Document	Document Title
US07942463B2	Rear-window roller blind with back-seat shelf as a support element In a rear-window roller blind for motor vehicles in which a rear half of a back-seat shelf, which is located between the rear window and the pull-out slot for the rear-window roller blind, is used as a support element for the roller blind. The back-seat shelf half is made either from a wood material or is a plastic molded part. Through alternative arrangements, it is ensured that the temperature expansion and contraction of the components of the roller blind and its support are accommodated.
US07942460B2	Pet litter scooper A litter scooper for quick and convenient removal of waste from pet litter boxes. The litter scooper may include a bowl having a front opening and a guard covering at least part of the front opening. The scooper may also include a handle of sufficient length to allow a user of the device to scoop litter without getting too close to the litter box and without bending.
US07942457B1	Lever-handled pocket door latching system With the adoption of this new modern latching system, (FIG. 1) closing and latching a pocket door will be just as simple and convenient as closing and latching a swinging door, irregardless of the physical capability of the operator. This system has been masterfully designed and engineered with appropriate lever handles 20 that are prominently mounted on the face of the door, where they will be convenient to use by people of all ages and physical encumbrances. Coupling these handles to a reliable automatic latching embodiment 15 and complementing the completed assembly with door guides 22, promises to be a bold step forward in latching concepts for modern interior pocket doors.
US07942456B2	Fluid conduits with integral end fittings and associated methods of manufacture and use Fluid conduits for plumbing and other uses having integral end fittings are disclosed herein. A fluid conduit configured in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure includes a tube, such as a copper tube, having an end portion adjacent to a body portion. The body portion has a first wall thickness and the end portion has a second wall thickness that is greater than the first wall thickness. The fluid conduit also includes a seal positioned in an annular groove formed in an interior surface of the end portion. In this embodiment, the tube can be joined to another tube by at least partially compressing the end portion around a portion of the other tube.
US07942454B2	Threads with perturbations A threaded connection includes a pin member including a pin thread having a pin thread crest, a pin thread root, a pin load flank, and a pin stab flank, and a box member including a box thread having a box thread crest, a box thread root, a box load flank, and a box stab flank, wherein at least one of the pin thread crest, the pin thread root, the box thread crest, and the box thread root has at least one perturbation formed thereon. Upon a selected make-up of the pin member with the box member, a localized clearance or a localized interference exists between the pin thread and the box thread at the at least one perturbation, wherein the localized clearance between the pin thread and the box thread exists across substantially the entire pin thread crest or substantially the entire box thread crest, and wherein the localized interference between the pin thread and the box thread exists across substantially the entire pin thread crest or substantially the entire box thread crest.
US07942449B2	Seat belt apparatus and seat belt retractor A seat belt retractor includes a frame having a back plate and a side wall protruding from each of multiple side edges of the back plate. The seat belt retractor also includes a spool supported by the frame and configured to rotate and wind a seat belt, a motor configured to rotate the spool, and an electronic control unit configured to drive and control the motor. The electronic control unit is mounted between the side walls of the frame and the back plate is disposed in an inner space of a vehicle body member and faces a vehicle interior direction.
US07942444B2	Airbag module The disclosed airbag device for a vehicle may comprise an airbag and at least one connection member. The airbag may have first and second side surfaces, wherein the first side surface has upper and lower ends. The at least one connection member may connect the lower end of the first side surface to an intermediate position on the first side surface located between the upper and lower ends of the first side surface.
US07942443B2	Airbag system An airbag module for a vehicle includes an airbag cushion, an inflator to inflate the airbag cushion, a sleeve connected to the airbag cushion and a tether configured to pass through the sleeve. A first end of the tether is anchored to a portion of the airbag cushion, module, or a structure of the vehicle and a second, opposite end of the tether is capable of passing through at least a portion of the sleeve during deployment of the airbag. The tether and sleeve are configured to initially restrain the deployment of the airbag cushion to provide a knee bolster, after which the tether is configured to unlace within the sleeve to release the restraint on the airbag cushion.
US07942435B1	Tow bar A tow bar includes a towing hitch member including a pintle hitch and secured to a towing vehicle; a towed hitch member secured to a vehicle to the towed; a head member with a lunette ring; a pair of tow bar legs, each including a proximal end including an outer member with a distal end, and a distal end including an inner member with a proximal end telescopingly displaceable within the distal end of the outer member; a leg connector mechanism pivotally connecting the proximal ends of the tow bar legs to the head member; towed connector elements secured to the distal ends of the tow bar legs and structured to releasably connect the tow bar legs to the towed hitch member; and a locking mechanism structured to automatically and releasably lock each of the tow bar legs in either a stored configuration or a deployed configuration.
US07942434B2	Disengageably coupled take-apart bicycle frame A disengageably coupled bicycle frame, utilizing a device for coupling a first tube and a second tube, the tubes having terminal ends and tube faces defined by their terminal ends, the device comprising a first plate member having a first plate member face and a first plate member rear and a second plate member having a second plate member face and a second plate member rear, the first plate member rear fastened by a fastening means to a face of the first tube, the second plate member rear fastened by a fastening means to a face of the second tube, and the first and second plate members fastened face to face by a fastening means, the fastening means being other than a clamp, the plate members not hingedly attached.
US07942430B2	Device for accommodating objects, as well as transport means A device for accommodating objects, in particular for use in an airplane, comprising a housing, which has an access opening, as well as a door which is connected to the housing by at least one hinge so as to be pivotable between an open position and a closed position. The hinge defines a pivot axis for pivoting the door. The access opening is at least partially clear in the open position of the door and the access opening is at least partially closed off by the door in the closed position of the door. The door is lockable relative to the housing in its closed position. The door, in its closed position, is movable in a direction which extends substantially parallel to the pivot axis between a locked position and an unlocked position. The door, in its locked position, is locked relative to the housing, and the door, in its unlocked position, is pivotable about the pivot axis.
US07942429B2	Amphibious, submersible, streamlined transport device for scuba gear A device used in beach-entry scuba dives that both assists the diver to transport scuba tanks and other diving gear to and across the shoreline, and then accompanies the diver and gear underwater. The device holds at least one scuba tank and associated gear such as a buoyancy compensator (BCD), and has a pair of wheels whose rolling position enables the loaded device to be easily transported over natural terrains. Upon reaching or while in the water the wheels may be shifted from the “rolling position” into a streamlined, free-swim position. The means attaching the scuba gear and the scuba tank are easily operated to let the user now don both scuba tank and gear and start their dive, taking the device along for the return cross-shore trip.
