Document Document Title
US07823193B2 Method and system for ordering, loading and using admission tickets
Method and system for ordering, loading and using admission tickets for access to access-controlled service devices, in which admission tickets are ordered from a reservation center through transmission of order data via an order channel, the order data comprising the call number of a mobile communications terminal to which the ordered admission tickets are transmitted via a mobile network and are stored there in a memory module. The data exchange between this memory module and a reading device of a said service device takes place over a contactless interface. Decisions about the access authorization of the user of the said communications terminal are made, for example in the reading device or in the communications terminal, taking into account the ticket information contained in the said admission ticket, for example limited to a digitally signed ticket number or with indications about the respective service device, and, in accordance with the decision, access to the service device is given or denied to the user through an access device connected to the said reading device.
US07823189B2 System and method for dynamic role association
A pluggable architecture allows security and business logic plugins to be inserted into a security service hosted by a server, and to control access to one or more secured resources on that server, on another server within the security domain, or between security domains. The security service may act as a focal point for security enforcement, and access rights determination, and information used or determined within one login process can flow transparently and automatically to other login processes. Entitlements denote what a particular user may or may not do with a particular resource, in a particular context. Entitlements reflect not only the technical aspects of the secure environment (the permit or deny concept), but can be used to represent the business logic or functionality required by the server provider. In this way entitlements bridge the gap between a simple security platform, and a complex business policy platform.
US07823181B2 Web television having a two-way communication bus interconnecting a television controller and an internet module
A web television includes a display, a tuner, an internet module, and a PIP module. The tuner is arranged to select television video for display on the display and to select television audio for display by a speaker of the web television. The internet module is arranged to supply internet video for display on the display and to supply internet audio for display by the speaker of the web television, and the internet video and audio are derived from internet communications between the web television and internet content providers. The PIP module is arranged to provide a PIP area within a main area of the display. The internet video and the television video may be swapped between the PIP area and the main area of the display, and the speaker of the web television may be swapped between the internet audio and the television audio.
US07823176B2 Digital broadcast receiver
FIG. 1 shows an electronic program guide unique to viewer A grouped from an electronic program guide based on electronic program guide data; the program type is set in an (a) column and the display mode of each program is set in a (b) column. In FIG. 1, a news program is displayed in text and a music program is displayed in an icon of musical notes on a music sheet. A sports program is displayed in an icon of a bat and a ball. Since the music program and the sports program are thus displayed in such icon images of reminding the viewer of the program contents, the viewer A can quickly determine the program contents visually.
US07823175B1 Signal processing apparatus and methods
A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming.
US07823161B2 Intelligent memory device with variable size task architecture
A variable task size architecture is disclosed. A system partition is included that is dedicated to system use. The system partition contains a number of specifiers that describe the number of tasks in the system memory, and for each task partition, the location and size of a task status register, the number, location and size of each of a set of task data registers, and the size and starting location of task code. Specifiers include the word size in bytes, the number of words per increment, the number of increments per partition, the number of increments per data register, and the number of data registers. In one embodiment, the number of tasks is available from an input port. The task specifiers and the number of tasks are accessible to the scheduler unit via the data flow unit when a reset signal is released.
US07823160B2 Methods of forwarding context data upon application initiation
A method to be performed in a computer system having a function for initiating applications that allows context data to be forwarded to the initiated application in a character string includes receiving a user input made during execution of a first application. The user input requests a specific operation to be performed by a second application, the specific operation to be performed using context data from the first application. In response to the user input, the context data is stored in a memory location that is available during execution of the second application. A character string is forwarded to the second application upon its initiation, the character string including an address of the memory location, wherein the second application is to access the context data for performing the specific operation. The first application or a portal store the context data, initiate the second application and forward the character string.
US07823156B2 Method of hashing address space to storage servers
An embodiment of a method of hashing an address space to a plurality of storage servers begins with a first step of dividing the address space by a number of the storage servers to form data segments. Each data segment comprises a base address. A second step assigns the data segments to the storage servers according to a sequence. The method continues with a third step of measuring a load on each of the storage servers. According to an embodiment, the method concludes with a fourth step of adjusting data shares assigned to the storage servers according to the sequence to approximately balances the loads on the storage servers while maintaining the base address for each data segment on an originally assigned storage server. According to another embodiment, the method periodically performs the third and fourth steps to maintain an approximately balanced load on the storage servers.
US07823153B1 System and method for detecting and logging in-line synchronization primitives in application program code
A system, method, and computer-accessible medium for detecting and logging in-line synchronization primitives are disclosed. One or more in-line synchronization primitives in a computer program are programmatically detected during execution of the computer program. The one or more in-line synchronization primitives are stored in a log.
US07823146B2 Method and system for software installation
A method and system for software installation, includes detecting a software request, identifying a caller, determining a system history of the software request based on at least one of a caller identification and the software request.
US07823141B1 Using a concurrent partial inspector loop with speculative parallelism
A method for executing a loop in an application that includes executing iterations in a first segment of the loop by a base thread, logging memory transactions that occur during execution of iterations in the first segment by a co-inspector thread to obtain a co-inspector log, executing iterations in a second segment of the loop by a co-thread to obtain temporary results, logging memory transactions that occur during execution of iterations in the second segment to obtain a co-thread log, and comparing the co-inspector log and the co-thread log to determine whether a thread interdependency exists.
US07823140B2 Java bytecode translation method and Java interpreter performing the same
A Java bytecode translation method and a Java interpreter performing the Java bytecode translation method are provided. The Java bytecode translation method includes extracting a number of successive Java bytecodes from a Java class, determining whether the extracted successive Java bytecodes are successive field access bytecodes for accessing a field in the Java class and translating the extracted successive Java bytecodes into predefined bytecode if the extracted successive Java bytecodes are determined to be the successive field access bytecodes, and executing the predefined bytecode.
US07823137B2 Process and implementation for using byte code insertion to modify a class definition to define and use probes for application components
A mechanism is provided for just-in-time instrumentation that uses bytecode insertion to modify a class definition to store a reference to the static class information to be used by probes. A hook is inserted to provide a callback to one or more probes. When the bytecode inserted hook is executed, the static class information is used to locate and execute the application probes.
US07823124B2 Transformation layer
The present subject mater relates to configuration of software applications and, more particularly, a configuration transformation layer. The various embodiments described herein provide systems, methods, and software to instantiate a multilayer application, wherein each application layer includes configuration settings and executing a transformation engine to transform configuration settings between application layers as a function of one or more transformation schemas.
US07823118B2 Computer readable medium having multiple instructions stored in a computer readable device
A computer readable medium comprising multiple instructions stored in a computer readable device, upon executing these instructions, a computer performing the following steps: providing a semiconductor layout and a circuit pattern; setting a forbidden area of the circuit pattern according to a restriction condition; defining at least a virtual pattern arrangement area on a portion of the semiconductor layout which does not correspond to the forbidden area; and providing a virtual pattern array in the virtual pattern arrangement area.
US07823117B1 Separating a high-level programming language program into hardware and software components
Various approaches are described for implementing a high-level programming language program in hardware and software components. In one approach, a method comprises compiling the high-level programming language program into a target language program that includes a plurality of functional elements. Execution of the target language program is profiled to obtain execution counts of the functional elements. A subset of the functional elements are selected for implementation in programmable resources of a programmable device based on the profile data and availability of programmable resources. A bitstream is generated to implement a first sub-circuit that performs functions of the subset of functional elements, and the subset of functional elements is removed from the target language program. The programmable device is configured with the bitstream. The target language program is provided for execution by a processor.
US07823116B2 Hierarchical analog layout synthesis and optimization for integrated circuits
In embodiment of the invention, a method of synthesizing a layout of an integrated circuit chip including analog circuitry is disclosed. The method includes receiving a circuit netlist of an integrated circuit chip including analog circuitry; representing and manipulating a hierarchical analog circuit layout including device placement and net routing in response to the circuit netlist, the hierarchical analog circuit layout including a plurality of levels of layout hierarchy; and passing layout information from one level of the layout hierarchy to an adjacent level of the layout hierarchy to synthesize the layout of the integrated circuit chip.
US07823111B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit device, semiconductor integrated circuit design method, and semiconductor integrated circuit design apparatus
A semiconductor integrated circuit design method includes a step (L) of providing layout information for laying out elements making up a logical circuit on a semiconductor substrate; a step (P) of providing logical circuit information; a step (a) of classifying logical circuits in response to the logical circuit propagation route of a signal based on the logical circuit information and a step (b) of isolating the logical circuits forming the route obtained in the classifying step (a) for each number of stages; a step (c) of classifying the elements making up the logical circuit according to substrate voltage for each number of stages of the logical circuit; and a layout correction step (d) of correcting the layout information so that each element with the larger stage number of the logical circuit is placed at a point closer to a substrate contact.
US07823104B2 Determination of single-fix rectification function
Some aspects provide determination of a function to rectify functional differences between netlist G1 and netlist G2 having inputs V. The determination may include determination of a signal s of netlist G1 that can be re-synthesized so as to correct the functional differences between netlist G1 and netlist G2, assignment of respective static values to a first plurality of inputs V, assignment of respective initial values to a second plurality of inputs V, determination of a first function based on the assigned static values, the assigned initial values, a first error function reflecting the difference between outputs of netlist G1 and netlist G2 for each vector of inputs V in a case that s equals 0, and a second error function reflecting the difference between the outputs of netlist G1 and netlist G2 for each vector of inputs V in a case that s equals 1. Also included may be determination of whether the first function rectifies the functional differences between netlist G1 and netlist G2, assignment, if it is determined that the first function does not rectify the functional differences, of respective next values to the second plurality of inputs, and determination of a second function based on the first function, the assigned static values, the assigned next values, the first error function, and the second error function.
US07823090B2 Information-processing apparatus and clock information display control method for use in the apparatus
An apparatus controls a main display and a sub-display. The apparatus includes a section which displays, on the sub-display, clock information indicating of time, a section which acquires changed time information, when the time information has been changed, and a section which changes a present value of the time of the clock information displayed on the sub-display, based on the acquired changed time information.
US07823087B2 Method to enhance navigation and scalability in table and tree viewers
A data model for navigating data. In a preferred embodiment, the data model abides rules that limit the total number of nodes displayable and that limit the number of child nodes displayable beneath a given parent. collapsed or folded nodes are replaced by embedded navigation controls that indicate the hidden nodes.
US07823082B2 Intelligence driven icons and cursors
A method is presented for representing emergent data in intelligent icons. The intelligent icons are visually coded to represent the emergent data. When logically linked, the visual coding of linked intelligent icons changes in accordance with how the intelligent icons are linked.
US07823076B2 Simplified user interface navigation
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for user interface navigation. A method includes receiving first input indicating a first cursor navigation direction in a first visual area of a graphical user interface, the first visual area presenting one or more first content type indicators that are destinations for cursor navigation, selecting a next content type indicator based on the first cursor navigation direction and presenting a second visual area such that the next content type indicator is not visible but one or more other content type indicators are visible. The method includes presenting in the second visual area one or more content thumbnails that are destinations for cursor navigation in the second visual area, receiving second input indicating a second cursor navigation direction in the second visual area, and changing the second visual area to include a next content thumbnail based on the second cursor navigation direction.
US07823072B2 Method and system for controlling multiple electronic mail messages in a data processing system
A method and a corresponding system for controlling multiple notes are disclosed. A multiple note (340) includes a series of (basic) notes (330,335) that have been forwarded by other users. In the proposed representation, the basic notes are arranged in a tabbed pane (345). The tabbed pane consists of multiple overlying panels (350) resembling a stack of pieces of paper lying on top of one another, with only the topmost panel that is visible to a user; a selection tab (355) is attached to each panel. Each panel and the corresponding tab are associated with a respective basic note; particularly, the panel is used to display the basic note, whereas the tab is denoted with the first characters of the subject identifying the corresponding basic note. Therefore, whenever the user wishes to view a desired basic note, he or she simply selects the corresponding tab in order to pop up the respective panel.
US07823066B1 Intelligent console for content-based interactivity
The intelligent console method and apparatus of the present invention includes a powerful, intuitive, yet highly flexible means for accessing a multi-media system having multiple multi-media data types. The present intelligent console provides an interactive display of linked multi-media events based on a user's personal taste. The intelligent console includes a graph/data display that can provide several graphical representations of the events that satisfy user queries. The user can access an event simply by selecting the time of interest on the timeline of the graph/data display. Because the system links together all of the multi-media data types associated with a selected event, the intelligent console synchronizes and displays the multiple media data when a user selects the event. Complex queries can be made using the present intelligent console. The user is alerted to the events satisfying the complex queries and if the user chooses, the corresponding and associated multi-media data is displayed.
US07823061B2 System and method for text segmentation and display
The present invention provides a system and method for dividing patent claims into segments for display. A segmentation engine of a computer program searches for transitional phrases or other strings and divides the patent claims into a segment for each claim. The segmentation engine also searches for dependency references. A display engine of the program uses the dependency data to display the claims in a tree structure. The segmentation also divides each claim into subsegments containing the various components of the claim. The subsegments of each claim are displayed in a tree structure nested within the tree structure of the claims. A user may manipulate and/or select segmentation rules to determine how segmentation is carried out, or may alter display settings to determine which segments or subsegments are shown and which are hidden to expedite claim analysis.
US07823053B2 System and method for searching error messages
A user interface component receives an input error message. A query enhancer component derives error messages from the input error messages using error pattern(s) representative of the input error message and error sub-pattern(s) of the error pattern(s). A result aggregator component inputs each error message to search engines, receives search results, aggregates the search results, and provides the search results to the user interface. The enhancer component may include a pattern composer component to locate error patterns representative of the input error message, and a sub-pattern generator component to derive error sub-patterns from the error patterns. The aggregator component may determine whether the search results are in agreement with a predetermined criterion. If not, the aggregator component may request the enhancer component to provide additional error messages to input to the search engines. This process can be iteratively repeated until the search results are in agreement with the predetermined criterion.
US07823052B2 Trellis encoding device for encoding transmission stream and method thereof
A trellis encoding device includes a trellis encoder block that includes a plurality of memories, and outputs a bit value determined by a state of the memories; a Reed-Solomon re-encoder that receives the bit value output from the trellis encoder block, and generates a parity corresponding to the bit value; and an adder that receives the parity generated by the Reed-Solomon re-encoder and a transmission stream including a parity, and corrects the parity of the transmission stream by adding the parity generated by the Reed-Solomon re-encoder to the transmission stream, thereby generating a parity-corrected transmission stream.
US07823051B2 Digital broadcasting transmission system and method thereof
A digital broadcasting transmission system and method thereof. The digital broadcasting transmission system, comprises an RS encoder to encode a dual transport stream (TS) which includes a normal stream and a plurality of turbo streams multiplexed together, an interleaver to interleave the encoded dual TS, a turbo processor to detect the turbo streams from the interleaved dual TS and to encode the detected turbo stream, and a trellis encoder to pseudo2 (P-2) vestigial sideband (VSB) code the turbo-processed dual TS, and, then, to perform trellis encoding, and a main multiplexer (MUX) to multiplex the trellis-encoded dual TS by adding a field synchronous signal and a segment synchronous signal thereto.
US07823050B2 Low area architecture in BCH decoder
An improvement to a key equation solver block for a BCH decoder, where the key equation solver block having a number of multiplier units specified by X, where: t*(7*t−1)/(codeword_len−3)≦X<(t+1), where t is a number of transmission errors for the key equation solver block to correct, and codeword_len is a length of a transmitted codeword to be decoded by the BCH decoder.
US07823048B2 Buffering of data from a data stream having error correction elements
Data for a second Multi-Protocol Encapsulation-Forward Error Correcting (MPE-FEC) data frame is received while application data from a first MPE-FEC frame is undergoing error correction. The incoming data is buffered in a supplemental buffer having a size smaller than that needed for an entire MPE-FEC frame. As the supplemental buffer is filled, additional data from the second frame is stored in a buffer previously used to store error correction data for the first MPE-FEC frame. When corrected application data from the first MPE-FEC frame is transferred from an application data buffer used to hold application data undergoing correction, the second MPE-FEC frame data is transferred from the supplemental and error correction data buffers to the application data buffer. Additional data for the second frame is then placed directly into the application and error correction data buffers.
US07823046B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device has a memory section including a first and second memory cell storing a data bit and error correcting bit, respectively. An error correcting section outputs a data signal containing an error-corrected data bit, using the error correcting bit and an information signal when the error is corrected. A test section outputs a first determination signal when the memory section is determined to be faulty by checking the data signal based on a program. A counter section counts the number of times by which the information signal is supplied thereto and outputs a second determination signal when the result of counting becomes equal to a reference value. A determining section determines that the memory section is faulty when one of the first and second determination signals is supplied thereto.
US07823043B2 Corruption-resistant data porting with multiple error correction schemes
To export (e.g., store or transmit) input data, only the input data are encoded separately according to first and second encoding schemes to provide first and second encoded data. The first encoded data and the second encoded data are exported. Upon importing (e.g., retrieving or receiving) representations of the exported data, a first decoding scheme is applied to the representation of the first encoded data to recover the input data. If that application fails, then a second decoding scheme is applied to the representation of the second encoded data to recover the input data.
US07823035B2 System and methods of balancing scan chains and inserting the balanced-length scan chains into hierarchically designed integrated circuits
A system and methods of balancing scan chains and, more particularly, a system and methods of load balancing scan chains into hierarchically designed integrated circuits. The method includes estimating or calculating a maximum scan chain length L and creating a maximum number of scan chains of length L in each hierarchical block. The method further includes distributing remaining scan bits in each hierarchical block into additional scan chains, and creating chip-level scan chains by using the scan chains of maximum length L and by forming additional chip-level scan chains of maximum length L by distributing the additional scan chains of maximum length LR, plus any remaining top-level scan bits, among the additional chip-level scan chains of maximum length L.
US07823028B2 Low-level console interface
An apparatus and computer instructions for interfacing with an operating system on a data processing system. Registers in a processor are allocated for use in providing a low-level console interface to a remote data processing system, wherein the registers are accessed by the remote data processing system using the low-level console interface. Data is exchanged with the remote data processing system through the low-level console interface. Also, multiple channels may be multiplexed through this low-level console interface.
US07823008B2 Maintaining consistency in a remote copy data storage system
An apparatus configured to operate as a primary for a remote copy pair is provided. The apparatus comprises a journal component at said primary for generating journal entries for one or more uncompleted sequenced batches; a configurator responsive to an error indication from a secondary for enumeration of said one or more uncompleted sequenced batches; and a primary server responsive to said enumeration of said one or more uncompleted sequenced batches to reissue to said secondary one or more write requests for said one or more uncompleted sequenced batches, during recovery processing.
US07823007B2 Apparatus, system, and method for switching a volume address association in a point-in-time copy relationship
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for switching a volume address association in a point-in-time copy relationship. A copy module creates a point-in-time copy structure of a source volume at a target volume. A migration module copies data from the source volume to the target volume. A detection module detects data corruption in the source volume. A switch module switches a logical volume address from a source volume address of the source volume to a target volume address of the target volume in response to detecting the data corruption, redirecting data reads and writes to the target volume. In one embodiment, a tracking module tracks a current target volume copy of source volume data and redirects an access for source volume data without the current target volume copy to the source volume.
US07823005B2 Communications system
A method for the monitoring and modification of communications in a communications system and a related communications system with a number of intercommunicating first nodes in which the intercommunication comprises desired communications and may comprise undesired communications; in which the system also comprises a further node for monitoring and modifying the communications; in which the further node comprises means for modifying the undesired communications and/or introducing further communications to change the operation of the system.
US07823004B2 Clock source selection for modular computer system as a function of modulo difference
A computer system provides for connecting consecutively positioned modules to operate collectively as server. Each module calculates a modulo difference between its position and that of a module serving as a clock source; each module selects a clock input as a function of the result of that calculation.
US07823002B2 Digital reliability monitor having autonomic repair and notification capability
An integrated circuit, including: a pulse generator adapted to generate a pulsed signal; a cycle counter adapted to count cycles of the pulsed signal; one or more repairable circuit elements; and a repair processor adapted to repair a repairable circuit element when the cycle counter reaches a pre-determined cycle count.
US07822990B2 Online data encryption and decryption
Systems and methods for providing encryption and decryption of data transmitted on a computer implemented network, preferably user authentication identifier data, such as a password, at the point of entry into the user's computer. The systems and methods enable an end user to mentally select a marker from one of the randomly arranged elements on a first portion of a graphical image. A second portion of the graphical image includes an arrangement of possible elements of any individual authentication identifier sequence, and is positioned adjacent to the first portion. The systems and methods prompt a user to enter each element of the identifier by moving the selected marker and the first portion as necessary to substantially align the selected marker with a chosen element of the authentication identifier appearing on the outer portion. According to one embodiment, the image portions are concentric wheels. According to another embodiment, the image portions are arranged in adjacent rows.
US07822989B2 Controlling access to an area
Controlling access includes providing a barrier to access that includes a controller that selectively allows access, at least one administration entity generating credentials/proofs, wherein no valid proofs are determinable given only the credentials and values for expired proofs, the controller receiving the credentials/proofs, the controller determining if access is presently authorized, and, if access is presently authorized, the controller allowing access. The credentials/proofs may be in one part or may be in separate parts. There may be a first administration entity that generates the credentials and other administration entities that generate proofs. The first administration entity may also generate proofs or the first administration entity may not generate proofs. The credentials may correspond to a digital certificate that includes a final value that is a result of applying a one way function to a first one of the proofs.
US07822988B2 Method and system for identity recognition
In accordance with various aspects, the present invention relates to methods and systems for sending an identity information document comprising selecting identity information from a self-identity information store for inclusion in the identity information document. The selected identity information is read from a self-identity information store. The identity information document is generated to include the selected identity information and one or more keys, and signed using a key associated with one of the keys included in the identity information document. The identity information document is then sent to a recipient. Receiving an identity information document comprises receiving a signed identity information document from an originator. A determination is made as to whether identity information in the identity information document is reliable. The identity information is saved in a recognized identity information store if the identity information is determined to be reliable. If the identity information is determined to be unreliable, an identity recognition number retrieved from the sender is compared to an identity recognition number generated by the recipient based on information in the received identity information document. If the identity recognition number is verified, the identity information is saved in the recognized identity information store.
US07822986B2 Cryptographic authentication with ephemeral modules
A method enabling a personal computer to be authenticated by a server is provided. The method comprises the step, which includes for the user in launching the execution of a log-on procedure software, introducing personal identifiers providing access to a signature private key for long-term use relative to the duration of the session. The log-on procedure software produces: identification data of the session Id, a public ephemeral module, a public exponent and at least a pair of ephemeral pubic numbers and ephemeral private numbers related by a generic equation of the type: G=Qv (mod n) or G×Qv=1 (mod n), an ephemeral certificate linking, by means of said signature private key, Id and public ephemeral module. The public ephemeral module is of reduced size relative to the signature private key.
US07822984B2 Portal system, method and program, and associated user computer and content supplier
Portal, and a method and program executed by a portal. The portal receives a data request and a public certificate from a user. The portal transmits the data request and the public certificate to a content supplier. The portal receives confidential data and non-confidential data responsive to the data request. The confidential data is received in encrypted form together with an identifier identifying the confidential data as encrypted. The non-confidential data is received in unencrypted form. The portal formats the non-confidential data in accordance with a specification previously provided by the user. The portal transmits the encrypted confidential data, the identifier and the formatted non-confidential data to the user.
US07822979B2 Method and apparatus for secure execution using a secure memory partition
A processor capable of secure execution. The processor contains an execution unit and secure partition logic that secures a partition in memory. The processor also contains cryptographic logic coupled to the execution unit that encrypts and decrypts secure data and code.
US07822975B2 Authentication of data transmitted in a digital transmission system
A method of authenticating data transmitted in a digital transmission system, in which the method comprises the steps, prior to transmission, of determining at least two encrypted values for at least some of the data, each encrypted value being determined using a key of a respective encryption algorithm, and outputting said at least two encrypted values with said data.
US07822969B2 Watermark systems and methods
Various improvements relating to digital watermarking and related technologies are detailed, including methods that enhance security and functionality, and new articles including watermarked puzzles and marked DNA.
US07822962B2 Application software configured to work with two operating systems
An application software is provided to work with two operating systems of a computer. A first mode of the application software is configured to work with the computer before the primary operating system is booted. The second mode of the application software is provided to work under the environment provide by the primary operation system.
US07822961B2 Semi-persistent relocatable ram-based virtual floppy disk method
The invention is a method and related structure for providing operating system drivers during installation of the operating system, where those operating system drivers are provided by way of a virtual disk drive. Basic input/output system (BIOS) routines are adapted to support showing these operating system drivers as residing on a virtual disk drive within the system. The operating system drivers are stored in the unreserved ROM space of the computer. Further, multiple floppy images are stored in the ROM, and the BIOS is adapted to show only the floppy image appropriate for the operating system to be installed. The virtual drive contents may be those operating system drivers stored in the unreserved ROM, but also may be physically stored in RAM.
US07822953B2 Protection of a program against a trap
A method for controlling the execution, by a central processing unit, of a program stored in a memory, a redundancy code stored with first current data at a current address being assigned to second subsequent data of the program and depending at least on the second data.
US07822951B2 System and method of load-store forwarding
A system and method for data forwarding from a store instruction to a load instruction during out-of-order execution, when the load instruction address matches against multiple older uncommitted store addresses or if the forwarding fails during the first pass due to any other reason. In a first pass, the youngest store instruction in program order of all store instructions older than a load instruction is found and an indication to the store buffer entry holding information of the youngest store instruction is recorded. In a second pass, the recorded indication is used to index the store buffer and the store bypass data is forwarded to the load instruction. Simultaneously, it is verified if no new store, younger than the previously identified store and older than the load has not been issued due to out-of-order execution.
US07822948B2 Apparatus, system, and method for discontiguous multiple issue of instructions
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for discontiguous multiple issue of instructions. An assignment unit assigns a plurality of instruction blocks to a plurality of issue units. The plurality of issue units each comprises a renaming map that maps each architecturally visible register address to a rename register. Each issue unit maps each architecturally visible register in the decoded instruction to a register placeholder if the renaming map entry for that architecturally visible register is invalid else maps the architecturally visible register in the decoded instruction to a rename register if the rename register entry is valid. Each issue unit further receives predecessor mapping information from the renaming map of the issue unit's predecessor issue unit in response to the assignment unit identifying a relationship with the predecessor issue unit and the final mapping information being available from the predecessor issue unit.
US07822945B2 Configuration managing device for a reconfigurable circuit
A semiconductor device including a multi-layer interconnection substrate having a signal distribution interconnection and a power supply line and semiconductor circuit blocks installed on the multi-layer interconnection substrate for performing required operations. The multi-layer substrate includes a third interconnection layer having interconnections extending in a first direction, a second interconnection layer having interconnections extending in a second direction which is different to the first direction, and a first interconnection layer having interconnections extends in a direction orthogonal to the first direction.
US07822942B2 Selectively invalidating entries in an address translation cache
An apparatus and method selectively invalidate entries in an address translation cache instead of invalidating all, or nearly all, entries. One or more translation mode bits are provided in each entry in the address translation cache. These translation mode bits may be set according to the addressing mode used to create the cache entry. One or more “hint bits” are defined in an instruction that allow specifying which of the entries in the address translation cache are selectively preserved during an invalidation operation according to the value(s) of the translation mode bit(s). In the alternative, multiple instructions may be defined to preserve entries in the address translation cache that have specified addressing modes. In this manner, more intelligence is used to recognize that some entries in the address translation cache may be valid after a task or partition switch, and may therefore be retained, while other entries are invalidated.
US07822924B2 Processing of self-modifying code in multi-address-space and multi-processor systems
A method and system of storing to an instruction stream with a multiprocessor or multiple-address-space system is disclosed. A central processing unit may cache instructions in a cache from a page of primary code stored in a memory storage unit. The central processing unit may execute cached instructions from the cache until a serialization operation is executed. The central processing unit may check in a message queue for a notification message indicating potential storing to the page. If the notification message is present in the message queue, cached instructions from the page are invalidated.
US07822919B2 Storage device using nonvolatile cache memory and control method thereof
A data process can be performed without lowering the data processing efficiency even when the sector length of the host device side is different from the sector length of the hard disk side. Partial data or whole data of a second data block which is based on a long sector defined on the hard disk side and surrounds the starting end and terminating end addresses of a first data block based on a host-defined sector is read from the hard disk and written to a flash memory before the data process using the flash memory as a cache is performed based on the command.
US07822914B2 Data protection for non-volatile semiconductor memory using block protection flags
Receiving a request for canceling setting, a control circuit erases data stored in a corresponding block, changes a value of a protection flag, and cancels protection setting. When an overall protection is set for any block, the control circuit prohibits access to all blocks, except when it is an operation mode for activating a memory program contained in the microcomputer. Further, control circuit permits an access to a block M only when partial protection is set, CPU is in the mode for activating a memory program contained in the microcomputer and the access is for reading an instruction code in accordance with an instruction fetch.
US07822908B2 Discovery of a bridge device in a SAS communication system
An embodiment of the present invention includes a communication system configured to conform to SAS standard and causing communication between one or more hosts and a SATA/SAS device. The communication system includes a multi-port bridge device including two or more SAS ports through which the bridge device communicates to hosts. The multi-port bridge device further includes a SATA port through which the bridge device communicates to a SATA device, each said SAS ports having associated therewith addresses for identifying the ports, the bridge device operative to generate addresses unique to each SAS port and operative to communicate the port addresses, through a SAS frame, wherein identification of SAS ports is achievable even when the SATA device is inoperational.
US07822900B2 Apparatus and method for enumeration of processors during hot-plug of a compute node
An apparatus and method for enumeration of processors during hot-plug of a compute node are described. The method includes the enumeration, in response to a hot-plug reset, of one or more processors. The enumeration is provided to a system architecture operating system in which a compute node is hot-plugged. Once enumeration is complete, the compute node is started in response to an operating system activation request. Accordingly, once device enumeration, as well as resource enumeration are complete, the one or more processors of the processor memory node are activated, such that the operating system may begin utilizing the processors of the hot-plugged compute node.
US07822897B2 System and methods for connecting multiple functional components
The present invention relates to a flexible and reconfigurable bus fabric for microelectronic processing units, which can offer efficient memory data management, together with efficient data transfer and relieving data transfer congestion in an integrated circuit. In an embodiment, the present reconfigurable bus fabric comprises a multistate intersection between two data buses. Preferably, the multistate intersection comprises at least two states, a connecting state connecting the two data buses, and a disconnecting state disconnecting the two data buses. The multistate intersection provides a reconfigurable bus fabric, allowing different connection configuration for the data buses. This reconfigurable bus fabric offers soft-configurability and soft-reconfigurability, using software programming to arrange the circuits' interconnections. Other configurations are also disclosed in exemplary embodiments.
US07822892B2 Managing the copying of writes from primary storages to secondary storages across different networks
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for managing the copying of writes from primary storages to secondary storages across different networks. Information is maintained on a first group of at least one primary storage, at least one primary device managing Input/Output (I/O) access to the at least one primary storage, and at least one corresponding secondary storage to which writes to the at least one primary storage are copied and a second group of at least one primary storage, at least one primary device managing Input/Output (I/O) access to the at least one primary storage, and at least one corresponding secondary storage to which writes to the at least one primary storage are copied. A failure notification is received from one of the primary devices in the first or second group of a failure to copy a write from the primary device to the secondary device. A freeze command is issued over a first network, using a first network protocol, to the at least one primary device in the first group to stop copying writes to the corresponding at least one secondary device. A freeze command is issued over a second network, using a second network protocol, to the at least one primary device in the second group to stop copying writes to the corresponding at least one secondary device.
US07822887B2 Multi-channel solid-state storage system
A data storage system includes a data management system that transfers data between a host system and multiple storage devices through multiple channels. The data management system receives data from the host system and writes the data as data segments to the multiple storage devices. Each data segment may comprise one sector, more than one sector, or a portion of a sector, depending on the embodiment. The data segments are transferred to and from the multiple storage devices in parallel fashion while the data in each data segment is transferred to its corresponding data storage device sequentially. The data management system reassembles data segments received from the data storage devices and sends the data to the host system.
US07822884B2 Distributed direct memory access provision within a data processing system
An adaptor circuit 20 for peripheral devices 14, 18 is provided with a direct memory access manager 38. This local direct memory access manager 38 is able to autonomously manage data transfers on behalf of its associated peripheral device 14, 18. A computer program tools used to generate signal interconnects 24 is used to additionally specify whether a DMA capability is to be provided for a peripheral device 14, 18, whereupon an adaptor circuit 20, 22 including a DMA manager 38 can be included within the signal interconnect. A DMA command signal is added to the interconnect signals being passed around the signal interconnect 24 and enables DMA command/configuration data to be distributed using the existing signal distribution infrastructure and addressed to the associated peripheral device 14, 18 of the target local DMA controller 38. Existing software drivers can issue control information to a main central DMA controller 6, which then passes this information on to a DMA Capable adaptor circuit 20 to manage the transfer concerned. Thus the present technique can be used without requiring software drivers to be rewritten.
US07822879B2 Methods for address assignment
Methods for CEC logical address assignments and HDMI physical address assignments. Some embodiments determine a required HDMI physical address to be assigned to an upstream HDMI-CEC device and provide the required HDMI physical address. Other embodiments assign consistent CEC logical addresses to a plurality of HDMI-CEC display devices in different HDMI-CEC network views.
US07822875B1 Method for flexible modifications to a packet
A method allowing for flexible modification of a data packet in a data network is presented. A data packet is parsed based on one or more attributes and sent to a buffer memory and a user modifiable lookup table. Using extracted packet data, information required to modify the data packet as desired is located in the lookup table and forwarded to a packet modification engine. Within the packet modification engine, a novel rewrite constructor module generates unique packet rewrite information based on the information forwarded from the lookup table and one or more additional inputs. This unique packet rewrite information is forwarded to a packet rewrite engine, wherein the packet rewrite engine modifies the data packet accordingly.
US07822874B2 Providing third party content to media devices
A method and system for interfacing between a portable media device and one or more media content providers. The method may be practiced, for example, in a system including the portable media device that receives content from one or more media content providers. The method can include identifying a first data format employed by the portable media device and a second data format employed by a selected media content provider. A data stream is received from the selected media content provider. The data received from the selected media content provider can be modified to be compatible with the first data format. Alternately or additionally, the data stream can be filtered to eliminate content that is unnecessary for the portable media device. The method further includes communicating the formatted data to the portable media device.
US07822862B2 Method of satisfying a demand on a network for a network resource
A demand on a server farm or local area network for a farm or network resource is satisfied. The farm or network has a demand director server, a first resource server having a first resource, and a second resource server having a second, different, resource. The director server is aware of what resources are held on the first and second resource servers. In response to a request for one of the first and second resources, one of the first and second resource servers is selected to serve out the requested resource and direct the request to the selected one of the first and second resource servers. The demand server selects an appropriate one of the resource servers to receive the request using its knowledge of where the requested resource is located.
