesh network solution in a wireless environment, such as for operating in a residential electricity meter field. The present subject matter supports meters within an ANSI standard C12.22/C12.19 system while economically supporting a 2-way mesh network solution in a wireless environment, such as for operating in a residential electricity meter field, all to permit cell-based adaptive insertion of C12.22 meters within an open framework. Cell isolation is provided through quasi-orthogonal sequences in a frequency hopping network. Additional features relate to apparatus and methodology subject matters relating to Downlink routing mechanisms. |
| US07756028B2 |
Pulsed backpressure mechanism for reduced FIFO utilization
The backpressure mechanism and method described here do not completely shut off the traffic when a queue is experiencing congestion. Instead of completely shutting off the traffic and waiting for the effects, a series of backpressure pulses are sent to the upstream stage for intermittently slowing the traffic between the upstream and downstream stages. These pulses of backpressure effectively slowly down the rate of the ingress traffic to the queue to a rate less than the egress rate. This allows queue utilization to slowly decrease. These pulses continue as long as the queue utilization is above a threshold called “Starving Threshold”. This technique allows much lower queue utilization, thus requiring smaller queues sizes. |
| US07756025B1 |
Method, apparatus, network device and computer program for monitoring oversubscription of data traffic in a communication network
A method, apparatus, network device and computer program for monitoring oversubscription of an Ethernet data service over a synchronous data communication link in which pause frames are used to control the bandwidth of a client with respect to a predetermined bandwidth of the communication link, the method comprising the step of recording the number of pause frames leaving the client network port. |
| US07756024B1 |
Method and apparatus for dynamically providing different call service levels
A method and system for providing a quality of service level for at least one call in a communications network is described. In one example, a call request for a particular quality of service level for a call is received. Afterwards, the call is processed as a function of at least one of time of day and day of week, in accordance with the requested quality of service level. In a second example, a request to change a predefined quality of service level for a call on a per call basis is received and subsequently processed. |
| US07756008B2 |
Routing protocols with predicted outrage notification
A method for the efficient routing of data packets across a plurality of routers when a link is unavailable which includes connecting a plurality of nodes in a network using a plurality of routers having a plurality of links between the routers, informing the routers in the network when one or more of the links in the network will be unavailable at a specified time in the future, recalculating the routing tables to determine the most efficient routing paths when the links in the network become unavailable and, when the time in the future arrives, switching the routers in the network to the new routing tables at the same time. |
| US07756004B2 |
Interleaver design with column swap and bit circulation for multiple convolutional encoder MIMO OFDM system
An improved interleaver design to fully explore the diversity of the MIMO OFDM systems provides higher diversity gain than usual. A method for wireless data communication using such interleaver design implements parsing a bit stream into multiple spatial data streams, interleaving the bits in each spatial data stream by performing bit circulation and column swapping to increase diversity of the wireless system, and transmitting the bits of each spatial data stream. |
| US07756003B1 |
Adaptive OFDM transmitter based on carrier frequency offset
A system comprises a transmitter module that receives transmitter data, that includes at least one transmitter operating parameter and that generates an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal based on the transmitter data and the at least one transmitter operating parameter. An operating parameters generating module receives a carrier frequency offset (CFO), communicates with the transmitter module and adjusts the at least one transmitter operating parameter based on the CFO. The transmitter module adjusts a parameter of at least one of a channel coding module, a modulating module, and/or a power control module based on the CFO. |
| US07755999B2 |
Optical disc driving apparatus and land pre-pit detection method using the same
An optical disc driving apparatus and a land pre-pit detection method are provided for defining determination factors which have an effect on land pre-pit signal detection efficiency. The optical disc driving apparatus comprises an RF processing unit for forming a push-pull signal from an electrical signal acquired through an optical disc; and a control unit for arranging a representative value of determination factors for forming the push-pull signal and testing an error with respect to a land pre-pit (LPP) signal detected from the push-pull signal. As a result, the optical disc driving apparatus is capable of decreasing time for determining the optimal balance level and slice level, and applying the optimal balance level and slice level to the optical disc driving apparatus which operates in real time by defining representative values of each zone according to size of a balance level and a slice level. The optical disc driving apparatus is also capable of increasing performance of land pre-pit detection, by defining representative values of each zone according to a balance level, a slice level and a gain of a wobble signal and by using representative values of each zone when performing real-time test. |
| US07755998B2 |
Optical pickup system, optical head, optical disk apparatus, and objective lens
An optical pickup system for reading information of three kinds of optical recording media. The optical pickup system has a wavelength selective filter that includes an outer area for shielding one light beam of light beams having three kinds of wavelengths and an inner area for allowing all the light beams to pass through. The optical pickup system also has an objective lens that focuses each light beam having passed through the wavelength selective filter on each light recording medium. An optical head and an optical disk apparatus have the optical pickup system. |
| US07755995B2 |
Recording and reproducing method for dye-based recordable DVD medium and apparatus for the same
To provide a recording and reproducing method for dye-based recordable DVD media, including: recording a mark of the shortest length on a dye-containing recording layer of a dye-based recordable DVD medium using single pulse whose front edge is energized; recording marks other than the shortest thereon using single pulse whose front and rear edges are energized for a given duration, the power of the front edge of pulse being equal to that of the front edge of pulse for the shortest mark, the power of the rear edge of pulse being equal to that of the rear edge of pulse for the shortest mark; and reproducing recorded information using a reproduction beam, wherein the irradiation intensity of cooling pulse provided after the rear edge of pulse upon mark recording is 0.1 mW or less for a given duration, and the recording linear velocity is 42 m/s or more. |
| US07755993B2 |
Optical information recording reproduction device
An optical information recording reproduction device is disclosed, in which aberration detection is stably performed, so that an excellent record grade can be achieved. An RF signal is subjected to differential operation along a time axis of the signal, the RF signal being obtained from reflected light including primary light situated in the periphery of a primary dark ring enclosing zero-order light in a central portion of a beam spot formed on a pit; pulse signal waveforms are represented in an absolute value form, the pulse signal waveforms being generated in correspondence with front and rear ends of the beam spot on the time axis; the pulse signal waveforms represented in the absolute value form are stored into a storage medium; the stored, two pulse signal waveforms are combined to generate a beam profile of the beam spot formed on an optical recording medium; and a beam spot diameter, spherical aberration, and coma aberration of a record laser beam are adjusted based on the beam profile. |
| US07755989B2 |
Enhanced reproduction of optical discs
In performing reproduction of optical discs, when a request to perform a data reproduction operation is received, it is detected whether finalization data is written to a finalization indicator region of an optical disc, and a record-related servo adjustment operation is performed if finalization data is not written to the finalization indicator region. In addition, a reproduction-related servo adjustment operation is performed, and the data reproduction operation is performed. |
| US07755978B2 |
Recording head and recorder
A recorder has a recording head which uses light for information recording to a recording medium. The recording head has a slider and an optical waveguide. The slider moves relative to the recording medium while floating thereon. The optical waveguide is provided in the slider and has a refractive index difference of 20% or more between a core and a cladding. |
| US07755976B2 |
Time control system and method for projector
A time control system and a method for a projector. The time control system comprises an input module, a processor, a timer, and at least one output module. The input module is used to input at least one time parameter that is set by the processor into the timer. The timer is used to generate at least one trigger signal by counting the at least one time parameter. Meanwhile, the output module is used to output a reminder signal relating to the at least one trigger signal. The time control system is applied for reminding users. |
| US07755972B2 |
Borehole apparatus and methods for simultaneous multimode excitation and reception to determine elastic wave velocities, elastic modulii, degree of anisotropy and elastic symmetry configurations
An acoustic borehole logging system for generation and detection of multipole modes used to determine elastic properties of earth formations characterized as inhomogeneous anisotropic solids. The system concurrently generates and senses monopole, dipole, quadrupole and any higher order pole in the borehole/formation system in order to characterize the elastic properties and stress state of material penetrated by the borehole. Multipole modes of all orders are induced simultaneously without the need for separate transmitter and receiver systems. Performance of the logging system is not compromised due to eccentering of the axis of the tool in the borehole, tool tilt with respect to the axis of the borehole, or mismatch of response sensitivity of multiple receivers within the tool. The system comprises apparatus for generating and sensing acoustic signals in a borehole in an earth formation, and further comprises a processing method by which the sensor response signals are processed and analyzed to obtain desired formation parameters of interest. |
| US07755971B2 |
Sensing system
The present invention relates to a sensing system, in particular to sensing system for sensing undersea seismic events. A vibration sensor is provided for sensing seismic vibrations on the sea bed is provided. The vibration sensor is electrically coupled to a transmitter unit, the transmitter unit being arranged to transmit, in use, an acoustic wave from which the presence of a seismic vibration can be inferred. The acoustic wave modulates light travelling along a nearby optical cable, the modulation being recovered at a distant monitoring station. A flotation arrangement is provide for retaining the transmitter unit in a raised position relative to the sea bed to facilitate the coupling of the acoustic wave to the optical cable. |
| US07755968B2 |
Integrated circuit memory device having dynamic memory bank count and page size
An integrated circuit memory device has a storage array with an adjustable number of memory banks, a row of sense amplifiers to access storage cells in the storage array; and memory access control circuitry. The memory access control circuitry provides a first number of memory banks and a first page size in the integrated circuit memory device in a first mode of operation, and provides a second number of memory banks and a second page size in the integrated circuit memory device in a second mode of operation. The memory access control circuitry includes logic circuitry to adjust the number of memory banks in the integrated circuit memory device, and to adjust the page size of the integrated circuit memory device. |
| US07755967B2 |
Memory device refresh method and apparatus
In one embodiment, a memory device comprises a plurality of banks and a refresh controller. Each bank is logically divisible into at least two different sections of memory cells during a refresh operation. The refresh controller successively identifies each of the sections using a first portion of a row address and addresses a row of memory cells included in each of the sections using a second portion of the row address. The refresh controller also successively selects two or more different groups of the banks during different time intervals each time a different one of the sections is identified. The refresh controller refreshes the addressed row of memory cells included in the most recently identified section of each bank for the most recently selected group of banks. |
| US07755966B2 |
Memory device performing a partial refresh operation based on accessed and/or refreshed memory blocks and method thereof
The present invention provides a memory device which comprises a memory cell array having a plurality of memory blocks; a memory controller for controlling a refresh operation with respect to the memory blocks; a refresh check bit circuit for storing refresh check bits corresponding to the memory blocks, respectively; a block select control circuit for setting refresh check bits of memory blocks to be refreshed to a checked state according to a first control of the memory controller; a using check bit circuit for storing using check bits corresponding to the memory blocks, respectively; a using check control circuit for setting refresh check bits of memory blocks to which access is requested to a checked state according to a second control of the memory controller; and a partial refresh control circuit for controlling the refresh operation such that memory blocks corresponding to checked using check bits or checked refresh check bits are refreshed according to a third control of the memory controller. |
| US07755959B2 |
Semiconductor memory device with reduced number of channels for test operation
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory banks, a data pin for inputting and outputting data, and input/output buffers connected to the data pin. Each of the memory banks has a plurality of memory cells for storing the data. The data pin is enabled and disabled by a pin selection signal. The data pin performs a normal data input/output operation when the pin selection signal is enabled and a termination resistor connected to the data pin is off when the pin selection signal is disabled. The input/output buffers make a termination resistor connected to the data pin off when the pin selection signal is disabled. |
| US07755944B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
An electrically erasable programmable non-volatile semiconductor memory device. The semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array comprising a plurality of memory blocks, each memory block comprising a plurality of memory cells, a dummy memory cell, and a select gate transistor. Transfer transistors each having a current path connected between a corresponding wordline enable signal line and a corresponding wordline are controlled by an output of a block selection circuit. The transfer transistors include a dummy transfer transistor electrically coupled to the dummy memory cell, and configured to transmit a dummy wordline enable signal. |
| US07755940B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for erasing memory
Methods, apparatus, and systems may operate such as to perform a pre-programming operation on a plurality of multiple level memory cells of a memory device. One such pre-programming operation involves applying a series of voltage pulses to the plurality of multiple level memory cells, verifying a charge stored in the plurality of multiple level memory cells, and erasing the plurality of multiple level memory cells of the memory block based on a result from verifying the charge stored in the plurality of multiple level memory cells. |
| US07755939B2 |
System and devices including memory resistant to program disturb and methods of using, making, and operating the same
Disclosed are methods, systems and devices, one such device being a memory device configured to concurrently assert a first pulse pattern through a plurality of conductors disposed on both a source side and a drain side of a floating-gate transistor, wherein a source side of the first pulse pattern has a different median voltage than a drain side of the first pulse pattern. |
| US07755931B2 |
Magnetic random access memory and operation method thereof
The MRAM includes: a memory cell 10 including a magnetoresistance element 1, a current supply circuit and a controller. The current supply circuit supplies, to the magnetoresistance element 1, a write current IW in a direction corresponding to data to be written into the memory cell 10. The controller controls supply of the write current IW from the current supply circuit. The controller also determines whether or not a data is written into the memory cell 10 during a predetermined write period PW in which the write current IW is supplied. The controller instructs the current supply circuit to finish supplying the write current IW when determining that the data is written into the memory cell (10). |
| US07755928B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and semiconductor device group
A semiconductor device includes a first CMOS inverter, a second CMOS inverter, a first transfer transistor and a second transfer transistor wherein the first and second transfer transistors are formed respectively in first and second device regions defined on a semiconductor device by a device isolation region so as to extend in parallel with each other, the first transfer transistor contacting with a first bit line at a first bit contact region on the first device region, the second transfer transistor contacting with a second bit line at a second bit contact region on the second device region, wherein the first bit contact region is formed in the first device region such that a center of said the bit contact region is offset toward the second device region, and wherein the second bit contact region is formed in the second device region such that a center of the second bit contact region is offset toward the first device region. |
| US07755923B2 |
Memory array with read reference voltage cells
The present disclosure relates to memory arrays with read reference voltage cells. In particular the present disclosure relates to variable resistive memory cell apparatus and arrays that include a high resistance state reference memory cell and a low resistance state reference memory cell that provides a reliable average reference voltage on chip to compare to a read voltage of a selected memory cell and determine if the selected memory cell is in the high resistance state or low resistance state. These memory arrays are particularly suitable for use with spin-transfer torque memory cells and resolves many systematic issues related to generation of a reliable reference voltage. |
| US07755922B2 |
Non-volatile resistance changing for advanced memory applications
A resistance changing memory unit cell includes a resistance changing memory element coupled to a sense bit line and a diode coupled to the resistance changing memory element. |
| US07755920B2 |
Electronic memory device
An electronic memory device includes a bank of memories provided with a cache, a sequencer for providing physical access to said bank of memories, a physical interface for receiving high level memory access requests, a request manager between the physical interface and the sequencer, said request manager includes an input queue for storing the high level memory access requests and an arbitration function which takes account of the data of the cache and the data of the input queue to designate a request which is to be executed, thus allowing the memory bank, the sequencer and the request manager to be provided on a single chip, the physical interface providing the connection of the chip with the outside. |
| US07755916B2 |
Methods for minimizing double-frequency ripple power in single-phase power conditioners
A method is provided for minimizing a double-frequency ripple power exchanged between a load and an energy source, the energy source delivering electrical power to the load through a single-phase power conditioner, and the power conditioner being coupled to an energy storage device. The method senses a first AC waveform at the output of the power conditioner, generates a second AC waveform at the energy storage device, the second AC waveform having the same frequency as the first AC waveform, and shifts the second AC waveform by a phase shift equal to π/4 radians relative to a phase of the first AC waveform, thereby minimizing the double-frequency ripple power in the power supplied by the energy source. |
| US07755909B2 |
Slim design main board
A main board suitable for slim configurations is disclosed. The main board includes a multi-layer Printed Circuit Board (PCB) in which at least one recess is formed, a first integrated circuit placed in the recess, and a molding that covers the first integrated circuit and the bottom of the recess. The main board further comprising a cover over said recess, said cover being a second integrated circuit or a second PC board, which may further having attached an integrated circuit positioned within the recess. |
| US07755905B2 |
Removable housing cover for a portable radio communication device
The invention provides an electronic mobile communications/entertainment device capable of a plurality of modes of operation, comprising a basic module having circuitry common to the operation of the device in said plurality of modes of operation, and a plurality of supplementary modules, each supplementary module being provided in the form of a housing cover for the device and including controlling means configured to provide for a corresponding mode of operation when coupled to the basic module, the supplementary modules being interchangeably attachable/detachable to the basic module so as to provide respective modes of operation, and the device only being operational when one of said plurality of supplementary modules is attached to the device. |
| US07755897B2 |
Memory module assembly with heat dissipation device
A memory module assembly (100) includes a memory card (200) having a right side surface (240) and a left side surface (220), a heat sink (400) and a heat pipe (500). The heat sink includes a base member (420) attached to the left side surface of the memory card and a shell (440) attached to the right side surface of the memory card and coupled to the base member. The base member includes a substrate portion (422) attached to the left side surface of the memory card and a support portion (424) extended from the substrate portion and supported on a top edge of the memory card. The heat pipe includes an evaporator (520) in thermal engagement with one of the shell and the substrate portion and a condenser (540) in thermal engagement with the support portion. |
| US07755894B2 |
Heat dissipation device
A heat dissipation device includes a first base plate having a flat top surface, a plurality of flattened heat pipes, a fin assembly located above the heat pipes and a thermally conductive layer formed between the heat pipes and the fin assembly. The thermally conductive layer has a flat surface contacting with the heat pipes. The heat pipes are supported on the top surface of the first base plate. The first base plate has a flat bottom surface for engaging with an electronic package. Each heat pipe comprises an evaporating section and a condensing section bent from the evaporating section, and the evaporating sections of the heat pipes abut side by side against each other. |