US07942425B2	Plasma resistant seal To make a plasma resistant seal excellent in both a plasma resisting performance and a sealing performance, and prevent an O-ring from protruding to a vacuum side gap, a plasma seal (6) made of PTFE having a plasma resisting performance is provided in a plasma irradiating side of an O-ring (5) as a main seal made of a rubber-like elastic material, an installation groove (4) shallower than a depth of an installation groove (3) provided in an installation member (2) is continuously provided in a plasma irradiation side of the installation groove (3), the O-ring (5) is attached to the installation groove (3), and the plasma seal (6) is attached to the installation groove (4) in a compressed state, or the O-ring is attached to the installation groove and the plasma seal is attached to the plasma irradiation side of the same installation groove (3) in a compressed state.
US07942423B2	Lip type seal A resin lip type seal (1) capable of increasing safety against rupture by reducing rigidity of a plate-like lip (4) bent around a tip point A of a approximately wedge-shaped recessed part (8) to reduce stress concentration at the point A, suppressing the lowering of sealability due to a reduction in creep of the lip, and increasing the follow-up capability of the lip to the eccentricity of its axis. Indentations are formed on the slidable contact surface (41) of the plate-like lip (4) or/and the anti-slidable contact surface (42) thereof. Indentations (7) are also formed on the sloped slidable contact surface (21) of the inner lip (2) of the seal. Then, the ratio of the portion of each of the slidable contact surfaces where the indentations (7) are formed is ½ or more of each of the surface areas of the slidable contact surfaces (21, 41, 42).
US07942391B2	Evaporative cooling tower and method A cooling tower for evaporating water from a brine solution is provided and may include an air inlet, a brine inlet for receiving the brine solution, and a heat-exchange assembly receiving the brine solution from the brine inlet and receiving air from the air inlet. The heat-exchange assembly transfers moisture from the brine solution to the air received from the air inlet to reduce the moisture content of the brine solution.
US07942382B2	Compact optical microcable driver The invention relates to an optical cable laying device comprising a mechanism for fixing a rotary motor (i0), at least one friction drive roller (60, 70) for driving the cable (200), and a compressed air inlet (130) for driving the cable (200), the device being characterized in that the motor fixing mechanism, the at least one roller (60, 70) and the compressed air inlet (130) are disposed so that the axis of the motor (10), the compressed air arrival direction (130), and the cable (200) driven by the roller (60, 70) are substantially parallel to one another.
US07942381B2	Solenoid valve and fuel injection valve having the same A solenoid valve includes a movable core, a magnetic opposed portion opposed to the movable core, a nonmagnetic cylindrical portion, a first magnetic cylindrical portion axially close to the movable core, and a second magnetic cylindrical portion located radially outside of the magnetic opposed portion. The nonmagnetic cylindrical portion surrounds radially outside of a gap between the magnetic opposed portion and the movable core. A coil is provided radially outside of the nonmagnetic cylindrical portion. A thickness t of the nonmagnetic cylindrical portion, a cross-sectional area S1 of the magnetic opposed portion, and a total cross-sectional area S2 of both the magnetic opposed portion and the second magnetic cylindrical portion having the thickness t satisfy the relationships of t≦0.6 mm and 0.55≦(S1/S2).
US07942373B2	Mounting bracket for classroom board A mounting bracket allows an electronic whiteboard to be positioned in front of a blackboard. The mounting bracket is attached above the blackboard and extends in front of a portion of the blackboard. A lower portion of the mounting bracket abuts the front of the blackboard. The mounting bracket includes an adjustable portion at the lower end to adjust the distance between the blackboard and the mounting bracket. A standard mounting bracket for the electronic blackboard is attachable to the mounting bracket of the present invention. The height of the standard mounting bracket may be adjusted.
US07942370B2	Vortex detection and turbulence measurement A vortex detection device suitable for use in fighter aircraft including an angle-of-attack sensor, an angle-of-attack processing unit connected to the angle-of-attack sensor capable of forming a signal representative of current air stream's angle-of-attack, a synthetic angle-of-attack estimation unit capable of forming a synthetic angle-of-attack signal, and a vortex level calculation unit connected to the processing and estimation unit, capable of calculating a vortex level signal, and a vortex detection unit connected to the vortex level calculation unit, for deciding, based on the vortex level signal, if a vortex is detected.
US07942367B2	Rest compartment for an aircraft pilot A rest compartment configured for at least one aircraft pilot includes a berth arranged at least partially above an aisle separating two monuments. The first and second monuments are located behind a cockpit of an aircraft. One of the monuments comprises an access to the berth.
US07942363B2	Combined peripheral and central rewinding machine The rewinding machine comprises: a first winding roller (11) and a second winding roller (13) defining a nip (15) through which said cores are inserted and through which said web material (N) is fed; and at least one pair of motorized engaging members (57), to engage the ends of a winding core and transmit a rotational movement to the core during at least part of the winding cycle of each log. The engaging members and the first and second winding roller are produced and disposed so that the log being formed is in contact with said first and said second winding roller. Moreover, a third winding roller (17) is provided, defining a winding space with said first and said second winding roller, said third winding roller being movable to allow increase and completion of winding of each log in said winding space.
US07942362B1	Collapsible reel type dispenser with swivel closure A collapsible reel-type apparatus provides a plurality of adjoining arm component axially joined to a plurality of adjoining leg component. The component so adjoined may be swiveled into a collapsed parallel condition for storage and an open perpendicular position for dispensing. Spring loaded elements automatically lock the components in the open position. Bearings located on the axial member above and below the sum arm component allow the free rotation of the arm component in the open position. Post guide members are adjustably secured to at least one arm component. An axially joined tubing guide extends outward and upward terminating in a looped enclosure. An upper retaining bar is detachably connected upon a coil with a tensioned retainer.
US07942357B2	Wear part for a VSI-crusher, and a method of reducing the wear on the rotor of such a crusher A wear part for protecting a vertical rotor wall of a rotor of a VSI-crusher includes a wear body having a wear surface adapted for contacting abrasive particles. The wear surface is provided with at least one ridge extending over at least a portion of the wear surface. At least a portion of the length of the ridge is, when the wear part has been mounted to the vertical rotor wall, inclined in relation to a horizontal plane.