US07822851B2 Remote user computer control and monitoring
In a method of computer usage monitoring, a user computer monitors for the input of predetermined keywords or phrases into an application running thereon, the presence of the keywords or phrases in a file received via a computer network, or the launching of one or more predetermined applications or programs. In response detecting the input of one or more of the predetermined keywords or phrases, the presence of one or more of the predetermined keywords or phrases in a file received via the computer network, or the launching of one or more the predetermined applications or programs, the user computer records a digital form of at least one visual image appearing on a video monitor of the user computer. The user computer dispatches the digital form of the recorded image to the server computer via the computer network.
US07822846B1 Method and system for brokering media files
A method and system for brokering a media file from a media provider to a media requester. A media provider, such as a camera phone, captures a media file. A media requester provides an event-definition record to a network entity so as to request a media file. The network entity requests that the media provider provide media files that meet criteria defined by the event-definition record. The media provider provides a media file and media file data associated with the media file to the network entity. The network entity compares the media file data to the event-definition record, and provides the media file to the media requester if the media file data matches the event-definition record. An enterprise operating the network entity brokers the sale of the media file, in part, by collecting a payment from a media requester user and making a payment to a media provider user.
US07822844B2 System and methods for monitoring application server performance
A monitoring system monitors the amount of time spent by specific application components, such as Java components, during execution of specific web site transactions. A probe that runs on an application server initially instruments these components (preferably at component load time) to add code for tracking execution start and stop times. When a monitored transaction is executed by the application server, the probe measures the execution times of the invoked components—preferably at the component method level. The resulting measurement data is reported to a reports server, and is used to provide transaction-specific breakdowns of the amount of time spent by each instrumented component, and optionally each instrumented method within such components. In one embodiment, the probe only monitors transactions initiated by agent-generated transaction request messages that are marked or “colored” for monitoring, and thus ignores transactions initiated by actual users.
US07822839B1 Method and system for accessing network services
A method and system for accessing network services. A client sends a request for a service. The request includes an address of the client. One or more resolvers receive the request for a service. The one or more resolvers determine at least one service location to return to the client based at least partially on the service requested and the address of the client. The at least one service location is then returned to the client. The service locations returned to the client may also be based on a policy, user preferences, client preferences, or client characteristics.
US07822834B2 Wireless communication system for exchanging signals between computer and device and computer and device used in such system
A communication system includes a computer and a device. The computer includes a signal transmission unit to output a signal by wireless communication in accordance with a first wireless setting, and a setting data sending unit to transmit a second wireless setting data to the device in accordance with the first wireless setting. The device includes a detection unit to detect the signal output while changing a wireless setting for the device, a replying unit to return identification data corresponding to the source of the signal in accordance with a wireless setting used after detection of the signal, a receiving unit to receive the second wireless setting data in accordance with the wireless setting used after detection of the signal, after the replying unit transmits the identification data, and a setting unit makes the wireless setting in accordance with the second wireless setting data.
US07822831B2 Method, system and program product for preserving and restoring mobile device user settings
Under the present invention, an enterprise application and corresponding client properties file is provided on a mobile device. Upon initiation of the mobile device, the client properties file is read into application memory. The user can then make modifications to the client properties file to change the user settings as he/she desires. If an updated properties file is later received from the server, it is reconciled with the client properties file. Thus, the user's modifications are not discarded or overwritten. In addition, the reconciled properties file could be synchronized to the server so that if the mobile device is lost or fails, the user's settings can be restored.
US07822828B2 System for using non-standard transfer protocol from software received at in-vehicle communications gateway for exchanging data with client device
Methods and apparatus are provided for transmitting data to a client device from a computer module in a vehicle. Data is transmitted from the computer module over an in-vehicle network to an in-vehicle communications gateway module. The data from the computer module is destined for the client device. A request for a software component is transmitted to the client device from a standard port of the in-vehicle communications gateway module. The software component comprises a non-standard transfer protocol module. The in-vehicle communications gateway module loads the non-standard transfer protocol module, and the data is exchanged between the in-vehicle communications gateway module and the client device according to the non-standard transfer protocol.
US07822825B2 Device and method for centralized data management and a access control to databases
A profile access mediator provides to a plurality of service providers controlled and logically centralized access to personal profiles stored in a local or distributed database. The access to the databases containing user, service or terminal profiles is controlled and tracked by a plurality of personalized access technologies which are dependent on the typology of the data involved. Such a scheme allows for better control of the data access, more efficiency in the security and accounting processes, as well as in the data access in general.
US07822823B2 Systems for communicating current and future activity information among mobile internet users and methods therefor
A computer-implemented method implemented via the Internet for coordinating a current or future event between a user of a mobile Internet device and other users communicating through the Internet. The method includes receiving the current or future activity information pertaining to the future event from the user via the mobile Internet device. The current activity pertains to an activity occurring at a current time relative to a time the future activity information is received. The future activity pertains to an activity occurring at a future time relative to a time the future activity information is received. The method further includes transmitting the current or future activity information to a backend database coupled to the Internet, the backend database being remote from the mobile Internet device. The method further includes rendering the current or future activity information accessible to at least one recipient via the Internet. The recipient represents a subset of the users coupled to the Internet and having access privilege to information pertaining to the current or future event involving the user.
US07822817B2 Method and system of data collection and mapping from a remote position reporting device
A computer-implemented system, method, and computer-program product for tracking and mapping a position of mobile object. A global position satellite receiver and information from at least two global position satellites is used to determine a position of a mobile object with the global position satellite receiver. The position of the mobile object is reported via the Internet to a recipient in search of the mobile object. A remote position reporting device of the monitoring system can be part of or attached to any mobile object such as a child, a skier, a car, and expensive items. The remote position reporting device includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, monitoring software and an Internet access module. The monitoring software (e.g., a dynamic link library) supports multiple data formats and multiple protocols to communicate the position information. The GPS receiver provides the monitoring software with position information at prescribed times, and the monitoring software records the position information. The monitoring software communicates the position information at prescribed times to a desired party through the Internet access module. The recipient of the position information can provide the information to a mapping software application that identifies the remote position reporting device and the current location of the device on a map. The mapping software can place all the previous position information from the remote position reporting device on the map to show the path of the device. The mapping software can use the services of a POP3 server or an FTP server to obtain position information at any time to map the current location and the past location of the remote position reporting device.
US07822813B2 Storing and accessing media files
A content storage and distribution networked system is described. The system includes at least one local network at a first physical premises, at least one audio-video storage device in communication with the local network, and at least two client devices in communication with the local network. The audio-video storage device is configured to store at least one media file, which includes at least video. The first client device is configured to enable the two client device to simultaneously access the at least one media file stored on the audio-video storage device. The system is configured to cause playback of media that is associated with the retrieved media file, and to enable the user of the first client device to operate on the playback of the media associated with the retrieved media file, using at least the operations of start, stop, pause, fast forward, and reverse.
US07822811B2 Performance enhancements for video conferencing
A conference server may request a key frame from a conference participant in response to determining that the conference participant should become a most active participant, and the conference server may make the conference participant the most active participant in response to receiving the key frame from the conference participant.
US07822810B2 Method and system for peer to peer common channel collaboration
A method and system for peer to peer common channel collaboration. The method includes exchanging collaboration messages between a plurality of proxies. The collaboration messages are configured for mediating communication between a corresponding plurality of servers. Each server is associated with a corresponding proxy. The execution of data transfers between the servers is controlled through a mediation implemented by the proxies.
US07822808B2 Collection and distribution of sense-on-demand data
A method and system for collecting and distributing sense-on-demand data is provided. The sense-on-demand data system uses a network of centralized computers and remote units. The centralized computers may be operated by or on behalf of the operator of the sense-on-demand data system, and the remote units may be operated by users of the network. The remote units may consist of a variety of mobile and fixed-location devices, such as cellular telephones, personal data assistants, laptop computers, desktop computers, and stand-alone data sensor units. The system receives requests for information, identifies remote units that are proximate to the location, forwards the requests to the identified remote units, receives responses from the remote units, and provides responses to the requester.
US07822799B1 Adder-rounder circuitry for specialized processing block in programmable logic device
Adder/rounder circuitry for use in a programmable logic device computes a rounded sum quickly, and ideally within one clock cycle. The rounding position is selectable within a range of bit positions. In an input stage, for each bit position in that range, bits from both addends and a rounding bit are processed, while for each bit position outside that range only bits from both addends are processed. The input stage processing aligns its output in a common format for bits within and outside the range. The input processing may include 3:2 compression for bit positions within the range and 2:2 compression for bit positions outside the range, so that further processing is performed for all bit positions on a sum vector and a carry vector. Computation of the sum proceeds substantially simultaneously with and without the rounding input, and rounding logic makes a selection later in the computation.
US07822794B2 Data recording apparatus and data file transmission method in data recording apparatus
The invention has as its object to selectively reproduce on an external apparatus apart of digital data with index that a user wants to reproduce out of the digital data being made up of audio data and/or video data without having to use an application program dedicated for the external apparatus.The present invention is characterized in that in a case that a data file linked with a position information file is to be transmitted to the external apparatus, there are provided a data file divider which performs division processing on the data file on the basis of predetermined positions on the time axis of the digital data specified by the position information to thereby create a plurality of divided data files and a data file transmitter for transmitting the divided data files created by the data file divider to the external apparatus.
US07822782B2 Application package to automatically identify some single stranded RNA viruses from characteristic residues of capsid protein or nucleotide sequences
A system implemented on a computer is disclosed for automatically identifying strains of partial or complete capsid sequences of picorna and caliciviruses, two of the most highly diverse ssRNA virus families.
US07822780B1 Computerized method and system for generating procedures capable of being used with multiple databases
Computerized methods and systems for generating procedures to be executed in mainframe computing environments, such procedures capable of being used with multiple databases are provided. The procedures are “generic” in that they contain an include member therein which, upon execution of the procedure, may be used to generate a database definition statement identifying the database on which the procedure is to be run. As such, generation and maintenance of only a single generic procedure is required when such procedure is to be run on multiple databases, significantly reducing the opportunity for human error that is associated with the generation and maintenance of the documentation necessary for jobs to be run in mainframe computing environments.
US07822779B2 Method and apparatus for scalable transport processing fulfillment system
A scalable fulfillment system is presented that supports business processes, manages the transport and processing of business-related messages or documents between a business entity and clients, such as customers, vendors, and business partners, and generally supports business document processing. The system intelligently manages the transportation of files from clients, through processing of files, to generating responses that return to the clients. To accommodate a heterogeneous interfacing and processing with different clients in a central system, a file normalization technique is used that captures a common meta-data format from the numerous heterogeneous file types used by numerous clients. The meta-data files, also referred to as messages, contain links to their associated data files and are processed separately. Once the messages are entered into the system, an intelligent queue scheduler (IQS) is used to schedule the processing of messages across a scalable resource of processing engines based on normalized file meta-data parameters.
US07822772B2 Data processor
A data processor requires setting a plurality of items to a plurality of data sets. The data processor includes a setting unit, a determining unit, a first prompting unit, and a second prompting unit. The setting unit sets an item to a data set. The first prompting unit prompts the setting unit to change the setting of an item from the currently setting item by the setting unit to remaining one of the plurality of items other than the currently setting item when the determining unit determines that a data set which is set for the currently setting item satisfies a prescribed condition for the data set of the currently setting item. The second prompting unit prompts the setting unit to change a setting of an item from the currently setting item by the setting unit to one of the items that has been previously set by the setting unit when the determining unit determines that a data set which is set for the currently setting item is out of conformance with a prescribed condition for the data set of the currently setting item.
US07822769B2 Analysis of financial and business information based on interactive data
Systems and methods are provided for analysis of financial and business information based on interactive data, such as XBRL data. According to one embodiment, a method is provided for mapping extended taxonomy elements to base taxonomy elements. A list of base taxonomy elements is displayed on a display device. A taxonomy map is displayed on the display device. The taxonomy map includes information regarding one or more extended taxonomy elements of a reporting entity that are not mapped to any base taxonomy elements. Responsive to one or more user input events corresponding to a selection of a base taxonomy element and corresponding to a request to map an extended taxonomy element to the selected base taxonomy element, the compatibility of the selected base taxonomy element with the extended taxonomy element is validated. If the compatibility is affirmed, then an association is formed between the extended taxonomy element and the selected base taxonomy element.
US07822765B2 Component-based control system for collaborative exploratory search systems
Described is a component-based control system involving the interface and middleware layers for collaborative exploratory search. The components include modules for multi-user input and display capabilities, and are individually configurable to allow simultaneous manipulation of multiple search parameters and algorithms. In a collaborative exploratory search, a team of people with a shared information need engage in exploratory search together. This search happens synchronously, leveraging realtime feedback in the search loop. The search team works together, finding patterns and information that each player individually might not have found, and doing so more efficiently than any single person could have. Each team member brings their own expertise and point of view to a shared problem. Distributing tasks and roles among team members leverages individual expertise and creates efficiencies of scale. Supporting the different roles and tasks involves resolving complexities in control and display; a regulatory component performs this task.
US07822762B2 Entity-specific search model
A system that employs an explicitly and/or implicitly trained model in order to return entity-specific computer-based search results is provided. The innovation can provide for a customized search model that focuses search in connection with achieving information that is meaningful with respect to goals of an entity. The model can be used to modify a search query in accordance with a goal of the entity or to generate the search query thereby returning meaningful and/or targeted results to the user. The system can automatically gather entity-related data thereafter determining or inferring a goal as well as training the model. Moreover, the system can selectively configure (e.g., order, rank, filter) and render results to a user based upon the model.
US07822746B2 System and method for tagging images based on positional information
A system and method for suggesting keywords for tagging a digital image are provided. In general, a requesting node is communicatively coupled to a keyword service via a network. The requesting node sends a request to the keyword service requesting suggested keywords for a digital image. The request includes information relating to the digital image such as positional information. Based on the information, the keyword service generates a list of suggested keywords and provides the list of suggested keywords to the requesting node. At the requesting node, the list of suggested keywords is displayed to a user, and the user selects one or more of the suggested keywords for tagging the digital image.
US07822745B2 Keyword set and target audience profile generalization techniques
A variety of techniques are described by which keyword sets and target audience profiles may be generalized in a systematic and effective way with reference to relationships between keywords, profiles, and the data of an underlying user population.
US07822731B1 Techniques for management of information regarding a sequential stream
Described are techniques for managing a sequential stream in a data storage system. A front-end component receives a plurality of data operations for a plurality of data portions and determines that the plurality of data portions are associated with a sequential stream. Each of the plurality of data portions of the sequential stream is associated with a sequential stream identifier, and a position indicator uniquely identifying a position of said each data portion in said sequential stream. Each of the plurality of data portions that is prefetched is associated with a remaining prefetched identifier and included in a prefetched chunk of data portions. The front-end component uses information about said sequential stream in connection with managing said sequential stream. The information includes the sequential stream identifier, one or more position indicators, and one or more remaining prefetched identifiers.
US07822726B1 Encapsulation of storage object extensibility records for backup and restore
A method for encapsulation of extensibility records for backup and restore comprises determining whether a storage object to be backed up, such as a file or a directory of a primary data set, has an extensibility record associated with it. In response to determining that the storage object has an associated extensibility record, the method may include storing an encoding of at least a portion of the extensibility record, and generating a backup version of the storage object.
US07822722B2 Page title display method
A method of displaying a page title on a terminal apparatus, and associated terminal apparatus and page data transmission apparatus are provided. The method includes transmitting a request signal to request external page data relating to an external page, and receiving external page data corresponding to the request signal. The external page data includes first title information, second title information, and address information that each relate to the external page. The first title information, second title information, and address information of the external page data are stored in a storage section of the terminal apparatus. The first title information includes a plurality of characters that are not limited in number, and the second title information includes a plurality of characters that are limited in number. The stored second title information is displayed on a display section of the terminal apparatus.
US07822718B1 Restoration of archived configurations for a network device
Techniques are described for reliable restoration of archived configuration. For example, a device, such as a router, comprises a first memory to store operational configuration data and a second memory to store candidate configuration data. The candidate configuration data represents a working copy of the operational configuration data. The device further includes a control unit to lock the candidate configuration data, load archived configuration data to replace the locked candidate configuration data and commit the candidate configuration data to restore the archived configuration data as the operational configuration data of the device. In locking the candidate configuration, the device ensures reliable restoration of the candidate configuration by helping prevent the device from becoming both unreachable and inoperable.
US07822713B2 Method of managing a calendar and a computer system for implementing that method
Methods, systems and machine readable media for operating a calendar in a data processing system. In one exemplary method of managing a calendar, which contains at least one event, said method comprises: making available the calendar in an electronic format; subscribing to said calendar; downloading said calendar from a host electronic device to a subscriber electronic device; and storing said calendar in said electronic format to form a local calendar.
US07822708B1 Global attribute mapping data in an enterprise information system
Methods and systems for identifying and maintaining relationships in a network of peer-to-peer enterprise information systems that include a unified entity-relationship system that has a number of entities, each of which has a number of attributes. Subsumed entity-relationship systems are coupled to the unified entity-relationship system, and the entities of the unified entity-relationship system are mapped to one another and to entities and attributes of entities of the subsumed entity-relationship systems. A join engine is coupled to the unified entity-relationship system for performing joins and splits to form related entities and an object model that is coupled to the join engine is available globally throughout the network. The object model contains the mapped relationships and is deployed in conjunction with a join model, the join model specifying transformations and queries required for forming an entity from a set of related entities.
US07822703B1 Automatic verification of a user
A system and method are described for verifying a user. More specifically, a user contacts a goods or service provider and gives that provider information about himself or herself in order to register for receipt of goods or services. The provider then uses this information along with other information detected from another source, such as a network provider, to verify that the user is providing accurate information. Once the provider has determined that the information provided by the user is accurate, the user is allowed to register for certain services or purchase goods. A component of these systems and methods is to perform format and frequency of usage checks on the received data from the user and/or the network provider.
US07822698B1 Spike domain and pulse domain non-linear processors
A neural network has an array of interconnected processors, each processor operating either the pulse domain or spike domain. Each processor has (i) first inputs selectively coupled to other processors in the array of processors, each first input having an associated 1 bit DAC coupled to a summing node, (ii) second inputs selectively coupled to inputs of the neural network, the second inputs having current generators associated therewith coupled to said summing node, (iii) a filter/integrator for generating an analog signal corresponding to current arriving at the summing node, (iv) an optional nonlinear element coupled to the filter/integrator, and (v) an analog-to-pulse converter, if the processors operate in the pulse domain, or an analog-to-spike convertor, if the processors operate in the spike domain, for converting an analog signal output by the optional nonlinear element or by the filter/integrator to either the pulse domain or spike domain, and providing the converted analog signal as an unquantized pulse or spike domain signal at an output of the processor. The array of processors are selectively interconnected with either unquantized pulse domain or spike domain signals.
US07822683B2 System and method for secure third-party development and hosting within a financial services network
An electronic billing statement, presented as a user interface to a registered user of a server, the electronic billing statement comprising a first component, hosted by a financial service center, to navigate the user UI and invoke one or more functions of the financial service center, and a second component, hosted by a third-party, to provide detailed billing information from a biller to the registered user.
US07822682B2 System and method for enhancing supply chain transactions
A system and method for processing particulars of a transaction over a network. The system comprises a supply chain tracking module for receiving supply chain event data from at least one supply chain monitor, the supply chain data relating to the condition or location of an item along a supply chain. The system also comprises a term and requirements module for receiving initial terms and requirements associated with the transaction and for generating modified terms and requirements based on supply chain event data and on at least one value algorithm, the modified terms and requirements being generated while the item is still in the supply chain.
US07822676B2 Systems and methods relating to the formulation of a multi-party contract
Methods and apparatus which deal with the management of risk relating to specified, yet unknown, future events are disclosed.‘Sponsor’ stakeholders specify a particular product relating to an event or phenomenon for which there is a range of possible future outcomes.‘Ordering’ stakeholders then offer contracts relating to the predetermined phenomenon and corresponding range of outcomes. The offered contracts specify an entitlement or (pay-off) at the future time of maturity for each outcome, and a consideration (or premium) payable, in exchange, to a ‘counter-party’ stakeholder.Independently of the offered contracts, the ‘counter-party’ stakeholders input data as to their view of the likelihood of occurrence of each outcome in the predetermined range into the future, or specifically at the predetermined date of maturity.Each offered contract is priced by the processing units by calculating counter-party premiums from the registered data, and a match attempted by a comparison of the offered premium with the calculated premiums.Matched contracts can be further traded until maturity, and at-maturity processing handles the exchange of entitlement as between the matched parties to the contract.
US07822673B2 Automatic transaction apparatus
When a transaction such as, for example, a balance inquiry, a cash transaction such as money deposition or money withdrawal, a transfer, a passbook entry, or an inquiry for details of used money amounts or an available money amount is to be performed, additional information at a suitable point of time to improve the operability, reduce the time required for a transaction, and achieve an effective and accurate transaction, an automatic transaction apparatus is provided The apparatus includes a transaction screen displaying section, an additional information screen displaying section, and a control section.
US07822669B2 System and software for providing recommendations to optimize a portfolio of items
A method of operating a computer system includes storing, in the computer system, a database containing performance measure data regarding performance measures of a plurality of items. The method further includes inputting into the computer system a plurality of performance measure constraints. The method also includes modeling the performance measure constraints with a set of equations. The equations include a plurality of variables. Each of the variables corresponds to a respective one of the items. Each variable is, for example, to be assigned either the value “1” or the value “0”. The value “1” may represent a recommendation to take an action relative to the corresponding item in the portfolio and the value “0” may represent a recommendation to take another action. The computer system is used to solve the set of equations to generate one or more solutions that satisfy the performance measure constraints.
US07822662B2 Key performance indicator system and method
The present invention relates to a system and methodology associated with providing a flexible unified view of key performance indicators (KPIs). Retrieving KPI values from a store is not always trivial and may require submitting multiple queries to in order to obtain desired results. The present system and method makes it easier for front-end applications to access and display KPIs in an easily customizable form. Furthermore, third parties can leverage off the provided architecture in connection with their own applications to facilitate quick and easy access to a single view of performance indicators.
US07822658B2 Dynamic prioritization of activities
A system comprises a first store of process instance data, a second store of data including predictions and statistics respectively corresponding to the process instance data, and a dynamic prioritization system configured to selectively access data in the first store and the second store and to estimate a cost of a process instance responsive to the accessing, wherein process instance node priorities are adjusted responsive to the estimate. A method comprises providing a first store of process instance data, providing a second store of data including predictions and statistics respectively corresponding to the process instance data, selectively accessing data in the first store and the second store, estimating a cost of a process instance responsive to the accessing and selectively adjusting process instance node priorities using a dynamic prioritization system responsive to the estimating.
US07822657B2 Automated accounting system
An automated accounting system for an entity, such as an individual or business is provided in which at least one file is established for the entity and a plurality of data inputs are provided to the file. The data inputs include electronically recorded transactions made between the entity and other entities. Access is provided to the file for agents of the entity so that one of the agents can perform one or more activities related to the data inputs such as entering, deleting, reviewing, adjusting and processing.
US07822652B2 System and method for handling pre-picked invoices in order fulfillment
A system of order fulfillment. The system includes a pre-picking unit and a matching engine. The pre-picking unit picks orders and WIP (Work-In-Process) lots with forecast finishing dates to generate a pre-picked invoice including the designated orders and WIP lots. The matching engine generates a real invoice corresponding to the pre-picked invoice for one designated order and the matched WIP lot that reaches completion, and generates a new pre-picked invoice containing remaining orders, WIP lots, and corresponding settings.
US07822646B2 Social-network enabled review system with subject-owner controlled syndication management
The embodiments of the present system include a review engine that is connected to support modules and databases that receive, store, and retrieve reviews, based upon the subject and the users' relationship to the authors of the reviews. The review engine comprises a social network engine, a rate and rank engine, a credentials engine and a privacy engine. These engines allow reviews to be sorted, filtered and ordered in terms of relevance when presented to the user. Numerous methods are also provided by the system that receive, store and retrieve reviews.
US07822645B2 Method and system for ordering a consumable for a device
A method for ordering one or more consumables for a device includes selecting one or more of the consumables used in the device to order using the device and submitting the order for the selected consumables using the device to one or more suppliers. A device for ordering one or more consumables for the device includes an ordering system in the device and a communication system in the device. The ordering system providing a menu of one or more of the consumables to select to place an order. The communication system submits the order for the selected consumables when completed.
US07822640B2 Multi-card bulk package identifying activation systems and methods
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of activating a plurality of gift cards utilizes a package of multiple presentation instruments. Each presentation instrument includes a unique presentation instrument identifier used to associate funds with the presentation instrument. Also, the package includes a package identifier. In one step, the package identifier is read from the package and is transmitted over an electronic network to a host computer system which evaluates the package identifier to determine whether the package identifier is valid. If so, each of the presentation instruments in the package is activated for a certain activation amount.
US07822634B2 Work role yields management system and method
A system and method to diagnose, design, deploy, and manage a work role in the context of the complex modern relationship or affiliation existing between the organization and worker. Universally applicable organizing principles, process and software are combined to make a practical approach to the diagnostics, design and deployment of work roles inclusive of worker/talent relations, and predictably determine, reveal probabilities, address causation factors and uncover issues that may lead to success, failure, remedy or improvement in forming and maintaining productive, mutually-satisfying work role relations.
US07822632B2 System and method for conducting product configuration research over a computer-based network
A system is provided for enabling respondents at their computer systems to connect with a sever computer over a network, and receive a configuration program enabling each respondent to select for each feature of a product one or multiple subfeature attributes or levels. Each subfeature for each feature has a price value and the combination of selected subfeatures for the features provides a total price of the product. The total price value is displayed and updated as subfeatures for the features are selected or changed. When the total price of the product is acceptable to the respondent, and subfeatures have been selected for each feature of the product, the program returns information to the computer server having data representing the subfeatures selected, the total price, the time taken, and each subfeature selected or changed in arriving at the configured product. The configuration program may be part of a survey.
US07822610B2 Use of multiple speech recognition software instances
A wireless communication device is disclosed that accepts recorded audio data from an end-user. The audio data can be in the form of a command requesting user action. Likewise, the audio data can be converted into a text file. The audio data is reduced to a digital file in a format that is supported by the device hardware, such as a .wav, .mp3, .vnf file, or the like. The digital file is sent via secured or unsecured wireless communication to one or more server computers for further processing. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the system evaluates the confidence level of the of the speech recognition process. If the confidence level is high, the system automatically builds the application command or creates the text file for transmission to the communication device. Alternatively, if the confidence of the speech recognition is lower, the recorded audio data file is routed to a human transcriber employed by the telecommunications service, who manually reviews the digital voice file and builds the application command or text file. Once the application command is created, it is transmitted to the communication device. As a result of the present invention, speech recognition in the context of a communications devices has been shown to be accurate over 90% of the time.
US07822607B2 Computer application environment and communication system employing automatic identification of human conversational behavior
The disclosed technology is a computer application that establishes communication between a conversation-finder module and a computer application environment. The conversation-finder module determines a conversational floor based on three or more floor determination inputs. The conversational floor associates at least two of the three or more floor determination inputs as being on the conversational floor. The conversation-finder module and the computer application environment can be responsive to each other and can adapt to each other. That is (either or both), the computer application environment can adapt to the conversational floor(s) determined by the conversation-finder module; and the conversation-finder module can determine the conversational floors responsive to a floor determination input and/or control input from the computer application environment.
US07822603B1 System and method for mobile automatic speech recognition
A system and method of updating automatic speech recognition parameters on a mobile device are disclosed. The method comprises storing user account-specific adaptation data associated with ASR on a computing device associated with a wireless network, generating new ASR adaptation parameters based on transmitted information from the mobile device when a communication channel between the computing device and the mobile device becomes available and transmitting the new ASR adaptation data to the mobile device when a communication channel between the computing device and the mobile device becomes available. The new ASR adaptation data on the mobile device more accurately recognizes user utterances.
US07822598B2 System and method for normalization of a string of words
The present invention relates generally to a system and method for categorization of strings of words. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system and method for normalizing a string of words for use in a system for categorization of words in a predetermined categorization scheme. A method for adaptive categorization of words in a predetermined categorization scheme may include receiving a string of text, tagging the string of text, and normalizing the string of text. Normalization may be performed with a three-stage algorithm including a literal match processing stage, an approximation match processing stage, and a nearest neighbor match processing stage. The normalized string of text can be compared to a number of sequences of text in the predetermined categorization scheme.
US07822591B2 Logic circuit model conversion apparatus and method thereof; and logic circuit model conversion program
A logic circuit model conversion apparatus includes a first analysis unit which analyzes a model in which a logic circuit of a register transfer level has been coded and outputs simultaneous blocks and an analysis result, a creating unit which creates a common execution frequency group that is a set of codes whose execution frequency becomes common, based on the simultaneous blocks and analysis result, a second analysis unit which analyzes the common execution frequency group and creates a formula of a general term to derive a predetermined value of each register, a third analysis unit which analyzes a mutual relationship between the common execution frequency groups and derives an execution frequency of each common execution frequency group up to a predetermined time, and a deriving unit which derives a value of each of the registers at the predetermined time from the formula of the general term and execution frequency.
US07822589B2 Method and apparatus for automatic generation of multiple integrated circuit simulation configuration
A software-based development tool is operative to automatically determine an appropriate simulation configuration for a multistage switch fabric or other multiple circuit element electronic system. The development tool includes an interface permitting user control of one or more configurable parameters of the electronic system, and automatically generates a simulation configuration for the electronic system based on current values of the configurable parameters. The simulation configuration is advantageously generated without requiring further user input, and specifies interconnections between the circuit elements which satisfy the current values of the configurable parameters.
US07822588B2 Surface replacement of a femoral head
A method for selecting a femoral implant based on models of a femoral neck and/or a femoral head of a patient is provided. A femoral neck model and/or femoral head model is produced from three-dimensional reference point spatial positions of the femoral neck or head, and a base size of a femoral implant model is ascertained based on the femoral head model. A femoral implant model is produced from the base size, and the implant model is positioned at a position in or on the femoral head model. An implant value is ascertained that indicates how many or what proportion of the ascertained reference point spatial positions are outside the implant model. If the implant value exceeds a predetermined value, the implant model is repositioned and the process is repeated. If the implant value does not exceed the value, an appropriate size and position of the implant is determined.
US07822578B2 Systems and methods for predicting maintenance of intelligent electronic devices
Predictive maintenance systems and methods are described. A method includes measuring environmental conditions using a plurality of sensors within the IED, processing the environmental measurements to determine long-term exposure factors representing historical operating conditions of the IED, applying a reliability model to the long-term exposure factors, determining a numerical measure of IED life based on the long-term exposure factors and the reliability model, comparing the numerical measure of IED life to preselected boundary values, and signaling if the numerical measure of IED life is outside of the preselected boundary values.
US07822577B2 Methods and systems to develop an experience-based probabilistic lifing process
A method of facilitating a probabilistic lifting process is provided. The method includes obtaining operational data for at least one turbine engine, defining a plurality of cool-down curves for the at least one turbine engine, identifying a plurality of different start types of the at least one turbine engine, and developing a formula for the at least one turbine engine. The method also includes determining an operating strategy and establishing a design useful life for the at least one turbine engine, developing at least one histogram and a probabilistic model using the operational data, and determining a mission mix for the operating strategy by performing a simulation of the probabilistic model combined with cyclic life expenditure data of the at least one turbine engine.
US07822572B2 Method and device for calibration of digital celestial sensor
A method for calibration of a digital celestial sensor is disclosed. First, an integrated mathematic model for imaging of a celestial sensor is established according to external and internal parameters of the calibration system of the celestial sensor. Second, by rotating two axes of a rotator by different angles, calibration points data are acquired and sent to a processing computer through an interface circuit. Finally, a two-step calibration program is implemented to calculate the calibration parameters by substituting calibration points' data to the integrated mathematic model. An application device of the calibration method is also provided. The device may include a celestial simulator to provide simulated sunlight or starlight, a two-axis rotator to acquire different calibration points' data, and a processing computer to record the calibration points' data and calculate the calibration parameters.
US07822568B2 Method and apparatus for quantitating surface-binding optical resonance profiles
Empirical profile curve fits (260) are used to quantitative the surface optical resonance profiles (268) using two EPF stages of calibration and fit. The calibration surface binding optical resonance scan is obtained with fine angle or wavelength spacing over a range including the full resonance profiles for all regions. The main calibration module (210) together with the first derivative curves and the diagnostic information generates each profile region of interest. The individual ROI scans are used for measurements of the resonance shifts relative to the empirical profile. In a preferred embodiment the instrument control and data acquisition software sets the internal parameters in the EPT calibration module and sends the raw data from a calibration scan to the EPF Calibration module which funnels the data through a sub sampler and a Savitsky-Golan smoothing routine before taking derivatives and characterizing the data to create the empirical profile for the chip (202).
US07822561B2 Defect analysis methods for semiconductor integrated circuit devices and defect analysis systems
A defect analysis method includes storing, in a database, data indicative of defects and analog characteristics of corresponding defective bits in a database. A first defective area in a first wafer is found, and analog characteristics of defective bits in the first defective area are measured. The measured analog characteristics and the analog characteristics stored in the database are compared to locate a defect causing the first defective area.
US07822559B2 Methods and systems for detrending signal intensity data from chemical arrays
Methods, systems and computer readable media for removing trends in signal intensity values from features on a chemical array. Inputted signal values from features on the array are surface fitted to calculate a surface approximation. The surface approximation is normalized and used to de-trend the signal intensity values from the features.
US07822551B2 Network aided terrestrial triangulation using stars (NATTS)
A method for determining a terrestrial location of an apparatus that is deployed in a generally known geographical region includes capturing, by the apparatus, an earthbound image of the sky from a terrestrial location at an identified time; communicating, by the apparatus, data representative of the captured earthbound image of the sky; and determining the terrestrial location of the apparatus based on the data communicated by the apparatus by comparing the captured earthbound image of the sky to a master mapping of the sky relative to the surface of the Earth.
US07822549B2 Global positioning using planetary constants
The disclosed invention is generally comprised of a device capable of measuring the vector sum of the centripetal acceleration of the rotation of the Earth (or that of any other planet in a planetary system) around its axis (arot) and the centripetal acceleration of the planet's revolution in its orbit around the Sun (arev) and a method for performing the same using the measured physical data to calculate the latitude and longitude of the device on a surface. Measurements are taken by stepping accelerometers through different axis to determine centripetal acceleration, reading the output of the accelerometers and reading the angular disposition of the accelerometers using encoders and calculating the latitude and longitude from the measured data.