| US07755892B2 |
Slide mechanism and slide-type terminal device using the same
A slide mechanism includes a rear cover, a front cover, and two elastic members. The front cover is slidably attached to the rear cover. The elastic members are connected between the rear cover and the front cover. Each elastic member includes two spring coils and an arched elastic arm connecting the spring coils. The arched elastic arm provides an elastic force to make the front cover slide relative to the rear cover. A slide-type terminal device using the slide mechanism is also provided. |
| US07755886B2 |
Mounting apparatus for data storage devices
A mounting apparatus for mounting a data storage device that defines a locking hole in a sidewall thereof includes a bracket for holding the data storage device, and a locking member. The bracket includes a first side wall defining a through-hole. The locking member includes a mounting member mounted to the first side wall of the bracket, and a securing member rotatably mounted to the mounting member. The securing member includes a post extending therefrom. The securing member is selectively located in two positions. In a first position, the post passes through the through-hole of the bracket to engage with the locking hole of the data storage device. In a second position, the post is disengaged from the locking hole. |
| US07755884B2 |
Apparatus for reducing weight and thickness of a portable computer
An apparatus for reducing weight and thickness of portable computers is disclosed. The apparatus includes a lower housing, an upper housing and a cosmetic cover. The lower housing is configured to accommodate electronic elements therein. The upper housing, which has an opening inside, includes a periphery connected to the lower housing and a main bridge structure connected from one edge of the periphery to another edge of the periphery for providing structural support to the upper housing in the opening and for accommodating a display module therein. The cosmetic cover is configured to cover the upper housing. |
| US07755882B2 |
Housing assembly and method of assembling the assembly
A housing assembly includes a base body. The base body includes a plate having a mounting side, and a cover member. An opening is defined in the plate, the opening has a first end portion adjacent to the mounting side and an opposite second end portion communicating with the first end portion. The cover member is inserted into and partially shields the opening, the first end portion and a side of the cover member at the first end portion cooperatively define a fixing hole for allowing a hinge module to extend therethrough. |
| US07755881B2 |
Modular server architecture with Ethernet routed across a backplane utilizing an integrated Ethernet switch module
A modular server system includes a midplane having a system management bus and a plurality of blade interfaces on the midplane. The blade interfaces are in electrical communication with each other. A server blade is removeably connectable to one of the plurality of blade interfaces on the midplane. The server blade has a server blade system management bus in electrical communication with the system management bus of the midplane, and a network interface to connect to a network. A media blade is removeably connectable to one of the plurality of blade interfaces on the midplane, and the media blade has at least one storage medium device. |
| US07755877B2 |
Conveying method, conveyance apparatus, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
A method of holding an object with an electrostatic chuck and conveying the held object includes steps of measuring a property of the object concerning an electrostatic attraction force generated between the object and the electrostatic chuck; and controlling a characteristic of conveyance of the object based on a measurement result in the measuring step. |
| US07755873B2 |
Device for protection against voltage surges with parallel simultaneously triggered spark-gaps
A device for protection against voltage surges, comprising: a first spark gap (E1); a first pre-triggering system (2), electrically connected to the first spark gap (E1), so as to enable its being primed; a control device (4) electrically connected to the first pre-triggering system (2) so as to activate same. The invention is characterized in that it comprises at least a second spark gap (E2) mounted parallel to the first spark gap (E1), and electrically connected to a second pre-triggering system (3), such that the control device simultaneously activates the first and the second pre-triggering systems (2, 3), so as to trigger simultaneously the first and second spark gaps (E1, E2). The invention also concerns devices against voltage surges. |
| US07755869B2 |
Ground protection device for electronic stability and personal safety
A ground stabilization network including a circuit with an EMI filter circuit to filter out ground referenced interference and internal fault current detection circuitry with an integrated trip circuit to stop the flow of power in case of a fault condition, which might result in a safety hazard. The EMI filter circuit includes a resistor and a reactive portion, both connected in parallel between neutral or return line and ground, mounted between the trip circuit and a current sensor. The current sensor senses differences between the current in the hot or positive line and the current in the neutral/negative or return line, and causes the trip circuit to trip if a predetermined difference in current is sensed. |
| US07755864B2 |
Magnetic recording head for perpendicular recording, fabrication process, and magnetic disk storage apparatus mounting the magnetic recording head
Embodiments of the invention provide a head which can prevent an external magnetic field form erasing a signal on the medium and whose main magnetic pole piece does not corrode during processing of the air bearing surface. In one embodiment, an anti-corrosion electrode is formed to apply a voltage to the main magnetic pole piece during processing of the air bearing surface. This retards corrosion of the main magnetic pole piece. Since a conductor (anti-corrosion wire) connected to this anti-corrosion electrode is made of a nonmagnetic material, concentration of an external magnetic field into the main magnetic pole piece can be suppressed. Consequently, since the magnetic leakage field emitted from the main magnetic pole piece is reduced, erasure of the signal on the medium can be prevented. In addition, since the anti-corrosion wire is connected to the upper core, this wire can be formed in the same wiring layer as a wire which connects the coil to a write terminal, resulting in a simplified manufacturing process. |
| US07755859B2 |
Lens assembly of camera module
A lens assembly of a camera module mounted in a small portable device includes a body receiving at least one lens and having a hole at one side, a screw member inserted in the hole in a direction substantially parallel to an optical axis, a support boss provided at the other side of the body and including a coupling hole formed in a direction substantially parallel to the optical axis, and a guide groove formed at one side of a side surface of the support boss, a shaft coupled with the coupling hole of the support boss and guiding a movement of the body, and a guide member having one side elastically and tightly attached to the screw member and moved by rotation of the screw member, and the other side coupled with the shaft to be movable along the guide groove and moving the body along the optical axis. |
| US07755855B2 |
Lens barrel and electronic imaging device using the same
The inventive lens barrel comprises: a first group frame 12 retaining the first group lens 21 with a positive refractivity and being movable on the optical axis; a second group frame 11 retaining the second group lens 22 with a negative refractivity and being movable on the optical axis; a third group frame 10 retaining an aperture diaphragm 10b and the third group lens 23, and being movable on the optical axis and pivotable perpendicular to the optical axis in such a manner that the third group frame 10 can move the aperture diaphragm 10b and the third group lens 23 to the position on the optical axis O in a imaging standby state, in which the lens barrel 1 is extended, and move them to the position out of the optical axis O in the retracted state, in which the lens barrel 1 is shortened; and, a fourth group frame 13 retaining the fourth group frame 24 with a positive refractivity, and being movable on the optical axis, and being arranged such that it can retract the aperture diaphragm 10b and the third group lens 23 to a space between the object side end of the second group image side lens of the second group lens 22, which has a relatively smaller outer shape, and the image side end of the fourth group lens 24, in view from the direction perpendicular to the optical axis, under the retracted state. |
| US07755842B2 |
Anastigmatic anamorphic lens system
Disclosed is an anastigmatic anamorphic lens unit for processing images, particularly multidimensional images, as they are generated and evaluated, for example in connection with spatially resolved spectroscopy. The lens unit has a high anamorphic factor and comprises several lens subassemblies, a positive refractive subassembly (a) comprising at least one rotationally symmetrical lens or lens group being disposed on the lens side in order to reduce the field angle. A central optical subassembly (b) is disposed behind the positive refractive subassembly (a) in the beam path for beam divergence in one or more directions perpendicular to the optical axis, while maintaining small field angles, wherein the central optical subassembly (b) comprises at least one anamorphically distorting element and one or more rotationally symmetrical lenses or lens groups. An additional optical subassembly (c) for narrowing and enlarging the aperture on the axes in which the beam is diverged is disposed on the image side, wherein this optical subassembly (c) located on the image side alternately comprises at least one anamorphically distorting element and at least one rotationally symmetrical lens. |
| US07755841B2 |
Liquid-lens variable-control optics in array microscope
A liquid lens includes a segmented electrode that allows the simultaneous application of different potentials across the lens's meniscus to obtain a predetermined aberration correction condition and to adjust focal length as necessary to conform to the topography of the object being scanned. The lens also includes a gas plenum interfacing with one of the liquids of the lens to allow for volume changes in the lens cell due to temperature variations. This combination of features produces a liquid-lens cell capable of maintaining substantially constant transverse magnification and diffraction-limited image quality over a useful range of focal length. As such, the lens is particularly suitable for incorporation in an array of micro-objectives used in a scanning microscope. |
| US07755840B2 |
Fluidic optical devices
A fluidic optical device, systems utilizing fluidic optical devices, methods for manufacturing fluidic optical devices and actuators are disclosed. |
| US07755821B2 |
Photon logic gates
A system, method, and apparatus for photon logic gates based on quantum switch, where a single or multiple quantum switches are utilized for dark resonance interactions in which three-color lasers interact with a four-level or five-level nonlinear optical medium composed of three ground states and one or two excited states through nondegenerate four-wave mixing processes. The photon logic mechanism is based on combination of single or multiple dark resonance-induced two-photon coherence swapping among the three closely spaced ground states through optical transitions via a common excited state. The two-photon coherence induced on the ground states is optically detected via nondegenerate four-wave mixing processes. The nondegenerate four-wave mixing generation is enhanced owing to dark resonance or electromagnetically induced transparency. The gating time and bandwidth of the present photon logic gate method is not limited by population relaxation time or carrier's lifetime, but phase decay time, where the phase decay time in general much faster than the population decay time in solids or semiconductors. |
| US07755820B2 |
Two-dimensional modulation method for hologram recording and hologram apparatus with encoder for driving SLM displaying boundary portion
To provide a two-dimensional modulation method for hologram recording which is capable of preventing degradation of reconstructing performance when positional shift occurs and which enables information to be stably recorded or reproduced. The hologram recording carrier employs the two-dimensional modulation method for hologram recording for generating coherent light containing therein page data through a spatial light modulator having a plurality of pixels two-dimensionally arranged therein, in which the pixels of the spatial light modulator are partitioned into a plurality of blocks consisting of m pixels adjacent to each other (where m=an integral number), and a boundary portion which has a width having at least the width of one pixel of the spatial light modulator or of one pixel of an image detecting sensor used to reproduce the recorded page data and the distance between the adjacent pixels in each of the blocks, and each of which shields light is provided between the adjacent blocks. |
| US07755818B2 |
High-integrity seal for optical elements, dichromated gelatin holographic optical elements in particular
A method and apparatus for encapsulating optical elements, particularly dichromated gelatin (DGC) holographic optical elements (HOEs), exhibits a very high degree of environmental integrity. In broad terms, the optical element is disposed between opposing plates, and a metal seal soldered to the edge(s) of the plates to seal the optical element therewithin. In the preferred embodiment, the metalization includes chrome and nickel, or alloys thereof, followed by gold or platinum. The metallization is preferably applied using a low-temperature process such as vacuum deposition or sputtering. The metal seal may be in the form of a foil or wire. One or both of the plates are compatible with wavelengths of interest, and the technique may be used in transmissive and reflective configurations. |
| US07755808B2 |
Document scanner dust detection systems and methods
Embodiments herein begin by sensing first document presence data of a media sheet in a media path using a scanner. Then, the embodiments calculate a background correction factor for scanning the media sheet based on input from the scanner. Second document presence data is obtained from this background correction factor. If the second document presence data indicates that no media sheet is present (which is contrary to the first document presence data), there is a possibility that the first document presence data was false. In order to check if the first document presence data is false, the embodiments obtain third document presence data relating to alignment of the media sheet within the media path, again using the scanner. If the third document presence data also determines that no media sheet is present, this indicates that the media path is in need of cleaning. In other words, if the first document presence data indicates that the media sheet is present, but the second document presence data and third document presence data both indicate that no media sheet is present, the embodiments provides a notification that the media path needs cleaning. |
| US07755806B2 |
Image communication device
An image communication device which transmits and receives image data through an IP network by using a call control protocol, and in particular, a facsimile machine which prevents a wrongful reception of the image data by spoofing by transmitting the image data after confirming that a connected destination is a true destination. Before establishing a media session by the SIP and transmitting image data, an image communication device of a transmitter transmits prescribed first text data to an image communication device of a recipient by the SIP method and receives text data from the image communication device of the recipient. When the received text data is prescribed second text data, the image communication device of the transmitter transmits the image data to the image communication device of the recipient. |
| US07755805B2 |
Image reading apparatus, control method therefor, and program
An object of this invention is to suppress a decrease in reading efficiency while preventing image degradation. To achieve this object, an image reading apparatus includes a light source which illuminates an object, a sensor which photoelectrically converts light reflected by the object and reads information on the object, a first density reference member which serves as a reference for correcting an image signal obtained by reading an original by the sensor, a second density reference member which is different from the first density reference member, a comparison unit which compares the second signal obtained by reading the second density reference member by the sensor and the third signal obtained by reading again the second density reference member by the sensor, and a correction unit which corrects the image signal on the basis of the first signal obtained by reading the first density reference member by the sensor, and the comparison result of the comparison device. |
| US07755792B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image apparatus system, and image processing method
An image processing apparatus that controls usage of the image processing apparatus by a user based on restriction information which indicates a function that the user is allowed to use and use information which indicates a number of recording medium that the user use, the image processing apparatus includes a controller that controls the usage of the image processing apparatus by managing a plurality of jobs on a single user basis if a plurality of jobs are generated when the single user performs login and logout a plurality of times. |
| US07755789B2 |
Printing system and printing method to conserve developer
A printing system and a printing method providing a menu to change printing options to conserve developer. The printing method includes determining whether a developer is deficient by checking the status of the developer when a print command is input; setting new printing options upon determining the deficiency of the developer; and generating and printing an image according to the newly set printing options. Accordingly, it is possible to print more pages using the same amount of developer. Based on the menu to change the printing options, the user can select to change the resolution, the scale of the print, and the N-up, to conserve the developer. |
| US07755777B2 |
Wavelength selection method, film thickness measurement method, film thickness measurement apparatus, and system for producing thin film silicon device
An object is to reduce film thickness measurement error. Illumination light having different wavelengths is radiated onto a plurality of samples in which thin films having different film qualities and film thicknesses are provided on substrates, evaluation values related to the amounts of transmitted light when the illumination light of each wavelength is radiated are measured, film thickness characteristics, showing the relationship between the evaluation values and the film thicknesses for each film quality, are formed at each wavelength based on the measurement results, and among the film thickness characteristics, a wavelength at which a measurement difference between the evaluation values caused by the film qualities is in a predetermined range is selected. |
| US07755771B2 |
Noncontact method for measuring pitch of gear teeth and screw
A pitch measurement method of performing noncontact measurement of a pitch of target portions, the target portions being provided in an object and adjacent to each other, includes moving the object such that the target portions move along a same path, continuously acquiring and storing optical data of the target portions passing a predetermined position on the path from a fixed position, while focusing on the predetermined position, calculating a focusing evaluation value representing a degree of focus at an area corresponding to the predetermined position, using a movement distance of the target portions as a variable, according to a relationship between the optical data and the movement distance, and obtaining a point group of combinations of the movement distance and the focusing evaluation value, and applying a reference curve to the point group, thereby determining the pitch based on a position where the reference curve is applied. |
| US07755769B2 |
Method of motion correction in optical coherence tomography imaging
An image data set acquired by an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system is corrected for effects due to motion of the sample. A first set of A-scans is acquired within a time short enough to avoid any significant motion of the sample. A second more extensive set of A-scans is acquired over an overlapping region on the sample. Significant sample motion may occur during acquisition of the second set. A-scans from the first set are matched with A-scans from the second set, based on similarity between the longitudinal optical scattering profiles they contain. Such matched pairs of A-scans are likely to correspond to the same region in the sample. Comparison of the OCT scanner coordinates that produced each A-scan in a matching pair, in conjunction with any shift in the longitudinal scattering profiles between the pair of A-scans, reveals the displacement of the sample between acquisition of the first and second A-scans in the pair. Estimates of the sample displacement are used to correct the transverse and longitudinal coordinates of the A-scans in the second set, to form a motion-corrected OCT data set. |
| US07755763B2 |
Attenuated total reflection sensor
An attenuated total reflection (“ATR”) sensor (3) determines a substance dissolved in a measurement medium (2). A method is taught to verify a calibration and/or to perform an in-line calibration of the sensor. The ATR sensor includes a housing (7) and an ATR body (4). A light source (12) and a detector (13) are arranged in the housing. The ATR body has at least one measurement surface (5) and, arranged parallel to the latter, a calibration surface (10). The measurement surface (5) can be brought into contact with the measurement medium. A calibration chamber (9), arranged in the housing, is delimited on at least one side by the calibration surface. |
| US07755762B2 |
Method of improving a color filter
A method of improving an initial color filter comprises a numerical generation of sinusoidal spectra. Two steps of selecting said spectra are then executed. The first selection is carried out according to a criterion of colorimetric similitude with respect to the initial filter. The second selection is carried out according to the capacity of dummy filters corresponding to each spectrum to restore hues in a natural manner. To do this, observations of samples of hues through each dummy filter are simulated numerically, using a color appearance model to take account of a visual perception of a human observer. In this way, an improved filter is determined, which has a color close to that of the initial filter and which affords a natural rendition of hues. |
| US07755752B1 |
Combined modulated optical reflectance and photoreflectance system
The capabilities of the Modulated Optical Reflectance (MOR) technology in dopant metrology applications are combined with the sensitivity of the PhotoReflectance (PR) method in the present system to provide stress and other measurements in semiconductor samples. Such combination enhances the measurement performance of MOR based systems in ion implant applications (implantation dose and energy) and expands system capabilities into a new area of structural parameters measurements, for example, strain in silicon wafers. |
| US07755744B1 |
Environment sensor that conveys information about objects in the vicinity of the visually impaired user