US07942352B2	Shredder with rotatable device for moving shredded materials adjacent the outlet Disclosed herein is a shredder having a rotatable device located at least partially between a shredder mechanism and a bottom of an output opening of the shredder housing. The rotatable device includes a shaft configured to rotate about an axis parallel to an axis of the cutting assembly so as to allow for rotation of the device. The rotatable device has a plurality of fingers or fins extending at least partially radially from the shaft. The rotatable device is able to rotate about the shaft axis in either direction, so as to disperse any accumulation of shredded materials in the waste bin, as well as remove shredded materials caught in or near the cutting assembly within and adjacent the output opening.
US07942351B2	Method of processing nepheline syenite powder to produce an ultra-fine grain size product The method of converting nepheline syenite particulate feedstock with a grain size profile to an ultra-fine grain finish product for subsequent commercial use, the ultra-fine grain final product has a maximum grain size of less than about 6 microns. The method comprising: providing a dry feedstock with a controlled maximum particle size greater than about 20 microns; grinding the feedstock in a dry state by passing the feedstock vertically downward through a continuous, high-speed stirred ball mill whereby the feedstock is ground into an intermediate powder having a drastically reduced grain size profile than the grain size profile of the feedstock; and passing the intermediate powder from the mill through an air classifier using a rapidly moving high speed air stream moving along a given path to convey the ultra-fine grain product along the path and from the classifier and to allow coarse particulate material including particles larger than the ultra-fine product to be separated and then expelled from the classifier.
US07942347B2	Sprinkler having oscillating mechanism A sprinkler includes an oscillating mechanism having a receptacle for receiving a water, and a casing rotatably attached to the receptacle. A device may be used for swinging the casing relative to the receptacle in reciprocating action, to allow the water to smoothly or swiftly flow out of the sprinkler tube in various kinds of water spraying patterns. Two ratchet gears are rotatably received within the receptacle and rotated in different directions, a barrel and a shaft are rotatably received within the receptacle and rotated in different directions, and a valve controlling device may be used for controlling the water to flow through the shaft, such as to flow through the shaft intermittently.
US07942344B2	Device and method to prevent the exsiccation of fluid products in a dispensing machine for said products A device to prevent the exsiccation of fluid products in a delivery head of a dispensing machine for said fluid products. The device comprises a first element able to generate a flow of air mixed with steam or with at least a solvent, and a second element able to convey the flow towards a zone underneath the delivery nozzles of the delivery head and to create in said zone a determinate atmosphere, different from the atmosphere in the environment where the dispensing machine is to be found during use. The device also comprises detection elements arranged in proximity with the delivery head and able to detect one or more significant parameters of said determinate atmosphere, and a regulation circuit able to regulate one or more characteristics of said flow according to the values detected by the detection elements in order to maintain the significant parameters of the determinate atmosphere within a set of pre-determined values.
US07942339B2	Bank card with a user actuatable switch An electronic card includes an element for transmitting a signal to a user of the electronic card, an electronic unit, an electric energy source, a switch actuatable by a user of the electronic card and an application introduced into the electronic unit. The electronic unit includes an element for detecting actuation of the switch, arranged for determining whether the actuation ends within a first time interval from the start of actuation (t0), the end of the first time interval occurring after transmission (t1) of a signal perceptible to the card user, or for determining whether the switch actuation ends within a second time interval (T2max) from the start of transmission (t1) of the user perceptible signal, the application being actuated or the actuation thereof being validated when the detection element has detected the end (t2) of the switch actuation within the first time interval or the second time interval.
US07942330B2	Apparatus comprising image sensor An apparatus having an image sensor is provided. An image sensor of the apparatus can include a two dimensional image sensor. A lens assembly can be provided in combination with an image sensor. In one aspect, an apparatus can attempt to decode a decodable symbol representation. In one aspect an apparatus can output a frame of image data.
US07942329B2	Method for providing user feedback in an autoidentification system An optical barcode and/or RFID reader having at least two sets of illuminating LEDs that are directed toward a target object to reflect whether the barcode and/or RFID reading was successful or unsuccessful. The reader is provided with a set of red LEDs and a set of green LEDs for illuminating targets, such as barcodes or RFID tags. In addition to using these LEDs to illuminate the target, the reader will illuminate the target with a particular color of light to signify a successful read, such green light, or an unsuccessful read, such as red light. A third color may be provided to indicate a successful RFID interrogation, such as blue light. The reader thus uses the built-in illumination LEDs to cast differently colored light on the target, rather than having to provide additional LEDs in a user interface positioned on the housing of the reader.
US07942328B2	Method for data interchange A method for data interchange includes summing up data associated with an electronic document to provide summed up data, representing the summed up data as one or more bar codes, and returning the one or more bar codes for display and data capture via a bar code scan from either a video display or a printed version of the one or more bar codes. The electronic document may be of any number of formats. The summing up may include taking data from multiple information fields to create the summed up data. The data may include data tags or a step of adding data tags to the data to assist in data interchange may be performed.
US07942326B2	Multi-mode ring scanner A multi-mode ring scanner (MMRS) has a ring unit for wearing on a finger. The MMRS optionally has a wrist unit coupled to the ring unit, such as via a cable. The MMRS optionally communicates wirelessly with a computing device. The ring unit has one or more scanners (such as an optical scanner or an RFID tag reader). The ring unit optionally has two paddle switches for activation by inward pressure from fingers adjacent to the finger. The two switches enable specifying operation of the MMRS in a plurality of modes and/or to communicate a plurality of information codes to the computing device. The computing device is optionally enabled to assign a function to each combination of activation of the two switches. A scanning system including the MMRS optionally provides feedback to a user based on feedback from a host processor.
US07942325B2	Optimized smart card driver performance By splitting a smart card driver into multiple components, with one component residing on the mobile communication device and another component residing on the smart card reader, the smart card reader driver component is enabled to do more than merely relay communication between the mobile communication device and the smart card. By transferring part of the communication handling of the smart card driver to the smart card reader, a reduction in communication over the connection between the smart card reader and mobile communication device advantageously results in a more efficient transaction.
US07942319B2	Location information management A method of managing product-location specific information is provided. Product-location specific information is collected from multiple users at a centralized network hub and transformed into location-harmonized data with one or more attached attributes including product data. The location-harmonized product-location specific data and/or content derived therefrom is distributed, and/or other content is distributed based on the location-harmonized product-location specific data and/or on the location harmonized data, to the same or different users. One or more efficient customer access methods is/are also provided.