US07822546B2 Travel guide and schedule-based routing device and method
A navigational aid device is provided that includes a GPS module, a processor, and memory. The device is configured to automatically determine a route to a destination and to account for, in its determination of a route, a plurality of modes of public, private, or both public and private transportation. Some of these configurations may also be configured to recommend a mode or modes of transportation to take to get to a destination, and/or accept user preferences in recommending a route or the mode or modes of transportation to take to get to the destination.
US07822544B2 Method and system of providing navigation information
A method and system of providing navigation information is provided. The method comprises obtaining (105) a communication requirement of a user and determining (110) at least one navigation route for the user based on the communication requirement dependent upon network considerations along the route. The method further comprises providing (115) the at least one navigation route to the user based on the communication requirement.
US07822540B2 Systems, methods, and programs for determining a travel-related time
Systems, methods, and programs obtain a start position and obtain map information including link information and mesh information, the mesh information dividing an area covered by the map information in a mesh grid having a plurality of adjacent meshes. The systems, methods, and programs calculate an estimated travel related time for specific ones of the meshes based on an origin mesh including the start position by assigning time offsets to specific ones of the meshes based on at least one of a type and a number of links entering the specific ones of the meshes starting from the origin mesh and in the order of transitions from one mesh to another mesh over mesh borders in a flow pattern representing increasing distances from the origin mesh.
US07822539B2 Guide route search device and guide route search method
There are provided a guide route search device and a guide route search method for searching a guide route via a plurality of points as well as a computer program for realizing the method. A guide route satisfying the route point condition such as a stay time at each point is searched. According to another aspect of the invention, after searching a guide route, an operator can perform a correction such as addition, deletion, or modification of the route points or rearrangement of the arrival order at the points. It is possible to judge whether the guide route after the correction satisfies the route point condition. According to still another aspect of the invention, a guide route is superimposed together with the current position on the map image. The map color and/or brightness is changed according to the arrival time at a route point.
US07822537B2 Detection of faults in an injector arrangement
A method of detecting faults in an injector arrangement in an engine. The injector arrangement comprises at least one fuel injector having a piezoelectric actuator, and the method comprises: charging the piezoelectric actuator during a charge phase (tC); attempting to recharge the piezoelectric actuator during a test phase (tT) which commences after a time interval (Δt) following the end of the charge phase (tC); sensing a current (IS) that flows through the piezoelectric actuator during the test phase (tT); and generating a short circuit fault signal if the sensed current (IS) reaches a first predetermined threshold current (ISC) which is indicative of a short circuit in the piezoelectric actuator.
US07822526B2 Vehicle headway maintenance assist system and method
A vehicle headway maintenance assist system is provided that provides a haptic notification to an accelerator to alert the driver under prescribed conditions. The system changes a drive force/accelerator actuation relationship between an accelerator actuation amount and a target drive force or torque under the prescribed conditions. In particular, system changes a first drive force/accelerator actuation relationship to a second drive force/accelerator actuation relationship based on a vehicle running condition that was detected so that the driver more readily notices the haptic notification (e.g., an accelerator actuation reaction force) when the haptic notification is being applied to the accelerator to alert the driver under the prescribed conditions.
US07822517B2 Method and device for activating additional functions in response to a rollover procedure of a motor vehicle
A method for activating additional functions in response to a rollover procedure of a vehicle, using at least one sensor and one control unit, the sensor supplying at least one unidirectional acceleration signal, having the following method steps: analyzing at least one acceleration signal in its characteristics as a function of time; processing analyzed values of the at least one acceleration signal; establishing the plausibility of the processed values using a second signal value; and activating at least one additional function in response to a rollover procedure of the vehicle in the light of the values whose plausibility has been established; as well as a control device using this method.
US07822511B2 System and method for communicating data in an automated irrigation system
A communications system for an automated irrigation system includes one or more communication lines connecting one or more irrigation units and a main control system of the automated irrigation system, a communications device and a means for transmitting and receiving digital data across the communication lines. The communications device generates the digital data in the form of pulsed signals that are transmitted and received by irrigation fluid flowing through irrigation lines of the irrigation system. The digital data generated and transmitted can be used, for example, to create a data network between the irrigation units and the main control system, to program or reprogram the irrigation units and to provide power to the irrigation units.
US07822510B2 Systems, methods, and products for graphically illustrating and controlling a droplet actuator
Systems for controlling a droplet microactuator are provided. According to one embodiment, a system is provided and includes a controller, a droplet microactuator electronically coupled to the controller, and a display device displaying a user interface electronically coupled to the controller, wherein the system is programmed and configured to permit a user to effect a droplet manipulation by interacting with the user interface. According to another embodiment, a system is provided and includes a processor, a display device electronically coupled to the processor, and software loaded and/or stored in a storage device electronically coupled to the controller, a memory device electronically coupled to the controller, and/or the controller and programmed to display an interactive map of a droplet microactuator. According to yet another embodiment, a system is provided and includes a controller, a droplet microactuator electronically coupled to the controller, a display device displaying a user interface electronically coupled to the controller, and software for executing a protocol loaded and/or stored in a storage device electronically coupled to the controller, a memory device electronically coupled to the controller, and/or the controller.
US07822501B2 Embroidery data creation apparatus and computer readable recording medium including embroidery data creation computer program
An embroidery data creation apparatus for adjusting the density of needle drop points, and a computer readable recording medium having an embroidery data creation program recorded therein which includes instructions for adjusting the density of needle drop points. The embroidery data creation apparatus may include a device for judging whether a needle drop point is a turning point, a device for determining a reference point, a device for determining whether a turning point is within a predetermined area from the reference point, and a device for changing a coordinate of the turning point, deleting the turning point, or maintaining of a coordinate of the turning point.
US07822495B2 Custom function blocks for use with process control systems
A system and method for creating and incorporating a function block within a process control system enables a user of the process control system to generate a function block by combining a plurality of files selected from a group of files provided by the manufacturer of the process control system to form a source code file associated with the function block. The user can modify the function block source code file to include a procedure, routine or algorithm that is not provided by the manufacturer and can send the modified source code file to the manufacturer for validation. If the function block source code file is validated, a security measure such as a digital signature is provided to the user that enables the user to incorporate the function block within the process control system. The function blocks can be used to incorporate a new function into a process control application or to operatively integrate a data source external to a process control application with the process control application via data mapping functions performed by the function blocks.
US07822486B2 Custom sized neural electrodes
An apparatus for applying a signal to a nerve for the treatment of a disorder includes a main electrode body of biocompatible dielectric material and having a concave upper surface and an opposite lower surface. The concave upper surface curves about an axis and has a curvature sized to receive a nerve within the concave surface with an axis of the nerve substantially parallel to an axis of the concave surface. An electrode contact of electrically conductive material is secured to the main electrode body and has an electrode contact surface exposed on the concave surface. The concave surface terminates at opposite first and second upper ends. The electrode contact has a first end near the first end of the concave surface. A secondary electrode body of biocompatible dielectric material is attached to the first upper end of the concave surface. An electrode lead has an electrical conductor surrounded by a biocompatible insulative coating with both the conductor and the coating flexible relative to a longitudinal axis of the lead. A first end of the lead is secured to the secondary electrode body and with a first end of said conductor electrically connected to said first end of said electrode contact.
US07822476B2 Electrode line and terminal part for an implantable heart stimulator
A terminal part for an electrode line for connection to an implantable heart stimulator, the terminal part having multiple annular, electrically conductive contacts of equal external diameter having insulation sections of the same external diameter situated between them in the longitudinal direction, of which the electrically conductive contacts are each electrically connected to an electrically conductive terminal line, the terminal part being formed by multiple insulating adapters and by electrical contacts held thereby having terminal lines fastened thereon, which are plugged together and connected using a thermoplastic injection molding compound after being plugged together, the terminal part otherwise being implemented in such a way that it is to be connected as an independent unit to a remaining electrode line.
US07822474B2 Methods for the prediction of arrhythmias and prevention of sudden cardiac death
Methods and kits are provided for determining an increased likelihood of the occurrence of a cardiac arrhythmia, myocardial ischemia, congestive heart failure and other diseased conditions of the heart. The methods and kits comprise measuring serum NGF levels in a subject and detecting increases in NGF levels over baseline. The methods may further comprise initiating preventive therapy in response to a detected increase in serum NGF levels.
US07822470B2 Method for determining the left-ventricular ejection time TLVE of a heart of a subject
In order to reliably determine the left-ventricular ejection time TLVE of a heart of a subject, at least two different measuring methods are employed. This includes in any case the derivation of a first waveform related to thoracic electrical bioimpedance or bioadmittance. A second waveform can be determined by using pulse oximetry, Doppler velocimetry, measurement of arterial blood pressure and measurement of peripheral electrical bioimpedance or bioadmittance. Depending on signal quality, the results obtained by each method are weighted and then averaged. The weighted average for left-ventricular ejection time is used as an input variable for cardiovascular monitoring methods, which determine objective measurements of cardiovascular function and performance. Such measurements include, but are not limited to, left ventricular ejection fraction, stroke volume, cardiac output, systolic time ratio, and indices of ventricular contractility.
US07822466B2 Robot for computed tomography interventions
A system and method for CT guided instrument targeting including a radiolucent instrument driver; a robot and a control box. The robot includes a robotic module that positions the radiolucent driver about two directions coincident a predetermined point. The control device is connected to the robot and the radiolucent instrument driver. The control driver sends a robot control signal to the robot that causes the robotic module to place the radiolucent instrument driver in a desired orientation with respect to the predetermined point. After the radiolucent instrument driver is in the desired orientation, the control device sends a driver control signal to the radiolucent instrument driver that causes the radiolucent driver to insert a medical instrument or device through the predetermined point to a location proximate a target point in a patient.
US07822464B2 Guidewire for vascular catheters
Guidewire for catheters which can be inserted into cavities, preferably coronary vessels of humans or animals, said guidewire being provided with electromagnetic receive or transmit locate to position its position in conjunction with corresponding external electromagnetic transmit or receive antennas, as well as with signal lines guiding the processing unit controlling the transmit antennas or transmit coils.
US07822460B2 MRI-guided therapy methods and related systems
A system and method for using magnetic resonance imaging to increase the accuracy of electrophysiologic procedures is disclosed. The system in its preferred embodiment provides an invasive combined electrophysiology and imaging antenna catheter which includes an RF antenna for receiving magnetic resonance signals and diagnostic electrodes for receiving electrical potentials. The combined electrophysiology and imaging antenna catheter is used in combination with a magnetic resonance imaging scanner to guide and provide visualization during electrophysiologic diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. The invention further provides a system for eliminating the pickup of RF energy in which intracardiac wires are detuned by filtering so that they become very inefficient antennas. An RF filtering system is provided for suppressing the MR imaging signal while not attenuating the RF ablative current. Steering means may be provided for steering the invasive catheter under MR guidance.
US07822459B2 PET-MRI hybrid system
Embodiments of the present invention may provide a PET-MRI hybrid system capable of arranging a PET apparatus and an MRI apparatus in a line. An MRI room containing the MRI apparatus and a PET room containing the PET apparatus are provided at either side of a central waiting room as opposed to each other about the waiting room. A rail portion linearly extends from the PET room to the waiting room on their bottoms. Another rail portion linearly extends on the bottom of the MRI room. A transfer unit, which supports a subject lying thereon, travels along the rail portions of the waiting room, the MRI room and the PET room. A bridge unit is provided between the rail portion of the waiting room and the rail portion of the MRI room. The bridge unit provides a space for opening and closing a shield door of the MRI room and allows the transfer unit to be reciprocated between the waiting room and the MRI room by selectively connecting the rail portion of the waiting room and the rail portion of the MRI room.
US07822453B2 Forehead sensor placement
Forehead oximetry sensor devices and methods for determining physiological parameters using forehead oximetry sensors. One method includes placing an oximetry sensor on the forehead of a patient, such that the sensor is placed on the lower forehead region, above the eyebrow with the sensor optics placed lateral of the iris and proximal the temple; and operating the pulse oximeter to obtain the physiological parameter. In one aspect, the method also includes providing and placing a headband over the oximetry sensor, or alternately, the sensor is a headband-integrated sensor. The headband has an elastic segment sized to fit around the patient's head. The headband also includes a non-elastic segment that is smaller than and attached with the elastic segment. The non-elastic segment is sized to span a portion of the elastic segment when the elastic segment is stretched. In addition, the non-elastic segment is larger than the portion of the elastic segment it spans when the elastic segment is not stretched. When the headband or the headband-integrated sensor is sufficiently tight, it delivers a pressure in the range higher than the venous pressure and lower than the capillary pressure to the forehead of the patient.
US07822451B2 Apparatus of measuring glucose concentration by using optical coherence tomography and method of operating the apparatus
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for measuring glucose concentration by using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), and more particularly, an apparatus and method for increasing the blood volume around a measurement part by using a blood concentrating device and noninvasively measuring glucose concentration of the measuring portion by using OCT. A glucose concentration measuring apparatus and method using OCT according to the invention can noninvasively measure glucose concentration by using OCT and help a user to easily measure glucose concentration.
US07822450B2 Optical-based sensing devices
The present invention provides an electro-optical sensing device for detecting the presence or concentration of an analyte. More particularly, the invention relates to (but is not in all cases necessarily limited to) optical-based sensing devices which are characterized by being totally self-contained, with a smooth and rounded oblong, oval, or elliptical shape (e.g., a bean- or pharmaceutical capsule-shape) and a size which permits the device to be implanted in humans for in-situ detection of various analytes.
US07822447B2 Push rod and sliding type portable terminal having the same
A push rod for a sliding type portable terminal including a first housing and a second housing which is placed on and slidably coupled to the first housing. The push rod provides driving force for slidingly moving the second housing. The push rod includes a casing; support members coupled to the casing to be extended and retracted through both ends of the casing; elastic members for providing elastic force in directions in which the respective support members are extended through both ends of the casing; and rotation members rotatably coupled to outer ends of the support members and rotatably coupled to the respective first and second housings.
US07822441B2 Access point
An access point 10 providing a wireless LAN connection to a terminal device, for the purpose of connecting the terminal device to a WAN, the access point 10 includes: antenna units 210 and 310a-d that send and/or receive a radio frequency signal used for exchanging information via the wireless LAN; signal conversion units 220, 230, 240, 320a-d, 330a-d and 340a-d that perform conversion between the radio frequency signal and a digital signal as the information; an information processing unit 110 that executes processing of the digital signal based on a communication protocol for exchanging of the information; antenna cases 200 and 300a-d that contain the antenna units and the signal conversion units; a main unit case 100 that, separated from the antenna cases, contains the information processing unit; and a wired cables 250 and 350a-d that, connecting the antenna cases and the main unit case, performs transmission the digital signal between the signal conversion units and the information processing unit.
US07822440B2 Method and apparatus for operating a communication station
A method for operating a communication station in a communicating environment includes: (a) monitoring the environment to ascertain whether the station is receiving an unintended sensed signal not intended for the station from at least one signal source; (b) if the station has not received a predetermined number of unintended sensed signals during a predetermined time interval, operating the station in an omni-directional mode; and (c) if the station has received a predetermined number of sensed signals during the predetermined time interval, saving an indication of a reception direction from which arrived each unintended sensed signal; and operating the station in a directional mode. While in the directional mode, the station is sensitive to receiving signals arriving from a sensing direction other than from a reception direction, and the station transmits signals toward the sensing direction.
US07822429B2 Method of updating channel information by a mobile station that is in power saving mode
A method of updating channel information by a mobile station (MS) that is in power saving mode is disclosed. More specifically, the method includes the MS which receives status information of a first channel descriptor and transmission frame information which includes when the first channel descriptor is to be transmitted. Furthermore, the MS compares status information of the first channel descriptor with status information of a second channel descriptor. Here, the second channel descriptor is stored in the MS. Lastly, if the compared status information are different, the MS receives the first channel descriptor according to the transmission frame information.
US07822421B2 Apparatus and method for use in allocating a channel resource in wireless multiple access communications systems
Allocation of a wireless communications system channel resource is managed by utilizing traffic segment allocation. This is realized by partitioning the channel resource into an assignment channel and a traffic channel in a fixed manner. The assignment channel includes assignment segments and the traffic channel includes traffic segments. The traffic segment is the basic traffic channel resource unit used to transport traffic data and has a prescribed finite time interval and bandwidth. Each traffic segment is associated with a so-called assignment segment in a prescribed manner. One or more traffic segments may be associated with a particular assignment segment. A base station broadcasts via an assignment segment which wireless terminal is to use a particular traffic segment. This is realized by transmitting a simply identifier for the particular wireless terminal assigned to the particular traffic segment in the assignment segment. Then, each active wireless terminal monitors all of the received assignment segments to detect any traffic channel assignments. Once a wireless terminal detects its identifier in an assignment segment, it proceeds to receive/transmit the traffic data in the traffic segment associated with the assignment segment including the detected identifier.
US07822417B1 Method for predictive maintenance of a communication network
Systems and methods for predicting one or more service problems in a communication network are described. In one implementation, a threshold is set and signal data are collected at an interface component. The collected data are compared to the threshold, and depending on the comparison between the collected data and the threshold, a trend analysis is performed on the collected data.
US07822414B2 Connection failure reporting in wireless communication systems
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for reporting and compiling connection failures in wireless communication systems. In an embodiment, when an access terminal experiences a connection failure (e.g., an unintended one), the access terminal may generate a connection failure record associated with the event, and send a message containing the connection failure record to an access network it has since established the connection. The access network may send a message containing a connection failure report acknowledgement (ACK) message to the access terminal, upon reception of the connection failure report message. The network operators may use the connection failure records thus compiled to identify problematic spots in the system and improve the quality of service.
US07822412B2 System and method for accessing a wireless network
A method for accessing a wireless network comprises detecting at least one wireless network within which a wireless device is located while the wireless device in a transmit off mode. The method also comprises determining whether the at least one wireless network is on a list of requested wireless networks.
US07822411B2 Electronic apparatus operating system
When a user validation portion validates that a person is present adjacent to an electronic apparatus, the electronic apparatus generates an identification code, converts the identification code to a QR code, and displays the QR code on an identification code display portion. When the QR code that has been displayed has been inputted with an identification code input portion to allow an operation portion to assign operation for the electronic apparatus, an operation portion transmits operation information that indicates the operation that has been assigned and the identification code to which the QR code that has been inputted has been decoded. When the identification code that has been received by the electronic apparatus corresponds to the identification code that has been displayed thereon, the electronic apparatus executes the process according to the operation indicated by the operation information that has been received thereby.
US07822408B2 Methods of recording voice signals in a mobile set
Systems and methods for processing information are disclosed and may include comparing a plurality of signals having identical time stamps. The method may further include identifying which of the plurality of signals comprise voice signals and which of the plurality of signals comprise corresponding non-voice signals based on the comparison. Data, which includes the voice signals and the corresponding non-voice signals, may be sequentially arranged for storage. The data, which includes the voice signals and the corresponding non-voice signals, may be arranged in a single file. The data, which includes the voice signals and the corresponding non-voice signals, may be recorded to a single file in memory element. The voice signals may be arranged so that the data including the corresponding non-voice signals is sequential. The non-voice signals may include video data, text-messaging data, and/or e-mail data.
US07822406B2 Simplified dual mode wireless device authentication apparatus and method
Provisioned wireless service (PWS) authentication apparatus and method simplifies determination of PWS authentication state by dual mode access point (DMAP) receiving an identifying credential from supplicant dual mode mobile station (DMMS) within predefined authentication period and comparing with authentication credential. DMMS is provisioned PWS upon authentication. DMAP having multiple BSSID remotely configurable to differentiate between provisioned services (e.g., voice, VoIP) and standard wireline/fixed wireless services. DMAP and DMMS are each identifiable by respective unique provisioned service BSSID. Identifying credential can be pass code supplied to DMMS user by DMAP operator to facilitate authenticated association and to deter wireless channel interlopers.
US07822404B2 Driving voltage control module
Provided is a driving voltage control module capable of minimizing current consumption and time taken to return from a standby state to a normal state by controlling driving voltages for electronic circuits and systems for communication when a mobile communication transceiving circuit or a communication system is in a standby state in which there is no busy signal. The driving voltage control module includes a regulator for converting an input power voltage into a predetermined level of DC voltage, and supplying the converted DC voltage to an external circuit module as a driving voltage; and a voltage controller for controlling an output voltage level of the regulator, wherein, under control of the voltage controller, a level of the driving voltage is adjusted to be a standby voltage level lower than a turn-on voltage level of a switching device constituting the external circuit module. With the driving voltage control module, the transceiving circuit and the RF circuit of the RF mobile communication terminal can be supplied with distinct power voltages each corresponding to the cut-off state, the standby state, and the normal operation state, thereby reducing current consumption and the time taken to reach the normal state from the standby state. This can increase the battery lifetime and embody a high-speed RF mobile communication terminal.
US07822402B2 Method of performing frequency conversion and associated frequency converter
A method of performing frequency conversion and associated frequency converter are provided. The method includes: receiving an input signal and a plurality of periodic ternary signals of the same frequency but different timings; generating a plurality of conversion signals using a plurality of conversion paths in response to the input signal and states of said periodic ternary signals; and summing the conversion signals to generate an output signal.
US07822395B2 Iterative multi-stage detection technique for a diversity receiver having multiple antenna elements
An iterative multistage detection system and method for orthogonally multiplexing K channels onto a signal processing chain using N orthogonal sequences of length N. The K channels include a first set of N channels and a second set of M channels (the M channels being separate and distinct from the N channels), where K=N+M. In a first iteration, interference from the first set of N channels imparted on the second set of M channels is removed from the multiplexed signal, thereby enabling the symbol values associated with the second set of M channels to be reliably estimated. In a second iteration, interference from the second set of M channels imparted on the first set of N channels is removed from the first set of N-channels, thereby enabling the symbol values associated with the first set of N channels to be reliably estimated.
US07822393B2 Transmission apparatus and communication apparatus
The transmission apparatus according to the present invention can reduce transmission output noise leaking into the receiving apparatus even when the transmission apparatus is applied to wireless equipment using the W-CDMA scheme. Transmission apparatus (100) has bypass circuit (101) and bypass control circuit (103) that inputs an RF phase signal to power amplifier (14) via amplitude adjustment circuit (16) when bypass circuit (101) and power amplifier (14) are operated in non-saturation mode, and that inputs the RF phase signal to power amplifier (14) via bypass circuit (101) when power amplifier (14) is operated in saturation mode.
US07822392B2 Frequency modulation circuit, transmission circuit and communication device
Provided is a frequency modulation circuit for outputting a frequency-modulated signal with a high precision. A VCO 13 includes a first variable capacitor 132 having a predetermined capacitance change rate, and a second variable capacitor 133 having a greater capacitance change rate than that of the first variable capacitor 132. When the frequency modulation circuit is applied in a narrowband modulation method, a switch 15 switches a connection path of an open loop such that an input terminal and the first variable capacitor 132 are connected. On the other hand, when the frequency modulation circuit is applied in a wideband modulation method, the switch 15 switches the connection path of the open loop such that the input terminal and the second variable capacitor 133 are connected.
US07822385B2 Adjacent channel interference supression
Adjacent channel interference (ACI) suppression is achieved by selectively applying one or more pre-calculated fixed filters only when necessary, thereby preserving the sensitivity of the receiver. An energy detector accurately detects adjacent channel interference in the frequency band of the desired signal so that the likelihood of a false detection of ACI is very low. If the energy detector detects adjacent channel interference is present in the band of the desired signal, then the received signal is selected to be filtered by the pre-calculated filter, e.g., a low pass filter. Otherwise, the pre-calculated filter is bypassed. In either case, additional ACI suppression processing may be employed.
US07822378B2 Sheet finisher and image forming system using the same
A sheet finisher for performing preselected processing with a sheet or a sheet stack conveyed thereto of the present invention includes a cutter unit configured to cut the sheet or the sheet stack in a direction perpendicular to a direction of sheet conveyance. A guide member is positioned upstream of the cutter unit in the direction of sheet conveyance for guiding the sheet or the sheet stack being conveyed. A moving device moves the guide member in a direction parallel to the direction of sheet conveyance.
US07822376B2 Sheet feeder and copying machine including the same
A sheet feeder includes: a sheet-length detection member for detecting a length of a sheet; a transfer-length detection member for detecting a transfer length of the sheet; a double-feed detection member for detecting double feed of the sheets when the sheets are transferred while being overlapped with one another; and a control member for controlling the sheet-length detection member, the transfer-length detection member and the double-feed detection member; wherein the control member determines that double feed of the sheets has occurred, when the transfer length of the sheet is greater than the length of the sheet and a length obtained by subtracting a difference between the transfer length of the sheet and the length of the sheet from the length of the sheet is substantially equal to a double-feed length detected by the double-feed detection member.
US07822375B2 Image forming apparatus that may correct the positional alignment of images
An image forming apparatus includes: plural image holding members, on respective surfaces of which toner images are formed, the toner images being arrayable such that the length in the array direction and the color are different between adjacent toner images; a transfer body, onto which the toner images formed on the plural image holding members are transferred, such that there is a spacing between the adjacent toner images in the array direction; a detecting unit, detecting the length in the array direction of each of the toner images transferred onto the transfer body and detecting the amount of shift in the array direction of each toner image from a reference position; and a correction unit, correcting misalignment of each toner image of each color using the shift amount of the toner image with a length detected by the detecting unit within a predetermined threshold range.
US07822370B2 Toner cartridge
The invention provides toner cartridges that deliver toner in a metered fashion to an image forming apparatus. The cartridges have a delivery mechanism comprising a toner delivery member that delivers toner to the supply port as it is rotated. Depending upon the orientation of the delivery mechanism, the toner delivery member can at least partially block or at least partially allow the free flow of toner out of the supply port, as desired. The delivery mechanism of the invention can be used to deliver toner, developer, or any such powder out of a container.
US07822356B2 Image forming apparatus
The present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which the cleaning performance of a cleaning brush is preserved over time while affording a smaller apparatus main body. During a print job, toner recovered from a charging roller to a cleaning brush is transferred from the cleaning brush to a cleaning auxiliary roller, thereby preventing excessive accumulation of toner in the cleaning brush. During non print job times, toner accumulated in the cleaning brush is transferred to the charging roller directly and via the cleaning auxiliary roller, whereby the cleaning brush becomes clean while preserving its cleaning performance. Also, toner transferred to the charging roller is transferred to a photosensitive unit is recovered into a developing device, which does away with the need for a dedicated recovery toner holding portion for recovering residual toner, thereby reducing the size of the apparatus main body.
US07822350B2 Reconstruction and restoration of two polarization components of an optical signal field
Digital compensation of the polarization-mode dispersion (PMD) effects experienced by an optical signal in a transmission link is achieved. A digital representation of the optical fields of two orthogonal polarization components of an optical signal, defined by a polarization beam splitter (PBS), is first obtained. The fiber transmission link is treated as a concatenation of multiple virtual PMD segments, each having two specific principle-state-of-polarization (PSP) axes and causing a differential group-delay (DGD) and a phase delay between two signal components that are polarized along the two PSP axes. The best guesses of the parameters of the PMD segments and the relative orientation between the PSP axes of the last PMD segment and the characteristic polarization axes of the PBS are dynamically obtained. The digital representation of at least one generic component of the field of the optical signal is then computed through matrix operations by using the best guesses.
US07822348B2 Adaptive pulse shape control
A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for optimizing the pulse shape of optical signals output from an optical transmitter. The optical transmitter includes an optical modulator controlled by a bias voltage and a signal drive level, wherein the bias voltage and signal drive level are controlled automatically in a systematic way in dependence on one another to adapt the pulse shape of an optical output signal for optimal transmission over a transmission line.
US07822341B2 Coordination of control operations in an optical network
In one embodiment, a control method, according to which a cascade of control messages is propagated between nodes of an optically transparent network, with each message being sent from a node to an adjacent downstream node to inform the latter about a control operation scheduled to be performed at the message-sending node and/or an upstream node that impacts an optical communication signal received at that downstream node. The cascade of control messages effectively creates an ad hoc control domain, in which control operations performed at various nodes of that domain can be coordinated to reduce unfavorable interactions between those control operations. By repeatedly propagating appropriate cascades of control messages through the network, control domains can be changed dynamically and adaptively to reflect any changes to the network topology, equipment, and/or traffic distribution.
US07822337B2 Apparatus and method for image capturing, apparatus and method for playback, and program
An image capturing apparatus for capturing a first image of a subject may include a detecting unit, a determining unit, and a display control unit. The detecting unit detects a user's operation for instructing activation of a function. The determining unit determines whether or not an instruction of capturing the first image is given on the basis of the detected instruction. The display control unit controls, when the instruction of capturing the first image is determined to be given, displaying of a third image among second images so that the third image is not superimposed on the first image. The second images allow the user to instruct activation of various functions. The third image allows the user to instruct activation of a function that is not operable by the user during the image capturing operation.
US07822335B1 Lens protector
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a method comprising covering a camera lens with a light pipe adapted to: substantially encircle at least a portion of a camera lens that is adapted to focus an image representing an object of photographic interest; extend from a proximal region of said light pipe located substantially adjacent a plurality of lighting elements and toward the object of photographic interest, the plurality of lighting elements located, relative to the object of photographic interest, substantially adjacent a base of the camera lens and substantially behind a face of the camera lens; and convey light from the plurality of lighting elements and toward the object of photographic interest.
US07822334B2 Imaging device and in-focus control method
An imaging device includes an imaging unit that obtains an image signal relating to a subject, a driving unit that drives a focus lens, a first detecting unit that performs focus detection based on a contrast detection method to detect an in-focus position of the focus lens, a second detecting unit that performs focus detection based on a phase difference detection method, while the focus lens is being driven toward the in-focus position, to detect a provisional in-focus position of the focus lens, and an in-focus control unit that controls the driving unit to drive the focus lens to pass through the provisional in-focus position and then return to the in-focus position. Focus detection information is obtained at least for a given range of positions, and is stored in a predetermined storage unit. The in-focus position is detected based on the stored focus detection information.
US07822329B2 Camera and image stabilization thereof
An image stabilization method for a camera is provided. The image stabilization method controls the shutter of the camera. The image stabilization method, according to the present invention, first detects whether a trigger signal has been inputted, wherein the trigger signal is inputted by a user and starts an image capturing process. Next, the time when the trigger signal was inputted is detected and recorded as a first time. Afterwards, a stabilization time is delayed based upon the first time. Finally, a drive signal is generated when the stabilization time ends, wherein the drive signal drives the shutter to turn on for executing the image capturing process.
US07822327B2 Method for automatically selecting scene mode
A method for automatically selecting a scene mode applied in a photographic device is described. The method includes detecting an image to be captured; analyzing a principal feature of the image; comparing the principal feature with a feature standard of each scene mode according to a utilization rate ranging from high to low, so as to acquire a scene mode corresponding to the feature standard conforming to the principal feature; and adjusting current photographic parameters of the photographic device into photographic parameters corresponding to the acquired scene mode. By determining a comparison sequence according to utilization rate of each scene, the time for searching and comparing is reduced. Moreover, after each shooting, the utilization rate may be re-calculated according to the used scene mode, so as to quickly provide the scene mode required by a user.
US07822326B2 Hybrid heater
A hybrid heater that includes a structural mass into which passages are provided to create a labyrinth for chemical flow through the structural mass, the passages being sized and disposed to receive a plurality of heater rods such that the chemical is traversed through the passages in direct contact with the heater rods. A coiled spring may be disposed or other spiral arrangement provided in the space between and against the walls of the passages and the heater rod to facilitate flow uniformity around the rods. A temperature sensor may be provided in direct contact with the heating element and may be fitted with a mass sleeve to draw off any excess heat on the sensor during transitions.
US07822319B2 Automatic recording/reproducing method and automatic recording/reproducing apparatus
Recording reservation information of a plurality of programs is grouped and at least the latest program among the programs recorded on the basis of the reservation information is left on a recording medium. Therefore, a program information registration unit to register a plurality of items of recording reservation information as groups and a reserved program recording control unit to record the reserved programs onto the recording medium and leave at least the latest program among the programs recorded on the recording medium to delete the others on the basis of the reservation information.
US07822315B2 Editing device, editing apparatus, and editing method for HDTV signal
An editing device including first and second decoders that decompress the compressed first and second high-definition television video data transferred by a computer; respectively, and edit processing unit for performing edit processing on the decompressed first high-definition television video data and the decompressed second high-definition television video data. A result of edit processing performed by the edit processing means is output. The compressed first high-definition television video data and the compressed second high-definition television video data are transferred in parallel from the computer to the first decoder and the second decoder, respectively.
US07822312B2 Splitter modules for fiber distribution hubs
A splitter module for a fiber distribution hub includes a main body with a first aperture configured to receive an input fiber entering the splitter module, and a second aperture configured for a plurality of distribution fibers exiting the splitter module. The splitter module also includes a fin configured to be received in a slot of a splitter tray of a fiber distribution hub, and a pin configured to engage a hole in the splitter tray. The fin is received in the slot, and the pin is received in the hole of the fiber distribution hub to couple the splitter module to the fiber distribution module.
US07822309B2 Drive for system for processing fiber optic connectors
An apparatus for moving a fiber including a plurality of fiber optic connectors through a system for processing the plurality of fiber optic connectors. The apparatus can include a first drive mechanism for moving the fiber through the system, such as a cart and a conveyor. The apparatus can include a second drive mechanism for moving the plurality of fiber optic connectors through the system, such as a screw drive. The apparatus can also include a controller for coordinating movement of the first drive mechanism with the second drive mechanism.
US07822308B2 Optical waveguide film, optical substrate, and methods for manufacturing the same
An optical waveguide film includes a clad layer having an adhesive function; and a core layer covered by the clad layer.
US07822307B1 Optical fiber ribbon for wiring of equipment and connector-attached optical fiber ribbon for wiring of equipment
When a glass fiber and an inner fiber coating layer are to be attached to a connector by removing an outer fiber coating layer while leaving the inner fiber coating layer as it is, a collective coating and the outer fiber coating layer can be removed at a stretch so that the inner fiber coating layer can easily and satisfactorily be exposed. In the ultraviolet curable resin coating layer of a coated optical fiber 17 of an optical fiber ribbon 11 for wiring of equipment, the inner fiber coating layer 15 has a Young's modulus of 600 MPa to 1000 MPa, and the outer fiber coating layer 16 has a Young's modulus of 10 MPa to 300 MPa. The material of the outer fiber coating layer 16 is made by mixing 100 weight parts of base resin, 1-30 weight parts of silicone-based additive, and 0.5 to 40 weight parts of long chain fatty acid ester compound, wherein the base resin is a material made of a urethane metha acrylate oligomer, a mono-functional or multi-functional reactive dilution monomer, and an optical initiator.
