Document Document Title
US07865768B2 Method and apparatus for seamless management for disaster recovery
A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and system are presented for establishing redundant computer resources. According to one embodiment, in a system including a plurality of processor devices and a plurality of storage devices, the processor devices, the storage devices and the management server being connected via a network, the method comprises storing device information relating to the processor devices and the storage devices and topology information relating to topology of the network, identifying at least one primary computer resource, selecting at least one secondary computer resource suitable to serve as a redundant resource corresponding to the at least one primary computer resource based on the device information and the topology information, and assigning the at least one secondary computer resource as a redundant resource corresponding to the at least one primary computer resource.
US07865764B2 Remote chassis monitoring system
In a system for monitoring remote computing stations, each remote station includes an array of detectors and a controller configured to receive the detector signals. The controller causes a condition information generator to generate condition records including multiple condition information entries, each entry corresponding to one of the detector outputs. A monitoring station is adapted to send cues to the remote stations, and each station responds to a cue by presenting its condition record as a web page for retrieval by the monitoring station. The monitoring station sends the cues to stations in a sequence controlled by a user of the monitoring station, or alternatively, in a rapid and repeated sequence according to a station selection program written in Java or another universal language. The program generates interlocked instruction sets designed to recognize, as an error, a failure to connect with a remote station. The system incorporates a comparator function for matching each condition information entry with an acceptance standard, and generating a fault indication if the entry fails to satisfy the standard.
US07865763B2 Data replication method
Provided is a data replication method capable of reducing the number of communication times when a processing result of an active system is replicated to a standby system. The data replication method, in which a first computer receives a first message containing a first processing request, and a plurality of second computers replicates the first message, includes the steps of: sending, by a third computer, the first message to the first computer and the second computers; sending, by each of the second computers, a message receive notification of the first message to the first computer; sending, by the first computer, after reception of the message receive notification from the second computers, the message receive notification of the first message to the third computer; and sending, by the first computer, a notification indicating that the first processing request becomes executable by the first computer to the second computers.
US07865760B2 Use of T4 timestamps to calculate clock offset and skew
Disclosed are a method and system for calculating clock offset and skew between two clocks in a computer system. The method comprises the steps of sending data packets from a first processing unit in the computer system to a second processing unit in the computer system, and sending the data packets from the second processing unit to the first processing unit. First, second, third and fourth time stamps are provided to indicate, respectively, when the packets leave the first processing unit, arrive at the second processing unit, leave the second processing unit, and arrive at the first processing unit. The method comprises the further steps of defining a set of backward delay points using the fourth time stamps, and calculating a clock offset between clocks on the first and second processing units and clock skews of said clocks using said set of backward delay points.
US07865759B2 Programmable clock control architecture for at-speed testing
According to one exemplary embodiment, an N-stage programmable clock control architecture includes N flip-flops, where the N flip-flops are clocked by a primary clock source, such as a PLL. The N-stage programmable clock control architecture further includes means for programming the N flip-flops such that the N-stage programmable clock control architecture outputs N programmed at-speed clock pulses. For example, when N is equal to 3, three programmed clock pulses can be outputted by the N-stage programmable clock control architecture, with a total of eight different patterns of programmed clock pulses. The N-stage programmable clock control architecture can thus adequately test, for example, combinational logic requiring greater than two consecutive clock pulses for complete at-speed testing. In one embodiment, scan-shift registers can be utilized to program the N flip-flops. In another embodiment, a look-up table can be used to program the N flip-flops.
US07865756B2 Methods and apparatus for clock signal synchronization in a configuration of series-connected semiconductor devices
A system includes a system controller and a configuration of series-connected semiconductor devices. Such a device includes an input for receiving a clock signal originating from a previous device, and an output for providing a synchronized clock signal destined for a succeeding device. The device further includes a clock synchronizer for producing the synchronized clock signal by processing the received clock signal and an earlier version of the synchronized clock signal. The device further includes a device controller for adjusting a parameter used by the clock synchronizer in processing the earlier version of the synchronized clock signal. The system controller has an output for providing a first clock signal to a first device, and an input for receiving a second clock signal from a second device. The second clock signal corresponds to a version of the first clock signal that has undergone processing by a clock synchronizer in at least one of the devices. The system controller further includes a detector for processing the first and second clock signals to detect a phase difference therebetween; and a synchronization controller for commanding an adjustment to the clock synchronizer in at least one of the devices based on the phase difference detected by the detector.
US07865751B2 Microarchitecture controller for thin-film thermoelectric cooling
A device having multiple cores executes an algorithm to control Thin-Film Thermoelectric Coolers (TFTEC) that employ the Peltier effect to remove heat from the various cores of the multi-core processor. The algorithms may combine Thread Migration (TM) and Dynamic Voltage/Frequency Scaling (DVFS) to provide Dynamic Thermal Management (DTM) and TFTEC control.
US07865745B2 Techniques for improved playlist processing on media devices
An improved portable media device and methods for operating a media device are disclosed. According to one aspect, the portable media device has the capability to store media device status information in persistent memory before powering down. Thereafter, when the portable media device is again powered up, the stored media player status information can be retrieved and utilized. According to another aspect, the portable media device can form and/or traverse a media asset playlist in an efficient manner.
US07865744B2 System and method for optimizing power consumption in a mobile environment
The present invention relates to a system and method adapted to optimize power consumption in a communication system used in a Gigabit Ethernet environment. The method comprises determining at least one power mode of a host from a plurality of possible host power modes. The method further comprises selecting at least one network interface power management state from a plurality of possible network interface power management states based, at least in part, on the determined power mode.
US07865742B2 Method, apparatus, and program product for enabling access to flexibly redacted content
A capability key is generated that provides access to sensitive information within a selectively encrypted data unit created from an unencrypted data unit. A user specifies access rights as a monotone boolean relationship between a selection of a list of attributes related to the unencrypted data unit. This relationship is used to compute a key descriptor. Next one or more shares of a master secret is generated responsive to the monotone boolean relationship and a random number. Next a unique capability key is computed from one or more cryptosystem parameters, the one or more shares and the random number. The unique capability key and the key descriptor together enable decryption of sensitive information within a selectively encrypted data unit created from an unencrypted data unit. Finally, the unique capability key and the key descriptor are provided to allow decryption of sensitive information within the selectively encrypted data unit.
US07865738B2 Authentication token
An authentication token using a smart card that an organisation would issue to its customer, the smart card having a processor for executing a software application that is responsive to a user input to generate a one-time password as an output. The smart card co-operates with an interface device for inputting the user input and displaying the one-time password. The authentication token may be used in combination with a remote authentication server for validation of the password and hence authentication of the user.
US07865737B2 Digital mixer
The present invention is directed to a digital mixer that selectively provides audio signal processing functions to a user depending on the authority granted to the user's log-in credentials. The preferred embodiment of the digital mixer includes a mounting unit for removably mounting a storage medium, a detector for detecting the mounting or removal of the storage medium, a determining portion for determining whether a user key is stored in the mounted storage medium, and a control portion that, upon the determining portion confirming that the mounted storage medium includes a user key, causes the digital mixer to display a log-on screen for a specific user who is associated with the stored user key. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the digital mixer automatically logs out the user upon detecting that the storage medium is removed from the digital mixer.
US07865736B2 System and method for enhancing environment variable and process option invocation
A method, system, and computer-usable medium for enhancing environment variable and process option invocation in a data processing system. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in response to receiving a request for a system startup, an operating system loads a centralized environment file. In response to receiving a request for a user login, the operating system searches for a user environment file. In response to determining that the user environment file conflicts with the centralized environment file, the operating system overrides the user environment file with settings from the centralized environment file.
US07865719B2 Method for establishing the authenticity of the identity of a service user and device for carrying out the method
The invention relates to a process and a device for establishing the authenticity of the identity of a service user relative to a service provider for release of an access authorization (password) for a service using two different data input terminals, a registration server and a message converter.
US07865715B2 Increasing peer privacy
In a method for increasing peer privacy, a path for information is formed from a provider to a requestor through a plurality of peers in response to a received request for the information. Each peer of the plurality of peers receives a respective set-up message comprising of a predetermined label and an identity of a next peer for the information. The information is transferred over the path in a message, where the message comprises a message label configured to determine a next peer according to the path in response to the message label matching the previously received predetermined label.
US07865709B2 Computer motherboard
The present invention discloses a computer motherboard, which comprises: at least one memory module slot, a flash memory, a central processing unit socket; wherein, the memory module slot is used to plug at least one memory module; the flash memory is used to store BIOS programming codes, in which the BIOS programming codes are provided with at least one memory configuration programming codes for configuring the memory frequency and memory timing of the memory module; the central processing unit socket is used to plug the CPU, and the CPU is at least used to execute the memory configuration programming codes, so, after execution, they could provide a plurality of parameter options for memory frequency and memory timing of the memory modules to be selected one from them.
US07865707B2 Gathering configuration settings from a source system to apply to a target system
Provided are a method, system and program for gathering configuration settings from a source system to apply to a target system. A source system is queried to determine configuration settings in the source system. A target system is queried to determine configuration settings in the target system. A user is enabled to enter configuration settings. The determined and user entered configuration settings are processed to generate commands to configure the target system to implement the configuration settings in the source system. The generated commands are executed to configure the target system.
US07865704B2 Selective instruction breakpoint generation based on a count of instruction source events
A method includes generating an instruction address value in response to an instruction source event. The method further includes selectively generating a breakpoint request based on the instruction source event and responsive to a comparison of the instruction address value to a breakpoint address value. In one embodiment, selectively generating a breakpoint request includes comparing the instruction source event to an instruction source event type, comparing the instruction address value to a breakpoint address value, and generating the breakpoint request responsive to a match between the first instruction source event type and the instruction source event and a match between the instruction address value and the breakpoint address value.
US07865700B2 System and method for prioritizing store instructions
The present invention provides a system and method for prioritizing store instructions in a cascaded pipeline. The system includes a cascaded delayed execution pipeline unit having a plurality of execution pipelines that execute instructions in a common issue group in a delayed manner relative to each other. The system further includes circuitry configured to: (1) receive an issue group of instructions; (2) determine if at least one store instruction is in the issue group, if so scheduling the least one store instruction in a one of the plurality of execution pipelines based upon a first prioritization scheme; (3) determine if there is an issue conflict for one of the plurality of execution pipelines and resolving the issue conflict by scheduling the at least one store instruction in a different execution pipeline; (4) schedule execution of the issue group of instructions in the cascaded delayed execution pipeline unit.
US07865697B2 Apparatus for and method of processor to processor communication for coprocessor functionality activation
A mechanism enabling a processor in a multiprocessor complex to function as a coprocessor to execute a specific function. The method includes a mechanism for activating a coprocessor to function as a coprocessor as well as a mechanism to execute a coprocessor request on the system. The present invention also provides a mechanism for efficient processor to processor communication for processors coupled to a common bus. Overall system performance is enhanced by significantly reducing the use of hardware interrupts for processor to processor communication.
US07865695B2 Reading and writing a memory element within a programmable processing element in a plurality of modes
An integrated circuit in communication with a host circuit includes an interconnect bus and a plurality of programmable elements. Each of the programmable elements includes a control interface for receiving a control signal, the control signal causing the memory element to selectively operate in one of a plurality of modes. In a first mode, the memory element communicates stored data to the output port upon receiving the control signal; in a second mode the memory element communicates stored data to the output port upon detecting valid data at the input port; in a third mode the memory element stores a first data value consisting of at least a portion of a single data word received at the input port; and in a fourth mode the memory element stores a second data value consisting of at least a portion of each of two separate input values received at the input port. Each programmable element may write data to and read data from a memory element of any of the other programmable elements.
US07865692B2 Methods and apparatus for automated generation of abbreviated instruction set and configurable processor architecture
A systematic approach to architecture and design of the instruction fetch mechanisms and instruction set architectures in embedded processors is described. This systematic approach allows a relaxing of certain restrictions normally imposed by a fixed-size instruction set architecture (ISA) on design and development of an embedded system. The approach also guarantees highly efficient usage of the available instruction storage which is only bounded by the actual information contents of an application or its entropy. The result of this efficiency increase is a general reduction of the storage requirements, or a compression, of the instruction segment of the original application. An additional feature of this system is the full decoupling of the ISA from the core architecture. This decoupling allows usage of a variable length encoding for any size of the ISA without impacting the physical instruction memory organization or layout and branching mechanism as well as tuning of the execution core to the application. A hardware embodiment described herein allows application of the above mentioned high-entropy encoding technique in actual embedded processor using today's technology without posing significant strain on timing requirements.
US07865689B2 Parallel installation of logical partitions
An apparatus and method provide parallel installation of logical partitions on a computer system. The function of a hardware maintenance console is built into a logical partition configuration mechanism that resides in the system firmware. A virtual local area network (VLAN) is used by the logical partition configuration mechanism to define an I/O bridge that allows installing multiple logical partitions in parallel. Because multiple logical partitions may be installed in parallel, the time required to install logical partitions is greatly reduced.
US07865685B2 Semiconductor memory asynchronous pipeline
An asynchronously pipelined SDRAM has separate pipeline stages that are controlled by asynchronous signals. Rather than using a clock signal to synchronize data at each stage, an asynchronous signal is used to latch data at every stage. The asynchronous control signals are generated within the chip and are optimized to the different latency stages. Longer latency stages require larger delays elements, while shorter latency states require shorter delay elements. The data is synchronized to the clock at the end of the read data path before being read out of the chip. Because the data has been latched at each pipeline stage, it suffers from less skew than would be seen in a conventional wave pipeline architecture. Furthermore, since the stages are independent of the system clock, the read data path can be run at any CAS latency as long as the re-synchronizing output is built to support it.
US07865679B2 Power interrupt recovery in a hybrid memory subsystem
A memory subsystem includes volatile memory and nonvolatile memory, and logic to interrupt a power down save operation of the memory subsystem upon detection of a restoration of system power, and to enable use of the memory subsystem by the system if sufficient nonvolatile memory capacity of the memory subsystem is available to backup an amount of the volatile memory capacity of the memory subsystem.
US07865676B2 Load equalizing storage controller and control method for the same
An object of the invention is to provide a storage controller and control method that can efficiently and easily prevent reduced data I/O processing performance due to an imbalance between loads on controllers. In the storage controller and control method for providing, to a host computer, logical volumes created in a storage area provided by a storage device and controlling data I/O to/from the logical volumes, the state of loads on the control units for controlling data I/O to/from the logical volumes is monitored, and a control unit allocated to a logical volume is changed to another control unit to equalize loads on the control units.
US07865675B2 Controlling cleaning of data values within a hardware accelerator
A data processing apparatus 2 includes a programmable general purpose processor 10 coupled to a hardware accelerator 12. A memory system 14, 6, 8 is shared by the processor 10 and the hardware accelerator 12. Memory system monitoring circuitry 16 is responsive to one or more predetermined operations performed by the processor 10 upon the memory system 14, 6, 8 to generate a trigger to the hardware accelerator 12 for it to halt its processing operations and clean any data values held as temporary variables within registers 20 of the hardware accelerator back to the memory system 14, 6, 8.
US07865670B2 Invalidating translation lookaside buffer entries in a virtual machine (VM) system
One embodiment of the present invention is a technique to invalidate entries in a translation lookaside buffer (TLB). A TLB in a processor has a plurality of TLB entries. Each TLB entry is associated with a virtual machine extension (VMX) tag word indicating if the associated TLB entry is invalidated according to a processor mode when an invalidation operation is performed. The processor mode is one of execution in a virtual machine (VM) and execution not in a virtual machine. The invalidation operation belongs to a non-empty set of invalidation operations composed of a union of (1) a possibly empty set of operations that invalidate a variable number of TLB entries, (2) a possibly empty set of operations that invalidate exactly one TLB entry, (3) a possibly empty set of operations that invalidate the plurality of TLB entries, (4) a possibly empty set of operations that enable and disable use of virtual memory, and (5) a possibly empty set of operations that configure physical address size, page size or other virtual memory system behavior in a manner that changes the manner in which a physical machine interprets the TLB entries.
US07865665B2 Storage system for checking data coincidence between a cache memory and a disk drive
A disk array system having first and second housings and a controller for controlling the first and second housings. Fiber channel hard disk drives are received in the first housing, and serial ATA hard disk drives are received in the second housing. When reading data stored in a serial ATA hard disk drive in the second housing, the controller reads a plurality of pieces of data including the data to be read and parity data for the plurality of pieces of data from all the hard disk drives of an RAID group to which the hard disk drive storing the data to be read belongs. Thus, the controller examines whether the plurality of pieces of data including the data to be read are written in the hard disk drives with erroneous contents or not.
US07865664B2 Storage control device, and control method for storage control device
The storage control device of the present invention is able to perform input and output of data between blocks whose size is different with good efficiency. The size of extended logical blocks, which are units of data input and output within a storage control device, and the size of physical blocks, which are provided within the storage device, are different from one another. A write object range generation unit reads out both of the extended logical blocks which are adjacent to the write data, and creates a write object range by linking them to the write data. An assurance code checking unit checks a corresponding assurance code for each of these extended logical blocks. And a block size adjustment unit deletes superfluous data from the adjacent blocks, and adjusts the size of the write object range, so that it becomes an integral multiple of the size of the physical blocks.
US07865640B1 USB web launcher using keyboard scancodes
A USB web launcher for launching a browser on a host computer and directing the browser to a website specified by the web launcher. The USB web launcher comprises a housing, and a controller within the housing which is configured to operate as a USB HID keyboard device. The controller has a URL stored therein in the form of a keyboard scancode string and is programmed to send the keyboard scancode string to the host computer in response to actuation of a switch on the housing. The web launcher includes USB connector means for coupling the controller to a USB port of the host computer, and, in response to the transmitted URL, the host computer launches the browser and accesses the corresponding website. One embodiment of the invention is a USB web launcher having first and second USB connector parts and a lanyard mode of operation in which the controller within the web launcher is programmed to recognize when the first and second USB connector parts are interconnected and to energize an LED in response.
US07865634B2 Managing a buffer for media processing
A method and apparatus to perform buffer management for media processing are described.
US07865633B2 Multiple context single logic virtual host channel adapter
Various embodiments provide methods and systems operable to receive a work queue pair from the host application, to add the work queue pair to a scheduler queue for a virtual HCA scheduler, to update a context associated with the work queue pair, to create at least one data packet corresponding to the work queue pair, and to send the at least one data packet to at least one of a plurality of target nodes via at least one of a plurality of data channel ports.
US07865631B2 Dynamic logical data channel assignment using time-grouped allocations
A method, system and program are provided for dynamically allocating DMA channel identifiers to multiple DMA transfer requests that are grouped in time by virtualizing DMA transfer requests into an available DMA channel identifier using a channel bitmap listing of available DMA channels to select and set an allocated DMA channel identifier. Once the input values associated with the DMA transfer requests are mapped to the selected DMA channel identifier, the DMA transfers are performed using the selected DMA channel identifier, which is then deallocated in the channel bitmap upon completion of the DMA transfers. When there is a request to wait for completion of the data transfers, the same input values are used with the mapping to wait on the appropriate logical channel. With this method, all available logical channels can be utilized with reduced instances of false-sharing.
US07865630B2 Single-chip multi-media card/secure digital (MMC/SD) controller reading power-on boot code from integrated flash memory for user storage
A Multi-Media Card/Secure Digital (MMC/SD) single-chip flash device contains a MMC/SD flash microcontroller and flash mass storage blocks containing flash memory arrays that are block-addressable rather than randomly-addressable. MMC/SD transactions from a host MMC/SD bus are read by a bus transceiver on the MMC/SD flash microcontroller. Various routines that execute on a CPU in the MMC/SD flash microcontroller are activated in response to commands in the MMC/SD transactions. A flash-memory controller in the MMC/SD flash microcontroller transfers data from the bus transceiver to the flash mass storage blocks for storage. Rather than boot from an internal ROM coupled to the CPU, a boot loader is transferred by DMA from the first page of the flash mass storage block to an internal RAM. The flash memory is automatically read from the first page at power-on. The CPU then executes the boot loader from the internal RAM to load the control program.
US07865629B1 Configurable connector for system-level communication
A host device comprises a controller and a connector. The host connector comprises fixed-function and multi-function pins. A first group of host connector pins comprises one or more of the fixed-function pins and a second group of pins comprises the remainder of the fixed-function pins and the multi-function pins. The host connector can be releasably attached to a connector of an accessory device. The first group of host connector pins can be used to discover the functions of the accessory connector. The host device can select functions to be enabled at the host and accessory connectors from among the functions mutually supported by the two connectors. The host can enable the selected functions at the host connector and can instruct the accessory to enable the selected functions at the accessory connector. The host can reconfigure host connector functions in response to a different accessory being attached to the host.
US07865626B2 Raid storage subsystem using read connection information command to request WWN information for server table and adapter connection table
Structure, Structure, system, apparatus, method, and computer program for managing and configuring a computer storage system by mapping the topology and connectivity of all servers, storage devices, and storage device controllers within the storage subsystem, based on unique identifiers especially World Wide Number (WWN) identifiers. The method includes querying a server to identify host bus adapters coupled to the server, querying each host bus adapter to identify attached device controllers, issuing a read connection information command to the device controller and returning the connection results including identifying devices coupled to the device controller, and storing the returned connection results in a data structure.
US07865623B2 Electronic image processing system
A system for creation of an image display such as an electronic postcard. The system interacts with a user to create and configure the display. The user provides the image data to the system and optionally specifies a message and addressee for the image display. The system creates the display, comprising a mixture of image and textual data, and sends a notification including identification of the display to a specified addressee, for instance, the recipient of the postcard. The addressee can then request receipt of the display from the system via the identification information sent by the system.
US07865622B2 Updating parameters in a bridged multistandard home network
The invention relates to the field of home networks, in particular to the connection of two home networks of different types via a gateway. The network appliances in the network of the first type are also intended to be able to control the network appliances in the network of the second type, and vice versa. One problem that occurs when carrying out conversion processes on control messages is that an input parameter which is known in the network of the first type can be changed as required and can also be signaled further within this network, but the associated correspondence in the network of the second type is permanently set, and accordingly cannot be changed. The invention provides a way in which an input parameter such as this can nevertheless be likewise updated in the network of the second type. For this purpose, the network station which relates to the input parameter is first of all logged-off in the network of the second type. The changed input parameter is then converted to the information element in the network of the second type. The network station which relates to the input parameter is then logged on again in the network of the second type. This results in the network stations in the network of the second type being able to newly read the appliance description for the network station which relates to the input parameter. This then also results in the input parameter being updated in the network of the second type.
US07865619B2 Method and apparatus for building centralized middleware
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that uses middleware to transmit data from a first system to a second system. During operation, centralized middleware receives a request from a user to transmit the data from the first system to the second system, wherein the centralized middleware comprises a set of middleware agents which interact with the user on behalf of a set of associated middleware. Upon receiving the request, the centralized middleware uses a middleware agent to transform the data from a first data format associated with the first system to a second data format associated with the second system. The centralized middleware then sends the transformed data to the second system. In this way, the centralized middleware hides the technical details of how the data is manipulated from the user.
US07865617B1 Maintaining consistency in a database
Maintaining consistent DNS information is disclosed. Information associated with a resource is received. A resource record is populated with the information. View information is derived from the resource record.
US07865610B2 Point to multipoint reliable protocol for synchronous streaming data in a lossy IP network
A method and apparatus for improving the reliability in the synchronous streaming of data from a sender to multiple receivers, especially in networks having a limited bandwidth. The sender is configured to change the format of the data to be sent by segmenting the data into packets having maximum size, and identifying each packet with a message number. The transmit rate of the sender is adjusted according to the throughput bandwidth of the link so as to avoid congesting the link. Each receiver is configured to re-assemble the packets based upon the message number allocated to each packet, and re-create the data in the original format for being read by standard HDJ Radio Exciters. The Receivers may also be configured to keep track of the packet numbers and request re-transmission of lost packets, using the ARQ (Automatic Retransmission Request) scheme.
US07865588B2 System for providing multi-path input/output in a clustered data storage network
A network storage system is provided. A storage server system can comprise at least two data storage servers. Each server can comprise a network interface operable to transmit/receive communications to/from a network infrastructure; at least one data storage device; a processor operable to receive, from said network interface; an iSCSI network command and generate, to carry out said iSCSI network command, one or more device specific commands for said at least one data storage device. Each server can further comprise a host computer containing a host network interface operable to transmit/receive network communications; and a host processor operable to receive a storage command; determine if said at least two data storage servers are needed; generate one or more iSCSI network commands; and transmit said one or more iSCSI network commands to each of said at least two data storage servers using said host network interface.
US07865584B2 Network service performance monitoring apparatus and methods
Network service performance monitoring apparatus and methods are disclosed. Performance information associated with a network service is collected from multiple service monitoring points. The service monitoring points include at least a service monitoring point in a first communication network and a service monitoring second communication network that is controlled independently of the first communication network. The first communication network could be a network in which a service provider system that provides the network service is located, and the second communication network could be a communication network through which the network service is accessible by a network service consumer. In this case, the collected performance information may be integrated to create an inter-network view of performance of the service. Historical performance information associated with a network service may be used to establish a performance baseline for the service.
US07865581B2 Remote management method of a distant device, and corresponding video device
The invention concerns a remote management method enabling a distant remote management server to manage at least a distant device. In order to have a simple and reliable management, it comprises a transmission step of a CWMP command requesting a configuration of the transport and/or dejittering layers.
US07865580B2 Information processing apparatus and grouping method
In an information processing apparatus for identifying a plurality of communication devices, grouping and managing the identified communication devices, communication devices that are in a state of communication among devices forbidden are grouped and managed. Then, it acts for obtaining data of another communication device when the data is obtained among the communication devices grouped. The data obtaining proxy is performed when a request to obtain data of another communication device is received from a communication device, and data of another communication device is obtained based on the request, and it is sent to a communication device.
US07865579B2 Method and apparatus for administering the operating system of a net-booted environment
A method and apparatus are provided for supplying a reliable and maintainable operating system in a net-booted environment. According to one embodiment, a network computer (NC) system including an NC server and multiple NC clients is managed by an NC client causing the remainder of the NC clients that are subsequently booted to receive operating system software that is configured differently than that currently in effect by replacing one or more system volumes on the NC server containing the operating system software with one or more different system volumes.
US07865575B2 Methods and apparatus to perform file transfers in distributed file systems
An example method for sending a file includes sending a list of data nodes storing a first portion of the file and a second portion of the file to a master node of a destination distributed file system, computing a first checksum for a first portion of the file, computing a second checksum for a second portion of the file, sending the first checksum and the second checksum to the destination distributed file system, sending the first portion of the file to a first data node of the destination distributed file system, and sending the second portion of the file to a second data node of the destination distributed file system.
US07865568B1 Systems and methods for controlling appliances via a network
A remote control device (140, 600) controls the operation of an appliance. The remote control device (140, 600) includes a receiver (320) or transceiver (620), a controller (330, 630), and a transmitter (350, 650). The receiver (320) or transceiver (620) receives a network packet that includes at least one command. The controller (330, 630) analyzes the network packet to determine whether the packet is intended for the remote control device (140, 600). The transmitter (350, 650) outputs a signal to control operation of the appliance based on the command when the controller (330, 630) determines that the packet is intended for the remote control device (140, 600).
US07865559B1 Message delivery coordination among multiple messaging media
Presently disclosed are apparatus and methods for coordinating the delivery of messages and/or message notifications among multiple messaging media and message services so that the successful delivery of one copy of a message results in the deletion of other, redundant message copies still in transit to the recipient and the cancellation of any other message waiting notifications still pending. The system may be implemented with a network-connected device (such as but not limited to a server, switch, or router) containing or having connected to it a user interface, a coordination server, and a plurality of message services. Embodiments of the invention thus provide message delivery management that is more user-friendly, computationally- and resource-efficient and more adaptable to changing user preferences and user locations/addresses.
US07865558B2 STB messaging system
There are provided a method, a system and a machine-readable medium for video terminal device messaging. In one embodiment, a method includes querying a user associated with a mobile device whether to receive one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device at a video terminal device; and selectively receiving the one or more mobile messages at the video terminal device based on a response to the querying.
US07865554B2 Internet e-mail bridge
An Internet mail bridge is provided for downloading e-mail messages from Internet mail servers supporting different e-mail access protocols, such as the Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3) and Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning (Web DAV) protocol, and delivering the downloaded messages, which are in different formats, to a mail server on a local area network. The Internet mail bridge has a mail manager that is independent from particular e-mail protocols or e-mail formats. For each e-mail account, the mail manager instantiates a mail connector object that contains logic for downloading e-mail according to the e-mail access protocol of that account, and invokes the mail connector object to download e-mail messages from that account. The mail manager then instantiates and invokes mail deliverer objects tailored for handling different message formats to deliver the downloaded messages to the local mail server.
US07865548B2 Email recovery method and system
An email recovery system and method. The method comprises receiving by a server system, an email from a sender. The email comprises a message for a recipient. The email is archived with a plurality of emails saved on said server system. A first copy of the email is sent to the recipient. The first copy is now unavailable to the recipient. A request to query the plurality of emails in order to search for the email is received by the server system from the recipient. The server system authenticates the request and the recipient. The server system queries the plurality of emails. The email is located as a result of the querying. The server system sends a second copy of the email to the recipient.
US07865537B2 File sharing system and file sharing method
Privacy information of a user is protected without hampering convenience when such user is to process a file in an online file storage. Provided is a file sharing system including at least one or more information processing units and a storage apparatus connected to the at least one or more information processing units via the Internet, and for storing files from the at least one or more information processing units in the storage apparatus and sharing the stored files with the at least one or more information processing units. The information processing unit includes a file creation unit for separating, when creating a file in the storage apparatus, privacy information that identifies a user creating the file from information required for creating the file in the storage apparatus, and creating the file in the storage apparatus by using information obtained by converting the separated privacy information.
US07865536B1 Garbage collecting systems and methods
A system facilitates the deletion of data, such as files, orphaned chunks, and stale replicas. The system may identify a file to be deleted, rename the identified file, permanently delete the renamed file a predetermined amount of time after renaming the identified file as part of a garbage collection process, receive, from the servers, information concerning chunks stored by the servers, and identify, to the servers, ones of the chunks that do not exist possibly due to the permanent deletion of the renamed file. The system may further provide a mapping of file names to chunks, identify chunks, as orphaned chunks, that are not reachable from any of the file names, delete the orphaned chunks, receive, from the servers, information concerning chunks stored by the servers, and identify, to the servers, ones of the chunks that are orphaned chunks. The system may also associate version information with replicas of chunks, identify stale replicas based on the associated version information, delete the stale replicas, receive, from the servers, information concerning replicas stored by the servers, and identify, to the servers, ones of the replicas that are stale replicas.
US07865535B2 Apparatus, system, and method for a data server-managed web services runtime
An apparatus, system, and method for creating and managing a data server-managed web services runtime. A generic web service runtime module and associated runtime controller are deployed on an application server. The runtime controller monitors a web services management metadata store for changes in the web service metadata defining the available data access based web services. If a change is detected, the generic web services runtime automatically updates the web service artifacts and web service endpoint interface associated with the affected web service such that the change in the web service metadata is reflected in the data access-based web service. A user manages the web services management metadata store and defines and manages data access-based web services from the database containing the web services management metadata store without interacting with the application server.
US07865534B2 System, method and apparatus for assembling and mining life science data
Method and system for managing and evaluating life science data. Life Science data is placed in a knowledge base, that may be used for a variety of analysis tasks. Creating a knowledge base from the life science data involves generating two or more nodes indicative of life science data, assigning to one or more pairs of nodes a representation descriptor that corresponds to a relationship between the nodes, and assembling the nodes and the relationship descriptor into a database, such that at least one of the nodes is joined to another node by a representation descriptor. In some embodiments, the representation descriptor includes a case frame that describes the relationships between elements of life science data.
US07865529B2 Batch processing apparatus
There are provided a batch processing apparatus and a batch processing method capable of significantly reducing the burden on a system designer, a system administrator, and an operator operating the system as well as significantly reducing the development cost. The batch processing apparatus acquires from a repository the metadata defined as information on at least data item name, input, processing content, and output, as well as information stored and registered in advance in the predetermined repository, inputs input data according to a declaration process of the acquired metadata, creates output data by processing the input data, and outputs the output data. Herein, the batch processing apparatus creates the output data by changing all the output data related to the metadata according to change of the metadata.
US07865512B2 Systems and methods for providing victim location information during an emergency situation
A monitoring system receives data from embedded systems that are located within a building. The embedded systems may be contained within components (e.g., sensors, switches, etc.) that are situated within the building. Rules are defined for interpreting the data. The monitoring system interprets the data based on the defined rules to obtain location information and/or event information. The location information includes possible locations of victims within the building. The event information includes events that have been detected by components within the building. The location information and the event information may be provided to one or more emergency response systems.
US07865504B2 Native file to shared resource locator naming
File and folder names are converted between their native format and a shared resource locator format. To send information on a file or folder, the file or folder name is parsed into various components and those components are converted to components in the shared resource locator. Sufficient information is provided in the shared resource locator to allow receiving software to develop the proper full native file or folder name, irrelevant of the receiving system, be it having different native formats, different drive letters and the like. A user need only click on a file or folder and a shared resource locator string is provided for pasting into emails or documents. Clicking on a shared resource locator results in the operating system automatically opening the file or folder from its shared location without manual conversions and the like.
US07865498B2 Broadcast network platform system
A multimedia search system that provides search results which may be in the form of multiple data types, including text, icon, audio, video, and/or multimedia. The system also provides the ability to preview data video associated with a potentially linkable Web site listed in the search results screen, without linking directly to the Web site, by previewing a video file from that linkable Web site on the search results screen. The searcher then has the option of linking to that Web site based on information delivered by the previewed video file. The user also has the ability to search using the numerical system in which a numerical index is used to access data which is hierarchically categorized and sub categorized in a station/channel/program structured environment. The user can directly access stations, channels, or programs using predefined numerical index numbers.
US07865494B2 Personalized indexing and searching for information in a distributed data processing system
Personalized searching including providing in a search portal a personal search term list; receiving from a user a navigation identification message; and inserting index records in a personalized search index. Inserting index records in a personalized search index typically comprises retrieving a document from a navigation location and indexing the navigation location and keywords from the personal search term list that occur in the retrieved document. A navigation identification message may comprise a search keyword and inserting index records in a personalized search index may include indexing the search keyword with the navigation location in the personalized search index. Embodiments typically include creating and transmitting to users, in dependence upon the personalized search index, search criteria, and user identification, responses to search query messages.
US07865489B2 System and computer program product for discovering design documents
Techniques for obtaining a lineage of a schema in one or more documents are provided. The techniques include using a schema to find a document that is most relevant to the schema, obtaining one or more relevant portions of the most relevant document that is related to the schema, constructing a first probe set from the one or more relevant portions of the document, using the first probe set to discover one or more documents for obtaining lineage information, discovering a second probe set from the one or more documents, and recursively using the second probe set to discover a related document.
US07865487B2 System and method for providing remote access to events from a database access system
In one embodiment, a database access system includes a remote client application, a database having a plurality of data records, and a data event agent. The database has a plurality of data records and is coupled to the data event agent. The data event agent is remotely coupled to the remote client application through a firewall and operable to receive a query from the remote client application. In response to receipt of the query, the data event agent stores the query in memory in order to continually filter additions and modifications to data records against the one or more filter criteria included in the query. In the event that a data record matches the query, the data event agent transmits the data record to the remote client application.