The present invention relates generally to the field of virtual tactile sensing, specifically to the field of virtual extension of the senses of the fingertips. Specifically, the present invention is the tactile transfer of environment information to the fingertips of the operator in the form of a line. The present invention senses information regarding distance, thermal values and optical spectrum values and conveys this information to the operator by means of mechanical movements and/or thermal changes of the actuators. These actuators are the equivalent of placing the operator's fingertips on the object. The device as a whole acts as an extension of the hand that senses information by placing virtual fingertips on an object and conveys that information to the operator's fingertips. |
| US07755741B2 |
Substrate exposure apparatus and illumination apparatus
An illumination apparatus and an exposure apparatus that achieves higher quality exposure to light and higher operating speed even where the ratio Hx/Hy between the transverse dimension Hx and the longitudinal dimension Hy of the plane of optical modulation of a two-dimensional optical space modulator is 1.5 or above, for instance, are to be provided. The focal distance fx in an x-direction and the focal distance fy in a y-direction of a second optical system that guides light emitted from an integrator to a two-dimensional optical space modulator are made different, in a ratio of fx/fy=1.6, for instance. In this way, the number of rod lenses in the integrator can be made equal between transverse and longitudinal directions and the value of Hx/Hy can be made 2.5 by bringing the aspect ratio dx:dy of rod lenses to 1.6:1, close to 1. |
| US07755737B2 |
Liquid crystal panel and method of manufacturing the same
There is provided a liquid crystal panel capable of maintaining a cell gap and preventing generation of air bubbles. In the liquid crystal panel having a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a color filter (CF) substrate and a thin film transistor (TFT) substrate, recesses formed at respective locations of contact holes each for connecting a drain metal layer and a pixel electrode to each other are filled with respective hole-filling columnar layers. At the same time, the cell gap between the CF substrate and the TFT substrate is maintained by cell gap-maintaining columnar layers. The columnar layers are simultaneously formed by subjecting a photosensitive resin to exposure and development. As a result, a reliable liquid crystal panel which does not suffer from air bubbles remaining in the recesses formed at the locations of the contact holes, and capable of effectively maintaining the cell gap with high productivity at low costs. |
| US07755732B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and method for manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal stabilizing layer may be disposed on a substrate, an opposite substrate, or both of a liquid crystal display panel. Additionally, a liquid crystal layer may be sealed between the opposing substrates. The liquid crystal stabilizing layer may have a number of protrusions. The height of the protrusions ranges from 10 to 200 nanometers and the width of the protrusions ranges from 150 to 600 nanometers. |
| US07755729B2 |
Liquid crystal display and liquid crystal projector
A polarization azimuth compensation layer (31) is effective in aligning a polarization plane of light obliquely entering an incident-side polarizing plate (30) with a polarization plane of light entering the incident-side polarizing plate (30) in a direction of a normal line. A retardation compensation layer (41) is disposed nearer a liquid crystal layer (34) than a microlens array (40) diffracting part of incident light, to compensate a phase difference due to the liquid crystal layer (34). Diffracted light caused by the microlens array (40) and a TFT circuit pattern (46) enters a polarization azimuth compensation layer (36). The polarization azimuth compensation layer (36) prevents leakage of light by aligning a polarization plane of the diffracted light to be parallel to an absorption axis of an exit-side polarizing plate (37). |
| US07755724B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus is suitable for a user to view through a polarization component having a first transmittance axis. The display apparatus includes a display module, a polarizer and a biaxial half-wave plate. The polarizer has a second transmittance axis such that a light provided from the display module passes through the polarizer and is converted into a polarized light. The biaxial half-wave plate is disposed on the display module and between the polarizer and the polarization component. The biaxial half-wave plate has a slow axis arranged between the first and second transmittance axes. The polarization of the polarized light passing through the biaxial half-wave plate tends toward the first transmittance axis. |
| US07755716B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display (LCD) including a backlight module and a liquid crystal display panel is provided. The backlight module has at least one white light source. BL1 and BL2 respectively represent relative maximum brightness peaks of an emission spectrum of the backlight module at a wavelength between 500 nm and 525 nm and between 530 nm and 560 nm, in which BL1/BL2≧0.32. The liquid crystal display panel is disposed above the backlight module, and has two substrates and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched therebetween. One of the two substrates has a red filter layer, a green filter layer, and a blue filter layer, in which transmittances of the red filter layer and the green filter layer at wavelength of approximately 590 nm are both smaller than about 45%. |
| US07755708B2 |
Pixel structure for flat panel display
A pixel structure of a flat panel display for arrangement on a substrate. The pixel structure comprises a storage capacitor, a thin film transistor (TFT) and a data line formed on the substrate. The storage capacitor is disposed on the substrate, comprising a lower metal layer, an upper metal layer and a capacitor dielectric layer disposed therebetween. The TFT is disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to the storage capacitor, comprising an active layer, a gate electrode, and a gate dielectric layer disposed therebetween. The data line is disposed on the substrate, electrically connected to the thin film transistor and insulated from the substrate. The upper metal layer and the gate electrode are formed by the same metal layer and the lower metal layer and the data line are formed by the same metal layer. The invention also discloses a method for fabricating the pixel structure. |
| US07755701B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
An image processing apparatus includes a down-converter and an image converter converting first image data into higher quality second image data. The image converter includes a prediction tap extracting unit extracting, as prediction taps, a plurality of pixels used for predicting a subject pixel of the second image data from the first image data, a class tap extracting unit extracting, as class taps, a plurality of pixels used for classifying the subject pixel from the first image data, a classification unit classifying the subject pixel based on the class taps, a coefficient output unit outputting a coefficient corresponding to a class of the subject pixel from among coefficients, determined beforehand by learning, corresponding to the plurality of classes, and a calculator determining the subject pixel by performing prediction calculations by using the coefficient corresponding to the class of the subject pixel and the prediction taps. |
| US07755696B2 |
Image pickup device and focusing notification method
To inform the users of the time necessary for focus to be achieved by changing the focal mark shown on the display monitor, second by second, corresponding to the elapsed time from the start of the auto focus operation until focus is achieved. The users are informed of the status of the auto focusing operations, and have a good idea of how much longer it will take for focusing to be completed. As a result, it increases the probability of users holding the camera still, so as to produce precisely focused photographs. |
| US07755690B2 |
Solid state image sensor with fixed pattern noise reduction
A solid-state image sensor comprises unit pixels each having a photoelectric conversion element for converting incident light into electric signal charge and then storing the signal charge obtained through such photoelectric conversion, an amplifying element for converting into an electric signal the signal charge stored in the photoelectric conversion element, and a select switch for selectively outputting the pixel signal from the amplifying element to a signal line. The image sensor further comprises a reset circuit in each of the unit pixels for resetting the photoelectric conversion element every time a pixel signal is outputted from the relevant unit pixel. The photoelectric conversion element is reset every time a pixel signal is outputted, so that a pre-reset signal and a post-reset signal are delivered from each unit pixel and then are transferred via a common path, and the difference between such signals is taken to suppress not only the fixed pattern noise derived from characteristic deviation in each unit pixel but also vertically correlated fixed pattern noises of vertical streaks. |
| US07755687B2 |
Imaging device and method of compensating sensitivity of the imaging device
In an image pickup device and its sensitivity compensation method, the image pickup device includes an electron multiplying image pickup device for converting an image into an electrical signal, a temperature detection unit for detecting temperature of the electron multiplying image pickup device, and a control unit for controlling electron multiplication factor of the electron multiplying image pickup device in response to the temperature detected. |
| US07755686B2 |
Physical quantity distribution detecting apparatus and imaging apparatus
A physical quantity distribution detecting apparatus includes a sensor array in which a plurality of unit sensors for sensing physical quantity are two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix; and an analog-to-digital conversion unit that includes a plurality of comparators for comparing an analog signal read from the unit sensor with a reference signal, the analog-to-digital conversion unit converting a digital signal by measuring a period of time or measuring a signal corresponding to the period of time of each comparison output of the plurality of comparators. Each of the plurality of comparators includes at least one capacitor element connected between a signal line and a constant-voltage line. |
| US07755682B2 |
Color interpolation method for Bayer filter array images
The present invention relates to a color interpolation method for Bayer filter array images. The method first inputs a 3×3 Bayer pattern block with a center pixel. Next, a color filter interpolation case is determined according to the type of the center pixel. Next, Bayer pixel averages and Bayer pixel differences in horizontal and vertical directions of the color filter interpolation case are obtained. Next, missing color components of the center pixel are interpolated in both horizontal and vertical directions. Next, color differences in the horizontal and vertical directions are obtained based on the Bayer pixel differences and averages. Next, a pixel activity of the 3×3 Bayer pixel block is determined. Finally, interpolated color components in the direction of lower color differences are selected, when the pixel activity is high. |
| US07755675B2 |
Information processing apparatus and recording medium
An information processing apparatus provides for continuous reproduction of audio data that has been added to and associated with image data. After a table of data sets recorded on a memory card (for example) is displayed, a data set is selected, e.g., by pressing a display associated with that data set. When an audio recording button is depressed, the sound is collected by a microphone while the button is depressed. The audio data corresponding to the sound is recorded on the memory card as second audio data of the data set when the selected data set already includes audio data. When the data set is reproduced, the image corresponding to the image data of that data set is displayed and the sound corresponding to each of the first and second audio data is output from the speaker in a continuous sequence. |
| US07755669B2 |
Image capture apparatus and image capture method in which an image is processed by a plurality of image processing devices
An image capture system is provided that increases processing speed after an image is captured and also increases the rate at which data is read from an image capture device during a shooting sequence. The image capture system includes an image capture device for capturing an object image and converting the captured object image into an electrical signal, a plurality of image processing devices, and a distribution device for distributing the electrical signal from the image capture device to the plurality of image processing devices. The plurality of image processing devices generate image signals by processing the electrical signal output from the distribution device and are provided in parallel with each other. Each of the plurality of image processing devices concurrently processes the electrical signal for one frame. |
| US07755664B2 |
Image pickup apparatus
An image pickup apparatus having a function for generating wide dynamic range, synthesized image by synthesizing image signals corresponding to a plurality of frames of different exposure amounts. A correcting section for correcting exposure amounts of at least one image signal of the image signals corresponding to the plurality of frames of different exposure amounts. |
| US07755658B2 |
Light beam scanning apparatus with electro-optic crystal
There is provided a light beam scanning apparatus which deflects a light beam from a light source by using a deflector and scans the surface of a photosensitive member with a focused light beam. The light beam scanning apparatus includes a first electro-optical element placed on the optical axis of the light beam between the light source and the deflector. The first electro-optical element includes an electro-optical crystal and transparent electrodes respectively provided on surfaces of the electro-optical crystal which oppose each other in the optical axis direction. |
| US07755653B2 |
Image display system and receiver device
An image display system includes a transmitter device that can transmit video data and audio data, and a receiver device that is connected via an HDMI cable to the transmitter device and that includes a display device that displays video based on video data from the transmitter device and an audio output device that outputs audio based on audio data from the transmitter device. The receiver device includes an HDMI receiver that, when the receiver device is connected via the HDMI cable to the transmitter device and then receives therefrom an EDID request, transmits EDID, and that thereafter, when the receiver device receives video data and audio data from the transmitter device, checks whether or not the receiver device has received EDID-complying data so that, if EDID-complying data is found to have been received, the HDMI receiver decodes and outputs the video data and the audio data to the display device and the audio output device respectively and, if non-EDID-complying data is found to have been received, the HDMI receiver, by once cutting off the connection via the HDMI cable or turning off the receiver device, makes the transmitter device perform again the operation for acquiring EDID to thereby acquire correct EDID. |
| US07755652B2 |
Color flat panel display sub-pixel rendering and driver configuration for sub-pixel arrangements with split sub-pixels
Various embodiments of a sub-pixel repeating group are disclosed. In one embodiment, an octal subpixel repeating group may comprise three-color (red, green and blue) sub-pixels with blue colored subpixel comprising twice the number of positions within the octal sub-pixel grouping as the red and green colored sub-pixels. In another embodiment, a subpixel repeating group comprises two rows of eight “split” subpixels comprising three primary colors and a non-saturated neutral, or white, subpixel functioning as a primary color. |
| US07755651B2 |
Driving method of display device
It is an object to provide a driving method of a display device capable of reducing pseudo contours while increase in the number of sub-frames is suppressed as much as possible. In a driving method of a display device where one frame is divided into a plurality of sub-frames to display a gray scale, the plurality of sub-frames has a plurality of middle-order sub-frames each of which has a middle-degree weighting and is used for an overlapping time gray scale method, at least one high-order sub-frame which has a larger weighting than that of the middle-order sub-frame and is used for a binary code time gray scale method, and at least one low-order sub-frame which has a smaller weighting than that of the middle-order sub-frame and is used for a binary code time gray scale method. |
| US07755648B2 |
Color flat panel display sub-pixel arrangements and layouts
An array comprising a plurality of three-color pixel elements is disclosed. The three-color pixel element has square design disposed at the origin of an X, Y coordinate system. Disposed at the center of the square is a blue emitter. Red emitters are disposed in the second and fourth quadrants not occupied by the blue emitter and green emitters are disposed in the first and third quadrants not occupied by the blue emitter. The blue emitter is square shaped, having corners aligned at the X and Y axes of the coordinate system, and the opposing pairs of red and green emitters are generally square shaped, having truncated inwardly-facing corners forming edges parallel to the sides of the blue emitter. The plurality of three-color pixel elements may be arranged in rows and columns to form a display. Each emitter has a transistor. The column lines and row lines are doubled to allow for the transistors of the red emitters and green emitters to be gathered together into the interstitial corners between the three-color pixel elements creating combined transistor groups. With the transistors grouped together, the combined transistors groups and the blue emitters both become less visible, virtually vanishing from sight almost entirely. |
| US07755647B2 |
Flexible display device and method for changing display area
Provided is a display device and method configured to change an image displayed in a display area flexibly when the display area is changed. The flexible display device depending on change of a display area comprises a memory, a location output unit and a screen display unit. The memory is configured to store size information of a display area displayed on a screen and the entire image data of the displayed image. The location computing unit is configured to compute a start point of the changed display area when the display area is changed. The display unit is configured to decode data corresponding to the size of the display area based on the computed new start point from the image data to display the decoded data in the display area. Since the start point is obtained with center point of the changed display area and its size information and then an display area to be displayed is determined based on the start point, a current search location is maintained as it is even when the screen is swung. |
| US07755638B2 |
Tinted edge enhancement using look-up table edge pixel identification
The present application is a method of producing digital image objects with enhanced halftone edges. The method operates by selecting a target pixel location within the digital image; observing a set of pixels within a pixel observation window superimposed on the digital image relative to the target pixel location; generating edge-state codes for a plurality of pairs of neighboring vectors of pixels within the pixel observation window; generating edge-identification codes from the plurality of edge-state codes using at least one look-up table; and, utilizing the edge-identification code to select and apply to the digital image at the target pixel either a first halftone screen having a first fundamental frequency and a first angle or a second halftone screen having a second fundamental frequency and a second angle, wherein the second frequency and second angle are harmonically matched to the first frequency and first angle. The method solves the problem of ragged edges on halftone tints as an automated, operation, with a computing architecture that is readily adapted to a wide variety of tinted edge conditions, and which can be readily adapted to real-time applications. |
| US07755637B2 |
Initialization of color appearance model
The present invention provides for initializing a color appearance model (CAM) for use in a color management system (CMS), the CMS for performing an imaging task. Initialization parameters for the CAM are determined. The initialization parameters are based on information from a device profile and/or a viewing condition profile. The imaging task determines how the information from the device profile and/or the viewing condition profile is to be used for the initialization parameters. The CAM is initialized using the determined initialization parameters. The initialization parameters for the CAM are likely to result in more accurate transformation of color image data between a source device and a destination device. |
| US07755614B2 |
Motion detection system and motion detection method
A motion detection system is disclosed. The invention comprises a touch panel, a plurality of switching units, a detection unit and a control unit. The touch panel comprises a plurality of metal sensors, each of which in turn is set as a detecting sensor. Each switching unit is electrically connected to a corresponding metal sensor respectively for switching voltage. During a charge stage, the detection unit calculates the discharge time of the detecting sensor and generates a detection result signal. The control unit generates a motion signal according to the detection result signal generated by the detection unit. Based on the capacitive effect and simple hardware architecture, the invention can be employed in option or orientation control by detecting a human hand's movement on the touch panel. |
| US07755611B2 |
Decorative concealed audio-visual interface apparatus and method
A decorative, disguised “mirror” interface apparatus appears to the uninformed as merely a decorative mirror, but includes an audio/visual output, the video display device of which is concealed behind a two-way mirror. So, when the video display is emitting light users of the apparatus can see the images provided by the display device through a two-way mirror material. Also, a transparent touch screen input device is associated with and overlays the two-way mirror material so that users of the interface apparatus may make inputs by simply making touches to selected locations of the “mirror.” |
| US07755607B2 |
Mobile apparatus having tactile feedback function
A haptic display includes at least one haptic device that can give tactile feedback instead of visible feedback. Each of the haptic devices converts a signal from a signal producing unit into force or tactile pattern. The haptic device does not require a large mass, so that it can be provided on almost any portion or part within the body of a mobile apparatus. For example, the haptic device can be embedded under a touch panel display that constitutes both input and output device. By providing the haptic devices under respective menu/function button areas displayed on the touch panel display, it is possible to stimulate the specific button in response to the user-input-operation, thereby directly providing the tactile feedback to the user's finger touching the corresponding button. |
| US07755596B2 |
Driving device with light sensor module and electronic device using the same