US07822302B2 Circuit board and method for manufacturing the same
Provided is a circuit board which suppresses abnormal formation of plated layer inside a via, caused by core materials of glass fibers or the like projected from a side wall of the via and which helps to improve the connection reliability of the via. An insulating layer, which is formed of thermoset resin and embedded with glass fibers, is provided between a first wiring layer and a second wiring layer. The glass fibers projected into a via hole side from a side wall of the via hole in different positions are embedded into a via conductor in such a state that the glass fibers are jointed with each other.
US07822301B2 Simple fiducial marking for quality verification of high density circuit board connectors
A printed circuit board with a printed pattern of fiducial marks on a first side of the printed circuit board including a first indicia including a right triangle with its base parallel to a first edge of the board and an alignment mark adjacent thereto, and a second indicia including a right triangle with its base parallel to a second edge of the board opposite said first edge, and an alignment mark adjacent thereto.
US07822298B2 Polarization component processor, method of processing polarization components and integrated photonic circuit employing the same
An apparatus and a method by which polarization components may be processed separately, for example, to enable a polarization beam splitter (PBS) or a switch. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes: first and second Mach-Zehnder interferometers, each Mach-Zehnder interferometer having input and output optical couplers and two internal optical arms, each optical arm connecting one output of the input optical coupler to a corresponding input of the output optical coupler, the output optical coupler of the first Mach-Zehnder interferometer being the input optical coupler of the second Mach-Zehnder interferometer, wherein the input optical coupler of the first Mach-Zehnder interferometer is configured to transmit one polarization component of the light to two of the outputs thereof and to transmit a different polarization of the light to substantially only one of the outputs thereof in response to receiving said light at an input thereof.
US07822296B2 Data processing apparatus, image processing apparatus, and method therefor
There are provided a data processing apparatus which makes an I/F for data processing modules (processors) versatile to facilitate addition/modification on a data processing module basis in accordance with processing contents, an image processing apparatus, and a method for the apparatuses. A data processing module (3) includes a read address generator (11), read FIFO (7), write address generator (13), write FIFO (9), and arbiter (10) and is connected to a host arbiter (4) through a 1-channel port. The read address generator (11) and write address generator (13) generate interrupts upon acceptance of final access requests so as to control activation of each data processing module (8-1-8-m) in accordance with the state of each data processing module in interrupt processing. Note that data transfer among the respective data processing modules is performed on a RAM (6).
US07822285B2 Methods and systems for locally adaptive image processing filters
The present disclosure provides methods and systems for image processing by locally adaptive filters that preserve the edges while smoothing the image. In the exemplary method, a filter adjusts image pixel values utilizing a locally adaptive weighted average method. To adjust the value of a target pixel, the filter uses the data corresponding to some of its surrounding pixels and modifies the weights in an inverse relation with both their distance from the target pixel and the difference between their data. Various embodiments present different schemes for selection of surrounding pixels and computation of weighted average values.
US07822283B2 System and method for arithmetic encoding and decoding
An arithmetic encoder is provided for converting an event sequence comprised of a plurality of events to an information sequence comprised of at least one information piece, and includes a core engine for receiving an event of the event sequence, and a probability estimate from a probability estimator, and generating zero or more pieces of the information sequence responsive to the received event and the probability estimate by bounding the ratio of events to information pieces. An arithmetic encoder is provided that is capable of constraining a number of events in at least one event sequence as a function of the number of generated information pieces in at least one information sequence. An arithmetic decoder is provided for converting an information sequence comprised of at least one information piece to an event sequence comprised of a plurality of events, and includes a core engine for processing at least one information piece of the information sequence from the sequencer responsive to a probability estimate received from a probability estimator to generate at least one event by accounting for a bounded ratio of events to information pieces in the information sequence.
US07822276B2 Method and apparatus for analyzing body fluids
A system and method for analyzing a specimen containing particles that can be difficult to differentiate. The system and method determines a first collective count of a selected group of particles in the specimen, treats at least a portion of the specimen to alter a subgroup of the selected group of particles, determines a second collective count of any of the selected group of particles in the treated portion of the specimen, and subtracts the second collective count from the first collective count to determine a differentiation count for the subgroup of particles altered by the treating of the specimen. The system and method is described with the example of determining concentrations of red and white blood cells in a specimen (e.g. spinal fluid), using auto-particle recognition techniques, without attempting to distinguish and count red versus white blood cells co-existing in the same specimen portion.
US07822269B2 Projector color correcting method
When a projection plane is not uniform due to colors and patterns on the projection plane and ambient environmental light, a reproduced image projected by a projector is made to appear in desired colors. A color correcting apparatus is used, comprising association unit (21), association storage memory 22, color information acquisition unit (23), color conversion calculation unit (23), color conversion storage memory (25), and color correction unit (26). Association unit (21) acquires captured image (7) generated by capturing image (5) projected onto projection plane (2) to establish an association between pixels of image (5) and pixels of captured image (7). Association storage memory (22) records the association. Color information acquisition unit (23) acquires second color information as color information for each pixel of the captured image. Color conversion calculation unit (23) calculates a color conversion for each pixel of the image based on first color information, second color information, and the association. Color conversion storage memory (25) records the color conversion. Color correction unit (26) corrects the input image for colors on a pixel-by-pixel basis using the color conversion.
US07822259B2 Method for positive identification of inner surface and outer surface of sample flakes
A method for determining the inner surface and an outer surface of a sample flake through the use of digital image photography wherein digital images of a sample flake first surface and second surface are compared to a known inner surface and known outer surface of a reference flake.
US07822254B2 Automatic positioning of matching multi-planar image reformatting (MPR) views of multiple 3D medical images
A computer-implemented method is disclosed for comparing three dimensional (3D) digital medical images. The method uses a reference MPR to position subsequent MPRs in one or more other 3D digital medical images so their content matches the reference MPR. The matched MPRs may then be used by a medical professional to diagnose a patient condition. The ability to quickly and automatically position matching MPRs for multiple 3D images eases the medical staff workload and shortens diagnostics time. Matching MPRs provides an effective way to view the 3D volumes for anatomical changes over time and to monitor medical conditions such as stenosis and tumors.
US07822251B2 Variational approach on whole body SPECT/CT registration and zipping
A method and a system for implementing the method for simultaneously registering and zipping a multiple scan whole body SPECT/CT image. The method includes the steps of simultaneously registering and zipping multiple input images and re-sampling the registered images. The step of simultaneously registering and zipping multiple input images is accomplished by initially aligning the images to be registered with each other, aligning the images with a reference image, and adjusting the alignment of the images with each other.
US07822250B2 Method and apparatus for ultrasonic imaging in mmode
An mmode imaging method and apparatus for an ultrasonic diagnostic device is provided to increase the continuity of displayed mmode images. An mmode imaging method performed by an ultrasonic diagnosis device selects sample points on frames of bmode images, converts bmode data of the sample points obtained from the frames of bmode images into converted mmode data, produces interpolated mmode data based on the echo data of corresponding sample points on at least two different frames, and images at least a portion of the mmode data in time sequence.
US07822248B2 Endoscope processor, computer program product, and endoscope system
An endoscope processor comprising a signal receiver and a standard value calculator is provided. The signal receiver receives an image signal generated based on an optical image captured at a light receiving surface on an imaging device. The image signal comprises a plurality of pixel signals generated by a plurality of pixels according to amounts of received light. A plurality of the pixels are arranged on the light receiving surface. The standard value calculator calculates a standard value using a focused pixel signal and surrounding pixel signals. The surrounding pixel signals are the pixel signals of surrounding pixels. The surrounding pixels surround the focused pixel. The standard value is used for carrying out signal processing on the focused pixel signal.
US07822241B2 Device and method for combining two images
Images of static vascular maps (B), which were taken at different phases of the cardiac cycle and/or the respiratory cycle and were archived in a memory (6), are superimposed on a current image (A) of a catheter (2, 8) in the vascular system (9). In the method, a defined section of a map image (B) around the estimated actual position of the catheter is selected and is displayed superimposed on the current image (A) on a monitor (10). The map image (B) used for this is preferably selected by an electrocardiogram to match the particular cardiac cycle. The position of the catheter relative to the map image (B) is estimated using a distance image (D).
US07822233B2 Method and apparatus for organizing digital media based on face recognition
In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a method and an apparatus for organizing digital media, particularly digital photos, using face recognition. According to a first aspect of the present invention, a computer-based method for organizing digital photos comprises: extracting objects of interest from a plurality of photographs; cropping said plurality of photographs to generate images of isolated objects of interest; applying a recognition algorithm to determine the similarity of isolated objects of interest with a reference; displaying a plurality of objects arranged as a function of the determined similarity; and receiving user input to associate said objects with a particular classification.
US07822231B2 Optical flow estimation method
The optical flow in an image is estimated using only parameters extracted directly from a compressed video data stream, substantially eliminating the need to decode the video data stream for this purpose. Coefficients extracted from the compressed video data stream are used to establish a confidence map indicative of the edge strength within the image data and hence the accuracy of the associated motion field. A smooth motion field is generated from the motion vectors inherent in the compressed video data stream. The motion field is then used to update the confidence map between frames, providing an estimate of the optical flow.
US07822230B2 Image measuring system, image method and computer readable medium storing image measuring program having a nonstop measuring mode for setting a measurement path
An image measuring system comprises a measurement point acquire, a measurement direction calculator, a synthesized direction calculator operative to calculate a synthesized direction resulted from synthesis of movement directions before and after the measurement point, a fore/aft-running point calculator operative to calculate a forerunning point at a position spaced a certain distance backward in the synthesized direction from the measurement point and to calculate an aft-running point at a position spaced a certain distance forward in the synthesized direction from the measurement point, a way point calculator operative to calculate a plurality of way points arranged on a path smoothly connecting the aft-running point to the forerunning point, and a measurement path setter operative to set a measurement path following the synthesized directions and passing through the calculated way points and the measurement points.
US07822219B2 Cartilage displacing bead, ridge, or key projection
At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an in-the-ear-canal device comprising: an insertion element; and at least one non-circumferential protrusion, where the at least one non-circumferential protrusion is operatively connected to a surface of the insertion element and provides a stabilizing force for maintaining the position of the insertion element in an ear canal.
US07822216B2 Electroacoustic transducer using diaphragm and method for producing diaphragm
An electroacoustic transducer has an cup chamber and a diaphragm made of deformable electrostrictive polymer, which is attached to an opening of the chamber. The electroacoustic transducer also has first and second adaptive electrode layers formed on a front surface and a rear surface of the diaphragm, across which audio signal voltage biased by a direct-current biased voltage is applied. The first and second adaptive electrode layers have shapes that are adjustable according to a change in a shape of the diaphragm. The diaphragm is formed to make maximum a difference in air pressure of the front surface and the rear surface of the diaphragm, thereby forming any one of concave and convex shapes thereof.
US07822215B2 Bone-conduction hearing-aid transducer having improved frequency response
A hearing-aid device and a method for transmitting sound through bone conduction are disclosed. The hearing-aid device comprises a piezoelectric-type actuator, housing and connector. The piezoelectric actuator is preferably a circular flextensional-type actuator mounted along its peripheral edge in a specifically designed circular structure of the housing. During operation, the bone-conduction transducer is placed against the mastoid area behind the ear of the patient. When the device is energized with an alternating electrical voltage, it flexes back and forth like a circular membrane sustained along its periphery and thus, vibrates as a consequence of the inverse piezoelectric effect. Due to the specific and unique designs proposed, these vibrations are directly transferred through the human skin to the bone structure (the skull) and provide a means for the sound to be transmitted for patients with hearing malfunctions. The housing acts as a holder for the actuators, as a pre-stress application platform, and as a mass which tailors the frequency spectrum of the device. The apparatus exhibits a performance with a very flat response in the frequency spectrum 200 Hz to 10 kHz, which is a greater spectrum range than any other prior art devices disclosed for bone-conduction transduction which are typically limited to less than 4 kHz.
US07822213B2 System and method for estimating speaker's location in non-stationary noise environment
A system and method to estimate a location of a speaker who produces a sound signal even in a non-stationary noise environment. The system includes a signal input module receiving a first sound signal from an outside; an initialization module preparing a sound map, on which a spatial spectrum for the first sound signal, produced from at least one fixed sound source and received by the signal input module, is arranged, and estimating a location of the fixed sound source; a storage module storing information about the estimated location of the fixed sound source; and a speaker's location estimation module estimating a location where a second sound signal is produced using information about the spatial spectrum for sound signals including the first sound signal received by the signal input module and the information about the estimated location of the fixed sound source.
US07822205B2 Multiple matching control method
The aim of this invention is to pair a security module with one or more host apparatuses in an environment in which the host module has no connection with the management centre.This aim is achieved thanks to a pairing control method between a first device such as a removable security module and a second device such as a host apparatus, this pairing consisting in securing data exchanges with the aid of a unique pairing key, this method consisting in: verifying the pairing between the two devices and using the unique pairing key if the pairing has been already carried out, if not, searching for a free location among the locations reserved for the pairing data in the first device and in this case, initiating a pairing procedure by transmitting a cryptogram contained in the second device and that contains an identifier belonging to this device, this cryptogram being encrypted by a secret key common to all the first devices, decrypting this cryptogram using the first device and extracting from this cryptogram the identifier of the second device, generating a pairing key based on this identifier, storing in the first device the pairing data with the second device.
US07822203B2 Method, apparatus, and program for processing information
An information processing apparatus decrypts, using meta data, encrypted data obtained by encrypting stream data including successive frames according to an encryption method in which, when the stream data is sequentially encrypted on a frame-by-frame basis, a key used for encrypting each frame is updated according to a predetermined rule. The meta data includes the plurality of keys used for encrypting the stream data and update information for identifying update timings of the keys. The apparatus includes a decrypter for acquiring the encrypted data and decrypting each frame using the key used for encrypting the frame and a meta data acquirer for acquiring the meta data and delivering one of the keys corresponding to the frame to the decrypter in accordance with the update information. The meta data acquirer includes a corrector for detecting an error in the update information and correcting the update information if an error has occurred.
US07822199B2 Method and device for performing a cryptographic operation
A method and device for performing a cryptographic operation by a device controlled by a security application executed outside thereof in which a cryptographic value (y) is produced a calculation comprising at least one multiplication between first and second factors containing a security key (s) associated with the device and a challenge number (c) provided by the security application. The first multiplication factor comprises a determined number of bits (L) in a binary representation and the second factor is constrained in such a way that it comprises, in a binary representation, several bits at 1 with a sequence of at least L−1 bits at 0 between each pair of consecutive bits to 1 while the multiplication is carried out by assembling the binary versions of the first factor shifted according to positions of the bits at 1 of the second factor, respectively.
US07822198B2 Parallel encryptor and decryptor
An encryptor/decryptor which receives a continuous parallel data stream either in a single-ended TTL or a Low Voltage Differential Signaling format. The encryptor/decryptor selectively encrypts or decrypts the incoming data stream, using an LVDS encryptor/decryptor and then outputs the data stream in either a LVDS or TTL parallel format.
US07822197B2 Optimization methods for the insertion, protection, and detection of digital watermarks in digital data
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for encoding digital watermarks into content signals. Also disclosed are systems and methods for detecting and/or verifying digital watermarks in content signals. According to one embodiment, a system for encoding of digital watermark information includes: a window identifier for identifying a sample window in the signal; an interval calculator for determining a quantization interval of the sample window; and a sampler for normalizing the sample window to provide normalized samples. According to another embodiment, a system for pre-analyzing a digital signal for encoding at least one digital watermark using a digital filter is disclosed. According to another embodiment, a method for pre-analyzing a digital signal for encoding digital watermarks comprises: (1) providing a digital signal; (2) providing a digital filter to be applied to the digital signal; and (3) identifying an area of the digital signal that will be affected by the digital filter based on at least one measurable difference between the digital signal and a counterpart of the digital signal selected from the group consisting of the digital signal as transmitted, the digital signal as stored in a medium, and the digital signal as played backed. According to another embodiment, a method for encoding a watermark in a content signal includes the steps of (1) splitting a watermark bit stream; and (2) encoding at least half of the watermark bit stream in the content signal using inverted instances of the watermark bit stream. Other methods and systems for encoding/decoding digital watermarks are also disclosed.
US07822194B2 Method and system for low delay echo cancelling
The present invention relates to an audio communication system and method with improved acoustic characteristics. It combines the benefits from full band echo cancellers and sub-band echo cancellers, by merging the filter taps of sub-band filters into the respective full-band filter taps, which is being used to generate the inverted echo estimate in the echo canceller.
US07822191B2 Multi-modal address book
A method is provided for synchronizing disparate customized address books which each include contact information including an email address for a customer. The method includes storing identification information for each communications partner. Each communications partner is associated with a different disparate customized address book. The identification information is used to update the disparate customized address books when the contact information of the customer is changed to changed contact information. The method also includes determining when the contact information of the customer changes to changed contact information. The method further includes updating each of the disparate customized address books to include the changed contact information when the contact information of the customer is changed to the changed contact information.
US07822190B2 Method, system, and apparatus for debugging a live telephone call
A method of debugging a telephone call can include, using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) formatted messages, initiating a debug session between a debugger and a call server for a telephone call established over at least a portion of a packet-switched network. A debug function can be invoked within the call server as specified by a SIP formatted message originating from the debugger. The method further can include determining fault information pertaining to the telephone call using the debug function and sending a SIP formatted response from the call server to the debugger.
US07822181B2 Radiation collimator
A radiation collimator for use in either radiation-emitting devices (e.g., radiation therapy) or radiation-sensing imagery devices (i.e., gamma/X-ray cameras) is disclosed. The collimator's interior surface is basically a cylinder or a truncated cone, whereas its exterior shape is generated by the revolution of the graph of a function about the cylinder's symmetry axis, that function being determined such that the attenuation in the center of the sensor is constant as seen from any direction. The collimator is a body of revolution. The said collimator improves collimation and image resolution when compared to cylindrical, pinhole, laminar, or to other art collimators.
US07822179B2 Apparatus and method for processing radiation image
The invention relates to an apparatus and method for processing a radiation image. For a subject area, a radiation image signal corrected for leak charge is obtained by subtracting, from a GateOn signal obtained by turning on a transistor switch of a detecting element of a radiation detector, a GateOff signal obtained by turning off the transistor switch. A threshold value is less than or equal to a pixel saturation value. For an unblocked area where the radiation image signal is greater than the threshold value, the GateOn signal is utilized as the radiation image signal.
US07822175B2 Portable orthovoltage radiotherapy
A portable orthovoltage radiotherapy system is described that is configured to deliver a therapeutic dose of radiation to a target structure in a patient. In some embodiments, inflammatory ocular disorders are treated, specifically macular degeneration. In some embodiments, the ocular structures are placed in a global coordinate system based on ocular imaging. In some embodiments, the ocular structures inside the global coordinate system lead to direction of an automated positioning system that is directed based on the ocular structures within the coordinate system.
US07822174B2 Cryotomography x-ray microscopy state
An x-ray microscope stage enables alignment of a sample about a rotation axis to enable three dimensional tomographic imaging of the sample using an x-ray microscope. A heat exchanger assembly provides cooled gas to a sample during x-ray microscopic imaging.
US07822173B2 Smart radiation detector module
An ionizing radiation detector module (22) includes a detector array (200), a memory (202), signal processing electronics (208), a communications interface (210), and a connector (212). The memory contains detector performance parameters (204) and detector correction algorithms (206). The signal processing electronics (208) uses the detector performance parameters (204) to correct signals from the detector array (200) in accordance with the detector correction algorithms (206).
US07822167B2 Nuclear facility and method for operating a nuclear facility
A technical installation, especially a nuclear power plant, has a number of system components that are respectively supported by a number of beams, and a number of pressurized conduits. The technical installation is designed in such a way that secondary damage occurring in the surroundings of pressurized conduits are kept particularly low even if the pressurized conduits rupture. This is achieved in that at least one of the beams is embodied in a segmented manner in an area that is expected to be affected if a pressurized conduit ruptures, adjacent segments preferably being connected to each other via screw connections.
US07822166B2 Fuel assembly for a boiling water reactor
A fuel assembly for a boiling water reactor contains a plurality of fuel rods maintained laterally by spacers and surrounded by a fuel assembly case. The outer walls of a spacer are provided with projecting elements that maintain a minimum space between the outer surface of the spacer and the fuel assembly case, the opening span of a spacer being smaller than the internal width of the fuel assembly case. The fuel assembly is characterized in that the spacer is maintained in an off-center position by a force acting laterally thereon such that an external space located between an outer surface of the spacer associated with the outer surface of a central cell and the fuel assembly case is narrower than an internal gap opposite the external space and oriented towards the center or towards a control element disposed at the center.
US07822164B1 Protective screen for the screening off of a suction space
A protective screen for the screening off of a suction space and a suction duct connected to it in a cooling system, include at least one screen wall element which has a suction side and an outflow side. The screen wall element is built up from a plurality of modular rectangular cassette units, which respectively contain a plurality of suction pockets open towards the suction side, with the screen pockets being surrounded by outflow gaps which are open towards the outflow side.
US07822163B2 Frame synchronization using accumulated summation
A technique for synchronizing a device for communication is based on an accumulated sum of values or absolute values. The absolute value can be of either the sum or difference of a plurality of symbols. In one embodiment, the absolute values of the sum or difference of three symbol pairs are accumulated, and the accumulated total compared to a threshold value to determine whether the symbols are at the end of a predetermined sequence of symbols. When the comparison to the threshold value is positive, the three symbol pairs are the last six symbols in the predetermined sequence. In practice, the invention can be implemented in a number of different environments including, for example, in a WiMedia MBOA network environment. In the WiMedia MBOA environment, the predetermined sequence can comprise the preamble of a WiMedia MBOA packet.
US07822162B2 Current mode differential signal transmitting circuit sharing a clock outputting unit
A current-mode differential signal transmitting circuit is disclosed, including a transmitter having a first transmitting module and a second transmitting module. The first transmitting module includes a plurality of first outputting units to output first data and a clock outputting signal. The second transmitting module includes a plurality of second outputting units for outputting second data, and the first and second transmitting modules share this clock outputting unit.
US07822160B1 Digitally-assisted power reduction technique for IQ pipeline ADCs used in wireless receivers
A device comprises a first circuit that generates a first phase component and a second phase component. A pipelined analog to digital converter comprises N stages, wherein N is an integer greater than one. At least one of the N stages includes a sample and integrate circuit that selectively samples the first phase component and integrates a sampled second phase component to generate an integrated second phase component during one portion of a first clock phase of the sample and integrate circuit, and that selectively integrates the sampled first phase component to generate an integrated first phase component and samples the second phase component to generate the sampled second phase component during another portion of the first clock phase of the sample and integrate circuit.
US07822154B2 Signal, interference and noise power measurement
Systems and methods are presented for measuring power levels of primary and interfering signals as well as noise, particularly for satellite transmitted signals. A typical method comprises the steps of receiving a signal comprising a primary signal, an interference signal and noise, demodulating the primary signal to remove a carrier frequency, decoding the primary signal to obtain symbols, estimating a power level of the primary signal based upon the demodulated and decoded primary signal. Additionally, an ideal primary signal can be generated from the carrier power and frequency and the symbols and subtracted from the received signal to produce the noise and interference signal. The noise and interference power is then estimated from the noise and interference signal.
US07822145B1 Method and system for generating synthetic wavefront phase/time delta of arrival
A system and method for generating signals providing a synthesized wavefront phase to at least one receiver is disclosed. The system includes a buffer having a length of registers and a controller that sequences data through the length of registers. The controller determines at least two dynamically assignable registers along the length of registers to output the data. First and second signal generators are configured to receive the data from respective dynamically assignable registers. Using a clocking signal to sequence the data through the length of registers, the first and second signal generators provide the synthesized wavefront phase, based on the data received from the two dynamically assignable registers.
US07822143B2 Systems and method for transfering digital data and transfering parallel digital data in a serial data stream including clock information
The present invention provides a data transfer system including a data transmitter and a data receiver. The data transmitter converts a plurality of bits of transmission parallel data into serial data and generates a multi-level logic signal representing a plurality of bits of information in one symbol, the information being obtained by combining the serial data with a word clock as one-bit information. The word clock indicates a word delimiter in the serial data. The data receiver receives the transmitted multi-level logic signal, extracts the serial data and the word clock from the signal, and reproduces the parallel data based on the extracted word clock. In the data transfer system, a multi-bit digital signal can be transmitted as one signal including a word clock. Thus, components and mounting space to be allocated to transfer can be reduced.
US07822128B2 Multiple antenna multicarrier transmitter and method for adaptive beamforming with transmit-power normalization
In a multi-antenna, multicarrier transmitter, a multicarrier communication signal is generated by normalizing beamforming matrices based on an average subcarrier power loading for each of the transmit antennas. One or more spatial streams may be transmitted by two or more antennas.
US07822109B2 Method and system for reconfigurable channel coding
Aspects of a reconfigurable system for providing channel coding in a wireless communication device are described. The aspects include a plurality of computation elements for performing channel coding operations and memory for storing programs to direct each of the plurality of computation elements. A controller controls the plurality of computation elements and stored programs to achieve channel coding operations in accordance with a plurality of wireless communication standards. The plurality of computation elements include a data reordering element, a linear feedback shift register (LFSR) element, a convolutional encoder element, and a Viterbi decoder element.
US07822106B2 Enhanced rake structure
A rake architecture for a frequency division duplex (FDD) and use also in TDD and TD-SCDMA type communications system, designed to significantly reduce the memory capacity required and thereby also reduce an area on the die of an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) into which the memory is integrated. A single circular buffer, preferably of the shared memory type is shared by all of the rake fingers of a rake receiver to significantly reduce the hardware and software required to time align multipath signals received by a UE from a base station. This unique time alignment technique also reduces the number of code generators required to track a plurality (typically three) of base stations.
US07822101B2 Method and apparatus for interference suppression in a wireless communication receiver
According to methods and apparatus taught herein, a parametric model of received signal impairment correlations includes a parametric model term that accounts for a dominant receiver but does not result in any significant increase in parametric modeling complexity. In more detail, the parametric model models the dominant interferer as a spatial interferer, which is hypothesized as a point source of interference emanating along single-path channels to each of two or more receiver antennas. The dominant interferer thus is represented in terms of its spatial correlation across receiver antennas. The dominant interferer model term may be included in an overall model fitting process, or it may be fitted separately. Regardless, the spatial modeling approach taught herein may be used for WCDMA and other systems, and may be embodied in essentially any type of linear equalizer receiver structure.
US07822086B2 Laser projection temperature compensation
The temperature of a laser diode changes in response to video content across a line of a displayed image, and the radiance changes as a function of temperature. An adaptive model estimates the temperature of the laser diode based on prior drive current values. For each displayed pixel, diode drive current is determined from the estimated diode temperature and a desired radiance value. A feedback circuit periodically measures the actual temperature and updates the adaptive model.
US07822081B2 Resonator
This invention relates to a wavelength tunable light source, comprising a main resonator, having a first and a second mirrored end, defining an effective cavity length, i.e. an optical beam path length of a resonant mode of the cavity, an optical gain element, having a first and a second opposing end surface, said second surface being positioned within said main resonator, a mirror element constituting said second mirrored end, and a dispersive focusing resonator element, being positioned along a beam path between said second end surface and said mirror element, whereby said effective cavity length of said main resonator is arranged to be varied.
US07822077B2 Thulium doped fiber configuration for enhanced high power operation
An optical fiber amplifier includes a laser pump source for generating laser pump light; a fiber including an inner cladding layer optically coupled to a laser pump source for receiving laser pump light; a large mode area (LMA) core surrounded by the inner cladding, the LMA core including a confined region having a predetermined doping concentration of rare-earth ions for undergoing excitation to generate laser light when pumped by the laser pump light; and an outer cladding layer surrounding the inner cladding layer for substantially confining the laser pump light to the inner cladding and the LMA core. In a method of forming the optical fiber amplifier, a ratio of an area of the confined region to an area of the LMA core, and the predetermined doping concentration of the rare earth ions are selected so as to achieve a quantum efficiency (QE) gain factor of approximately 2, but such that the heat dissipation per unit length can be controlled by adjusting the area of the confined region.
US07822071B2 Method and system to enable the transport of sysplex timer protocols over generic frame procedure networks
Disclosed are a method of and system for enabling the transport of timer protocols over a generic frame procedure (GFP) network. The method comprises the steps of transmitting a defined optical initialization sequence to a GFP mapper, and using that GFP mapper to detect the optical initialization sequence and to generate a specified GFP frame to represent the initialization sequence. This specified GFP frame is recognized as a control frame for timer initialization. In a preferred embodiment, the timer protocol uses biphase encoding to encode clock data, and the method comprises the further steps of recovering clock data from a data stream that uses the biphase encoding, detecting a clock rate in that data stream, and using a look up table to map said detected clock rate into a specific code for said control frame.
US07822068B2 System and method for seamless switching through buffering
A method of preparing data streams to facilitate seamless switching between such streams by a switching device to produce an output data stream without any switching artifacts. Bi-directional switching between any plurality of data streams is supported. The data streams are divided into segments, wherein the segments include synchronized starting points and end points. The data rate is increased before an end point of a segment, to create switch gaps between the segments. Increasing the data rate can include increasing a bandwidth of the plurality of data streams, for example by multiplexing, or compressing the data.The present invention can be used, for example, with MPEG or AC-3 encoded audio and MPEG encoded video segments that are multiplexed into MPEG-2 transport streams.Also included are specific methods for preparing MPEG video streams and multiplexing MPEG video with MPEG or AC-3 audio streams to allow a receiver to create seamless transitions between individually encoded segments.
US07822054B2 Method and system for performing edge to edge pseudo wire emulation of bundling interface
A method and system for performing edge to edge pseudo wire emulation of the bundling interface in telecommunication field. The method includes: assigning the sub-channel number for the established member bundling interface and negotiating the bundling parameter; forwarding the user message through the aforementioned established bundling interface; and sending the message to the corresponding member interface based on the sub-channel number.
US07822046B2 Triggering bandwidth reservation and priority remarking
In one embodiment, a reservation proxy monitors for received connectivity check messages or beginning-of-media-flow indication messages. When either type of message is observed, the reservation proxy requests resource allocation for a media flow associated with the received message. The amount of resource allocation requested may be coordinated by exchanging messages with a call controller or policy server for one of the endpoints of the media flow, or the amount of resource allocation may be identified within the received message.
US07822044B2 Radio link parameter updating method in mobile communication system
A radio link (RL) parameter updating method of a high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) system in a mobile communication system is disclosed. According to a radio channel situation of a terminal, an RL parameter applied to transmission and reception of control information between the terminal and a base station is dynamically controlled. For this purpose, the RL parameter updating method includes: a step in which the base station determines whether to update an HSDPA related parameter and transmits the parameter update information to the RNC to trigger updating of the RL parameter; and a step in which the RNC updates the HSDPA related parameter and transmits it to the terminal. The parameter update information is delivered through an RL parameter update response message, and the RNC is a serving RNC.
US07822043B2 Supporting applications sensitive to data loss on switched virtual circuits (SVCs)
An edge router receives datagrams to be forwarded an SVC. If the SVC is not already set up, the edge router buffers the datagrams until the SVC set up is complete. The buffered datagrams are forwarded once the SVC set up is complete. According to another aspect of the present invention, different buffering requirements are supported for different user applications. A policy table may be configured by a service provider specifying the requirements associated with potentially each flow (e.g., combination of source/destination IP addresses, source/destination port number), and the datagram on each flow may be buffered accordingly.
US07822039B2 Look-up table based approach for layer combining in ISDB-T and ISDB-TSB receivers
A method of layer combining based on generating a look-up table in an Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting (ISDB) receiver includes obtaining a transmission parameter configuration, generating the look-up table based on the transmission parameter configuration, assembling a null transport stream packets and a valid transport stream packets from a plurality of layers of a multiplexing frame, and generating a completed transport packet stream using the look-up table. The receiver may generate the look-up table by at least one of generating the look-up table in real time or selecting from a look-up table set based on the transmission parameter configuration. The transmission parameter configuration may include at least one of a transmission mode, a guard interval, a modulation, and a coding rate. The look-up table may define an order of the null transport stream packets and the valid transport stream packets from the plurality of layers in the multiplexing frame.
US07822038B2 Packet processing system architecture and method
A packet processing system architecture and method are provided. According to a first aspect of the invention, a plurality of quality of service indicators are provided for a packet, each with an assigned priority, and a configurable priority resolution scheme is utilized to select one of the quality of service indicators for assigning to the packet. According to a second aspect of the invention, wide data paths are utilized in selected areas of the system, while avoiding universal utilization of the wide data paths in the system. According to a third aspect of the invention, one or more stacks are utilized to facilitate packet processing. According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a packet size determiner is allocated to a packet from a pool of packet size determiners, and is returned to the pool upon or after determining the size of the packet. According to a fifth aspect of the invention, a packet is buffered upon or after ingress thereof to the system, and a packet for egress from the system assembled from new or modified packet data and unmodified packet data as retrieved directly from the buffer. According to a sixth aspect of the invention, a system for preventing re-ordering of packets in a packet processing system is provided. A seventh aspect of the invention involves any combination of one or more of the foregoing.
US07822031B2 Multicast implementation in a link state protocol controlled ethernet network
Forwarding state may be installed for sparse multicast trees in a link state protocol controlled Ethernet network by enabling intermediate nodes to install state for one or more physical multicast trees, each of which may have multiple logical multicast trees mapped to it. By mapping multiple logical multicasts to a particular physical multicast, and installing state for the physical multicast, fewer FIB entries are required to implement the multiple multicasts to reduce the amount of forwarding state in forwarding tables at the intermediate nodes. Mapping may be performed by destination nodes before advertising membership in the physical multicast, or may be performed by the intermediate nodes before installing state when a destination node advertises membership in a logical multicast. Intermediate nodes will install state for the physical multicast tree if they are on a shortest path between a source and at least one destination of one of the logical multicasts that has been mapped to the physical multicast.
US07822029B2 Method for routing packets in ad-hoc networks with partial channel state information
A method routs a packet from a source node, via relay nodes, to a destination node. The nodes are connected by wireless links x. A channel power gain γ is measured for each link x. Resource trade-off curves y=f(x) are constructed for each link x from the channel power gains γ, wherein y represents a set of resources. A hyperbolic upper bound h/x+c is fitted to each resource curve, such that h/x+c≧f(x), wherein h is a scale factor, and c is an offset. A route with an optimal resource allocation is selected according to the hyperbolic upper bounds. Then, the packet is transmitted from the source node to the destination node using the route.