US07942317B2	Data storage and access systems Data storage and access systems are described for downloading and paying for data such as audio and video data, text, software, games and other types of data. A portable data carrier has an interface for sending and receiving data, non-volatile data memory for storing received content data and non-volatile payment validation memory for providing payment validation data to an external device. The carrier may also store a record of access made to the stored content, and content use rules for controlling access to the stored content. Preferred embodiments store further access control data and supplementary data such as hot links to web sites and/or advertising data. A complementary data access terminal, data supply computer system and data access device are also described. The combination of payment data and stored content data and, in preferred embodiments, use rule data, helps reduce the risk of unauthorized access to data such as compressed music and video data, especially over the Internet.
US07942313B1	Automated banking machine system and monitoring method A cash dispensing automated banking machine actuated by user cards is in operative connection with a system usable to capture images related to activity that is conducted at or adjacent to the machine. The automated banking machine is positioned at a banking facility including a vault and an entrance. A plurality of cameras are positioned at the facility. Images captured may be analyzed at the bank facility or the remote monitoring center. The monitoring center may operate to assure that employees of the bank facility or others can safely access and/or leave the bank facility.
US07942305B1	Soldering apparatus A soldering apparatus includes a base body, an actuator connected to the base body, and a pair of soldering arms connected to the actuator, each of the pair of soldering arms including a heating member and a soldering tip thermally coupled to the heating member. The pair of soldering arms is moveable and the actuator is controllable to move one soldering arm relative to the other soldering arm.
US07942303B2	Knife lockout mechanisms for surgical instrument A cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapling instrument is disclosed. The cartridge assembly includes a channel, a cover, a staple cartridge and a knife. The channel includes a protrusion thereon. The cover is configured for mechanical engagement with the channel and includes a blocking member and a surface defining a plane. At least a portion of the blocking member is configured to move away from the plane upon contact with the protrusion. The staple cartridge is configured for mechanical engagement with the cover. The blocking member is configured to substantially prevent distal translation of the knife after the knife has been translated proximally past a predetermined position.
US07942288B2	Cooking utensils with metallic non-stick coating and methods for making the same Disclosed is a cooking utensil coated with a metallic non-stick coating made of a nickel-aluminum-molybdenum (NiAlMo) alloy mainly composed of nickel aluminum (NiAl), and/or a nickel-chrome-chromic carbide (NiCr—Cr3C2) alloy mainly composed of chromic carbide (Cr3C2). A method for coating a cooking utensil with a metallic non-stick coating is also provided. The metallic non-stick coating of the invention possesses high impact, heat and abrasion resistances.
US07942280B2	Push tab vial assembly and methods A push tab container assembly includes a container and a lid configured to mate with the container in an unlocked state and in a locked state. The container includes a push tab assembly having a locking member defining a ramped surface and ending at a locking edge. The locking edge is vertically oriented with respect to the ramped surface and is tapered as it extends radially inwardly. The container has exactly one external container thread positioned on an external surface and at least one internal thread positioned on an internal surface. The lid has at least one locking lug positioned on an internal surface of a second skirt. The locking lug has a lug edge that tapers as it extends radially inwardly. When the lid is operably oriented relative to the container in the unlocked state, the external lid thread is mated with the internal container thread. When the lid is operably oriented relative to the container in the locked state, the internal lid thread is mated with the exactly one external container thread, while the locking edge of the locking member is engaged against the lug edge of the locking lug. The push tab assembly is actuatable to release the locking edge of the locking member from the lug edge of the locking lug to permit disengagement of the lid from the container.
US07942278B2	Baking rack for chickens and other fowl A baking rack is provided. The rack includes a plurality of relatively straight wires that are each disposed in parallel to each other and an outer wire establishing a perimeter of the rack and extending along opposing ends of the plurality of wires, the straight wires and the outer wire are each disposed within a plane. A plurality of height stabilizing members are connected to two or more of the straight wires or the outer wire, such that the plane is disposed above a surface upon which bottom portions of the height stabilizing members rest. A plurality of upstanding members extend from the plane, the upstanding members each connected to one or more of the straight wires and the outer wire, the upstanding members each comprising an arched portion and an upstanding stick, wherein a second plane is disposed through the arched portion of each upstanding member is at an acute angle with a line parallel to the straight wires.
US07942267B2	Case with pill receiving sleeves for storing and dispensing pills A case for receiving and dispensing pills, having an optional top cover having a forward edge and a rearward edge, an optional bottom cover having a forward edge and a rearward edge, a spine extending between the top cover and the bottom cover, to which the top cover and the bottom cover are affixed at the rearward edges thereof, and at least one sleeve containing a plurality of pills secured within the sleeve and adapted to be dispensed therefrom, the sleeve having a forward edge and a rearward edge and being attached to the spine at the rearward edge thereof between the top cover and the bottom cover.
US07942255B2	Transport apparatus A transport apparatus for the low-pressure transforming of a stream of containers into at least two separate single rows is provided. The apparatus has a multiple-lane feed conveyor, a plurality of single-lane discharge conveyors and an acceleration conveyor arranged between the feed conveyor and the discharge conveyors. A plurality of diagonally oriented guides are provided at a distance from one another across the acceleration conveyor, which guides a separated sub-stream of the stream of containers coming from the feed conveyor across the sections of the acceleration conveyor.
US07942248B2	Adjustable damping control with end stop A damper device comprising a first mode having a first level of damping, a second mode having a second level of damping corresponding to a predetermined function, a sensor system having a first output corresponding to a normal position and a second output corresponding to an end stop approaching position, and a control system operable for receiving the first output and the second output and executing the first mode and the second mode. The damper device is operable in the first mode when the control system receives the first output and is operable in the second mode when the control system receives the second output. A controllable suspension system comprising a damper device, a magnetic probe, a sensor system comprising at least one position sensor operable for sensing the position of the magnetic probe, and a control system electronically connected to the sensor system and the damper device, wherein the control system is operable for receiving an output from the sensor system and executing a predetermined function to control the damper device. Electric signals are supplied to the damper device from the control system during system operation to provide damping sufficient to prevent end stop collisions.