US07865482B2 Attribute rule enforcer for a directory
An attribute rule enforcer for evaluating the attributes of a call to add, modify, or delete information in a directory, such as a lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) directory. The attribute rule enforcer determines if the attributes of the call comply with predetermined rules governing the directory's content. The directory attribute rule enforcer may be located at the front end of the directory's access server, and intercepts calls to the directory access server. If the directory attribute rule enforcer determines that the attributes of a call complies with the rules governing the content of the directory, it will forward the call to the directory's access server for action. If, on the other hand, directory attribute rule enforcer determines that the attributes of a call do not comply with the rules governing the content of the directory, the attribute rule enforcer will reject the call. Further, it may forward an appropriate error message to the source of the call.
US07865479B2 Updating compressed read-only memory file system (CRAMFS) images
Systems and methods for CRAMFS file system differencing and updating are provided that include portion-level differencing and block-level updating of blocks of an original image. The differencing and updating split CRAMFS images into portions using CRAMFS file system structure information and block information and perform dependency analysis using hint/list files from the CRAMFS split module. A delta file is generated for each portion (portion-level differencing) of the new CRAMFS image; the delta file includes information of differences between the portion of the new CRAMFS image and the portion of the original CRAMFS image to which the new CRAMFS image portion corresponds. The delta files are transferred to a device where the device target CRAMFS image is updated block-by-block using information of the delta files. The update reconstructs all portions of the new CRAMFS image in a block in host device RAM and writes the reconstructed block into host device ROM.
US07865466B2 Method and system to synchronize account names across a plurality of security systems
A system for synchronizing account names from a plurality of source security systems. In response to coupling a conversion system between the plurality of source security systems and a target security system, identity data from a human resource system and account data from the plurality of local source security systems is loaded into the conversion system. A name resolution rule set is retrieved and a unique account name identification is generated for a set of account names associated with an identity using the name resolution rule set. The set of account names associated with the identity is converted to the unique account name identification to produce a synchronized set of account names associated with the identity. Then, the synchronized set of account names associated with the identity is stored in the target security system.
US07865465B2 Controlling model editing and merging
A model edit control system controls editing of a data model. A model repository manager allows multiple users to copy a stored model stored in a repository for executing changes on multiple model copies in parallel. An action log manager crates a model action log for the stored model and tracks actions executed on the stored model. The action log manager also creates a current action log for each model copy to record actions executed on the model copy. A model merger manager merges the model copies into the stored model in the repository, by playing the actions in the current action log against the stored model in the repository.
US07865448B2 Methods and systems for performing credit transactions with a wireless device
Methods and systems are provided of initiating a wireless device for use in performing transactions. A wireless communication is received from the wireless device at a host system. The wireless communication identifies a financial account to be authorized for use in supporting transactions. A location-positioning signal is received at the host system. The location-positioning signal identifies a geographical location for the wireless device at a time when the wireless communication is received at the host system. The geographical location is determined from the location-positioning signal. An authorized address for the financial account is retrieved from a storage device in communication with the host system. It is verified that the geographical location is at a position substantially the same as the authorized address. Information defining an account transaction mechanism is transmitted wirelessly to the wireless device. The information includes an identification of the financial account.
US07865447B2 Telecommunications initiated data fulfillment system
A system for providing a wide range of telecommunications initiated data fulfillment services in which a multi-function code, such as “*#” (star, pound), input into an originating telecommunications device, such as a conventional land-line or wireless telephone, triggers the treatment of the input sequence as a multi-function code service request rather than a dialed directory number. The multi-function code is followed by an input data string to complete the multi-function code service request, which the user typically enters into the telecommunications device just like a conventional telephone call, except that the input string begins with the multi-function code. The telecommunications system recognizes the multi-function code as a trigger, and in response takes one or more actions, such as automatically terminating the call to an announcement and routing a data message to a data fulfillment center, which responds to the message by implementing a response action indicated by the multi-function code service request. For example, the data fulfillment center may respond by transmitting a message over a wireless data network or the Internet to implement a service, such as activation of a vending machine, remote control of device, delivery of a message over the Internet or wireless data network, initiation of an interactive Internet session with the originating device, or a wide range of other services. In addition, a charge for this service may be automatically charged to an account associated with the originating telecommunications device, which may be billed separately or incorporated on the user's conventional monthly telecommunications invoice.
US07865440B2 Method, system, and program for securely providing keys to encode and decode data in a storage cartridge
Provided is a method, system, and program for enabling access to data in a storage medium within one of a plurality of storage cartridges capable of being mounted into a interface device. An association is provided of at least one coding key to a plurality of storage cartridges. A determination is made of one coding key associated with one target storage cartridge, wherein the coding key is capable of being used to access data in the storage medium within the target storage cartridge. The determined coding key is encrypted. The coding key is subsequently decrypted to use to decode and code data stored in the storage medium.
US07865433B2 Point of sale purchase system
A merchant can extend credit to a customer by establishing an account which allows the account to be paid off, or significantly paid down, on or after the customer's next payday. The payment can be directly extracted from the customer's bank account. The merchant is provided with a merchant system. The merchant system is used to read or recognize a unique customer identifier device, such as a magnetically encoded or bar-coded customer card, or an integrated chip, micro-computer, manually entered PIN etc., which uniquely identifies an account held by the customer. The merchant device communicates the information to a server system which approves the transaction and cooperatively the merchant system and server system generate a transaction instrument that can be signed by the customer.
US07865431B2 Private electronic value bank system
To make an electronic value usable for both service on a network and service in the real world while ensuring security, convenience and economical efficiency, the electronic value issued for a user is controlled on an electronic wallet of a private electronic value bank, the electronic value controlled on the electronic wallet of a bank is cached in a mobile electronic wallet on a smart card of a user's portable terminal 5, and the electronic wallet is linked such that it is operated via the network when the mobile electronic wallet is operated. When the electronic value on the smart card is used for the service provided in a real environment such as a ticket gate of a train station, on-line transaction does not occur every time it is used, but the electronic wallet of the bank is updated when the portable terminal and the bank communicate later.
US07865429B2 Bundled mortgage package
A bundled mortgage package which includes several different features into a mortgage package, so that the process of actually obtaining a mortgage from a lender can be easier because the borrower's worries of the fees, charges, and other costs can be reduced or altogether eliminated since such fees charges and other costs may be combined, waived or otherwise resolved for the borrower is described. The lender may waive all lender fees, pay all 3rd party fees, and not require a lender's title policy. The lender may use the owner's title policy as the sole title insurance. A lender may not require mortgage insurance, waive fees associated with programs for borrower protection for involuntary unemployment or accidental death, guarantee that the loan will close within a certain period of time where the lender pays the borrower money if the loan doesn't close within the certain time period.
US07865425B2 Method for directing and executing certified trading interests
Preferred embodiments of the subject invention comprise: (a) electronically receiving securities order-related data regarding a set of securities market participants; (b) electronically storing the received order-related data regarding the set of securities market participants; (c) electronically receiving a securities order-related query (or order parameters) from a first securities market participant; (d) based on the order-related query (or order parameters) received from the first securities market participant and on the securities order-related data regarding the set of securities market participants, computing a dissemination list of securities market participants based on ranking likely contras by probability of execution; and (e) transmitting that dissemination list to an entity who has been granted the privilege of receiving such lists in exchange for being contractually bound to respect confidentiality of the dissemination list and to use the list only for the purpose of sending securities-related information to members of the list.
US07865422B2 Systems and methods for providing a trading interface with advanced features
Systems and methods for a trading interface with advanced features are provided. Using these systems and methods, a user may create orders, manipulate orders, cancel orders, configure alternative keyboard settings, and/or obtain additional information on transactions. When a user clicks on a bid and/or offer, a dialog box may pop-up, thereby providing the user with multiple options. To enable customization of the keyboard settings to a user's preference, a keyboard settings feature is provided. Users may also be provided with additional information relating to the user's wish to transact.
US07865419B2 Systems and methods for generating a metric of financial status relative to a financial goal
The present invention relates to, among other things, systems and methods for generating a metric of an entity's financial status relative to a financial goal. In generating the metric, the value of an entity's total assets is simulated over time based on data comprising historical rates of returns. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a computer system and method for generating a metric of an individual's probable present-day financial status relative to financial independence on a desired future date. In this embodiment, the metric is called a Financial Independence Score. The Financial Independence score is a single number that represents the individual's financial status relative to achieving financial independence by a desired date.
US07865417B2 Method and system for administering a discounted security
An exchangeable security, tradable on a securities exchange is issued at a share price that is a discount from the share price of an underlying security or basket of underlying securities. At or prior to maturity of the exchangeable security, a holder of the exchangeable security may exchange a share of the exchangeable security for a share of the underlying security or basket of underlying securities. The exchangeable security may also include a linked payment that is redeemable for the full amount of the payment on maturity of the exchangeable security. Alternatively, the exchangeable security may be issued at the share price of the underlying security with the linked payment. The invention provides methods for issue, trade and redemption as well as systems for issue, trade and redemption of the security.
US07865412B1 Method and system for account tracking
A method for account tracking that includes receiving a request to generate a report for a business entity, wherein the request specifies a tag associated with the business entity, identifying a plurality of transaction records based on the tag to obtain a plurality of identified transaction records for the business entity, assigning a business category from a plurality of business categories to at least one of the plurality of identified transaction records not associated with one of the plurality of business categories, and generating the report for the business entity by grouping the plurality of identified transaction records according to the plurality of business categories.
US07865411B2 Accounts payable process
Techniques for performing an accounts payable process may include receiving transaction data including at least one of invoice data, purchase order data, and vendor data; and verifying a transaction by matching a dynamic data set of client-specified multi-dimensional criteria to the transaction data. An accounts payable system may include a host system in communication with one or more client systems. The host system may include a matching database configured to receive an accounts payable file including at least one of invoice data, purchase order data, and vendor data; and verify a transaction by matching a dynamic data set of client-specified multi-dimensional records to attributes of the accounts payable file.
US07865406B2 Methods and systems for electronic commerce facility client-based presentation offer management
A method, system and computer readable medium for facilitating interactive electronic commerce transactions over an electronic commerce network between a plurality of sellers and a plurality of buyers via an independent service provider. A request is received from a seller over the electronic commerce network to generate an auction program process associated with the seller. The auction program process associated with the seller is generated by an electronic commerce computer of the independent service provider. A Uniform Resource Locator (URL) hyperlink associated with the auction program process is generated by the electronic commerce computer. The URL hyperlink is communicated to the seller for insertion into a web page hosted on a website other than the independent service provider's website, wherein the web page displays information about an item for sale. The auction program process generated by the electronic commerce computer of the independent service provider is activated when a buyer clicks on the inserted hyperlink on the hosting website.
US07865404B2 Intelligent agents for electronic commerce
A system for electronic commerce (10) having personal agents (12 and 13) that represent consumers and providers in a virtual marketplace (28). Consumer personal agents conceal the identity of the consumer and are capable of creating decision agents (14) that shop for products and assist consumers in comparing and ranking products. Provider personal agents are capable of creating demand agents (16) that quantify demand and target specific consumers without learning the identity of the consumers. Based on data generated by the activities of the decision agents and on preference data maintained by consumer personal agents, provider personal agents can quantify current, historical, and future demand, simulate demand, and target specific consumers for advertising and other messages. Provider personal agents can cooperate with consumer personal agents to collect data about reasons for sales and lost sales and to offer consideration payments to consumers. Consumer personal agents can automatically reject unsolicited messages that do not satisfy the consumer's preferences.
US07865394B1 Multimedia messaging method and system
A system and method for the distribution of individualized multimedia content over a network to a number of recipients. The system assembles a message containing multimedia content which is extracted from a media content repository in response to information about the intended recipient. The multimedia content is thereby individualized for the particular recipient; for example an individualized audio greeting containing with audio annunciation of the recipient's name within multimedia message. Multimedia elements may be variously combined within an individualized message containing audio, graphics, text, animations, video, and/or ecommerce/transaction primitives. The system provides the ability to develop and manage the multimedia content repository, control the distribution of the individualized multimedia content, and report on system activity. By way of example and not of limitation, the individualized content may be delivered through an email to the recipient as part of an email campaign, as a multimedia message through other networks, or as graphic and text output on a printer.
US07865389B2 Analyzing time series data that exhibits seasonal effects
To analyze a time series of data that exhibits seasonal effects, the time series is processed to obtain a representation in the frequency domain. According to the representation, plural cycle lengths are identified as representing different seasonal effects of the data in the time series, where a first of the plural cycle lengths is greater than a second of the plural cycle lengths.
US07865386B2 Appointment scheduling system
Disclosed herein is a method and system for alerting users of an appointment system of any change in an appointment schedule between practitioners and clients. If a user registered in the appointment system chooses to schedule an appointment, the user confirms the appointment by sending a conformation message to the message handling module. The appointment system, at predetermined intervals of time compares the status of preferred schedule of appointment against the existing schedule of appointments and if there is any change in the status of scheduled appointment, the change is stored in the central database and an alert message generated. The alert messages are sent via email or short message services (SMS) or a prerecorded voice message on their wire-line phone to users affected by the change in schedule and who have registered for the appointment service.
US07865385B2 Methods and systems for modeling processes in airlines and other industries, and for simulating and valuing the effects of various products and services on those processes
Methods and systems for modeling functional processes in enterprises, and for simulating and valuing the effects of various products and services on those processes, are described herein. A method in accordance with one aspect of the invention for marketing at least one of products and services to an operator of an enterprise includes presenting a first process model and a second process model. The first process model can graphically illustrate how at least one functional group in the enterprise responds to a selected operational circumstance. The second process model can graphically illustrate how the at least one functional group responds to the selected operational circumstance after the enterprise has implemented at least one of a selected product and a selected service configured to facilitate operation of the enterprise.
US07865384B2 System and method for identifying and reducing costs of information technology actions in real time
A method and system for identifying and reducing costs of information technology actions in real time. Initiation of an information technology (IT) action by a user is detected. An actual cost to perform the IT action is determined in real time prior to a completion of the IT action. A target cost (e.g., average cost) to perform the IT action is obtained. The actual cost is determined to be greater than the target cost. Recommended actions for reducing the actual cost are obtained. A notification is presented to the user in real time and prior to the completion of the IT action. The notification includes a description or a link to a description of the recommended actions.
US07865382B2 Compliance control framework
Compliance Control Framework of the present invention is designed to capture the context and actionables of the agreement at the time of inking of the agreement. Respective stakeholders are mapped in the Compliance Control framework using a tool and weighting capture in the agreement context. Stakeholders and independent parties evaluate the control environment at the point of delivery and update the tool on the compliance. The tool helps the stakeholder to identify options that would be available to comply with agreed requirements. Control framework provides opportunity to redefine or seek addendum or identify cost effective options through various means. The compliance framework monitors and tracks the progress through action taken report and update the tools to provide enterprise wide compliance perspective. The tool aids in traffic light decision points for management to anticipate compliance problem areas and close them through enterprise-wide initiatives. The tool in the Compliance Control framework provides interface for point of view on customer compliance trends based on pre-defined segment.
US07865370B2 Content filtering for a digital audio signal
According to some embodiments, content filtering is provided for a digital audio signal.
US07865368B2 System and methods for recognizing sound and music signals in high noise and distortion
A method for recognizing an audio sample locates an audio file that most closely matches the audio sample from a database indexing a large set of original recordings. Each indexed audio file is represented in the database index by a set of landmark timepoints and associated fingerprints. Landmarks occur at reproducible locations within the file, while fingerprints represent features of the signal at or near the landmark timepoints. To perform recognition, landmarks and fingerprints are computed for the unknown sample and used to retrieve matching fingerprints from the database. For each file containing matching fingerprints, the landmarks are compared with landmarks of the sample at which the same fingerprints were computed. If a large number of corresponding landmarks are linearly related, i.e., if equivalent fingerprints of the sample and retrieved file have the same time evolution, then the file is identified with the sample. The method can be used for any type of sound or music, and is particularly effective for audio signals subject to linear and nonlinear distortion such as background noise, compression artifacts, or transmission dropouts. The sample can be identified in a time proportional to the logarithm of the number of entries in the database; given sufficient computational power, recognition can be performed in nearly real time as the sound is being sampled.
US07865367B2 System for enhancing live speech with information accessed from the world wide web
A system that includes a speaker workstation and a system that includes an auditor device. The speaker workstation is configured to perform a method for generating a Speech Hyperlink-Time table in conjunction with a system of universal time. The speaker workstation creates a Speech Hyperlink table. While a speech is being spoken by a speaker, the speaker workstation recognizes each hyperlinked term of the Speech Hyperlink table being spoken by the speaker, and for each recognized hyperlinked term, generates a row in the Speech Hyperlink-Time table. The auditor device is configured to perform a method for processing a speech in conjunction with a system of universal time. The auditor device determines and records, in a record of a Selections Hyperlink-Time table, a universal time corresponding to a hyperlinked term spoken during a speech.
US07865366B2 Data preparation for media browsing
A system is described which includes a content retriever to retrieve and format data and a media file playlist generated by the content retriever from the data. The media file playlist includes a playlist entry title identifying a title for a media file, a file name identifying the media file, and a metadata tag containing data for performing an action associated with the file. Examples of the actions that may be performed are calling a phone number or sending an email. The system also includes a text file playlist generated by the content retriever from the text data in XML (extensible markup language). The text file play list includes text-to-speech markup tags indentifying the XML-formatted text file as a text-to-speech conversion file. The system further includes a text-to-speech converter configured to generate at least one audio file playlist from the text file playlist and a configuration module associated with the content retriever configured to accept user input instruction that identify the data.
US07865360B2 Audio device
An audio device for modifying the voice transmitted during a telephone call particularly suitable for a mobile telephone system receives from the user of the audio device an analog speech signal. A converter converts the analog speech signal into a digital speech signal comprising at least one fundamental frequency. A set of coded data represents a musical score comprising a set of notes, each note being defined by a fundamental frequency, a duration, and an instrument that plays the note. A digital music signal is extracted from the set of coded data, and a first portion of the digital speech signal is mixed with a first portion of the digital music signal to produce a combined digital signal.
US07865357B2 Shareable filler model for grammar authoring
A method of forming a shareable filler model (shareable model for garbage words) from a word n-gram model is provided. The word n-gram model is converted into a probabilistic context free grammar (PCFG). The PCFG is modified into a substantially application-independent PCFG, which constitutes the shareable filler model.
US07865343B2 Method of analyzing nutrition for a canine or feline animal
Selecting the nutrition for an animal or animal group comprises performing a diagnostic test to obtain first data. A data base that comprises first data relating a genomic analysis of a bodily fluid or tissue sample from an animal to a physiological condition and optionally the genotype of the animal is accessed. A data base that comprises second data relating to effects of nutrition on genomic analysis is accessed. The first and second data are processed with input data defining the physiological condition and optionally the genotype of the animal or animal group to derive the nutrition for an animal or animal group.
US07865333B2 Process and device for monitoring a machine
A process for monitoring a machine, within the framework of a FMEA process for at least one component of the machine for at least one predetermined fault which can be diagnosed by means of a diagnosis diagram and a diagnosis system with sensors for detecting physical parameters of the machine, a diagnosis priority number being determined which is the product of the following index quantities: severity of the effect of occurrence of the fault with respect to the serviceability of the machine; expected machine-specific consequential costs when a fault occurs, and the possibility of correction of the fault. The diagnosis priority number is used in the evaluation of the diagnosis diagram, the diagnosis system, the current machine state, the necessary maintenance measures and/or the failure risk of the machine.
US07865325B2 Test system and failure parsing method thereof
A test system and a failure parsing method. The test system may comprise a cell array including defective cells formed according to various failure causes, a test apparatus configured to measure electric characteristics from the defective cells and make the measured electric characteristics numerical, and a database apparatus configured to store the numerical electric characteristics. The failure parsing method may include forming defective cells to have at least one failure cause, measuring electric characteristics of each of the defective cells, storing the measured electric characteristics of each of the defective cells in a database, and judging failure causes of a failed chip of a semiconductor wafer based on the database.
US07865322B2 Relative noise
Relative noise is a single scalar value that is used to predict the maximum value of the expected noise at any point and is calculated from the measured signal and a mathematical noise model. The mathematical noise model is selected or estimated from an observation that includes statistical and/or numerical modeling based on a population of measurement points. An absolute noise for a plurality of points of the measured signal is estimated. An array of values is calculated by dividing each of a plurality of points of the absolute noise by a corresponding expected noise value calculated from the mathematical noise model. The relative noise is calculated by taking a standard deviation of a plurality of points of the array. The relative noise can be used to calculate scaled background signal noise, filter regions, denoise data, detect false positives from features, calculate S/N, and determine a stop condition for acquiring data.
US07865317B2 System and method for measuring a fuel level in a vehicle fuel tank
A fuel measurement system and method that can determine the fuel level in a vehicle fuel tank, even when the fuel is sloshing, splashing, or experiencing other dynamic conditions. Generally speaking, the system and method use different fuel measuring techniques to address different fuel tank conditions. For example, during normal conditions a traditional fuel level sensor may be used. During dynamic conditions, such as when the vehicle is experiencing significant acceleration, maneuvering, inclination, yaw rate, etc., the system may employ other measuring techniques that are better suited to address such an environment. One measuring technique that may be used is a consumption-based technique that uses fuel usage signals from one or more fuel injector sensor(s) to determine the amount of fuel consumed, and then subtracts that amount from a previous fuel level reading.
US07865309B2 Intelligent selectively-targeted communications systems and methods
There is disclosed a system and method wherein precise geographical location information such as Global Positioning System coordinate data is utilized as a principal criterion for implementing other wireless transmitted instructions and communications advising vehicles, and others, of an approaching emergency vehicle, the proximity of a hazardous condition, or virtually any other situation which is relevant to the intended recipient because of their location. The system and method further can involve intervention and control of a vehicle, such as an aircraft or automobile, which comes into a predetermined location or area, or under other circumstances. The system and method use transmitting units and receiving units, both of which can receive geographical positioning information and which may sound or otherwise output an appropriate advisory, warning or other communication selected based on their positions, heading, and/or speed.
US07865306B2 Devices, methods, and systems for managing route-related information
A method can include, for a predetermined route, automatically processing a first set of machine instructions to create a visual travel guide for the predetermined route, the visual travel guide comprising a second set of machine instructions adapted to cause an information device to render: an identification of a destination of the predetermined route; a plurality of videos, each video corresponding to a road intersection located approximately on the predetermined route, each video adapted to substantially reproduce a view of a driver of an automobile approaching the road intersection; a plurality of textual descriptions associated with the plurality of videos; at least one of an identification of an origin of the predetermined route and an identification of an approach to the destination; and an advertisement associated with at least a portion of the predetermined route.
US07865303B2 Method of providing a navigational route for a vehicle navigation system
A navigational route providing method for use with various types of vehicle navigation systems. The route providing method generally enables a user to pre-select one or more destinations and trigger events, so that navigational routes leading to the pre-selected destinations can be subsequently generated and presented to the user when the designated trigger events occur. According to some embodiments, multiple destinations and trigger events can be provided so that multiple navigational routes are generated.
US07865302B2 Method and apparatus for displaying house number and building footprint in arrival screen for navigation system
A method for displaying an arrival screen for a navigation system includes the steps of receiving a house number of a destination specified by a user, retrieving map data indicating a road segment which includes the specified house number thereon, estimating positions of the destination based on the house number of the destination and position data of the road segment, and displaying a destination arrival screen when the user comes within a predetermined distance range from the destination. The destination arrival screen displays a street number over a building footprint where the user is passing by, a position of the destination, a current position of the user, and a road on which the user is moving.
US07865301B2 Secondary map in digital mapping system
Digital mapping techniques are disclosed that provide more flexibility to the user through the use of multiple views of map information, including a secondary map and a main map. The secondary map can provide the user with either a zoomed out or in relative to the main map, or a different type of map view (e.g., satellite images). The secondary map can be turned on and off by the user. The secondary map may include one or more viewing frames that indicate views (e.g., current and alternate views) of the main map. The user can move the main map, viewing frame, or secondary map to achieve desired map views. During such movement, the relationship between the main and secondary maps can be synchronous, partially synchronous, or serial.
US07865299B2 Method and system for predicting a future position of a vehicle using numerical integration
A method and system for predicting a future position of a horizon time Th of an automotive vehicle. The method determines the position of the vehicle at time T0 using GPS and the speed, acceleration and angle of the steering wheel at time T0 from appropriate sensors on the vehicle. A nonlinear mathematical model utilizing these factors is then created while the position of the vehicle at time T0+Th is determined through numerical integration of the mathematical model using an adjustable step size Tstep. The step Tstep is modified adaptively in accordance with the accuracy requirements of the vehicle.
US07865298B2 System and method for providing route information to a driver of a vehicle
A system and method for providing route information to a driver of a vehicle given a predetermined destination having more than one route available to reach the predetermined destination includes receiving a driver input indicating a vehicle operating preference. Operating characteristics for the vehicle, such as a predicted time to reach the predetermined destination, are determined for at least some of the routes. One of the routes is selected based at least in part on the determined operating characteristics and the vehicle operating preference. An informational output is provided to the driver indicating the selected route.
US07865288B2 Engine control device for working vehicle
An engine control device is adapted to a working vehicle that is capable of switching between a power mode and an economy mode, and capable of forcibly downshifting through gears of a transmission so as to shift down to a lower speed side. The engine control device includes an engine mode determining section configured to determine whether the engine mode is in the power mode or the economy mode, a gear detection section configured to detect current gear of a plurality of gears, a kick-down detection section configured to detect a kick-down instruction, and a control section configured to switch the engine into the power mode when the kick-down instruction is detected while the engine mode is in the economy mode and the gears are in the lowest gear.
US07865286B1 Lift truck safety system
A method of operating a lift truck, the method including the steps of actuating an override to move the lift truck from a safety configuration into a working configuration, positioning a load onto a front end assembly movably attached to the lift truck, disengaging the override, whereby the lift truck may automatically move into the safety configuration once the load is removed from the front end assembly.
US07865269B2 Robotic surgical system with joint motion controller adapted to reduce instrument tip vibrations
A robotic surgical system has a robot arm holding an instrument for performing a surgical procedure, and a control system for controlling movement of the arm and its instrument according to user manipulation of a master manipulator. The control system includes a filter in its forward path to attenuate master input commands that may cause instrument tip vibrations, and an inverse filter in a feedback path to the master manipulator configured so as to compensate for delay introduced by the forward path filter. To enhance control, master command and slave joint observers are also inserted in the control system to estimate slave joint position, velocity and acceleration commands using received slave joint position commands and torque feedbacks, and estimate actual slave joint positions, velocities and accelerations using sensed slave joint positions and commanded slave joint motor torques.
US07865267B2 Environment recognizing device, environment recognizing method, route planning device, route planning method and robot
An environment recognizing device and an environment recognizing method can draw an environment map for judging if it is possible to move a region where one or more than one steps are found above or below a floor, a route planning device and a route planning method that can appropriately plan a moving route, using such an environment map and a robot equipped with such an environment recognizing device and a route planning device. The robot comprises an environment recognizing section including a plurality of plane extracting section 401 adapted to compute plane parameters from a parallax image or a distance image and extract a plurality of planes including the floor surface, an obstacle recognizing section 402 adapted to recognize obstacles on the plurality of planes including the floor surface and an environment map updating section 403 adapted to draw an environment map (obstacle map) for each of the planes on the basis of the result of recognition of the obstacle recognizing section 402 and update the existing environment maps and a route planning section 404 adapted to plan a route on the basis of the environment maps. The route planning section 404 selects a plane as route coordinate when an obstacle is found on it in the environment map of the floor surface but not found in the environment map of the plane.
US07865260B2 Production schedule creation device and method, production process control device and method, computer program, and computer-readable recording medium
A production schedule creation device includes: a production simulator (100) simulating a production process expressing the production state and the production constraint of the production process; a mathematical expression holding device holding a mathematical model (110) created by acquiring information relating to creation of the production schedule in attention as a mathematical model expressing, in a mathematical expression, the production state and the production constraint of the production process; and an optimization calculation device (120) performing the optimization calculation by using a predetermined evaluation function for the mathematical model (110) and calculating a production instruction for the production simulator. The production instruction obtained by the optimization calculation device is supplied to the production simulator (100) so as to execute simulation. Thus, an optimum solution can be obtained by performing only one simulation.
US07865258B2 Wireless digital audio system
A wireless digital audio system includes a portable audio source with a digital audio transmitter operatively coupled thereto and an audio receiver operatively coupled to a headphone set. The audio receiver is configured for digital wireless communication with the audio transmitter. The digital audio receiver utilizes fuzzy logic to optimize digital signal processing. Each of the digital audio transmitter and receiver is configured for code division multiple access (CDMA) communication. The wireless digital audio system allows private audio enjoyment without interference from other users of independent wireless digital transmitters and receivers sharing the same space.
US07865257B2 Audio buffers with audio effects
An audio buffer includes one or more audio effect resources that modify audio data received from an audio data source. A first audio effect resource in the audio buffer receives audio data from the audio data source and modifies the audio data to generate a stream of audio data. Subsequent audio effect resource(s) in the audio buffer receives the stream of audio data from the first audio effect and further modifies the audio data to generate a stream of modified audio data. The stream of modified audio data can then routed from the audio buffer to a second audio buffer, or communicated to an audio rendering component that produces an audio rendition corresponding to the modified audio data.
US07865256B2 Audio playback apparatus
An audio playback apparatus realizes both of normal playback and loop playback with respect to compressive coded data forming an audio waveform of one phrase, which is constituted by a string of samples and which includes a loop section. In the normal playback, a decoder sequentially reproduces the samples. In the loop playback, the decoder sequentially reproduces the samples until a sample preceding a loop start point, then, the decoder repeatedly reproduces the samples belonging to the loop section, then, the decoder sequentially reproduces the samples started from the loop start point. Alternatively, two decoders are alternately controlled to perform decoding in the loop playback. Thus, it is possible to reliably output all the samples including the samples of the loop section without causing breaks.
US07865253B2 System and method for detecting shakes and percussive impacts and for protecting portable electronic devices when pre-specified shake patterns and percussive impact levels are detected
A system and method detects low grade physical motions of an electronic device, such as a laptop computer, and takes protective measures if the physical motions match a pre-specified physical motion pattern. The pre-specified physical motion pattern may have been selected as a pattern which, if left alone, could cause cumulative damage to the electronic device. Alternatively, the pre-specified motion pattern may have been selected as a pattern which tended to indicate that more aggressive and abrupt movements would be forthcoming. The system and method further detects sustained motion (such as in a laptop bag) such that the laptop may shut-off so that the laptop does not overheat or get damaged. The system and method may be configured such that a system administrator may be notified if laptop is being abused. In a similar manner, the history of the percussive impacts or movements may be kept or logged for future use.
US07865249B2 Means to securely fixate pacing leads and/or sensors in vessels
According to embodiments of the present invention, a cardiac lead system adapted for fixation to a vessel including an expandable fixation mechanism adapted to engage an inner surface of the vessel and a lead member comprising an anchor structure at distal end, the anchor structure configured to removably engage with fixation mechanism. Such anchor structure may be helical, and may removably engage fixation mechanism upon rotation or an application of torque, and may be extendable and/or retractable. Fixation mechanism may be polymer coated weave and/or mesh to trap anchor structure. Lead member and/or fixation mechanism may include electrodes and/or sensors, and lead member may include L-shape, S-shape, spiral, and/or sinusoidal shape for positioning of electrodes and/or sensors or for facilitated engagement of anchor structure. A guide wire attached to fixation mechanism during deployment may, prior to detachment, serve to guide lead member to a target site at fixation mechanism.
US07865243B1 Device and therapy for erectile dysfunction and other sexual dysfunction
An implantable stimulator(s) with at least one infusion outlet and/or at least one electrode, is implanted with the outlet(s) and/or electrode(s) located adjacent to a pudendal nerve(s) and potentially other nerve(s) innervating the reproductive organs, such as the cavernous nerve(s). Stimulation of such nerve(s) is provided via stimulating drugs and/or electrical stimulation as a therapy for erectile dysfunction. The stimulator uses a power source/storage device, such as a rechargeable battery. Periodic recharging of such a battery is accomplished, for example, by inductive coupling with an external appliance. The stimulator provides means of stimulating a nerve(s) when desired, without the need for external appliances during the stimulation session. When necessary, external appliances are used for the transmission of data to and/or from the stimulator(s) and for the transmission of power. The system is capable of open- and closed-loop operation. In closed-loop operation, at least one implant includes a sensor, and the sensed condition is used to adjust stimulation parameters.
US07865227B2 Image reconstruction method for cardiac gated magnetic resonance imaging
A cardiac gated acquisition of MR data during a breath-hold employs a hybrid PR pulse sequence to acquire projection views from which image frames may be reconstructed at a plurality of cardiac phases during each heartbeat. Composite images are reconstructed at each cardiac phase using interleaved projection views acquired during all the heartbeats. The composite images are used to reconstruct the highly undersampled image frames at the same cardiac phase using a highly constrained backprojection method.
US07865226B2 Specimen positioning system for imaging machines
An animal holder is provided with a specialized coupling that is releasably mountable to a number of different imaging machines such as X-ray, CAT, MRI and PET machines. Composite images created from combining images from such different machines are particularly clear due to the predetermined alignment of the animal holder within the center of the field of view of each machine.
US07865225B2 Method for implementing a medical procedure on a subject with different medical apparatuses that each process patient data
In a method for implementation of a medical procedure on a patient with a first medical apparatus that processes patient data and a second medical apparatus that processes patient data, both apparatuses have interfaces that can be connected with one another for exchange of the patent data. Patient data of the patient is electronically stored in the first apparatus, the interfaces of both apparatuses are connected, the patient data is transferred from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, and the procedure is implemented with the second apparatus.
US07865222B2 Method and apparatus for reducing coupling between signals in a measurement system
A method and an apparatus for separating a composite signal into a plurality of signals is described. A signal processor receives a composite signal and separates a composite signal in to separate output signals. Feedback from one or more of the output signals is provided to a configuration module that configures the signal processor to improve a quality of the output signals. In one embodiment, the signal processor separates the composite signal by applying a first demodulation signal to the composite signal to generate a first output signal. In one embodiment, the signal processor also applies a second demodulation signal to the composite signal to generate a second output signal. In one embodiment, a phase and/or amplitude of the first demodulation signal and a phase and/or amplitude of the second demodulation signal are selected to reduce crosstalk. In one embodiment, the composite signal is obtained from a detector in a system for measuring one or more blood constituents.
US07865220B2 Portable electronic appliance with a camera and an optical deflection device
A portable electronic device is configured in particular as a mobile telephone having a first housing element with a second side. A linking device links the housing elements in such a way that they are movable in relation to each other, the first side facing the second side in at least one first state. A camera for acquiring images is arranged on the first side in such a way that it faces away from the first housing element. Moreover, an optical deflection device is arranged on the second side in such a way that it reflects back light impinging upon the second side. In the first state, the camera is arranged in relation to the optical deflection device in such a way that it receives light via the optical deflection device, while a second state the camera is moved away from the optical deflection device in such a way that it receives light which has not been deflected by the optical deflection device.