US07822012B1 Sliced crossbar architecture with inter-slice communication
A method and apparatus includes identifying an address portion of a first message in an address slice of a switch, the first message associated with a first priority, the address portion of the first message including a first routing portion specifying a network resource; identifying an address portion of a second message in the address slice, the second message associated with a second priority, the address portion of the second message including a second routing portion specifying the same network resource; identifying a non-address portion of the first message in a non-address slice of the switch; identifying a non-address portion of the second message in the non-address slice, wherein neither of the non-address portions includes a routing portion specifying the network resource; selecting, independently in each slice, the same one of the first and second messages based on the first and second priorities; transferring the address portion of the selected message to the network resource specified by the routing portion of the address portion of the selected message; sending the routing portion of the address portion of the selected message from the address slice to the non-address slice; transferring the non-address portion of the selected message to the network resource specified by the routing portion of the address portion of the selected message.
US07822006B2 System and method for providing data to a wireless communication device
A system and method allowing a mobile device user to initiate a transaction over the most widely used network such as a CDMA or GSM network and then have the device complete the transaction over a specialized data network such as Wi-Fi. The system includes a server communicating with a wireless device that maintains indexed data from the user's original transaction to ensure integrity through the completion of the transaction. The system also includes a method for the user to purchase content, download the content and upon successful completion, have it appropriately billed.
US07822004B2 Data transmission line establishing system between mobile telephone terminals
In a network system including a radio base station to be accommodated in a mobile telephone network through an IP network, the radio base station, when receiving a calling request from a calling terminal, specifies a called terminal of the calling request. If the called terminal can receive the calling request by using another radio base station different from the base station connected to the IP network, it is tried to establish a data communication line, in which the radio base station and the another radio base station are connected through the IP network not by way of the mobile telephone network, so as to exchange the communication data between the calling terminal and the called terminal.
US07821984B2 Satellite distributed high speed internet access
A satellite distributed high-speed Internet “Hotspot” enables wireless and hardwired, satellite distributed Internet access aboard a transit vehicle such as a train for anyone with a PC or other web-ready device (wireless ready or cabled) and a valid credit card or prepaid coupon. Internet access is obtained via a ground-based satellite dish, which is operatively coupled to a wireless access point located along the transit route such as a railroad track. The wireless access point is in communication with a wireless transceiver unit located on the transit vehicle, and the Internet signal is distributed to users on the transit vehicle via a router using wired or wireless connections. A plurality of wireless access points can be located along the transit route, thereby allowing the transit vehicle to maintain the Internet connection while traveling along the transit route.
US07821979B2 Communicating control messages for point-to-multipoint service in wireless communication system
A method for controlling a user equipment (UE) capable of receiving a point-to-multipoint service in a wireless communication system comprises subscribing to the point-to-multipoint service. The method also comprises receiving modified point-to-multipoint control information during a certain period from the network, wherein point-to-multipoint control information is separated into at least modified point-to-multipoint control information and unmodified point-to-multipoint control information in a network. The method also comprises determining whether the modified point-to-multipoint control information comprises information associated with the point-to-multipoint service to enable reception of the point-to-multipoint service.
US07821974B2 UMTS RIL extension
A UMTS extension to the GSM/GPRS RIL is disclosed. The UTMS RIL provides an API set interface for the support of UMTS features such as 3G QoS, secondary PDP contexts call, priority service, voice group call and voice broadcast services, etc. The API set is based on the UMTS AT command interface as defined in 3GPP specification TS 27.007. The architecture of the UMTS RIL is designed as a standard interface with APIs and callback mechanisms that can be used across different platforms and multi-radio hardware such as GSM, GPRS, WCDMA, and HSDPA. The UTMS RIL may enable various applications running on mobile platforms in 2G, 2.5G, and 3G cellular radio stacks to issue commands without knowledge of underlying radio hardware structure.
US07821968B2 Network map creating method
By synthesizing the map of an entire network, it provides a method for detecting OSI Reference Model layer-2 switches and evaluating the status of the inter-connection of the layer-2 switches. The NMT (102) which implements the SNMP manager queries the specified management IP-addresses and receives responses from the SNMP agents implemented on the layer-2 switches (103,104,105). From the management information in the responses, the existence of the layer-2 switches is confirmed and the MAC address and port information mapping table MvP table is constructed. Based on the MvP table the inter-connection information of the layer-2 switches is detected.
US07821965B2 Managing packet voice networks using a virtual switch approach
A method for managing packet voice networks using a virtual switch approach and abstract information model approach is disclosed. A virtual switch object represents a virtual switch having a media gateway controller and one or more associated media gateways. User input specifies a configuration operation on the virtual switch and one or more parameter values. One or more configuration instructions are automatically issued to both the media gateway controller and the media gateway, resulting in configuring both the media gateway controller and the media gateway as specified in the user input. As a result, a user can configure or operate on a virtual switch as an atomic entity, for example, in a network management application, without involvement in complicated details of the actual network devices that provide a particular packet voice service.
US07821964B2 Methods and systems for network coordination
Aspects of the present invention relate to distributed network coordination and administration. Some aspects relate to network coordination and management using an interfering network list that may be maintained by a network controlling authority. Some aspects relate to allocation of specific bandwidth segments by a network controlling authority to avoid network collisions and improve network efficiency.
US07821958B2 Method for estimating and monitoring timing errors in packet data networks
A system and method is provided for estimating the T1 timing error and clock recovery errors by processing timing information from the associated pseudowire packet stream(s) from which the T1 is derived. The timing errors are presented as MTIE measurements which are used to present alarms for a Network Operation Control centre and are used to accurately alarm error conditions where the regenerated or derived T1 signal does not meet MTIE or clock accuracy errors. This alarm is intended to detect conditions of excessive packet jitter, wander or phase transients which may exist in the data network over which the pseudowire stream is transported. In another aspect, the errors are used to control the regeneration of the T1 clock information.
US07821957B2 Acknowledgment of media waveforms between telecommunications endpoints
An apparatus and method are disclosed that enable a first telecommunications endpoint to ensure that a second endpoint is receiving the first endpoint's packet stream transmissions with a satisfactory waveform quality. When the second endpoint receives the packet stream, it decodes the media waveform from the stream, encodes the waveform back into a second packet stream, and transmits some or all of the packets in the second stream back to the first endpoint. The first endpoint then decodes the received waveform in the second stream and compares it to the original waveform transmitted to the second endpoint. Based on the comparison, the first endpoint adjusts the value of a quality indication, and provides the quality indication to its user and to the second endpoint. Advantageously, the user at the second endpoint is able to determine whether the received waveform is, in fact, close enough to the waveform that the first endpoint's user intended to be received and understood.
US07821956B2 System and method for controlling the flooding of information in a network environment
An apparatus for communicating packets in a network environment is provided that includes a first network element that includes a first neighbor list, the first network element being coupled to a second network element and a third network element. The first network element is operable to receive a second neighbor list from the second network element and a third neighbor list from the third network element. The first network element is further operable to determine one or more overlaps provided by the second and third neighbor lists when compared to the first neighbor list, the first network element relaying an update that it receives based on the one or more overlaps.
US07821953B2 Dynamically selecting CODECS for managing an audio message
A system, method, and apparatus are directed towards a system, method, and apparatus for managing a communication session by dynamically selecting a CODEC. A client device requests a communication session with a receiver device. If available, historical information may be used to establish an initial CODEC and its associated sampling frequency for the communication session. Signals, such as a white noise signal, and/or a ring tone may be sent between the client device and the receiver to determine a metric for the communication session. The metric may be used to adjust the CODEC and/or its sampling frequency for the communication session. In one embodiment, if it is determined that the sampling frequency is less than a minimum determined value, a message may be sent to the client device advising that the current communication session be terminated.
US07821951B2 Communicating risk information within a multi-domain network
A method for communicating risk information within a network including a plurality of domains connected to one another at the border nodes of said domains, characterized by steps consisting of: determining a connection path within a first domain (2), said path running between a border node (N21) of the first domain connected to a second domain and a recipient node, determining a set of shared risk groups of the first domain which the connection path crosses, assigning a shared risk identification code to said connection path, storing, within a shared risk group management device (28) associated with the first domain, a data structure associating said shared risk identification code with said set of shared risk groups.
US07821949B2 Forwarding plane data communications channel for ethernet transport networks
Described is a process and system for providing an extensible forwarding plane data communications channel adapted to selectively support operations, administration and maintenance (OAM) activity within one or more different domains of an Ethernet transport network. The data communication channel is established using Ethernet protocol data units forwarded within the forwarding plane, between network elements. The Ethernet protocol data units can be Ethernet OAM frames modified to include an OpCode indicative of a maintenance communication channel. The OAM frames are generated at a selected one of the network elements (source), forwarded along the same network path as the Ethernet frames, and terminate at another network element (destination) associated with a maintenance level identified within the OAM frame. The source and destination network elements can reside on a domain boundary using the Ethernet OAM frames flowing therebetween to relay maintenance communications channel messages.
US07821941B2 Automatically controlling operation of a BRAS device based on encapsulation information
A technique controls operation of a BRAS device. The technique involves extracting encapsulation information from a communications exchange between a CPE device and an external server device (e.g., a DHCP server). The communications exchange passes through the BRAS device and a DSLAM device. The technique further involves storing the encapsulation information in local memory of the BRAS device, and controlling a flow of a downstream communication passing through the BRAS device and the DSLAM device toward the CPE device based on the encapsulation information stored in the local memory of the BRAS device. Accordingly, the BRAS device is well suited for performing ATM overhead accounting as well as shaping and policing downstream traffic.
US07821935B2 Apparatus for and method of managing a routing table in a multi-hop system
A method of managing a routing table by interoperating with a routing block and a radio resource management (RRM)/scheduling block in a plurality of nodes of a multi-hop system, the method including computing a traffic load rate of each path which transmits traffic and updating the routing table with the computed traffic load rate via the routing block; and updating a plurality of metrics included in the routing table based on the traffic load rate and information transmitted from a neighbor node via the RRM/scheduling block.
US07821930B2 Fault-tolerant communications in routed networks
A method for providing fault-tolerant network communications between a plurality of nodes for an application, including providing a plurality of initial communications pathways over a plurality of networks coupled between the plurality of nodes, receiving a data packet on a sending node from the application, the sending node being one of the plurality of nodes, the data packet being addressed by the application to an address on one of the plurality of nodes, and selecting a first selected pathway for the data packet from among the plurality of initial communications pathways where the first selected pathway is a preferred pathway.
US07821922B1 Fault isolation and handling in a packet switching network
A packet switching network having a plurality of nodes and a network having: a plurality of switches couples to the nodes and links interconnecting ports of the plurality of switches. Each one of the switches has a normal routing table for routing packets from a source one of the nodes to a destination one of the nodes through the network in according to the normal routing table and, for, upon such upon such source one of the nodes detecting a fault in transmission of such packet, routing such to a predetermined designated fault one of the ports of such switch.
US07821914B2 Method of generation and set of implementation efficient preambles for OFDM systems
In one embodiment, a network node includes a lookup table configured to store one or more of the following frequency domain bit sequences: i) x010101000110xxxxxxx011000000000; ii) x1011000111000000011011110xxxxxxxxxxxxx0110111001101001010111010; iii) x0011011011111010011101111xxxxxxxxxxxxx0111010010111110000000101; iv) x000000011000100110100100xxxxxxxxxxxxx1011011110000110101011100; and v) x1000010000110111100000110xxxxxxxxxxxxx1100110011101101111110110. The node includes a processing channel configured to generate a preamble including at least one of the frequency domain bit sequences, and a transmitter configured to transmit the preamble and a data packet over a communication channel.
US07821913B2 Method and apparatus for data and pilot structures supporting equalization
Techniques for transmitting data in a manner to facilitate equalization at a receiver are described. Guard intervals are appended to data blocks such that each data block has a guard interval at the beginning of the data block and a guard interval at the end of the data block. Each guard interval may be discontinuous transmission (DTX), a polyphase sequence, or some other known sequence. Pilot is appended to each set of at least one data block. The data blocks, pilot, and guard intervals may be sent using various slot structures and are processed for transmission. The processing may include mapping the data blocks to at least one physical channel, channelizing the data blocks for each physical channel with a channelization code, combining all physical channels, and scrambling the combined data, pilot, and guard intervals with a scrambling code.
US07821911B2 Information recording medium
In an information recording medium comprising at least a substrate, a recording layer, and a resin layer, the substrate is formed with at least a pit corresponding to a read only area 31 and a groove corresponding to a recording/reproducing area 32 without overlapping with each other. A reflectivity of the recording layer is specified to be more than 10%. The recording layer and the resin layer are continuously adhered over both the read only and recording/reproducing areas 31 and 32. The information recording medium is characterized in that both push-pull signal outputs T1 and T2, which are reproduced from the read only area 31 and the recording/reproducing area 32 respectively, are more than 0.1 and satisfy an inequality 1.5≧T1/T2≧0.5.
US07821902B2 Aberration detection device and optical pickup device provided with same
An aberration detection device of the present invention is such that an absolute value of detection sensitivity of an aberration error signal is increased, and variation in detection sensitivity of the aberration error signal is little even when displacement between the center of light beam dividing means and the center of a bundle of light beams occurs due to a shift of a condensing optical system at the time of tracking control. A hologram element (2) divides light beams reflected from an information storage medium into at least two positive first order diffracted light beams. The hologram element (2) has a line (D1) extending in a radial direction and passing through an optical axis (OZ) and a division line (D2) having segments at least both ends thereof and a bulge in a center thereof, wherein the segments are substantially parallel to the line (D1), and the bulge (44) bulges toward the periphery of the hologram element (2) so that a top (D5) of the bulge (44) is substantially parallel to the line (D1).
US07821900B2 Diffractive optical element and method of designing the same
A transmissive or reflective diffractive optical element, comprising: a substrate having a top surface, the top surface being etched into a pattern, the pattern including a periodic surface pattern of grooves formed such that when an incoming light beam is shone onto the top surface, the incoming light beam will be split into a plurality of diffracted light beams, the plurality of diffracted light beams including a plurality of primary diffracted order beams and a plurality of secondary diffracted order beams, wherein the primary diffracted order beams have a primary aggregate efficiency above ninety percent, wherein the plurality of secondary diffracted order beams have a secondary aggregate efficiency of lower than ten percent, and wherein a maximum power of the primary diffracted order beams and a minimum power of the primary diffracted order beams differ by at least ten percent of an average power of the primary diffracted order beams.
US07821895B2 Data managing method for an optical disc drive writing user data into an optical disc having defects
A data managing method for an optical disc drive writing data into an optical disc having defects is provided. The optical disc has a user data area and a spare area. The optical disc drive includes a first buffering space and a second buffering space. The data managing method includes: when the first buffering space receives a data corresponding to a defect, not suspending the first buffering space from receiving the user data, and transferring the data, corresponding to the defect and in the first buffering space, to the second buffering space; and when data amount in the second buffering space reaches a predetermined value, suspending the optical disc drive from writing data in the first buffering space into the user data area, and driving the optical disc drive to write data in the second buffering space into the spare area.
US07821892B2 Optical information recording method, optical information recording device and optical information recording medium
The present invention provides an optical information recording apparatus and method capable of effectively determining appropriate recording parameters in a short time with favorable efficiency, when recording information onto an optical disk having different information recording conditions and information recording characteristics. An information recording condition or an information recording characteristic of an optical disk 1 is identified, and a recording pulse position is corrected at a correction accuracy according to the identifies information recording condition or information recording characteristic, such that a recording mark is formed in a predetermined position.
US07821889B1 Offset loop for wobble
An automated capability is provided in which an offset correction is automatically determined and routinely updated in order to reduce or otherwise eliminate data retrieval errors that may be caused by low level distortion in optical disc data storage recording, re-recording and retrieval system. The capability is implemented through an improved offset control loop for reading information from a modulated wobble signal with which the data is recorded to an optical disc data storage medium to provide detection of an offset and correction of that offset to facilitate implementation of precise timing synchronization and/or encoded information contact in the system. The offset detector measures a wobble signal and mathematically converts detected information regarding the measured wobble signal to an offset correction by integrating the wobble signal over a specific time interval and comparing the integrated value to an expected integrated value. The integration may be performed over at least one period of the sinusoidal wobble signal, and the correction added to the wobble signal.
US07821882B2 Recording and reproducing apparatus and recording method
According to the present invention, there is provided a recording and reproducing apparatus including: a reproduction memory that stores compressed data read out on a sector basis from a recording medium containing the compressed data compression-coded on a block basis; a recording memory that records on a sector basis a desired part of the compressed data stored in the reproduction memory; a reproduction unit that decompression-decodes on a block basis the compressed data read out from the reproduction memory or the recording memory; and a recording unit that, in response to designation of the compressed data from a desired sector onward as the compressed data to be recorded in the recording memory, detects a first-encountered sector that includes the start position of the block in the compressed data from the designated sector onward after the start position of the designated sector, and records the compressed data from the detected sector onward in the recording memory.
US07821870B2 Method and system for identifying moving objects using acoustic signals
An acoustic tone at a predetermined frequency is detected after being reflected and modulated by an unknown moving object. Acoustic features are extracted from the reflected acoustic tone using acoustic spectral analysis. A dimensionality of the acoustic features is reduced, and the reduced dimensionality features are statistically classified to identify the object.
US07821857B2 Input/output line sense amplifier and semiconductor memory device using the same
An input/output (I/O) line sense amplifier includes a buffer unit, a sense amplifier, and a precharge unit. The buffer unit is driven by a first level voltage to buffer a strobe signal, and the sense amplifier is driven by a second level voltage to amplify a signal of an I/O line in response to an output signal of the buffer unit. The precharge unit is driven by the first level voltage to precharge an output signal of the sense amplifier in response to the output signal of the buffer unit.
US07821851B2 Semiconductor memory device capable of operating in a plurality of operating modes and method for controlling thereof
A semiconductor memory device capable of operating in a plurality operating modes and a method for controlling the device may be provided. The semiconductor memory device may include a selecting unit and a plurality of control circuits operating in a plurality of operating modes. The selecting unit may transmit a selecting signal to select one of the plurality of operating modes. The plurality of control circuits may control operations of the semiconductor memory device in the plurality of operating modes, and the plurality of control circuits may be either enabled or disabled in response to the selecting signal. The semiconductor memory device and the method of controlling the device may have a capability of providing optimized performance in response to a change of operational conditions by selecting one of a plurality of the operating modes.
US07821847B2 Circuit and method for controlling slew rate of data output circuit in semiconductor memory device
A data output circuit of a semiconductor memory device includes at least two data output pads disposed adjacent to each other, a driver unit configured to output a first data by driving a first pad among the data output pads, and a control unit configured to determine whether a phase of the first data is equal to a phase of adjacent data outputted through second pad adjacent to the first pad, and control a slew rate of the driver unit according to the determination result.
US07821846B2 Semiconductor memory device and its driving method
A semiconductor memory device including a first latch that latches a Mode Register Set (MRS) code consisting of multiple bits in response to an MRS command pulse, a code controller that generates a control signal in response to a code value of preset bits out of an output signal from the first latch, a second latch that selectively latches the output signal from the first latch in response to the control signal and a mode decoder that decodes an output signal from the second latch to output an operation mode.
US07821843B2 Partial write-back in read and write-back of a memory
An integrated circuit having a functional memory and methods of operating and reducing an operating power of the integrated circuit are provided. The functional memory includes an array of memory cells connected to row and column periphery units and organized in corresponding rows and columns. The memory also includes a word line that provides row access to a memory cell. The memory further includes at least one bit line that provides column access to the memory cell. The memory still further includes a partial write-back module, connected to the at least one bit line, that establishes a bit line bias to maintain a current state of the memory cell when in a half-selected condition based on a read of the current state and during a write cycle to a selected memory cell in the array.
US07821838B2 Method for erasing/programming/correcting a multi-level cell (MLC)
A memory operating method includes the following steps. First, a memory including a charge storage structure is provided. Next, first type charges are injected into the charge storage structure such that a threshold level of the memory is higher than an erase level. Then, second type charges are injected into the charge storage structure such that the threshold level of the memory is lower than a predetermined bit level. Next, first type charges are injected into the charge storage structure such that the threshold level of the memory approximates to or is equal to the predetermined bit level.
US07821835B2 Concurrent programming of non-volatile memory
One embodiment of the present invention includes applying a first value to a bit line, boosting word lines associated with the bit line and a common selection line to create a first condition based on the first value, and cutting off a boundary non-volatile storage element associated with the common selection line to maintain the first condition for a particular non-volatile storage element associated with the bit line and common selection line. A second value is applied to the bit line and at least a subset of the word lines are boosted to create a second condition for a different non-volatile storage element associated with the bit line and common selection line. The second condition is based on the second value. The first condition and the second condition overlap in time. Both non-volatile storage elements are programmed concurrently, based on their associated conditions.
US07821830B2 Flash memory device with redundant columns
Apparatus and methods are disclosed, such as those involving a flash memory device. One such apparatus includes a memory block including a plurality of columns. Each of the columns includes a bit line and a plurality of memory cells on the bit line. The plurality of columns include a plurality of groups of regular columns and a plurality of groups of redundant columns. The apparatus also includes a plurality of data latches. Each of the data latches is configured to store data read from a respective one group of regular columns. The apparatus further includes a plurality of redundant data latches. Each of the redundant data latches is configured to store data read from a respective one group of redundant columns. The apparatus also includes a multiplexer configured to selectively output data from the plurality of data latches and the plurality of redundant data latches.
US07821819B2 Semiconductor memory device and its data reading method
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor memory device including a plurality of magnetic memory elements, a control line group and a read driving circuit.
US07821808B2 Multilayer ferroelectric data storage system with regenerative read
A data storage system comprises first and second storage layers, a reader and a writer. The first storage layer has a first coercive potential and a first polarization. The second storage layer has a second coercive potential that is less than the first coercive potential, and a second polarization that is coupled to the first polarization. The writer performs a write operation in which a write potential is imposed across the first and second storage layers, such that the first coercive potential is exceeded across the first storage layer and the second coercive potential is exceeded across the second storage layer. The reader performs a read operation in which a read potential is imposed across the first and second storage layers, such that the second coercive potential is exceeded across the second storage layer and the first coercive potential is not exceeded across the first storage layer.
US07821800B2 Power adapter for providing output power limiting and load-dependent voltage regulation
Disclosed is a power adapter having a voltage limiting circuit for limiting an output voltage of the power adapter at a predetermined voltage level when an output current of the power adapter is smaller than a threshold current, and a power limiting circuit for limiting an output power of the power adapter at a predetermined power level when an output current of the power adapter reaches the threshold current, in which the voltage limiting circuit can be configured to receive a current control signal from a load and in response thereto issue a load current regulation signal to a switching control circuit of the power adapter, thereby regulating the output voltage of the power adapter based on the load current regulation signal.
US07821797B2 Isolated DC-DC converter
A switching circuit arranged to switch the input of an input power supply is connected to a primary winding of a transformer at a primary side of the transformer. A digital control circuit including a switching controller arranged to output control pulses to the switching circuit and a rectifying/smoothing circuit connected to secondary windings of the transformer are disposed at a secondary side of the transformer. The digital control circuit outputs the control pulses via a pulse transformer, calculates the input power-supply voltage on the basis of the on-duty cycle of the control pulses, the output voltage, and the ratio of the number of turns of the primary winding to the number of turns of the secondary windings of the transformer, and performs converter control in accordance with the calculated input power-supply voltage.
US07821785B1 Heatsinks and a spring in a baffle slot between adjacent components
A baffle has a slot, with the slot positioned between first and second adjacent components when the baffle is installed above the components. A pair of heatsinks are inserted into the slot, with at least one heatsink having a heat dissipating portion that remains above the slot after insertion into the slot. A spring is inserted into the slot between the pair of heatsinks.
US07821777B2 Multifunction base and computer utilizing the same
A multifunction base and a computer utilizing the same. The multifunction base is applicable to an electronic device, and comprises a first portion and a second portion. The second portion is detachably combined with the first portion. When the second portion and the first portion are combined, they be utilized as a base for the electronic device. When the second portion and the first portion are separated, the electronic device can be received in the first and second portions.
US07821774B2 Mounting base with arc plenum
The present invention relates generally to a switchgear apparatus. More particularly, the invention encompasses a mounting base with arc plenum for a switchgear apparatus. The present invention also relates to enclosures for switchgear, panel boards, circuit breakers, and more particularly to an enclosure for low voltage switchgear and switchboard assemblies. The enclosure can be a walk-in type enclosure or a non-walk-in type enclosure. This invention further provides a method and apparatus for channeling plasma (hot arc gasses) that are generated from an arc. The switchgear mounting base with internal arc plenum can be an integral part of an arc resistant switchgear assembly and is preferably located under the switchgear. The switchgear mounting base works in conjunction with a ventilation system in the switchgear apparatus to channel hot arc gasses (plasma) from the lower breaker compartments in the front of the switchgear in the event of an internal arcing fault in one of the breaker compartments. The hot arc gasses exit downward from the bottom of the switchgear and into the plenum. The gasses then are channeled to travel backward through the plenum and then up again into the switchgear rear compartment where they can be routed to and safely discharged from the roof of the switchgear apparatus.
US07821771B2 Apparatus for storing electrical energy
An apparatus for storing electrical energy is provided. The apparatus includes a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, and a dielectric layer. The first magnetic layer has a first surface with saw tooth roughness; the second magnetic layer has a second surface with saw tooth roughness; and the dielectric layer is configured between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. The dielectric layer is arranged to store electrical energy; the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer are arranged to prevent electrical energy leakage; and the saw tooth roughness on the first surface and the second surface is designed to increase the capacitance of the apparatus.
US07821767B2 Electrostatic chuck device
The object of this invention is to provide that an electrostatic chuck device which can properly and promptly diselectrify a substrate to be processed.In an electrostatic chuck device (11) attracting a substrate (W) to be processed on the surface of a susceptor (12) electrically, a diselectrifying circuit is provided which includes diselectrifying electrode means (16) facing the surface of the susceptor (12), a diselectrifying potential (19), and a diselectrifying resistance (17) connected between the diselectrifying electrode means (16) and the diselectrifying potential (19). The resistance value of the diselectrifying resistance (178) is established such that it is lower than that of an insulating layer (13) of the surface of the susceptor (12 and the diselectrifying resistance (17) can hold the potential of the substrate (W) during an electrostatic chuck operation, and such that the diselectrifying resistance 17) can dissipate the potential of the substrate (W) into the ground potential (19) when the electrostatic chuck is canceled. This structure can appropriately and promptly diselectrify the substrate (W).
US07821751B2 ESD-detector
The invention relates to a method for reducing the adverse effects of electrostatic discharge events occurring in a handheld device. The invention involves the steps of enabling a detector for detection of an electrostatic discharge event in the handheld device, detecting the electrostatic discharge event which has affected the handheld device, generating an event signal in response to the electrostatic discharge event, and applying the event signal to the detector, retrieving status information from circuits and components in the handheld device, analysing the event signal and the status information, and taking an action based on the analysis to mitigate any adverse effects of the detected electrostatic discharge event.
US07821739B2 Asymmetric opposed slider air bearings for high speed recording on a metal foil disk
A metal foil disk offers some of the best characteristics of both the hard disk and floppy disk for digital data storage. One embodiment uses an opposed slider air bearing arrangement that provides advantages when used with a high speed metal foil disk in either a fixed or removable format. Use is made of the fact that the opposing sliders interact through their influence on the flexible disk that is sandwiched between them. Asymmetry of opposing air bearings may be created by etching the air bearing pad opposite the recording element pad to a depth sufficient that the flying height and air film stiffness of the opposing pad reach desired levels. The result is an air bearing interface with low flying height and high stiffness over the recording element opposed by a high flying height and low stiffness on the other side of the disk. This air bearing interface provides an enhanced dynamic flexibility to the metal foil disk when it is subjected to mechanical shock. As a result, the opposed slider arrangement with metal foil disk is able to avoid contact and impact when subjected to substantial levels of mechanical shock. Thus, wear and damage to slider and disk surfaces are reduced as well as the possibility of lost recorded data. This makes the metal foil disk a strong candidate as a rotating storage medium for mobile and portable applications where a shock environment is common.
US07821730B2 Systems and methods for compensating baseline wandering in perpendicular magnetic recording
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for reducing low frequency loss in a magnetic storage device. For example, a data processing circuit is disclosed that includes a digital filter that receives a series of digital samples and provides a filtered output. The filtered output is provided to a data detector that performs a data detection on the filtered output to create a detected output. A first summation element subtracts the filtered output from the detected output to create an error signal, and a second summation element subtracts the error signal from the filtered output to create a wander basis signal. A baseline correction feedback circuit receives the wander basis signal and provides a wander compensation signal. A derivative of the wander compensation signal is provided as feedback to the digital filter.
US07821728B2 Detection of defective tape drive by aggregating read error statistics
A plurality of tape drives writes a plurality of indicators corresponding to a plurality of data units on a tape, wherein an indicator indicates which tape drive of the plurality of tape drives has written a corresponding data unit on the tape. Each of the plurality of tape drives generates an extent of read errors, in response to reading the plurality of data units written on the tape. The extent of read errors generated by each of the plurality of tape drives are aggregated at a computational device coupled to the plurality of tape drives. A determination is made at the computational device of a defective tape drive of the plurality of tape drives from the aggregated extent of read errors.
US07821722B2 Wide-angle projection lens and projection apparatus using the same
A wide-angle projection lens and a projection apparatus using the same are provided. The wide-angle projection lens, from an image side of the projection apparatus, includes a first lens group, a second lens group and a third lens group. An aperture stop of the wide-angle projection lens is disposed in the third lens group. The first lens group has a negative effective refractive power and at least one aspheric lens surface. The second lens group has a first positive effective refractive power. The third lens group has a second positive effective refractive power. The effective focal length of the wide-angle projection lens is between 6.5 mm and 9.5 mm.
US07821712B2 Thin film tunable optical filter
The tunable optical filter is provided, comprising an optical means for separating an input optical signal into a tunable drop optical signal and an output optical signal, wherein the output optical signal is directed back along the same path as the input optical signal. One embodiment of the invention comprises an optical circulator, a pair of polarization beam splitters, a pair of half-wave plates, an optical thin-film filter, a rotatable mirror, a spatially fixed mirror. Optical wavelengths are selected by making angular adjustments to the optical thin-film filter and the rotatable mirror, which are rotated by the same angle. A corresponding method for spectrally splitting and spatially separating an input optical signal into an output optical signal and a drop optical signal is also provided.
US07821711B2 2D-3D image switching display system
Provided is a 2D-3D switching display system that includes a backlight, a liquid crystal panel which forms a 3D image using light generated by the backlight, a viewing zone separation unit which separates an image formed by the liquid crystal panel into a left eye image and a right eye image, and a display panel which transmits light passing through the viewing zone separation unit.
US07821710B2 Projector screen structure
The invention provides an improved projector screen structure. The improved screen structure is constituted by twist yarns from superfine single yarns and superfine nickel (Ni) chromium (Cr) alloy fiber. Through up-and-down weaving method for plain woven texture, all yarns are arranged in an organized and uniform fashion with tight spacing, so the fine screen constituted by such structure is suitable for any projectors that have different screen requirements and may be used to both front and back projection. The screen produced in this way can also deliver wide view angle, increased color saturation and contrast as well as better layer and three-dimensional effect. Moreover, the screen has zero radiation, low reflection, uniform light absorbance, flatness, antibacterial property, dustproof effect, water cleanability and durability, which are excellent attributes that traditional screens do not have. The present screen further improves comfort level for audiences and meets environmental requirements after disposal.
US07821689B2 Mapping an input color value in an input color space to an output color value in an output color space
A method and system for mapping an input color value in an input color space to an output color value in an output color space comprising a lookup table mapping an input value to an output color value, the lookup table having n number of possible values for a first fixed color component and q number of possible values for a second fixed color component, wherein q and a number m of possible values for t color components in the input color space are less than n. Surrounding input values are determined in the lookup table in a t dimensional space, wherein each surrounding input value has a same value for the fixed color component(s). Surrounding output values to which the surrounding input values map are determined. The determined input and output surrounding values and the input value are used to estimate an output value corresponding to the received input value.
US07821684B2 Circuit module integrating a light driver and an optical
A circuit module integrating a light driver and an optical scanner is capable of sensing an image of a document and driving a light source. The circuit module comprises a printed circuit board, an optical sensor and a light driver. Both the optical sensor and the light driver are mounted on and electrically connected with the printed circuit board. The optical sensor is capable of sensing the image and the light driver is capable of driving the light source.
US07821676B2 Method of processing and operating video surveillance system
A method to calculate a transform coordinate on a second video of an object having an target coordinate on a first video and related operation process and video surveillance system are disclosed. The method includes the steps of generating the first video with a first video surveillance device, generating the second video with a second video surveillance device, selecting a first predetermined number of first reference objects also existing on the second video from the first video, calculating a plurality of coordinate transform coefficients of a first coordinate transform function according to the first predetermined number of first coordinates where the first reference objects are on the first video and the first predetermined number of second coordinates where the first reference objects are on the second video, and substituting the target coordinate into the first coordinate transform function, which had the first coordinate transform coefficients, and calculating the transform coordinate.
US07821674B2 Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, information embedding method, and information embedding program
An image processing apparatus includes a detecting unit that detects pieces of additional information embedded in image data, an analyzing unit that analyzes the detected pieces of additional information, and an embedding unit that (a) updates, when the analyzing unit analyzes that any of the detected pieces of additional information includes predetermined information, the predetermined information included in the piece of additional information, and embeds the updated predetermined information into image data at a location where the predetermined information is originally embedded, or (b) embeds, when the detected pieces of additional information do not include the predetermined information, a new piece of additional information including updated information, into the image data at a location that does not overlap locations where the detected pieces of additional information are embedded, the updated information being equivalent to the predetermined information.
US07821667B2 Validation of print configuration documents
Various technologies for validating print configuration documents are described. In accordance with one described embodiment, print configuration documents are analyzed for conformance to a print schema. The print schema comprises syntactical and structural rules for the print configuration documents. Also, a file is generated to identify portions of the print configuration documents that fail to conform to the print schema.
US07821665B2 Image forming device and firmware overwriting method
An image forming device, including: rewritable memory that stores firmware composed of a plurality of modules; and a controller that performs print processing based on the firmware stored in the memory, wherein the image forming device is structured including a detachable, consumable unit having a storage unit that stores at least one of the modules; and when the storage unit in the consumable unit set in the image forming device has a module that defines control content unique to the consumable unit (hereinafter called the ‘unit unique module’), the controller overwrites the firmware in units of unit unique modules.
US07821663B2 Image supply device, control method of the device, and printing system
In this invention, to enable printing of an image that has undergone an image process or print process complying with the desire of a user on an image supply device side, real object handles and virtual object handles are set to, of images to be supplied to the printing device, images that require a predetermined image process and remaining images, respectively. A print job including the object handle of a print target image is issued in accordance with a print instruction. If the handle of an image requested by the printing device in response to the issued print job is a virtual object handle, the predetermined image process is executed for image data corresponding to the handle, and the processed image data is supplied to the printing device.