US07942239B2	Exhaust muffler A muffler for reducing the sounds of combustion gases exhausted from an internal combustion engine including an elongated fluid passage extending between an inlet and an outlet such that the outlet is in fluid communication with the inlet. Further, the inlet being connectable with the gases exhausted from the engine and the outlet being connectable with the atmosphere. The muffler further including an outer tank surrounding the passage and a tubular connector having a first end in fluid connection with the passage and a second end in fluid connection with the tank such that the connector produces a fluid connection between the passage and the tank. The connectors having a perforated resistance plate to restrict the fluid flow between said passage and said sound chamber thereby reducing the severity of the sound or fluid pulses entering and exiting said sound chamber, perforations in said perforated plate forming an open portion of said plate and said open portion being less than 60 percent.
US07942233B2	Method to personalize a stethoscope A method for personalizing a stethoscope, wherein the personalization permanently identifies the owner of the stethoscope and also decorates the stethoscope. The personalization does not deter from the normal operation of the stethoscope, and allows for full sterilization of the stethoscope. The diaphragm of the stethoscope, includes an exterior side that is adapted to come into contact with the patient and, an interior side that is not exposed to the outside. A design selected by the owner is applied, in reverse, to the interior surface of the diaphragm. The design is preferably painted on the diaphragm in stages, or layers. Using the present reverse application technique, images painted on the right-half of the interior surface, appear on the left-half, when viewed from the exterior of the stethoscope. Further, in the present application technique, the foreground is painted on, or applied, first, and the background of the personalization is applied last.
US07942231B2	Hydraulic power steering system A hydraulic auxiliary power steering for motor vehicles having a source for a hydraulic medium, in particular an oil pump, which can be driven during operation by a drive device, in particular by an internal combustion engine of the vehicle or by an electric motor, having a steering transmission and having a line system for the hydraulic medium connecting the source to the steering transmission, wherein the line system has at least two line sections through which the hydraulic medium can flow.
US07942227B2	Motorcycle having a continuously variable transmission and a reduction gearset A motorcycle is provided that includes a frame and an engine supported by the frame. The motorcycle also includes a continuously variable transmission operatively driven by the engine and a reduction gearset operatively driven by the continuously variable transmission. The motorcycle further includes a rotatable rear wheel operatively, indirectly driven by the reduction gearset and a swing-arm assembly pivotably mounted, at a forward end thereof, on the frame. The swing-arm assembly is coupled, at a rear end thereof, to the rear wheel. The swing-arm assembly includes first and second elongated and laterally spaced fork members. The reduction gearset set is positioned forward of the rear wheel and laterally between the first and second fork members.
US07942222B2	Swing-type operation machine To realize a mounting structure on the rear side of the seat of the operator station on which the seat and equipment for operation are installed in the swing table of a swing-type operation machine, the mounting structure being simple in construction yet imparted with a sufficiently large strength without increasing the size of the swing table or without utilizing the counter weight. The swing-type operation machine comprises an under carriage, a swing table mounted on the under carriage so as to freely swing thereon, an operator station mounted on the swing table and on which a seat and equipment for operation are installed, and a heat exchanger-mounting body supporting a heat exchanger for cooling the engine that is positioned at the back of the seat of the operator station and supporting the rear part of the seat of the operator station.
US07942219B2	Polycrystalline diamond constructions having improved thermal stability PCD constructions include a PCD body comprising a polycrystalline matrix region, a first region that includes a replacement material positioned remote from a body surface, and a second region that is substantially free of the replacement material and that extends a depth from the body surface. The PCD construction can further include a substrate that is attached to the body. The PCD body is formed by removing a solvent catalyst material used to form the body, replacing the removed solvent catalyst material with a replacement material, and then removing the replacement material from a region of the body to thereby form the second region. The replacement material can be introduced into the PCD body during a HPHT process, and the substrate may or may not be the source of the noncatalyzing material.
US07942217B2	Cutting apparatus for a microtunnelling system The present disclosure relates to a microtunnelling apparatus including a cutting apparatus adapted to be rotated by a drill shaft defining a central axis of rotation that extends along a length of the drill shaft. The cutting apparatus includes a front cutting rotor having a hub defining a shaft receiver that extends at least partially through the hub in a direction extending from a back side toward a front cutting side of the front cutting rotor. The shaft receiver is configured to receive the drill shaft. The drill shaft and the shaft receiver cooperate to define a torque transmitting mechanical interface for allowing torque to be transferred between the drill shaft and the front cutting rotor such that the drill shaft can be used to rotate the front cutting rotor about the central axis of rotation. The front cutting rotor also includes a plurality of cutting bars that project at least partially radially outwardly from the hub. The cutting apparatus further includes a front retainer that mounts at the front cutting side of the front cutting rotor for retaining the front cutting rotor on the drill shaft.
US07942215B2	Drilling fluids for oil and gas reservoirs with high carbonate contents Compositions including relatively low reactivity acids, mixed with viscoelastic surfactants (VESs) and internal breakers may serve as drilling fluids to open underground hydrocarbon reservoirs with carbonate contents of 10 wt % or above. The drilling fluids have low viscosities in the drilling pipe. After the fluid flows out of the drill bit, the acids react with carbonates in the formation thereby increasing the pH of the drilling fluids causing the VES to gel the fluid at the bottom of the hole and the downhole annulus between the drilling pipe and the formation rock. The viscosified drilling fluid will reduce fluid loss and will carry no dissolved drilling debris to the surface. After drilling through the targeted formation, the internal breakers in the viscosified drilling fluids will break down the fluids to permit their removal, and the well is ready to produce with very little or no near well bore damage.
US07942211B2	Power tool This invention relates to a power tool one having a driven member 5 for releasably gripping a working element 4. The power tool is operable in a working mode in which the working element performs work, or an adjustment mode in which the driven member 5 grips or releases the working element 4. The power tool includes a powered selector means including a controller 6 which enables the operator to select the mode of operation of the power tool.
US07942208B2	System and method for blade level control of earthmoving machines A system for automatically controlling the position and level of an earthmoving implement on an earthmoving machine. The system includes at least one hydraulic actuator adapted to raise and lower the earthmoving implement, a device for delivering a pressurized fluid to and receiving pressurized fluid from the actuator, and an electronic control circuit that includes electronic sensors for sensing the absolute orientation of the machine and the position of the actuator, and a controller for receiving outputs of the sensors, calculating an amount of the pressurized fluid that must be delivered to or received from the actuator to achieve a desired position for the earthmoving implement, and control the delivering-receiving device to deliver or receive the amount of the pressurized fluid to achieve the desired position for the earthmoving implement.