US07865219B2 Portable terminal
A portable terminal has a first housing having at least a display unit, a second housing having at least a main input unit, and connected openably and closably to the first housing, and an auxiliary input unit arranged on a surface other than mutually facing surfaces of both of the housings in a closed state. The display unit is visible to user in a closed state and an opened state, a screen on the display unit is able to display a first selection screen which is appropriate for an operation by the auxiliary input unit when both of the housings are in a closed state, and a screen on the display unit is able to display a second selection screen which is appropriate for an operation by the main input unit when both of the housings are in an opened state.
US07865213B2 Tuned directional antennas
A technique for improving radio coverage involves using interdependently tuned directional antennas. An example according to the technique is a substrate including two antennas, a transceiver, and a connector. Another example system according to the technique is a wireless access point (AP) including a processor, memory, a communication port, and a PCB comprising a plurality of directional antennas and a radio. An example method according to the technique involves determining a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) and interdependently tuning a first and second directional antenna to reach an expected radiation pattern.
US07865206B2 Employing matching of event characteristics to suggest another characteristic of an event
A device, system, and method are directed towards determining a suggested characteristic for an event. At least two events are determined. In one embodiment, at least one characteristic is determined for one of the event. A plurality of other characteristics is determined for the other event. The characteristics of the two events may be determined implicitly from communications during the events or from user input. Based on a relationship between the determined characteristics, the suggested characteristic for the event is then determined. In one embodiment, the relationship is defined as a match of characteristics. The event may then be modified based on the suggested characteristic. For example, a suggested member may be invited to join the event, or the event's time, location, or name may be changed. If the other event is current or pending, the event and the other event may be combined.
US07865205B1 Method and system for managing push-to-talk modes
A mobile station has a plurality of modes for processing incoming push-to-talk (PTT) audio communications. A first PTT mode is a “forced audio” mode, in which the mobile station plays PTT audio communications automatically. A second PTT mode is a “polite” mode, in which the mobile station plays PTT audio communications only after acceptance by the user. A “white list” identifies any parties that are allowed to communicate with the mobile station using the first PTT mode. A PTT audio communication from an initiator that is not identified in the white list is processed using the second PTT mode, even if the first PTT mode is requested. In addition, a PTT audio communication may be processed using the second PTT mode if the mobile station's speaker volume level is below a threshold value.
US07865195B2 Mobile communication terminal and position monitoring method
Location positioning setting information is read from a setting storage section when the user depressed a power key. The location positioning setting information comprises setting information, such as the maximum duration time of the location positioning operation and the operation timing when a power-off event has been generated. A control section turns off the power of a display section, a speaker, a microphone, etc., excluding a communication function for transmitting location positioning and positioning results. In this state, a location positioning section acquires the positional information of the mobile communication terminal. Then, a wireless communication section transmits the location positioning information of the positioned mobile communication terminal to a predetermined monitoring server which manages the positional information of the mobile communication terminal.
US07865194B2 Systems and methods for characterizing the performance of a wireless network
Systems and methods for characterizing a performance of a wireless network. Data or metrics are collected from a device. The metrics include timing information associated with certain sectors. The timing information can be used to determine an approximate location of the device when the call or other use of the device occurred. A device rating is used to contribute the metrics of the device to bins of a grid that describes the wireless network. Only the bins associated with the approximate location of the device receive the contribution of the metrics. The metrics from other devices are similarly contributed to specific bins. As more usage of the devices occurs, the bins reflect the performance of the wireless network. The device ratings of the devices can also be updated based on the bin ratings and other data associated with the bins.
US07865193B2 Communication apparatus capable of performing a load balancing and method thereof
A load balancing method applied in a communication apparatus is disclosed. The method includes assigning an identification code to a first and a second wireless transceivers; establishing a first link between a first transceiver and a station through a first channel according to the identification code; and establishing a second link between a second transceiver and the station through a second channel according to the identification code; and replacing the first link by the second link when a load of the first wireless transceiver is greater than that of the second wireless transceiver.
US07865184B2 Method for managing hidden stations in a centrally controlled network
The embodiments of the present invention provide methods, devices, and systems enabling a central coordinator to manage hidden stations via a proxy central coordinator, where a hidden station is discovered based on beacons and made known to other networked devices via transmitted lists.
US07865182B2 Over the air provisioning of mobile device settings
Techniques and systems for providing services to a mobile device allow settings on the mobile device to be provisioned over the air. In response to a request for mobile service subscription options received from the mobile device, data relating to mobile service subscription options, for selection by a user of the mobile device, may be sent to the mobile device over a wireless communication path. A selection of one or more subscription options may be received from the mobile device over the wireless communication path, and a service corresponding to the selected subscription options may be activated in response to the selection. Settings associated with the selected subscription options may be downloaded over the air to the mobile device, which may store the settings to enable the mobile device to access the subscription.
US07865172B2 Method and apparatus for data protection for mobile devices
A method and apparatus protect data stored in a device by storing data from the device on a backup system upon the device being connected to the backup system; detecting that the device has been lost or stolen; encrypting a set of data stored on the device that has not been stored on the backup system using an encryption key based on another set of data stored on the device and also stored on the backup system; and deleting the other set of data and encryption key from the device.
US07865167B2 Digital video broadcast-terrestrial (DVB-T) receiver interoperable with a GSM transmitter in a non-interfering manner
A method and a device used for displaying wideband information to a user has a return channel made through a cellular mobile terminal providing interactivity. The device includes a receiver for communicating in a first band of radio frequencies and a transmitter for communicating in a second band of radio frequencies. The method includes receiving information in a symbol-wise manner with the receiver in a first band of RF frequencies; generating a notification of an occurrence of a burst transmission from the transmitter; and in response to the notification, terminating the reception of the information for a portion of one symbol time corresponding to a duration of the burst transmission. The method may include an optional step, further in response to the notification, of reducing power consumption by turning off at least a portion of the receiver for a period of time corresponding to the duration of the burst transmission.
US07865166B2 Software radio transceiver
Security performance is improved by a software radio transceiver which can exchange software which is used for demodulation. A radio communication unit receives a radio signal. A conversion unit converts the radio signal received by the radio communication unit into digital data. The transceiver has a plurality of demodulating units which demodulate sub-data. A dividing unit divides the digital data converted by the conversion unit and distributes the sub-data to the plurality of demodulating units. A connection unit connects results obtained after the sub-data divided and distributed to the plurality of demodulating units by the dividing unit was demodulated by each of the demodulating units.
US07865161B2 File delivery session handling
In receiving a file delivery session in which field descriptor tables (FDTs) identify Transport Objects (TOs) transmitted along with the FDTs, a receiver determines whether the files of the session have been received using a number of timers. A fragment wait timer t1 is started for each new TO declared in an FTD when that FDT is received. Each timer is cancelled when at least a fragment of the corresponding TO is received. Alternatively, a single timer is cancelled when at least a fragment of all the TOs have been received. A new object wait timer t3 is started when all the TOs declared in an FDT are received, and is cancelled when a new FDT is received. One of a number of table wait timers t2 is started whenever a TO which is not declared in any received FDT is received, and is cancelled when an FDT declaring that object is received. The file delivery session is left if any timer expires. If following expiry of a timer it is deemed that the file delivery session has almost been received fully, the session is left after a short period of time, so as to allow the session to be fully received.
US07865160B2 Mixed mode power measurement calibration and reporting in wireless communication networks
A wireless communication user terminal having a receiver for receiving a signal having mixed modulation formats, wherein the terminal measures signal power on a portion of the signal received by the terminal, determines a modulation format on the portion of the signal for which the signal power was measured, and modifies the signal power measured based on the modulation format.
US07865157B2 Controllable mixer
A heterodyne receiver has a mixer with at least one transistor whose operating point can be varied dynamically. The quality of the output signal from the mixer is assessed in order to control the operating point. The operating point is set such that the collector current is increased when the intermodulation interference is high, thus improving the intermodulation resistance. The collector current is reduced when the intermodulation interference is low, thus reducing the transistor noise. Furthermore, the current drawn is reduced in this situation. The circuit and the method are particularly suitable for RF receivers without tunable input filters, and for receivers in which the power consumption must be low.
US07865150B2 Dual frequency band wireless LAN
A dual band radio is constructed using a primary and secondary transceiver. The primary transceiver is a complete radio that is operational in a stand alone configuration. The secondary transceiver is a not a complete radio and is configured to re-use components such as fine gain control and fine frequency stepping of the primary transceiver to produce operational frequencies of the secondary transceiver. The primary transceiver acts like an intermediate frequency device for the secondary transceiver. Switches are utilized to divert signals to/from the primary transceiver from/to the secondary transceiver. The switches are also configured to act as gain control devices. Antennas are selected using either wideband or narrowband antenna switches that are configured as a diode bridge having high impedance at operational frequencies on control lines that bias the diodes.
US07865141B2 Chipset for mobile wallet system
The invention presents a chipset for a mobile wallet system in a communication terminal having a SIM socket and a RFID antenna. The chipset includes a wallet module and a controller module. The wallet module has a contactless interface port coupled to the RFID antenna and a wallet memory for storing wallet applications. The controller module, connected to the SIM socket of the communication terminal, has a controller memory stored with SIM function software, mobile wallet application software and software to control the wallet module. The controller module is powered through the SIM socket, and the wallet module is powered through the SIM socket and the RFID antenna.
US07865134B2 Intra-premises wireless broadband service using lumped and distributed wireless radiation from cable source input
A premises, connected to receive broadband service(s) and also connected to a cable system, is provided with a broadband interface which connects to in-premises cabling which is coupled to consumer receivers such as a television sets, PDAs, laptops. Connected to the broadband interface is an adjunct device which channels broadband, data and voice signals supplied to an in-premises wireless system as distinguished from the signals supplied to the cable connected consumer receivers. The adjunct device formats the broadband and voice signals or any broadband service into packet format suitable for signal radiation and couples them to the in-premises coax cabling, via a diplexer, at a first selected location. At a second cable location a second diplexer, connected to the cable, separates the broadband, data and voice signals and couples them to a signal radiation device (i.e., an RF antenna or leaky coaxial cable) which radiates the signal to the immediate surrounding location. Various devices, near to the second cable location for specific services, receive the wireless signals (i.e., broadband, data and voice) from the radiating antenna.
US07865132B2 Method and apparatus for interacting with a communications system using radiated power adjusted according to an estimation of link-loss
A method and apparatus for interacting with a communications system. Interaction with the communications system occurs by identifying an access point. An estimate of link-loss from a mobile node to the access point is then determined. Also determined is an allowable power density limit proximate to the access point. A communications signal that is suitable for interacting with the communications system is generated. The level of the communications signal is adjusted according to the estimated link-loss and also according to the allowable power density limit. The level adjusted signal is then directed to the access point.
US07865131B2 Methods for improving certainty of test-taker performance determinations for assessments with open-ended items
The current invention is designed to improve the certainty of test-taker classifications in testing programs utilizing open-ended items. The current invention discloses methods to improve certainty in estimates of test-taker performance for all test-takers while using a minimum of scoring resources. The invention selectively allocates resources to scoring by ceasing to allocate scoring resources to test-takers whose performance has been determined with sufficient certainty, and by having an additional reader or readers score responses from test-takers whose scores are close to cutoff levels. The invention further increases precision of scores for test-takers near a cutoff by selectively allocating more reliable and accurate readers to score responses most likely to influence a test-taker's performance classification. Other scoring resources are also shown.
US07865130B2 Material processing apparatus, material processing method, and material processing program product
A material processing method has a process of reading image data of a material. The material has answer fields and information items on points distributed to the answer fields. The method also has extracting the distributed point information items based on the image data, associating the distributed point information items with answer fields to recognize the points distributed to each answer field, storing a result recognized the points distributed to each answer field as answer/distributed point correspondence information, recognizing correct/incorrect answer determining contents from the image data, and performing point totaling on the correct/incorrect answer determining contents based on the answer/distributed point correspondence information.
US07865124B2 Pre-scanning printer with paper fingerprinting
Techniques for scanning and generating fingerprints for articles prior to the use of the articles. The fingerprinting of the articles is performed such that it is decoupled from the process of using the articles. As a result, the fingerprinting process does not act as a bottleneck to the use of the articles. In one embodiment, a printer is provided that is configured to generate fingerprints for paper sheets loaded into the printer prior to the paper sheets being available for printing. The pre-fingerprinted sheets are then made available for printing. In this manner, the process of fingerprinting of the paper sheets is decoupled from the printing operations performed by the printer. As a result, the fingerprinting process does not act as a bottleneck to the printing process.
US07865119B2 Color registration method and image forming apparatus
A color registration method in a color image forming apparatus including a plurality of drum-type photoconductors for driving some or all of the photoconductors having the same diameter to match pitch fluctuations which correspond to a rotational cycle of the photoconductors, the method including: a first measurement step for forming a first registration image for each color and measuring formation positions of a plurality of predetermined portions in each registration image; a second measurement step for forming a second registration image for each color and measuring formation positions of a plurality of predetermined portions in each registration image; a calculation step for calculating a periodic fluctuation component being contained in the images in different colors and corresponding to the rotational cycle of the photoconductors so as to obtain phases thereof; and a step for adjusting a rotational phase of the photoconductors in order for the obtained phases matching to each other, wherein the interval between first and second registration images in the rotating direction is set such that disturbance components in which a cycle is assumed beforehand, cancel with each other by calculating the deviation.
US07865114B2 Image forming apparatus, image forming method and process cartridge
An image forming apparatus including an image bearing member, a charging device, an irradiating device, a developing device, a transfer device, a fixing device, and a cleaning device, wherein the image bearing member includes a substrate on which a photosensitive layer and a cross-linked surface layer are accumulated and the cross-linked surface layer comprises a cross-linked material formed by curing a monomer having at least three radical polymerizable function groups without a charge transport structure and a radical polymerizable compound having a charge transport structure by a photo-energy irradiation device, wherein the toner has a volume average particle diameter of from 1 to 5 μm and an average circularity of from 0.95 to 0.98, wherein external additives added to the toner satisfy the following relationship: 1<3X/5+Y<3, wherein X represents the amount of an external additive having a primary particle diameter of from 10 to 20 nm and Y represents the amount of another external additive having an primary particle diameter of from 100 to 200 nm and X and Y satisfy the following relationship: X
US07865110B2 Cover body for image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus including an image holding member, an image forming section that forms an image on the image holding member, a main frame that houses at least the image holding member and the image forming section, a cover body that is mounted to the main frame so as to be able to tilt down and includes a side cover for opening and closing a side surface of the main frame and a top cover for opening and closing a top surface of the main frame; and a unit that is mounted to and dismounted from the side cover by moving in a vertical direction between the top cover and the main frame in a state where the cover body is tilted down, is provided.
US07865108B2 Cleaning device and image forming device for charging residuals of toner evenly
A cleaning device for cleaning residual toner that, in an image forming device of an intermediate transfer type, remains on an outer circumferential surface of an intermediate transfer member after a transfer. The cleaning device includes: a charging brush operable to contact with and charge the residual toner; and a cleaner that is disposed downstream of the charging brush in a toner transport direction of the intermediate transfer member, and is operable to electrostatically adsorb the charged residual toner, wherein electrically conductive bristles have been planted randomly in the charging brush to be distributed evenly in density.
US07865090B2 Maintenance management system and image forming apparatus
A disclosed maintenance management system includes an upper-limit information storage unit configured to store an upper limit of usage for each component identifier of a component, which upper limit is expressed by using an accumulated number of revolutions of a photoconductive drum in an image forming apparatus; a revolution number information acquiring unit configured to acquire a number of revolutions of the photoconductive drum used in the image forming apparatus; and an alarm output unit configured to calculate the accumulated number of revolutions of the used photoconductive drum, calculate a component service life predictive value by using the upper limit stored in the upper-limit information storage unit for each component identifier, and output an alarm including component information pertaining to the corresponding component identifier in the event that the component service life predictive value is less than or equal to a remainder day reference value.
US07865087B2 Bandpass filter circuit, band-elimination filter circuit, infrared signal processing circuit
A bandpass filter circuit 10 of the present invention includes: transconductance amplifier circuits 1 to 3; a common-mode feedback circuit 4 which outputs a first control signal to the transconductance amplifier circuit 1 so that a D.C. voltage level of a differential output of the transconductance amplifier circuit 1 is at a predetermined level; a common-mode feedback circuit 5 which outputs a second control signal to the transconductance amplifier circuit 2 so that a D.C. voltage level of a differential output of the transconductance amplifier circuit 2 is at a predetermined level; and capacitors C1 to C3. Each of the members are connected as shown in FIG. 1. With the configuration, a bandpass filter circuit capable of adjusting constants such as a Q-value is realized.
US07865083B1 Optical calibration
A number of optical calibration systems and methods are disclosed. One optical communication system embodiment includes a number of light sources for providing a number of light beams, a number of optical paths, where each of the optical paths is positioned to receive one of the light beams, a number of optical modulators, where each modulator receives a radio frequency signal and receives one of the light beams from one of the optical paths, where each modulator modulates the light beam it receives based upon the radio frequency signal it receives to form an optical signal, and a number of optical biasing components, where each optical signal can be adjusted by at least one of the optical biasing components to calibrate the optical signals.
US07865082B2 Optical receiver and controlling method thereof, and optical transmission system
The optical transmitter and receiver of the invention includes: a variable dispersion compensator that performs wavelength dispersion compensation on an optical signal of a differential M-phase modulation format input from a transmission path; an optical amplifier that compensates an optical loss in the variable dispersion compensator; a delay interferometer that delays and interference processes the optical signal output from the optical amplifier; and a photoelectric conversion circuit that photoelectric converts the output light from the delay interferometer to generate a demodulated electric signal. The output level of the optical amplifier is decreased at the time of start up to deteriorate the OSNR of the optical signal input to the photoelectric conversion circuit, to thereby realize a state in which an error occurs more easily, and then optimization control of the variable dispersion compensator and the delay interferometer is started. As a result optimization of the dispersion compensation amount and the phase control amount in the optical receiver corresponding to the differential M-phase modulation format can be performed in a short time.
US07865077B2 Optical communition system with N + 1 redundancy
An optical communication system has two or more active interfaces, each controlling the transmission and reception of optical signals between a communication network and one or more subscriber terminals according to control information pertaining to the individual subscriber terminals. The control information used by all the active interfaces is stored in a memory. The optical communication system also has a standby interface that is functionally equivalent to the active interfaces, and an optical switching apparatus that switches data transmission paths among the network, the active and standby interfaces, and the subscriber terminals. If a fault is detected in an active interface, the standby interface extracts the control information of the faulty interface from the memory, and the optical switching apparatus switches the data transmission paths so that the standby interface replaces the faulty interface.
US07865071B2 Heating system and heater
An inductively power heating system includes an inductive power source for supplying power to an inductive heater. The inductive heater may include a resistive heater and a multiple coil secondary. A heater control within the inductive heater may control the power supplied to the resistive heater, and thereby control the temperature of the resistive heater. The inductive heater may encapsulate the resistive heater, the multiple coil secondary and the heater control, thereby providing a sealed, inductive heater.
US07865069B2 Recording medium, reproduction device, program, reproduction method, and integrated circuit
A BD-ROM on which an AVClip and a Java™ application are recorded. The AVClip includes a video stream and an audio stream multiplexed therein. On the BD-ROM recorded further are management information and the Mixing_On flag corresponding to the management information. The management information indicates a playback control of the AVClip that is to be played back when the Java™ application is executed. The Mixing_On flag indicates whether or not when a user performs an operation on the Java™ application being executed while the AVClip is under the playback control, mixing of the click sound with an audio output of the AVClip is available.
US07865060B2 Recording medium reproduction device program, reproduction method
A BD-ROM stores PlayList information. The PlayList information defines a playback section of each of a plurality of AV clips and includes MainPath information and SubPath information. The MainPath information designates one of the AV clips as a Main Clip and defines a portion of the Main Clip as a primary playback section. The SubPath information designates another one of the AV clips as a SubClip and defines a portion of the SubClip as a secondary playback section that is to be played back in synchronism with the primary playback section. The BD-ROM stores, the one of the AV clips designated as the SubClip along with an EP_map. The EP_map shows a plurality of entry points on the SubClip in a one-to-one correspondence with entry times on the SubClip timeline.
US07865056B2 Method of controlling special playback mode of video signal reproducing apparatus
A method of controlling a run mode of a video signal recording/reproducing apparatus is provided. More particularly, a method of controlling a special playback mode of a video signal reproducing apparatus, by rejecting a special playback key input during comparison of program classes in an initial playback mode, and restricting run of a special playback mode while a video signal loaded with program class data is being reproduced, is provided. The special playback key command, which is input while the video signal with program class data is being reproduced, is refused, thereby preventing pictures from being output regardless of program class, because the program class cannot be exactly detected in a special playback mode.
US07865055B2 Coated optical fibers
The invention relates to coated optical fibers comprising soft primary coatings and to such primary coatings for protecting glass optical fibers having a sufficient high resistance against cavitation. In particular, the primary coatings have a cavitation strength at which a tenth cavitation appears (σ10cav) of at least about 1.0 MPa as measured at a deformation rate of 0.20% min−1 and of at least about 1.4 times their storage modulus at 23° C. The coating preferably shows strain hardening in a relative Mooney plot, preferably has a strain energy release rate Go of about 20 J/m2 or more, and preferably has a low volumetric thermal expansion coefficient. The invention furthermore provides a method and apparatus for measuring the cavitation strength of a primary coating.
US07865054B2 Apparatus and method for handling an optical signal
An apparatus for handling an optical signal includes: an optical transmitting unit transmitting the optical signal from an input locus to an output locus. The optical transmitting unit includes a plurality of optical transmitting sections. Each respective optical transmitting section of the plurality of optical transmitting sections has a respective length and a respective attenuation gradient to establish a respective length-and-attenuation gradient configuration. Each respective optical transmitting section effects attenuation of the optical signal according to its respective length-and-attenuation gradient configuration.
US07865050B1 Equalizing modal delay of high order modes in bend insensitive multimode fiber
Described are multimode optical fibers in which the differential in the mode delay for higher order modes is reduced for bending insensitive MMF. The result is preservation of low differential mode delay and high bandwidth while low bend loss is achieved. The designs are based on choosing a combination of a core profile and a cladding structure with a negative trench positioned at a radius related to the core profile. A feature of the preferred embodiments is a core with a hybrid refractive index profile. The hybrid refractive index profile is essentially a combination of a standard alpha profile and a step profile at the outer edge of the alpha profile.
US07865049B2 Fiber coating processing and slitting for non-confined light leakage
An optical fiber and methods of processing and manufacturing an optical fiber comprising a core, a cladding and a coating covering a segment of the cladding proximate to an end of the optical fiber are presented where patterned apertures are provided in the coating such that a portion of light propagating in the cladding escapes through the patterned apertures of the coating. The patterned apertures allow non-confined light to escape from the cladding in the coating region to provide reduced absorption of the non-confined light by the coating.
US07865043B2 Method, apparatus, computer program and storage medium for recording a movement of a user unit
A position code is recorded by capturing a sequence of images while writing on the base with a user unit. The position code may be decoded to a sequence of absolute positions reflecting the movement of the user unit over the base. If the position code in any image is not sufficiently recorded, e.g. because it is obscured by other graphics on the base, the spatial relationship of the image to another image in the sequence is determined. If the position code in this other image in the image sequence is decodable to an absolute position, the absolute position of the image in which the position code is not decodable could nevertheless be determined by using the spatial relationship. In this way the movement of the user unit can be recorded even though the position code is obscured, which could be the case when the same printing ink is used for both the position code and other graphics on the base.
US07865042B2 Document management method using barcode to store access history information
A method is described in which metadata regarding a document is encoded as 2d barcode printed on the same recording medium as the document, where the metadata includes an access history of the document and other information. When a printed document including such barcode is copied, the copy includes new barcode containing updated metadata that replaces the original barcode, where the updated metadata includes a record of the current copying or scanning action. When a printed document including such barcode is scanned, the metadata contained in the barcode is extracted and stored. Also described is a document management system including a server connected to one or more clients, scanners, printers, and a storage device for storing documents and metadata. The server includes a digital stamp engine that generates barcode data representing metadata, and supports a variety of workflows including print, barcode generation, scan, copy, barcode update, etc.
US07865033B2 Method and apparatus for controlling contrast
A method and apparatus for contrast control is provided. The apparatus includes a cumulative density function which provides a second cumulative density function modified from a first cumulative density function based on a first luminance histogram of an input image; a transformer function provider which provides a transform function based on the first cumulative density function and the second cumulative density function; a compensation unit which compensates the transform function based on a predetermined illumination level; and a transform unit which transforms a luminance distribution of the input image based on the compensated transform function.
US07865029B2 Image processing device and method
A vehicle-mounted image-processing device and method is provided to remove fixed pattern noise from images due to the image pickup element. Images captured consecutively with a camera are superimposed and stored in an image memory. A controller extracts the high spatial frequency component from the stored images, and the images are corrected with the extracted high spatial frequency component used as the correction data for removing the fixed pattern noise.
US07865024B2 Encoding apparatus, video camera
An encoding apparatus includes a first encoder for encoding inputted picture information at a first rate or first resolution, and a second encoder for encoding the inputted picture information at a second rate lower than the first rate or at second resolution lower than the first resolution, in which when the second encoder encodes picture information, the second encoder encodes the picture information by use of encoding information of picture information in the first encoder corresponding to the picture information, and the encoding apparatus outputs the picture information encoded by the first encoder and the second encoder, respectively, thereby the second encoder executing the encoding by using encoding information of the first encoder.
US07865023B2 Digital still camera
There is provided a digital still camera which is capable of performing fixed-length compression to image data at high speed while suppressing dispersion in size of compressed data by including; a first compression unit which compresses inputted image data using a predetermined first compression parameter, a second compression unit which compresses the inputted image data using a second compression parameter different from the first compression parameter, an evaluating unit which evaluates compression results of the first compression unit and of the second compression unit based on a relationship with a predetermined range including a target size of compressed data, and a selecting unit which selectively performs recording processing to a compression result highly evaluated by the evaluating unit.
US07865020B2 Parametric estimation of multi-dimensional homeomorphic transformations
In object registration and recognition based on a set of known templates, the tremendous set of possible transformations that may relate the template and an observed signature makes any detection and recognition problem ill-defined unless this variability is taken into account. The present invention estimates the deformation that transforms some pre-chosen representation of an object (template) into the current observation. The method employs a set of non-linear operators to replace a high dimensional problem by an equivalent linear problem, expressed in terms of the unknown parameters of the transformation model. The solution is applicable to any homeomorphic transformation regardless of its magnitude. In the special case where the transformation is affine the solution is shown to be exact.
US07865018B2 Personalized implicit and explicit character shape adaptation and recognition
Handwriting recognition techniques employing a personalized handwriting recognition engine. The recognition techniques use examples of an individual's previous writing style to help recognize new pen input from that individual. The techniques also employ a shape trainer to select samples of an individual's handwriting that accurately represent the individual's writing style, for use as prototypes to recognize subsequent handwriting from the individual. The techniques also alternately or additionally employ an intelligent combiner to combine the recognition results from the personalized recognition engine and the conventional recognition engine (or engines). The combiner may use a comparative neural network to combine the recognition results from multiple recognition engines. The combiner alternately may use a rule-based system based on prior knowledge of different recognition engines.
US07865002B2 Methods and apparatus for computer automated diagnosis of mammogram images
A system, method, and computer program product for computer analysis of lesions in digitized film-based and/or digital mammograms is described, wherein diagnostic information is combined from two different 2-D mammographic views with the information obtained from one view (or field of view) or mammographic position is processed with information obtained from a second (or a plurality of) related mammographic views to reduce false-positive findings (increase specificity) while preserving or improving diagnostic sensitivity. The digital mammograms or digitized film-based mammograms used, are those that are in current use, and those that conform to the requirements of the American College of Radiology and the Mammography Quality Standards Acts. In a preferred embodiment, a line constructed at the location of the chest wall (or parallel to the chest wall), the location of the nipple, and a line constructed perpendicular to the chest wall datum line and passing through the location of the nipple serve as reference datum across mammogram views. An algorithm locates suspicious lesions in each mammography view and evaluates the concordance of the 3-D spatial locations to rule out physically impossible false-positive findings, based on calculations of spatial relationships. Concordant findings are detected using anatomic landmarks and such findings are reported using terms that are currently in use by physicians and other health care providers in the field of mammography.
US07864989B2 Method and apparatus for adaptive context-aided human classification
A method and an apparatus process digital images. The method according to one embodiment accesses digital data representing a plurality of digital images including a plurality of persons; performs face recognition to determine first scores relating to similarity between faces of the plurality of persons; performs clothes recognition to determine second scores relating to similarity between clothes of the plurality of persons; provides a plurality of formulas for estimating a probability of a face from the faces and a clothes from the clothes to belong to a person from the plurality of persons, wherein at least one formula of the plurality of formulas utilizes a first score and a second score, and at least one formula of the plurality of formulas utilizes only one score of a first score and a second score; and selects a formula from the plurality of formulas based on availability of a first score from the first scores for two persons from the plurality of persons, and availability of a second score from the second scores for the two persons, the selected formula estimating a probability relating to similarity of identities of the two persons.
US07864971B2 System and method for determining directionality of sound detected by a hearing aid
This invention relates to a system (200) for determining directionality of a sound. The system (200) comprises a first audio device (202) placed on one side of a user's head (100) and having a first microphone unit (110, 112) for converting said sound to a first electric signal, a second audio device (204) placed on the other side of the user's head (100) and having a second microphone unit (114, 116) for converting said sound to a second electric signal, and comprises a transceiver unit (220, 238) for interconnecting the first and second audio device and communicating the second electric signal to the first audio device (202). The first audio device (202) further comprises a first comparator (222) for comparing the first and second electric signals and generating a first directionality signal from the comparison.
US07864963B2 Effect imparting apparatus for controlling two-dimensional sound image localization
Multi-channel audio signals arranged to achieve original two-dimensional sound image localization are input, and the audio signal of each channel, included in the input multi-channel audio signals, is distributed to individual output channels. Each of the distributed signals is multiplied by a corresponding coefficient determined independently for each of the output channels, in accordance with a deviation from the original two-dimensional sound image localization. Then, the audio signals distributed to the individual output channels and multiplied by the corresponding coefficients are summed up, separately for each of the output channels. Thus, the summed-up audio signals of the individual output channels are output as multi-channel audio signals having the sound image localization varied in accordance with the deviation. If the deviation from the original two-dimensional sound image localization is varied over time, a panning effect can be achieved.
US07864962B2 System and method of routing audio signals to multiple speakers
A method and system for utilizing multiple speakers in a portable electronic device is disclosed. The method includes receiving an input at a user interface of a portable electronic device, switching a first and second speaker in a stereo configuration to a mono configuration by routing a first digital to analog converter (DAC) output to both the first and second speaker in response to the input and coupling a third speaker to a second DAC to receive a first audio signal that is responsive to the input. The system includes a first digital to analog converter coupled to a first speaker, a second DAC coupled to a second speaker, and a third speaker. The system further includes switching logic coupled to the first and second DACs. The switching logic is responsive to an input signal provided by a user interface of a portable device. In response to an input signal from the user interface, the switching logic couples the first and second speakers to the first DAC and the third speaker to the second DAC.
US07864959B2 Methods and apparatus for multi-level dynamic security system
Methods and apparatus for converting original data into a plurality of sub-bands using wavelet decomposition; encrypting at least one of the sub-bands using a key to produce encrypted sub-band data; and transmitting the encrypted sub-band data to a recipient separately from the other sub-bands.
US07864952B2 Data processing systems with format-preserving encryption and decryption engines
A data processing system is provided that includes format-preserving encryption and decryption engines. A string that contains characters has a specified format. The format defines a legal set of character values for each character position in the string. During encryption operations with the encryption engine, a string is processed to remove extraneous characters and to encode the string using an index. The processed string is encrypted using a format-preserving block cipher. The output of the block cipher is post-processed to produce an encrypted string having the same specified format as the original unencrypted string. During decryption operations, the decryption engine uses the format-preserving block cipher in reverse to transform the encrypted string into a decrypted string having the same format.
US07864947B2 Call notification system, method, computer program and advertising method
A call notification system method, computer program and advertising method are disclosed. A call notification is generated at a recipient system (2) in response to receipt of initiation data on a call from an originating system (3). At least aspects of the call notification are controllable by the originating system (3).
US07864946B1 Systems and methods for scheduling call center agents using quality data and correlation-based discovery
Systems and methods for scheduling call center agents are provided. An exemplary system for scheduling call center agents includes an agent computing device that is capable of obtaining quality scores of agents. The quality score is a measurement of quality that the agents provide to a call center. The Agent computing device is capable of transmitting the quality scores of agents over a network. The system further includes a manager computing device that is capable of: receiving the quality scores of agents over the network, receiving a scheduled interval, receiving a quality goal for the scheduled interval, the quality goal being a desired measurement of quality that the agents collectively provide to the call center, determining a quality goal for the scheduled interval based on the received quality scores of agents, and determining a schedule for the agents based on the quality goal, the quality goal score, and the scheduled interval.
US07864943B2 Methods and systems for load sharing and preserving sequencing of signaling connection control part (SCCP) messages
Methods and systems for load sharing and preserving sequencing of signaling connection control part (SCCP) messages are disclosed. According to one method, SCCP messages are received at an inbound interface module and assigned a sequence number. Each SCCP message is then transmitted using a load sharing algorithm to any one of a plurality of SCCP modules for SCCP processing. After the SCCP processing, the SCCP messages are returned to the inbound interface module and ordered based on the assigned sequence numbers the messages are then transmitted in order to an outbound interface module.
US07864929B2 Method and systems for accessing data from a network via telephone, using printed publication
A method and systems to access information related to items printed on publications by voice commands generated by a user through a telephone. To access additional information, the user dials on a telephone the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) service identifier and the publication identifier. A publication link table is associated to the publication identifier and provides a list of the item names on the selected publication. The IVR recognizes the name of the item pronounced by the user and determines the address associated to this name. The proxy server accesses the information located at this address and forwards it to the IVR wherein it is converted by a text-to-speech for the user's telephone.
US07864926B2 System and method for conducting variable voice path assurance tests
A system and method for conducting variable VPA testing is disclosed. The method includes provisions to detect or measure the utilization of a trunk line and use that information to establish a level of VPA testing for that trunk line. Although a wide variety of relationships between the utilization and the amount of VPA testing conducted can be used, the relationship is preferably a generally inverse relationship, in which the amount of VPA testing conducted on a particular trunk is reduced as traffic or utilization of the trunk increases. Conversely, as traffic or utilization of the trunk deceases, the amount of testing conducted on the trunk increases.
US07864920B2 Combined X-ray CT/neutron material identification system
A system and methods for identifying contents of an enclosure such as an air cargo container. A three-dimensional image indicative of at least one of the CT number and the density of contents of the enclosure is obtained using penetrating radiation such as x-rays. If one or more suspect regions are identified among contents of the enclosure, a collimated neutron beam is activated to traverse each suspect region and fluorescent emission from the suspect region is detected, allowing material within the suspect region to be characterized based at least on the detected fluorescent emission. Additionally, the collimated neutron beam may be employed for neutron imaging of the contents of the enclosure.