US07821662B2 Information processing apparatus and job processing apparatus
Job processing apparatus of the present invention comprises a reception unit adapted to receive a job ticket; a recognition unit adapted to recognize a processing content of a processing step of interest defined in the job ticket; a detection unit adapted to detect a processing status of the process; an identification adapted to identify a processed part of a print job and an unprocessed part of the print job based on the processing status, when the processing status satisfies a job ticket dividing condition; a job ticket generation unit adapted to generate a first job ticket that describes a processing parameter of the processed part for a next step, in order to process the processed part in the next step; and a delivery unit adapted to deliver the first job ticket to a device which executes processing in the next step.
US07821652B2 System and method for focusing discrete points on an under-measured object
A method for focusing discrete points on an under-measured object is provided. The method includes: (a) receiving an image of the object, selecting measurement points on the image, and obtaining X, Y coordinate values of the measurement points; (b) searching a solid point on the under-measured object according to the X, Y coordinate value of one of the measurement points, wherein the solid point corresponds to the measuring point; (c) emitting a laser light to the solid point for computing a vertical distance “h” between the laser aid and the solid point; (d) computing a Z coordinate value of the measurement point according to the “h”; repeating step (b) to step (d) until all the Z coordinate values of the measurement points have been computed; and (e) focusing the solid points according to the X, Y and Z coordinate values of the measurement points. A related system is also provided.
US07821648B2 Measurement method, a measurement apparatus, and a computer-readable recording medium
A measurement method for measuring a shape of a target using an interference pattern includes the steps of converting a first interference pattern into a first shape of the target (S103 to S105), obtaining a second interference pattern at a position where the target moves in an optical axis direction of the reference surface (S107, S108), unwrapping the second interference pattern after aligning a phase of the first interference pattern with a phase of the second interference pattern (S109), converting the unwrapped second interference pattern into a second shape of the target (S110), determining whether or not the first shape of the target coincides with the second shape (S111), and calculating the shape of the target by adding the integral multiple of a wavelength of the light source to the unwrapped second interference pattern if the first shape does not coincide with the second shape (S112).
US07821647B2 Apparatus and method for measuring surface topography of an object
An apparatus for measuring surface topography of an object includes an optical arrangement capable of directing a first light beam at a surface of the object, providing a second light beam coherent with and spatially phase-shifted relative to the first light beam, and generating an interference beam from the second light beam and a reflection of the first light beam from the surface of the object. The apparatus further includes at least one line scan sensor for detecting and measuring the interference beam.
US07821644B2 Apparatus for visual inspection
An apparatus is provided which reduces the dependency of the direction of polarization on channels of an image sensor so as to improve the sensitivity of inspection. In the apparatus, the direction of an illumination beam incident on a polarizing beam splitter is made to be substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of a field of view of an image sensor projected on the polarizing beam splitter.
US07821636B2 Method and apparatus for measuring a position of a particle in a flow
Aerosol and hydrosol particle detection systems without knowledge of a location and velocity of a particle passing through a volume of space, are less efficient than if knowledge of the particle location is known. An embodiment of a particle position detection system capable of determining an exact location of a particle in a fluid stream is discussed. The detection system may employ a patterned illuminating beam, such that once a particle passes through the patterned illuminating beam, a light scattering is produced. The light scattering defines a temporal profile that contains measurement information indicative of an exact particle location. However, knowledge of the exact particle location has several advantages. These advantages include correction of systematic particle measurement errors due to variability of the particle position within the sample volume, targeting of particles based on position, capture of particles based on position, reduced system energy consumption and reduced system complexity.
US07821634B2 Laser-triggered plasma apparatus for atomic emission spectroscopy
Multiple energy sources, such as a laser and electrical current, are employed, in close coordination, spatially and temporally, to clean a sample, vaporize its material and excite vapor atoms for the purpose of atomic emission spectroscopy. These methods permit better monitoring and control of the individual processes in real time, lead to higher consistency and higher quality optical emission spectra, and enhance the measurements of non-conducting solids, liquids and gases. Additionally, a portable instrument is provided with both laser source and spectrometer optically coupled to a hand-holdable unit.
US07821632B2 Sample traveling stage with flexure mechanism module to absorb the deformation of the slide
A sample traveling stage is used for inspection equipment or precision processing equipment for semiconductors or FPDs, (Flat Panel Displays). The sample traveling stage includes a moving part in which a first slide, which is mounted on a base frame and moves along a first guide block, and a second slide, which is mounted on the first slide and moves along a second guide block, is installed in a mutually crossing direction. A traveling part that travels sample through the sample table is installed by a flexure mechanism module formed on the second slide and measures displacement through the X, Y bar mirror installed at the above sample table in a mutually vertical direction. A measuring part includes a laser head, a beam divider, and an interferometer installed at the operating path of the moving part forms the output into a displacement signal by receiving the input beam interference signal reflected by the X, Y bar mirror from receiver. The deformation error of the mirror and sample, including the sample table, decreases because deformation by the slide is not delivered to the sample table, and measuring accuracy improves because the relative distance of the mirror and the sample is set. Productivity improves due to the minimization of defective proportions because the accuracy is improved.
US07821630B2 Device for monitoring a turret in a cryomagnet
A device for monitoring blockage of a turret in a cryomagnet, at least one monitoring unit that functionally interacts with a state of the inside of the turret of a cryomagnet is provided to monitor the inside of the turret.
US07821625B2 Systems and methods for lithographic illuminator beam deviation measurement and calibration using grating sensors
Angular deviation of illumination beam is measured with high accuracy for an expanded continuous range of angles using grating sensors that are configured to exhibit Surface Plasmon Resonance effects at actinic wavelengths. The beam deviation measurement systems and procedures are applicable to both mask-based and maskless lithography tools. A control system adopts an appropriate calibration algorithm based on whether the SPR effect is detected or not. Relative intensity shift in an SPR-affected diffractive order, and/or relative position and slope change in non-SPR-affected diffractive orders are used as a basis of the adopted calibration algorithm.
US07821624B2 Tracking system with excited state atomic line filter
A tracking system utilizing an excited state atomic line filter. The filter includes a metal vapor cell having an optical entrance port and an optical exit port and containing a metal vapor having a first excited energy state with a resonant frequency, and a second excited energy state. The cell has an absorption line, at or near a desired filter wavelength. The platform to be tracked, which could be an un-manned aerial vehicle has a beacon laser system located on it for producing a beacon laser beam at a wavelength within the narrow spectral band. The present invention solves the problem of lack of ground state resonant lines in at wavelengths substantially longer than those of visible light. Atomic line filters of the Faraday or Voigt crossed polarizer type are provided in which alkali metal atomic vapor in a vapor cell is excited with a pump beam to an intermediate excited state where a resonant absorption line, at a desired wavelength, is available. A magnetic field is applied to the cell producing a polarization rotation for polarized light at wavelengths near the resonant absorption lines. Thus, all light is blocked by the cross polarizers except light near one of the spaced apart resonant lines. However, the polarization of light at certain wavelengths near the resonant is rotated in the cell and therefore passes through the output polarizer.
US07821621B2 Security reader for automatic detection of tampering and alteration
A method and systems for recovering an image and/or information from a document layer(s) is provided. A first light source directs light to the document. A second light source directs light towards a beam splitting mirror which reflects the light towards the document. An image receiver receives the first and second reflected light from the document layer(s). The image receiver passes a signal to a personal computer which processes the received information. Such processing is to establish whether the document includes a retroreflective laminate, a plain polyester laminate, or neither. Additionally, further processing can establish whether the document has been tampered with, altered, or forged.
US07821619B2 Rapid scan LADAR 3D imaging with compact digital beam formation
A LADAR system for coherently imaging a target within a volume has a modulated laser transmitter at a frequency and a receiver. The receiver has a plurality of lenses, each with its own detector. Each detector is supplied by a centrally located local oscillator tuned to the frequency. The paths from the local oscillator to each detector, as well as the delay within each lens/detector combination are measured during a calibration. A calibrating reflector reflects a test signal during the calibration at many frequencies, temperatures and accelerations. Measurements of paths and delays obtained during the calibration are stored, and used to phase compensate subsequent target reflections for coherent processing.
US07821617B2 Exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method
An apparatus that includes an exposure system for exposing a substrate to an energy pattern, a vacuum chamber having an outside wall including first and second units which can be separated from each other, and a first anti-vibration mount being supported by the first unit, and for supporting a first constituent element of the exposure system. The first anti-vibration mount is disposed outside the vacuum chamber. The apparatus further includes a second anti-vibration mount, being supported by the second unit, for supporting a second constituent element of the exposure system.
US07821615B2 Liquid jet and recovery system for immersion lithography
A liquid jet and recovery system for an immersion lithography apparatus has arrays of nozzles arranged to have their openings located proximal to an exposure region through which an image pattern is projected onto a workpiece such as a wafer. These nozzles are each adapted to serve selectively either as a source nozzle for supplying a fluid into the exposure region or as a recovery nozzle for recovering the fluid from the exposure region. A fluid controlling device functions to cause nozzles on selected one or more sides of the exposure region to serve as source nozzles and to cause nozzles on selected one or more of the remaining sides to serve as recovery nozzles such that a desired flow pattern can be established for the convenience of immersion lithography.
US07821612B2 Color filter array panel and liquid crystal display including the same
A color filter array panel includes a panel having a display area and a peripheral area surrounding the display area, the display area including a plurality of color filters. A first spacer is formed in the peripheral area and is constructed from the same material as that of at least one of the color filters.
US07821599B2 Image display
A liquid crystal display element is disclosed for displaying an image. The liquid crystal display element comprises a liquid crystal display layer in which voltages are applied to a transmissive display unit and a reflective display unit, defined in one pixel, independently of each other, and a light source for irradiating the liquid crystal display layer with light from the back, and a reflection control element disposed between the liquid crystal display layer and light source. The liquid crystal display element is switched between a reflective state and a transmissive state in accordance with a voltage applied to the reflection control element. The liquid crystal display element is switched among a transmissive display mode, a combined reflective/transmissive display mode, and a reflective display mode, by utilizing the transmissive display unit and reflective display unit to display an image independently of each other.
US07821597B2 Display device having liquid crystal layer and switchable optical layer
A display device including a first electrode, a liquid crystal layer positioned under and connected to the first electrode, a second electrode and a switchable optical layer. The switchable optical layer includes either a transparent state or a non-transparent state and is electrically switchable between the transparent state and the non-transparent state. The non-transparent state is selectively emissive state. The switchable optical layer is positioned above and connected to the second electrode. A third electrode is positioned between the liquid crystal layer and the switchable optical layer.
US07821592B2 Liquid crystal display module having top case with an IC spaced within a hole therein and wherein a contact surface between a support main and a first substrate overlaps a second substrate of the LCD
A liquid crystal display module includes a bottom cover, a support main over the bottom cover, a backlight unit surrounded by the support main, a liquid crystal panel over the backlight unit and including first and second substrates and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second substrates, a driving unit including a first driving integrated circuit (IC) that is mounted on a first side of the first substrate, and a case top covering edges of a front surface of the liquid crystal panel and combined with the bottom cover, the case top including a first hole corresponding to the driving IC.
US07821590B2 Assembly structure and process for a backlight device of a display system
A backlight device comprises a mounting case and a stack of optical sheets attached to one another. The attached optical sheets includes at least a first optical sheet adhered with one or more tabs protruding from a side edge of a second optical sheet. The prearranged stack of attached optical sheets is assembled with the mounting case with one single placement operation conducted by one operator.
US07821589B2 Wire holder and liquid crystal display device having the same
An LCD device having a wire holder are disclosed, in which a wire from a lamp is efficiently fixed to an inverter through a lead-out space formed at the edge of one side of a bottom cover. The LCD device has a bottom cover with bottom and lateral sides extending from the bottom, provided with a groove formed by partially cutting the bottom and the lateral sides at the edge, a light guide plate in the bottom cover, a lamp between one side of the light guide plate and one side of the bottom cover, a wire connected to both ends of the lamp and extending along the side of the bottom cover to the groove, a wire holder to which the wire is inserted to collect the wire in the groove, limiting motion of the wire, and an LCD panel arranged on the light guide plate.
US07821586B2 Liquid crystal display panel and method of fabricating the same
A method of forming a liquid crystal display panel is presented. A black matrix is formed on a substrate. A color filter is formed at an area which is divided by the black matrix. An overcoat layer and a spacer formed simultaneously by press-forming a liquid pre-polymer material with a soft mold on the color filter. The liquid pre-polymer material is heated for a predetermined time while the mold is applied. The liquid pre-polymer material contains a basic resin such as polyethylene glycol, a binder such as styrene-acrylic co-monomer and a photo-initiator.
US07821581B2 Fully integrated tuner architecture
An integrated receiver with channel selection and image rejection substantially implemented on a single CMOS integrated circuit is described. A receiver front end provides programmable attenuation and a programmable gain low noise amplifier. Frequency conversion circuitry advantageously uses LC filters integrated onto the substrate in conjunction with image reject mixers to provide sufficient image frequency rejection. Filter tuning and inductor Q compensation over temperature are performed on chip. The filters utilize multi track spiral inductors. The filters are tuned using local oscillators to tune a substitute filter, and frequency scaling during filter component values to those of the filter being tuned. In conjunction with filtering, frequency planning provides additional image rejection. The advantageous choice of local oscillator signal generation methods on chip is by PLL out of band local oscillation and by direct synthesis for in band local oscillator. The VCOs in the PLLs are centered using a control circuit to center the tuning capacitance range. A differential crystal oscillator is advantageously used as a frequency reference. Differential signal transmission is advantageously used throughout the receiver.
US07821579B2 Image enhancing system
An image enhancing system uses a perfect reconstructing filter to process image signals within a specified resolution and enhance the image signals. The image enhancing system includes an image-signal-obtaining unit, a first-signal-group processing unit, a high-pass/low-pass-image obtaining unit, a brightness-adjusting unit, a threshold unit, an amplifying unit, an adder and a normalizing unit. The image-signal-obtaining unit obtains nine image signals from three lines of image signals. The first-signal-group processing unit processes the nine image signals. The high-pass/low-pass-image obtaining unit obtains a high-frequency image signal and a low-frequency image signal. The brightness-adjusting unit adjusts the brightness of the low-frequency image signal. The threshold unit processes the noise of the high-frequency image signal. The amplifying unit amplifies the high-frequency image signal. The adder adds the high-frequency image signal and the low-frequency image signal. The normalizing unit normalizes the result of the adder to obtain an enhanced image.
US07821578B2 Reconfigurable self-calibrating adaptive noise reducer
A video noise reducer reduces the noise artifacts in a video signal. The video noise reducer is reconfigurable to provide spatial noise reduction and temporal noise reduction in either a parallel or cascade architecture. The video noise reducer is self-calibrating by providing estimation modules that estimate the amount of noise in the video signal and a noise injector that confirms the measurement against a known quantity of noise. The video noise reducer is adaptive to solutions in hardware or a combination of hardware and firmware. The video noise reducer is also optimized for efficient memory usage in interlaced video signal processing applications.
US07821570B2 Adjusting digital image exposure and tone scale
A method of adjusting exposure of a digital camera based on range information, including a digital camera capturing a first digital image at a selected exposure of a scene having objects; providing range information having two or more range values indicating the distance from the digital camera to objects in the scene; using the range information and pixel values of the captured digital image to determine an exposure adjustment amount for the selected exposure; and applying the exposure adjustment amount to the digital image to produce a second digital image with adjusted exposure.
US07821566B2 Image sensor and camera system having the same
An image sensor includes a pixel array having a plurality of unit pixels with high light sensitivity, for sensing information about image received from an exterior; a control and interface unit for controlling an overall operation of an image sensor chip and acting as an interface with an external system; an analog signal processing unit for processing an analog signal from the pixel array after being controlled by the control and the interface unit; an A/D converter for converting the analog signal into a digital signal; a picture signal processing unit for performing a plurality of image processes in order to enhance image of the digital signal, wherein the picture signal processing unit includes a focus value calculator for calculating a focus value from the digital signal; and an interface unit for providing an exterior with the focus value calculated through the focus value calculator.
US07821555B2 Multi path power for CMOS imagers
An analog signal chain for a CMOS active pixel sensor imaging system utilizes, for each amplification stage, a plurality of fixed gain amplifiers instead of a single multi-gain amplifier. The fixed gain amplifier corresponding to the desired gain level is selected and powered on and coupled to the input/output signal paths, while the non-selected fixed gain amplifier(s) are powered off and isolated from the input/output signal paths. Each fixed gain amplifier is operated at a gain bandwidth corresponding to the timing requirements of the imaging system and the gain of the amplifier. Thus, each fixed gain amplifier (other than the one corresponding to the maximum gain of a comparable multi-gain amplifier) operates at a lower level of power consumption than the comparable multi-gain amplifier.
US07821546B2 Image processing apparatus, imaging apparatus, image processing method, and program
The present invention includes a coordinate rotating circuit which executes a coordinate rotating conversion based on a predetermined rotation matrix, on each of two color difference signals to obtain two color difference rotated signals, a normalizing circuit which divides the color difference rotated signal by a luminance signal to obtain a color difference normalized signal, a subtractor and an absolute value calculating circuit which calculate a color saturation degree-of-deviation signal from a difference between the color difference normalized signal and a coefficient, and a tangent circuit and an absolute value calculating circuit which divide the color difference rotated signal by the color difference rotated signal to calculate a hue degree-of-deviation signal from a resulting quotient.
US07821543B2 Electronic camera having continuous shooting function
An electronic camera having a continuous shooting function includes a resolution conversion unit capable of performing resolution conversion at least at a high resolution and at a low resolution that is lower than the high resolution, an image compression unit capable of performing image compression at least at a low compression factor and at a high compression factor that is higher than the low compression factor, and when a continuous shooting unit executes continuous shooting, the image compression unit performs image compression at a high compression factor if the resolution at the resolution conversion unit is set to a low resolution.
US07821542B2 System and method for restricting use of camera of a mobile terminal
A method, system and apparatus for restricting, within a specific area, the photographing function of a camera mounted in a mobile terminal. A control signal is transmitted to a mobile terminal within a photograph-prohibited area and the mobile terminal disables the camera. Upon leaving the photograph-prohibited area, the camera is enabled.
US07821541B2 Remote control apparatus using gesture recognition
A video processor for recognizing gestures, including a video camera for capturing photographs of a region within the camera's field of view, in real-time, an image processor coupled with the video camera for detecting a plurality of hand gestures from the photographs captured by the video camera, and a controller coupled with the image processor, wherein the controller can be in a dormant mode or an active mode, and wherein the controller transitions from dormant mode to active mode when the image processor detects a progression of two states within the captured photographs, the two states being (i) a closed fist and (ii) an open hand, and wherein the controller performs a programmed responsive action to an electronic device based on the hand gestures detected by the image processor when the controller is in active mode. A method and a computer-readable storage medium are also described and claimed.
US07821540B2 Imager-created image signal-distortion compensation method, imager-created image signal-distortion compensation apparatus, image taking method and image taking apparatus
Disclosed herein is a method of compensating an imager-created image for a distortion. The method includes: a movement-vector detection process of receiving data of the imager-created image and detecting a movement vector; an optical-zoom portion vector computation process of computing an optical-zoom portion vector corresponding to an image movement; an optical-zoom portion vector subtraction process of subtracting the optical-zoom portion vector from the movement vector detected; a global hand-movement displacement vector computation process of computing a global hand-movement displacement vector for the imager-created image from the movement vector in the case of no optical zoom operation and computing a global hand-movement displacement vector for the imager-created image from a difference vector output in the case of an optical zoom operation; and a hand-movement compensation process of compensating the imager-created image for a distortion caused by a hand movement on the basis of the global hand-movement displacement vector.
US07821539B2 Method and apparatus for inspecting solid-state image pickup device
Apparatus for inspecting a solid-state image pickup device comprises: a memory for saving an image data from the solid-state image pickup device; an arithmetic operation part that performs predetermined image processing on the image data saved in the memory and outputting an evaluation value; and a controller that judges whether the solid-state image pickup device is good based on the evaluation value. The arithmetic operation part adds image data values saved in the memory in the column direction (extension direction of a vertical charge transfer path) to obtain a column-based addition value. The arithmetic operation part then obtains difference data from the adjacent value, counts the number of difference data items contained in the plurality of specified level regions, and obtains the evaluation value based on the sum total of the products of level information and count in the level regions.
US07821533B2 Wireless video surveillance system and method with two-way locking of input capture devices
A method for locking communication between at least one wireless input capture device ICD(s) and a corresponding digital input recorder (DIR) and/or another ICD, including the steps of providing base system; at least one user accessing the DIR via user interface either directly or remotely; the DIR and/or ICD searching for signal from the ICD(s) and establishing communication with them; and locking the ICDs to send wireless data exclusively to that DIR and/or ICD; and/or the DIR and/or ICD locking itself for exclusive communication with the locked ICDs, thereby providing a secure surveillance system for a target environment.
US07821529B2 Image pickup system
To provide an image pickup system having CCDs 25 driven at different frequencies respectively which can drive each CCD 25 with a predetermined frequency if a detachable camera head (or electronic endoscope) 28 is used and also can process a signal processing clock of a video processing circuit 29 with one type of clock. A drive signal of the predetermined frequency supplied to the CCD is produced via a generating circuit CXO 155 in the video processing circuit 29, a frequency dividing circuit 132 and a timing generator (T.G.) 131. A CCD signal outputted from the CCD 25 is inputted to a line memory 139 in a floating circuit 135. As a writing clock (WCK) of the line memory 139, the one which is divided in the frequency dividing circuit 132 to a frequency in accordance with the CCD 25 to be used is used, and as a reading clock (RCK), the one of one type of frequency is used without regard to the CCD 25 to be used. Hence, it is possible to perform the signal processing of a secondary circuit 136 of the line memory 139 and following ones always with a common generating clock.
US07821528B2 Apparatus and method for video searching in a mobile communications terminal
An apparatus and method for detecting video in a mobile communications terminal, wherein the apparatus for detecting the video of the mobile communications terminal comprises a scene change frame detector to detect a preset number of scene change frames based on input streaming video data and output the detected scene change frames, and a display unit to display the outputted scene change frames according to a user's request for video searching.
US07821527B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus, which reduces toner spatter and produces a good quality image when forming a toner image using the direct recording method. An image forming part includes: a toner carrier for carrying toner; and toner controlling means, which is disposed between the toner carrier and recording paper on which the toner is made to adhere, and which has a plurality of toner passage holes, the toner controlling means having a control electrode for controlling the passage of toner on the toner carrier side surface in the area around the toner passage hole, and forming a toner image by causing the toner to fly to the recording paper, and the image forming apparatus having liquid applying/humidifying means for either applying a liquid to or humidifying the imaging surface of the recording paper prior to forming a toner image.
US07821523B2 Image display and storage apparatus, method and medium
An image display and storage device, method, and medium to process an original image and generate a main image so that the original image does not overlap a sub image, and store the original image instead of the main image when the main image and the sub image are displayed. The device includes an image processor to receive an image, and to generate a display image and a storage image using the received image, a display unit to receive the display image from the image processor, and to display the display image, and an image storing unit to receive the storage image from the image processor and to store the image.
US07821507B2 Method of providing information via a printed substrate and two-mode sensing device
A method of enabling a user to initiate an action via a printed substrate, said substrate comprising user information and coded data, said coded data being indicative of a region identity associated with the substrate and of a plurality of locations on the substrate, said method comprising the steps of: receiving, in a computer system and from a sensing device, mode data and interaction data, the sensing device being operable in a plurality of modes and the mode data being indicative of one of said modes, the interaction data being indicative of the region identity and at least one position of the sensing device relative to the substrate, the sensing device generating the interaction data, when operatively positioned or moved relative to the substrate, by reading at least some of the coded data; identifying and retrieving at least part of a page description corresponding to the printed substrate using the region identity; determining a mode of the sensing device using the mode data; identifying an action using said mode, said interaction data and said page description; and initiating said action.
US07821505B2 Controlling device with dual-mode, touch-sensitive display
A processing device of a universal controlling device is programmed to distinguish between a first input type provided to a touch-sensitive surface and a second input type provided to the touch-sensitive surface. In response to the touch-sensitive surface being provided the first input type which is indicative of an icon selection made upon the touch-sensitive surface the processing device causes a transmitter to transmit first data representative of the selected icon. In response to the touch-sensitive surface being provided the second input type which is indicative of a moving touch made across the touch-sensitive surface, the processing device causes the transmitter to transmit second data being representative of the moving touch made across the touch-sensitive surface.
US07821499B2 Device that manages power provided to an object sensor
A hand-held device with a sensor for providing a signal indicative of a position of the hand-held device relative to an object surface enables power to the sensor at a first time interval when the hand-held device is indicated to be in a position that is stationary and adjacent relative to the object surface, enables power to the sensor at a second time interval shorter than the first time interval when the hand-held device is indicated to be in a position that is moving and adjacent relative to the object surface, and enables power to the sensor at a third time interval when the hand-held device is determined to be in a position that is removed relative to the object surface.
US07821497B2 Wireless mouse capable of storing wireless receiver therein
A wireless mouse includes a wireless receiver and a mouse main body. The mouse main body includes an upper cover, a base, a receiving part and a withdrawing part. The base includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall. The receiving part is defined at an end of the first sidewall. The withdrawing part is defined at an end of the second sidewall. The wireless receiver is stored within the mouse main body through the receiving part, and the wireless receiver having been stored within the mouse main body is partially detached from the mouse main body through the withdrawing part.
US07821494B2 Inertial mouse
An inertial mouse is disclosed in the invention, comprising: a housing; a first inertial part, coupled to a circuit substrate received in the housing, for detecting a motion measured with respect to a second axis and a third axis of a space and also for detecting a motion measured along a first axis of a plane; a second inertial part, coupled to the circuit substrate, for detecting a motion measured with respect to a first axis of the space and also for optionally detecting a motion measured along a second axis of the plane; and a micro-controller, coupled to the circuit substrate, capable of converting electrical signals received from the first and the second inertial parts or cells into a displacement signal while transmitting the displacement signal to an electronic display device by a means of transmission.
US07821493B2 Providing enhanced haptic feedback effects
Method and apparatus for providing tactile sensations. For one embodiment a first frequency at which to output a tactile sensation is received. A second frequency higher than the first frequency is determined. The second frequency is based on a frequency at which an inertial actuator outputs a second tactile sensation. A waveform having the first frequency and a waveform having the second frequency is combined to produce a signal configured to cause a composite tactile sensation at the second frequency, the composite tactile sensation conveying the first frequency.
US07821483B2 Interface circuit for data transmission and method thereof
An interface circuit for data transmission and the method thereof is described. The interface circuit includes a transmitter providing data through first data signals during the data periods corresponding to rising and falling edges of a clock signal, a transition detection unit selectively asserting a detection signal in response to the number of the first data signals having transitions between every two adjacent data periods, a transition reduction unit generating second data signals by outputting the inverted and non-inverted first data signals respectively when the detection signal is asserted and de-asserted, and a receiver restoring the data from the second data signals and the detection signal.
US07821480B2 Charge transfer circuit and method for an LCD screen
A charge transfer circuit of a liquid crystal display includes at least one inductive element connectable between first and second common terminals, to a first and to a second groups of lines of the display, respectively.
US07821474B2 Rendering luminance levels of a high dynamic range display
Systems, methods, and computer software for use in driving a high dynamic range display involve generating table entries of luminance levels for a high dynamic range display and ordering the table according to the luminance levels. If the table includes multiple entries with equal values for a particular luminance level, one of the multiple entries is designated as corresponding to the luminance level.
US07821473B2 Gradient index lens for microwave radiation
A gradient index lens for microwave radiation. The lens includes a plurality of electric field coupled resonators wherein each resonator has a resonant frequency. The resonators are arranged in a planar array having spaced apart side edges and spaced apart top and bottom edges. The resonant frequency of the resonators varies between at least two of the spaced edges of the array in accordance with the desired properties of the lens.
US07821465B2 Multiservice antenna system assembly
This invention relates generally to a multiservice antenna system assembly. The multiservice antenna system assembly may include one antenna that is fastened by means of a support, or at least two antennas that are grouped together by means of a support. The support may, for example, be a plastic packing. This invention is particularly useful when the antenna assembly is located in automobile rear-view mirrors and more particularly in exterior rear-view mirrors.
US07821457B2 Method and device for automatically determining the position of transceivers of navigation signals
A method and system for automatically determining the position of transceivers of navigation signals using a utilization system for the navigation signals are provided. First, coarse calibration of the coordinates of the transceivers is performed. Next, a trajectory of the utilization system is estimated. Finally, fine calibration of the coordinates of the transceivers and the trajectory of the utilization system is performed.
US07821455B2 Hybrid GPS receiving method and associated apparatus
A hybrid Global Positioning System (GPS) receiving method, and associated GPS receiving apparatus is provided. The GPS receiving apparatus includes an RF front-end circuit, a correlation circuit, an acquisition engine and a bidirectional interface control unit. The RF front-end receiving circuit receives a satellite signal and converts the same into a baseband signal. The acquisition engine, coupled to the correlation circuit, determines reception power of the GPS satellite signal. The interface control unit, coupled to the acquisition engine, provides a low-speed interface for transmitting GPS intermediate data that includes a code bin, a frequency bin, navigation data, a local system time and a GPS time. The interface control unit includes a memory interface unit for coupling to a memory.
US07821449B2 Base station almanac assisted positioning
A database provides base station almanac information pertaining to more than one network mode of communication. A wireless device accesses this database through a centralized server or network, or via the base station, base station controller or the like, with which it is currently communicating.
US07821437B1 Line noise analysis and detection and measurement error reduction
A method includes sensing a process parameter to generate a sensor signal that includes a process signal and line noise components, digitizing the sensor signal at a sample rate, detecting line noise zero crossings in the sensor signal, determining a line noise frequency as a function of the detected line noise zero crossings, and adjusting the sample rate as a function of the line noise frequency to reduce an impact of line noise on the digitized sensor signal.
US07821436B2 System and method for reducing power dissipation in an analog to digital converter
A system and method for reducing the power dissipated in an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC). The method includes the steps of: receiving a residue output from a previous phase of a plurality of clock phases where the plurality of clock phases includes a sample-and-hold phase and an amplifying phase for sampling and amplifying an analog input signal respectively, eliminating an effect of load on a residue amplifier when amplifying the residue output to generate an amplified residue output in the amplifying phase, and eliminating an effect of small feedback factor when sampling the amplified residue output in the sample-and-hold phase. Power advantage is achieved by sharing the load on the residue amplifier across the sample-and-hold phase and the amplifying phase rather than being fully present in any one of the clock phases. The present invention also provides a method for reducing the number of comparators used in ADCs.
US07821433B2 Pipeline-type analog-to-digital converter
A pipeline-type A/D converter includes: N number of stages cascade-connected; and a digital correction circuit that receives digital signals outputted from the N number of stages and outputs a final digital signal. In the converter, an Mth stage in the N number of stages includes: a sub A/D converter A/D-converting an input analog signal; a sub D/A converter D/A converting a digital signal outputted from the sub A/D converter; a differential amplifier circuit that includes a sample hold circuit and an operational amplifier, performs an sampling operation and a holding operation to obtain a difference between the input analog signal and an output signal of the sub D/A converter, and amplifies the difference; and a compensation circuit compensating a gain error of the operational amplifier in an operation of the differential amplifier circuit, the gain error being caused by parasitic capacitance between an input terminal and an output terminal of the operational amplifier, and 1≦M
US07821423B2 Parking control system and method
A parking control system and method provides a total parking control system and method which are capable of automatically managing and controlling a whole process from a time when a vehicle enters a parking lot to a time when it goes out of there by using a server incorporating therein a program for a very high speed image recognition technique and parking management. The apparatus provides a parking location search unit which manages a parking location of an individual vehicle by recognizing vehicle numbers by photographing vehicles entering a parking space and going out of there as well as parked vehicles, and provides related information upon search. The apparatus further provides a parking guiding unit guiding a driver of a vehicle entering the parking lot to an empty place for parking.
US07821422B2 Traffic light signal system using radar-based target detection and tracking
A novel system and method of integrating an RF emissions device, such as a radar system (103A), within a traffic control indicator (101) system. The system and method determines, using LFM-CW radar signals (201) and a multi-stage spectral processing algorithm (600), if one or more object/vehicle targets will enter an intersection and comprises receiving a radar echo response (203) indicating the object/vehicle target (104) is approaching the intersection, receiving range and velocity of the object/vehicle targets (104), and based on the receiving, determining if the object/vehicle target (104) will enter the intersection. The system and method can programmatically be configured to activate red-light-hold, green-light-extension, or left-turn-warning.
US07821414B2 Polyphase source detecting circuit
A polyphase source detecting circuit configured for detecting a polyphase source having three sources includes three sampling circuits and an alarm circuit. Each sampling circuit has a control switch. A control terminal of the control switch of each sampling circuit is connected to one of the phase sources of the polyphase source respectively. The alarm circuit has a first transistor, a first LED, and a buzzer. The anode of the first LED is connected to a power supply. The cathode of the first LED is connected to the base of the first transistor and connected to ground via the control switches of the sampling circuits in turn. The collector of the first transistor is connected to the power supply via the buzzer. The emitter of the first transistor grounded.
US07821413B2 Enhanced AC immunity in ground fault detection
A method for reducing the occurrence of false ground fault detections in a central office terminal is provided. The method includes generating a no-fault signal when no ground current is detected, delaying generation of a fault signal when ground current is detected at least for the duration of an expected pulse in AC induced signal, and when the ground current persists for a sufficient period, generating a signal indicating a fault condition.
US07821408B2 Method and system for physically qualifying commercial overland truck drivers
The present invention provides a system and a method for determining the physical qualification of a commercial motor vehicle driver. The system and method collect driver information from a driver, which is then assessed to determine if the driver is satisfies pre-established physical fitness qualifications. If the driver satisfies these qualifications, a certification is provided to the driver. The system and method can be executed with the aid of a computer system.
US07821405B2 Automatic subscriptions to shared repositories with notifications reflecting accesses by important other users and keywords stored in a personal interest profile
A system and method for automatically generating and receiving notifications regarding accesses to documents in a shared repository, where the notifications are filtered such that they are only generated and/or received for accesses that match a personal interest profile of a local user. The personal interest profile of the local user includes a number of keywords determined to be of interest to the local user, as well as a number of important person identifiers associated with other users determined to be important to the local user. The system is operable to provide notifications in response to accesses by important other users to shared documents, including reading of those documents by the important other users.