US07942204B2	Method and apparatus for rescaling measurements while drilling in different environments A method of using a survey system comprising at least one sensor. The method comprises operating the survey system to provide information regarding the orientation of the sensor relative to the Earth at a first resolution level while the sensor is a first distance relative to the Earth's surface and operating the survey system to provide information regarding the orientation of the sensor relative to the Earth at a second resolution level while the sensor is a second distance relative to the Earth's surface. The second distance is larger than the first distance. The second resolution level is higher than the first resolution level.
US07942195B2	Heat dissipation device having a bracket A heat dissipation device (10) includes a first heat sink (20), a second heat sink (30) and a heat pipe (40) transferring heat from the first heat sink to the second heat sink. A bracket (50) includes a first end (51) attached to the first heat sink and a second end (52) attached to the second heat sink.
US07942188B2	Refractory metal core A cast metal article, such as a turbine engine component, is made by shaping a body of refractory metal particles to form a molded refractory metal article. The molded refractory metal article is sintered to form a refractory metal core. Both the refractory metal article and a setter block may be sintered at the same time. At least a portion of the refractory metal core is enclosed with wax. The wax is at least partially enclosed with a covering of mold material. The wax is removed from the mold material to form an article mold cavity. The article mold cavity is filled with molten metal which solidifies to form a cast metal article. The refractory metal core is removed from the cast metal article.
US07942183B2	Method of partial painting using hologram transfer film and manufacturing method of painting composition and device for preparing hologram particle The present invention relates to a partial painting method, and more particularly, to a painting method wherein a printing layer is completely transferred onto a base material surface by attaching a hologram transfer film on the base material surface subjected to transparent painting, heat-treating it to transfer a printing portion and then removing a base material film. Since the printing layer is completely transferred onto and impregnated into the transferred surface of the present invention, there occurs no step and the printing layer is not erased due to a solvent. Further, the present invention relates a method of preparing a painting composition using a hologram transfer film and a painting method using the painting composition. More particularly, there is provided a method of preparing a painting composition, wherein a remaining portion except a base material film of a transfer film having a hologram thin film formed thereon is scratched to use by mixing with a binder solution so that a hologram pattern provided with a three-dimensional effect can be coated through a relatively simple method, and a painting method using the painting composition, a painting composition and a device for preparing hologram particles used in preparing the painting composition.
US07942169B2	Folding type cable protection and guide device A folding type cable protection and guide device is provided in which a cable is accommodated into a cable accommodating space. The cable accomodating space can be easily adapted to accommodate the cable, even if the cable is a long body. The assembly load is decreased. Further, the use of many different sized metal molds is not required. The form stability of the cable accommodating space is sufficiently ensured during both linear movement and flexion movement, so that smooth linear movement and flexion movement can be attained. The rectangularly shaped cable accommodating space is formed by folding a pair of right and left folded sections 110, 110 extending in a longitudinal direction of the extruded synthetic resin tape 100 along the longitudinal direction of the tape.
US07942167B1	Expandable pipe for restoring a conduit An expandable pipe (20) for restoring a damaged conduit (22) includes a liner (24) formed of polypropylene material. The liner (24) presents exterior surface (26) defining a plurality of grooves (28) and surrounding a center opening (32). The grooves (28) contain a grout material (30) and provide for controlled placement of the grout material (30). The grooves (28) maintain the placement of the grout material (30) when sliding the expandable pipe (20) into the conduit (22). The grout material (30) includes urethane and recycled fibers (36), and expands in volume upon contact with moisture. The grout material (30) expands to fill cracks in the conduit (22). The grooves (28) also render the expandable pipe (20) bendable in width (W) at the groves for folding and transporting the expandable pipe (20) and for maneuvering around bends of the conduit (22).
US07942164B2	Dual-purpose gas stove switch A dual-purpose gas stove switch includes a valve body and a valve seat. The valve body includes an inlet passageway, an interior passageway, a nozzle having a mouth, a compensation nozzle, and a compensation passageway in communication with the compensation nozzle. A valve core is received in a chamber formed by the valve body and the valve seat. The valve core includes a blind hole in communication with the mouth via the interior passageway. The valve core includes four holes and a compensation hole. The valve core is rotatable to make the four holes to be in selective communication with the inlet passageway. The compensation hole can be in communication with the compensation passageway and the compensation nozzle. Thus, the switch can be selectively utilized with liquefied petroleum gas or natural gas.
US07942157B2	Cleaning head In order to deliver supplies of liquid for irrigation of a cleaning head, a turnable part of the cleaning head housing and a nozzle hub (4) are mounted directly in a stationary part (2) of the housing to the turnable part (3) by forming slide bearings therebetween made of materials such as AISI316L and Nitronic60, preferably with at least one bearing having parts (15, 20) made of the same material. Liquid can flow through gaps (9, 14) provided between the slide bearing parts, reducing the consumption of liquid used for irrigating an exterior of the cleaning head, while creating a strong film of liquid which settles on the exterior surface.
US07942152B1	Soft hand restraint device for transporting prisoners The present invention, a SOFT HAND RESTRAINT DEVICE FOR TRANSPORTING PRISONERS comprising a fabric pouch, a retaining clip mechanism, a wrist retaining strap, restraint grommets, a handcuff retainer and a splay device seeks to provide law enforcement personnel a means of safely transporting prisoners, whereby the ability of a prisoner to grasp objects or persons and exercise his hands in an offensive posture is temporarily debilitated. This is accomplished by maintaining the hand in a position whereby the middle and ring finger are splayed apart at a predetermined distance by a splay device, which interferes with the grip ergonomics, wherein the prisoner is unable to exert sufficient force to overcome the splay device and hence is unable to form a grip. Additional embodiments providing differing arrangements of the primary elements are also disclosed and claimed.
US07942146B2	Impaction nozzle for propellant driven metered dose aerosols Propellant gas inhaler fitted with a valve or valve system through which at least two clouds of aerosols or at least two jet streams are produced that travel towards one another at an angle from 0° to 180°, so that the individual aerosol particles at least partially impact with one another and lose kinetic energy thereby.
US07942144B2	Heating system and apparatus A heating apparatus and a system that utilize friction to generate thermal energy. The heating apparatus comprises a housing unit, a plurality of heating chambers for generating heat, an actuating unit, a shaft; and at least one blade unit. Each heating chamber comprises a stationary disc member, a rotating disc member, and a medium disposed between the stationary disc member and the rotating disc member. The actuating unit drives the rotating disc member in the heating chamber to generate thermal energy by friction among the stationary disc member, the rotating disc member, and the medium. Thermal energy generation is controlled by rotating speed, diameter of the disc member, and contact pressure between the rotating disc member and the stationary disc member. Tube members can also be used in the heating chambers.