US07864917B2 Imaging apparatus using distributed x-ray souces and method thereof
An imaging apparatus includes a multi-dimensional assembly supporting a plurality of x-ray sources that are individually addressable. The plurality of x-ray sources is further configurable to simultaneously emit x-ray spectra at different mean energies. Furthermore, the multi-dimensional assembly includes a plurality of x-ray detectors that are arranged to detect at least a part of the x-rays that are emitted from at least one of the x-ray sources.
US07864915B2 Low-power asynchronous counter and method
Design techniques for a low-power asynchronous counter. In an exemplary embodiment, the clock inputs and signal outputs of a plurality of flip-flops are serially concatenated to implement an asynchronous counting mechanism. The signal outputs of the plurality of flip-flops are sampled by successively delayed versions of a reference signal. Further design techniques for generating successively delayed versions of the reference signal are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the asynchronous counting techniques may be utilized in a high-speed counter for a digital-phase locked loop (DPLL).
US07864912B1 Circuits, architectures, a system and methods for improved clock data recovery
Circuits, architectures, a system and methods for clock data recovery. The circuit generally includes a clock phase adjustment circuit, receiving clock phase information and providing a clock phase adjustment signal, a clock frequency adjustment circuit, receiving clock frequency information and providing a clock frequency adjustment signal, and an adder circuit, receiving the clock phase adjustment signal and the clock frequency adjustment signal, and providing a clock recovery adjustment signal. The architectures and/or systems generally comprise those that include a clock data recovery circuit embodying one or more of the inventive concepts disclosed herein. The method generally comprises the steps of sampling the data stream at predetermined times, generating clock frequency information and clock phase information from sampled data, and altering a frequency and/or a phase of the clock signal in response to the clock frequency information and the clock phase information. The present invention prevents or reduces the likelihood of a potential nonconvergence/clock runaway problem, advantageously with minimal or no changes to existing designs and logic. The present invention further advantageously improves system stability, reliability and performance with a minimum of additional circuitry.
US07864898B2 Systems and methods for signal acquistion in navigational satellite signal receivers
The present invention provides an elevation based adaptive scheme for setting power threshold in the acquisition of navigational satellite signals. In an embodiment, the elevation based adaptive scheme uses a different series of power thresholds to acquire signals from satellites at different elevation angles instead of using one threshold for all satellites, as is done in the prior art. This scheme exploits the fact that the received signal power level depends on the elevation angle of the satellite at the receiver. This scheme also takes into account the antenna gain variation without having to measure the antenna gain variation.
US07864894B2 Receiver circuit and receiving method
Clock signals are supplied, with a phase shift of 1/n cycles between adjacent clock signals. A data acquisition unit acquires serial data at a timing of each of the clock signals. A phase detection unit detects the phase of the transition edge of the serial data using n bits of data. An effective bit number determination unit determines the effective bit number, which is the number of bits to be acquired, based upon the phase of the transition edge of the serial data in the current data-bit acquisition step and the phase of the transition edge of the serial data in the previous data-bit acquisition step. A data-bit output unit outputs the effective bit number of the bits of data acquired at a timing of each clock signal having a predetermined phase relation with the transition edge of the serial data.
US07864882B2 Method and apparatus for generating constant envelope modulation using a quadrature transmitter
A multi-mode communication device (100) uses a quadrature transmitter (102) for transmitting both amplitude and constant envelope angle-modulated signals. For angle modulation, a separate feedback path is used from that used for amplitude modulated signal transmission. An FM receiver (136) is used to produce error signals (214, 216) used in correcting the I and Q quadrature signals (206, 208).
US07864881B2 Digital predistortion transmitter
There is a need for effectively compensating distortion when a predistortion transmitter is subject to not only a memory effect due to nonlinearity of an amplifier, but also a modulator's DC offset, IQ unbalance, or local quadrature error. A predistortor to be used is a polynomial predistortor including a polynomial basis generation portion and an inner product calculation portion. The polynomial basis generation portion delays a real part and an imaginary part of a complex input signal Sx=Ix+jQx for up to M samples to generate 2(M+1) signals, duplicately combines these signals to generate monomials having maximum degree N, and outputs, as a basis vector, all or part of the monomials depending or needs. The inner product calculation portion performs an inner product calculation using a coefficient vector, i.e., a set of complex numbers sized equally to the basis vector to find a polynomial value and outputs the value as a complex signal.
US07864875B2 Apparatus, and associated method, for communicating a data block in a multi carrier modulation communication scheme together with an identification sequence superimposed thereon
Apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating communication of a data block communicated in an OFDM-based, communication system. Side-information required to be transmitted by many PAPR reduction schemes in OFDM is carried and transmitted by sending orthogonal binary sequences superimposed on the OFDM data sequence carrying the information to be transmitted. In one embodiment, a selected scrambling sequence is multiplied with an input data block to yield a desired Peak-To-Average Power Ratio. An identification sequence one-to-one corresponding to the scrambling sequence is superimposed on the resultant sequence and transmitted together. In the receiving station, the identification sequence is determined through correlation operations. This also determines the scrambling sequence. The effects of both sequences are finally removed from the information-carrying data sequence.
US07864874B2 OFDM communications system employing crest factor reduction with ISI control
A system and method for providing a peak power reduced OFDM communications signal are disclosed. The system and method provide peak reduction processing in the time domain followed by inter-symbol interference (ISI) control processing in the frequency domain to maintain modulation errors introduced by the peak reduction processing to an acceptable level. The processing is preferably done on a parallel signal path and the peak corrections with ISI control are added into the main signal path to provide the peak reduced OFDM signal.
US07864868B2 Method for detecting an octet slip
An efficient method and system for detecting frame slip in an inband signalling block in pulse code modulation. The effect of frame slip on the inband signalling block is that the bits following the frame slip are transferred from the signalling block into an adjacent block. The octet slip is detected by searching an error bit in a signalling block by comparing it to a sample block. If an error bit is found, an error count for the adjacent block starting from the error bit is calculated. If the error count is more than one, a second error bit of the signalling block is searched (26) and bits of the adjacent block after second error bit are verified (27). If bits of the adjacent block after the second error bit are not correct, the octet slip cannot be assumed (29). Otherwise the octet slip can be assumed by analyzing error count and error bits.
US07864863B2 Method for encoding and/or decoding groups of images
The present invention relates to a method of coding and/or decoding groups of pictures. According to the invention, during the temporal decomposition of a stream of pictures within the framework of 3D wavelet processing, the number of pictures, the choice of the reference picture and the direction of temporal decomposition for each picture sequence of GOP type are adapted in order to minimize the number of unconnected pixels.
US07864858B2 Techniques for minimizing memory bandwidth used for motion compensation
In a motion compensation engine, a number of blocks are provided for re-ordering motion vector (MV) reference positions prior to fetch. An MV Sort & Group block outputs MVs one at a time to a Decomposer block. The Decomposer block takes each MV and decomposes it into a series of DRAM read commands consisting of DRAM addresses. This rectangular region is divided into pixel words, which correspond to addressable DRAM words. The addresses are then sent to an Overlap Remover block, which comprises a bitmap corresponding to the DRAM addresses sent to it from the Decomposer block. Before a group is received, the bitmap is cleared by setting all coordinates to “0”. Each address received causes the Overlap Remover to set a bit to “1” in the bitmap which corresponds to a relative (x,y) coordinate within a small bounded rectangular region. Addresses received within a group, which are the same as previous addresses, are overlapping addresses and the corresponding bit will simply remain set to “1”.
US07864844B2 Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus for motion compensation prediction
A video encoding method and apparatus includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations. Each combination includes a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture. A prediction picture signal is generated in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination. A predictive error signal is generated representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal. Encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination is included.
US07864839B2 Method and system for rate control in a video encoder
Described herein is a rate controller in a video system. The rate controller estimates a bit count, and controls three adaptive rate control loops. The master rate control loop is in control of the quantizer. The slave rate control loops control coarse motion estimation and fine motion estimation.
US07864838B2 Picture encoding device, image decoding device and their methods
A weighting factor mode determination unit determines whether to code an interlaced picture in a field mode or a frame mode, based on a value of a flag “AFF” indicating whether or not to switch between the field mode and the frame mode on a block-by-block basis and notifies switches and a multiplexing unit of the determined mode. The switches select either the field mode or the frame mode according to the notified mode. A field weighting factor coding unit or a frame weighting factor coding unit performs respectively the coding of respective weighting factors when the respective modes are selected.
US07864834B1 Estimating digital frequency synthesizer jitter
A method of estimating jitter for a DFS can include determining a plurality of linear equations, wherein each linear equation corresponds to, at least in part, a combination of multiplier and divisor attributes for setting an output frequency of the DFS, identifying maximum and minimum values for the slope component and the vertical axis intercept component from the plurality of linear equations, providing an equation for determining minimum jitter given, at least in part, an input frequency, and providing an equation for determining maximum jitter given, at least in part, an input frequency. A linear equation can be derived for estimating jitter of the DFS according to a specified input frequency and a specified value of the divisor attribute of the DFS. The linear equation further can depend upon the minimum jitter and the maximum jitter.
US07864820B2 Laser light source device
A laser light source device is disclosed, which reduces the coherence of the laser light and inexpensively achieves a visually recognizable level of speckle reduction without use of a mechanical driving means. The laser light source device includes: laser modules, each including a laser light source, an intensity modulation unit to apply intensity modulation to laser light emitted from the laser light source, and a first waveguide to receive the intensity-modulated laser light from the laser light source and output the laser light from an output end thereof; and a second waveguide including an input end optically connected to a light outputting area of the first waveguides to receive the laser light outputted from the first waveguides, the first waveguides being closely bundled in the vicinity of output ends thereof, wherein a core of the second waveguide at the input end is larger than the light outputting area.
US07864810B2 Display apparatus and control method thereof
A display apparatus includes a demultiplexing unit which extracts program clock reference (PCR) information for synchronizing image information and voice information of a received image signal; a syntax analyzing unit which identifies a first and a second packet identification number of a packet having the PCR information so that the demultiplexing unit can extract the PCR information; and a controlling unit which, if the first packet identification number and the second packet identification number are different therebetween, controls the syntax analyzing unit to set one of the first packet identification number and the second packet identification number that corresponds to the packet having the PCR information, in the demultiplexing unit.
US07864800B2 Communication system, auxiliary device and communication method
To provide technology that makes communication possible using an NAT device that does not correspond to protocol even when protocol that stores the IP address in the payload section to carry out communication is used.The technology consists of a CL device 110 connected to a global network 160, an SE device 130 connected to a private network 161, an NAT device 120 and a auxiliary device 140 wherein the auxiliary device 140 verifies in what way the address information of the packet communicated to the CL device 110 from the SE device 130 has been converted and notifies the SE device 130 of the address information after the address information has been converted in the NAT device 120.
US07864789B2 Signaling methods for telecommunicaton system for exchanging frames over ethernet interfaces and devices for implementing such methods
A platform is connected over a synchronous network using a GFP encapsulation scheme to a provider device having a first Ethernet interface with a customer device, said platform being arranged for exchanging tagged frames including a virtual LAN identifier (VID) with a service unit over a second Ethernet interface. If an error condition is detected at a GFP port of the platform, a correspondence is retrieved between said GFP port and a VID and a deregistration message including said VID is forwarded to the service unit. If an error condition is detected at the second Ethernet interface responsive to reception of a deregistration message including a VID from the service unit, a correspondence is retrieved between said VID and a GFP port and said deregistration message is forwarded through said GFP port to the provider device in a GFP error message. When several Ethernet interfaces concentrated by a bridge face the provider device, another VID is taken into account in the correspondence retrieving.
US07864788B2 System and method for bridging proxy traffic in an electronic network
A system and method are provided of bridging proxy traffic in an electronic network. The method can include the operation of receiving a data stream from a client into a packet scanning device using a first socket. This data stream can be directed to an external communication network. The socket information for the first socket can be cached or stored in a cache in the packet scanning device using a cache ID. The first socket can then be connected to a user space process. A second socket can be generated by the user space process using the cache ID. The second socket can be modified using information retrieved from the cache based on the cache ID to make the second socket emulate the first socket. An additional operation is sending the data stream through the second socket to the external communication network.
US07864773B2 Virtual circuit auto-configuration for customer premises equipment
The present invention pertains to a method and device for automatically configuring a virtual circuit (VC) of a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) device and linking it to a software interface. In one embodiment, the CPE device configures its VC by obtaining a virtual path identifier (VPI) and virtual circuit identifier (VCI) from a first traffic bearing cell and linking its new VC to a protocol. In another embodiment, the method comprises receiving a cell and checks the cell to determine if it is of a particular type bearing a VPI and a VCI corresponding to the VC. Such types of cells may be used for self auto-configuration because they contain the information necessary to accomplish the self auto-configuration.
US07864770B1 Routing messages in a zero-information nested virtual private network
A mechanism for generating an address of a cyphertext component of a VPN router in a nested VPN system using an address of a plaintext domain so that a PTX domain has no knowledge about IP addressing in a CTX domain and vice versa. The mechanism advantageously avoids storing correlation between CTX addresses and PTX addresses, thereby maintaining a zero information requirement in a nested VPN routing.
US07864762B2 Ethernet encryption over resilient virtual private LAN services
Encryption of Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 packet data units (PDUs) at the edge of the enterprise network, in such a way as to support resilient Virtual Private LAN Services (VPLS) network designs. The Ethernet traffic is securely tunneled within encrypted Ethernet tunnels from the edge to the edge of the enterprise network. The encrypted Ethernet traffic is also tunneled within Multi-Protocol Layer Switching (MPLS) tunnels from the edge to the edge of the service provider network. The enterprise network thus manages its own Ethernet site-to-site Virtual Private Network (VPN). The service provider thus independently manages its own MPLS network. The result provides a VPLS or Layer 2 MPLS VPN to the enterprise; the enterprise Ethernet encrypted network can thus be considered as an overlay to the MPLS service provider network.
US07864759B2 Synchronization of secured audiovisual streams
This invention relates to a device capable of transmitting in a secured manner a set of films of high visual quality to a display screen of the TV screen type and/or for being recorded on the hard disk or on any other recording support of a box/connector connecting the teletrans-mission/telecommunication network to the display screen such as a TV screen or a personal computer monitor while preserving the audiovisual quality, but avoiding fraudulent use such as the possibility of making pirated copies of films or audiovisual programs recorded on the hard disk or on any other recording support of the set-tope boxy/decoder boxy. The invention also concerns a client-server system and the synchronization mechanism between the server supplying the stream permitting the viewing of the secured digital video film and the client who reads and displays the digital video stream.
US07864745B2 Data transmitting method with hybrid automatic repeat request in multi-carrier system
The present invention provides a data transmitting method with hybrid automatic repeat request in multi-carrier system. In this method, the signal-to-noise ratios of respective sub-carriers are compared with a threshold, the data on the sub-carriers having the signal-to-noise ratios lower than the threshold are selectively retransmitted by mapping these data onto the sub-carriers having the good channel conditions, and then the retransmitted data are combined hybrid-automatically in the receiver of the opposite terminal. By using the method the system throughput can be enhanced effectively without impairing the bit error rate of the system.
US07864744B2 Method for dynamically selecting a channel in a wireless local area network
Disclosed is a method of dynamical frequency selecting for a basic service set established by a main wireless device in a wireless local area network. The method comprises steps of a determining step for determining whether a new channel to be used by said BSS is needed; a scanning step conducted by said main wireless device for scanning all channels based on a random priority to detect whether other adjacent BSSs are existing and performing DFS concurrently; a measuring step conducted by said main wireless device based on the scanning result for existing operational BSSs for measuring channel quality of a plurality of channels; selecting one channel based on the channel quality parameters. The present invention advantageously provides a dynamic frequency selection method without any modification for the IEEE 802.11 standard, or any requirement for the implementation of the wireless stations.
US07864733B2 Mobile station device for multicarrier transmission, base station device, and cell search method
A mobile station device which can correctly search for another cell quickly in a communication system using the OFCDM method. A blank subcarrier correlation calculating section (502) calculates the correlation between the blank subcarriers of the CPICH symbols adjacent to the cell signal of this mobile station device. A correlation-between-adjacent-symbols calculating section (503) calculates correlation between adjacent symbols in the frequency direction. A correlation value comparing section (505) compares the correlation values inputted from the correlation-between-adjacent-symbols calculating section (503) and detects the boundary between adjacent symbols having the maximum correlation value as a frame timing of the another cell. If the correlation value of the blank subcarrier correlation calculating section (502) is below a predetermined threshold, the correlation value comparing section (505) detects the frame timing having the maximum correlation value other than the frame timing of this cell as the frame timing of the another cell. If the correlation value is the threshold value or more, the correlation value comparing section (505) detects the frame timing of this cell as the frame timing of the another cell.
US07864723B2 System for satellite digital communications with onboard processing adaptive to the attenuation traffic and radio interface conditions for point to point communication and meshed grids
The present invention provides apparatus for processing and regenerating the signals of telecommunication satellites, for meshed communications on multi-beam coverage between standard DVB-RCS and DVB-S2 user terminals and apparatus for filtering and routing the signals transferred between ground terminals.
US07864721B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting data
A method for transmitting data includes: acquiring a Multicast and Broadcast Service Mapping Information Element (MBS_MAP_IE) and MBS data corresponding to the MBS_MAP_IE; wherein the MBS_MAP_IE carries a parameter for indicating the frame position of the next MBS_MAP_IE; setting a sleep duration according to the parameter for indicating the frame position of the next MBS_MAP_IE; and acquiring the next MBS_MAP_IE and MBS data corresponding to the next MBS_MAP_IE when the sleep duration expires.
US07864717B2 Modem for communicating data over a voice channel of a communications system
A modem used for communicating data. The modem may include a packet generator and modulator. The modulator may include an electronic device configured to select at least one frequency from at least three or more candidate frequencies. At least one oscillator may be in communication with the electronic device and configured to generate respective oscillation signals in response to receiving the frequency(s) from the electronic device. A computational element may be in communication with the oscillator(s) and be configured to receive the oscillation signal(s) and produce a modulated audio signal based on the oscillation signal(s).
US07864711B2 Rank order filtering for randomly sampled data points
A method of rank order filtering and a rank order filter apparatus is defined by an established rank order and accepts into a buffer, data points to be filtered, each data point having a data value and an associated time stamp. Data points are accepted until the buffer contains data points representing a minimum predefined time span. The filter calculating an amount of time the data values in the buffer are above an approximate filter value and adjusts the approximate filter value based upon the relationship of the amount of time to the rank order. The steps iterate to approach a value defined by the rank order and the approximate filtered value is output.
US07864709B2 Method and apparatus for looking up configuration information for a network node
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for looking up location-specific configuration information for a network node or a subnet. During system operation, a network node creates a query message containing a key that comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) prefix and a string, wherein the IP prefix identifies the network node or the subnet, and the string specifies the type of configuration information. The network node then sends the query message to a name server, which is part of a distributed system that provides a global naming service, wherein the name server additionally stores configuration information. Finally, the network node receives a response message from the name server, wherein the response message contains the requested configuration information.
US07864705B2 Method for establishing communication channel and image receiving apparatus using the same
A method and apparatus for establishing a communication channel provided. The apparatus includes a storage unit which stores a communication channel search starting point for an address of the apparatus; and a controller which searches a communication channel at the communication channel search starting point set in the address of the apparatus. Accordingly, the probability of establishing the same communication channel may be reduced. As a result, inter-channel interference may also be reduced so that image deterioration may be prevented.
US07864702B2 Control and recruitment of client peripherals from server-side software
A client-server arrangement permits recruitment and control of client peripherals to be effected from the server side is described. A client server system has a server device, a client device, and a peripheral device. The client device is in communication with the server device. The peripheral device is in communication with the client device. The client device has a port server to convert data between an IP format and a non-IP format. The peripheral device exchanges data with the port server in the non-IP format. The server device includes a computational device to exchange data with the port server in the IP format.
US07864700B2 Discovering and merging network information
A method of merging a list of newly found network elements and a list of previously known network elements includes arranging the newly found network elements in a hierarchical structure, and determining one or more device matches between each network device in the list of newly found network elements and one or more network devices in the list of previously known network elements. The method further includes, for each of the one or more device matches, determining one or more network element matches between the newly found network element and the corresponding previously stored network device. The method also includes updating the previously found network device corresponding to each of the one or more device matches with the corresponding newly found network device.
US07864694B1 System and method for providing a link quality monitor for a 100Mb ethernet physical layer device
A system and method is disclosed for monitoring the quality of a data link in a 100 Mb Ethernet physical layer device. A link quality monitor detects operational values of data link parameters such as digital equalizer C1 coefficient, digital adaptive gain control, digital base line wander, recovered clock long-term frequency offset, and recovered clock frequency control. When an operational value of a data link parameter exceeds a high or low threshold value, the link quality monitor sends a drop link signal to cause the current data link to be dropped and a new data link established.
US07864693B2 Method and apparatus for establishing a communication session between two terminals
A method and apparatus for establishing a requested communication session between two terminals (A, B) over a given physical channel, wherein the session requires the determination of session parameters before the session can be executed. It is determined (402) by means of at least one session key, whether any session parameters for a previous session between the terminals have been stored in the terminals. If so, the stored session parameters are retrieved (408), such that the requested session can be executed (410) based on the retrieved session parameters. In this way, delays involved with the establishment of sessions requiring the determination of parameters, e.g. in multimedia calls, can be reduced.
US07864687B2 Methods and apparatus for fault identification in border gateway protocol networks
Systems and techniques for fault analysis in a data communication system. A fault analysis console in a provider network serving one or more customer networks responds to a reported loss of connectivity in the customer network by analyzing traffic statistics for a router serving the customer network. If traffic statistics indicate network functionality, border gateway protocol status is evaluated for logical channels being served by the router. Test communications are performed for customer edge router addresses for the logical channels and border gateway protocol status is evaluated for each customer edge router address. Test communications are then performed from a local provider edge router to each remote customer edge router being served.
US07864676B2 Network cross-domain precedence and service quality conflict mitigation
A method, computer program product, and system are provided for prioritizing data in a network system. For example, an embodiment of the method may include allocating network system resources to high-priority data with an identifier and dynamically changing a threshold level from a pre-assigned, minimum level in the allocation of network resources based on data traffic with the identifier received by a communication device in the network system. In allocating network system resources, the data with the identifier may be filtered into a separate data stream from data without the identifier. For instance, the data stream containing data with the high-priority identifier may be directed to a high-priority buffer that has a minimum allocation of network resources dedicated to the buffer to ensure unencumbered data transfer between the communication device and a destination within the network system. Further, in dynamically changing the threshold level, network resources may be allocated to data with a high-priority identifier as the high-priority data is received by the communication device. A prioritization of network resource queue space for the data with the high-priority identifier and then a prioritization of data without the high-priority identifier in the remaining queue space, if any, according to Quality of Service (QoS) requirements may be required when allocating network resources. Therefore, the method described above may be used to propagate prioritized data across a network while accommodating for QoS requirements.
US07864662B2 Telecommunication system and method
An arrangement for use in a telecommunication system includes a binder of subscriber lines, a local transceiver circuit, and a far-end crosstalk cancellation circuit. Each of the subscriber lines ends at one of a plurality of remote user terminals. The local transceiver circuit is associated with the binder of subscriber lines and comprises a plurality of substantially identical transceiver modules, each of the transceiver modules being associated to one or a small number of subscriber lines. The far-end crosstalk cancellation circuit is configured to reduce far-end crosstalk between the subscriber lines of the binder, and is operably connected to interface with at least parts of the received data of the respective local transceiver modules. The far-end crosstalk cancellation circuit operable to implement a blind training algorithm for at least one victim subscriber line based on signals received by the respective associated transceiver modules.
US07864660B2 Method for transporting a signal in a radio network
For ensuring a low cost transport of signals in a radio network, in particular with a high density of radio access points, a method is proposed, where the signals are transported over wires between a base station and radio access points, comprising the steps of: determining the useful band of each wire (20); associating at least two wires (21); filtering the signal into sub-bands (22); transporting each sub-band over one or more wires of the associated wires (25); at the receiving end rebuilding the signal from the sub-bands (27). Further proposed are a radio head and a radio controller both adapted to the present method.
US07864657B2 Method and apparatus for performing stream weighting in an SDMA communication system
A method and apparatus for performing stream weighting in a spatial-division multiple access communication system is provided herein. During operation the base station receiver receives channel information from mobiles (also known as users or nodes) and calculates transmit antenna weights that that maximize the power delivered to each mobile while allowing for a small amount of crosstalk to exist between users. Information or data is transmitted to the nodes utilizing the appropriate stream weights. By allowing tolerable amounts of cross talk, the coherent gain to the desired SDMA user can be increased, and thus the overall performance is improved.
US07864648B2 Information storage medium having additional data areas and method of recording/reproducing the same
An information storage medium has user data areas and additional data areas, and sync patterns to distinguish the additional data areas from the user data areas. The information storage medium includes a user data area in which user data is recorded and an additional data area located in at least one of areas before and after the user data area. Second sync patterns used in the additional data area are different from first sync patterns used in the user data area.
US07864642B2 Method of optimizing a write strategy based on an adaptive write strategy study and optical recording apparatus using the same
A method of optimizing a write strategy (WS) based on an adaptive WS study used in an optical recording apparatus includes recording buffered user data to a rewritable optical disk, performing a WS study when the recording of the buffered user data is completed, and recording additional user data that is buffered afterward according to an WS obtained based on the WS study. Accordingly, since an optimal WS is obtained in real time by performing the WS study during an interval occurring during the UD recording operation, the UD is optimally recorded.
US07864640B2 Reproducer and method for controlling reproduction
Location information obtained from a positioning system 4 and environmental information such as time, temperature, air pressure and the like measured by an environmental information sensor 6 are associated with the reproduction history of music and are recorded in a history storage RAM 14, and music reproduced in the past at the same location as the present location is automatically selected and the music suitable for the location is automatically selected and reproduced based on the location information.
US07864636B2 Multi-layered optical recording medium, address assignment method for multi-layered optical recording medium, apparatus and method of reproducing and method of recording
A optical recording medium wherein a sector address is assigned such that a sector address of a first recording layer is a complement of a sector address of a second recording layer adjacent to the first recording layer, and a sector address of each of the remaining recording layers is assigned such that the difference between the assigned sector address of one of the remaining recording layers and a sector address of another one of the remaining recording layers that is located two layers below the one of the remaining recording layers having an assigned sector address is the same as a predetermined offset value, and the first recording layer is any one of the bottom recording layer and the top recording layer from among the recording layers, and a different sector address is assigned to each recording layer is provided.
US07864633B2 System and method for position determination of objects
A method and a system for detection and position determination of chips, which transmit ultrasound signals in a room. The system comprises electronic identification chips, which are attached to objects that have to be monitored. Each chip is equipped with a transmitter and a receiver. The signals are received by a plurality of detector units, which are connected to a detector base unit that registers and interprets the signals transmitted form the identification chips. Detector base units located in different rooms are interconnected in a network and transmit processed information to one or more central units for further interpretation and sorting. The special feature of the invention is that line interference is substantially removed, and it is possible to determine position even though the identification chips are in motion.
US07864632B2 Headtracking system
System and method for tracking of a head comprising generating and radiating at least one acoustical test signal; receiving the radiated acoustical test signal(s) at two locations at the head under investigation and generating electrical measurement signals therefrom; and evaluating the two measurement signals for determining the position and/or angle of rotation φ from the measurement signals; the evaluation step comprises a cross power spectrum operation of the test signal(s) and the signals from the receivers in the frequency domain.
US07864631B2 Method of and system for determining distances between loudspeakers
The invention describes a method of determining the distance (d12) between two loudspeakers (L1, L2), wherein the method comprises the steps of providing a test signal (N), combining the test signal (N) with a sound signal (S) to give a combined signal (SN) in which the test signal is imperceptible to a listener (4), and issuing the combined signal (SN) by means of a first loudspeaker (L1). The combined signal (SN) is detected by a detecting means (M2) associated with the second loudspeaker (L2) and processed to obtain an acoustic impulse response (IR), which is used to determine the distance (d1,2) between the first loudspeaker (L1) and the second loudspeaker (L2). The invention further describes a system (1) for determining the distance (d1,2) between two loudspeakers (L1, L2) and an acoustic sound system, comprising a number of loudspeakers (L1, L2, . . . , Lk) for reproduction of multi-channel sound, and a system (1) for determining the distances (d1,2, d2,3, . . . , dk-i,k) between the loudspeakers (L1, L2, . . . , Lk) in order to automatically configure the loudspeakers (L1, L2, . . . , Lk) for that acoustic sound system.
US07864619B2 Write driver circuit for phase-change memory, memory including the same, and associated methods
A write driver circuit for a memory that includes phase-change memory cells changeable between a RESET state resistance and a SET state resistance in response to an applied current pulse, the write driver circuit including a write current level adjusting unit configured to determine first to n-th SET state current levels in response to a SET state current level signal, where n is an integer greater than 1, and configured to determine a RESET state current level in response to a RESET state current level signal, and a write current output unit configured to generate one of a SET state current pulse and a RESET state current pulse corresponding to a SET state current level or a RESET state current level determined by the write current level adjusting unit.
US07864618B2 Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of banks, each of which is constituted of a plurality of memory cell arrays that are aligned in series in the longitudinal direction, wherein each memory cell array includes a plurality of memory cells, and wherein memory cell arrays of banks are collectively aggregated into a plurality of blocks, each of which includes memory cell arrays aligned in the perpendicular direction, in connection with a plurality of DQ pads. DQ pads are arranged in proximity to blocks. Substantially the same distance is set between memory cells and DQ pads so as to reduce dispersions in access times with respect to all DQ pads, thus achieving high-speed access in the semiconductor memory device. The wiring region of IO lines is reduced in the center area of the chip.
US07864617B2 Memory with reduced power supply voltage for a write operation
A memory includes a selection circuit and a write assist circuit. The selection circuit has a first input, a second input coupled to a first power supply voltage terminal, an output coupled to a power supply terminal of each of a plurality of memory cells, and a control input for receiving a write assist control signal. The write assist circuit is coupled to the first input of the selection circuit for reducing a voltage at the power supply terminal of each of the plurality of memory cells during a write operation and in response to an asserted write assist enable signal. The write assist circuit comprises a P-channel transistor and a bias voltage generator. The P-channel transistor is for reducing the voltage at the power supply terminal of each of the plurality of memory cells during the write operation. The bias voltage generator is for providing a variable bias voltage to the P-channel transistor.
US07864613B2 Thermal code transmission circuit and semiconductor memory device using the same
Disclosed are a thermal code transmission circuit and a semiconductor memory device using the same. The thermal code transmission circuit includes a select signal generator which generates a select signal in response to a first enable signal, a level signal generator which receives the first enable signal to generate a level signal, an update signal generator which receives the level signal and a first update signal to generate a second update signal, a latch unit which receives a thermal code in response to the second update signal and outputs the thermal code as an output thermal code, and a thermal code output unit which selectively outputs the output thermal code in response to the select signal.
US07864610B2 Sense amplifier controlling circuit and controlling method
A sense amplifier controlling circuit for controlling a sense amplifier in a semiconductor memory, which amplifies differential electric potential of a pair of bit lines to which memory cells are connected by sequentially operating a CMOS flip-flop and a preamplifier performing an amplification operation different from each other, controls the sense amplifier, and activate the preamplifier at an early operation stage of the CMOS flip-flop and the preamplifier independently of activation of the CMOS flip-flop during the amplification operation of the CMOS flip-flop.
US07864605B2 Apparatus for removing crosstalk in semiconductor memory device
An apparatus for removing crosstalk in a semiconductor memory device includes pads for receiving externally provided signals, transmission lines for delivering the signals received by each of the pads to corresponding elements in the apparatus, and capacitors, coupled between adjacent ones of the lines, for adjusting the transmission delay of the signals depending on a signal transmission mode between the adjacent lines.
US07864603B1 Memory elements with leakage compensation
Integrated circuits with memory elements are provided. The memory elements may be arranged in an array. Data lines may be used to load data into the memory elements and may be used to read data from the memory elements. The memory elements may be used to store configuration data on a programmable logic device integrated circuit. Each memory element may have an output that supplies a programmable transistor gate with a static control signal. Data reading circuitry may be coupled to each data line to read data from an addressed memory element on that data line. The data reading circuitry for each data line may include a precharge transistor and an output latch. The output latch may contain cross-coupled inverters. An inwardly-directed inverter in the output latch may have a pull-up transistor that is connected in series with a current source.
US07864597B2 Method and circuit for controlling generation of a boosted voltage in devices receiving dual supply voltages
A row driver circuit receives a first supply voltage and a second supply voltage. The circuit provides the first supply voltage on an output responsive to the first supply voltage being greater than a threshold value. The circuit generates a boosted voltage that is greater than the first supply voltage and provides that boosted voltage on the output responsive to the first supply voltage being less than the threshold value.
US07864591B2 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device adapted to store a multi-valued data in a single memory cell
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes an electrically data rewritable non-volatile semiconductor memory cell and a write circuit for writing data in the memory cell, the write circuit writing a data in the memory cells by supplying a write voltage Vpgm and a write control voltage VBL to the memory cell, continuing the writing of the data in the memory cell by changing the value of the write control voltage VBL in response to an advent of a first write state of the memory cell and inhibiting any operation of writing a data to the memory cell by further changing the value of the write control voltage VBL to Vdd in response to an advent of a second write state of the memory cell.
US07864584B2 Expanded programming window for non-volatile multilevel memory cells
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, devices, modules, and systems for utilizing an expanded programming window for non-volatile multilevel memory cells. One method includes associating a different logical state with each of a number of different threshold voltage (Vt) distributions. In various embodiments, at least two Vt distributions include negative Vt levels. The method includes applying a read voltage to a word line of a selected cell while applying a pass voltage to word lines of unselected cells, applying a boost voltage to a source line coupled to the selected cell, applying a voltage greater than the boost voltage to a bit line of the selected cell, and sensing a current variation of the bit line in response to the selected cell changing from a non-conducting state to a conducting state.
US07864573B2 Programming analog memory cells for reduced variance after retention
A method includes defining a nominal level of a physical quantity to be stored in analog memory cells for representing a given data value. The given data value is written to the cells in first and second groups of the cells, which have respective first and second programming responsiveness such that the second responsiveness is different from the first responsiveness, by applying to the cells in the first and second groups respective, different first and second patterns of programming pulses that are selected so as to cause the cells in the first and second groups to store respective levels of the physical quantity that fall respectively in first and second ranges, such that the first range is higher than and the second range is lower than the nominal level. The given data value is read from the cells at a later time.
US07864552B2 Intelligent sensorless control of a phase controlled rectifier
An uninterruptible power supply (“UPS”) has a phase-controlled rectifier coupled to a source of AC power and having an output providing a DC bus, the output of the phase-controlled rectifier coupled to an inverter. A first controller generates a firing angle for the rectifier and a fuzzy logic controller generates a firing angle for the rectifier. In an aspect, the rectifier is controlled by the firing angle generated by the first controller during normal operating conditions of the UPS and the rectifier is controlled by the firing angle generated by the fuzzy logic controller during abnormal operating conditions of the UPS. The abnormal operating conditions can include loss of a direct DC bus voltage measurement and or a period of time after the UPS experiences a large load change. In an aspect, the firing angle generated by the first controller is compared to the firing angle generated by the fuzzy logic controller and a rectifier fault condition determined to exist when the two firing angles differ by at least a threshold amount. In an aspect, the first controller is a PI controller.