A driving device (30) with a light sensor module (32) includes a circuit board (31), and a first light sensor hole (34). The light sensor module is electrically connected to a surface of the circuit board, and includes a chip carrier (320), a potting compound (322), and a light sensor chip (321). The light sensor hole is defined in the circuit board below the light sensor chip. The chip carrier is electrically connected to the circuit board. The potting compound has a top potting compound (322A) and a bottom potting compound (322B) with the chip carrier disposed therebetween. The light sensor chip is electrically connected to the chip carrier and covered with the bottom potting compound. |
| US07755590B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method of driving the same
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel having a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines, a liquid crystal element and a memory element. A mode conversion unit converts a mode of the liquid crystal panel to a normal mode or a power saving mode. A timing controller drives the liquid crystal panel in either mode and outputs gate driving information and image data. A data driver transmits the image data from the timing controller to the plurality of data lines. A gate driver decodes the gate driving information input from the timing controller to generate a gate driving signal and outputs the gate driving signal to the plurality of gate lines. |
| US07755586B2 |
Circuitry apparatus and method for compensating for defects in a display device
A display device according to the present invention comprises a buffer provided in association with each wiring constituting a group of wirings serving as signal lines of a display panel in order to drive the corresponding wiring, a preliminary wiring preliminarily provided for the wiring under a generation of a defect, a preliminary buffer provided in association with the preliminary wiring in order to drive the preliminary wiring, and a charge distributor for performing charge distribution between the wirings and the preliminary wiring. |
| US07755582B2 |
Display methods and apparatus
The invention relates to methods and apparatus for forming images on a display utilizing a control matrix to control the movement of MEMs-based light modulators. |
| US07755581B2 |
Semiconductor device, display device having the same and electronic appliance
The present invention provides a semiconductor device and its driving method in which amplitude of a data line is decreased to reduce power consumption. In a reset period, a reset transistor and a switch transistor are turned on. In the reset period, an input of a potential from the reset transistor is dominant in a node D, and a selection transistor is turned off when a potential of the node D gets higher than a gate potential of the selection transistor. Thus, even though a potential of the data line changes, a potential of the node G does not change. Since the potential of the data line is not directly written in a gate of a driver transistor, it is possible to separately set an on/off potential to be applied to the gate of the driver transistor and the amplitude of the data line. |
| US07755578B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display device and driving method thereof
An organic light emitting diode display device and a driving method are provided. The organic light emitting diode display device comprises a data driver that generates a plurality of reference data voltages that have a level proportional to a gray scale level of a digital data supplied from the timing controller. The data driver supplies the data voltages to the plurality of data lines and compensates for the data voltages in accordance with a magnitude of the feedback voltages from the plurality of pixels fed back through the plurality of feedback lines under control of the timing controller. |
| US07755570B2 |
Microdisplay and interface on a single chip
A microdisplay having interface circuitry on the same silicon backplane to allow it to receive digital images and video in a variety of formats and convert same to field sequential color signals for generation of full color images. It includes column data processors having a comparator for each block of N-columns of pixels. Image data is double-buffered in SRAM memory cells located beneath the pixel electrodes, but not within each pixel. The stored data is logically associated with each pixel via the column data processors. Image compression is accomplished by converting RGB data to a variant of YUV data and sampling the color components of the converted data less frequently than the luminance components. The SRAM image buffer consumes a reduced amount of power. A temperature compensation scheme allows the temperature of the microdisplay to be sensed and the drive voltage to the pixel electrodes to be varied in response thereto. |
| US07755566B2 |
Displaying an image
An image can be displayed based on image data by means of a user equipment. In the disclosed method image data associated with the image is received at a user equipment from a data communication system. A visual effect is generated based on additional information associated with the image. The visual effect is subsequently presented in association with a version of the image by displaying said visual effect by display means of the user equipment. The image is also by the display means, either after or before the display of the visual effect. |
| US07755565B2 |
Dual type flat panel display device
A dual type flat panel display device including a first flat panel display device panel; and a second flat panel display device panel; wherein the first and second flat panel display device panels each include a pixel area including a plurality of scan lines arranged in a first direction, a plurality of data lines arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and pixel electrodes disposed in an area formed by the plurality of data lines and the plurality of scan lines crossing the data lines; and a non-pixel area including a plurality of on/off switching devices at inputs of the scan lines or the data lines, wherein the switching devices are respectively connected to the plurality of scan lines or the plurality of data lines. |
| US07755560B2 |
Antenna having parasitic element
An antenna having a parasitic element is disclosed, the antenna including a ground, a radiation unit which is arranged on a different area of the same plane as the ground, and a parasitic element which is selectively connected to the ground, and operates as an antenna element. Where the antenna is in a first mode, electromagnetic waves resonate in the radiation unit, and where the antenna is in a second mode, electromagnetic waves resonate in the radiation unit and the parasitic element. |
| US07755558B2 |
Antenna coil
The size of an antenna coil is reduced, and it is possible to prevent a lowering of the reception sensitivity due to a difference of the arrangement position of the antenna coil. On a winding frame of a ferrite core, a first coil and a second coil are wound in such a manner that their winding axes orthogonally intersect each other. A third coil is wound around an outer circumference of the first coil and the second coil in such a manner that the third coil's winding axis orthogonally intersects the winding axes of the first coil and the second coil. |
| US07755549B2 |
Carrier with solid antenna structure and manufacturing method thereof
Carrier with solid antenna structure comprises a substrate and at least one solid antenna structure. The substrate has an upper surface, a lower surface, at least one first slot communicating with the upper surface and the lower surface and at least one second slot communicating with the upper surface and the lower surface. The solid antenna structure has a dielectric block formed between the first slot and the second slot and a radiation conductor, in which the dielectric block encloses the radiation conductor. In this invention, the solid antenna structure is used to enable the carrier to be applied to higher power transmission. Additionally, by setting the material of the dielectric block and optimizing the size of the radiation conductor, the carrier can be applied to multi-band. |
| US07755538B2 |
Radar apparatus
The present invention provides a radar apparatus including: a transmission pulse group generator configured to generate: a first transmission pulse group from a first transmission pulse train formed of N first transmission pulses (N>2, where N is an integer number) having constant first time intervals t1, by thinning a first transmission pulse out of the first transmission pulse train so that all the intervals ranging from t1 to (N−1)*t1 are held by pairs of first transmission pulses selected from the first transmission pulse group; and a second transmission pulse group from a second transmission pulse train formed of M second transmission pulses (M>2, where M is an integer number) having second time intervals t2 different from the first time intervals t1, by thinning a second transmission pulse out of the second transmission pulse train so that all time intervals ranging from t2 to (M−1)*t2 are held by pairs of second transmission pulses selected from the second transmission pulse group. The radar apparatus also includes a transmitter configured to transmit the first transmission pulse group and the second transmission pulse group in a way that the first and second transmission pulse groups partially or entirely overlap each other in terms of time. |
| US07755535B2 |
Radar system comprising at least two spatially separated antenna units
A radar system comprising at least two spatially separated antenna units, each comprising one antenna. Each antenna unit comprising a signal generator connected to an antenna constitutes a transmitting antenna unit, and each antenna comprising a receiver connected to an antenna constitutes a receiving antenna. At least one receiving antenna unit is arranged for receiving at least one reflected signal, comprising signals transmitted from at least one transmitting antenna unit, having been reflected from at least one object, where the number of antenna units exceeds two. A processing unit is arranged to perform a correlation calculation, comparing at least one received signal with a set of mathematically manipulated copies. From said set, there is only one match for each reflected signal. The present invention also relates to corresponding methods. |
| US07755520B2 |
Apparatus and method using color-coded or pattern-coded keys in two-key input per character text entry
Letters (more generally, language symbols) are entered electronically by selecting, in sequential fashion, two keys on a standard phone layout. The first key in the two-key sequence is that key on which the desired letter is displayed. The keys and the letters displayed on the keys are marked in such a way that the markings suggest the second key in the two-key sequence. The letters displayed on the keys have respective markings, such as a color, with each letter on a given key having a unique marking. The keys themselves also have markings that match the markings of the letters. In preferred embodiments, the two keys in the two-key sequence are located in the same row. Letters may be selected to spell out words on a screen and then sent electronically to a remote device or recipient. |
| US07755514B2 |
Precision approach path indicator systems and light assemblies useful in same
Precision approach path indicator systems (PAPIs) effective in providing approach slope guidance for aircraft approaching an airport runway are provided. Such PAPIs include a plurality of light assemblies positioned on or in proximity to an airport runway and structured or configured to be effective in providing approach slope guidance light signals to a pilot of an aircraft approaching a runway. Each light assembly includes a light source comprising light emitting diodes (LEDs), preferably a first array of LEDs and a second array of LEDs. |
| US07755505B2 |
Procedure for addressing remotely-located radio frequency components of a control system
A wireless lighting control system has a plurality of control devices, some of which may be remotely-located. Each of the control devices is operable to be coupled to a source of power and to be assigned a unique device address. To assign a unique address to the control devices that are remotely-located, power is cycled to those control devices, i.e., by interrupting and restoring power to the control devices. The control device then transmits wirelessly a signal uniquely identifying the control device within a predetermined amount of time after the cycling of power. A list of unaddressed control devices that have recently been power cycled is generated. Each of the control devices on the list is then assigned and transmitted a unique device address. |
| US07755501B2 |
Environmental fuse
The invention relates to an environmental fuse, an actuator and to an associated method for protecting the actuator from failure in a specific operating environment. The environmental fuse then comprises a sensor member for detecting any change in the environment deviating from the tolerance allowed by a specific standard, and a functional member comprising functional means for limiting or interrupting the input to said actuator and/or for giving an alarm. The actuator may also comprise an environmental fuse. |
| US07755498B2 |
Discrete leak detection device and method for discriminating the target fluid
A device and method for detecting the presence of one or more targeted liquids in volume of space where the targeted liquid is not normally present. The device includes a sensor that can differentiate between the target fluid and a non-target fluid. |
| US07755494B2 |
Hand washing compliance detection system
Systems and methods are provided for monitoring use of hand washing agents to determine compliance with hand hygiene guidelines. A hand washing agent is provided with a detectable, volatile compound, such as odors, which is then rubbed onto a subject's hands using the subject's hand washing technique. After the hand washing event, the subject's hand is then exposed to an detector (such as a badge), which includes a sensor capable of detecting the volatile compound, and an indicator that communicates detection of the volatile compound, indicating use of the hand washing agent and hand hygiene compliance. |
| US07755491B2 |
Interrogator and interrogation system employing the same
An interrogator, methods of discerning the presence of an object, and interrogation systems employing the same. In one embodiment, the interrogation systems include multiple interrogators that communicate with a base command unit to track a location of an object. In another embodiment wherein the object is an RFID object (e.g., an object with an RFID tag), the interrogators employ signal processing techniques such as precharging the RFID object, and correlating a reference code with a reply code from the RFID object using selected techniques to increase a sensitivity of the interrogator, especially for adverse environments. In other embodiments, the interrogation systems include variations of metal instruments and sponges employed therewith. In yet another embodiment, the interrogation system includes metal interrogators capable of discerning the presence of a metal object, especially in a presence of another metal object. |
| US07755489B2 |
Intelligent packaging method and system based on acoustic wave devices
An intelligent packaging system utilizing acoustic wave devices includes an electronic module, a SAW ID, various passive SAW sensors and a printed antenna. The passive SAW sensors include a SAW pressure sensor, a SAW temperature sensor and one or more SAW chemical sensors for monitoring physical parameters of a package content. The electronic module generally includes a printed large area distributed electrical circuit, an impedance transformer and a SAW transponder for realizing passive wireless monitoring of the structural integrity of the package. A separate power harvesting antenna and/or a separate dual band antenna can generate radio frequency (RF) power for biasing components associated with the electronic module. |
| US07755487B2 |
Interface for communicating with an information processing device
The present invention provides a membrane assembly that integrates an antenna configured to communicate with an RFID device to receive and/or write RFID data to and/or from the RFID device. In various embodiments, the membrane assembly may be incorporated into an information processing device, and the information processing device may be included in an information system. The membrane assembly includes at least a first antenna adapted to wirelessly communicate with an RFID device that may be associated with (i.e. worn, held, attached to, or otherwise related to) a user. The wireless communication between the membrane assembly and the RFID device provides the basis for controlling the information processing device. In various embodiments, the RFID data may be used to authorize, customize, and/or otherwise affect the performance of the information processing device. |
| US07755486B2 |
Expanded compatibility RFID tags
Systems and methods for providing expanded compatibility in identification tags such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) devices. Integrated devices can be equipped with various combinations of passive and active tags configured for compatibility with passive and active readers, respectively. Additionally, the integrated devices can be equipped with various combinations of passive and active tag readers for compatibility with passive and active tags, respectively. A first combination comprises an active tag and a passive tag reader for collecting information over a passive channel, and sending the information over an active channel. A second combination comprises an active tag and a passive tag receiver/transceiver for communication over both active and passive channels. A third combination comprises an active tag and an active tag reader for collecting information over an active channel, and sending information over an active channel. |
| US07755484B2 |
RFID tag and method of manufacturing the same
A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and method of manufacturing the same. In a preferred embodiment, the RFID tag includes a radio frequency (RF) inlay, the RF inlay including a carrier sheet, an antenna printed on the carrier sheet and a wireless communication device bonded to the antenna. The RFID tag also includes a plastic extrudate, the RF inlay being disposed within the extrudate so that the antenna and the wireless communication device are encapsulated on all sides within the extrudate. Optional metallic reflector and mounting adhesive layers may be laminated onto the underside of the extrudate. The present invention is also directed to an automated method for manufacturing the above RFID tag, such a method involving, in one embodiment, feeding a continuous supply of RF inlays into a cross-head extruder to yield a continuously extruded block and then cutting the block between successive antennae to yield a plurality of individual RFID tags. |
| US07755480B2 |
Security system
A security system with processing optimized for monitoring the actions of a surveillance subject and detecting abnormal actions. The action record of an individual is monitored using a sensor network security system SNS, and the development of an action event is reported as an action, and the corresponding processing of the security system SCS is determined based on this action. |
| US07755479B2 |
Global intelligent remote detection system
A security system and method for monitoring a security status of fixed and mobile assets. The security system comprises an agent connected with the asset. The agent includes a receiver for receiving; a sensing device for monitoring a security of the asset; a processor for compiling the a security data to generate a security status; and a wireless transceiver for transmitting data to a master control unit. The master control unit retransmits the security status to an global operations center for processing the security status to detect a security threat. In response to a security threat, the global operations center initiates and action or counter measure. For mobile assets the security system also tracks a location of the asset as the is transported between a shipper's loading dock and a designated distribution center, including an origination port and a destination port. For fixed agents, the security system includes an interface for interfacing an existing security device to the master control unit. |
| US07755469B2 |
Radio frequency identification tag and radio frequency identification privacy protection system and method
A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, an RFID privacy protection system, and an RFID privacy protection method are provided. The RFID privacy protection method includes a pseudo identification (ID) used to authenticate the RFID reader and a key used to generate the pseudo ID are received; if the pseudo ID is received in response to an information request signal for reading information of the RFID tag comprising the pseudo ID, the key is transmitted; and if a pseudo ID generated using the key is equal to the pseudo ID received in response to the information request signal, an RFID of the RFID tag to read the information of the RFID tag is received. |
| US07755465B2 |
Temperature control switch
A temperature control switch comprises a switch casing, which contains a springy slice, where the springy slice is provided with a thermostatic bimetal strip on its bouncing end. The thermostatic bimetal strip is provided with an electric heating device, where the first end and second end of the device are respectively connected in series between a first control terminal and the thermostatic bimetal strip. The elevated end of the thermostatic bimetal strip links one end of an uplifted metal slice to form an incompletely fixed link point, while the other end of the uplifted metal slice features a swaying contact, which corresponds to the contact point that a second control terminal joins. When subjected to heat, the one end of the thermostatic bimetal strip deforms, enabling the swaying contact to separate from the contact point, thus preventing the contact point from being damaged by the heat. |
| US07755463B2 |
Integrated circuits with inductors
The claimed invention relates to arrangements of inductors and integrated circuit dice. One embodiment pertains to an integrated circuit die that has an inductor formed thereon. The inductor includes an inductor winding having a winding input and a winding output. The inductor also comprises an inductor core array having at least first and second sets of inductor core elements that are magnetically coupled with the inductor winding. Each inductor core element in the first set of inductor core elements is formed from a first metallic material. Each inductor core element in the second set of inductor core elements is formed from a second metallic material that has a different magnetic coercivity than the first magnetic material. The inductor further comprises a set of spacers that electrically isolate the inductor core elements. Some embodiments involve multiple inductor windings and/or multiple inductor core elements that magnetically interact in various ways. Particular embodiments involve core elements having different compositions and/or sizes. |
| US07755462B2 |
Ring magnet structure having a coded magnet pattern
Field emission structures comprising a plurality of electric or magnetic field sources having magnitudes, polarities, and positions corresponding to a desired spatial force function where a spatial force is created based upon the relative alignment of a field emission structure and a complementary field emission structure. The magnetic field sources may be arranged according to a code having a desired autocorrelation function. Specific exemplary embodiments are described with magnetic field sources arranged in a ring structure. The ring structure may include one or more concentric rings of component magnets. Additional magnets may be included. Magnet polarities and/or spacings may be defined by the code Mechanical constraints may be employed to limit lateral motion. Exemplary codes are described and applied to magnetic field source arrangements. Specific codes found by the inventors are described. |
| US07755456B2 |
Triple-mode cavity filter having a metallic resonator