US07942139B1	Ring insert for an air intake conduit for an internal combustion engine A ring insert for an air intake conduit for an internal combustion engine comprising a sleeve-shaped body which is tightly mounted within the air intake conduit. The body has an inner surface which includes an annular surface in the shape of a truncated cone defining an annular inclined surface that is narrower at the forward edge of the body than at the rearward edge forming a venturi directly adjacent the rearward edge. The forward edge of the body is smoothly contoured and the rearward edge of the body is smoothly contoured.
US07942134B2	Evaporative emission system and method for controlling same A method for controlling an automotive canister purge valve in fluid communication with an evaporative canister includes selecting a purge flow rate of increase for the purge valve based on a hydrocarbon concentration in a fluid stream exiting the evaporative canister, and operating the purge valve based on the selected rate.
US07942133B2	Control method of an electronic injection fuel feeding system A control method of an electronic injection fuel feeding system for an internal combustion engine and displaying at least one injector and a non-continuous flow rate fuel pump actuated by a an actuator device; the control method includes the steps of: determining the desired fuel amount which must be injected at each cycle of the internal combustion engine; driving the injector for injecting the desired fuel amount at each cycle of the internal combustion engine; determining an optimal pumping frequency of the actuator device of the fuel pump according to the desired fuel amount which must be injected at each cycle of the internal combustion engine; and actuating the actuator device of the fuel pump at the optimal pumping frequency.
US07942113B2	Animal litter composition An animal litter mixture comprising pine wood and silica gel is provided. The pinewood is preferably a sawdust form, although the pinewood may be in the form of fine shavings or compressed pellets. The silica gel may have one porosity or a mixture of porosity. In one embodiment of the animal litter mixture, the silica gel may be an indicator gel that changes colors when the silica is saturated with water.
US07942110B2	Electrostatic coating device An electrostatic coating device (10) comprising a body defining to an interior chamber (13) communicating with the exterior by means of a first coating powder inlet conduit (14) and a second outlet conduit (15) for said powders, a plurality of electrodes (16) and one or more voltage generators (17) connected to said electrodes (16), wherein said electrodes (16) are positioned so as to generate an electrical field inside said second conduit (15).
US07942100B2	Break down desk assembly A break down desk is disclosed to facilitate an efficient storage disassembly and transport in compact shipping containers. The break down desk may be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled without the use of traditional tools and fasteners and with a minimal of assistance. A removable desktop is detachably connected to and across a pair of opposing side panels. The removable desktop includes a primary writing surface at the front, a file/paper stacking surface located behind the primary writing surface, and a pair of detachable side wings. A wire management channel, through which to receive an electrical wire from an electrical apparatus, runs around the desktop between the primary writing surface, the file/stacking surface, and the side wings. A cable routing trough, to guide the cable from an AC power strip received therewithin towards a source of power, is detachably connected between the pair of opposing side panels below the desktop. A cable access door is pivotally attached to the file/stacking surface of the desktop to be rotatable from a closed position, at which to prevent access to the cable routing trough through the desktop, to an open position, at which to permit access to the cable routing trough through the desktop.
US07942095B2	Bag dispenser for providing bags at a workstation and method A bag dispenser feeds a bag assembly for supplying bags to a work station for manual removal from the bag assembly as needed. Each bag is printed with information such as packing date or packing location prior to reaching the work station.
US07942085B2	Double-fulcrum torque wrench A double-fulcrum torque wrench including a tubular body, a head section for fitting with a socket or a screwing member and a flexible mechanism including a flexible section. The flexible mechanism is connected with a rear end of the head section and disposed in the tubular body. The head section protrudes from a front end of the tubular body. When a wrenching force is applied to the wrench, the flexible section of the flexible mechanism is flexible. The head section and the flexible mechanism are connected with the tubular body via two fulcrums and the flexible section is positioned between the two fulcrums. By means of the double-fulcrum design, the action force at the force application end of the wrench is equal to the action force at the resistance end. In addition, the flexure of the wrench and the actual wrenching torque applied to the wrench can be more accurately and sensitively measured.
US07942083B2	Apparatus and method for depressing brake drum springs A c-clamp locking device has been specially modified to depress brake drum springs while the brake shoes are replaced. The device has opposing c-clamp jaws, one of which has a blunt end for compression against the surface of the brake drum, and the other of which has a ring for compressing the brake drum spring. The jaws are adjustable relative to each other. A locking mechanism enables the device to lock in place when the brake drum spring is appropriately compressed, allowing the mechanic to use both hands unencumbered when replacing brake shoes.
US07942076B2	Adjustable steering column assembly An adjustable steering column assembly having a column jacket defining a longitudinal axis and moveable in at least one of a telescoping direction and a tilting direction is disclosed. A bracket is coupled to the column jacket with at least one pivot shaft coupled to the bracket along a pivot axis. A lever is mounted to the pivot shaft and rotates between a set position for preventing movement of the column jacket and an adjustable position for allowing movement of the column jacket. A locking device engages the lever and moves between a locked position and an unlocked position in response to rotation of the lever between the set and adjustable positions, respectively. A restrictor encircles the bracket, the column jacket, the lever and the locking device for resisting against an outwardly radial force produced by the locking device when in the locked position.
US07942073B2	Device for transmitting rotary motion Device for transmitting rotary motion in a diverter switch comprising a motion-transmitting member for transforming an alternating rotary motion of a drive shaft into a unidirected rotary motion of a driven body driven about driven shaft. The motion-transmitting member includes an intermediate body rotatable about an intermediate shaft. A mechanical energy accumulation member is connected to the driven body. The motion-transmitting member for transforming the alternating rotary motion of the drive shaft into a unidirected rotary motion of the driven shaft includes an intermediate motion member connected to a crank mechanism. The motion member includes an engagement mechanism for transforming the linear motion into a unidirected rotary motion of the intermediate shaft via drive members.
US07942070B2	Flow rate sensor The invention relates to a flow sensor having a measuring chamber to which a fluid whose volume and/or rate of flow is to be measured is supplied and then drawn off. Inside the measuring chamber elements of a measuring mechanism are mounted so as to freely rotate. The sensor is also provided with a magnet which produces a magnetic field inside the measuring chamber and in close proximity thereto. At least one sensor device measures the magnetic field and/or changes in the magnetic field. The sensor device for measuring the magnetic field is provided with at least one giant magnetoresistance sensor.