US07864535B2 Electronic device
According to one embodiment, a heat sink includes an extended end screwed to a printed circuit board. The extended end includes a screw hole and an engagement projection. A notch is formed by cutting the side of the printed circuit board to a position at which the notch does not interfere with signal lines. The notch is engaged with an engagement projection extending from the extended end, thereby preventing the heat sink from rotating when the heat sink is screwed to the printed circuit board.
US07864527B1 Systems and methods for close coupled cooling
Systems and methods for close coupled cooling of electrical system components such as computer systems are disclosed. The system may include a structure defining spaces each having an inlet and an outlet and being otherwise generally enclosed in which the electronic components are mounted, a heat exchanger either adjoining the structure at the inlets of the spaces or disposed within the spaces at the inlets and configured to channel a heat exchange fluid to cool air as air flows therethrough, a fan disposed in each space to pull air through the inlet via the heat exchanger, to direct air past the electronic components mounted therein to cool the electronic components, and to exhaust the air through the outlet, and a cooling module located remote to the spaces and in fluid communication with the heat exchanger for cooling the heat exchange fluid. The system may include rack mount computer system structures.
US07864520B1 Computer chassis
A computer chassis has a body, a connector, an opening, a plug-in slot and an eSATA connector. The body has a panel and a receiving space. The connector is attached to the body and located in the receiving space. The opening is formed on the panel and communicates with the receiving space. The plug-in slot is formed on the panel beside the opening. The eSATA connector has a receiving end mounted to the plug-in slot.
US07864518B2 Computer enclosure
The invention is related to a computer enclosure. The computer enclosure includes a chassis, an expansion card, and a rotating member. The expansion card includes a shield plate which has a bent end formed thereon. The chassis includes a sidewall. A slot is defined in the sidewall. The sidewall forms a support plate at a side of the slot. The sidewall is capable of accepting the shield plate of the expansion card to shield the slot of the sidewall, and the support plate is configured to accepting the bent end of the expansion card. The rotating member includes an arm. The rotating member is capable of rotating on the sidewall to a locked position. In the locked position, the arm is capable of exerting force on the bent end of the expansion card located on the support plate, and the locked position is capable of securing the expansion card on the sidewall of the chassis.
US07864510B2 Clothes dryer with wiring safeguard
A clothes dryer cabinet has a rear wall with a wire entry opening through which wiring enters into the dryer cabinet. A fuse supporting block is mounted closely adjacent to the wire entry opening and supports fuses which are connected directly to the wiring entering through the wire opening so as to limit or minimize the length of wiring contained in the dryer drum that is not protected by the fuses. This safety feature reduces the chance of fires occurring in the dryer as a result of arcing between wires due to mishandling of the wires, malmanufacturing of the wires or a fire occurring in the dryer.
US07864501B2 Electrical connects for charge distribution applique
A lightning strike protection system for protecting composite structures, an improved lightning strike appliqué (LSA) for such a lightning strike protection system, and a method of protecting composite structures, such as an aircraft fuselage. The LSA is electrically connected to adjacent conductive surfaces, e.g., by a fuzz button or a wire bond inserted in the bottom of the LSA. An adjacent conductive surface may be another LSA, a lightning diverter overlay, or a current return network. Charge, e.g., from a lightning strike to the LSA, flows to the conductive layer through the electrical connector.
US07864493B2 Electric circuit with protection against overvoltages
An electric circuit includes a supply terminal to receive an outer supply voltage and a voltage regulator coupled to the supply terminal and to provide supply and resting voltages. A lock-out circuit is switchable between active and inactive states and receives the supply voltage at a supply node to generate, in the active state, an output voltage on a output terminal thereof. A protection circuit protects against electrostatic discharge, having at least one first diode coupled between the supply node and the output terminal. A cut-off electronic lock couples, in the inactive state, the supply node to the supply terminal by reverse biasing the at least one first diode to make a voltage of the output terminal float.
US07864492B2 Systems and methods for arc fault detection
In accordance with one aspect the present disclosure is directed toward a method for detecting arc faults on a power line. The method may include monitoring power signals associated with a power line and filtering the power signals to produce a high frequency signal and a low frequency signal. A mask signal may generated based on the low frequency signal, and the high frequency signal may be analyzed to extract a broadband portion of the high frequency signal. A fault counter may be incremented if the magnitude of the broadband portion is approximately greater than a first threshold level. A fault counter may be decremented if the magnitude of the broadband portion is approximately less than the first threshold level. A trip signal is provided to a switching device associated with the power line if the fault counter exceeds a predetermined fault limit.
US07864486B2 Hard disc apparatus and head alignment method
According to one embodiment, a hard disc apparatus comprises a disc, wherein areas between neighboring servo areas are allocated to data areas including data sectors, a head module, and a storage module configured to store head alignment data, wherein the head alignment data are defined for the data areas, and includes information indicating an interval from the servo area to a first data sector, information indicating a data area in one track, a first data sector which is a start sector of the track, and information indicating the presence/absence of a defective sector including a primary defect, and the start sector of a track including the defective sector is a data sector next to the defective sector.
US07864477B1 Circuits, architectures, apparatuses, systems, algorithms and methods and software for automatic gain calibration of a burst signal stream
Apparatuses, circuitry, architectures, systems, methods, algorithms and software for performing automatic gain calibration on an input signal. The apparatuses and/or circuits generally include an amplifier, a filter, a comparator, and a controller. The amplifier is configured to receive a gain level signal and to amplify the input signal in accordance with the gain level signal to produce an amplified signal. The filter is configured to filter the amplified signal to produce a filtered signal. The comparator is configured to compare the filtered output to a threshold value and to produce a comparison signal in response thereto. The controller is configured to iteratively reset the filter and adjust the gain level signal in response to the comparison signal to select a gain level. Embodiments of present invention advantageously provide for rapid automatic gain control, and are particularly advantageous for automatic gain control in systems adapted for input signals with bursting data and/or widely varying input amplitudes and/or in systems with a relatively large number of possible gain levels.
US07864474B2 Disk drive and control method thereof
Embodiments in accordance with the present invention reduce the number of errors caused by the aged deterioration of a heater for adjusting the clearance between a head and a disk. According to one embodiment, a thermal fly height control (TFC) controller executes the measurement of a resistance value of a heater in a predetermined timing. The TFC controller judges whether or not the measured resistance value falls within a predetermined reference range. If the measured resistance value falls within the reference range, the processing ends without performing any other processing. If the measured resistance value goes out of the reference range, the TFC controller executes error handling processing in response to a resistance failure. As one of the error handling processing, the TFC controller notifies the host that the abnormality (resistance failure) has been detected in the resistance value of the TFC heater.
US07864470B2 Patterned media with spacings adjusted by a skew function
Recording media comprises multiple first and second patterned media islands sequentially placed at different first and second radii along a length of a recording track. A recording head sequentially accesses the first and second islands as the head moves along a length of the recording track. Circumferential spacings between sequential first and second islands along the length of the track vary as a skew function of a track radius.
US07864468B2 Magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus including a magnetic recording medium and a magnetic head for recording data on the magnetic recording medium
The magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus includes: a perpendicular recording magnetic recording medium including a track pattern including track portions and gap portions arranged so as to be alternately adjacent to each other in a cross-track direction, at least part of portions corresponding to the track portions being recording areas having the width substantially the same as the width of the track portions, portions between the recording areas being non-recording areas; and a magnetic head of a perpendicular recording type for applying a recording magnetic field to the recording areas. The anisotropic magnetic field Hk (T) of the recording areas of the magnetic recording medium and the recording magnetic field intensity Fw (t) of the recording magnetic field at the upper surface of the recording areas satisfy the following inequality (I): 0.23×Fw+1.2≦Hk≦0.26×Fw+1.6.  (I)
US07864462B2 Interchangeable lens incorporating a lens drive motor
An interchangeable lens includes a lens drive mechanism for driving a movable lens group provided in the interchangeable lens; a lens-motor for driving the movable lens group via the lens drive mechanism; and a power transmission mechanism for transmitting a driving force of a body-motor provided in a camera body to the lens drive mechanism with the interchangeable lens being mounted to the camera body.
US07864460B2 Lens barrel
A lens barrel includes a barrel main body, a first lens movement frame, a magnetic scale, and a magnetic sensor. The first lens movement frame is arranged movably in the optical axis direction of the optical system with respect to the barrel main body. The magnetic scale is provided to the first lens movement frame. The magnetic sensor is arranged on the outside of the barrel main body, and detects the position of the first lens movement frame with respect to the barrel main body by detecting the position of the magnetic scale with respect to the barrel main body.
US07864457B2 Achromatic lens structure, method of fabrication, and imaging devices and systems using the same
Lens structures, imaging devices, and methods of making the same that include a lens and a transparent material having different dispersions and used to correct chromatic and spherical aberrations. The transparent material may be a curable polymer used to join the lens to other elements of the lens structure.
US07864456B2 Optical system and optical apparatus including optical system
An optical system includes a first optical element and a second optical element on at least one of an enlargement side and a reduction side relative to a point P at which a light axis and a paraxial chief ray intersect. Each of the first optical element and second optical element is composed of a solid material having a refractive light incident surface and a refractive light emergent surface. The optical system satisfies the following conditional expressions: ΔθgF1>0.0272, ΔθgF2<−0.0278, and f1×f2<0 where ΔθgF1 and ΔθgF2 denote anomalous partial dispersion values of the first and second optical elements for the g-line and F-line, respectively, and f1 and f2 denote focal lengths of the first and second optical elements, respectively, when the light incident surfaces and the light emergent surfaces of the first and second optical elements are in contact with air.
US07864438B2 Image forming lens and microscope apparatus using the same
An image forming lens has a configuration that an image forming lens IL for receiving parallel beams of light emitted from an observation target object and emerging from an infinity-designed objective lens of a microscope and forming an image of the observation target object in a predetermined position, is constructed of, in order from an object side, a first lens group G1 having positive refractive power and a second lens group G2 having negative refractive power, and the first lens group is constructed of a positive lens (e.g., a biconvex lens L1) and a negative lens (e.g., a negative meniscus lens L2). Glass materials of the positive lens and the negative lens configuring the first lens group G1 satisfy conditions of predetermined νdht and partial dispersion ratio Pht, then a transmittance, with respect to the light having a wavelength of 340 nm, of each of the glass materials of all the lenses is equal to or larger than 50% per glass thickness of 10 mm, and the transmittance with respect to the light having the wavelength of 360 nm is equal to or larger than 80% per glass thickness of 10 mm.
US07864412B2 Semiconductor optical amplifier device amplifying external light signal and driving apparatus therefor
An active layer has a quantum well structure formed of InGaAsP, and includes a saturable absorption region and optical amplification regions. To the saturable absorption region, a voltage is applied through a p-electrode, independent from the optical amplification region. To the optical amplification regions, currents are injected through p-electrodes, respectively. An input light Pin entering through a plane of incidence is generated by adding optical noise of white noise, to a light signal assuming binary optical intensity of “1” or “0”. The saturable absorption region and optical amplification regions are formed satisfying conditions that a waveform converting element provides a semiconductor laser of bistable state.
US07864406B2 Display device particles, process for producing the same, image-display medium, and image-forming device
The present invention provides display device particles that have positive or negative chargeability and have color and are produced using at least a calcium compound, in which a concentration of the calcium compound in the display device particle is 0.05% by weight or less in terms of a calcium element content, a process for producing the display device particles, as well as an image-display medium and an image-forming device each using the display device particles.
US07864393B2 Optical scanning element, optical scanning device, optical scanning display device, and retinal scanning display
An optical scanning element includes: a first member which is constituted of a mirror portion, a mirror supporting portion and a frame portion; a second member which fixes and holds the frame portion of the first member thereon; and a piezoelectric body. The frame portion includes a beam portion and fixing portions which are positioned at both ends of the beam portion, the mirror supporting portion is connected to the beam portion at a connection point, and the piezoelectric body is fixedly mounted on the frame portion in a state that the piezoelectric body extends toward the connection point of the beam portion from the fixing portion to a position not over the connection point thus extending over the beam portion and the fixing portion. Due to such constitution, a swinging angle of the mirror portion can be increased thus enlarging a scanning angle.
US07864388B2 Method and apparatus for recoding holographic diffraction gratings
A method and apparatus for scanning an input beam of light in a two dimensional pattern; splitting the scanned input beam of light into two output beams of light, each one of the two output beams of light passing along a different path to a common region in a recording medium, such region scanning the recording medium during the scanning of the input beam of light to produce a diffraction grating in the recording medium by interference between the two output beams of light.
US07864386B2 Image forming apparatus
When a monochromatic copy mode is to be executed, a control section sets a read mode in a scanner section so as to enable the scanner section to read an image at high speed by means of only a line sensor K, sets in an image processing section an image process that can print monochromatic image information, which is sent from the scanner section, with a single black color in the printer section, and sets in the printer section a monochromatic print mode that can print a black image at high speed, thereby controlling a monochromatic copy operation.
US07864383B2 Image reader
An image reader has a transport passage for transporting an original, a CIS for reading an image on the original transported on the transport passage, and a control member for pressing the transported original against an abutment member disposed at an opposed side of the transport passage at a read position of the CIS. The original does not slide on glass at the read position of the CIS and is moved with the original abutted against the abutment member of a chute on the opposed side, and image data is read in sequence.
US07864380B2 Slide-borne imaging instructions
In a scanning microscope, slides are fed automatically from a magazine to the imaging system. Each slide is labeled in some fashion with information for selecting the appropriate modality of operation of the scanner for that slide and the modality is implemented automatically. The information is preferably tied to and defined by a laboratory information system (LIS). For example, the instructions may regard the type of microscopy (i.e., trans- or epi-illumination), multi-spectral imaging with particular spectral bands combined with a particular set of z-positions, alternative filters, settings for the numerical aperture of the condenser, alternative detector operation for different resolutions, and alternative post-scan analyses of the data, as deemed optimal for the scan. The label may also contain the slide's identity, a pathologist's name, desired post-scan handling protocol, etc. The preferred array microscope to carry out the invention is also described.
US07864377B2 Image-forming device
An image-forming device includes a casing, an accommodating section, a reading unit, a determining unit, and a printing unit. The casing defines an outer frame. The accommodating section is detachably mounted in the casing and configured to accommodate a stack of sheets, each sheet having a storage section capable of storing data. The reading unit reads data stored in the storage section. The determining unit determines, based on data read by the reading unit and additional data, whether to print an image corresponding to image data, the additional data being added to the image data. The printing unit prints the image on a sheet based on the image data when the determining unit allows printing to be performed.
US07864372B2 Color conversion apparatus and color conversion method
A color conversion method including the steps of a) generating output values corresponding to a body-center of each cubic lattice block included in a three-dimensional input space, and interpolating between the output values generated in step a) and the LUT values. The cubic lattice block is divided into six quadrangular pyramids. Each of the quadrangular pyramids is divided into two tetrahedron blocks by a side parallel to a predetermined straight line and by a plane including a diagonal line of a bottom plane that intersects the side parallel to the predetermined axis. Corrected output values are determined by performing linear interpolation on output values corresponding to body-center points of each of the tetrahedron blocks and using LUT values corresponding to three lattice points of each of the tetrahedron blocks and three correction coefficients based on a positional relationship of input color signals inside each of the tetrahedron blocks.
US07864371B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer product
An image processing apparatus includes a first storage unit, a second storage unit, a selecting unit, a first converting unit, a second converting unit, and a compressing unit. The second storage unit stores therein data on a color reproduction area of an output device. The first storage unit stores therein data on virtual color reproduction areas. The selecting unit selects one of the virtual color reproduction areas similar to the color reproduction area of the output device. The first converting unit compresses and maps image data to a virtual color reproduction range based on the selected one of the virtual color reproduction areas. The compressing unit compresses and maps the image data to a color reproduction range of an output device. The second converting unit converts the image data to a control signal.
US07864370B2 Copy machine with image rotation and back surface reading based on memory capacity required
A copy machine including: an original reading apparatus having a front and back surface image reading sensors, being capable of setting plural original documents, feeding out one by one, and simultaneously reading both surfaces of the documents; an image forming apparatus; a post processing apparatus for stapling and/or punching; an image processing section which rotates an image; wherein, a control section controls such that: when the memory capacity for image rotation is enough, the documents are read by the front surface image reading sensor; the obtained image data is rotated; and an image is formed on the recording sheet based on the rotated image data; whereas, when the memory capacity is not enough, an indication to re-set the documents is displayed; the re-set documents are fed out to be read by the back surface image reading sensor; an image is formed based on the image data obtained; and the post processing is executed.
US07864366B2 Method and system for improved space filling interpolation
Document processing systems and methods are presented for transforming color image data from an input color space to output color space using space filling interpolation to mitigate loss of color information at the corners of color gamuts. An initial interpolation of the input color space pixel values for each pixel is performed to compute initial output color space pixel values, and these are converted into luminance-chrominance color space pixel values. An adjustment value λ is then computed according to the luminance-chrominance color space pixel values, and final output color space pixel values are computed according to the initial output color space pixel values and the adjustment value λ.
US07864355B2 Apparatus and method for transmitting image
A printing apparatus creates and prints an order sheet on which a list of image data is placed. By filling in marking fields on the order sheet a user can select image data for transmission. Once the order sheet has been scanned by the scanner, the printing apparatus creates an e-mail having attached to it the image data selected by the user, and sends this to a computer or the like via a mail server. It is possible in this way to easily select image data for transmission through a prescribed communications network.
US07864351B2 Image forming apparatus and method for remote job editing
An image forming apparatus connected to a network, including: an operation section for editing a first job ticket specifying an output condition to output image data onto an output medium; an interface section to communicate a remote operation apparatus through the network; and a control section to allow the remote operation apparatus to edit a second job ticket.
US07864346B2 Apparatus and method for describing, planning and automatically programming complex finishing tasks
A production and finishing system, particularly a printing and finishing system, for electronic management and control of a wide range of finishing processes characterized by input from multiple production operations and equipment that, depending upon the job, may be variably applied to work pieces that themselves are highly variable between different jobs. Particular emphasis is demonstrated in relation to printing and finishing operations for printed documents. The principles of the present invention, however, apply to such production and finishing systems as, without limitation, textile production (which may include printing, cutting, sewing, and finishing), packaging operations for various consumer and industrial products, and printed wiring board production, etc. The present invention is particularly applicable to many operations where processes for production of work pieces are managed separately from processes for finishing and packaging of such work pieces.
US07864344B1 Method and system for measuring patterned structures
A method and system are presented for determining a line profile in a patterned structure, aimed at controlling a process of manufacture of the structure. The patterned structure comprises a plurality of different layers, the pattern in the structure being formed by patterned regions and un-patterned regions. At least first and second measurements are carried out, each utilizing illumination of the structure with a broad wavelengths band of incident light directed on the structure at a certain angle of incidence, detection of spectral characteristics of light returned from the structure, and generation of measured data representative thereof. The measured data obtained with the first measurement is analyzed, and at least one parameter of the structure is thereby determined. Then, this determined parameter is utilized, while analyzing the measured data obtained with the second measurements enabling the determination of the profile of the structure.
US07864341B2 Coordinate detection apparatus and method, and computer program
A coordinate detection apparatus has a light projecting unit and light receiving unit, detects abnormal light based on the output from the light receiving unit in a state in which the light projecting unit does not project any light, and detects the coordinates of a light-shielded position based on the output from the light receiving unit in a state in which the light projecting unit projects light.
US07864338B2 Interferometric method and apparatus for linear detection of motion from a surface
An apparatus and a method for detecting surface motion of an object subject to ultrasound are disclosed. The method comprises generating a laser beam, dividing the laser beam into a reference beam and an object beam to be directed onto the surface, thereby producing a scattered object beam, introducing a frequency shift between the reference beam and the scattered object beam, wherein the frequency shift is smaller than the ultrasonic frequency, detecting the interference between the scattered object beam and the frequency shifted reference beam using a plurality of detecting elements to generate a plurality of electrical interference signals, wherein the electrical interference signals each comprise a wanted signal component indicative of the surface motion and a noise signal component, and processing the electrical interference signals to determine the surface motion of the object.
US07864324B2 Reflective scatterometer
A reflective scatterometer capable of measuring a sample is provided. The reflective scatterometer includes a paraboloid mirror, a light source, a first reflector, a second reflector and a detector. The paraboloid mirror has an optical axis and a parabolic surface, wherein the sample is disposed on the focal point of the parabolic surface and the normal direction of the sample is parallel with the optical axis. A collimated beam generated from the light source is reflected by the first reflector to the parabolic surface and then is reflected by the parabolic surface to the sample to form a first diffracted beam. The first diffracted beam is reflected by the parabolic surface to the second reflector and is then reflected by the second reflector to the detector.
US07864322B2 Optical methods and systems for detecting a constituent in a gas containing oxygen in harsh environments
A method for detecting a gas phase constituent such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen, or hydrocarbons in a gas comprising oxygen such as air, includes providing a sensing material or film having a metal embedded in a catalytically active matrix such as gold embedded in a yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) matrix. The method may include annealing the sensing material at about 900° C., exposing the sensing material and gas to a temperature above 400° C., projecting light onto the sensing material, and detecting a change in the absorption spectrum of the sensing material due to the exposure of the sensing material to the gas in air at the temperature which causes a chemical reaction in the sensing material compared to the absorption spectrum of the sensing material in the absence of the gas. Systems employing such a method are also disclosed.
US07864318B2 Spectroscopic ellipsometer and ellipsometry
A spectroscopic ellipsometer has a polarized light generating part for generating elliptically polarized lights of a plurality of wavelengths included in a predetermined measurement wavelength band from white light and directing the elliptically polarized lights to a measurement surface of a substrate, a rotating analyzer where reflected light reflected on the measurement surface enters, and a spectrometer for acquiring spectral intensity of light from the rotating analyzer. A polarization state acquiring part in a control part acquires a polarization state at each wavelength in the measurement wavelength band of the reflected light. The optical characteristic calculation part obtains a film thickness on the measurement surface with high accuracy on the basis of differences between measurement values and theoretical values, the measurement values representing change of a complex amplitude ratio between a p-polarized component and an s-polarized component and a phase difference between a p-polarized component and an s-polarized component.
US07864317B2 Compact catadioptric spectrometer
An optical characterisation system is described for characterising optical material. The system typically comprises a diffractive element (104), a detector (106) and an optical element (102). The optical element (102) thereby typically is adapted for receiving an illumination beam, which may be an illumination response of the material. The optical element (102) typically has a refractive surface for refractively collimating the illumination beam on the diffractive element (104) and a reflective surface for reflecting the diffracted illumination beam on the detector (106). The optical element (102) furthermore is adapted for cooperating with the diffractive element (104) and the detector (106) being positioned at a same side of the optical element (102) opposite to the receiving side for receiving the illumination beam.
US07864315B2 Method and apparatus for detecting embedded material within an interaction region of a structure
A system and method processes a structure comprising embedded material. The system includes a laser adapted to generate light and to irradiate an interaction region of the structure. The system further includes an optical system adapted to receive light from the interaction region and to generate a detection signal indicative of the presence of embedded material in the interaction region. The system further includes a controller operatively coupled to the laser and the optical system. The controller is adapted to receive the detection signal and to be responsive to the detection signal by selectively adjusting the laser.
US07864305B2 Self-contained underwater velocimetry apparatus
A velocimetry apparatus and method for the collection of target-specific images of fluid motions are disclosed. The apparatus includes a camera and a light source. The camera collects and provides images of the fluid showing instantaneous positions of particles in the fluid. The light source provides a light sheet (two-dimensional) or volume (three-dimensional) to illuminate the particles. The camera and the light source are powered by portable energy sources and measure instantaenous velocity of the fluid in a field of view. Shape and distance between first camera, the light source and the portable energy sources are so configured that the apparatus is a self-contained apparatus portable by a diver during operation thereof.
US07864300B2 Door opening and closing unit to control door rotating speed and image forming apparatus having the same
A door opening and closing unit is provided for an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a main body, and a door rotatably mounted on the main body. The door opening and closing unit includes a door speed control unit coupling the door to the main body that includes a coupling boss; and a guide groove that engages the coupling boss and along which the coupling boss moves as the door rotates relative to the main body; wherein the door speed control unit controls a frictional force between the coupling boss and the guide groove according to a rotating angle of the door relative to the main body to control a rotating speed of the door as the door rotates relative to the main body.
US07864298B2 Stage apparatus and exposure apparatus with heating-and-cooling unit to change shape of mirror
At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a stage apparatus which comprises a movable stage, a mirror for reflecting light from an interferometer to measure the position of the stage, a heating-and cooling unit for heating or cooling the mirror, and a calculator for calculating the shape of the mirror. The shape of the mirror can be changed by controlling the heating-and-cooling unit according to the shape of the mirror obtained from the calculator.
US07864292B2 Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
An immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed in which at least a part of the liquid supply system (which provides liquid between the projection system and the substrate) is moveable in a plane substantially parallel to a top surface of the substrate during scanning. The part is moved to reduce the relative velocity between that part and the substrate so that the speed at which the substrate may be moved relative to the projection system may be increased.
US07864282B2 Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device that includes: a liquid crystal display panel configured by a pair of substrates sandwiching therebetween a liquid crystal material with a positive dielectric anisotropy; and a flat-shaped common electrode and a pixel electrode disposed on one of the pair of substrates with an overlay, via an insulator layer, between the common electrode and the pixel electrode when viewed from above. In the liquid crystal display device, the pixel electrode is extended in a first direction, and includes a plurality of comb-like electrode sections aligned in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and the comb-like electrode sections of the pixel electrode are varied in width in the second direction for a plurality of times at intervals shorter than a side extending in the first direction.
US07864281B2 Active matrix substrate and display unit provided with it
An active matrix substrate includes a substrate; scanning lines formed on the substrate; an insulating film covering the scanning lines; signal lines intersecting the scanning lines via the insulating film; switching elements formed on the substrate, each operating in response to a signal which is applied to the corresponding scanning line; and pixel electrodes each capable of being electrically connected to the corresponding signal line via the switching elements. The insulating film is a multilayer insulating film including a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer. The first insulating layer is formed of an insulating material containing an organic component, and the multilayer insulating film has a low-stack region in at least a portion of a region overlapping each switching element, the first insulating layer not being formed in the low-stack region. The active matrix substrate reduces the capacitance formed at each intersection between a scanning line and a signal line, without causing an increase in the wiring resistance or a degradation of the driving ability of switching elements.
US07864273B2 Dual sided liquid crystal display device viewable from one side in a reflection mode and the other side in a transmission mode
The present invention relates to a display device having a panel assembly that includes first and second display panels arranged to face each other. The second display panel is smaller than the first display panel. The first display panel and the second display panel are divided into a front display area and a rear display area to display images on both sides of the panel assembly.
US07864267B2 Optical sheet and display unit
An optical sheet capable of eliminating rapid lowering of the luminance view angle while minimizing the lowering amount of the front luminance, or while avoiding the lowering of the front luminance is provided. The optical sheet includes a first light transmissive film and a second light transmissive film. The first light transmissive film and the second light transmissive film are layered on each other, the first light transmissive film has a plurality of first convexes that extend in a given direction and are arranged in parallel in a direction crossing the given direction in-plane on the second light transmissive film side, and the second light transmissive film has a plurality of second convexes that are arranged in parallel in one direction and are arranged in parallel in a direction crossing the one direction in-plane on the first light transmissive film side, and has shape anisotropy and refractive index anisotropy in-plane.
US07864263B2 Thin display apparatus
A display apparatus includes an LCD panel, a PCB assembly placed behind the LCD panel and supplying electric current to the LCD panel, an LCD frame provided around the LCD panel, a plurality of first combining parts formed on peripheral sides of the LCD frame, and a plurality of second combining parts formed on the plane of the LCD frame. A front cover is placed in front of the LCD panel, covering edges of the LCD panel and is combined to one of the first and second combining parts. A rear cover is placed behind the LCD panel, accommodating the PCB assembly, and is combined to the other one of the first and second combining parts. With this configuration, the present invention provides a display apparatus which minimizes a space for installation, carriage and storage, has a slim and compact appearance, and prevents an illusion that a display part of an LCD panel is relatively small. Further, the present invention provides a display apparatus which need not comprise some components such as a panel supporting member and a PCB cover, thereby being easily and quickly assembled. Furthermore, the present invention provides a display apparatus of which front and rear covers are made of a conductive metal, so that an LCD panel and a PCB assembly are effectively protected from EMI.
US07864257B2 Thin film transistor and method of manufacturing the same
A thin film transistor and a method of manufacturing the thin film transistor is disclosed. The thin film transistor includes first and second ohmic contact layers, an activation layer, an insulating layer, a source electrode formed on the insulating layer and connected to the first ohmic contact layer through first contact hole, a drain electrode formed on the insulating layer and connected to the second ohmic contact layer through second contact hole, a gate electrode formed on the insulating layer between the source electrode and the drain electrode and overlapping the activation layer, and a protective layer formed on the source electrode, the drain electrode, and the gate electrode.
US07864249B2 Method and apparatus displaying double screen
An apparatus for displaying a double screen in a wide screen display device, the apparatus including a video interface to receive a first and a second video signal from a plurality of video signals according to a selection control signal, wherein each of the first and the second video signals have a general screen aspect ratio; a scaler to scale the first video signal to a resolution of a main screen and to scale the second video signal to a resolution of a subscreen with the general screen aspect ratio; and a control unit to output the selection control signal to display the double screen, control scaling of the first video signal and second video signal, and to simultaneously display the scaled first video signal on an area of a screen and the scaled second video signal on a portion of a remaining area of the screen.
US07864245B2 Camera module and method of manufacturing the same
Provided is a camera module that includes: an image sensing device; a first signal transmitting element on which there are formed a device coupling portion that is coupled to the image sensing device, and an external coupling portion that extends from one end of the device coupling portion to protrude from the image sensing device and is coupled to an external substrate; an auto-focus (AF) module including: an AF device, and a second signal transmitting element coupled to the first signal transmitting element to electrically connect the AF device and the external substrate; a lens module including a plurality of lens which focuses light onto the image sensing device; and a coupling element that couples the first and second signal transmitting elements so that they are electrically connected.
US07864244B2 Camera system and power supply for optical recording devices
A camera system includes a video camera having a first mating mechanism defined on a bottom, planar surface of the video camera. A battery assembly contains an energy cell and a first surface of the battery assembly is releasably engageable with the mounting mechanism such that the battery assembly is suspended beneath the video camera, with the bottom, planar surface of the video camera in substantial contact with the first surface. A support apparatus having a second mating mechanism is also provided, the second mating mechanism releasably engaging a second surface of the battery assembly.
US07864243B2 Image pick-up apparatus with right and left microphones disposed on opposing arcuate sides of a front cabinet with a flash mechanism positioned therebetween
Microphone mechanisms are disposed on both sides of a flash mechanism provided in a video camera's front cabinet, and the microphone mechanisms are incorporated in the front cabinet. The video camera 1 includes: a camera body 2; a front cabinet 3 provided at the front of the camera body 2; a viewfinder 4 provided on an upper face 2a of the camera body 2; a grip belt 5 provided on a first side face 2b of the camera body 2; and a flash mechanism 8 provided in the camera body 2. In the front cabinet 3, microphone mechanisms 9 are provided on both the right and left sides sandwiching the flash mechanism 8.
US07864242B2 Image sensing apparatus for making an image sensing operation using a mechanical shutter and an electronic shutter and control method
An image sensing apparatus has an image sensing element which accumulates received light as a charge, a mechanical shutter which travels to shield the image sensing element, and a scan unit which makes a scan for starting charge accumulation. The image sensing apparatus executes the scan for starting charge accumulation prior to traveling of the mechanical shutter and controls the scan for starting charge accumulation and traveling of the shutter to serve as a front curtain and a rear curtain of a shutter. Note that a scan pattern setting unit (113b) sets the scan pattern of the charge accumulation start scan based on information associated with a mounted photographing lens.
US07864235B2 Imaging device and imaging method including generation of primary color signals
An imaging device has an image sensor, and a color filter that is located on said image sensor and has at least four color elements, a signal reading processor that reads at least four series of color signals corresponding to the at least four color elements from said image sensor, and a signal processor that generates primary color signals on the basis of at least one predetermined series of color signals and an adopted series of color signals that is obtained from the remaining series of color signals. The signal processor defines a series of color signals that corresponds to a spectral response distribution curve over wavelength range for which spectral values in the spectral distribution of the object are relatively large, as the adopted series of color signals.
US07864232B2 Signal processing apparatus for solid-state imaging device, signal processing method, and imaging system
A signal processing apparatus corrects color mixture between pixel cells in a solid-state imaging device in which the pixel cells including photoelectric transducers are two-dimensionally arranged in an array and in which color filters having primary color components for generating luminance components and other color components are arranged over the pixel cells. The signal processing apparatus includes correction processing means for performing the correction to the signal from a target pixel by using the signals from multiple neighboring pixels adjacent to the target pixel in the solid-state imaging device and correction parameters independently set for the signals.
US07864231B2 Imaging apparatus and defective pixel correcting method
A disclosed imaging unit includes an image sensor in which plural light receiving elements are arranged in a matrix; a defective information storage unit configured to hold position information of a defective light receiving element in the image sensor; an imaging region moving unit configured to change an imaging region from a first imaging region corresponding to a desired imaging target region to a second imaging region, wherein the second imaging region is determined in such a manner that a position of a defective pixel corresponding to the defective light receiving element in an image of the second imaging region does not coincide with that in an image of the first imaging region; an imaging control unit configured to control the imaging unit and the imaging region moving unit in such a manner that a first imaging operation of picking up the image of the first imaging region and a second imaging operation of picking up the image of the second imaging region are performed in a single imaging operation; and a defective pixel correcting unit configured to correct defective pixel information created due to the defective light receiving element in image information obtained by the first imaging operation, with the use of pixel information obtained by the second imaging operation corresponding to a position of the defective pixel information in the image information obtained by the first imaging operation, according to the position information of the defective light receiving element held in the defective information storage unit.
US07864224B2 Image pickup apparatus and image pickup method
An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup unit adapted to pickup a moving image, a shooting condition storage unit adapted to store shooting conditions to be used in the image pickup unit, an instruction unit adapted to issue a shooting condition read instruction during moving image shooting by the image pickup unit, a display unit adapted to, when the read instruction has been issued from the instruction unit, display information associated with the shooting conditions stored in the shooting condition storage unit, a selection unit adapted to select a desired shooting condition from information associated with the shooting conditions displayed on the display unit, and a setting unit adapted to set the shooting condition selected by the selection unit.
US07864215B2 Method and device for generating wide image sequences
The invention relates to a video recording apparatus comprising: a microprocessor (130), a memory means (120) for storing program for generating a set of calibration parameters related to a device having at least two video cameras which are arranged in a predetermined relationship to each other, said parameters being unique for the at least two cameras and their current location as related to the object being recorded; said memory means (120) also storing program for recording of wide image video sequences; read and write memory means (140) for storing data relating to recorded video sequences from at least two video cameras; input means (300) for input of manual input of parameters, input of recorded video sequences, output means (300) for output of a wide image video sequence. The invention also relates to a method for generating a wide image video sequence, said method comprising the steps of generating a set of calibration parameters related to a device having at least two video cameras which are arranged in a predetermined relationship to each other, said parameters being unique for the at least two cameras and their current location as related to the object being recorded; recording synchronously video sequences using each of said at least two video cameras, and generating a wide image video sequence from each of said synchronously recorded video sequences.