A triple-mode filter is disclosed, the triple-mode filter including a cavity for confining electromagnetic waves and a metallic block acting as a resonator within that cavity. The metallic block does not contact the conductive walls of the cavity, but is instead suspended by a support element. Triple-mode resonators may be combined to produce bandpass filters having three or more poles. In other configurations, triple-mode cavity metallic resonators may be coupled to triple-mode cavity ceramic resonators or to combline resonators to achieve various filtering functions and performances suitable for different applications. |
| US07755455B2 |
Saw filter frequency characteristic control
An apparatus in one example comprises an insulating piezoelectric layer, a base electrode along a first side of the insulating piezoelectric layer, and at least one gradient electrode along a second side of the insulating piezoelectric layer. The at least one gradient electrode is configured to provide a voltage gradient across an aperture of a surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter. The base electrode and the at least one gradient electrode are configured to provide a voltage bias across the insulating piezoelectric layer. The voltage bias comprises a gradient based on the voltage gradient across the aperture of the SAW filter. The base electrode and the at least one gradient electrode are configured to control at least one frequency characteristic of the SAW filter based on the voltage bias across the insulating piezoelectric layer. |
| US07755452B2 |
Power combiner
An RF power combiner used to combine an output received from a plurality of power amplifiers. The combined output is used to operate a gas discharge laser. In some embodiments, the power combiner consists of a network of transformers that provide an output to a load. In other embodiments, the power combiner consists of a plurality of transmission lines that are connected to a common connection point. |
| US07755445B2 |
Multi-layered high-speed printed circuit boards comprised of stacked dielectric systems
High speed printed circuit boards (PCBs) are disclosed comprising a dielectrics systems with the back-side trenches, prepregs, signal lines and ground-plans, wherein the signal line and ground-plan are located on the dielectrics. Using of the open trenches in the substrate help to reduce the microwave loss and dielectric constant and thus increasing the signal carrying speed of the interconnects. Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a simple high speed PCB using the conventional material and conventional PCB manufacturing which facilitates the design of circuits with controlled bandwidth based on the trench opening in the dielectrics, and affords excellent reliability. According to this present invention, high speed PCB with the interconnect system contains whole portion or portion of interconnects for high speed chips interconnects and that have have the dielectric system with opened trench or slot to reduce the microwave loss. |
| US07755424B2 |
Operational amplifier with resistance switch crossbar feedback
A control circuit includes an operational amplifier having an inverting input, a non-inverting input, and an output, an array of impedance elements including capacitors are connected to the output of the operational amplifier, and a resistance switch crossbar array configured to store data in the form of high or low resistance states, wherein the resistance switch crossbar array is electrically connected between the array of impedance elements and the inverting input of the operational amplifier. The crossbar control circuit may be implemented in a control system to provide for adjustment of the control system to changes in environmental conditions or to change the function of the control system. |
| US07755421B2 |
Analog amplifier having DC offset cancellation circuit and method of offset cancellation for analog amplifiers
An amplifier having DC offset compensation includes at least one input node and a pair of differential output nodes, a biasing circuit coupled to the input node; and a plurality of current sources. Selected ones of said current sources are coupled to the input node to adjust a DC voltage at the input node to provide DC offset compensation for the amplifier |
| US07755417B2 |
Voltage generating circuit and semiconductor memory device with the same
A voltage generating circuit includes: a pumping circuit configured to boost a power supply voltage in accordance with a charge transfer operation; a voltage detection circuit configured to detect the output voltage of the pumping circuit; a first pumping control circuit configured to control the pumping circuit in accordance with the output of the voltage detection circuit; and a second pumping control circuit configured to control the pumping circuit in place of the first pumping control circuit when the output voltage of the pumping circuit is in a certain range. |
| US07755400B2 |
Systems and methods of digital isolation with AC/DC channel merging
Systems and methods for digital isolation in circuits are provided. On power-up in an isolation application, there may be multiple power supplies. For example, one for an input side and one for an output side, both in relation to an isolation barrier. Upon power up, the input and output may not be at the same state. The bias of the output may be the opposite of what is on the input. An isolator solution is provided which integrates the digital isolation into the analog solution. A DC signal corresponds to the static state of the data at start-up and an AC signal is generated when switching begins. In one example, the output level corresponds to the input level when the steady state information is encoded and sent across as an AC signal. |
| US07755399B2 |
High speed comparator circuit with offset cancellation
Provided is a comparator circuit that is capable of operating at high speed and canceling an offset voltage with high precision. The comparator circuit includes a second amplifier circuit for amplifying an output of an amplifier circuit and feeding back the amplified output to an input of the amplifier circuit. When the comparator circuit samples the input voltage, the second amplifier circuit conducts feedback and increases a gain to cancel the offset. Also, when the gain of the amplifier circuit is made lower than the gain of the second amplifier circuit, and the comparator circuit compares the input voltage, the comparing operation can be conducted at high speed by separating the amplifier circuit from the feedback of the second amplifier circuit. |
| US07755398B2 |
Time constant calibration device and related method thereof
A time constant calibration device includes: a first voltage generating circuit utilizing a first current passing through a capacitive component to generate a first voltage; a second voltage generating circuit utilizing a second current passing through a resistive component to generate a second voltage; and a comparing circuit for comparing the first voltage with the second voltage to generate a comparing signal, wherein the first voltage generating circuit comprises an analog adjusting component for adjusting the first voltage according to the comparing signal until the first voltage is equal to the second voltage, whereby an RC time constant defined by an equivalent capacitance corresponding to the first current passing through the capacitive component and an equivalent impedance corresponding to the second current passing through the resistive component reaches a predetermined value. |
| US07755393B1 |
Output driver for use in semiconductor device
An output driver for use in a semiconductor device includes a first pre-drive unit, a second pre-drive unit, and a main drive unit. The first pre-drive unit generates a pull-up drive control signal based on a data signal. The pull-up drive control signal swings between a power supply voltage level and a low voltage level. The data signal swings between the power supply voltage level and a ground voltage level. The second pre-drive unit generates a pull-down drive control signal based on the data signal. The pull-down drive control signal swings between a high voltage level and the ground voltage level. The main drive unit performs pull-up/down drive operations to an output terminal in response to the pull-up/down drive control signals, respectively. Herein, the high voltage level is higher than the power supply voltage level and the low voltage level is lower than the ground voltage level. |
| US07755389B2 |
Reconfigurable logic structures
Reconfigurable electronic structures and circuits using programmable, non-volatile memory elements. The programmable, non-volatile memory elements may perform the functions of storage and/or a switch to produce components such as crossbars, multiplexers, look-up tables (LUTs) and other logic circuits used in programmable logic structures (e.g., (FPGAs)). The programmable, non-volatile memory elements comprise one or more structures based on Phase Change Memory, Programmable Metallization, Carbon Nano-Electromechanical (CNT-NEM), or Metal Nano-Electromechanical device technologies. |
| US07755386B2 |
Enhanced field programmable gate array
An enhanced performance field programmable gate array integrated circuit comprises a field programmable gate array and other functional circuitry such as a mask-programmable gate array in the same integrated circuit. A circuit interface provides communication between the field programmable gate array, the mask-programmable gate array and the integrated circuit I/O. |
| US07755381B1 |
Reducing noise on a supply voltage in an integrated circuit
An IC uses a tunable interconnect driver between a data source and a data destination to selectively slow down (“de-tune”) data signals. Data sent along relatively short paths are de-tuned to reduce power supply noise during synchronous switching events. In some embodiments, the tunable interconnect driver delays data transmission relative to an un-delayed signal path, in other embodiments, the slew rate of the tunable interconnect driver is selectively reduced. |
| US07755378B2 |
Clamping top plate using magnetic force
A test fixture, for testing an electronic device, includes: a test platform including electrically conductive contacts protruding from a device receiving surface in the test platform; a positioning guide disposed on the device receiving surface; a device retention cover; where the test platform includes a platform magnetic member and the retention cover includes a cover magnetic member, the platform magnetic member and the cover magnetic member being mutually magnetically attractive. A method of producing an electronic device including: preparing the test fixture, for testing the electronic device; placing the electronic device using the at least one device positioning guide disposed on the device receiving surface; and placing the device retention cover upon the electronic device to apply a force to the electronic device. |
| US07755377B2 |
Driver circuit and test apparatus
Provided is a driver circuit that has a first operational mode and a second operational mode and outputs an output signal according to an input signal. The driver circuit includes a first driver section that, in the first operational mode, generates and outputs the output signal according to the input signal and, in the second operational mode, is controlled to be disabled; a high precision driver section that, in the first operational mode, is controlled to be disabled and, in the second operational mode, outputs a source power having a predetermined voltage; and a second driver section that, in the first operational mode, receives the output signal output by the first driver section and outputs the received signal to the outside and, in the second operational mode, receives the source power from the high precision driver section, generates the output signal according to the input signal, and outputs the thus generated signal to the outside. |
| US07755376B2 |
Camera based pin grid array (PGA) inspection system with pin base mask and low angle lighting
An inspection system, for inspecting pin grid arrays on integrated circuit devices includes a pin base mask configured to receive a device having a pin grid array. A dark-field, low-angle lighting system emits light onto the pin grid array. The pin base mask and low-angle lighting system provide for a clear and definitive image of the pin grid array. A camera captures the image of the pin grid array. A processor, coupled to the camera, analyzes the images captured by the camera. Based on the captured image, the processor determines whether any pins on the pin grid array are bent or missing, or whether there are extra pins present. |
| US07755358B2 |
Method to determine the design of a basic magnet of a magnetic resonance apparatus with at least one gradient coil system
The method for determination of the design of the basic magnet of a magnetic resonance apparatus with at least one gradient coil system, the design of the basic magnet is determined by taking into consideration forces acting on the at least one gradient coil system that may lead to vibrations of the gradient coil system due to switching processes of the gradient coil system in the field of the basic magnet. |
| US07755352B1 |
Built-in testing and transient avoidance for magnetic sensors
A magnetic sensor assembly (S) of the type having at least one capacitor (44) electrically connecting an output signal (70) from a magnetic sensor unit (24) to an output signal source (30) includes switch (14) for controllably electrically disconnecting the capacitor (44) from output signal (70) and alternatively connecting the capacitor (44). The capacitor (44) is disconnected from the magnetic sensor unit (24) by the switch (14) during times that transient signals may be generated by the magnetic sensor unit (24) thereby preventing the capacitor (44) from being charged. A magnetic sensor assembly (100) uses printed circuit boards (PCB) (102) having a conductive element (106) on or within the PCB (102) beneath a magnetic sensor element (104) for testing. |
| US07755350B2 |
System and method of perpendicularly magnetizing position information in a magnetically hard layer of a moving component
A position-sensing system magnetically senses the position of a piston rod moving with respect to a cylinder. A magnetically hard layer on the piston rod provides a recording medium. Information is perpendicularly magnetized in regions of the magnetically hard layer. These regions provide an encoding scheme for determining the position of the piston rod. Magnetic-field sensors are positioned over redundant tracks of magnetically recorded regions. Each magnetic-field sensor positioned over a given track senses the same magnetized regions while the piston rod moves with respect to the cylinder. Other magnetic-field sensors can sense ambient fields for use in performing common-mode rejection. A write head can dynamically repair damaged or erased regions detected by the magnetic-field sensors. Energized by a battery-backup power source, the magnetic-field sensors and associated circuitry can continue to track movement of the piston rod when the machinery is off. |
| US07755345B2 |
Measuring device with a plunge-in electrode
Described is a measuring device, in particular for measuring the pH value in foodstuffs. The measuring device comprises an extended first electrode for plunging into a material to be measured and a sheath which at least partially surrounds the first electrode. The first electrode is pivotably mounted in order to prevent breakage as a result of transversal loads exerted perpendicularly to the axial direction of the electrode. |
| US07755340B2 |
Step-up switching regulator with soft start circuits
A switching transistor has a source connected to the ground and a drain connected to the first terminal. The other end of an inductor whose one end is to be connected to the first terminal is connected to the second terminal. An input voltage is applied to the third terminal. An auxiliary transistor is disposed between the second terminal and the third terminal. A first soft start circuit generates a first soft start voltage that increases with lapse of time, and a second soft start circuit generates a second soft start voltage that increases with a delay to the first soft start voltage. An error amplifier controls the gate voltage of the auxiliary transistor on the basis of the error voltage between the output voltage and the first soft start voltage. |
| US07755337B2 |
Current sensing circuit and voltage regulator using the same
A current sensing circuit for sensing an output current generated by a voltage regulator includes a first double-diffused metal-oxide semiconductor transistor and a current-voltage converter. The first double-diffused metal-oxide semiconductor transistor has a first gate terminal to receive an output control signal from a control circuit of the voltage regulator. The first double-diffused metal-oxide semiconductor transistor is configured to output a current proportional to the output current according to the output control signal. The current-voltage converter is connected to the first double-diffused metal-oxide semiconductor transistor. The current-voltage converter is configured to convert the proportional current to a corresponding voltage. |
| US07755334B2 |
Voltage regulation device
A voltage regulation device adapted for connection to a varying electrical supply and to regulate the voltage supplied to certain selected circuits whose loads benefit from voltage regulation. The device comprises a PWM or phase angle switched autotransformer which is sufficiently compact and lightweight to be incorporated into a standard electrical consumer unit which has separated circuits, ie, those whose loads benefit from voltage regulation and those whose loads do not, such that the former may be controlled by the device to operate at a constant and reduced voltage thus ensuring a reduction in energy consumption and the life enhancement of the appliances connected to the device. The operating temperature of the autotransformer is controlled by temporarily increasing the output voltage of the autotransformer in the event of overheating. |
| US07755326B1 |
Battery monitoring and charging system
A battery monitoring device for a battery having cells grouped in modules. The device includes a monitoring circuit for each module which monitors the voltage in each cell and the overall module voltage. The monitoring circuits can also detect module temperatures. The monitoring circuits are networked to a control computer. The device can be used with a power supply and relays for each module to interrupt charging when a fault condition is detected by the monitoring circuits. Other features of the device allow equalization of cells having excessive voltages. |
| US07755319B2 |
Apparatus, systems, and methods for reducing voltage source inverter losses
Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for reducing voltage source inverter losses. One apparatus includes a sensor couplable to the motor and configured to sense an operating frequency of the motor and an amount of torque produced by the motor. The apparatus also includes a controller coupled to the sensor, the controller configured to determine a zero vector modulation (ZVM) based on the sensed frequency and torque. A system includes means for sensing a threshold output frequency of the motor and means for sensing a threshold torque of the motor. The system also includes means for determining a ZVM for the inverter based on the sensed threshold frequency and threshold torque. One method includes sensing that a motor is operating below a threshold frequency and is producing torque above a threshold torque amount. The method also includes determining a ZVM for the inverter based on the sensed frequency and torque. |
| US07755317B2 |
Methods for electric vehicle motor control and rotor position detection fault-tolerant processing
This invention provides methods for electric vehicle motor control and rotor position detection and fault-tolerant processing. The rotor position signal sampled by the system is compared with the previous rotor position θ0. When there is a sudden change, the current position signal acquired is discarded. Instead, a fault-tolerant processing strategy for use during an error condition is employed where the previous sampled rotor position θ0 is used as a base to determine the corrected current rotor position angle Θ1′. Then the correcting value is used to control the electric motor. Thus, during the motor operation, when the detection of the motor rotor position is erroneous because of a sensor such as a revolver that may be interfered by external conditions such as electromagnetic fields or vibrations or when there is a breakdown in other related hardware components or transmitting circuits, the fault-tolerant processing methods of this invention can effectively prevent the motor from losing control and allow it to maintain its continuity and stability. |
| US07755315B2 |
Rotary linear drive having a transmitter device
The aim of the invention is to provide a linear/rotation drive with an improved transmitter device for detecting the linear and rotational movements. For this purpose, the transmitter device (12, 14, 16, 17) for detecting the linear movement and/or rotational movement of the secondary part (4) of the linear drive (2) configured as an external rotor is at least partially arranged inside the primary part (6) of the linear drive (2). In this manner, the transmitter device (12, 14, 16, 17) is located in a magnetically shielded area. In order to avoid eccentricities in the transmitted device (12, 14, 16, 17), a journal (10) of the secondary part (4) is mounted on a bearing (11) in the primary part (6). |
| US07755309B2 |
Drive system for a motor vehicle
A drive system for a motor vehicle comprising an internal-combustion engine, an electric machine coupled to the internal-combustion engine, and a transmission device through which a ratio change can be implemented without a tractive power interruption is described. Also described is a control device for controlling the electric machine and for controlling the transmission device. The control device is constructed such that, in the event of a braking demand, the demanded total braking torque is at least proportionally provided by the electric machine, and, in the case of an existing braking demand with a constant total braking torque and a change of the transmission ratio implemented in the presence of this braking demand, the electric machine is controlled such that the total braking torque changing because of the ratio change is at least partially compensated, so that a constant total braking torque according to the braking demand is maintained. |
| US07755306B2 |
Electric power control device, electric powered vehicle including the same, and method for controlling electric power of electric vehicle
A load on a vehicle is connected to first and second neutral points in first and second motor generators through a relay circuit and power output lines. A control device controls inverters depending on a requested voltage of the load on a vehicle such that a potential at the first neutral point becomes higher than a potential at the second neutral point by that requested voltage. |
| US07755287B2 |
Display panel device with a light-permeable front sheet
A display panel device includes a front sheet that is glued on a front face of a plasma display panel. The front sheet includes a mesh made of a light shield member that has a blackened front surface and a plane size larger than a screen. A length between diagonal lattice points of the mesh is shorter than a cell pitch that is longer one of the cell pitches in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the screen. An arrangement direction of the mesh is inclined with respect to an arrangement direction of the cells in the screen. |
| US07755281B2 |
Electroluminescent device having island-shaped barrier layers
An electroluminescent device includes a substrate and a plurality of electroluminescent elements disposed on the substrate. Each electroluminescent element includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a function layer including a luminescent layer and disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electroluminescent elements are grouped into a plurality of groups each including at least one electroluminescent element. Barrier layers are disposed in an island-shaped manner corresponding to regions where the electroluminescent elements are disposed, and each barrier layer prevents water from transferring from the substrate to the electroluminescent element in the corresponding group. |
| US07755277B2 |