US07821395B2 Vending machines with field-programmable locks
A vending machine uses a field-programmable electronic lock that learns a key code from a corresponding electronic key, a hand-held program unit, or an external computing device via wireless communications. In one mode, the electronic lock has a learning process activation device that is accessible only when the door of the vending machine is in the open position. In another mode, the electronic lock is programmed in the field without first opening the vending machine. A program command and access control data including a new access code are transmitted wirelessly from a hand-held program unit or the like. Alternatively, an external computing device is used to program the electronic lock via long-range wireless communications, and an electronic key is then used to open the electronic lock to physically access the vending machine.
US07821392B2 Modular programmable safety device
A modular programmable safety device and system coupled with multiple sensors. The device has a memory unit to store the data modules, which can be synthesized into speech and a microprocessor-based speech module, which is connected to the memory and to a transceiver. A remote server computer is connected to the programmable device through a wireless communication system and is provided with a database to store digital data modules and scripts that are either input by a user or downloaded from a third party content provider. Software is operated on the remote server computer to provide the third party contents and the scripts. The device has an external sensor port which is coupled with multiple sensors. The safety device senses a variety of safety parameters programmable with rule sets to communicate with a parent or service provider automatically.
US07821390B2 System using electronic devices connected to network
Personal computers and other electronic devices that are connected by a network are installed in each individual office. An employee is enabled to use each individual electronic device by performing an authentication process using authentication information in an information recording medium (IC card) that is issued as an employee ID card. In the information recording medium is recorded a code C103 that indicates an electronic device that is to be a report target (for example, the employee's own personal computer 103 installed in a Chiba Branch). When this employee goes to a Tokyo Headquarters on business and performs the authentication process using the information recording medium in order to use an electronic device 101, the code C103 is read by the electronic device 101, a location information, “Tokyo Headquarters,” which indicates the employee's current location, is transmitted via the network to the electronic device 103 that is the report target, and the current location (the installation location of the electronic device 101) is displayed on a screen of the electronic device 103. Tasks of self-declaring destinations are made unnecessary and detailed destination displays are enabled.
US07821389B2 System and method for providing emergency information
A monitoring system that allows for a handheld device to transmit information to a monitoring station indicative of an emergency situation within a facility. The handheld device is provided as a keyfob and transmits a wireless RF signal to transceivers variously positioned throughout the facility. Based on identifying which transceiver is in alert, personnel can determine the location of the emergency situation and track the movement of the keyfob as it is moved throughout the facility. Additionally, two-way communication can be established with via the system to provide a maximum amount of information to security personnel and first responders as well as allowing for specific instructions to be given to select personnel in the emergency area.
US07821381B2 System for sending events between vehicles
The illustrative embodiments provide a method, a system, a computer program code, and a computer implemented method for sending events between vehicles. A vehicle detects an event, wherein the event is for a user action that indicates an intent to change movement of the vehicle. The vehicle determines whether the event should be sent to another vehicle. If the event should be sent to another vehicle, then the vehicle sends the event to the another vehicle.
US07821377B2 Remote controller, equipment operation system, and remote control method
A remote controller having a plurality of keys arranged thereon, sending a remote control signal allocated to each of the keys upon being operated to thereby remotely control control-target equipment. The remote controller can send a remote control signal corresponded to each of the control-target equipment by mode switching and allows a remote control of selection in which specific equipment out of the control-target equipment can select a signal from the other control-target equipment. The remote controller includes an input selection key for directing the selection on the one specific equipment; a receiver receiving a connected equipment signal; a controller generating and sending a remote control signal corresponding to an operation of the key, and effecting the mode switching based on the connected equipment signal, thereby selecting control-target equipment; a transmitter sending the remote control signal; and a display displaying information of the selected control-target equipment.
US07821368B1 Thin film type common mode noise filter and fabrication method of the same
A thin film type common mode noise filter and its fabrication method are disclosed. There are several electric insulation layers, coil lead layers and main coil layers are formed on an insulation substrate by means of processes of Lithography, Physical Vapor Deposition, etching or other chemical process. After that the structure is covered with an electric insulation gluing layer and a magnetic material layer so as to form a thin film type common mode noise filter with a low production cost but an improved filtering characteristic of the common mode noise.
US07821359B2 Band-stop filters
Multiple tank elements disposed along a common axis and multiple conductive pads disposed along opposing sides of the tank elements define a serpentine transmission path. The tank elements, each having a capacitor and an inductor in parallel communication, define respective portions of the serpentine transmission path that cross the common axis. In a circuit element having multiple tank elements defining a transmission path in which each tank element is preceded or followed by a next neighbor tank element, inductors of next neighbor tank elements are structured to generate directionally opposing magnetic fields upon passage of electrical current progressing along the transmission path.
US07821357B2 Filter assembly comprising two bulk wave resonators
An arrangement includes a substrate, a filter, a first bulk acoustic wave resonator, a second bulk acoustic wave resonator, and a large surface covering. The first bulk acoustic wave resonator includes a first electrode and a second electrode and is arranged flatly on the substrate. The second bulk acoustic wave resonator includes a first electrode and a second electrode and is arranged flatly on the substrate. The large-surface covering includes a metal layer over the substrate. The metal layer is connected to a ground terminal.
US07821356B2 Ortho-mode transducer for coaxial waveguide
There is disclosed an ortho-mode transducer. An annular common waveguide may be defined by an outside surface of an inner conductor and an inside surface of an outer conductor, the outside surface and the inside surface concentric about a waveguide axis. A first port may couple a first TE11 mode to the annular common waveguide. A second port may couple a second TE11 mode to the annular common waveguide, the second TE11 mode orthogonal to the first TE11 mode. A first back-short may be disposed adjacent to the first port. A second back-short may be disposed on the outside surface of the inner conductor between the first port and the second port.
US07821355B2 Waveguide antenna front end
In some embodiments of the present invention, an antenna front end includes at least two diplexers. Each of the diplexers is defined with a channel within a single material block. Each channel is shaped to provide a diplexer which includes a coupler, a receive band filter and a transmit band filter, which are adjoined and matched to form a continuous waveguide channel. Some embodiments further include a transmit hybrid coupler and/or a receive hybrid coupler. The transmit hybrid coupler is formed as a channel within the material block and adjoined and matched to the two transmit band filters. The receive hybrid coupler is formed as a channel within the material block and adjoined and matched to the two receive band filters.
US07821350B2 Methods and apparatus for dynamic frequency scaling of phase locked loops for microprocessors
A phase-locked loop employing a plurality of oscillator complexes is disclosed. The phase-locked loop includes a clock output and a plurality of oscillator complexes operable to generate output signals. The phase-locked loop further includes control logic which is configured to selectively couple an output signal of one of the plurality of oscillator complexes to the clock output.
US07821337B2 Power amplifier
A power amplifier of the present invention includes a distributor (76) for distributing an input signal; an anti-phase third-order intermodulation distortion generation circuit (63) for, upon receiving the input signal that was distributed by the distributor, generating third-order intermodulation distortion for which the phase difference is anti-phase with respect to each of two main signals of different frequencies and supplying the two main signals and the third-order intermodulation distortion; a first amplifier (61) for amplifying the signal received from the anti-phase third-order intermodulation distortion generation circuit and supplying the result; a second amplifier (62) for amplifying the input signal that was distributed by the distributor and supplying the result; and a synthesizer (64) for combining the output signal of the first amplifier and the output signal of the second amplifier.
US07821330B2 Method and apparatus for extending the lifetime of a semiconductor chip
A circuit and a method for extending the lifetime of a semiconductor chip. The circuit including a voltage reference generator, a voltage switch, a threshold voltage regulator device and a threshold voltage monitor device tunes an automatic internal power supply. The voltage reference generator provides one or more reference voltage levels that are transmitted to the voltage switch. The threshold voltage monitor device monitors the threshold voltage of the device, triggering the voltage switch to select a reference level for use as a voltage reference for the regulator when the threshold voltage of the monitored device exceeds a predetermined value. The regulator then converts the external power supply to an internal supply and holds it at the predetermined reference level.
US07821328B2 Dynamic charge pump system for front end protection circuit
Various apparatuses, methods and systems for a front end protection circuit with a dynamic charge pump system are disclosed herein. For example, some embodiments provide an apparatus such as a voltage regulator, a current regulator, a driver circuit or a switch protection circuit. The apparatus includes an output switch, a switch controller and a voltage threshold detector. The apparatus operates in a reduced power mode when the threshold detector detects a feedback level passing a threshold. In some particular embodiments, the switch controller includes a charge pump and an oscillator that run at lower speeds to reduce power usage when the feedback level passes the threshold. In various embodiments, the feedback level is a voltage level at the output switch control input, the output voltage from the output switch, or the output current from the output switch.
US07821320B2 Temperature detection circuit
A temperature detection circuit includes a bandgap reference voltage generation circuit, a detection output circuit, and an output conversion circuit. The bandgap reference voltage generation circuit generates a first reference voltage and causes a bias current to flow through a current path to produce a thermal voltage. The current path has a first resistor. The detection output circuit has a second resistor and causes a mirror current of the bias current to flow through the second resistor. The output conversion circuit uses a second reference voltage to convert a voltage drop across the second resistor to a predetermined output form to detect a temperature. The first and second resistors are substantially identical in temperature dependence. The second reference voltage is generated from the first reference voltage.
US07821319B2 Switching apparatus and method for detecting an operating state
A switching apparatus and method for detecting an operating state is disclosed. One embodiment has a MOS transistor, a replica of the MOS transistor and an evaluation arrangement and detects the start of switching of the MOS transistor by comparing the gate-source voltages of the transistors.
US07821296B2 Stacked buffers
Two or more buffers may configured and arranged such that a quiescent current that flows through and biases a first buffer also flows through and biases a second buffer. The first and second buffers may, for example, be source followers used as reference buffers that drive inputs of a switched-capacitor circuit.
US07821290B2 Differential voltage mode driver and digital impedance caliberation of same
A differential voltage mode driver and digital impedance calibration of same is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method of calibrating a differential driver circuit having a plurality of parallel driver stages, the differential driver circuit for driving a differential signal over a transmission line having an impedance, the method including determining an indication of an impedance of a plurality of parallel replica stages, wherein the plurality of parallel replica stages are replicas of the plurality of parallel driver stages, determining a number of the plurality of parallel replica stages to approximately match the measured impedance with the transmission line impedance, and activating a number of the plurality of parallel driver stages equal to the number of the plurality of parallel replica stages. In another embodiment, the invention relates to a differential voltage mode driver using at least one H-bridge driver stage.
US07821282B2 Inverter that calculates an average value of direct current DC
An inverter has an inverter circuit and a current detector. In the inverter circuit, upper-arm switching elements and lower-arm switching elements, which are connected to DC power supply, provide DC with pulse-width modulation (PWM) so as to output AC to a load. The current detector detects current of the load. With the structure above, the inverter calculates an average value of DC that flows between the DC power supply and the inverter circuit according to a product of an ON-period in which any one of the switching elements maintains ON and a current value detected by the current sensor.
US07821279B2 Element substrate, inspecting method, and manufacturing method of semiconductor device
A substrate including a semiconductor layer, where characteristics of an element can be evaluated with high reliability, and an evaluating method thereof are provided. A substrate including a semiconductor layer of the invention has a closed-loop circuit in which an antenna coil and a semiconductor element are connected in series, and a surface of an area over which the circuit is formed is covered with an insulating film. By using such a circuit, a contactless inspection can be carried out. Further, a ring oscillator can be substituted for the closed-loop circuit.
US07821277B2 Parallel test fixture for mixed signal integrated circuits
The present invention provides a parallel test fixture for mixed signal integrated circuits (ICs). The fixture includes a multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB). The fixture includes: a test area, which is disposed on a central area of the multi-layer PCB and includes several test regions for a plurality of mixed signal ICs; an analog signal ground layer, which is operationally connected with the analog signals of the mixed signal ICs in the test area; and a digital signal ground layer, which is operationally connected with the digital signals of the mixed signal ICs in the test area. Thereby, when a plurality of mixed signal ICs are parallel tested, not only the problem due to cross-talk could be solved but also the numbers of the layers of the multi-layer PCB could be reduced effectively.
US07821276B2 Method and article of manufacture to generate IC test vector for synchronized physical probing
Systems, methods, and computer readable media storing instructions for such methods relate to generating test vectors that can be used for exercising a particular area of interest in an integrated circuit. The test vectors generally include a non-overlapping repeating and/or predictable sequence of care bits (a care bit pattern) that can be used by a tester to cause the exercise of the area and collect emissions caused by exercising the area. Such emissions can be used for analysis and debugging of the circuit and/or a portion of it. Aspects can include providing a synchronization signal that can be used by a tester to allow sensor activation at appropriate times.
US07821274B2 Capacitive position sensor
A sensor includes a substrate with a sensitive area defined by a pattern of electrodes. The pattern of electrodes includes a first group of drive elements interconnected to form a plurality of row electrodes extending along a first direction, a second group of drive elements interconnected to form a plurality of column electrodes extending along a second direction, and a group of sense elements interconnected to form a sense electrode extending along both the first and second directions. The sensor may be coupled to a controller that includes a drive unit for applying drive signals to the row and column electrodes, and a sense unit for measuring sense signals representing a degree of coupling of the drive signals applied to the row and column electrodes to the sense electrode.
US07821272B2 Method for calibrating an electrostatic discharge tester
The present disclosure relates to a method for calibrating transient behaviour of an electrostatic discharge (ESD) test system. The system includes an ESD pulse generator and probe needles for applying a predetermined pulse on a device under test. The probe needles are connected to the ESD pulse generator via conductors. The test system includes measurement equipment for detecting transient behaviour of the device under test by simultaneously capturing voltage and current waveforms the device as a result of the pulse. The method includes the steps of: (a) applying the ESD test system on a first known system with a first known impedance, (b) applying the ESD test system on a second known system with a known second impedance, and (c) determining calibration data for the transient behaviour the ESD test system on the basis of captured voltage and current waveforms, taking into account said known first and second impedances. In preferred embodiments the waveforms are transferred to the frequency domain for correlation.
US07821269B2 Method for determining the dielectric constant of particles
A method of measuring the dielectric constant of a powder, including selecting a powder having an unknown first dielectric constant, selecting a liquid having a known second dielectric constant, and introducing a predetermined amount of powder into a predetermined volume of liquid to define a slurry characterized by a known volume fraction of powder. Next, the impedance spectra of the slurry is plotted over a predetermined frequency range, the measured dielectric constant data is read and the appropriate equivalent circuit for the slurry is determined. Appropriate equivalent circuit equations are applied to the measured dielectric constant data and the first dielectric constant is calculated from the appropriate equivalent circuit equations, known volume fraction of powder and measured dielectric constant data.
US07821266B2 Method and device for optimization of imaging parameters
In a method and computerized device for determination of imaging parameters for the acquisition of a magnetic resonance image of an examination subject, initial imaging parameters are established, a calculation is made, based on the initial imaging parameters, of signal intensities for tissue types that occur at least in a portion of the examination subject, and the imaging parameters for the acquisition of the magnetic resonance image under are adapted dependent on the calculated signal intensities.
US07821264B2 System and method for MR imaging in inhomogeneous magnetic fields
An apparatus and method for MR imaging in inhomogeneous magnetic fields includes acquisition of a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) MR data sets, each data set having a central transmit frequency and a central receive frequency set to a frequency offset that is distinct for each 3D MR data set. A composite image is generated based on the plurality of 3D MR data sets.
US07821262B2 Method and apparatus for sensitivity-encoded magnetic resonance imaging using an acquisition coil array
In a method as well as a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus for implementation of such a method for improved sensitivity-encoded magnetic resonance imaging using a two-dimensional or three-dimensional acquisition coil array, two-dimensional or three-dimensional undersampling of k-space is undertaken by measurement of a number N of basic partial trajectories τn in k-space that in their entirety form a geometric arrangement of source points, a number M of different operators Cm(Δ km) are determined, with each operator representing an algebraic transformation with which unmeasured target points at an interval Δ km from one of the measured source points are synthesized from a number of measured source points, the operators Cm(Δ km) are applied to at least one subset of the measured source points for at least partial completion of the magnetic resonance data set, and a largely artifact-free image is reconstructed in three-dimensional space on the basis of the measured source points and the synthesized data points.
US07821247B2 System and method for measuring electric current in a pipeline
A system for measuring a voltage differential in a current-carrying pipe using a propulsion vehicle for conveying the system inside the pipe, the system including a first contact for maintaining electrical contact with the pipe as the vehicle moves through the pipe; a second contact positioned in a spaced apart relationship from the first contact for maintaining electrical contact with the pipe as the vehicle moves through the pipe; and an AC voltage reading device connected to the first contact and the second contact for measuring the AC voltage between the first contact and the second contact as the vehicle moves through the pipe.
US07821239B2 Switching power supply
A switching power-supply unit uses a time when a transformer voltage Vt inverts due to a rectifier diode (Ds1) entering a non-conducting state as a trigger, and a first switching control circuit (CNT1) turns on a first switching element (Q1) after a predetermined delay time passes. A second switching control circuit (CNT2) turns on a second switching element (Q2) using a time when the transformer voltage Vt inverts due to turning off of the first switching element (Q1) as a trigger. A third switching control circuit (CNT3) turns on a third switching element (Q3) using turning off of the second switching element (Q2) as a trigger. The first switching control circuit (CNT1) determines a period ton1 of the first switching element (Q1) such that a first output voltage Vo1 is set to a predetermined value. The second switching control circuit (CNT2) determines an ON-period ton2 of the second switching element (Q2) such that a second output voltage Vo2 is set to a predetermined value. The third switching control circuit (CNT3) determines an ON-period ton3 of the third switching element (Q3) such that a third output voltage Vo3 is set to a predetermined value.
US07821236B2 Control circuit for detecting a reverse current in a DC-DC converter
A DC-DC converter reducing reverse current and maintaining high conversion efficiency under a light load. The DC-DC converter perform pulse width modulation (PWM) or pulse frequency modulation (PFM) and includes a drive control circuit generating a first drive signal and a second drive signal activating and inactivating a first transistor and a second transistor in a complementary manner. A reversed flow detection circuit detects current flowing to the second transistor and generates a detection signal controlling activation and inactivation of the second transistor. A detection signal invalidation circuit, coupled to the reversed flow detection circuit and the drive control circuit, receiving an operation switch signal and invalidating the detection signal in response to the operation switch signal during at least a certain period of the PWM.
US07821233B2 Charging circuit
In a charging circuit charging a battery based on a power supply voltage from an external power supply, a charging transistor is provided on a path from the external power supply to the battery. A charging control circuit is integrated on a semiconductor substrate, and adjusts an ON state of the charging transistor to control a charging current supplied to the battery. The voltage adjusting circuit provided on an electric power supply path from the external power supply to a power supply terminal of the charging control circuit generates a necessary voltage drop. The current adjusting circuit adjusts the ON state of the charging transistor such that a voltage of the battery is brought close to a predetermined voltage value. The clamp circuit clamps a voltage at the power supply terminal of the charging control circuit below a predetermined clamp voltage.
US07821230B2 Method and system for cell equalization with switched charging sources
A system and method for charging a rechargeable, or secondary, battery including a series string of cells, includes a topology of charging sources that selectively provides charging current to cells that need to be charged, but avoids overcharging cells that are already charged above a predetermined voltage threshold. Based on individual cell voltage measurements, the charging current is controlled in a manner to direct charging current to the battery cell(s) needing charge until these cells are fully charged, and by-passes battery cells that are fully charged or become fully charged.
US07821227B2 Motor vehicle battery disconnect circuit having electronic disconnects
An electronic disconnect switch module (12) in a motor vehicle has one or more pairs of high-current, high-side solid state switch devices (30A, 30B, 32A, and 32B). The source terminal of one device of each pair is connected to vehicle load circuits (27), the source terminal of the other device of each pair is connected to the vehicle battery bank (16), and the drain terminals of the devices of each pair are connected in common. The module also has a microcontroller (34) that interfaces the switch devices with the vehicle electrical system. Four feature groups are provided: Vehicle Electrical System Protection, Battery Charge Control, Battery Disconnect, and Battery Monitoring.
US07821203B2 Photomultiplier
The present invention relates to a photomultiplier that realizes significant improvement of response time properties with a structure enabling mass production. The photomultiplier comprises a sealed container, and the sealed container includes a hollow body section, extending along a tube axis, and a faceplate. The faceplate has a light incidence surface and a light emission surface on which a photocathode is formed. In particular, the light emission surface is constituted by a flat region, and a curved-surface processed region that is positioned at a periphery of the flat region and that includes edges of the light emission surface. A surface shape of the peripheral region of the light emission surface of the faceplate is thus intentionally changed in order to adjust the angles of emission of photoelectrons from the photocathode positioned at the peripheral region. Thus, the spread of transit times of photoelectrons propagating from the photocathode to a first dynode is thus reduced effectively and made not to depend on the emission positions of the photoelectrons.
US07821199B2 Organic electroluminescent device and manufacturing method thereof
A highly fine organic electroluminescent device is provided. A method for manufacturing the organic electroluminescent device is provided for patterning a very fine light emitting layer, and a deposition mask is provided to be used in the patterning. For deposition of the light emitting layer, a mask member is provided with apertures (effective apertures) for forming the light emitting layer to be used for light emitting pixel and apertures (dummy apertures) not to be used for forming the light emitting pixel around an area (effective aperture area) separated by the outer edge of a group of the apertures. The light emitting layer is deposited by using the deposition mask.
US07821195B2 High color expression display device
A high color expression display device and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The display device includes a backlight module and a display panel for receiving light from the backlight module. The display panel has a color filter layer which consists of a plurality of color resists above the backlight module. Lights from the backlight module pass through the color resists and out of the display panel to form an output light. A NTSC saturation of the output light may be greater or smaller than 60%, and a CIE standard illuminant C test result of the color resists may correspondingly fall into different predetermined scopes to prevent color shift and maintain brightness of the display device.
US07821191B2 Field emission display
A display apparatus includes an electron source; a substrate; a light emitting body arranged on the substrate and emitting light by being irradiated by an electron emitted from the electron source; an anode disposed on the substrate and supplied with a voltage for accelerating the electron; and an electrode for supplying the voltage to the anode, the electrode being disposed along a side of the substrate, and the electrode has a plurality of electrode films, the electrode films including two electrode films adjacent to each other, and a resistor film connecting between the electrode films, and a length of the portion opposing the other electrode film in one electrode film from among the two electrode films is longer than a length of the one electrode film in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the electrode.
US07821187B1 Immersion gun equipped electron beam column
An electron gun of the type having an electron emitter for emitting electrons, including an electrostatic lens and a magnetic lens formed by pole pieces with a winding coil disposed between the magnetic pole pieces. The magnetic lens forms a rotationally symmetrical magnetic field in a gap formed by the pole pieces. The magnetic field forms the magnetic lens and focuses the electrons emitted from the emitter. A vacuum tube separates the electron gun from the magnetic lens. The electron gun is sealed in a vacuum by the vacuum tube and the magnetic lens is shielded in air.
US07821184B2 Contacting multilayer piezo actuators or sensors
A device, especially a piezo stack (2) has a plurality of stacked actuator or sensor layers with electrodes (5) or piezo stack (2) contacts. A flexible lead frame (1) is electrically connected to the electrodes (5).
US07821183B2 Electrical generators for low-frequency and time-varying rocking and rotary motion
A method for generating electrical energy from a first motion having a low and/or variable frequency is provided. The method including: transferring the first motion to a first device; and intermittently transferring the first motion from the first device to a second device operating at a frequency which is higher and/or more constant that the first motion.
US07821175B2 Stator assembly for an electric machine and method of manufacturing the same
A stator for an electric machine includes a plurality of core segments interconnected with one another. At least one core segment includes a plurality of teeth and a back portion that at least partially interconnects the teeth. A first one-piece mold defines a first end insulator portion and a plurality of slot insulator portions, and a second one-piece mold defines a second end insulator portion and a second plurality of slot insulator portions. The plurality of core segments is positioned between the first mold and the second mold such that the molds align and insulate the core portions. The stator also includes a plurality of coils. Each coil surrounds at least a portion of one tooth.
US07821168B2 Axial gap dynamo electric machine with magnetic bearing
An axial gap electric dynamo machine has a horizontally disposed rotor disk that is stabilized at its periphery by a plurality of permanent magnets connected to a ferromagnetic bearing plate that provides an opposing or repulsive force against the rotor magnets. In some preferred embodiments, the bearing plate magnets are configured in a dual band to further enhance the magnetic field that supports the periphery of the spinning rotor.
US07821161B2 Electronic leakage reduction techniques
Electronic leakage reduction techniques are provided, whereby an electrical outlet with a programmable computing unit is programmed to detect the current, resistance, power or pattern of current, resistance or power of an attached appliance in the on position and/or off position. Among other aspects, the electrical outlet with a programmable computing unit delivers a selected voltage below the original operational voltage and/or delivers voltage at particular durations for particular intervals to the appliance in the off position and compares detected current, resistance, power or pattern of current, resistance or power to programmed levels associated with the appliance in the on position and/or off position. If any or some of those characteristics match those programmed associated with the appliance in the on position, or fail to match those programmed associated with the off position by a set confidence interval, original operational voltage is provided to the appliance.
US07821157B2 Method and device for injecting reactive current during a mains supply voltage dip
The invention relates to a method and device for injecting current during a mains supply voltage dip. The inventive method consists in permanently monitoring the magnitude and phase of the mains supply voltage and, upon detection of a voltage dip, injecting reactive current in the affected main supply phase(s) in a manner that can vary over the duration of the voltage dip, at very short intervals, proportionally to the magnitude of the dip, thereby absorbing the necessary active current. The device comprises a voltage measurement switch, a transformer (low voltage/medium voltage), a DC/AC inverter, a capacitor, a voltage dip detection circuit, and a control circuit.
US07821156B2 System and methods for scheduling power usage
A system for scheduling electric power consumption cycles is provided. A consumption cycle is a time period of human scale, minutes or hours typically, rather than an electrical cycle. The system includes an electric-powered device driven by power supplied by an electric power network. The system also includes a consumption cycle data (CCD) requesting module communicatively linked to the electric-powered device. The link may use electric power lines via methods such as Broadband over Power Line, or may be wireless. The CCD requesting module is configured to generate a CCD request requesting allocation of electric power from the electric power network. Additionally, the system includes an electric power network node electrically connected to the electric-powered device from which electric power is conveyed to the electric-powered device. The system also includes a CCD responding module communicatively linked to the CCD requesting module. The CCD responding module is configured to determine whether the request for allocation of power can be granted subject to a predetermined capacity constraint.
US07821148B2 Wind turbine
A wind turbine has a horizontal axis of rotation and features a hub beam and two turbine blades attached to opposing ends of the hub beam in a spaced-apart relation. The blades have a first position in which the blades are radially arrayed about the hub beam. The blades have a second position in which the blades are folded and moored to the tower. A control system communicates with weather sensors and determines whether to move the blades between the first and second positions.
US07821134B2 Semiconductor device, electronic device and fabrication method of the same
A semiconductor device includes a lower pad layer, an insulating layer and an upper pad layer. The lower pad layer is provided on a semiconductor substrate. The insulating layer is away from a surrounding of the lower pad layer so that a space having a recess on a surface between the lower pad layer and the insulating layer is formed. The upper pad layer covers over the lower pad layer and the space, extends to an upper face of the insulating layer, and has an area larger than that of the lower pad layer.
US07821133B2 Contact pad structure for flip chip semiconductor die
A flip chip Schottky die is provided, which includes three contact bumps extending from a top surface of the die for electrically connecting with a board, a first and second bump being cathode contacts, and a third bump being an anode contact and having a larger surface than each of the first and second bumps for a 0.5 ampere device. Each bump is substantially rectangular at its base, but may have a curved or arched top surface on a square die. Also, provided is a contact bump useful in a flip chip device, such as a MOSFET or diode for a current of 1.0 amperes that includes a solder body of PbSn or a solder body free of lead comprising SnAgCu. Such a contact bump is substantially rectangular, and a height of approximately 120 μm.
US07821132B2 Contact pad and method of forming a contact pad for an integrated circuit
A contact pad in an integrated circuit is disclosed. The contact pad comprises a flat portion comprising a base of the contact pad; a plurality of projections extending from and substantially perpendicular to the flat portion; and a solder ball attached to the projections and the flat portion. A method of forming a contact pad is also disclosed.
US07821123B2 LED array cooling system
A LED array cooling system including a LED array and a substrate attached to the LED array wherein the LED array includes a plurality of walls that at least in part define a plurality of passages through the LED array.
US07821115B2 Tape carrier package including a heat dissipation element
A semiconductor device on a tape carrier package with improved heat dissipation, as provided. The number of outputs of the semiconductor device has been increased for implementing a multi-channel configuration, and narrower pitches are employed. Included are a tape carrier 20 having lead patterns 21 to 24 formed on a tape base 28 thereof, and a semiconductor device 10 mounted on the tape carrier 20 and having electrode patterns 11 to 14 disposed thereon. The semiconductor device 10 includes heat dissipating electrode patterns 15 to 17 at positions where the heat dissipating electrode patterns 15 to 17 do not interfere with the electrode patterns 11 to 14. The lead patterns 21 to 24 are electrically connected to the corresponding electrode patterns 11 to 14, respectively. On the tape carrier 20, heat dissipation patterns 25 to 27 are formed. The heat dissipation patterns have a surface area broader than that of the lead patterns and have the heat dissipating electrode patterns disposed thereon.
US07821113B2 Leadframe having delamination resistant die pad
A lead frame (410) including a die pad (100) for mounting at least one integrated circuit (405) thereon and a plurality of lead fingers (413). The die pad (100) includes a metal including substrate (105) having a periphery that includes a plurality of sides (111-114), an intersection of the sides forming corners (115). A first plurality of grooves including least one groove (106) is formed in a top side surface of the substrate and is associated with each of the corners (115). The groove (106) has a dimension oriented at least in part at an angle of 75 to 105 degrees relative to a bisecting line (118) originating from the corners (115). A lead-frame-based packaged semiconductor device (400) includes a lead frame (410) including at least one metal comprising die pad (418) and a plurality of lead fingers (413) around the die pad (418). At least one integrated circuit (405) is mounted on the top surface of the die pad (418), and electrically connected to the plurality of lead fingers (413). A mold compound (414) encapsulates the integrated circuit (405), wherein the mold compound (414) is present inside the first plurality of grooves to form a restraint from delaminating between the mold compound (414) and the die pad (418).
US07821112B2 Semiconductor device with wire-bonding on multi-zigzag fingers
A semiconductor device having linear zigzag(s) for wire bonding is revealed, primarily comprising a chip, a plurality of leads made of a lead frame and a plurality of bonding wires electrically connecting the chip and the leads. At least one of the leads has a linear zigzag including a first finger and a second finger connected each other in a zigzag form. One end of one of the bonding wire is bonded to a bonding pad on the chip and the other end is selectively bonded to either the first finger or the second finger but not both in a manner that the wire-bonding direction of the bonding wire is parallel to or in a sharp angle with the direction of the connected fingers for easy wire bonding processes. Therefore, the semiconductor device can assemble chips with diverse dimensions or with diverse bonding pads layouts by flexible wire-bonding angles at linear zigzag to avoid electrical short between the adjacent leads.
US07821094B2 Light emitting diode structure
A light emitting diode structure has a silicon substrate, a conductive layer, and a light emitting diode. The top surface of the silicon substrate has a cup-structure like paraboloid, and the bottom of the cup-structure has a plurality of through-holes penetrating the silicon substrate. The conductive layer fills up the through-holes and protrudes out from the through-holes. The light emitting diode is disposed on the top of the conductive layer protruding out from the through-holes and is located at the focus of the cup-structure.
US07821092B2 Semiconductor device
An open portion is provided to an interlayer insulation film so as to correspond to a photoreceptor part of an optical detection device. A partition wall for surrounding the open portion (120) is formed by a metal material inside a wiring structure layer (90) along the boundary between the photoreceptor part (4) and a circuit part (6). The partition wall is formed by a contact structure having a multi-level structure with respect to a separation region (74) disposed on the external periphery of the photoreceptor part (4). The partition wall prevents moisture absorption and light penetration from the wall surface of the open portion, and suppresses wiring degradation or fluctuation of the characteristics of the circuit elements on the periphery of the photoreceptor part.
US07821089B2 Photodetector array using isolation diffusions as crosstalk inhibitors between adjacent photodiodes
A photodetector array includes a semiconductor substrate having opposing first and second main surfaces, a first layer of a first doping concentration proximate the first main surface, and a second layer of a second doping concentration proximate the second main surface. The photodetector includes at least one conductive via formed in the first main surface and an anode/cathode region proximate the first main surface and the at least one conductive via. The via extends to the second main surface. The conductive via is isolated from the semiconductor substrate by a first dielectric material. The anode/cathode region is a second conductivity opposite to the first conductivity. The photodetector includes a doped isolation region of a third doping concentration formed in the first main surface and extending through the first layer of the semiconductor substrate to at least the second layer of the semiconductor substrate.
US07821084B2 Sensor system
Rather than increasing the mass of the structure, the structure in a sensor system suspends its substrate from some mechanical ground. Motion of the substrate relative to the mechanical ground thus provides the movement information. To those ends, the sensor system includes a base, a substrate, and a flexible member suspended from at least a portion of the substrate. At least a portion of the flexible member is capable of moving relative to at least a portion of the substrate. In addition, the flexible member is secured to the base, thus causing the substrate to be movable relative to the base. Moreover, the mass of the substrate is greater than the mass of the flexible member. The substrate and flexible member are configured to interact to produce a motion signal identifying movement of the base.
US07821079B2 Preparation of thin film transistors (TFTs) or radio frequency identification (RFID) tags or other printable electronics using ink-jet printer and carbon nanotube inks
The invented ink-jet printing method for the construction of thin film transistors using all SWNTs on flexible plastic films is a new process. This method is more practical than all of existing printing methods in the construction TFT and RFID tags because SWNTs have superior properties of both electrical and mechanical over organic conducting oligomers and polymers which often used for TFT. Furthermore, this method can be applied on thin films such as paper and plastic films while silicon based techniques can not used on such flexible films. These are superior to the traditional conducting polymers used in printable devices since they need no dopant and they are more stable. They could be used in conjunction with conducting polymers, or as stand-alone inks.
US07821077B2 Semiconductor device
The active region of an NMOS transistor and the active region of a PMOS transistor are divided by an STI element isolation structure. The STI element isolation structure is made up of a first element isolation structure formed so as to include the interval between both active regions, and a second element isolation structure formed in the region other than the first element isolation structure.