US07864211B2 Apparatus, system and method for increasing quality of digital image capture
An apparatus, system or method for increasing quality of digital image capture is provided. Imaging and, more particularly, capturing visuals to provide image manipulation options are provided to increase resolution of the subject images.
US07864209B2 Audio processing in a multi-participant conference
Some embodiments provide an architecture for establishing multi-participant audio conferences over a computer network. This architecture has a central distributor that receives audio signals from one or more participants. The central distributor mixes the received signals and transmits them back to participants. In some embodiments, the central distributor eliminates echo by removing each participant's audio signal from the mixed signal that the central distributor sends to the particular participant.
US07864208B2 F-O lens, light scanning unit and image forming apparatus employing the same
An f-θ lens is joined to a mount through a light curable bond, forms an incident deflected beam onto a photosensitive body, and includes a lens part which has an incident side on which the deflected beam is incident, and an exiting side which is disposed near the photosensitive body and on which the entered deflected beam is exited, an joining part which has a joining side which is extended from the incident face and is joined to the mount, and an emitting side which is extended from the exiting face and disposed to face the joining side, and which a light beam for curing the light curable bond is scanned, and an emitting part which is formed on the emitting side in a non-planar shape and provided to decrease loss of light quantity of the light beam scanned on the emitting face, so that the f-θ lens provides an improved joining force in a joining process by a light cure joining type.
US07864206B2 Thermal transfer laminate film, thermal transfer sheet, and image-forming apparatus
A thermal transfer laminate film includes a base film, a non-transferable release layer made of a rubber-elastic resin and disposed on one side of the base film, and an image-protecting layer disposed on the non-transferable release layer.
US07864202B2 Conversion of a sub-pixel format data to another sub-pixel data format
A method of determining implied sample areas for each data point of each color in a source pixel data specified in a first sub-pixel format is used for sub-pixel rendering an image on a display specified in a second sub-pixel format. Each of the first and second sub-pixel formats comprises a plurality of colored sub-pixels. The method comprises determining a geometric center of each colored sub-pixel of the first format to define a sampling point; and defining each implied sample area by forming lines that are substantially equidistant between the sampling point of one colored sub-pixel and the sampling point of another neighboring same color colored sub-pixel. A similar technique may be used for determining resample areas for computing color values for rendering an image specified in a first sub-pixel format on a display substantially comprising a plurality of colored sub-pixels arranged in a second sub-pixel format.
US07864188B2 Systems and methods for selecting a white point for image displays
Several embodiments of the present application disclose techniques, systems and methods for changing or rendering input image data that may assume a first white point for a given display into image data to be rendered under a second—assumed, desired or measured—white point of the display.
US07864180B1 Methods and apparatus for auto-scaling properties of simulated objects
A method for auto-scaling properties of simulated objects includes receiving a metric associated with a reference object. A value associated with a property of a simulated object is adjusted in response to the metric. The value of the property is related to an at-rest shape or desired rest state associated with the simulated object. The property may be a geometric property of the simulated object. Some examples of geometric properties are dimensions (e.g., length, width, height), angle, momentum and rotation, mass, density, and the like. The at-rest shape or desired rest state associated with the simulated object may be related to shape of the simulated object in response to one or more internal forces and expected external forces.
US07864177B2 System and methods for real-time rendering with global and specular illumination
Frames of image data representative of a scene containing deformable geometry are computed for display on a display device. Frame animation data is computed for a series of frames representative, in animated sequence, of a scene containing deformable geometry. The frame animation data includes a control mesh descriptive of the three-dimensional surface of graphical elements occurring within the scene. Based on the frame animation data, respective illumination values are computed for the individual polygons of the control mesh to determine the global illumination of the scene. The computation is performed iteratively utilizing the directional light functionally emitted from source polygons to receiver polygons to determine global illumination. The directional light emitter values are further utilized, in combination with material properties, specular illumination contributions to the global illumination of the receiver polygons.
US07864174B2 Methods and systems for reducing the number of rays passed between processing elements in a distributed ray tracing system
Embodiments of the invention provide techniques and systems for reducing network traffic in relation to ray-tracing a three dimensional scene. According to one embodiment of the invention, as a ray is traversed through a spatial index, a leaf node may be reached. Subsequent rays that traverse through the spatial index may reach the same leaf node. In contrast to sending information defining a ray issued by the workload manager to a vector throughput engine each time a ray reaches a leaf node, the workload manager may determine if a series of rays reach the same leaf node and send information defining the series of rays to the vector throughput engine. Thus, network traffic may be reduced by sending information which defines a series of rays which are traversed to a common (i.e., the same) leaf node in contrast to sending information each time a ray is traversed to a leaf node.
US07864172B2 Cathode potential controller, self light emission display device, electronic apparatus, and cathode potential controlling method
A cathode potential controller for controlling a common cathode potential applied to a self light emission type display panel in which an emission state of each of pixels is driven and controlled in accordance with an active matrix drive system, the cathode potential controller including: a self light emitting element; a constant current source; an electrode-to-electrode voltage measuring portion; a cathode potential determining portion; and a cathode potential applying portion.
US07864164B2 Haptic interface for palpation simulation
A method for interfacing a user with a computer running an application program, the computer generating a graphical environment comprising a graphical object and a graphical representation of at least a portion of a living body, comprises providing an object in communication with the computer, controlling the graphical object in relation to manipulation of at least a portion of the object by the user, and outputting a haptic sensation to the user when the graphical object interacts with a region within the graphical representation to provide the user with haptic feedback related to a simulated palpation of the region.
US07864162B2 Product having encoded authentication writing areas
A product is provided which has a plurality of coded tags and at least one authentication writing area defined by at least some of the coded tags for receiving handwritten authentication information from a sensing device operated by a user. Each coded tag encodes coordinates for a point on a tag map and an orientation feature. The orientation features enable the sensing device to determine a planar orientation of each tag relative to a yaw of the sensing device.
US07864160B2 Interleaved electrodes for touch sensing
A capacitive touch sensing system includes a touch surface and sets of substantially parallel electrodes arranged in relation to the touch surface. Each electrode set includes a primary electrode electrically connected to at least two sub-electrodes. The primary electrode is capable of producing greater capacitive coupling to a touch in proximity with the touch surface in relation to capacitive coupling of the at least two sub-electrodes. The sub-electrodes of the electrode sets are arranged in an interleaved pattern configured to increase an effective area of capacitive coupling associated with each electrode set.
US07864148B2 Bistable nematic liquid crystal display device and method for controlling such a device
The present invention relates to a display device comprising a bistable nematic liquid-crystal matrix screen with anchoring breaking, characterized in that it comprises: components (40) capable of switching between an off state and an on state, these components being placed respectively between a drive electrode (47) associated with each pixel and a display state control link (45); and means capable of applying, to the input of each aforementioned component (40), via the state control link (45), input signals comprising at least two phases separated by a controlled time interval, namely a first phase during which the input signal has an amplitude sufficient to permit breaking of the anchoring of the liquid crystal on the associated pixel, then a second phase during which the amplitude of the input signal is controlled in order to select one of the two bistable states of the liquid crystal, the time interval between the two phases being adapted in order to break the anchoring of the liquid crystal on the said associated pixel before the second input signal phase is applied.
US07864137B2 Burning system having print interface for liquid crystal display
An exemplary burning system (20) for a liquid crystal display includes a VGA (video graphics array) interface (230), a DVI (digital visual interface) (240), an interface-inverting circuit (220) configured for selectively switching between connectivity with the VGA interface and connectivity with the DVI, and a host computer (250) including a print interface (210). The host computer is configured for burning extended display identification data for the VGA interface into the liquid crystal display via the print interface, the interface-inverting circuit and the VGA interface, and is configured for burning extended display identification data for the DVI into the liquid crystal display via the print interface, the interface-inverting circuit and the DVI.
US07864134B2 Display device of a mobile phone having a sub memory
Provided is a display device of a mobile phone with a sub memory. The display device includes a display panel for displaying application data and state display data corresponding to a main image data signal used to display various application data and a sub image data signal including state display data and picture control signals, a sub memory for storing state display data and picture control signals for outputting state display data and picture control signals to the display panel, and a display driver which drives images or data to be displayed on the display panel.
US07864132B2 Active photonic forbidden band antennae
The present invention relates to an active photonic band gap antenna. In this case, the photonic band gap structure is constituted by metal rods, some of which are discontinuous, namely composed of sections of rods connected by a switching element such as a PIN diode. According to the invention, only one rod in a row of rods seen from the radiating source is discontinuous. The antenna pattern can be controlled at a low cost.
US07864125B2 Dual-band coupling device comprising first and second annular grooves being fed by first and second feed conductors
A coupling device is provided. The coupling device has a substrate, a ground element, a first feed conductor and a second feed conductor. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface. The ground element is disposed on the second surface, wherein the ground element has a first annular groove, a second annular groove and a feed slot, the second annular groove surrounds the first annular groove, the feed slot is connected to the first annular groove and the second annular groove. The first feed conductor is disposed on the first surface corresponding to the first annular groove and the second annular groove, wherein the first feed conductor couples the ground element to feed an electric current. The second feed conductor is disposed on the first surface corresponding to the feed slot, wherein the second feed conductor couples the feed slot to feed a magnetic current.
US07864124B2 Multi-band antenna for mobile phone
A mobile phone includes a multi-band antenna which is mutually connected in a dependent manner for operation according to a signal transmitted to and received from the mobile phone; and a resonance unit for generating resonance for multiple frequency bands as ends of the multi-band antenna are spaced apart at a predetermined interval, to improve mute performance, reduce SAR, and prevent a reduction in call performance due to an influence of a user's body and hand when holding the mobile phone to make a call.
US07864112B2 Beam-forming antenna with amplitude-controlled antenna elements
A beam-forming antenna for transmission and/or reception of an electromagnetic signal having a given wavelength in a surrounding medium includes a transmission line electromagnetically coupled to an array of individually controllable antenna elements, each of which is oscillated by the signal with a controllable amplitude. The antenna elements are arranged in a linear array and are spaced from each other by a distance that does not exceed one-third the signal's wavelength in the surrounding medium. The oscillation amplitude of each of the individual antenna elements is controlled by an amplitude controlling device, such as a switch, a gain-controlled amplifier, or a gain-controlled attenuator. The amplitude controlling devices, in turn, are controlled by a computer that receives as its input the desired beamshape, and that is programmed to operate the amplitude controlling devices in accordance with a set of stored amplitude values derived empirically for a set of desired beamshapes.
US07864105B2 Distance measuring apparatus and distance measuring method
Distance measuring apparatus has a rough distance measuring circuit (18) using a time delay circuit and a precise distance measuring circuit (31) for measuring the orientation of the vector of a carrier wave to determine the distance, the sum of which is the final output. The rough distance measuring apparatus (18) has a long measurement span but low precision. The precise distance measuring apparatus (31) has a short measurement span but high precision. The combination provides distance measuring apparatus having a long measurement span and high resolution and capable of implementing precise measurement.
US07864101B2 Radar tracking system
According to one embodiment, a radar tracking system includes a radar coupled to a radar processing system. Radar processing system receives images from the radar and that are each obtained at a differing angular orientation of the radar to a target. Radar processing system dithers each image along its azimuthal extent and then combines the dithered images to form an enhanced image of the target.
US07864086B2 Mode switched adaptive combinatorial coding/decoding for electrical computers and digital data processing systems
Embodiments described herein may include example embodiments of a method, article and apparatus for compressing data utilizing adaptive combinatorial encoding with either specified occurrences or specified data length which may be used for communicating between two or more components connected to an interconnection medium (e.g., a bus) within a single computer or digital data processing system, and/or for communication between computing platforms via a network or other interconnection medium.
US07864075B2 Rotary electrostatic encoder
A rotary electrostatic encoder comprising a disk-shaped fixed plate having a first transmission electrode, a second transmission electrode, and four reception electrodes; a disk-shaped rotating plate having a first induction electrode superposed on and facing the first transmission electrode, and a second induction electrode positioned on the inside of the first induction electrode and superposed on and facing the second transmission electrode, a portion of the second induction electrode being a protruding eccentric circular part; transmission means for applying a transmission signal between the first transmission electrode and the second transmission electrode; and signal processing means for generating an output signal relating to the absolute rotational displacement of the rotating plate on the basis of two signal components generated from the four reception electrodes.
US07864069B2 Method for displaying starting process of electronic device
A method for displaying a starting process of an electronic device is described hereinafter. Firstly, divide the starting process of the electronic device into a plurality of starting stages. Next, set a displaying data for each of the starting stages respectively. Lastly, transmit the corresponding displaying data to a displaying device and display the displaying data on the displaying device after executing each of the starting stages. Therefore, the method can make the starting process of the electronic device more intuitionistic. Furthermore, when the electronic device fails in the starting process thereof, the reason for the failure is easy to be preliminarily ascertained by viewing the displaying data displayed on the displaying device so as to provide a helpful reference to the trouble clearing.
US07864068B2 Earthquake noticing server, earthquake noticing system, earthquake noticing method, and program
In an earthquake noticing system according to the present invention, an earthquake noticing server receives focal data, calculates an expected time of arrival from a distance calculated from an occurrence location of an earthquake, a self-location and a focal depth, calculates an estimated seismic intensity from the occurrence location of the earthquake, the self-location and the seismic magnitude, calculates a corrected value of the expected time of arrival from the occurrence location of the earthquake, the self location and the location of a sub-terminal, and transmits the corrected value and estimated seismic intensity to the sub-terminal.
US07864067B2 Self-powered wireless sensor system
A wireless sensor system for sensing a characteristic associated with a conveying system from which the sensor system generates operating power. The sensor system includes a transducer including an axle, a roller connected to the axle, and a link connected to the roller. The transducer may be configured to permit the roller to be positioned in contact with a conveyor belt of the conveying system so that the roller rotates about the axle or with the axle in response to translation of the conveyor belt. The sensor system also includes a power generator connected to the link, wherein the link transfers rotary motion from the roller to the generator, which generates power using the rotary motion input by the link. The sensor system further includes a sensor connected to the generator for receiving power, wherein the sensor is configured to sense the physical characteristic associated with the conveying system.
US07864065B2 Battery residual quantity display method and electronic equipment
A battery pack detachably connectable to an equipment body to supply power to the equipment body, the battery pack including a battery cell, a microcomputer for communicating with the equipment body, a connection terminal connected to the microcomputer, a positive power supply input terminal connected to a cathode of the battery cell; and a negative power supply input terminal connected to an anode of the battery cell. After the power of the equipment body is turned on, the microcomputer alternately sends to the equipment body by serial communication via the connection terminal information to be used in authentication processing executed by the equipment body and information to be used in a battery residual quantity count executed by the equipment body. After the authentication processing is complete, the microcomputer sends to the equipment body information to be used in updating the battery residual quantity count executed by the equipment body.
US07864063B2 Sensor arrangement for detecting moisture on a window
An especially simple and economical moisture sensor with temperature compensation is provided. To this end, in addition to a measuring capacitor, a second capacitor is arranged on a window of a motor vehicle, wherein the second capacitor is not affected by the moisture and/or water droplets. For analysis, a differential measurement of the capacitances of the measuring capacitor and of the second capacitor is carried out, from which is determined a degree of wetting of the window not influenced by the window temperature.
US07864061B2 Multi-stage system for verification of container contents
A multi-stage process utilizing one or more radiation sensors on a distributed network for the detection and identification of radiation, explosives, and special materials within a shipping container. The sensors are configured as nodes on the network. The system collects radiation data from one or more nodes. The collected radiation data is dynamically adjusted according to at least one of a plurality of background radiation data based on a determined background environment about the container. The collected and adjusted radiation data is compared to one or more stored spectral images representing one or more isotopes to identify one or more isotopes present. The identified one or more isotopes present are corresponded to possible materials or goods that they represent.
US07864059B2 Portable tracking alarm apparatus
A portable tracking alarm apparatus in a wrist watch configuration includes a main body and a strap. The main body includes a locator transmitter module, a micro-switch, and a trigger assembly. The strap is used for the user to wear, and has a hook that extends into the main body to hook the trigger assembly, such that the trigger assembly will not contact the micro-switch. When the strap is destroyed to cause the hook parting from the trigger assembly, the trigger assembly will touch and press the micro-switch to make the locator transmitter module emit a warning message.
US07864057B2 Pet locating device
A pet location system having a pet locator with GPS capabilities in communication with a wireless network such that a user interface accessible on a common computer network or by telephone is provided. The pet location system includes access to the user interface via a computer on the common computer network or via a telecommunications network.
US07864048B1 Device location transition awareness in a wireless modem
A method is provided in a communication system for determining a relative position change of a wireless modem. The first location of the wireless modem is determined, and then the wireless modem reports the first location to a service node. A dead reckoning device within the wireless modem then determines a second location of the wireless modem. If the second location is greater than a predetermined distance from the first location, then the wireless modem reports the second location to the service node.
US07864047B2 System and method for monitoring alarms and responding to the movement of individuals and assets
A monitoring system is provided, by which alarm information and location data from a wireless personal tracking device carried by an individual is transmitted to an administrative hub for processing and action according to defined rules, including dispatching optimum assistance in the event of an alarm. Simultaneous monitoring of a plurality of individuals with diverse tracking units and effective event recording and reporting can be implemented.
US07864044B2 System for monitoring unsupervised workers and generating and delivering a report based on the monitored activities such as utilizing a third party service provider and system subscription
A system for monitoring an unsupervised worker is provided that includes a plurality of sensors and a base station provided at the monitored location, a service provider server located remotely from the monitored location and operated by a third party service provider, and a computing device associated with a subscriber to the system. At least a portion of the sensed data is sent to and stored by the service provider server so that a report based thereon may, at the request of the system subscriber, be selectively generated and provided to the system subscriber. The computing device is also adapted to generate configuration data for one or more of the sensors and transmit the configuration data to the service provider server. The configuration data is then sent to the base station and used to control the operation of the sensors.
US07864039B2 Methods and systems for monitoring structures and systems
Methods and systems for passenger monitoring and system control is provided. The system includes at least one sensor system configured to monitor an environment immediately surrounding the respective passenger and biometrics of the respective passenger and generate sensor data indicative of a state of the passenger. The system also includes a processing system configured to receive the sensor data. The processing system includes an ontology and reasoning module configured to model at least one of the plurality of passengers, reason about the received sensor data associated with the at least one of the plurality of passengers. The processing system also includes a contextual analyzer configured to transmit the received sensor data to said ontology and reasoning module and to store the information into a contextual information database.
US07864034B2 Driver assisting system for vehicle and vehicle equipped with the driver assisting system
A system assists a driver occupying a seat within a vehicle traveling on a road. The system includes sensing apparatus that senses a plurality of different types of conditions regarding the vehicle. Information apparatus provides information regarding the different types of conditions to the driver by respective different types of haptic inputs.
US07864033B2 Active safety apparatus
An active safety device for a motor vehicle comprises: obstacle detection device for detecting an obstacle; vehicle path prediction device for predicting a future path of the vehicle; collision possibility calculation device for calculating the possibility of a collision between the vehicle and the obstacle; and collision responding device for informing a driver of the presence of the obstacle or controlling the vehicle so as not to approach the obstacle according to the possibility of the collision between the vehicle and the obstacle, wherein the device further comprises: obstacle storage device for storing a position of the obstacle; and position estimation device for estimating a relative position between the vehicle and the obstacle from the position of the obstacle stored by the obstacle storage device, a vehicle speed of the vehicle, a yaw angular velocity of the vehicle, and a sideslip angle of the vehicle.
US07864032B2 Collision determination device and vehicle behavior control device
A control unit 5 calculates, by a statistical processing, the current front/rear-directional acceleration, the current front/rear-directional velocity, and the current front/rear-directional position of the three-dimensional object to be determined while considering an error caused by a camera. These values are used in the statistical processing so as to calculate the front/rear-directional acceleration after Δt seconds, the front/rear-directional velocity after Δt seconds, and the front/rear-directional position after Δt seconds, and so as to obtain a probability of contact after Δt seconds based on the front/rear-directional position after Δt seconds.
US07864030B2 Safety system for trucks
A system for encouraging the use of a load stabilizer in a cargo carrying vehicle comprising a storage device which has a detector, the detector being adapted to sense the presence or absence of a stabilizing member such as a shoring bar, the detector being designed to emit a first signal upon sensing the presence of the stabilizing member and to emit a second signal upon sensing the absence of the stabilizing member. The signal could activate or trigger a visual or audio indicator or alternatively the signal will allow or prevent an action being taken.
US07864029B2 Vehicle-setting-based driver identification system
A system and method for identifying a person as an authorized driver of a vehicle based on settings of the vehicle. The system includes a sensor for detecting a presence of a driver in the vehicle. The system also includes one or more control modules corresponding to the parameters of the vehicle. The parameters can be controlled by the control modules. The system also includes a driver ID controller coupled to the control modules and the sensor. The driver ID controller is configured to recognize the driver as an authorized driver based on inputs from the sensor and the control modules. The driver ID controller can also command the control units to adjust the parameters to predefined one or more attributes corresponding to the authorized driver.
US07864024B2 Electronic assembly having spring-loaded contact bridge with fuse function
An electronic assembly includes an electronic circuit on a circuit board. The circuit includes a conductor path on the circuit board, and at least one SMD component, electronic component and/or electromechanical component that is mounted on the circuit board and connected to the conductor path. A circuit connection between any two of the conductor paths and/or the components is established via a soldered joint and a spring-loaded contact bridge. In the event of excessive power dissipation, the soldered joint melts or weakens and the contact bridge opens due to the spring force.
US07864023B2 Fuse
A fuse incorporates a fusible element assembly and an auxiliary fusible element assembly in a solid arc extinguishing material configuration. The fusible element assembly has a first operating characteristic and the auxiliary fusible element has a second operating characteristic different than the first operating characteristic.
US07864017B2 Thin-film magnetic device, and electronic component module having same
It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic component module with which circuit malfunction can be adequately prevented. There are provided a base having wiring, and a thin-film magnetic device provided on one side of the base. The thin-film magnetic device comprises a first magnetic film disposed facing the base, a second magnetic film disposed on the opposite side of the first magnetic film with respect to the base, and a thin-film coil wound so as to encircle the second magnetic film a plurality of times. The thin-film coil has a plurality of first conductor pattern components provided between the first and second magnetic films, a plurality of second conductor pattern components provided on the opposite side of the second magnetic film with respect to the first magnetic film, and a plurality of connecting conductors that connect the first conductor pattern components and the second conductor pattern components in series. The relative magnetic permeability of the second magnetic film is greater than the relative magnetic permeability of the first magnetic film.
US07864013B2 Devices and methods for redistributing magnetic flux density
Redistributing magnetic flux density within electro-magnetic or permanent magnet devices, as described herein, causes the device to increase its utilization of its magnetic core material and thereby increase its power density (Watts/volume). The preferred embodiment uses magnetic core bias currents, synchronized to the device's magnetizing current, through uniform, longitudinally isolated, magnetic core sections. The preferred embodiment can be complemented with local core bias currents that generate magnetic flux that oppose the incident magnetizing flux in local magnetic core sections with high flux density concentrations such as core corners. An alternative embodiment longitudinally interlaces magnetically isolated core sections of equal magnetic path length and uniform areal cross section. Another alternative embodiment redirects the magnetic flux in spiral wound inductors and transformers to the circumferential direction used in toroids. All magnetic core shapes, materials, and sizes can be modified to accommodate bias currents; however, the tape wound toroidal core featured mostly in transformers and inductors, is the easiest core to modify. Examples of the types of electro-magnetic and permanent magnet devices that benefit from the appropriate application of magnetic flux density redistribution include electrical devices such as transformers, inductors, delay lines, and electromechanical devices such as motors, generators, relays, solenoids, and rail guns.
US07864008B2 Solenoid assembly with shock absorbing feature
A solenoid assembly includes a solenoid having a coil provided with a passageway and a plunger movable within the passageway upon application of electrical power to the coil. A frame holds the solenoid and includes a backstop movably mounted in the frame extending into the coil passageway. The backstop is selectively engaged by the plunger such that the backstop and the plunger are subjected to an impact therebetween. A resilient dampening element is positioned between the frame and the backstop for cushioning the impact between the backstop and the plunger.
US07864007B2 Capsule medical apparatus and current-carrying control method
An object of the present invention is to readily initiate an operation of a capsule medical apparatus which is inserted into a subject and executes a predetermined function. In a capsule endoscope 3 according to the present invention, a reed switch 14 connected to a power supply unit and a function executing unit is arranged parallel to a direction of a longitudinal axis t of a capsule-like casing 16 in the substantially cylindrical capsule-like casing 16 of the capsule endoscope 3. A pair of movable electrodes of the reed switch 14 operates according to magnetic induction of a magnetic field of a magnet 6 applied substantially parallel to the direction t of the longitudinal axis of the capsule-like casing 16, and come into contact with each other. As a result, power supply from the power supply unit to the function executing unit is allowed.
US07864006B2 MEMS plate switch and method of manufacture
Systems and methods for forming an electrostatic MEMS plate switch include forming a deformable plate on a first substrate, forming the electrical contacts on a second substrate, and coupling the two substrates using a hermetic seal. The deformable plate may have a flexible shunt bar which has one end coupled to the deformable plate, and the other end coupled to a contact on the second substrate. Upon activating the switch, the deformable plate urges the shunt bar against a second contact formed in the second substrate, thereby closing the switch. The hermetic seal may be a gold/indium alloy, formed by heating a layer of indium plated over a layer of gold. Electrical access to the electrostatic MEMS switch may be made by forming vias through the thickness of the second substrate.
US07864001B2 Manifold combiner for multi-station broadcast sites apparatus and method
A manifold combiner for a plurality of radio frequency electromagnetic signals includes a first RF bandpass filter element with input and output ports and a first junction element, wherein the first junction element includes a first port connected to the first filter output port, a second port connected to a shorted stub element, and a third port functioning as an output. The signal path toward the stub appears as an open to the first filter. The combiner further includes at least one additional filter element and junction element, with the second port of the additional junction element fed from the output of the previous junction element. Interconnecting sections couple the respective elements. Dimensions of interconnecting sections are selected such that each filter element output sees a single path out of the manifold, through the output of the last junction element, with all other possible paths appearing as open circuits.
US07863994B2 System and method for increasing radio frequency (RF) microwave inductor-capacitor (LC) oscillator frequency tuning range
System and method for increasing the frequency tuning range of a RF/microwave LC oscillator. A preferred embodiment comprises a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) configured to generate an output signal at a frequency that is dependent upon a magnitude of an input voltage level and an effective inductance of an inductive load and a variable inductor coupled to the VCO. The variable inductor comprises a primary inductor coupled to the VCO to produce a magnetic field based upon a current flowing through the primary inductor and a secondary inductor magnetically coupled to the primary inductor, the secondary inductor to affect the magnitude of the effective inductance of the primary inductor.
US07863984B1 High efficiency microwave amplifier
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for operating a microwave amplifier with improved efficiency and reduced harmonic emissions. The disclosed amplifier includes a variable rail voltage supply and a variable input drive stage. A controller continually monitors the amplifier output and adjusts the rail voltage and input drive signal to achieve high efficiency and low harmonic emissions. The amplifier may include a dynamic bias controller configured to operate the gain elements outside the linear region. Efficiencies of over 70% may be achieved by the disclosed amplifier.
US07863982B2 Driving circuit capable of enhancing response speed and related method
A driving circuit of enhancing response speed is disclosed. The driving circuit includes an operational amplifier and a slew rate enhancement unit. The operational amplifier is utilized for generating a driving voltage according to an input voltage. The slew rate enhancement unit is coupled to the operational amplifier, and is utilized for generating a compensation current to the operational amplifier to enlarge a bias current of the operational amplifier according to voltage difference between the input voltage and the driving voltage when variation of the input voltage occurs.
US07863978B1 RF amplifier system for neutralizing internal capacitance in a cavity
An RF amplifier system having closed cavity containing an amplifying device that includes at least a cathode, an anode and a grid and wherein the amplifying device exhibits an internal grid-to-anode capacitance. Apparatus is presented for use in neutralizing the internal capacitance. This includes a feedback circuit including an external capacitor of fixed value and a phase inverting transformer having a transformer primary winding connected in series with the capacitor to the cathode. The transformer has a secondary winding connected between the cathode and the grid for supplying a phase inverted negative feedback voltage to the grid for neutralizing the cavity by the feedback voltage. The transformer coupling is adjustable to vary the magnitude of the feedback voltage.
US07863977B1 Fully differential non-inverted parallel amplifier for detecting biology electrical signal
This invention relates to a fully differential non-inverting parallel amplifier for detecting biology electrical signal, including input buffer circuits, differential filter circuits, data selector, non-inverting parallel amplifying circuits and analog-digital circuits. The biology electrical signal, first impeded and converted by the input buffer circuits, and then low-pass filtered by the differential filter circuits, shall be amplified with its common mode signal rejected by passing through the data selector and non-inverting parallel amplifier circuits. At last, the amplified biology electrical signal is output by analog to digital conversion in the analog-digital circuits after its noises beyond signal high frequency band are filtered by anti-aliasing filter net. This invention, with low noise and high common mode rejection ratio, stable baseline, large signal input dynamic range, is reliable and not easy to be saturated. Furthermore, it can support mature PACE Detecting with a low cost. It is notable in social and economical benefits for its simple electrical circuits and easy use in any biology electrical testing equipments and controlling system.
US07863959B2 Apparatus and methods for a high-voltage latch
Some embodiments include a device having storage node and a latch circuit coupled to the storage node to latch data provided to the storage node during one of a first mode and a second mode of the device. The latch circuit includes a first transistor, a second transistor, and a third transistor coupled between a first voltage node and a second voltage node. The third transistor is configured to selectively turn on and off in the first and second modes. Other embodiments are described.
US07863956B2 Pulse-elimination pulse-width modulation
Instead of reducing the pulse widths of all pulses simultaneously in order to reduce the output power of a switched-mode amplifier linearized by a pulse-width modulator, the width of every other (or every n-th) pulse is reduced. When the widths of the selected pulses have been reduced to zero, the amplifier's output power can be further reduced by selecting further pulses from the remaining non-zero-width pulses, and reducing the widths of those pulses. For example, after every other pulse of an original output signal has been removed, every other pulse of the remaining pulses can be reduced to obtain still lower amplifier output power. In this way, the number of pulses (and thus the number of switching transitions) is reduced for small signals, and therefore the amplifier's switching losses are reduced and efficiency is improved.
US07863954B2 Timing vernier using a delay locked loop
A method for synchronizing a plurality of programmable timing verniers with a reference pulse signal, each of the verniers being programmable to one of a plurality of timing steps within a delay range determined by a control signal applied to a bias input. A first and second control vernier is selected from the plurality of verniers, the first control vernier is programmed to a first delay, and the second control vernier is programmed to a second delay. The first and second control verniers are triggered together to generate respective first and second delay signals. A difference pulse signal is generated with a duty cycle corresponding to a difference between the generated first delay signal and second delay signal. The duty cycle of the pulse signal is compared to a duty cycle of the reference pulse signal to generate a difference signal pulse. The difference signal pulse is coupled to the bias input of the verniers to adjust the delay range, such that the duty cycle of the difference signal approaches the duty cycle of the reference pulse signal. In one embodiment there is provided a circuit for implementing the method.
US07863952B2 Method and circuit for controlling clock frequency of an electronic circuit with noise mitigation
A technique to mitigate noise spikes in an electronic circuit device such as an integrated circuit. The clock frequency of a clock signal used by the electronic circuit is controlled such that instantaneously large changes to the clock frequency are avoided by use of a frequency filter that is capable of generating frequency ramps having a linear slope which is used as a feedback signal in a digital phase-locked loop clock circuit in lieu of a discrete, stair-stepped feedback control signal.
US07863946B2 Electric signal outputting apparatus with a switching part, an impedance matching part, and an auxiliary switching part
The present invention discloses an electric signal outputting apparatus in a serial electric transmission system. The electric signal outputting apparatus includes a switching part for switchably generating high and low output signals in accordance with signal data and transmitting the output signals to a transmission path, an impedance matching part for matching an output impedance to the impedance of the transmission path, and an auxiliary switching part for subsidiarily supplying current to an output node in the transmission path and subsidiarily absorbing current from the output node in the transmission path when the switching part switches the generation between high and low output signals, wherein the auxiliary switching part conducts the supplying and the absorbing for a period shorter than a pulse width of a reference clock of the serial electric transmission system.
US07863943B2 Sampling device and circuit having a single voltage supply
In embodiments of the present invention a device, circuit, and method are described for sampling input signal voltages, which may include voltages below a negative supply voltage for the device or circuit, without requiring static current from the input. Various embodiments of the invention obviate the requirement of an external negative supply voltage or attenuation resistors to allow sampling between a positive and negative voltage range. These embodiments result in a lower power sampling solution as well as simplifying any driver circuitry required by the sampler. The embodiments of the invention may be applied to sampling processes within analog-to-digital converters and may also be applicable to various other types of circuits in which a sampling input having input voltages that are lower than its negative supply voltage.
US07863942B2 Voltage detecting circuit
A voltage detecting circuit for comparing a voltage to be detected with a reference voltage and outputting an output signal having a level depending on the comparison is disclosed. The voltage detecting circuit includes an inverting amplifier circuit configured to receive an intermediate signal having a level depending on the comparison and output the output signal. The inverting amplifier circuit includes an active element having a control terminal. A threshold voltage of the control terminal is as low as or lower than the reference voltage. The voltage to be detected is applied to the control terminal of the active element.
US07863938B2 Address decoder and method for setting an address
An address decoder that sets an address of a module connected to a bus includes a level comparator, an edge detector, and an output decoder. The level comparator compares an SDA signal, which is input to an SDA terminal, with an address selection signal, which is input to an ADDR terminal, and outputs a comparison result. When the two signals match, the comparison is repeated until slave addresses are all received. When the two signals do not match, subsequent comparisons are not performed. The edge detector detects an edge of the address selection signal input to the ADDR terminal. The output decoder sets an address corresponding to the connected destination of the ADDR terminal to determine an address of a slave module connected to the address decoder.
US07863931B1 Flexible delay cell architecture
A flexible delay cell architecture and related methods are provided that may be used, for example, with input/output (I/O) blocks of a programmable logic device (PLD). In one implementation, a PLD includes a delay cell comprising a plurality of delay elements. The delay elements are adapted to delay an input signal to provide an output signal according to a delay setting corresponding to a number of the delay elements. The PLD also includes a register adapted to store the delay setting. The PLD further includes an edge monitor adapted to signal whether an edge transition of the output signal has occurred during a time window. In addition, the PLD includes logic adapted to adjust the delay setting stored by the register in response to the edge monitor signaling the edge transition.