Organic electroluminescent device, manufacturing method therefor, and electronic devices therewith
A method for manufacturing an organic EL device in accordance with the invention includes: coating a composition including an organic EL material on a plurality of electrodes to form an organic EL layer on each electrode; defining an effectively optical area in which the plurality of electrodes are formed; and defining a coating area which is broader than the effectively optical area, on which the composition including an organic EL material is to be coated. According to this method, a uniform display device without uneven luminance and uneven chrominance within a pixel or among a plurality of pixels in the effectively optical area can be obtained. |
| US07755269B2 |
Spacer and image display panel using the same
It is an object of the present invention to provide a spacer which has an adequate Young's modulus for a spacer used in an image display panel and allows free adjustment of an electric resistance value, and an image display panel using the spacer. The spacer SPC holds a gap between a back panel PNL1 including a signal line CL, a scanning line GL, and an electronic source ELS provided for the main surface of a back substrate SUB1, and a front panel PNL2 including a fluorescent material PH, a black matrix BM, and an anode AD provided for the main surface of a front substrate SUB2. The spacer comprises phosphate glass including the same transition metal element with different valences. For electrical conduction, the included same transition metal element with different valences allows the use of hopping conduction between transition metal atoms with different valences to perform adjustment of electric resistance relatively easily. The transition metal element is at least one of vanadium (V), tungsten (W), molybdenum (Mo), niobium (Nb), and iron (Fe). |
| US07755265B2 |
Lamp base assembly with electronic ballast for energy-saving lamp
A lamp base assembly with electronic ballast for energy-saving lamp includes a housing (22), a lamp cap (21) and an electronic ballast (24) with transistors (23) provided within the housing. A transistor heat-diffusing element surrounding each transistor is provided within the lamp base, for enhancing the heat transfer from the transistors to the housing or the lamp cap, so that the heat generated from the transistors could be transferred out of the lamp base assembly. Thus, the heat-diffusing ability of the transistors is improved, and the working temperature of the transistors could be kept within a safe scope, so that the lifetime of the energy-saving lamp is guaranteed. |
| US07755260B2 |
Nickel structures and methods for manufacturing the same by removal of an underlying material
A printed circuit board includes a multiple-layer electrical circuit board and a nickel arm, wherein the nickel arm has an unconnected end located opposite to the connected end of the nickel arm, wherein the nickel arm has a front side and a backside located opposite to the front side of the nickel arm, wherein the backside of the nickel arm is located adjacent to the multiple layer electrical circuit board. A dimple is formed at the unconnected end of the nickel arm and on the front side of the nickel arm. An air gap is formed between the backside of the arm and the multiple layer electrical circuit board, wherein the air gap permits the arm to flex within the air gap. A lead zirconium titanate element is laminated to the printed circuit board, wherein the dimple on the front side of the arm contacts a surface of the lead zirconium titanate element, wherein a restoring spring force of the nickel arm maintains electrical contactivity between the dimple and the lead zirconium titanate element. |
| US07755259B2 |
Airtight terminal
To provide an airtight terminal and a piezoelectric vibrator having a strong rigidity of a lead despite a small-sized constitution, and provide a method of fabricating an airtight terminal constituting a lead penetrating inside of a stem by one piece and a piezoelectric vibrator with an excellent yield. A stem 11 filled with a filling member 13 is penetrated only with one piece of a lead 12 formed from a lead frame. As an electric terminal, a conductive lead 16 connected to the stem 11 is provided other than the lead 12. The lead 12 and the conductive lead 16 of an airtight terminal 10 constituted by the stem 11, the lead 12, the filling member 13, the conductive lead 16 are connected to a piezoelectric vibrating piece 20, further, the stem 11 is capped to a case 30 to thereby constitute a piezoelectric vibrator 1. |
| US07755258B2 |
Charging device and circuit utilized to charge battery of portable electronic device including spiral spring to store energy created by pendulum during motion of portable electronic device
The present invention discloses a charging device for a portable electronic product with a charging circuit, including: a mechanical energy collecting device configured on a main body of the portable electronic product, adapted to collect and store part of mechanical energy of a user of the portable electronic product; a mechanical energy-electrical energy converting device coupled with the mechanical energy collecting device, adapted to convert mechanical energy stored by the mechanical energy collecting device into electrical energy; and a processing circuit connected between an output end of the mechanical energy-electrical energy converting device and an input end of the charging circuit of the portable electronic product, adapted to process energy output from the mechanical energy-electrical energy converting device and input processed energy to the charging circuit of the portable electronic product. |
| US07755257B2 |
Piezoelectric ultracapacitor
Piezoelectric ultracapacitor is disclosed capable of converting the kinetic energy of ordinary motion into an electrical potential. The piezoelectric ultracapacitor of the present invention may be used in various contexts, including power generation, switching and control and memory. |
| US07755251B2 |
Control apparatus and control method for vibration wave driven apparatus
A vibration wave driven apparatus capable of preventing a resonance frequency of a vibrator from being shifted to a frequency side higher than a fixed drive frequency of the vibrator during the execution of phase difference control or voltage control. Driving signals are supplied from a control apparatus to a vibration-type actuator having a piezoelectric element that functions as an electro-mechanical energy conversion element. To control the drive of the vibration-type actuator, either a phase difference between the driving signals or a voltage of the driving signals is changed. When either the phase difference or the driving signal voltage is changed, the frequency of the driving signals is set to a predetermined frequency higher than the frequency for use when neither the phase difference nor the driving signal voltage is changed. |
| US07755247B2 |
Motor
A motor which, even if the commutator is deformed, suppresses brush deformation to thereby prevent short-circuiting between the positive-pole-side brush and the motor housing. A motor includes: a motor housing; a stator; a rotor; a commutator; a positive-pole-side brush; a negative-pole-side brush; and a brush holding frame fixed to the motor housing and having a positive-pole-side brush holding portion holding the positive-pole-side brush and a negative-pole-side brush holding portion holding the negative-pole-side brush, in which the positive-pole-side brush holding portion and the negative-pole-side brush holding portion each curve about a circumference of the commutator, and in which a thickness of an outer portion of the positive-pole-side brush holding portion in a circumferential direction of the commutator is greater than a thickness of an outer portion of the negative-pole-side brush holding portion in the circumferential direction of the commutator. |
| US07755238B2 |
Power generator and power generating method
A power generator includes a top, a support, a bearing, a rotating device and a transforming device. The top has a body and a spindle penetrating the center of the body, wherein the spindle is substantially vertical to the ground. The support is positioned on the ground to support one end of the spindle. The bearing holds the spindle and is located apart from the support. The rotating device rotates the top. The transforming device transforms the rotational energy of the top into power. |
| US07755228B2 |
Direct drive motor in washing machine
An object of the present invention is to provide a direct drive motor in a washing machine, in which a structure of a driving unit in a washing machine is improved to improve processability, and current flow down to the washing shaft is cut off even if insulation between the winding portion of the stator and the rotor is broken, for preventing accidents caused by negligence of safety from taking place.To achieve the object of the present invention, the present invention provides a direct drive motor in a washing machine includes a stator 14 having a winding portion with coils wound thereon, a rotor 13 fixedly connected to a washing shaft 4 for direct drive of a drum, the rotor 13 having a sidewall 13b, and a rear wall 13a with a pass through hole 131 at a center, and a connector 16 of a material having a vibration mode different from the washing shaft, insert molded at the center of the rear wall 13a of the rotor to form one body with the rotor, and fixedly connected to the washing shaft to connect the rotor to the washing shaft, and support the washing shaft. |
| US07755222B2 |
Method and system for high power switching
According to one embodiment of the invention a method for switching an alternating current signal between at least two paths includes providing, in at least one of the paths, first and second field effect transistors in series. The method also includes providing a control voltage node operable to receive a control voltage and maintaining each of the first and second field effect transistors in pinch-off mode by offsetting a voltage on each gate of the field effect transistors with a DC voltage component other than the control voltage when it is desired for the alternating current not to flow through the at least one path. |
| US07755220B2 |
Power stealing for a thermostat using a TRIAC with FET control
An electronic thermostat circuit has improved power stealing for controlling an AC control device. The circuit comprises a source of AC control power coupled to an electronic switch means having an electronic switch means control input. The electronic switch means controls the AC control device. The diode bridge controls the electronic switch means by a DC control signal applied to the diode bridge means DC connection. The amplifier means has an amplifier input for controlling the state of the amplifier and an amplifier output for generating the DC control signal. An isolated gate FET means is electrically coupled to the amplifier input for controlling the state of the amplifier. The isolated gate FET means is powered by the current derived from the source of AC control power by power stealing. The digital signal controls the state of the AC control. |
| US07755218B2 |
Capacitive touch switch and control device
A capacitive touch switch and control device is provided. The capacitive touch switch and control device in one embodiment includes one or more capacitive sensor elements, one or more resistors, a capacitor, a capacitance/frequency converter, and an antenna including a positive branch and a negative branch. The positive branch and the negative branch synchronously and correspondingly receive a pair of signals from the microprocessor, the pair of signals each undergoing a 180 degree phase shift relative to the other, for shielding the noise acted on the capacitive sensor elements. When any of the capacitive sensor elements is touched, the capacitance/frequency converter outputs a frequency signal to the microprocessor, the microprocessor outputs a control signal that corresponds to the frequency signal to an electronic device to trigger corresponding operations of the electronic device. |
| US07755212B2 |
Method and apparatus for storing and transporting energy using a pipeline
A method and apparatus for storing and transporting energy in the form of compressed air energy via a pipeline shown. The method preferably consists of using at least one power source to drive a compressor to compress air into storage, wherein the pipeline can be adapted to reduce the pressure losses that are experienced along its length, such as by providing first and second segments, wherein the second segment is located further downstream from the first segment, and the first segment's diameter is greater than that of the second segment. Facilities or communities connected to the pipeline can use the energy in the form of electricity, or to drive pneumatic tools or equipment, or to generate chilled air as a by-product, which can be used for refrigeration, air conditioning or desalination. A utility or grid or wind farm or other power source can be used to generate the compressed air energy, such as during low demand periods, such that the energy can be used during high demand periods. |
| US07755210B2 |
System and method for controlling wind turbine actuation
A wind turbine includes a plurality of wind turbine blades attached to a rotor positioned atop a tower affixed to a tower foundation. At least one blade pitch sensor is configured to measure blade pitch angles for one or more of the wind turbine blades. A rotor/generator speed sensor is configured to measure the rotational speed of the wind turbine rotor, a corresponding wind turbine generator, or both. A wind turbine nacelle yaw sensor is configured to measure the nacelle yaw, while at least two tower-base bending sensors are configured without use of adhesives, cements or bonding agents to provide large-area measurement of tower deflection. A controller is configured to adjust the pitch angle of one or more of the wind turbine blades in response to the measured one or more blade pitch angles, the measured rotational speed, the measured nacelle yaw and measured tower longitudinal deflection. |
| US07755206B2 |
Pad structure to provide improved stress relief
A semiconductor interconnection comprises a semiconductor device, a substrate adjacent the semiconductor device, and a plurality of spring contacts on the semiconductor device or the substrate. A plurality of solder connections are on the opposite semiconductor device or substrate. Each spring contact comprises a contact surface and a conductive material on the contact surface. Upon assembly of the semiconductor device and the substrate, the conductive material on the plurality of spring contacts makes contact with each of the plurality of solder connections. The conductive material is in a liquid state at manufacturing or operating temperatures of the semiconductor device. Thus, the conductive material could be a solid at room temperature and transition to a liquid state at the semiconductor's manufacturing or operating temperatures. |
| US07755202B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes: a semiconductor substrate having a semiconductor element formed on a surface thereof; an interwiring insulating film formed above the semiconductor substrate; a wiring formed in the interwiring insulating film; a first intervia insulating film formed under the interwiring insulating film; a first via formed in the first intervia insulating film and connected to a lower surface of the wiring; a second intervia insulating film formed on the interwiring insulating film; a second via formed in the second intervia insulating film and connected to an upper surface of the wiring; and a CuSiN film formed in at least one of a position between the interwiring insulating film and the first intervia insulating film, and a position between the interwiring insulating film and the second intervia insulating film. |
| US07755185B2 |
Arrangement for cooling a power semiconductor module
An arrangement for cooling a power semiconductor module, the power semiconductor module having a substrate with a ceramic plate and may have a metallization thereon, the arrangement has a container for the intake of a coolant with a heat-conducting plate; the heat-conducting plate having two sides, one side joined to the metallization of the substrate and the other side being in contact with the coolant; wherein the heat-conducting plate is made of materials having a metal matrix composite (MMC) material with a filling content, which results in a thermal expansion of below that of copper. |
| US07755184B2 |
Liquid metal thermal interface material system
A metal thermal interface structure for dissipating heat from electronic components comprised a heat spreader lid, metal alloy that is liquid over the operating temperature range of the electronic component, and design features to promote long-term reliability and high thermal performance. |
| US07755180B2 |
Integrated circuit package-in-package system
An integrated circuit package-in-package system is provided forming a first integrated circuit package having a first interface, stacking a second integrated circuit package having a second interface above the first integrated circuit package, fitting the first interface and the second interface, and attaching a third integrated circuit package on the second integrated circuit package. |
| US07755167B2 |
Semiconductor device including switching element and two diodes
A semiconductor device includes a transistor, a first diode, and a second diode. A collector of the transistor and a cathode of the first diode are electrically connected. The collector of the transistor and a cathode of the second diode are electrically connected, and an emitter of the transistor and an anode of the second diode are electrically connected. The first diode and the second diode are formed in an identical substrate. Thereby, the semiconductor device can be produced in a smaller size and in less steps. |
| US07755163B2 |
Antifuse element and semiconductor device including same
To provide an antifuse element comprising a gate electrode, a depletion channel region, a gate insulating film between the gate electrode and the channel region, and a diffusion layer region forming a junction with the channel region. An end of the gate electrode coincides substantially with a boundary between the channel region and the diffusion layer region as seen from a planar view, and is formed in a zigzag configuration. The end of the gate electrode is longer than the end with linear configuration and the end of the gate insulating film is likely to be subjected to breakdown. |
| US07755158B2 |
Image sensor and method for manufacturing thereof
An image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate having a pixel region and a peripheral circuit region. An interlayer dielectric layer has metal wirings and a pad formed over the semiconductor substrate. A lower electrode is selectively formed over the metal wirings. A photo diode is formed over the interlayer dielectric layer of the pixel region. An upper electrode formed over the photo diode. Therefore, a vertical integration of the transistor and the photodiode may approach a fill factor to 100%, and provide higher sensitivity, implement more complicated circuitry without reducing sensitivity in each unit pixel, improve the reliability of the image sensor by preventing crosstalk, etc., between the pixels, and improve light sensitivity by increasing the surface area of the photo diode in the unit pixel. |
| US07755156B2 |
Producing layered structures with lamination
A layered structure can include laminated first and second substructures and an array with cell regions. The first substructure can include layered active circuitry, the second a top electrode layer. One or both substructure's surface that contacts the other can be on a polymer-containing layer, structured to generate free charge carriers and/or to transport charge carriers. A cell region of the array can include portions of each substructure; the cell region's portion of the first substructure can include a subregion of electrically conductive material and a subregion of semiconductive material, its portion of the second can include part of the top electrode layer. The layered structure can include one or more lamination artifacts on or in the polymer-containing layer; the lamination artifacts can include artifacts of contact pressure, or heat, or of surface shape, and the interface surface can be without vias. |
| US07755153B2 |
Structure and method for a magnetic memory device with proximity writing
An MRAM device comprises a plurality of MRAM structures, each MRAM structure comprising a magnetoresistive memory cell in close proximity to a high permeability conductive line and a single transistor configured to access the magnetoresistive memory cell for both read and write operations. The high permeability conductive line acts a current path for both read and write operations, thereby reducing the number of metal bit lines. |
| US07755144B2 |
Multiple-gate MOS transistors
Semiconductor devices with transistors having different gate dielectric materials and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. One embodiment includes a semiconductor device including a workpiece, the workpiece including a first region and a second region proximate the first region. A first transistor is disposed in the first region of the workpiece, the first transistor having at least two first gate electrodes. A first gate dielectric is disposed proximate each of the at least two first gate electrodes, the first gate dielectric comprising a first material. A second transistor is disposed in the second region of the workpiece, the second transistor having at least two second gate electrodes. A second gate dielectric is disposed proximate each of the at least two second gate electrodes, the second gate dielectric comprising a second material. The second material is different than the first material. |
| US07755141B2 |
Complementary MISFET formed in a linear body
Integrated circuits such as semiconductor memories, image sensors, PLA's, and the like have been formed on rigid, planar substrates such as silicon substrates. This has resulted in shapes without flexibility and limited applicabilities. Further, since multiple circuit elements are continuously formed on a flat surface, it has been impossible to produce a non-defective semiconductor memory unless all the circuit elements are fabricated without defects, making it difficult to improve a yield. It is thus devised to weave or braid linear devices into a fabric shape to prepare a planar semiconductor memory, or to bundle up linear devices to prepare a linear semiconductor memory. The integrated circuit comprising the linear devices is flexible and light-weighted, and is thus usable in various applications. It becomes possible to prepare an integrated circuit by once fabricating linear devices and selecting only non-defective ones therefrom, thereby enabling an improved production yield of integrated circuits. |
| US07755137B2 |
Bandgap engineered MOS-gated power transistors
Devices, methods, and processes that improve immunity to transient voltages and reduce parasitic impedances. Immunity to unclamped inductive switching events is improved. For example, a trench-gated power MOSFET device having a SiGe source is provided, where the SiGe source reduces parasitic npn transistor gain by reducing hole current in the body or well region, thereby decreasing the likelihood of a latch-up condition. A body tie on this device can also be eliminated to reduce transistor cell size. A trench-gated power MOSFET device having a SiGe body or well region is also provided. A SiGe body reduces hole current when the body diode is turned on, thereby reducing reverse recovery power losses. Device characteristics are also improved. For example, parasitic gate impedance is reduced through the use of a poly SiGe gate, and channel resistance is reduced through the use of a SiGe layer near the device's gate. |
| US07755130B2 |
Minority carrier sink for a memory cell array comprising nonvolatile semiconductor memory cells
A memory cell array of nonvolatile semiconductor memory cells is specified in which a minority carrier sink is formed within a semiconductor body in the region of the memory cell array, the minority carrier sink being arranged outside a space charge zone structure that forms in the semiconductor body during operation of the semiconductor memory cells, and the minority carrier sink having a shorter minority carrier lifetime in comparison with a semiconductor zone reaching as far as a surface of the semiconductor body. |