US07821076B2 Semiconductor device
There is provided a technology which allows improvements in manufacturing yield and product reliability in a semiconductor device having a triple well structure. A shallow p-type well is formed in a region different from respective regions in a p-type substrate where a deep n-type well, a shallow p-type well, and a shallow n-type well are formed. A p-type diffusion tap formed in the shallow p-type well is wired to a p-type diffusion tap formed in a shallow n-type well in the deep n-type well using an interconnection in a second layer. The respective gate electrodes of an nMIS and a pMIS each formed in the deep n-type well are coupled to the respective drain electrodes of an nMIS and a pMIS each formed in the substrate using an interconnection in a second or higher order layer.
US07821069B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes: n transistor elements; n resistive elements; and n capacitive elements, each kind of elements coupled in series between the first and second terminals. The gate of each transistor element has a gate pad, and each transistor element includes transistor pads disposed on both sides. Each resistive element includes resistive pads disposed on both sides. Each capacitive element includes capacitive pads disposed on both sides. The gate pad other than the first stage transistor element, a corresponding resistive pad, and a corresponding capacitive pad are electrically coupled. One transistor pad, one resistive pad, and one capacitive pad in the first stage are electrically coupled. One transistor pad, one resistive pad, and one capacitive pad in the n-th stage are electrically coupled.
US07821066B2 Multilayered BOX in FDSOI MOSFETS
A fully depleted MOSFET has a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate that includes a substrate material, a BOX positioned on the substrate material, and an active layer positioned on the BOX. The BOX includes a first layer of material with a first dielectric constant and a first thickness and a second layer of material having a second dielectric constant different than the first dielectric constant and a second thickness different than the first thickness. The first layer of material is positioned adjacent the substrate material and the second layer of material is positioned adjacent the active layer. Drain and source regions are formed in the active layer so as to be fully depleted. The drain and source regions are separated by a channel region in the active layer. A gate insulating layer overlies the channel region and a gate stack is positioned on the gate insulating region. It is anticipated that the structure is most useful for channel regions less than 90 nm long.
US07821062B2 Field effect transistor and method for producing a field effect transistor
A field effect transistor is provided having a source region, a drain region formed in a first well region, and a channel region. The first well region is doped with doping atoms of a first conductivity type. At least a part of the channel region which extends into the first well region is doped with doping atoms of a second conductivity type, the second conductivity type being a different conductivity type than the first conductivity type.
US07821057B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and manufacturing method thereof
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, a pair of source and drain diffusion regions of a second conductivity type oppositely formed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a stacked structure having a gate insulating film, a charge accumulation film, an interlayer insulating film and a control gate which are formed in order on a channel region of the surface of the semiconductor substrate interposed between the source and drain diffusion regions. An edge of the stacked structure in the vicinity of the source region is formed away from a junction position between the source diffusion region and the channel region.
US07821055B2 Stressed semiconductor device and method for making
A method of making a semiconductor device on a semiconductor layer includes forming a gate dielectric and a first layer of gate material over the gate dielectric. The first layer is etched to remove a portion of the first layer of gate material over a first portion of the semiconductor layer and to leave a select gate portion. A storage layer is formed over the select gate portion and over the first portion of the semiconductor layer. A second layer of gate material is formed over the storage layer. The second layer of gate material is etched to remove a first portion of the second layer of gate material over a first portion of the select gate portion. A portion of the first portion of the select gate is etched out to leave an L-shaped select structure. The result is a memory cell with an L-shaped select gate.
US07821054B2 Semiconductor device and semiconductor system
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first and second semiconductor regions formed on the semiconductor substrate insulated and separated from each other, a gate dielectric film formed on the substrate to overlap the first and second semiconductor regions, a floating gate electrode formed on the gate dielectric film and in which a coupling capacitance of the first semiconductor region is larger than that of the second semiconductor region, first source and drain layers formed on the first semiconductor region to interpose the floating gate electrode therebetween, a first and second wiring lines connected to the first source and drain layers, respectively, second source and drain layers formed on the second semiconductor region to interpose the floating gate electrode therebetween, and a third wiring line connected to the second source and drain layers in common.
US07821051B2 MIM capacitor and method of fabricating same
A damascene MIM capacitor and a method of fabricating the MIM capacitor. The MIN capacitor includes a dielectric layer having top and bottom surfaces; a trench in the dielectric layer, the trench extending from the top surface to the bottom surface of the dielectric layer; a first plate of a MIM capacitor comprising a conformal conductive liner formed on all sidewalls and extending along a bottom of the trench, the bottom of the trench coplanar with the bottom surface of the dielectric layer; an insulating layer formed over a top surface of the conformal conductive liner; and a second plate of the MIM capacitor comprising a core conductor in direct physical contact with the insulating layer, the core conductor filling spaces in the trench not filled by the conformal conductive liner and the insulating layer. The method includes forming portions of the MIM capacitor simultaneously with damascene interconnection wires.
US07821049B2 Semiconductor memory device and method for fabricating semiconductor memory device
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor memory device comprising, a first transistor and a second transistor formed on a semiconductor substrate, a memory capacitor formed above the first transistor, the memory capacitor being connected to the first transistor, a dummy memory capacitor formed above the second transistor, a wiring layer formed above the memory capacitor and the dummy memory capacitor, the wiring layer being connected to the first transistor and the memory capacitor, a first plug connecting between the second transistor and the dummy memory capacitor, and a second plug connecting between the dummy memory capacitor and the wiring layer.
US07821045B2 Apparatus, system, and method for multiple-segment floating gate
Various embodiments include a substrate and a memory cell coupled to the substrate. The memory cell may include an L-shaped floating gate, a control gate, an insulation layer coupled between the control gate and the first L-shaped floating gate, and a conductive layer coupled between the substrate and the first L-shape floating gate. Other embodiments including additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US07821042B2 Imaging device including a multiplier electrode
An imaging device includes a first electrode for generating an electric field storing signal charges, a charge multiplication section for multiplying the stored signal charges, a second electrode for generating the electric field in the charge multiplication section, a voltage conversion portion for converting the signal charges into a voltage, a third electrode for transferring the signal charges to the voltage conversion portion, provided between the first electrode and the voltage conversion portion, wherein the second electrode is provided on a side opposite to the third electrode and the voltage conversion portion with respect to the first electrode.
US07821038B2 Power and ground routing of integrated circuit devices with improved IR drop and chip performance
An integrated circuit chip with reduced IR drop and improved chip performance is disclosed. The integrated circuit chip includes a semiconductor substrate having thereon a plurality of inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layers and a plurality of copper metal layers embedded in respective the plurality of IMD layers; a first passivation layer overlying the plurality of IMD layers and the plurality of copper metal layers; a first power/ground ring of a circuit block of the integrated circuit chip formed in a topmost layer of the plurality of copper metal layers; a second power/ground ring of the circuit block of the integrated circuit chip formed in an aluminum layer over the first passivation layer; and a second passivation layer covering the second power/ground ring and the first passivation layer.
US07821037B2 Heterojunction bipolar transistor
A heterojunction bipolar transistor includes a first conductivity type subcollector layer, a first collector layer containing a first conductivity type impurity, a third collector layer containing a higher concentration of the first conductivity type impurity than the first collector layer, a second collector layer containing a lower concentration of the first conductivity type impurity than the first collector layer, a second conductivity type base layer, a first conductivity type emitter layer containing a semiconductor with a wider bandgap than the base layer, and a first conductivity type emitter cap layer.
US07821032B2 III-nitride power semiconductor device
An enhancement mode III-nitride power semiconductor device that includes normally-off channels along the sidewalls of a recess and a process for fabricating the same, the device including a first power electrode, a second power electrode, and a gate disposed between the first power electrode and the second power electrode over at least a sidewall of the recess.
US07821028B2 Power semiconductor component with trench-type field ring structure
A power semiconductor component and a method for producing such a component. The component comprises a semiconductor base body having a first doping. A pn junction is formed in the base body by a contact region having a second doping with a first doping profile. A field ring structure has a second doping with a second doping profile. The contact region and the field ring structure are arranged at respectively assigned first and second partial areas of a first surface of the base body. Both extend into the base body, wherein the base body has, for the field ring structure, a trench-type cutout assigned to each respective field ring, the surface of said cutout following the contour of the assigned doping profile.
US07821027B2 LED package structure and manufacturing method, and LED array module
An LED package includes a substrate having an electrically conductive portion and an electrically non-conductive portion composed of an oxide of the conductive portion; an LED mounted on the conductive portion and electrically connected to the conductive portion; a first electrode disposed on the non-conductive portion and electrically connected to the LED by a wire; and a second electrode disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to the LED.
US07821018B2 GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device and method for the fabrication thereof
A GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting device 1 includes a stacked body 10A having the component layers 12 that include an n-type semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer and a p-type semiconductor layer each formed of a GaN-based semiconductor, sequentially stacked and provided as an uppermost layer with a first bonding layer 14 made of metal and a second bonding layer 33 formed on an electroconductive substrate 31, adapted to have bonded to the first bonding layer 14 the surface thereof lying opposite the side on which the electroconductive substrate 31 is formed, made of a metal of the same crystal structure as the first bonding layer 14, and allowed to exhibit an identical crystal orientation in the perpendicular direction of the bonding surface and the in-plane direction of the bonding surface.
US07821017B2 Light-emitting diode and method for fabricating the same
The invention discloses a method for fabricating a light-emitting diode. In an embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the following steps of (a) preparing a substrate; (b) forming an epitaxial layer on the substrate, wherein the epitaxial layer has an upper surface; (c) forming a mask layer on a first region of the upper surface of the epitaxial layer; (d) forming a semiconductor multi-layer structure on a second region of the upper surface of the epitaxial layer, wherein the second region is distinct from the first region; (e) removing the mask layer formed on the first region of the upper surface of the epitaxial layer; and (f) forming an electrode on the first region of the upper surface of the epitaxial layer.
US07821014B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof with a recessed backside substrate for breakdown voltage blocking
A semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof uses a semiconductor substrate of silicon carbide. On one principal surface side of the substrate, at its central section, a layer of silicon carbide or gallium nitride as a semiconductor layer having the thickness at least necessary for breakdown voltage blocking is epitaxially grown or formed from part of the substrate. A recess is formed in the other principal surface side of substrate at a position facing the central section. A supporting section surrounds the bottom of the recess and provides the side face of the recess. The recess is formed by processing such as dry etching. The semiconductor device, even though the semiconductor substrate is made thinner for the realization of small on-resistance, can maintain the strength of the semiconductor substrate capable of reducing occurrence of a wafer cracking during the manufacturing process.
US07821010B2 Low temperature fabrication of conductive micro structures
A method of fabricating a micro structure includes depositing amorphous silicon over a substrate having an electric circuit at a temperature below 550° C. to form a first structure portion, wherein at least part of the first structure portion is configured to receive an electrical signal from the electric circuit.
US07821008B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A catalytic element is added to an amorphous semiconductor film and heat treatment is conducted therefor to produce a crystalline semiconductor film with good quality, a TFT (semiconductor device) with a satisfactory characteristic is realized using the crystalline semiconductor film. A semiconductor layer includes a region containing an impurity element which has a concentration of 1×1019/cm3 to 1×1021/cm3 and belongs to group 15 of the periodic table and an impurity element which has a concentration of 1.5×1019/cm3 to 3×1021/cm3 and belongs to group 13 of the periodic table, and the region is a region to which a catalytic element left in the semiconductor film (particularly, the channel forming region) moves.
US07821004B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
The present invention improves the aperture ratio of a pixel of a reflection-type display device or a reflection type display device without increasing the number of masks and without using a blackmask. A pixel electrode (167) is arranged so as to partially overlap a source wiring (137) for shielding the gap between pixels from light, and a thin film transistor is arranged so as to partially overlap a gate wiring (166) for shielding a channel region of the thin film transistor from light, thereby realizing a high pixel aperture ratio.
US07820986B2 Techniques for controlling a charged particle beam
Techniques for controlling a charged particle beam are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a charged particle acceleration/deceleration system. The charged particle acceleration/deceleration system may comprise an acceleration column. The acceleration column may comprise a plurality of electrodes having apertures through which a charged particle beam may pass. The charged particle acceleration/deceleration system may also comprise a plurality of resistors electrically coupled to the plurality of electrodes. The charged particle acceleration/deceleration system may further comprise a plurality of switches electrically coupled to the plurality of electrodes and the plurality of resistors, each of the plurality of switches may be configured to be selectively switched respectively in a plurality of operation modes.
US07820985B2 High tilt implant angle performance using in-axis tilt
The present invention comprises a method for high tilt angle implantation, with angular precision not previously achievable. An ion beam, having a width and height dimension, is made up of a number of individual beamlets. These beamlets typically display a higher degree of parallelism in one of these two dimensions. Thus, to minimize angular error, the workpiece is tilted about an axis substantially perpendicular to the dimension having the higher degree of parallelism. The workpiece is then implanted at a high tilt angle and rotated about a line orthogonal to the surface of the workpiece. This process can be repeated until the high tilt implantation has been performed in all required regions.
US07820979B2 Pulsed ultraviolet ion source
A system and method for providing a pulsed atmospheric source of ions for chemical analysis includes a chamber containing a pair of electrodes and a second chamber with the sample gas. A narrow pulse of high voltage is applied between the electrodes to form an arc which emits ultraviolet light directly into the sample gas chamber through an aperture connecting the chambers. The ultraviolet photons ionize the sample gas and the resultant sample gas ions are then swept into a chemical detector by an electric field.
US07820972B2 Method of evaluating skin conditions and method of estimating skin thickness
Methods of determining at least one of the degree of skin damage caused by UV light and the degree of physiologically aging of the skin, and methods of estimating at least one of an epidermal skin thickness and a dermal skin thickness by analysis of the near infrared absorption spectrum of skin are disclosed. The near infrared absorption spectrum of skin are analyzed and the obtained analysis result is used for monitoring skin conditions and evaluating cosmetics.
US07820970B1 Fabrication of thermal microphotonic sensors and sensor arrays
A thermal microphotonic sensor is fabricated on a silicon substrate by etching an opening and a trench into the substrate, and then filling in the opening and trench with silicon oxide which can be deposited or formed by thermally oxidizing a portion of the silicon substrate surrounding the opening and trench. The silicon oxide forms a support post for an optical resonator which is subsequently formed from a layer of silicon nitride, and also forms a base for an optical waveguide formed from the silicon nitride layer. Part of the silicon substrate can be selectively etched away to elevate the waveguide and resonator. The thermal microphotonic sensor, which is useful to detect infrared radiation via a change in the evanescent coupling of light between the waveguide and resonator, can be formed as a single device or as an array.
US07820962B2 Detection systems and dopants
An ion mobility spectrometer has a drift chamber (1) with an inlet (2) at one end by which a gas or vapor being analyzed is supplied to the chamber. After ionization, molecules are admitted through a gate 8 and flow along a drift region (9) to a collector plate (11). A drift gas is flowed through the drift region against the flow of ionized molecules and is circulated along a flow path (31, 32, 40) and (30), which includes a chamber (50) including a dopant. The dopant is 2,4-pentanedione, which has been found to enhance the detection of a number of compounds especially toxic industrial chemicals and nitrogen compounds, such as those present in the breath of mammals.
US07820961B2 Mass spectrometer and method of mass spectrometry
A linear trap having high ejection efficiency and low ejection energy is realized. In a mass spectrometer in which ions generated by an ion source are introduced to a quadrupole rod structure applied with RF voltage and ejected from the quadrupole rod structure so as to be detected by a detection mechanism, a mass dependent potential is formed in the axial direction of the quadrupole rod structure and ions are ejected mass selectively from the vicinity of a minimum point of the potential, the mass dependent potential being formed by applying electrostatic voltage and RF voltage to an insertion electrode inserted in the quadrupole rods.
US07820954B2 Device for generating a view of a three-dimensional object
A device for reproducing three-dimensional data has a plurality of image points(7) that include a plurality of laser light sources(2), in front of which is arranged a lens(4). Since the laser light sources(2) of an image point(7) radiate in different directions, different images can be projected in different radiation directions(12, 13). Since eyes (10, 11) of an observer perceive different images depending on the viewing direction, a spatial visual impression is produced.
US07820949B2 Method of starting, stopping and operating gas sensor with built-in heater
A control apparatus for a gas sensor with a built-in heater is provided which can prevent damage to, deterioration of, and reduction in accuracy of detection of, a gas sensor. When an ignition switch is turned ON, supply of electricity to a heater 27 starts, and when the temperature in the vicinity of a gas sensor 15 (gas temperature of gas detection chamber 24) Ts becomes greater than a predetermined temperature #Ti at start, or when a predetermined electricity supply time after start of supply of electricity to the heater 27 has elapsed, the gas sensor 15 is started. The flow of off-gas is started simultaneously with starting of the gas sensor 15, or after starting. When the ignition switch is turned OFF, the flow of off gas is stopped, and the supply of electric power to the gas sensor 15 is stopped. In a state where a temperature difference ΔT between the gas temperature Ts inside the gas detection chamber 24, and an upstream gas temperature Tg is maintained within a predetermined range, the supply of electricity to the heater 27 is stopped after a predetermined time has elapsed after operation of the gas sensor 15 is stopped.
US07820946B2 Heated hydration system
A method and portable hydration system can include a conduit coupled to a bite valve and a reservoir. The conduit and the bite valve facilitate human consumption of fluid in the reservoir. The system may also include an active heating assembly to prevent the fluid from freezing while in the conduit and the bite valve. The active heating assembly may include a temperature sensor to detect the temperature of the conduit, a heating element to heat the conduit and a controller coupled to the temperature sensor and the heating element to control heating of the conduit.
US07820945B2 Heating fabric and manufacturing method thereof
Disclosed is a heating fabric comprising a heating fabric element made by weaving woof fibers and warp fibers, a pair of conductive parts being a plain fabric made by a weaving method to extend from one side edge of the heating fabric element, for supplying electric power to the heating fabric element, wherein electrode fibers are woven in rows as warp threads in the conductive parts and a heating fiber is intermittently woven as woof threads at predetermined intervals so as to be conductive with the conductive parts, and wherein the heating fiber is woven in a zigzag pattern on the other side of the plain fabric of the conductive parts, in which one end of the heating fiber is woven into the conductive part, and a portion of the other end of the heating fiber is not woven into the conductive part, thereby forming a jumping portion having a length longer than a width of the conductive part, the jumping portion jumping over the conductive part so as not to be conductive with the conductive part. Due to the one-side arrangement of the conductive parts and the zigzag pattern of the carbon fibers, electromagnetic waves are reduced and offset. Accordingly, the heating fabric is advantageous for a user's health.
US07820939B2 Zero-gap laser welding
A method for laser welding a pair of overlapping metal members together and a weld joint produced by the method. At least one of the metal members has a protective metal coating. The method includes applying a thin layer of an alloying agent on at least one of the metal members between the metal members, melting the protective metal coating and the alloying agent to form an alloy that is disposed between the overlapping members with zero gap, welding the overlapping metal members together to form a weld, and controlling the amount of the alloying agent such that the extended solid solubility of the alloying agent in the weld is not exceeded.
US07820937B2 Method of applying one or more electromagnetic beams to form a fusion bond on a workpiece such as a medical device
A process and apparatus is provided for forming a fusion bond between two materials. The process begins by forming a bond site by positioning a portion of a first body with respect to a portion of a second body. The first and second bodies may be components of a medical device such as a catheter, for example. At least one collimated beam of electromagnetic energy is generated and directed onto portions of the first and second bodies within the bond site so that at least one fusion zone having an increased temperature is formed.
US07820934B2 Method for fixing an element in an electrical apparatus and an electrical apparatus including two parts fixed according to such a method
A method for fixing an element to a part of an electrical apparatus may include interposing an extender between the element and the part, where the extender is able to exert forces on the element and the part to position the element with respect to the part and/or to secure the element in position with respect to the part, by friction between one side of the extender and the element and between another side of the extender and the part, and to ensure positioning and/or securing of the element with respect to the part prior to final fixing, and to perform final fixing by performing two welding operations respectively between the element and the extender and between the extender and the part.
US07820932B2 Mail sorter, method, and software product for a two-step and one-pass sorting algorithm
A sorter, method, and software product are used for sorting objects into a sequence of destination addresses, in at most a single pass through the sorter. In a first stage of the single pass through the sorter, the objects are sorted into a plurality of batches corresponding to groups of the destination addresses. The batches are then eventually advanced from the first stage to a second stage of the single pass through the sorter. During that second stage, objects in each of the batches are sorted into the sequence of destination addresses.
US07820928B2 Remote switch actuator
A remote switch actuator assembly includes a handle bar, a first actuator lever mounted to the handle bar, a mounting bracket configured to secure a drill to the handle bar such that a chuck end of the drill faces the handle bar, a second actuator lever secured to the mounting bracket so as to be in proximity with an actuation switch of the drill when the drill is secured by the mounting bracket, and a cable extending between and coupled with the first actuator lever and the second actuator lever. The first actuator lever is movable with respect to the handle bar to effect movement of the cable and corresponding movement of the second actuator lever toward the mounting bracket and the actuation switch of the drill when the drill is secured by the mounting bracket, and movement of the second actuator lever facilitates actuation of the drill secured by the mounting bracket by engaging with the actuation switch of the drill in response to movement of the first actuator lever.
US07820924B2 Multi-direction switch for a cursor device
A directional controller for a device is provided. The directional controller consists of keypad contacts, a keyboard, and a button. The keypad contacts are on a printed circuit board. The keyboard has more than four keys and each key is disposed adjacent to one of the keypad contacts. The button is operable for pivoting engagement with the more than four keys to promote contact between the more than four keys and the adjacent one of the keypad contacts.
US07820919B2 Electronic circuit packages
This invention relates to electronic circuit packages designed to hold high frequency circuits operating particularly, but not exclusively, in the microwave, millimeter wave, and sub-millimeter wave bands. The invention provides a package incorporating a cavity in a material for containment of the circuits, wherein the package further incorporates at least one conductive surface mounted on an inner surface extending into the cavity, the conductivity thereof being adapted to be at least partially absorbent to electromagnetic radiation. The conductive surface according to the present invention will tend to attenuate electromagnetic radiation present within the cavity, and so help to prevent undesired coupling from one point to another within the cavity. The conductivity of the conductive material is preferably arranged to match the impedance of the radiation mode estimated or computed to be present within the cavity.
US07820918B2 Shielding can and method for making same
A shielding can (100) includes a shielding case (10) configured to reducing electromagnetic interference, and a cushion (20) integrally mounted to the shielding case by insert molding. The cushion is configured to absorb shock force. A method for making the shielding can includes the following steps: providing a mold; placing a shielding case in the mold; injecting shock absorbing material into the mold to form a cushion on the shielding case; cooling the molded shielding can; and removing the shielding can from the mold.
US07820917B2 Circuit board
A circuit board includes a plurality of through holes into which a plurality of leads of one electronic devices are inserted and soldered with lead free solder. Among these through holes, the volume of through hole into which the outermost end lead of leads of the electronic device is inserted, is set greater than the volume of through hole, into which the lead at the position nearest to the center of the electronic device is inserted.
US07820905B2 Thermoelectric conversion device and manufacture method for the same
A thermoelectric conversion device and a manufacture method thereof are provided. The manufacture method includes an electrode board stamping process, an insulating frame molding process, a punching process, an element fixing process, a bending process and an insulating frame integrating process. Band-shaped plate members which function as heat radiating fins and heat absorbing fins and are integrated with insulating frame members are respectively folded-back in such a manner that the folding-back directions of the band-shaped plate members are alternately reverse to each other in the longitudinal direction of the band-shaped plate member. The insulating frame members are joined to each other to be arranged substantially in line, to construct an insulating frame unit. Thus, the component number and the assembly labor can be reduced, while the manufacture quality and the product quality can be improved.
US07820904B1 Phantom powered pedals
Musical instrument effects pedals are powered from adjacent pedals by providing electrical connectors between adjacent pedals and by providing tip-ring-sleeve jacks in the pedals and three wire connectors with tip-ring-sleeve connectors, which carry sound signals from an instrument through sequential pedals and electrical power in an opposite direction to the pedals.
US07820903B2 Electronic percussion instrument
An electronic percussion instrument can carry out the control of the musical tones that is intended by the performer. The instrument includes electronic controls that set a vibration flag when the instrument is struck and a determination is made as to whether or not a timer has timed a specified time period. If the timer has timed the specified time period, the vibration flag that is stored in the flag memory is reset. If the time period has not been reached, the displacement sensor processing ends and the routine returns to the main processing. In those cases where the vibration flag is not set, or in those cases where the resetting of the vibration flag has completed, a determination is made as to whether or not the upper cymbal has shifted from an open position to the closed position.
US07820900B2 System and method for sound recognition
The present disclosure relates to sound and speech recognition devices and methods. A system is provided that utilizes a system of tonal and rhythmic visualization methods to recognize different sounds so as to accurately identify true security problems in a cost effective manner. The system can also be utilized to recognize different vocal characteristics so as to accurately identify individuals based on their speech.
US07820899B2 Cymbal adjustment structure
A cymbal adjustment structure includes an upper tray, a lower tray and a nut. The upper tray has an aperture and an upper duct and a lower duct. The lower duct has a pair of troughs and holds an elastic element and a holding member inside. The lower tray is coupled outside the lower duct and has a boss on the top thereof to run through the aperture to push a lower cymbal mounted onto the upper tray at an inclined angle. The nut is fastened to the periphery of the lower tray. The lower tray is fastened to the holding member through a fastening element running through the trough. Hence by turning the nut the lower tray can be moved and adjusted upwards and downwards to allow the boss to push the washer at the bottom of the lower cymbal.
US07820890B1 Inbred corn line G07-NPXA6496
Basically, this invention provides for an inbred corn line designated G07-NPXA6496, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line G07-NPXA6496 with plants of another corn plants. The invention relates to the various parts of inbred G07-NPXA6496 including culturable cells. This invention also relates to methods for introducing transgenic transgenes into inbred corn line G07-NPXA6496 and plants produced by said methods.
US07820887B2 Cotton variety 05Q153
The invention relates to the novel cotton variety designated 05Q153. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants, plant parts and derivatives of the cotton variety 05Q153. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the cotton variety 05Q153 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing cotton plants by crossing the cotton variety 05Q153 with itself or another cotton variety and plants produced by such methods.
US07820882B2 NAC from wheat for increasing grain protein content
The present invention provides wheat NAC nucleic acids and proteins that modulate grain protein content and senescence in plants. Overexpression of a NAC coding sequence can accelerate senescence and increase grain protein content and inhibition of expression can delay senescence. The invention also provides methods of using the nucleic acids to produce transgenic plants with altered grain protein content or senescence.
US07820881B2 Plants having increased yield and method for making the same
The present invention concerns a method for increasing plant yield, particularly seed yield, comprising introducing into a plant a nucleic acid encoding a CDKD or a functional variant thereof. The invention also provides transgenic plants produced by the methods of the invention and provides constructs useful in methods of the invention.
US07820871B2 Biological wound dressing and method of making
A biological wound dressing is made by a method that includes the steps of providing a natural animal tissue that has a substrate, crosslinking and fixing the substrate, minimizing the antigens from the substrate, and incorporating an active layer in the substrate.
US07820855B2 Method and apparatus for carbonylating methanol with acetic acid enriched flash stream
A carbonylation process for producing acetic acid including: (a) carbonylating methanol or its reactive derivatives in the presence of a Group VIII metal catalyst and methyl iodide promoter to produce a liquid reaction mixture including acetic acid, water, methyl acetate and methyl iodide; (b) feeding the liquid reaction mixture at a feed temperature to a flash vessel which is maintained at a reduced pressure; (c) heating the flash vessel while concurrently flashing the reaction mixture to produce a crude product vapor stream, wherein the reaction mixture is selected and the flow rate of the reaction mixture fed to the flash vessel as well as the amount of heat supplied to the flash vessel is controlled such that the temperature of the crude product vapor stream is maintained at a temperature less than 90° F. cooler than the feed temperature of the liquid reaction mixture to the flasher and the concentration of acetic acid in the crude product vapor stream is greater than 70% by weight of the crude product vapor stream.
US07820843B2 Chelating carbene ligand precursors and their use in the synthesis of metathesis catalysts
Chelating ligand precursors for the preparation of olefin methathesis catalysts are disclosed. The resulting catalysts are air stable monomeric species capable of promoting various methathesis reactions efficiently, which can be recovered from the reaction mixture and reused. Internal olefin compounds, specifically beta-substituted styrenes, are used as ligand precursors. Compared to terminal olefin compounds such as unsubstituted styrenes, the beta-substituted styrenes are easier and less costly to prepare, and more stable since they are less prone to spontaneous polymerization. Methods of preparing chelating-carbene methathesis catalysts without the use of CuCl are disclosed. This eliminates the need for CuCl by replacing it with organic acids, mineral acids, mild oxidants or even water, resulting in high yields of Hoveyda-type methathesis catalysts. The invention provides an efficient method for preparing chelating-carbene metathesis catalysts by reacting a suitable ruthenium complex in high concentrations of the ligand precursors followed by crystallization from an organic solvent.
US07820840B2 Epoxidation catalyst and process
Disclosed herein is a catalytic method of converting alkenes to epoxides. This method generally includes reacting alkenes with oxygen in the presence of a specific silver catalyst under conditions suitable to produce a yield of the epoxides. The specific silver catalyst is a silver nanocrystal having a plurality of surface planes, a substantial portion of which is defined by Miller indices of (100). The reaction is performed by charging a suitable reactor with this silver catalyst and then feeding the reactants to the reactor under conditions to carry out the reaction. The reaction may be performed in batch, or as a continuous process that employs a recycle of any unreacted alkenes. The specific silver catalyst has unexpectedly high selectivity for epoxide products. Consequently, this general method (and its various embodiments) will result in extraordinarily high epoxide yields heretofore unattainable.
US07820827B2 Substituted piperidine compounds and methods of their use
Novel 3,4-disubstituted-4-aryl-piperidine compounds are disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the 3,4-disubstituted-4-aryl-piperidine compounds and methods of their pharmaceutical uses are also disclosed. The compounds disclosed are useful, inter alia, as antagonists of opioid receptors.
US07820826B2 Synthesis and regioselective substitution of 6-halo-and 6-alkoxy nicotine derivatives
The present invention provides active compounds for modulating nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and methods of making the same. The methods of preparing the active compounds utilize different intermediate compounds.
US07820822B2 Metal complexes
The present invention describes new types of metal complexes. Such compounds can be used as functional materials in a series of different types of applications which can be classified within the electronics industry in the widest sense.The inventive compounds are described by the formulae (1) and (4).
US07820820B2 Method of preparation of azaindole derivatives
A method of preparing azaindole compounds for antiviral use having the formula
US07820817B2 Modulators of muscarinic receptors
The present invention relates to substituted piperazine compounds that are useful modulators of muscarinic receptors. The present invention also provides compositions comprising such compounds, and methods for treating muscarinic receptor mediated diseases.
US07820813B2 Method for preparation of (S)-(+)- and (R)-(−)-10,11-dihydro-10-hydroxy-5H-dibenz/b,f/azepine-5-carboxamide
An efficient and high-yielding method for the preparation of optically pure (S)-(+)-10,11 -dihydro-10-hydroxy-5H-dibenz/b,f/azepine-5-carboxamide and (R)-(−)-10,11-dihydro-10-hydroxy-5H-dibenz/b,f/azepine-5-carboxamide by resolution of racemic (±)-10,11-dihydro-10-hydroxy-5H-dibenz/b,f/azepine-5-carboxamide using a tartaric acid anhydride.
US07820795B2 Lactobacillus fermentum N-desoxyribosyl transferases and the use thereof for enzymatic synthesis of 2′, 3′—didesoxynucleosides and 2′,3′- didehydro-2′,3′- didesoxynucleosides
N-deoxyribosyl transferases of Lactobacillus fermentum and their analogues, as well their use for the enzymatic synthesis of 2′,3′-dideoxynucleosides and 2′,3′-didehydro-2′,3′-dideoxynucleosides. These transferases and their analogues include a N-deoxyribosyl transferase protein (DTP) that has at least 70%-95% identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 4, that retains residues Y13, D77, D97, E103, and M312 which respectively correspond to positions 13, 77, 97, 103, and 132 of SEQ ID NO: 2; and that has threonine at a position corresponding to position 15 of SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 4. Polynucleotides, vectors and host cells encoding these N-deoxyribosyl transferases and their analogues.
US07820793B2 IFN-λ polypeptides and compositions
A novel IFN-α/β independent ligand receptor system which upon engagement leads, among other things, to the establishment of an anti-viral state is disclosed. Further disclosed are three closely positioned genes on human chromosome 19 that encode distinct but highly homologous proteins, designated IFN-λ1, IFN-λ2, IFN-λ3, based, inter alia, in their ability to induce antiviral protection. Expression of these proteins is induced upon viral infection. A receptor complex utilized by all three IFN-λ proteins for signaling is also disclosed. The receptor complex is generally composed of two subunits, a novel receptor designated IFN-λR1 or CRF2-12, and a second subunit, IL-10R2 or CRF2-4, which is also a shared receptor component for the IL-10 and IL-22 receptor complexes. The gene encoding IFN-λR1 is generally widely expressed, including many different cell types and tissues. Expression of these proteins is induced by immune events, including, for example, upon viral infection. Apoptotosis may also be induced under effective conditions.
US07820789B2 Mutant pneumolysin proteins
The invention relates to immunogenic compositions comprising mutant Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumolysin proteins. The invention further relates to such proteins and nucleic acids encoding these proteins. In particular embodiments, the invention is directed to an isolated mutant pneumolysin (PLY) protein, wherein the mutant PLY protein differs from the wild-type PLY protein of SEQ ID NO:1 presence of a mutation within the region of amino acids 144 to 161 of the wild type such that the toxicity of the mutant is reduced relative to that of the wild-type protein. In particular embodiments, the mutant PLY protein differs from the wild-type protein by the substitution or deletion of amino acids including the deletion of two adjacent amino acids within the region of amino acids 144 to 151 of the wild-type sequence.
US07820788B2 Compositions and methods of delivery of pharmacological agents
The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutical agent and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, which carrier comprises a protein, for example, human serum albumin and/or deferoxamine. The human serum albumin is present in an amount effective to reduce one or more side effects associated with administration of the pharmaceutical composition. The invention also provides methods for reducing one or more side effects of administration of the pharmaceutical composition, methods for inhibiting microbial growth and oxidation in the pharmaceutical composition, and methods for enhancing transport and binding of a pharmaceutical agent to a cell.
US07820787B2 Multi-functional antibodies
The present invention provides antibodies comprising an antigen recognition domain that specifically binds to a metal chelate: mutant antibodies comprising a reactive site not present in the wild-type of the antibody, wherein the reactive site is in a position proximate to or within the antigen recognition domain; and methods of using such antibodies to diagnose and treat disease.
US07820785B2 Solid phase synthesis supports and methods
Functionalized supports and methods for solid phase synthesis. Preferably, the functionalized support is azlactone-functionalized.