US07863930B2 Programmable device, control method of device and information processing system
A programmable device operates at high speed while reducing power consumption. The programmable device includes a plurality of processing tiles each including a configuration memory and a core logic unit, a configuration control unit for programming them, and a power control unit for cutting off a power supply depending on an operating state. The power supply of the core logic unit is cut off after saving the internal state of the core logic unit in the configuration memory, and power is supplied again to the core logic unit before the internal state is restored from the configuration memory to the core logic unit, thus saving power while maintaining the internal state.
US07863927B2 Semiconductor device
The present invention is directed to adjust a resistance value of an output buffer on the basis of a resistance value of an external resistor. A potential according to a resistance ratio between an external resistor and each of resistance adjusters is detected by a code generator. In the code generator, code signals for adjusting resistance are adjusted in accordance with the detection result. The resistance value of each of the resistance adjusters is adjusted to an external resistor. Further, by code signals with which the resistance value of each of the resistance adjusters is adjusted to the resistance value of the external resistor, the resistance of the resistance value of an output buffer is adjusted.
US07863926B2 Device forming a logic gate for minimizing the differences in electrical or electro-magnetic behavior in an integrated circuit manipulating a secret
An electrical device having a logic gate whose consumption is independent from its input data and its logic state. To this end, the device uses logic means forming switches. The interest in having a device of this type is, for example, to protect chip cards and other cryptosystems from attacks via auxiliary channels, such as collision attacks by and attacks by differential analysis of current, power or consumption. This protection is provided by the hardware. The device is for integration in all devices requiring such a protection.
US07863925B2 Test circuit, wafer, measuring apparatus, and measuring method
There is provided a wafer on which a plurality of electronic devices and circuits under test are to be formed, where each circuit under test includes a plurality of transistors under measurement provided in electrically parallel, a selecting section which sequentially selects the respective transistors under measurement, and an output section which sequentially outputs the source voltages of the transistors under measurement sequentially selected by the selecting section.
US07863917B2 Semiconductor chip having a crack test circuit and method of testing a crack of a semiconductor chip using the same
A semiconductor chip includes a line structure arranged along a peripheral region of the semiconductor chip region in order to inspect a crack, a first pad and second pad arranged on different end portions of the line structure, a second pad arranged on another end portion of the line structure, an inspection device activated during a crack test mode to electrically connect the first pad, the line structure and the second pad. The inspection device may include a first switching circuit connected between the first pad and the line structure, the first switching circuit being deactivated during a normal operation mode and being activated a crack test mode; and a second switching circuit connected between the second pad and the line structure, the second switching circuit being deactivated during the normal operation mode and being activated during the crack test mode.
US07863914B2 Method for testing semiconductor memory device using probe and semiconductor memory device using the same
Example embodiments relate to a semiconductor memory device including a first pad having a probe region and a sensing region, the first pad may be adapted to come in contact with a primary probe, a sensing unit adapted to sense a weak contact of the first pad and the primary probe, the sensing unit may generate an output current in response to a contact point of the primary probe, and a second pad may be adapted to come in contact with a secondary probe to input/output an electric signal. The output current of the sensing unit may be output through the second pad or the secondary probe.
US07863901B2 Applications of wideband EM measurements for determining reservoir formation properties
A method for determining reservoir formation properties that consists of exciting the reservoir formation with an electromagnetic exciting field, measuring an electromagnetic signal produced by the electromagnetic exciting field in the reservoir formation, extracting from the measured electromagnetic signal a spectral complex resistivity as a function of frequency, fitting the spectral complex resistivity with an induced polarization model and deducing the reservoir formation properties from the fitting with the induced polarization model.
US07863896B2 Systems and methods for calibrating functional magnetic resonance imaging of living tissue
Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for calibrating functional magnetic resonance imaging of living tissue. For example, a calibration method includes providing a contrast signal simulation device configured for generating one or more pre-determined contrast simulation signals selected from a group consisting of BOLD and BOSS contrast simulation signals that simulate at least one contrast signal generated by living tissue of a subject and positioning the contrast signal simulation device adjacent to the subject. The method includes using an imaging instrument to take first and second data sets from the subject's tissue while the contrast signal simulation device is disposed adjacent to the subject and while generating and not generating the one or more pre-determined contrast simulation signals, respectively. The method also includes using the first and second data sets to determine at least one figure of merit of the imaging instrument, the contrast simulation device, and/or the living tissue.
US07863886B2 Method for determining the resonant frequency(s) of an energized power line carrier line (wave) trap
A method for testing a line trap of the type whose blocking characteristics are a function of its resonant frequencies without requiring the line trap to be de-energized along with the transmission line to which the trap is connected by injecting a signal into the transmission line over a range of frequencies including at least one of the line trap's expected resonant frequencies; measuring the magnetic field strength produced by the current through the line trap's main coil and the total current flowing through the line trap, and computing the ratio of the magnetic fields where the ratio is computed over a range of frequencies that includes the expected resonant frequency(s) of the line trap, such that the resonant frequencies are indicated where said ratio is at a local maxima or minima.
US07863884B1 Sub-volt bandgap voltage reference with buffered CTAT bias
Circuits, methods, and apparatus that provide voltage references having a temperature independent output voltage that is less then the bandgap of silicon. The temperature coefficient and absolute voltage can be independently adjusted. One example generates two voltages, the first of which is proportional-to-absolute temperature and the second of which is complementary-to-absolute temperature. These voltages are placed across a first resistor. The first resistor is further connected to a second resistor to form a resistor divider. The resistor divider provides a reduced voltage that is below that bandgap of silicon. The temperature coefficient of the reference voltage provided by the resistor divider can be set by adjusting the first resistor. The absolute voltage provided can be set by adjusting the second resistor.
US07863883B2 Low-voltage current reference and method thereof
A low-voltage current reference providing a current being substantially constant with temperature includes a low voltage bandgap, a start circuit coupled to the low voltage bandgap, and a current summer coupled to the low voltage bandgap and to the start circuit. The low voltage bandgap is for providing a constant voltage reference, and the start circuit is for starting the low voltage bandgap from a non-start mode and for providing a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) current reference. The current summer is for providing a constant current reference according to the constant voltage reference and the PTAT current reference.
US07863882B2 Bandgap voltage reference circuits and methods for producing bandgap voltages
A bandgap voltage reference circuit includes a first circuit portion and a second circuit portion. The first circuit portion generates a voltage complimentary to absolute temperature (VCTAT). The second circuit portion generates a voltage proportional to absolute temperature (VPTAT) that is added to the VCTAT to produce a bandgap voltage reference output. The first circuit portion includes a plurality of delta base-emitter voltage (VBE) generators, connected as a plurality of stacks of delta VBE generators. Each delta VBE generator can include a pair of transistors that operate at different current densities and thereby generate a difference in base-emitter voltages (ΔVBE). The plurality of delta VBE generators within each stack are connected to one another, and the plurality of stacks of delta VBE generators are connected to one another, such that the ΔVBEs generated by the plurality of delta VBE generators are arithmetically added to produce the VPTAT.
US07863876B2 Built-in self-calibration (BISC) technique for regulation circuits used in non-volatile memory
A reference voltage regulation circuit (143) is provided in which one or more input voltage signals (Vref, Vref′) are selectively coupled to a configurable amplifier (114) which is coupled through a sample and hold circuit (120) to a voltage follower circuit (122) which is coupled in feedback to the configurable amplifier (114) for generating an adjusted output voltage at a circuit output (130), where the voltage follow circuit comprises a resistor divider circuit (126) that is controlled by a calibration signal (Cal) generated by a counter circuit (128) selectively coupled to the output of the configurable amplifier when configured as a comparator for generating the calibration signal in response to a clock signal, where the calibration signal represents a voltage error component (Verror, Voffset) that is removed from the circuit output when the calibration signal is applied to the resistor divider circuit during normal operational.
US07863850B2 Apparatus, system, and method for simulating outputs of a resolver to test motor-resolver systems
An apparatus, system, and method are provided for simulating outputs of a resolver. One apparatus includes an adjustable sine waveform generator for simulating first and second sine wave signals, and an adjustable cosine waveform generator for simulating first and cosine wave signals. The apparatus also includes an adjustable waveform generator and an adjustable gain circuit coupled to the sine waveform generator and cosine waveform generator. The system includes a device simulating a resolver coupled to a motor controller. The device includes an adjustable sine waveform generator and an adjustable cosine waveform generator coupled to an adjustable waveform generator and an adjustable gain circuit. One method includes transmitting a signal simulating at least one resolver fault condition to a motor controller to determine if the motor controller detects the fault condition(s). If the motor controller fails to detect the fault condition(s) and/or transmit an error message, the motor controller is malfunctioning.
US07863813B2 Inorganic electroluminescence device using quantum dots
An inorganic electroluminescence device including: a substrate; a first electrode formed on the substrate; an inorganic light emitting layer layer formed on the first electrode; a dielectric layer formed on the inorganic light emitting layer; a second electrode formed on the dielectric layer; and a quantun dot layer that is formed between the first electrode and the inorganic light emitting layer and emits light by being excited by visible light emitted from the inorganic light emitting layer.
US07863808B2 Resonant cavity color conversion EL device and organic EL display device using the same
A resonant cavity color conversion EL element in which intensity of converted light from a color conversion layer is increased and an organic EL display device in which viewing angle dependence of the color tone is small and the manufacturing process is simple. The EL element includes at least a pair of electrodes; a functional layer includes a light-emitting layer and is sandwiched by the pair of electrodes; a color conversion layer that absorbs light emitted from the light-emitting layer and emits light with a different wavelength; and a pair of light reflective layers. Notably, the pair of light reflective layers are composed of a non-transparent reflective layer and a semi-transparent reflective layer that have a distance therebetween that is set at an optical distance to construct a microcavity that increases intensity of light with a specific wavelength emitted from the color conversion layer.
US07863806B2 Color field emission display having carbon nanotubes
A color field emission display includes a sealed container having a light permeable portion and at least one color element enclosed in the sealed container. The color element includes a cathode, at least two anodes, at least two phosphor layers and at least two CNT strings. The phosphor layers are formed on the end surfaces of the anode. The CNT strings are electrically connected to and in contact with the cathode with the emission portion thereof suspending. The phosphor layers are opposite to the light permeable portion, and one emission portion is corresponding to one phosphor layer. The luminance of the color FED is enhanced at a relatively low voltage.
US07863805B2 Diamond electron emission cathode, electron emission source, electron microscope, and electron beam exposure device
It is possible to provide an electron emission cathode, an electron emission source having a high-luminance and narrow energy width by using diamond and an electronic device using them. The diamond electron discharge cathode has a monocrystal diamond at least at a part of it. The diamond electron emission cathode has a columnar shape including a sharpened section and a heating section. The sharpened section has an electron emission section. The electron emission section and the heating section are formed by diamond semiconductor, which is formed by a p-type semiconductor containing 2×1015 cm−3 of p-type impurities or above. The electron emission section has the semiconductor. A metal layer is formed on the surface of the electron emission cathode. The metal layer exists at least at a part of the heating section. The distance from the electron emission section to the position nearest to the end of the metal layer is 500 μm. A pair of current introduction terminals supplies current to the heating section to heat the heating section. A part of the introduced electrons is emitted from the electron emission section.
US07863803B2 Tuning fork resonator element and tuning fork resonator
A tuning fork resonator element that has a base portion, first and second resonating arms extending from the base portion in a first direction, and a support frame sandwiching the first and second resonating arms and being connected to the base portion includes: a first excitation electrode, formed in an area close to a connection portion with the base portion of the support frame, being connected to a mount electrode with a conductive adhesive; a second excitation electrode, formed in at least one of an area sandwiching the first and second resonating arms of the support frame and an area positioned farther than the first and second resonating arms in the first direction, being connected to a mount electrode with the conductive adhesive; and a cut portion of the support frame formed on an external surface of the support frame.
US07863798B2 Nanocrystal powered nanomotor
A nanoscale nanocrystal which may be used as a reciprocating motor is provided, comprising a substrate having an energy differential across it, e.g. an electrical connection to a voltage source at a proximal end; an atom reservoir on the substrate distal to the electrical connection; a nanoparticle ram on the substrate distal to the atom reservoir; a nanolever contacting the nanoparticle ram and having an electrical connection to a voltage source, whereby a voltage applied between the electrical connections on the substrate and the nanolever causes movement of atoms between the reservoir and the ram. Movement of the ram causes movement of the nanolever relative to the substrate. The substrate and nanolever preferably comprise multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and the atom reservoir and nanoparticle ram are preferably metal (e.g. indium) deposited as small particles on the MWNTs. The substrate may comprise a silicon chip that has been fabricated to provide the necessary electrodes and other electromechanical structures, and further supports an atomic track, which may comprise an MWNT.
US07863794B2 Armature winding of rotating electrical machine
There is provided a 3-phase 2-layer armature winding of a rotating electrical machine. The lead-out connection conductor connected to the output terminal is connected to a coil piece positioned at least farther than a first coil piece inside the phase belt counted from the end of the each phase belt, and a coil piece positioned at the end of the phase belt is connected to a coil piece positioned at least farther than the n-th (n is an integer larger than 1) inside the phase belt counted from the other end of the phase belt in the same parallel circuit, by a jumper wire.
US07863791B2 Device and method for assembling electric motor
A motor mounting device includes a polymeric motor housing having a cylindrical housing section for receiving motor components including a rotor. The housing section incorporates a detent feature disposed along the interior surface, with the interior surface inclined to gradually converge in a distal direction. The housing further has a distal end section that includes a first bearing seat centered on the housing axis. A rotor retaining member has an annular outer surface terminating at an arcuate peripheral edge, and comprises a second bearing seat. The rotor retaining member is insertable distally into the cylindrical housing section, following insertion of a rotor, to engage the first and second bearing seats respectively with distal and proximal bearings on a rotor shaft, to secure the rotor for rotation relative to the housing. During such insertion, the retaining member outer surface and the interior surface of the cylindrical housing section interact to center the retaining member.
US07863788B2 System concept for mills and classifiers with magnetic bearing spindle drives
A system for process-technological machines such as mills and classifiers having an enclosed design with no rotary unions between the ambient air and system interior. This system is particularly useful for CIP and SIP operation modes or glove-box operations. The mills or classifiers include an encapsulation that seals the components of the magnetic bearing spindle drive against the working zone of the shaft in the magnetic bearing spindle housing. The magnetic bearing spindle drive is designed such that the shaft can be removed to facilitate simpler and easier component exchange as well as thorough cleaning.
US07863787B2 Compact high power alternator
A compact, high power, power conversion apparatus including a rotor and a stator. The rotor includes a cylindrical casing, and a predetermined number of permanent magnets disposed on the casing, and is adapted for rotation about the axis of the casing. The stator includes a core and a plurality of sets of conductive windings, each set including a predetermined number of individual conductive windings and associated with an electrical phase. A respective collecting conductor is associated with each set of conductive windings, with each individual conductive winding of the set being electrically connected to the associated collecting conductor. The respective collecting conductors are disposed in a coolant flow path a coolant flow path directing coolant into contact with the stator windings, electrically isolated from each other and spaced apart from each other and from the windings. Collecting conductors in the form of continuous rings and in the form of a plurality of arcs are disclosed.
US07863783B2 Brushless type of vehicular AC generator
A brushless alternating current generator for vehicles comprises a stator, rotor, field winding, rectifier, housing, cover, and extension member. The rectifier has plural rectifying elements to rectify a voltage from the stator winding and output the rectified voltage and a radiating fin to which the rectifying elements are attached. The housing has a side wall and houses both the stator and the rotor and has an end face to which electric parts including the rectifier are attached. The side wall is along the axial direction. The end face is along the radial direction. Both the side wall and the radiating fin are mutually adjacent to provide a gap in the radial direction. The cover encloses the end face of the housing and has plural air inlets that takes in cooling air. The extension member is secured to the cover and extends into the gap in the axial direction.
US07863779B1 Energy management and power distribution method and system
An energy management and power conversion method and system that may reduce wasted energy in one or more ways. One method is by providing one or more management control points, such as a web based computer and a programming means for overall monitoring and control of a power distribution system. Another is by providing one or more power controllers that may manage one or more AC to DC power supplies and optionally one or more batteries so that they operate in an efficient manner. Another method is by providing power to one or more DC controllers that may be individually enabled and disabled to shut down power to connected end user devices to conserve energy.
US07863775B2 Power management and control in electronic equipment
To manage power of a fuel cell and a battery for an electronic device, an amount of power consumed by an operation module in the electronic device may be sensed. Generated voltage capacity of the fuel cell and remaining capacity of the battery may be acquired. The battery may be charged/discharged based on the sensed amount of consumed power and the generated voltage capacity of the fuel cell. A performance limit signal may be provided to the operation module if the sensed amount of consumed power exceeds a sum of the generated voltage capacity of the fuel cell and the remaining capacity of the battery. The operation module may adjust a frequency of an internal operation clock in response to the performance limit signal.
US07863766B2 Power converter for use with wind generator
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a turbine to generate mechanical energy from kinetic energy, a generator coupled to the turbine to receive the mechanical energy and to output multiple isolated supply powers, and multiple power stages each coupled to the generator. Each of the power stages may receive at least one of the isolated supply powers.
US07863760B2 Roll-to-roll fabricated encapsulated semiconductor circuit devices
An encapsulated semiconductor device, comprising a first substrate having an electrically conductive surface; a second substrate having an electrically conductive pattern disposed thereon; and a pattern of semiconductor elements, each of the semiconductor elements having a first conductor and a second conductor. The encapsulated semiconductor device includes an adhesive having the pattern of semiconductor elements fixed thereto and disposed between the electrically conductive surface and the electrically conductive pattern to form a lamination, the adhesive being activatable to bind the second substrate to the first substrate so that one of the first conductor and the second conductor is automatically brought into and maintained in electrical communication with the electrically conductive pattern of the second substrate and so that the other of the first conductor and the second conductor of each semiconductor element is automatically brought into and maintained in electrical communication with the electrically conductive surface.
US07863756B2 Semiconductor device
A non-insulated DC-DC converter has a power MOS•FET for a highside switch and a power MOS•FET for a lowside switch. In the non-insulated DC-DC converter, the power MOS•FET for the highside switch and the power MOS•FET for the lowside switch, driver circuits that control operations of these elements, respectively, and a Schottky barrier diode connected in parallel with the power MOS•FET for the lowside switch are respectively formed in four different semiconductor chips. These four semiconductor chips are housed in one package. The semiconductor chips are mounted over the same die pad. The semiconductor chips are disposed so as to approach each other.
US07863750B2 Semiconductor device capable of suppressing warping in a wafer state and manufacturing method thereof
In this manufacturing method of a semiconductor device, after a sealing film is applied over an entire surface of a semiconductor wafer and hardened, a second groove for forming a side-section protective film is formed in the sealing film and on the top surface side of the semiconductor wafer. In other words, the sealing film is formed in a state where a groove that causes strength reduction has not been formed on the top surface side of the semiconductor wafer. Since the second groove is formed on the top surface side of the semiconductor wafer after the sealing film is formed, the semiconductor wafer is less likely to warp when the sealing film, made of liquid resin, is hardened.
US07863745B2 Semiconductor device, manufacturing method of the semiconductor device, and mounting method of the semiconductor device
A semiconductor device, including a semiconductor substrate where a plurality of functional elements is formed; and a multilayer interconnection layer provided over the semiconductor substrate, the multilayer interconnection layer including a wiring layer mutually connecting the plural functional elements and including an interlayer insulation layer, wherein a region where the wiring layer is formed is surrounded by a groove forming part, the groove forming part piercing the multilayer interconnection layer; and the groove forming part is filled with an organic insulation material.
US07863743B1 Capactive connectors with enhanced capacitive coupling
A single-chip module (SCM) and a multi-chip module (MCM) that includes at least two instances of the SCM are described. The SCM includes a pad disposed on a substrate. This pad has a top surface that includes a pattern of features. A given feature in the pattern of features has a height that extends above a minimum thickness of the pad, thereby increasing a capacitance associated with the pad relative to a configuration in which the top surface is planar. Furthermore, pads disposed on the two instances of the SCM in the MCM may each have a corresponding pattern of features that increases the capacitive coupling between the pads relative to a configuration in which the top surfaces of either or both of the pads are planar. Note that the pads may be aligned such that features in the patterns of features on these pads are interdigited with each other.
US07863736B2 Semiconductor device and signal terminating method thereof
A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor chip including a signal terminating resistor coupled between a signal input pad and a first ground voltage pad, a semiconductor package including a signal input terminal and a first ground voltage terminal, the signal input terminal being electrically coupled to the signal input pad of the semiconductor chip and the first ground voltage terminal being electrically coupled to the first ground voltage pad of the semiconductor chip, a capacitor and a resistor that are coupled between the signal input terminal and the first ground voltage terminal, and a first inductor realized by coupling the signal input terminal and the signal input pad.
US07863718B2 Electronic tag chip
In order to extend the communication distance of an electronic tag chip, it is required to reduce power consumption of the electronic tag chip. After having formed capacitors and diodes on an SOI (Silicon on Insulator), remove a silicon substrate of the SOI. It becomes possible to reduce the capacitors and diodes of the electronic tag chip in parasitic capacitance relative to the ground, which makes it possible to reduce the power consumption of the electronic tag chip, thereby enabling the electronic tag chip to increase in communication distance thereof.
US07863714B2 Monolithic MEMS and integrated circuit device having a barrier and method of fabricating the same
An integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor die, the semiconductor die including a semiconductor substrate, driving/control circuitry disposed along a peripheral region of the semiconductor die, a MEMS device disposed within a central region of the semiconductor die, and a barrier disposed between the driving/control circuitry and the MEMS device.
US07863708B2 Power device edge termination having a resistor with one end biased to source voltage
A field effect transistor (FET) includes a source electrode for receiving an externally-provided source voltage. The FET further includes an active region and a termination region surrounding the active region. A resistive element is coupled to the termination region, wherein upon occurrence of avalanche breakdown in the termination region an avalanche current starts to flow in the termination region, and the resistive element is configured to induce a portion of the avalanche current to flow through the termination region and a remaining portion of the avalanche current to flow through the active region. During operation, one end of the resistive element is biased to the source voltage.
US07863707B2 DC-DC converter
A semiconductor device includes, in one semiconductor substrate: a plurality of switching elements connected between a terminal of an input voltage and an inductor; a driver circuit connected to a gate electrode of the switching element and driving the switching element; a reference voltage line connected to a source electrode of the switching element; a power supply line of the driver circuit; and a capacitor connected between the power supply line and the reference voltage line.
US07863693B2 Forming conductive stud for semiconductive devices
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of forming a conductive stud contacting a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a protective layer covering the semiconductor device; selectively etching an opening down through the protective layer reaching a contact area of the semiconductor device, the opening being away from a protected area of the semiconductor device; and filling the opening with a conductive material to form the conductive stud. One embodiment may further include forming a dielectric liner directly on top of the semiconductor device, and forming the protective layer on top of the dielectric liner. Embodiments of the present invention also provide a semiconductor device made thereof.
US07863687B2 Semiconductor apparatus
A semiconductor apparatus includes an internal circuit, a CMOS composed of a P-channel MOS transistor with a source connected to a high-potential power supply line and a gate connected to the internal circuit, and an N-channel MOS transistor with a source connected to a low-potential power supply line and a gate connected to the internal circuit, an output terminal connected to a drain of the P-channel MOS transistor and a drain of the N-channel MOS transistor and a protection transistor with a source and a gate connected to one power supply line of the high-potential power supply line and the low-potential power supply line and a drain connected to the output terminal, a conductivity type of the protection transistor being the same as a conductivity type of one MOS transistor of the P-channel MOS transistor and the N-channel MOS transistor, the source of the one MOS transistor being connected to the one power supply line. Resistance of a current path extending from the output terminal through the one MOS transistor to the one power supply line has a value such that, when a voltage at which the protection transistor causes snapback is applied between the output terminal and the one power supply line, a current flowing through the current path is lower than a breakdown current of the one MOS transistor.
US07863682B2 SIC semiconductor having junction barrier Schottky diode
A semiconductor device having a junction barrier Schottky diode includes: a SiC substrate; a drift layer on the substrate; an insulation film on the drift layer having an opening in a cell region; a Schottky barrier diode having a Schottky electrode contacting the drift layer through the opening of the insulation film and an ohmic electrode on the substrate; a terminal structure having a RESURF layer surrounding the cell region; and multiple second conductive type layers on an inner side of the RESURF layer. The second conductive type layers and the drift layer provide a PN diode. The Schottky electrode includes a first Schottky electrode contacting the second conductive type layers with ohmic contact and a second Schottky electrode contacting the drift layer with Schottky contact.
US07863666B2 Capacitor pair structure for increasing the match thereof
A capacitor pair structure for increasing the match thereof has two finger electrode structures interlacing with each other in parallel and a common electrode being between the two finger electrode structures to form a capacitor pair structure with an appropriate ratio. Also, the capacitor pair structure could further increase its entire capacitance through vias connecting the same capacitor pair structures on different metal layers.
US07863662B2 Capacitor to be incorporated in wiring substrate, method for manufacturing the capacitor, and wiring substrate
A wiring substrate in which a capacitor is provided, the capacitor comprising a capacitor body including a plurality of dielectric layers and internal electrode layers provided between the different dielectric layers, wherein said capacitor body has, in at least one side face of said capacitor body, recesses extending in a thickness direction of said capacitor body from at least one of a first principal face of said capacitor body and a second principal face positioned on the side opposite to the first principal face.
US07863660B2 Photodiode and display device
Disclosed is a photodiode having a silicon film (5) formed of a continuous grain silicon, where the silicon film (5) has a p-type semiconductor region (2), an intrinsic semiconductor region (3) and an n-type semiconductor region (4), which are arranged in this order along the surface of the silicon film (5). The intrinsic semiconductor region (3) is formed to be in contact with the p-type semiconductor region (2) and the n-type semiconductor region (4). The distance L from the boundary between the intrinsic semiconductor region (3) and the p-type semiconductor region (2) to the boundary between the intrinsic semiconductor region (3) and the n-type semiconductor region (4) is set to not less than 2.5 μm and not more than 10 μm. The distance L is preferably set to not less than 3 μm and not more than 7 μm.
US07863648B2 Field effect transistor
A field effect transistor (100) exhibiting good performance at high voltage operation and high frequency includes a first field plate electrode (116) and a second field plate electrode (118). The second field plate electrode includes a shielding part (119) located in the region between the first field plate electrode and a drain electrode (114), and serves to shield the first field plate electrode from the drain electrode. When in the cross sectional view in the gate length direction, the length in the gate length direction of an overlap region where the second field plate electrode (118) overlap the upper part of a structure including the first field plate electrode and a gate electrode (113) is designated as Lol, and the gate length is Lg, the relation expressed as 0 ≦Lol/Lg≦1 holds.
US07863638B2 Diode having vertical structure and method of manufacturing the same
A light emitting diode includes a conductive layer, an n-GaN layer on the conductive layer, an active layer on the n-GaN layer, a p-GaN layer on the active layer, and a p-electrode on the p-GaN layer. The conductive layer is an n-electrode.
US07863635B2 Semiconductor light emitting devices with applied wavelength conversion materials
A semiconductor structure includes an active region configured to emit light upon the application of a voltage thereto, a window layer configured to receive the light emitted by the active region, and a plurality of discrete phosphor-containing regions on the window layer and configured to receive light emitted by the active region and to convert at least a portion of the received light to a different wavelength than a wavelength of light emitted by the active region. Methods of forming a semiconductor structure including an active region configured to emit light and a window layer include forming a plurality of discrete phosphor-containing regions on the window layer.
US07863626B2 Surface mountable chip
A surface mountable device having a circuit device and a base section. The circuit device includes top and bottom layers having a top contact and a bottom contact, respectively. The base section includes a substrate having a top base surface and a bottom base surface. The top base surface includes a top electrode bonded to the bottom contact, and the bottom base surface includes first and second bottom electrodes that are electrically isolated from one another. The top electrode is connected to the first bottom electrode, and the second bottom electrode is connected to the top contact by a vertical conductor. An insulating layer is bonded to a surface of the circuit device and covers a portion of a vertical surface of the bottom layer. The vertical conductor includes a layer of metal bonded to the insulating layer.
US07863625B2 Nanowire-based light-emitting diodes and light-detection devices with nanocrystalline outer surface
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to nanowire (100) devices having concentric and coaxial doped regions and nanocrystals (108,110) disposed on the outer surfaces. In certain embodiments, the nanowire devices can include a light-emitting region (120) and be operated as a light-emitting diode (“LED”) (200), while in other embodiments, the nanowire devices can be operated as a light-detection device (600). The nanocrystals (108,110) disposed on the outer surfaces provide electron-conduction paths and include spaces that allow light to penetrate and be emitted from nanowire regions.
US07863623B2 Semiconductor light emitting device
A semiconductor light emitting device includes a substrate 11 including a group III-V nitride semiconductor; a first-conductivity-type layer 12 formed on the substrate 11, the first-conductivity-type layer including a plurality of group III-V nitride semiconductor layers of first conductivity type; an active layer 13 formed on the first semiconductor layer 12; and a second-conductivity-type layer 14 formed on the active layer 13, the second-conductivity-type layer including a group III-V nitride semiconductor layer of second conductivity type. The first-conductivity-type layer 12 includes an intermediate layer 23 made of Ga1-xInxN (0
US07863622B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method therefor
An active layer of an NTFT includes a channel forming region, at least a first impurity region, at least a second impurity region and at least a third impurity region therein. Concentrations of an impurity in each of the first, second and third impurity regions increase as distances from the channel forming region become longer. The first impurity region is formed to be overlapped with a side wall. A gate overlapping structure can be realized with the side wall functioning as an electrode.
US07863616B2 Structure of thin film transistor array
A substrate having a gate electrode layer, a gate insulating layer, and a silicon layer thereon is provided. These layers are patterned into a gate area, a gate line and a gate line wiring area. A passivation layer is formed on the entire substrate and patterned to form two contact holes in the passivation layer on the silicon layer at the gate area, and partions of the passivation layer at the gate line and at the gate line wiring areas are removed. An ion implanting layer and a metal layer are formed on the substrate and patterned to form a source region, a drain region, a data line, a data line wiring area and a second layer of the gate line wiring area. A pixel electrode is formed on the passivation layer and electrically coupled to the drain region. Therefore, the TFT array can be fabricated by only four masks.
US07863612B2 Display device and semiconductor device
An object is to provide a display device with a high aperture ratio or a semiconductor device in which the area of an element is large. A channel formation region of a TFT with a multi-gate structure is provided under a wiring that is provided between adjacent pixel electrodes (or electrodes of an element). In addition, a channel width direction of each of a plurality of channel formation regions is parallel to a longitudinal direction of the pixel electrode. In addition, when a channel width is longer than a channel length, the area of the channel formation region can be increased.
US07863607B2 Thin film transistor array panel and manufacturing method thereof
The disclosed thin film transistor array panel includes an insulating substrate, a channel layer including an oxide formed on the insulating substrate. A gate insulating is layer formed on the channel layer and a gate electrode is formed on the gate insulating layer. An interlayer insulating layer is formed on the gate electrode and a data line formed on the interlayer insulating layer and includes a source electrode, wherein the data line is made of a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer. A drain electrode formed on the interlayer insulating layer, and includes the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. A pixel electrode extends from the first conductive layer of the drain electrode and a passivation layer formed on the data line and the drain electrode. A spacer formed on the passivation layer.
US07863595B2 Reproducible resistance variable insulating memory devices having a shaped bottom electrode
The present invention relates to the use of a shaped bottom electrode in a resistance variable memory device. The shaped bottom electrode ensures that the thickness of the insulating material at the tip of the bottom electrode is thinnest, creating the largest electric field at the tip of the bottom electrode. The arrangement of electrodes and the structure of the memory element makes it possible to create conduction paths with stable, consistent and reproducible switching and memory properties in the memory device.
US07863592B1 Optical night vision device with standard light intensifier
The disclosure relates to a compact optical device, intended for use in a night vision telescope, that includes an objective, a standard light intensifier that rotates the image through 180° between its entry and its exit, an eyepiece, and four optical deflections, one in the objective and three in the eyepiece. The eyepiece, producing a single intermediate image between its entry and its exit, includes a combiner whose deflection angle α depends on its optical index n and the half-field θ of the device. The field width of the device is at least 40°. The invention is applicable notably to night vision binoculars for aircraft or helicopter pilots.
US07863589B1 Shoe sanitizing apparatus
A shoe sanitizing apparatus includes a housing that has a bottom wall, a top wall, a first lateral wall, a second lateral wall, a front wall and a rear wall. The top, bottom, first lateral, second lateral and front walls comprise a transparent material. A light emitter is positioned within the housing. The light emitter emits light having a frequency to kill bacteria. An actuator is operationally coupled to the light emitter and is turned on or off when the actuator is actuated. The housing is positioned within a shoe and the light emitter turned on to kill bacteria in the shoe.
US07863575B2 Radiographic imaging method and radiographic imaging system
A radiographic imaging method and system use a radiation solid state detector or a flat panel detector (FPD). The method and system enable radiographic imaging to be continued for a while after occurrence of pixel defects that may lower image quality and minimizing adverse effects of the pixel defects. The pixel defects are analyzed in the respective local regions on the detector. A pixel defect correction is not made on local regions where the pixel defect exceeds a given tolerance but these regions are marked on the radiographic image for recognition.
US07863570B2 Multiband, single element wide field of view infrared imaging system
A compact, wide field of view, infrared imaging system with two Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR) and, optionally, an additional one Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR) band, has a single, color corrected lens element embedded within the detector/dewar assembly. The lens element has two aspherical surface profiles and utilizes a holographic optical element to manipulate and detect bands of energy that are harmonic components of each other. The infrared imaging system simplifies and shrinks the MWIR/LWIR imager while maintaining all of the required functionality. An exemplary infrared imaging apparatus performs at an F-stop (F/#) of at least 1.4 with a square field of view of 90×90 degrees.
US07863550B2 Focus detection device and focus detection method based upon center position of gravity information of a pair of light fluxes
A focus detection device comprises: an image shift detection unit that detects a relative shift amount of a pair of images formed by a pair of light fluxes having passed through an optical system; and a conversion unit that converts the shift amount to a defocus amount based upon dimensional information of an exit pupil corresponding to an aperture restricting light flux in the optical system and distance information of the exit pupil indicating distance to the exit pupil from a predetermined imaging plane of the optical system.
US07863547B2 Microwave chamber
Microwave apparatus for exposing materials on an elongated member, such as a mandrel, to microwave energy. The apparatus includes a cylindrical microwave exposure chamber (10). Elongated slots (20) spaced about the circumference of the chamber (10) are in communication with openings (50) in the walls of waveguides (28) attached to the exterior (19) of the chamber. Microwave energy fed into the waveguide (28) is coupled into the chamber (10) through the associated openings (50) and slots (20). Bars (54) spaced apart in the direction of wave propagation span the opening (50) in the waveguide for uniform or customized delivery of microwave energy into the chamber (10). A low-profile mode stirrer (38) at the rear end of the chamber further evens out the energy distribution. A front plate (62) seals to the chamber and supports a rotatable mandrel (60) on which material to be exposed to microwave energy in the chamber (10) is wrapped.
US07863535B2 Method and apparatus for processing toothbrushes
A method of processing toothbrushes includes supplying a plurality of toothbrushes with tufts of bristles attached to heads of the toothbrushes. Similar portions of each of the toothbrushes differ in color from each other. A color of the portion of each of the toothbrushes is determined. The toothbrushes are reorganized according to the determined color.