| US07755120B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device provides a substrate comprising an image sensor region and a circuit region, wherein the circuit region comprises a pad region and a connecting region. A multilayer interconnect structure is formed on the substrate, wherein the multilayer interconnect structure comprises a plurality of dielectric layers, a plurality of lower wirings at the pad region and the connecting region, and a top wiring on at least one of the lower wirings at the connecting region. A passivation layer is formed over the multilayer interconnect structure. A pad structure is formed through the passivation layer and at least one of the dielectric layers on and electrically connected to at least one of the lower wirings at the pad region. |
| US07755114B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a monocrystalline channel region of a first conductivity type formed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate, a gate electrode formed on the channel region via a gate insulating film, a pair of source/drain electrodes of a second conductivity type provided on both sides of the gate electrode, metallic compound layers formed on the source/drain electrodes, stress application layers located under the respective source and drain electrodes and each having a crystal structure whose intrinsic lattice spacing is different from lattice spacing inherent in a substance constituting the source/drain electrodes, and first buried insulating regions disposed under the respective stress application layers. |
| US07755113B2 |
Semiconductor device, semiconductor display device, and manufacturing method of semiconductor device
To achieve high performance of a semiconductor integrated circuit depending on not only a microfabrication technique but also another way. In addition, to achieve low power consumption of a semiconductor integrated circuit. A semiconductor device is provided in which crystal faces and/or crystal axes of single-crystalline semiconductor layers of a first conductive MISFET and a second conductive MISFET are different. The crystal faces and/or crystal axes are arranged so that mobility of carriers flowing in channel length directions in the respective MISFETs is increased. Such a structure can increase mobility of carriers flowing through channels of the MISFETs and high speed operation of a semiconductor integrated circuit can be achieved. Further, low voltage driving becomes possible, and low power consumption can be realized. |
| US07755095B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device, lighting module, lighting apparatus, display element, and manufacturing method for semiconductor light emitting device
In an LED array chip (2), LEDs (6) are connected together in series by a bridging wire (30) The LEDs (6) each have a semiconductor multilayer structure (8-18) including a light emitting layer (14) Here, the semiconductor multilayer structure (8-18) is epitaxially grown on a front surface of an SiC substrate (4) A phosphor film (48) covers the LEDs (6) Two power supply terminals (36 and 38), which are electrically independent from each other, are formed on a back surface of the SiC substrate (4) The power supply terminal (36) is connected to a cathode electrode (32) of an LED (6a) at a lower potential end by a bridging wire (40) and a plated-through hole (42) The power supply terminal (38) is connected to an anode electrode (34) of an LED (6d) at a higher potential end by a bridging wire (44) and a plated-through hole (46). |
| US07755092B2 |
Thin film transistor liquid crystal display
A display includes a thin film transistor, a repair structure for repairing a defect in a signal line coupled to the thin film transistor, the repair structure including a first repair metal layer and a second repair metal layer. The transistor includes a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode. A dielectric layer is disposed above the thin film transistor and the repair structure, the dielectric layer defining a repair opening to expose the second repair metal layer, the dielectric layer also defining a contact window that exposes at least one of the source and drain electrodes. A floating electrode is electrically connected to the second repair metal layer through the repair opening, the floating electrode being electrically floated. |
| US07755082B2 |
Forming self-aligned nano-electrodes
A nano-electrode or nano-wire may be etched centrally to form a gap between nano-electrode portions. The portions may ultimately constitute a single electron transistor. The source and drain formed from the electrode portions are self-aligned with one another. Using spacer technology, the gap between the electrodes may be made very small. |
| US07755080B2 |
Method for forming quantum dot, and quantum semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
The method for forming a quantum dot according to the present invention comprises the step of forming an oxide in a dot-shape on the surface of a semiconductor substrate 10, the step of removing the oxide to form a concavity 16 in the position from which the oxide has been removed, and the step of growing a semiconductor layer 18 on the semiconductor substrate with the concavity formed in to form a quantum dot 20 of the semiconductor layer in the concavity. The concavity is formed in the semiconductor substrate by forming the oxide dot in the surface of the semiconductor substrate and removing the oxide, whereby the concavity can be formed precisely in a prescribed position and in a prescribed size. The quantum dot is grown in such a concavity, whereby the quantum dot can have good quality and can be formed in a prescribed position and in a prescribed size. |
| US07755076B2 |
4F2 self align side wall active phase change memory
Arrays of memory cells are described along with devices thereof and method for manufacturing. Memory cells described herein include self-aligned side wall memory members comprising an active programmable resistive material. In preferred embodiments the area of the memory cell is 4F2, F being the feature size for a lithographic process used to manufacture the memory cell, and more preferably F being equal to a minimum feature size. Arrays of memory cells described herein include memory cells arranged in a cross point array, the array having a plurality of word lines and source lines arranged in parallel in a first direction and having a plurality of bit lines arranged in parallel in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. |
| US07755074B2 |
Low area contact phase-change memory
A memory device includes a first electrode and a second electrode. A phase-change material is disposed between the first and second electrodes. The phase-change material is in electrical communication with the first and second electrodes at a first contact region and a second contact region respectively. The first and second contact regions are similar in contact area. The device enables scaling of reset current to smaller dimensions without encountering a limitation imposed by an offset current. |
| US07755069B2 |
Ultra-bright pulsed electron beam with low longitudinal emittance
A high-brightness pulsed electron source, which has the potential for many useful applications in electron microscopy, inverse photo-emission, low energy electron scattering experiments, and electron holography has been described. The source makes use of Cs atoms in an atomic beam. The source is cycled beginning with a laser pulse that excites a single Cs atom on average to a band of high-lying Rydberg nP states. The resulting valence electron Rydberg wave packet evolves in a nearly classical Kepler orbit. When the electron reaches apogee, an electric field pulse is applied that ionizes the atom and accelerates the electron away from its parent ion. The collection of electron wave packets thus generated in a series of cycles can occupy a phase volume near the quantum limit and it can possess very high brightness. Each wave packet can exhibit a considerable degree of coherence. |
| US07755068B2 |
Laser-accelerated proton therapy units and superconducting electromagnet systems for same
Compact particle selection and collimation devices are disclosed for delivering beams of ions with desired energy spectra. These devices are useful with laser-accelerated ion therapy systems, in which the initial ions have broad energy and angular distributions. Superconducting electromagnet systems produce a desired magnetic field configuration to spread the ions with different energies and emitting angles for particle selection. The simulation of ion transport in the presence of the magnetic field shows that the selected ions are successfully refocused on the beam axis after passing through the magnetic field. Dose distributions are also provided using Monte Carlo simulations of the laser-accelerated ion beams for radiation therapy applications. |
| US07755060B2 |
Multipole lens and method of fabricating same
There is disclosed a multipole lens that can be machined with improved accuracy. A method of fabricating this lens is also disclosed. The multipole lens has a blank material from which polar elements will be fabricated. The blank material is sandwiched vertically between two layers of film-like insulator. The blank material and the two layers of film-like insulator are sandwiched vertically between an upper ring and a lower ring. These members are provided with injection holes for injecting a curing agent. The injection holes of these members are aligned. The curing agent is injected into the holes and cured. Then, the blank material is machined by electric discharge machining to form the polar elements. |
| US07755058B2 |
Patient treatment using a hybrid imaging system
A system and method for treating a patient using a hybrid imaging system is provided. For example, first imaging data is acquired from a patient using a first imaging device. The patient is transferred on a support to a second imaging device. The support extends between the first imaging device and the second imaging device. Second imaging data is acquired from the patient using the second imaging device. The second imaging device structurally allows for catheter treatment in the patient during acquisition of the second imaging data. The first imaging data and the second imaging data are superimposed or fused. The patient is treated with a catheter as a function of the superimposed or fused data while acquiring the second imaging data. |
| US07755048B2 |
Large format thermoelectric infrared detector and method of fabrication
The thermoelectric detector consists of an absorber structure supported by two electrically connected beams made of thermoelectric materials such as polysilicon, polysilicon/germanium, bismuth-telluride, skutterrides, superlattice structures, nano-composites and other materials. One end of the thermoelectric beam connects to the absorber structure; the other end connects to the substrate. Infrared radiation incident on the absorber heats up the absorber, resulting in a temperature gradient along the length of the thermoelectric legs, and generating an electrical voltage. The detector arrays are fabricated using micromachining process. The absorber structure is formed over a sacrificial material that is removed at the end of the processing, leaving the detector suspended and thermally isolated. The sacrificial processing method enables the production of small pixel thermoelectric detectors in large two-dimensional arrays with high sensitivity. |
| US07755045B2 |
Scanning electron microscope
In a scanning electron microscope, a reflection plate at ground potential is provided in a specimen chamber and backscattering electrons given off from a specimen impinge on the reflection plate to generate subsidiary electrons. An electric field supply electrode applied with a positive voltage of +100 to +500V is arranged in a gap defined by the reflection plate and a specimen stage. A first detection electrode is arranged to detect ion current attributable to backscattering electrons and a second detection electrode is arranged to detect current representative of coexistence of ion currents attributable to secondary electron and backscattering electron. The scanning electron microscope constructed as above can achieve simultaneous separation/detection of secondary electron and backscattering electron. |
| US07755043B1 |
Bright-field/dark-field detector with integrated electron energy spectrometer
One embodiment relates to an electron beam apparatus including an electron beam column, an immersion objective lens, a Wien filter, a bright-field/dark-field detector, and an electron energy spectrometer. The bright-field/dark-field detector comprising an opening configured to pass through bright field secondary electrons and one or more detector segments around the opening configured to detect dark field secondary electrons. The electron energy spectrometer configured to detect the bright field secondary electrons passed through the opening and to measure an energy spectrum of the bright field secondary electrons. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed. |
| US07755041B2 |
Optical and laser differential absorption remote detection of TATP peroxide based explosives
A triacetone triperoxide cloud associated with a triacetone triperoxide explosive attached to a hard target is remotely detected by operating differential-absorption lidar lasers to transmit a laser beam toward the hard target at differing wavelengths. A backscattered laser beam reflected from the lidar target (hard target, person, aerosols, clouds, buildings) is detected because a cloud of triacetone triperoxide in front of the lidar target and between the lidar target and the differential-absorption lidar system produces a differential-absorption signal having characteristics that identify the triacetone triperoxide. In a second embodiment, a triacetone triperoxide cloud that is absorbing optical radiation from its ambient environment and which is attached to a hard target is detected from a location remote from the triacetone triperoxide explosive by detecting an optical radiation absorption signature characterized by triacetone triperoxide absorption lines. |
| US07755040B2 |
Mass spectrometer and electric field source for mass spectrometer
An electric field source for a mass spectrometer and a mass spectrometer are described. |
| US07755021B2 |
Non-toxic photo cells and photosensors including the same
Photo control devices include a housing having a light transmissive portion. A photosensor is positioned in the housing to receive light passing through the light transmissive portion of the housing. A relay electrically coupled to the photosensor is responsive to a level of light detected by the photosensor. The photosensor includes a light sensitive silicon photo cell and an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit is coupled to the silicon photo cell and the relay and includes a field effect transistor (FET) including a zener diode therein between a source and a drain of the FET. The silicon photo cell may be a photodiode and/or a phototransistor. The relay may be a thermal switch including a heater resistor. |
| US07755014B2 |
Optical pickup device
An optical pickup device is equipped with a diffraction element (8) that includes liquid crystal, two transparent electrodes sandwiching the liquid crystal, and a liquid crystal control portion (21) with electrodes connected electrically to the transparent electrode for controlling a voltage to be applied between the two transparent electrodes. The diffraction element (8) is provided with two types of diffraction areas (19) and (20). Each of the diffraction areas (19) and (20) generate predetermined diffracted light only from one of different wavelengths of light beams. The transparent electrodes of the diffraction areas (19) and (20) that are patterned are connected electrically to different electrodes (22c) and (22a), respectively. |
| US07755009B2 |
Compounding thermoplastic materials in-situ
Multiple solid materials are introduced to a mixing vessel in defined proportion. They are melted by an electromagnetic induction heated susceptor and mixed simultaneously by the shearing action at the melt face of a second rotating susceptor. Material compounding takes place at the application site. Varying the physical structure of the susceptor or multiple susceptors processes materials of differing initial melt viscosity and particle size. Non-melting particulate material can be included in the mix. Reactive components can be combined at the application site. |
| US07755007B2 |
Heated pet mat
A heated pet mat has a fire retardant covering in the shape of a truncated circle folded in half to form two layers. A resistive heating element is sandwiched between the two layers. |
| US07755005B2 |
Oven including smoking assembly in combination with one or more additional food preparation assemblies
An oven is disclosed having a first food preparation apparatus in the form of a convection heat source and/or a steam production assembly and/or a radiating heat source, and a second food preparation apparatus in the form of a smoking assembly. The oven can operate at least one of the food preparation apparatus simultaneously with the smoking assembly or separately from the smoking assembly. |
| US07754999B2 |
Laser micromachining and methods of same
The described embodiments relate to laser micromachining a substrate. One exemplary embodiment removes substrate material from a substrate to a first depth relative to a first surface of the substrate while delivering an assist gas at a first flow rate; and, removes substrate material at a second greater depth while delivering the assist gas at a second higher flow rate. |
| US07754998B2 |
Focus adjuster for laser beam machine
The invention provides a focus adjuster for laser beam machine which adjusts focus by detecting reflected light of a laser beam in a laser beam machine.A laser beam outputted from a laser oscillator device 550 is reflected by a mirror 570 via an output mirror 560 and introduced into a laser machining tool. The laser beam collected by a machining lens 62 is reflected by a reflector plate M1 and sensed by a reflection detector 580. Automatic focus adjustment is achieved by sensing output of the reflected light as well as changes in focal position due to contamination of the machining lens 62. |
| US07754991B2 |
Medium-voltage or high voltage electrical switchgear
This electrical switchgear has an interrupting chamber enclosing an interrupting gas (G) substantially devoid of SF6 and of CF4, and a first arcing contact (10) and a second arcing contact (18), the two arcing contacts moving causes an electric arc (26) to strike, while at least one irradiation wall (22) is provided that is suitable for being reached by the electric arc. At least two component materials that are part of at least one element selected from the interrupting gas, the first and second arcing contacts, and the or each irradiation wall, are suitable for decomposing under the effect of the electric arc, so as to form decomposed species (e1, e2) suitable for combining in the interrupting chamber, in order to form at least one new gaseous species (G1), before the electric arc is extinguished, the dielectric properties of said at least one new gaseous species being superior to the dielectric properties of said interrupting gas (G). |
| US07754980B2 |
Substrate with multilayer plated through hole and method for forming the multilayer plated through hole
A structure with a multilayer plated through hole is disclosed. At least one dielectric layer formed by deposition and a conductive layer are formed in an original plated through hole (PTH). The dielectric layer partially covers wiring layers of the substrate to electrically isolate the PTH and the conductive layer to form a multilayer PTH so as to save PTH occupation space of the substrate. Preferably, the formation of the dielectric layer is electrophoretic deposition to control the deposition thickness in the PTH very even and thin, no drilling is necessary. Accordingly, it can increase electrical performance and decrease cross-talk effect. |
| US07754977B2 |
Electronic controller for a motor vehicle, in particular for a gearbox controller
An electronic controller for a motor vehicle, in particular for a gearbox controller, which is arranged in or on a drive train, has a printed circuit board (17) which is arranged in a housing (13, 14) and is fitted with electronic components, with an electronic heat-protection barrier (22) being arranged between the printed circuit board (17) and the housing (13, 14). |
| US07754975B2 |
Plastic component having heat resistant hardened resin at thermal-attachment connection points
A plastic component with a metal layer applied to the surface for electrical contacting of electrical elements ensuing in a thermal attachment method, particularly in a soldering method, has a layer composed of a duroplastic synthetic or a highly heat-resistant thermoplastic synthetic, on which layer a metal layer is applied, applied on the component carrier made of a thermoplastic synthetic, at least in the region of the contacting point or points. The duroplastic synthetic is a hardened resin, and the resin layer is generated by application of the liquid resin by serigraphy, roller coating or spraying, or the highly heat-resistant thermoplastic synthetic is applied in the form of a film. |
| US07754969B2 |
Armored cable with integral support
A system for providing cable support may be provided. The system may comprise a conductor core, a filler that may provide integral core support, and armor. The conductor core may comprise at least one conductor. The filler may be applied around at least a portion of the conductor core. The armor may be applied around at least a portion of the filler. The applied armor may be configured to cause the filler to apply a strong enough force on an exterior of the conductor core configured to keep the conductor core from slipping down an interior of the filler due to a gravitational force. In addition, the applied armor may be configured to cause the filler to apply a strong enough force on an interior of the armor configured to keep a combination of the conductor core and the filler from slipping down the interior of the armor due to the gravitational force. |
| US07754954B2 |
Music education system and method of use
A Music Education System including at least one staff coupled to at least one markable and erasable piece of material, which attracts magnetic surfaces, comprising at least one magnetic surface; and coupleable to a markerboard; at least one musical notation placed on the at least one staff; and wherein the at least one markable and erasable piece of material can be rolled and comprising at least one keyboard mockup. A method for using a music education system comprising: coupling at least one staff, permanently coupled to at least one markable and erasable piece of material, to a markerboard; placing and removing at least one musical notation on the at least one staff; removing the at least one markable and erasable piece of material; rolling the at least one markable and erasable piece of material; and placing the at least one markable and erasable piece of material in a storage container. |
| US07754953B2 |
Tension nut lock system for an instrument
A locking system to more accurately secure the foot pedal tension spring to the desired tension every time a tension adjustment is necessary. An adjustment screw is interconnected with the tension spring for adjusting the tension of the spring. A spring tension adjustment nut is threaded onto the adjustment screw. In accordance with the invention, a locking system is provided for locking the adjustment screw at one of a plurality of selected adjustment positions relative to the support and the foot pedal assembly in general. The selected adjustment positions are radially disposed about the central axis of rotation of said adjustment screw so that the adjustment screw may be locked into one of the selected adjustment positions relative to the support. With this locking system, the user may carefully select from a plurality of highly sensitive adjustment positions. |
| US07754951B2 |
String instrument having a rear chamber with a flanged sound projection vent
A string musical instrument, such as but not limited to a guitar, whose sides are angled; and without relief holes in the instrument's soundboard, or top; with the absence of a hole on the instrument's top that allows more sound to be produced by the remaining material in the top, where the sound hole might have been; whose relief holes are located on the “inner back” which is attached to the angled sides; that embodies a second, or “outer back,” identically contoured or shaped like the inner back but whose outer dimensions are equal to the outer dimensions of the instrument's top, with a sound chamber created by the proximity of the inner back with the outer back, whose outer back embodies a shaped flange designed to direct the instrument's sound forward, and embodies a series of springs attached to both the bridge plate and inner back of the instrument, designed to create a reverb effect. |
| US07754949B1 |
Maize variety 34Y02
A novel maize variety designated 34Y02 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing maize variety 34Y02 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into 34Y02 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety 34Y02, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety 34Y02. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety 34Y02 and to the maize varieties derived by the use of those methods. |
| US07754947B2 |
Herbicide resistant rice
Rice plants are disclosed with multiple sources of resistance to herbicides that normally inhibit a plant's acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) enzyme. Besides controlling red rice, many AHAS-inhibiting herbicides also effectively control other weeds that are common in rice fields. Several of these herbicides have residual activity, so that one treatment can control both existing weeds and weeds that sprout later. With effective residual activity against red rice and other weeds, rice producers now have a weed control system superior to those that are currently available commercially. |
| US07754943B2 |
Transgenic plants used as a bioreactor system
The present invention relates generally to the use of plants as bioreactors for the production of molecules having useful properties such as inter alia polymers, metabolites, proteins, pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. More particularly, the present invention contemplates the use of grasses, and even more particularly C4 grasses, such as sugar-cane, for the production of a range of compounds such as, for example, polyhydroxyalkanoates, pHBA, vanillin, indigo, adipic acid, 2-phenylethanol, 1,3-propane-diol, sorbitol, fructan polymers and lactic acid as well as other products including, inter alia, other plastics, silks, carbohydrates, therapeutic and nutraceutic proteins and antibodies. The present invention further extends to transgenic plants and, in particular, transgenic C4 grass plants, capable of producing the compounds noted above and other products, and to methods for generating such plants. The ability to utilize the high growth rate and efficient carbon fixation of C4 grasses is advantageous, in that it obviates the significant growth penalties observed in other plants, and results in high yields of desired product without necessarily causing concomitant deleterious effects on individual plants. In addition, the C4 grass, sugarcane, is particularly advantageous, as in addition to the features common to all C4 grasses, this plant accumulates sucrose. This sucrose store provides a ready supply of carbon based compounds and energy which may further obviate any deleterious effects on the growth of the plant associated with the production of the product. The present invention provides, therefore, a bioreactor system comprising a genetically modified plant designed to produce particular metabolic or biosynthetic products of interest. |
| US07754937B2 |
Wound packing material for use with suction
A wound packing for use with suction is provided. The wound packing comprises a plurality of nonabsorbent synthetic polymeric fibers coupled together to form a nonabsorbent material suitable for placement in the wound of a mammal. A method for treating the wound in a mammal using the disclosed wound packing is also provided. |
| US07754935B2 |
Dehydrogenation reactions in narrow reaction chambers and integrated reactors
Methods of dehydrogenating hydrocarbons to yield unsaturated compounds are described. Reactor configurations useful for dehydrogenation are also described. Hydrocarbons can be dehydrogenated, for relatively long periods of time-on-stream, in a reaction chamber having a dimension of 2 mm or less to produce H2 and an olefin. Techniques have been developed that reduce coke and allow stable, relatively long-term operation in small reactors. |
| US07754931B2 |
Production of high-cetane diesel fuel from low-quality biomass-derived feedstocks
A method is taught for producing diesel fuels of high cetane value from a triglyceride feedstock, comprising pretreating the triglyceride feedstock by thermal cracking to partially convert the triglycerides and produce a middle distillates stream, and catalytically hydrotreating the middle distillate fraction to produce high cetane value diesel fuels. A biomass-derived diesel fuel is also taught having sulphur content below 10 ppm, a cetane-value of at least 70, a cloud point below 0° C. and a pour point of less than −4° C. A blended diesel fuel is also taught comprising 5 to 20 vol. % of the biomass-derived diesel fuel of the present invention and 80 to 95 vol. % of a petroleum diesel, based on total volume of the blended diesel fuel. |
| US07754929B2 |
1,4-hydrogenation of sorbol with Ru complexes
The present invention relates to the use of Ru complexes, having a pentamethyl-cyclopentadienyl and a cyclooctadine as ligands, together with some acidic additives for improving the selectivity in the 1,4-hydrogenation of sorbol into the corresponding Z-alkene as major product. |
| US07754922B2 |
Process for preparing amines and zirconium dioxide- and nickel-containing catalysts for use therein
Processes comprising: (i) providing a reactant selected from the group consisting of primary alcohols, secondary alcohols, aldehydes, ketones and mixtures thereof; and (ii) reacting the reactant with hydrogen and a nitrogen compound selected from the group consisting of ammonia, primary amines, secondary amines and mixtures thereof, in the presence of a catalyst comprising a zirconium dioxide- and nickel-containing catalytically active composition, to form an amine; wherein the catalytically active composition, prior to reduction with hydrogen, comprises oxygen compounds of zirconium, copper, nickel and cobalt, and one or more oxygen compounds of molybdenum in an amount of 5.5 to 12% by weight, calculated as MoO3. |
| US07754920B1 |
Solvent reduction in crystallisation of intermediate for non-ionic X-ray contrast agents
This invention relates to an improved method for crystallizing 5-acetamido-N,N′-bis(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)-2,4,6-triiodoisophthalamide (“Compound A”), an intermediate in the industrial preparation of non-ionic X-ray contrast agents. In particular, the present invention provides an industrial process for crystallization of Compound A by evaporating methanol and water from the mother liquor after an initial crystallization of Compound A following the acetylation reaction. Specifically, the mother liquor is maintained at more than about 75% (v/v) of water and less than about 25% (v/v) of alcoholic solvent. |
| US07754884B2 |
Targeted, NIR imaging agents for therapy efficacy monitoring, deep tissue disease demarcation and deep tissue imaging
Compounds and methods related to NIR molecular imaging, in-vitro and in-vivo functional imaging, therapy/efficacy monitoring, and cancer and metastatic activity imaging. Compounds and methods demonstrated pertain to the field of peripheral benzodiazepine receptor imaging, metabolic imaging, cellular respiration imaging, cellular proliferation imaging as targeted agents that incorporate signaling agents. |
| US07754883B2 |
Method of racemization of the R(−) isomer of the (2-chlorophenyl)-6,7-dihydrothieno[3,2-c]pyridine-5(4H)-acetic acid methyl ester
Racemization of the R(−) isomer of the (2-chlorophenyl)-6,7-dihydrothieno[3,2-c]pyridine-5(4H)-acetic acid methyl ester (Formula II) (also called R clopidogrel) is performed via conversion of a portion thereof to the S(+)isomer and it takes place in an organic solvent selected from alcohols, esters, ketones or ethers, or in their mixtures, in the presence of a base selected from substances of formula R1R2R3R4N+OH″ wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are identical or different substituents selected from C1-C5 alkyls or C5, C6 cycloalkyls or aryls, C7-C9 alkyl-cycloalkyls or alkyl-aryls, the molar ratio of the base to the starting substance being 1:1 to 1:10., OMe Cl I Cl |
| US07754868B2 |
Nucleic acid encoding two-component sensing and regulatory proteins, antimicrobial proteins and uses therefor
Stress-related nucleic acid molecules and polypeptides and fragments and variants thereof are disclosed in the current invention. In addition, stress-related fusion proteins, antigenic peptides, and anti-stress-related antibodies are encompassed. The invention also provides recombinant expression vectors containing a nucleic acid molecule of the invention and cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced. Methods for producing the polypeptides and methods of use for the polypeptides of the invention are further disclosed. |
| US07754864B2 |
Tyrosinase activity controlling agent, process for producing the same and external preparation containing the same
Disclosed is a tyrosinase activity controlling agent comprising, as an active ingredient, a compound that has tyrosinase inhibiting or promoting activity, an external preparation comprising the controlling agent, and a process for producing the compound. |
| US07754851B2 |
Recombinant spider silk proteins
The present invention is directed to recombinant spider silk proteins, nucleic acids, coding for these recombinant spider silk proteins, as well as hosts suitable for expressing those nucleic acids. Furthermore, the present invention is directed to a method of aggregation of spider silk proteins and the use of the proteins in the field of biotechnology and/or medicine and other industrial fields, in particular in the manufacture of automotive parts, in the aircraft construction, in the processing of textiles and leather, as well as in the manufacture and processing of paper and the like. |
| US07754845B2 |
Production method of aromatic polycarbonate
The object of the present invention is to provide a production method of a high molecular weight aromatic polycarbonate containing a reduced amount of a high melting point product, and having less thermal history received and excellent hue by a melt process. The present invention relates to a production method of an aromatic polycarbonate, characterized in that in producing an aromatic polycarbonate using an aromatic dihydroxy compound and a carbonic diester as raw materials and using plural reactors, a molten reactant temperature T1 (° C.) in at least one reactor A and a molten reactant temperature T2 (° C.) in a reactor B subsequent to the reactor A are satisfied with the relationship of T2 |
| US07754830B2 |
Polymerization reaction monitoring with determination of induced condensing agent concentration for preventing discontinuity events
A method for monitoring a polymer resin-producing polymerization reaction in a fluid bed reactor, including by determining in on-line fashion a maximum diluent (e.g., ICA) concentration and an optimal diluent (e.g., ICA) concentration in the reactor, whereby performing the reaction with diluent (e.g., ICA) concentration less than the maximum diluent concentration ensures an acceptably low risk that the resin in the reactor in the presence of condensable diluent gas will reach a condition of limiting stickiness. Preferably, the optimal diluent concentration maximizes production rate subject to relevant constraints. The method can also include at least one of the steps of controlling the reaction to achieve a desired production rate by controlling diluent (e.g., ICA) concentration, and controlling the reaction to prevent reactor temperature from reaching a reduced melt reference temperature at least substantially equal to a dry melt reference temperature minus a temperature depression value by which the dry melt reference temperature is depressed by presence of at least one condensable diluent gas with the resin in the reactor. |
| US07754827B2 |
Coated films
The invention relates to novel coated post-formable films, to surface-coating compositions for such films, to a combined method for curing the surface-coating compositions and for post-forming, as well as to molded bodies produced from the coated films. |
| US07754821B2 |
Method for producing stabilized fluoropolymer
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel method for producing a fluoropolymer according to which unstable terminal groups can be sufficiently stabilized under mild conditions. This invention is related to a method for producing a stabilized fluoropolymer comprising subjecting a fluoropolymer to be treated containing no —SO2X (X representing F or Cl) group-containing monomer units to the following step A, step B and step C in that order: A: Step of reacting with a halogenating agent; B: Step of reacting with a degradation treatment agent; C: Step of reacting with a fluorinating agent. |
| US07754818B2 |
Gap fill materials and bottom anti-reflective coatings comprising hyperbranched polymers
New anti-reflective or fill compositions having improved flow properties are provided. The compositions comprise a dendritic polymer dispersed or dissolved in a solvent system, and preferably a light attenuating compound, a crosslinking agent, and a catalyst. The inventive compositions can be used to protect contact or via holes from degradation during subsequent etching in the dual damascene process. The inventive compositions can also be applied to substrates (e.g., silicon wafers) to form anti-reflective coating layers having high etch rates which minimize or prevent reflection during subsequent photoresist exposure and developing. |
| US07754811B2 |
NC-PU dispersions with accelerated drying
The invention relates to hybrid dispersions comprising nitrocellulose-polyurethanepolyurea particles (NC-PU dispersions) with accelerated drying behavior as compared with the known systems, and also to their use in coating materials. |
| US07754802B2 |
Rubber composition for bead and pneumatic tire
The present invention provides a rubber composition for a bead, which has excellent processability and is capable of decreasing heat generation while maintaining rubber hardness, and a pneumatic tire having improved balance in fuel efficiency and steering stability. Specifically, the present invention provides a rubber composition for a tire bead comprising (B) 10 to 100 parts by weight of carbon black having nitrogen-adsorbing specific surface area of 30 to 100 m2/g and dibutyl phthalate adsorption of 40 to 200 ml/100 g, and (C) 5 to 120 parts by weight of a think plate-like natural mineral having aspect ratio of 3 to 30 and average particle size of 2 to 30 μm, based on (A) 100 parts by weight of a rubber component. |
| US07754799B2 |
Magnesium alloy-bonding organopolysiloxane composition having improved chemical resistance
An organopolysiloxane composition suited for magnesium alloy bonding comprises (A) a specific organopolysiloxane, (B) a non-reactive silicone oil, (C) zinc oxide surface treated with a silane or siloxane treating agent, (D) heavy calcium carbonate surface treated with a paraffin treating agent, (E) an organosilicon compound having at least three hydrolyzable radicals or a partial hydrolyzate thereof, (F) a silane coupling agent having at least one epoxy radical, and (G) a titanium chelate catalyst. The composition has improved chemical resistance. |
| US07754796B2 |
Method for producing fluorine-containing polymer, aqueous dispersion of fluorine-containing polymer, 2-acyloxycarboxylic acid derivative, and surface active agent.
The present invention provides a method of producing a fluoropolymer, wherein polymerization using a carboxylate ester bond-containing carboxylic acid derivative as a surfactant in an aqueous medium to give the fluoropolymer is conducted, the above carboxylate ester bond-containing carboxylic acid derivative has a carboxylate ester bond and —COOM (M representing H, NH4, Li, Na or K), the above carboxylate ester bond may optionally be substituted by fluorine atom. |
| US07754794B2 |
Methods of treating keratin based substrates
A composition for treating a keratin based substrate that includes a cosmetically acceptable medium containing a water-soluble interjacent complex. The water-soluble interjacent complex includes a first water-soluble polymer and a second water-soluble polymer formed by polymerizing one or more water-soluble monomers in the presence of the first water-soluble polymer. The water-soluble interjacent complex is characterized in that it forms a solution in water that is free of insoluble polymer particles. The water-soluble interjacent complex is used in a method of treating a keratin based substrate, whereby a cosmetically acceptable medium is applied to the substrate and contains from 0.1-20% by weight of the water-soluble interjacent complex. |
| US07754793B2 |
Flame resistant polycarbonate composition
A thermoplastic molding composition that releases upon burning a limited amount of smoke is disclosed. The composition includes 95 to 60 percent aromatic (co)polycarbonate, 5 to 40 percent bromine-substituted oligocarbonate, and 0.04 to 0.2 percent alkali or alkaline-earth salt of perfluoroalkane sulfonic acid, the percents all occurrences being relative to the weight of the composition. |
| US07754792B2 |
Flame-retardant polyester artificial hair
It is an object of the present invention to provide a polyester based artificial hair which has excellent setting properties, feeling and transparency and further has excellent flame-retardancy and controlled gloss of fiber surface while maintaining fiber properties possessed by a conventional polyester fiber such as heat resistance, strength and elongation and the like. The flame retardant polyester based artificial hair which has excellent setting properties, feeling and transparency and further has excellent flame-retardancy and controlled gloss of fiber surface while maintaining fiber properties possessed by a conventional polyester fiber such as heat resistance, strength and elongation and the like can be obtained by melt spinning a composition comprising a polyester, at least one bromine containing flame-retardant selected from the group consisting of a brominated epoxy based flame-retardant, a brominated phenoxy resin based flame-retardant and a brominated phosphate based flame-retardant and a phosphorus compound selected from an organic cyclic phosphorus compound and/or a phosphoric ester amide compound and optionally, the composition further comprises organic fine particles and/or inorganic fine particles. |
| US07754775B2 |
Multi-lamellar liquid crystal emulsion system
Topical cosmetic and pharmaceutical oil-in-water emulsions wherein an emulsifier blend, comprising a mixture of at least two sucrose esters in combination with at least one solid fatty alcohol, forms a multi-lamellar liquid crystalline network that effectively moisturizes and protects the skin, and provides a useful vehicle for delivery of active ingredients. Sucrose esters are used in emulsions of the present invention at very low concentrations (from about 0.2 % to about 1.2 % by combined weight of sucrose esters relative to the total weight of the emulsion). |
| US07754773B2 |
Composition and synthesis of new reagents for inhibition of HIV replication
The present invention provides compounds and compositions for inhibiting Vif and methods for treating viral infection, e.g., HIV infection. |
| US07754767B2 |
Method for treatment of premature ejaculation in humans
The present invention belongs to the fields of pharmacology, medicine and medicinal chemistry, and provides methods and compositions for treating sexual dysfunction; more particularly, the invention relates to treatment of premature ejaculation in humans. |
| US07754765B2 |
Copper chelators for treating ocular inflammation
In various aspects, the invention provides methods for treating ocular inflammation using copper chelating compounds, such as compounds other than D-penicillamine. In some embodiments, such compounds may be polyamines, such as triethylenetetramine or tetraethylenepentamine. For example, the present invention provides methods for treating inflammation secondary to ocular laser therapy. |
| US07754755B2 |
Inhibitors of 15-lipoxygenase
The present invention provides inhibitors of 15-LO according to Formula I, pharmaceutical compositions containing such inhibitors and methods for treating diseases related to the 15-LO cascade using such compounds and compositions. |
| US07754753B2 |
Analgesic and anti-inflammatory compositions containing Cox-2-inhibitors
The present invention is directed to an analgesic composition which consists essentially of a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor and a compound selected from the group consisting of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, acetaminophen and mixtures thereof. The present invention further is directed to a method for inducing analgesia through the administration of such a composition to a patient. |
| US07754752B2 |
Crystals of substituted phenylalkanoic acid and method of producing the same
In the case of using 3-[3-amino-4-(indan-2-yloxy)-5-(1-methyl-1H-indazol-5-yl)phenyl]propionic acid, methyl 3-[4-(indan-2-yloxy)-3-(1-methyl-1H-indazol-5-yl)-5-nitrophenyl]propionate, or methyl 3-[3-amino-4-(indan-2-yloxy)-5-(1-methyl-1H-indazol-5-yl)phenyl]propionate as a medicine, more preferable aspects or improved methods are provided.Crystals of any compound among 3-[3-amino-4-(indan-2-yloxy)-5-(1-methyl-1H-indazol-5-yl)phenyl]propionic acid, methyl 3-[4-(indan-2-yloxy)-3-(1-methyl-1H-indazol-5-yl)-5-nitrophenyl]propionate, and methyl 3-[3-amino-4-(indan-2-yloxy)-5-(1-methyl-1H-indazol-5-yl)phenyl]propionate, and methods of producing the same are provided. |
| US07754750B2 |
Metalloproteinase inhibitors
Compounds of the formula (I) wherein z is SO2 or SO, useful as metalloproteinase inhibitors, especially as inhibitors of MMP12. |
| US07754748B2 |
Method for treating obesity
The present invention relates, in general, to obesity, and, in particular, to a method of treating obesity and minimizing metabolic risk factors associated therewith using, for example, zonisamide or other weight-loss promoting anticonvulsant either alone or in combination with bupropion or other compound that enhances the activity of norepinephrine and/or dopamine via uptake inhibition or other mechanism. |
| US07754747B2 |
Oxazolo-naphthyl acids
The present invention relates to oxazolo-naphthyl acids of the formula and methods of using them to modulate PAI-1 expression and to treat PAI-1 related disorders. |
| US07754745B2 |
Azacyclopentane derivatives as inhibitors of stearoyl-coenzyme a delta-9 desaturase
Azacyclopentane derivatives of structural formula (I) are selective inhibitors of stearoyl-coenzyme A delta-9 desaturase (SCD1) relative to other known stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturases. The compounds of the present invention are useful for the prevention and treatment of conditions related to abnormal lipid synthesis and metabolism, including cardiovascular disease; atherosclerosis; obesity; diabetes; neurological disease; metabolic syndrome; insulin resistance; liver steatosis; and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. |
| US07754744B2 |
Substituted piperidinamines as somatostatin receptor subtype 5 (SSTR5) antagonists
This invention is concerned with compounds of the formula and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, to a process for their preparation and to their use for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases which are associated with the modulation of SST receptors subtype 5. |
| US07754741B2 |
Pyridine derivatives as fungicidal compounds
Compound of general formula (I): Process for preparing this compound. Novel intermediate of general formula (E): for the preparation of compound of general formula (I) Fungicidal composition comprising a compound of general formula (I). Method for treating plants by applying a compound of general formula (I) or a composition comprising it. |