US07863522B2 Semi-conducting polymer compositions for the preparation of wire and cable
Compositions comprising a polyolefin polymer and an expanded graphite exhibit uniform conductivity over a broad range of temperature. In one embodiment, the polyolefin polymer is polypropylene or polyethylene homopolymer or a polypropylene or polyethylene copolymer. The compositions provide uniform conductivity and can be used as a conductive formulation for medium and high voltage cable components.
US07863518B2 Photovoltaic device
A photovoltaic device capable of improving output characteristics is provided. This photovoltaic device comprises a crystalline semiconductor member, a substantially intrinsic first amorphous semiconductor layer formed on the front surface of the crystalline semiconductor member and a first conductivity type second amorphous semiconductor layer formed on the front surface of the first amorphous semiconductor layer, and has a hydrogen concentration peak in the first amorphous semiconductor layer. Thus, the quantity of hydrogen atoms in the first amorphous semiconductor layer is so increased that the hydrogen atoms increased in quantity can be bonded to dangling bonds of silicon atoms forming defects in the first amorphous semiconductor layer for inactivating the dangling bonds.
US07863516B2 Solar cell with epitaxially grown quantum dot material
A monolithic semiconductor photovoltaic solar cell comprising a plurality of subcells disposed in series on an electrically conductive substrate. At least one subcell of the plurality of subcells includes an epitaxially grown self-assembled quantum dot material. The subcells are electrically connected via tunnel junctions. Each of the subcells has an effective bandgap energy. The subcells are disposed in order of increasing effective bangap energy, with the subcell having the lowest effective bandgap energy being closest to the substrate. In certain cases, each subcell is designed to absorb a substantially same amount of solar photons.
US07863514B2 Methods and apparatus for transmitting finger positions to stringed instruments having a light-system
The invention provides systems and methods of for displaying on a second instrument finger positions that were played on a first instrument. A teacher, for example, can play notes and/or chords on a first stringed instrument having a sensor. A processing having a decoder and a message generator can receive signals from the sensor and generate messages that are communicated to a light-system in the second instrument. The light-system displays the finger positions on the second instrument, each finger position corresponding to a finger position played on the first instrument. The processor can receive sensor information from the second information that can be used to determine whether a displayed finger position was correctly played on the second instrument.
US07863508B2 String alignment peg
A String Alignment Plate for stringed instruments to reduce the excess friction in that portion of the string in the head region, generated at the nut of the instrument as a string passes through a notch of the nut and then bends in order to align with the tuning pin or machine head. The additional friction is created at the point of the bend where the string rubs excessively against the nut. This friction impedes tuning and results in differential tension of the string on either side of the nut. The String Alignment Plate is affixed to the head of the instrument and keeps the portion of the string in the head area in-line or parallel with that portion of the same string as it extends from the bridge to the nut, thus removing the bend. Once the string reaches the String Alignment Plate, the string curves around the Peg on the String Alignment Plate to the tuning peg or machine head.
US07863507B2 Semi-hollow body for stringed instruments
The semi-hollow body for stringed instruments includes a plurality of resonance-enhancing baffle pairs, each resonance-enhancing baffle pair having a bifurcated prong shape, similar to a tuning fork. The resonance-enhancing baffle pairs extend from an interior peripheral area of the instrument body and create various combinations of baffled and un-baffled regions in a resonance chamber of the semi-hollow body. A solid, central core region separates an upper resonance chamber from a lower resonance chamber. Alternatively, individual resonance enhancing baffles shaped like reeds are disposed inside the instrument body. The semi-hollow body for stringed instruments can be adapted for guitars, violins, mandolins, ukuleles, or the like, and provides a rich, resonant tone to the instrument while avoiding acoustic feedback problems associated with hollow body instruments. Front and back plates cover front and back portions of the body to give it a solid body look and feel.
US07863501B2 B-type gene from oil palm
The present invention relates generally to genetic sequences and their complementary forms capable of facilitating the modification of a phenotype of a plant. More particularly, the present invention relates to polynucleotide sequences defining B-type genes, to the proteins encoded thereby, to methods for isolating such polynucleotides and to nucleic acid constructs for the expression thereof. The present invention further provides cells, particularly transformed bacterial or plant cells and to differentiated tissue including whole plants and their progeny comprising cells which contain these nucleic acid constructs or parts of the constructs. Plants and parts of plants, such as flowering and reproductive parts including seeds, also form part of the present invention. The genetic sequences of the present invention may be used inter alia for the production of plants and, in particular, oil palm plants, which have modified phenotypes and/or which exhibits more highly desired characteristics such as, for example, male sterility or plants in which the sex ratio may be manipulated, and for the diagnosis and, preferably, elimination of the mantled phenotype.
US07863500B2 Nucleotide sequences mediating plant male fertility and method of using same
Nucleotide sequences mediating male fertility in plants are described, with DNA molecule and amino acid sequences set forth. Promoter sequences and their essential regions are also identified. The nucleotide sequences are useful in mediating male fertility in plants. In one such method, the homozygous recessive condition of male sterility causing alleles is maintained after crossing with a second plant, where the second plant contains a restoring transgene construct having a nucleotide sequence which reverses the homozygous condition. The restoring sequence is linked with a hemizygous sequence encoding a product inhibiting formation or function of male gametes. The maintainer plant produces only viable male gametes which do not contain the restoring transgene construct. Increase of the maintainer plant is also provided by self-fertilization, and selection for seed or plants which contain the construct.
US07863494B2 Hydrocarbon steam cracking catalyst, method for preparing the same and method for preparing light olefin by using the same
Provided are a catalyst for hydrocarbon steam cracking for light olefin production and a method for preparing the same. The catalyst is a simple KMgPO4 catalyst, a supported KMgPO4 catalyst, or a KMgPO4-sintered catalyst. The supported KMgPO4 catalyst is prepared by impregnating a carrier with an aqueous solution of a KMgPO4 precursor and the KMgPO4-sintered catalyst is prepared by mixing a KMgPO4 powder or a KMgPO4 precursor powder with metal oxide followed by sintering. Provided is also a method for producing light olefins such as ethylene and propylene by steam cracking in the presence of the catalyst. When the catalyst comprising KMgSO4 as a catalytic component is used in olefin production, the yield of olefins is increased and the amount of cokes deposited on the catalyst is reduced.
US07863493B2 Process for preparing an organic hydroperoxide, industrial set-up therefore and process wherein such organic hydroperoxide is used in the preparation of an alkylene oxide
A process for preparing an organic hydroperoxide, which process comprises: (a) oxidizing an organic compound to obtain an organic reaction product containing organic hydroperoxide; (b) mixing at least part of the organic reaction product of step (a) with a basic aqueous solution to obtain a mixture of basic aqueous solution and the organic reaction product; (c) separating the mixture of step (b) to obtain a separated organic phase containing organic hydroperoxide, and a separated aqueous phase; (d) mixing at least part of the separated organic phase of step (c) with water to obtain a mixture of an aqueous phase and the organic phase; and (e) separating the mixture of step (d) to obtain a separated organic phase containing organic hydroperoxide, and a separated aqueous phase; in which process the separation to a separated organic phase and a separated aqueous phase in step (e) is carried out with the help of a coalescer containing glass fibers.
US07863489B2 Direct and selective production of ethanol from acetic acid utilizing a platinum/tin catalyst
A process for the selective production of ethanol by vapor phase reaction of acetic acid over a hydrogenating catalyst composition to form ethanol is disclosed and claimed. In an embodiment of this invention reaction of acetic acid and hydrogen over a platinum and tin supported on silica, graphite, calcium silicate or silica-alumina selectively produces ethanol in a vapor phase at a temperature of about 250° C.
US07863487B2 Hydroformylation process with improved control over product isomers
A continuous hydroformylation process for producing a mixture of aldehydes with improved flexibility and stability of a normal/branched (N/I) isomer ratio of the product aldehydes. The process involves reacting one or more olefinically-unsaturated compounds with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of an organopolyphosphite ligand and an organomonophosphite ligand, at least one of such ligands being bonded to a transition metal to form a transition metal-ligand complex hydroformylation catalyst; the process being conducted at a sub-stoichiometric molar ratio of organopolyphosphite ligand to transition metal, at a super-stoichiometric (>2/1) molar ratio of organomonophosphite ligand to transition metal, and at a carbon monoxide partial pressure in the inverse order region of the hydroformylation rate curve; and controlling and varying the isomer ratio by varying the concentration of organopolyphosphite ligand relative to transition metal.
US07863480B2 Process for alkaline hydrolysis of carboxylic acid derivatives to carboxylic acids
The invention relates to a process for alkaline hydrolysis of carboxylic acid derivatives, especially carboxylic esters, to carboxylic acids, wherein, for the alkaline hydrolysis of the carboxylic acid derivatives, red mud which is produced by the Bayer process used for aluminum production is used as a reaction-promoting component, especially as a hydroxide ion source.
US07863478B2 UV filters
The invention relates to compounds of the formula (I) or (II), to compositions which comprise such compounds, to corresponding processes for the preparation of the compounds or the compositions comprising same, and to the use thereof as light-protection filters.
US07863474B2 Process for the preparation of CETP(1)
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of 1-(2-ethyl-butyl)-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid which is useful as an intermediate in the preparation of pharmaceutical active compounds.
US07863468B2 Process for producing propylene oxide
The present invention relates to a process for producing propylene oxide comprising (I) reacting propene with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst to give a mixture (GI) comprising propylene oxide, unreacted propene, and oxygen; (II) separating propylene oxide from mixture (GI) to give a mixture (GII) comprising propene and oxygen; (III) reducing the oxygen comprised in mixture (GII) at least partially by reaction with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst comprising Sn and at least one noble metal.
US07863459B2 Process for preparing onium salts
An 'onium salt, e.g. a quaternary ammonium salt, of an anionic dye may be prepared by mixing an aqueous solution of a salt of the dye with a solution of a water-insoluble 'onium salt in an organic solvent, and separating a solution of the 'onium salt of the anionic dye in the organic solvent from the residual aqueous solution.
US07863454B2 3-substituted-6-aryl pyridines
3-substituted-6-aryl pyridines of Formula I are provided: wherein R1, R2, R3, R8, R9, A and Ar are defined herein. Such compounds are ligands of C5a receptors. Preferred compounds of Formula I bind to C5a receptors with high affinity and exhibit neutral antagonist or inverse agonist activity at C5a receptors. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and to the use of such compounds in treating a variety of inflammatory, cardiovascular, and immune system disorders. In addition, the present invention provides labeled 3-substituted-6-aryl pyridines, which are useful as probes for the localization of C5a receptors.
US07863448B2 Dye for photoelectronic device, photoanode comprising the dye and photoelectronic device employing the photoanode
Disclosed is a novel dye for use in a photoelectronic device, wherein the photoelectronic device is comprised of a photoanode comprising the dye. According to the novel dye, the dye is derived through the introduction of a group which narrows the dihedral angle of the dye ligand as well as through the introduction of conjugated groups. Since the dye has improved light sensitivity and absorption properties, it can be used to fabricate a photoelectronic device with high power conversion efficiency.
US07863445B2 Carboxylic acid derivatives, their preparation and use
Carboxylic acid derivatives where R-R6, X, Y and Z have the meanings stated in the description, and the preparation thereof, are described. The novel compounds are suitable for controlling diseases.
US07863436B2 Induction of apoptosis by inhibition of sirtuin SIRT1 expression
The invention relates to the induction of apoptosis by inhibition of the sirtuin SIRT1 expression, in particular the induction of apoptosis in tumour cells. Materials and methods for inhibiting SIRT1 expression are provided, including RNA interference methods. In particular, the invention provides a method of treating a proliferative disease comprising administering to an individual in need thereof an effective amount of a SIRT1 inhibitor.
US07863429B2 Treatment of inflammatory diseases including psoriasis
Inhibitors of integrin-linked kinase (ILK) are used in the treatment of inflammatory disease, including cutaneous inflammatory diseases, such as psoriasis, scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus and atopic dermatitis.
US07863425B2 Compositions and methods for inhibiting Yersinia pestis infection
The invention provides a gene transfer vector for inducing an immune response against Yersinia pestis in a mammal. The gene transfer vector comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding an immunogenic portion of one or more proteins of Yersinia pestis and/or a nucleic acid sequence encoding a monoclonal antibody directed against Yersinia pestis. The invention further provides a method of producing an immune response against Yersinia pestis in a mammal comprising administration of the gene transfer vector to the mammal. The invention also provides a monoclonal antibody directed against the Virulence (V) antigen of Y. pestis, as well as a hybridoma cell line producing same and a nucleic acid sequence encoding same.
US07863416B2 Nociceptin-based analgesics
The invention relates to a family of hexapeptide compounds exhibiting activity with regard to the ORL-1 receptor. The compounds share a general formula of Arg-Tyr-Tyr-Arg-Trp-Arg, and may be constructed having modifications or substitutions at any position, and may include modifications of the amino- and carboxy-termini of the hexapeptide. These compounds include agents exhibiting agonist activity and antagonist activity when exposed to the human ORL-1 receptor. As such, the hexapeptides may be useful as analgesics, anxiolytics, diuretics, and anti-cancer agents.
US07863415B2 Amino acid and peptide conjugates of amiloride and methods of use thereof
The present invention provides compositions comprising amiloride amino acid and peptide conjugates. Efficient methods are also provided for administering the amiloride conjugates of the present invention for treating cancer or a central nervous system disease or disorder or for preventing or reducing ischemia-reperfusion injury. Further, kits are provided for the treatment of a central nervous system disease or disorder or for the prevention or reduction of ischemia-reperfusion injury using the amiloride conjugates of the present invention.
US07863409B2 Method of separating resin
A separation object including at least two types of resins with different glass transition temperatures (glass transition temperature of a first resin 1
US07863407B2 Integrated polyester production facility
A process for producing terephthalic acid in a TPA facility, polyethylene terephthalate in a PET facility, and containers in a forming facility in which the distance between the TPA facility and the forming facility is less than about 10 miles. There is also described a process for transporting a wet mixture of TPA particles via a convey system to a PET facility. In contrast to traditional processing schemes, the processing steps can be located proximate to each other and can be integrated to eliminate certain intermediate processing steps such as, for example, purification, heating, cooling, and drying.
US07863397B2 Reactive amino-and/or ammonium polysiloxane compounds
The invention relates to amino and/or ammonium-polysiloxane compounds comprising reactive, functional groups and salts of said compounds, especially polyquaternary polysiloxane copolymers and the salts therefrom. The invention also relates to methods for the production thereof, the use thereof for the surface treatment of substrates, such as natural or synthetic fibres or fibre-type substrates, especially as wash-resistant hydrophilic softeners. The invention further relates to the use thereof in cosmetic formulations, and formulations which contain reactive amino- and/or ammonium-polysiloxane compounds and the salts thereof.
US07863393B2 Method for producing polyoxymethylenes
Process for preparation of polyoxymethylenes via polymerization of the monomers a) in the presence of cationic initiators b), and also, if appropriate, in the presence of regulators c), and subsequent deactivation and isolation of the polymer, which comprises undertaking the polymerization in a tubular reactor with static mixing elements and with a mixing zone, a polymerization zone, and a deactivation zone, the diameter of the tubular reactor in the mixing zone being <90% of the diameter in the polymerization zone.
US07863389B2 Rubber composition
A rubber composition having an excellent adhesion with a brass-plated wire and an excellent heat aging resistance of a vulcanite containing (A) 100 parts by weight of a diene-based rubber, (B) 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of, as a vulcanization accelerator, an amine salt compound of a carboxylic acid group-containing disulfide having the formula (I): and (C) 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of, as a vulcanization agent, a cyclic sulfide compound having the formula (V): wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted C2-C20 alkylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted C2-C20 oxyalkylene group or an aromatic ring-containing alkylene group, x is an integer of 2-6 on average and n is an integer of 1-30.
US07863388B2 Preparation of functionalized cationic polymers and their application in personal care
Water-soluble functionalized cationic copolymers obtainable by a process which comprises reacting a cationic base polymer which contains amino groups with at least one functional compound reactive to at least a part of the amino groups on the base polymer, are useful in personal care and cosmetic formulations.
US07863381B2 Polymer composites
Compositions comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes, a host polymer, and A block copolymer comprising a first block and a second block, wherein no block is compatible with the host polymer. In one aspect, the block copolymer is amphiphilic. In another aspect, the block copolymer may comprise a first block and a second block, wherein at least one of the first and second blocks comprises repeating units derived from a monomer having the general formula: (R)2C═C(R)(Rf) wherein Rf is selected from fluorine, a C1 to C10 fluorinated or perfluorinated alkyl group, and a C1 to C10 fluorinated or perfluorinated alkoxy group; each R is independently selected from F, H, Cl, Rf, a C1 to C10 alkyl group, and R2A, wherein R2 is a C1 to C10 alkylene group and A is selected from CO2M and SO3M, wherein M is selected from H, an ammonium and organo onium group.
US07863379B2 Impact modification of thermoplastics with ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymers
Compositions having good impact performance can be made from a thermoplastic (e.g., a polyolefin such as polypropylene or HDPE) and an ethylene multi-block copolymer. The compositions are easily molded and often have particular utility in making, for example, automotive facia, parts and other household articles.
US07863378B2 Thermoplastic elastomer composition and modifier composition using the same
A thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising a thermoplastic vulcanized olefin elastomer (A) and an aromatic vinyl random copolymer (B), wherein the (A) component is a thermoplastic vulcanized elastomer composed of an ethylene-α-olefin copolymer (A-1) and a thermoplastic non-vulcanizable polymer (A-2) and the (B) component is a hydrogenated copolymer rubber composed mainly of random bonding which has an olefinic double bond hydrogenation ratio of 50% or more and comprises 10 to 49% by weight of a conjugated diene monomer and 51 to 90% by weight of an aromatic vinyl monomer.
US07863375B2 Self-stratifying automotive topcoat compositions and processes
A process for preparing a coating composition includes contacting a polyol, a silsesquioxane, a polyurethane dendrimer, and a crosslinker, wherein the polyol, the silsesquioxane, the polyurethane dendrimer, and the crosslinker are dispersed within a solvent and forming a self-stratifying coating. Further, a coating composition includes a polyol, a silsesquioxane, a polyurethane dendrimer and a crosslinker forming a mixture dispersed within a solvent.
US07863373B1 Aqueous formaldehyde-free composition and fiberglass insulation including the same
An aqueous composition that includes a) aqueous hydroxy functional, carboxy functional polymer including the reaction product of at least 5% by weight α,β-ethylenically unsaturated hydroxy monomer, at least 30% by weight ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer, from 0% by weight to less than 50% by weight α,β-ethylenically unsaturated nonhydroxy functional, noncarboxy functional monomer, and chain transfer agent, and b) condensation accelerator, and articles that include a nonwoven web including glass fibers, and cured aqueous binder composition.
US07863350B2 Food preservation compositions and methods of use thereof
Described herein are food preservation compositions. The compositions are composed of an absorbent material and an antimicrobial agent. The antimicrobial agent can be a volatile, nonvolatile, or a combination thereof. The compositions are effective in reducing or preventing microbial growth in food storage articles.
US07863342B2 Fire resistant materials
A method for forming a fire resistant material is disclosed. The method comprises providing a plurality of expandable beads of a polymeric material. The beads are coated with an exfoliable graphite. The exfoliable graphite is adhered to the beads with a resin having a solubility parameter of the polymeric material. The beads are thereafter caused or allowed expand and fuse.
US07863329B2 Glucagon receptor antagonists, preparation and therapeutic uses
The present invention discloses novel compounds of Formula I, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which have glucagon receptor antagonist or inverse agonist activity, as well as methods for preparing such compounds. In another embodiment, the invention discloses pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of Formula I as well as methods of using them to treat diabetic and other glucagon related metabolic disorders, and the like.
US07863322B2 Anti-cancer combinations
The present invention relates to synergistic combinations of the compound 5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid (DMXAA) and a compound selected from platinum compounds, vinca alkaloids, alkylating agents, anthracyclines, topoisomerase I inhibitors, antimetabolites and topoisomerase II inhibitors, which have anti-tumour activity. Preferably, the present invention relates to synergistic combinations of the compound 5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid (DMXAA) and a compound selected from carboplatin, gemcitabine, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, vincristine, doxorubicin and irinotecan. More particularly, the invention is concerned with the use of such combinations in the treatment of cancer and pharmaceutical compositions containing such combinations. The invention further provides for methods of preparing the combinations of the invention.
US07863321B2 Anti-cancer combinations
The present invention relates to synergistic combinations of the compound 5, 6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid (DMXAA) and a compound selected from anthracyclines and topisomerase II inhibitors, which have anti-tumor activity. Preferably, the present invention relates to synergistic combinations of the compound 5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid (DMXAA) and a compound selected from etoposide, and doxorubicin. More particularly, the invention is concerned with the use of such combinations in the treatment of cancer and pharmaceutical compositions containing such combinations. The invention further provides for methods of preparing the combinations of the invention.
US07863320B2 Anti-cancer combinations
The present invention relates to synergistic combinations of the compound 5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid (DMXAA) and a platinum compound which has anti-tumour activity. Preferably, the present invention relates to synergistic combinations of the compound 5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid (DMXAA) and carboplatin. More particularly, the invention is concerned with the use of such combinations in the treatment of cancer and pharmaceutical compositions containing such combinations. The invention further provides for methods of preparing the combinations of the invention.
US07863311B2 Transmucosal veterinary composition comprising detomidine
The present invention relates to a veterinary composition in a semisolid form adapted for transmucosal administration for providing sedation and analgesia in large animals such as horses and cattle. The semisolid transmucosal composition of the invention comprises detomidine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient. The composition provides a rapid onset of action while having low irritation potential in the oral mucosa.
US07863308B2 Substituted thiophenes
Disclosed herein are substituted pyrimidine-based endothelin modulators of Formula I, processes of preparation thereof, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of use thereof.
US07863292B2 Nitrogen-containing heteroaryl compounds and methods of use thereof
The present invention relates to compounds suitable for use in mediating hypoxia inducible factor and for treating erythropoietin-associated conditions by increasing endogenous erythropoietin in vitro and in vivo.
US07863290B2 Derivatives of 5-pyridinyl-1-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane, preparation method thereof and use of same in therapeutics
The invention relates to compounds having general formula (I), wherein R is as defined herein. The invention also relates to acid addition salt, a hydrate or a solvate of compounds of formula (I). The invention further relates to the method of preparing said compounds and to the use of same in therapeutics.
US07863269B2 Imino-imidazo-pyridine derivatives having antithrombotic activity
The invention relates to compounds of the formula I having antithrombotic activity, which in particular inhibit the protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1), processes for their preparation and use thereof as medicaments.
US07863263B2 Agent for regeneration and/or protection of nerves
An EP2 agonist which may have an EP3 agonistic effect has an effect of regenerating and/or protecting nerves, and is therefore useful as a therapeutic agent for a disease of the peripheral nervous system, such as a lower or upper motor neuron disease, a nerve root disease, plexopathy, thoracic outlet compression syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, neurofibromatosis and neuromuscular transmission disease. An EP2 agonist which has an EP3 agonistic effect is a safe and effective agent for the regeneration and/or protection of nerves which has little influence on the circulatory system.
US07863259B1 Nanoparticles for protein drug delivery
The invention discloses the nanoparticles composed of chitosan, poly-glutamic acid, and at least one antibiotics or equivalent bioactive agent characterized with a positive surface charge and their enhanced permeability in oral drug delivery.
US07863250B2 Modulation of immunostimulatory properties of oligonucleotide-based compounds by utilizing modified immunostimulatory dinucleotides
The invention relates to the therapeutic use of oligonucleotides as immunostimulatory agents in immunotherapy applications. More particularly, the invention provides immunomers and an immunostimulatory oligonucleotides for use in methods for generating an immune response or for treating a patient in need of immunostimulation. The immunomers and an immunostimulatory oligonucleotides of the invention preferably comprise novel purines. The immunomers according to the invention further comprise at least two oligonucleotides linked at their 3′ ends, internucleoside linkages or functionalized nucleobase or sugar to a non-nucleotidic linker, at least one of the oligonucleotides being an immunomodulatory oligonucleotide and having an accessible 5′ end.
US07863244B2 Peptides
Isolated peptides that are fragments of protein products arising from frameshift mutations in genes associated with cancer are disclosed. The isolated peptides of the invention are capable of eliciting T cell immunity against cells harboring genes with such frameshift mutations. Cancer vaccines and therapeutically effective compositions containing the peptides of the invention are also described.
US07863242B2 Compositions for down-regulation of CCR5 expression and methods of use thereof
The present invention relates to the downregulation of surface receptor CCR5 expression through manipulation of the cell cycle in activated lymphocytes by administering a composition that arrests the G1 phase of the cell cycle, thereby reducing receptor sites for entry of HIV into T cells, and thus, the effects of HIV. Further, compositions are disclosed that include at least one G1 phase arresting agent and at least one antiviral agent, wherein the combination of agents synergistically enhances the activity of the antiviral agent.
US07863237B2 Solid cleaning products
Solid cleaning products suitable for use as a floor cleaner are disclosed. Methods of making and using solid cleaning products are also disclosed.
US07863234B2 Liquid detergent composition
The present invention relates to a liquid detergent composition containing (a) hydrogen peroxide or a compound forming hydrogen peroxide in water, 0.1 to 10 mass % of (b) a bleaching activator, 45 to 80 mass % of (c) a nonionic surfactant, (d) water, (e) at least one or more compounds selected from boric acid, borax and borate, and (f) a polyol compound, said liquid detergent composition having a pH value of 4 to 7 at 20° C.
US07863231B2 Thinner composition and method of removing photoresist using the same
A thinner composition includes propylene glycol ether acetate, methyl 2-hydroxy-2-methyl propionate, and an ester compound such as ethyl lactate, ethyl 3-ethoxy propionate or a mixture thereof.
US07863230B2 Lubricant compositions, condom products and methods of making same
Warming personal lubricant compositions, condom products including such compositions and methods of making such condom products are disclosed. The present warming lubricant compositions include at least about 50% by weight of a polyalkylene glycol component, preferably including at least two portions of different molecular weights, and an effective amount of a viscosity inducing component.
US07863226B2 Methods of using settable compositions in a subterranean formation
Methods are provided that include a method comprising providing magnesium oxide; placing the magnesium oxide within a portion of a subterranean formation; contacting the magnesium oxide with a brine that comprises water and a divalent salt; and allowing the magnesium oxide and brine to react to form a hardened mass in the portion of the subterranean formation. In some embodiments, the methods comprise providing a subterranean drilling fluid that comprises magnesium oxide; and adding a divalent salt to the subterranean drilling fluid to form a settable composition. In other embodiments, the methods comprise providing a subterranean drilling fluid that comprises magnesium oxide; and adding a divalent salt to the subterranean drilling fluid to form a settable composition. Additional methods are also provided.
US07863220B2 Herbicidal pyrimidines
Compounds of Formula I, and their N-oxides and agriculturally suitable salts, are disclosed which are useful for controlling undesired vegetation wherein R1 is cyclopropyl optionally substituted with 1-5 R5, isopropyl optionally substituted with 1-5 R6, or phenyl optionally substituted with 1-3 R7; R2 is ((O)jC(R15)(R16))kR; R is CO2H or a herbicidally effective derivative of CO2H; R3 is halogen, cyano, nitro, OR20, SR21 or N(R22)R23; R4 is —N(R24)R25 or —NO2; j is 0 or 1; and k is 0 or 1; provided that when k is 0, then j is 0; and R5, R6, R7, R15, R16, R20, R21, R22, R23, R24 and R25 are as defined in the disclosure. Also disclosed are compositions comprising the compounds of Formula I and a method for controlling undesired vegetation which involves contacting the vegetation or its environment with an effective amount of a compound of Formula I. Also disclosed are compositions comprising a compound of Formula I and at least one additional active ingredient selected from the group consisting of an other herbicide and a herbicide safener.
US07863218B2 Coating composition for producing heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet and heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet
A coating composition for producing a heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet comprising at least one receiving layer on a support, wherein the coating composition contains a polymer latex containing a repeating unit derived from a monomer represented by the following formula: wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, halogen atom or methyl group; L1 represents a divalent connecting group; and Z represents a C8-C50 straight-chain, branched or cyclic hydrocarbon group.
US07863215B2 Photocatalyst, method for producing same, liquid dispersion containing photocatalyst and photocatalyst coating composition
Disclosed is a photocatalyst comprising a photocatalytically active base, and a silicon oxide film covering the base and substantially having no pores. The alkali metal content of the photocatalyst is not less than 1 ppm but not more than 1,000 ppm. Also disclosed is a method for producing such a photocatalyst wherein when a photocatalytically active base present in an aqueous medium is coated with a silicon oxide film by using a silicate, the pH of the aqueous medium containing both the photocatalytically active base and the silicate is maintained at 5 or below.
US07863213B2 Supported polymerization catalysts
A supported catalyst for olefin polymerization comprises a selected ionic activator, a selected organometallic catalyst and a support material. The selected activator must contain an active hydrogen moeity. The organometallic catalyst is characterized by having a phosphinimine ligand and a substituted cyclopentadienyl ligand (which contains from 7 to 30 carbon atoms). The supported catalyst exhibits excellent activity in gas phase olefin polymerizations and may be used under substantially “non-fouling” polymerization conditions.
US07863201B2 Methods of forming field effect transistors having silicided source/drain contacts with low contact resistance
Methods of forming integrated circuit devices according to embodiments of the present invention include forming a PMOS transistor having P-type source and drain regions, in a semiconductor substrate, and then forming a diffusion barrier layer on the source and drain regions. A silicon nitride layer is deposited on at least portions of the diffusion barrier layer that extend opposite the source and drain regions. Hydrogen is removed from the deposited silicon nitride layer by exposing the silicon nitride layer to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This removal of hydrogen may operate to increase a tensile stress in a channel region of the field effect transistor. This UV radiation step may be followed by patterning the first and second silicon nitride layers to expose the source and drain regions and then forming silicide contact layers directly on the exposed source and drain regions.
US07863195B2 Chemical solution feeding apparatus and method for preparing slurry
An apparatus for feeding slurry to an external device. The apparatus includes a preparation tank for preparing the slurry. A circulation pipe is connected to the preparation tank to circulate the slurry. A feeding pipe is connected between the preparation tank and the external device to feed the external device with the slurry. A pump sends the chemical solution in the preparation tank to the circulation pipe and the feeding pipe. A concentration detector is arranged downstream to the pump to detect the concentration of the slurry. A controller controls the concentration of the chemical solution in the preparation tank in accordance with the detection value of the concentration detector and controls the feeding of the chemical solution.
US07863194B2 Implantation of multiple species to address copper reliability
A first species and a second species are implanted into a conductor of a substrate, which may be copper. The first species and second species may be implanted sequentially or at least partly simultaneously. Diffusion of the first species within the conductor of the substrate is prevented by the presence of the second species. In one particular example, the first species is silicon and the second species is nitrogen, although other combinations are possible.
US07863193B2 Integrated circuit fabrication process using a compression cap layer in forming a silicide with minimal post-laser annealing dopant deactivation
Post-laser annealing dopant deactivation is minimized by performing certain silicide formation process steps prior to laser annealing. A base metal layer is deposited on the source-drain regions and the gate electrode, followed by deposition of an overlying compression cap layer, to prevent metal agglomeration at the silicon melting temperature. Thereafter, a rapid thermal process is performed to heat the substrate sufficiently to form metal silicide contacts at the top surfaces of the source-drain regions and of the gate electrode. The method further includes removing the remainder of the metal-containing layer and then depositing an optical absorber layer over the substrate prior to laser annealing near the silicon melting temperature.
US07863190B1 Method of selective coverage of high aspect ratio structures with a conformal film
Methods for forming thin dielectric films by selectively depositing a conformal film of dielectric material on a high aspect ratio structure have uses in semiconductor processing and other applications. A method for forming a dielectric film involves providing in a deposition reaction chamber a substrate having a gap on the surface. The gap has a top opening and a surface area comprising a bottom and sidewalls running from the top to the bottom. A conformal silicon oxide-based dielectric film is selectively deposited in the gap by first preferentially applying a film formation catalyst or a catalyst precursor on a portion representing less than all of the gap surface area. The substrate surface is then exposed to a silicon-containing precursor gas such that a silicon oxide-based dielectric film layer is preferentially formed on the portion of the gap surface area. The preferential application of the catalyst or catalyst precursor may occur either at the top of the gap, for example to form a sacrificial mask, or at the bottom of the gap to create a seamless and void-free gap fill.
US07863189B2 Methods for fabricating silicon carriers with conductive through-vias with low stress and low defect density
Methods are provided for fabricating silicon carriers with conductive through-vias that allow high-yield manufacture of silicon carrier with low defect density. In particular, methods are provided which enable fabrication of silicon carries with via diameters such as 1 to 10 microns in diameter for a vertical thickness of less than 10 micrometers to greater than 300 micrometers, which are capable robust to thermal-mechanical stresses during production to significantly minimize the thermal mechanical movement at the via sidewall interface between the silicon, insulator, liner and conductor materials.
US07863181B2 Method for manufacturing a device having a high aspect ratio via
Method for manufacturing a device having a conductive via includes the following steps. A dielectric material layer including a through hole is formed on a substrate. A seed metallic layer is formed on the dielectric material layer and in the through hole. A metallic layer is formed on the seed metallic layer, and is filled in the through hole. The metallic layer located over the seed metallic layer and outside the through hole is etched by a spin etching process, whereby the metallic layer located in the through hole is formed to a lower portion. An upper portion is formed on the lower portion, and a metallic trace is formed on the seed metallic layer, wherein the upper and lower portions is formed to a conductive via, and the conductive via and the metallic trace expose a part of the seed metallic layer. The exposed seed metallic layer is etched.
US07863174B2 Vertical pillar transistor
A vertical pillar transistor may include a plurality of lower pillars, a plurality of upper pillars, a first insulation part, a second insulation part and a word line. The plurality of lower pillars protrudes substantially perpendicular to a substrate and is defined by a plurality of trenches. The plurality of lower pillars extends along a second direction and may be separated from each other along a first direction substantially perpendicular to the second direction. The plurality of upper pillars may be formed on the plurality of lower pillars. The plurality of upper pillars has a width substantially smaller than that of the plurality of lower pillars. The first insulation part has a substantially uniform thickness on a sidewall of each of the plurality of lower pillars. The second insulation part may be formed on the first insulation part to fill a gap between the adjacent upper pillars. The word line may be formed on the second insulation part and may extend between facing sidewalls of the adjacent pair of upper pillars along the first direction.
US07863173B2 Variable resistance non-volatile memory cells and methods of fabricating same
Methods of fabricating integrated circuit memory cells and integrated circuit memory cells are disclosed. An integrated circuit memory cell can be fabricated by forming a cup-shaped electrode on sidewalls of an opening in an insulation layer and through the opening on an ohmic layer that is stacked on a conductive structure. An insulation filling member is formed that at least partially fills an interior of the electrode. The insulation filling member is formed within a range of temperatures that is sufficiently low to not substantially change resistance of the ohmic layer. A variable resistivity material is formed on the insulation filling member and is electrically connected to the electrode.