US07942069B2	Fluid handling device with isolating chamber A fluid handling device includes a body portion defining a flow passage and an impulse chamber extending from the flow passage. The impulse chamber is fluidly coupled with the flow passage and has a pair of opposing ends defining a length dimension therebetween. The impulse chamber further presents a diameter dimension transverse to the length dimension, wherein the length dimension is at least 3 times and not greater than 10 times the diameter dimension. The device further includes at least one sensor operably coupled with the body portion. The sensor is disposed proximate the end of the impulse chamber opposite the flow passage and presents a sensing face facing into the impulse chamber.
US07942065B2	Isokinetic sampling method and system for multiphase flow from subterranean wells The invention relates in a one aspect to a method or apparatus for measuring flow properties of a multiphase fluid stream flowing in a pipeline comprising means for sampling, with a sampling probe, a portion of the fluid stream; for measuring a differential pressure between a first pressure of the fluid stream in the pipeline and a second pressure of the portion of the fluid stream in the sampling probe; for controlling flow rate of the sampled portion, wherein the flow rate of the sampled portion is controlled to provide for nullification of the differential pressure in order to obtain substantially isokinetic sampling of the fluid stream; for measuring properties of the portion of the fluid stream; and for processing the measured properties to determine the flow properties of the multiphase fluid stream flowing in the pipeline, wherein the above elements do not require- or are performed without the determination of the density of fluid in the fluid stream through nuclear radiation methods.
US07942059B2	Sensor arrangement A sensor arrangement for detecting objects, includes an ultrasonic sensor and an optical sensor integrated into the ultrasonic sensor.
US07942058B2	System and methods to determine and monitor changes in microstructural properties A system and methods with which changes in microstructure properties such as grain size, grain elongation, texture, and porosity of materials can be determined and monitored over time to assess conditions such as stress and defects. The present invention includes a database of data, wherein a first set of data is used for comparison with a second set of data to determine the conditions of the material microstructure.
US07942053B2	Air flow measuring instrument having dust particle diverting structure An air flow measuring instrument, comprising: an auxiliary passage 8 arranged inside a main passage through which fluid flows, a tabular member 5 on which a pattern of a heating resistor for measuring an air flow is provided on one face 5a, the tabular member being disposed inside the auxiliary passage so that the one face 5a on which the heating resistor pattern of the tabular member is provided is disposed along a flow of fluid inside the auxiliary passage 8, a heating resistor pattern-side fluid passage 8a portion formed so that the fluid flows between the face 5a and a passage-forming surface 8d of the auxiliary passage, and a back-surface 8b side fluid passage portion formed so that fluid flows between a face 5b on a side opposite to the face of the tabular member and the passage-forming surface of the auxiliary passage. Guidance portion 13 guiding dust that collides against the end portion to back-surface side fluid passage portion 8b side is provided on upstream-side end of tabular member.
US07942049B2	Device for automatic evaluation and control of wind tunnel measurements A device for evaluating a wind tunnel measurement, in which a processor identifies a flow element on an image recorded in the wind tunnel. The identified flow element subsequently may be segmented and further analyzed in order to obtain accurate information about the flow behaviour of an object to be analyzed. In addition, a method, a computer-readable storage medium, a program element, and an arrangement are disclosed.
US07942045B1	Engine pulley testing device An engine pulley testing device comprising a first support arm pivotally connected to a second support arm; an arc-shaped brace component with a slot disposed therein, wherein the brace component is slidably attached to the back of the first support arm and the back of the second support arm, wherein the brace component can be locked to the first support arm and to the second support arm via a third locking means; a third support arm attached to the support brace and extending upwardly past the pivot component; a pulley pole perpendicularly attached to the third support arm; and a top pulley attached to the pulley pole, a first bottom pulley rotatably attached to the first support arm, and a second bottom pulley rotatably attached to the second support arm; wherein an engine belt can be wrapped around the pulleys and the test pulley being tested in the engine.
US07942035B2	Anode leak test implementation A system and method is provided for detecting an anode leak of an anode stream in a fuel cell stack. The system comprises a controller that stores at least one first predetermined control value that corresponds to a first pre-selected pressure level. The controller generates at least one first operational control value. The controller controls a pressure regulator device to adjust the pressure of the anode stream to reach the first pre-selected pressure level with the at least one first operational control value. The controller compares the at least one first operational control value to the at least one first predetermined control value. The controller determines the presence of an anode leak in the anode stream based on the comparison of the at least one first operational control value to the at least one first predetermined control value.
US07942032B2	Method for detecting impact damage in a structure A method of detecting impact damage of a structure having a first surface exposed to potential impacts from an object comprises providing a sensor having a body portion that has a surface provided with an elongated channel. The sensor is fixed to a second surface of the structure such that a conduit is formed by the channel and the surface. The surface is on an opposite side of the structure to the first surface. A pressure differential is established between the conduit and a reference pressure adjacent the conduit. Monitoring is conducted for detecting any change in the differential pressure that may be indicative of a fracture or crack propagating in the second surface.
US07942029B2	Coil box between roughing train and finishing train in a rolling mill The invention relates to a method for expanding the use of a coiling and uncoiling station (coilbox) located between the roughing train and the finishing train for rolled strip material in hot-rolling mills. The use of said coilbox is expanded by impinging the coil that is to be uncoiled with a pressing force (F) which acts in the direction of the roller table (4) and/or placing the coil in a depression of the roller table in order to process smaller coil weights in a spikeless coilbox, and/or by combining, in a chronological and weight-related manner, the active transfer and passive transfer of a coil from a first coiling station to a second coiling station in order to increase the throughput especially at average coil weights in a spikeless coilbox, and/or by supplying heat to the strip upstream or downstream of the spikeless coilbox and/or thermally insulating the strip or the coilbox in order to variably increase and homogenize the strip temperature. The invention further relates to a correspondingly equipped device for carrying out said method.
US07942021B2	Cam assembly part and knitting machine A needle cam assembly is provided in a circular knitting machine or a flat-bed knitting machine, said needle cam assembly allowing an adjustment of at least one cam assembly part with respect to at least one other cam assembly part. As a result of this, the timing of the closing and opening of the inside space of the hook of the slider needle can be adjusted relative to the timing of the retraction of the slider needle and can be set as needed. This measure may be utilized to increase the knitting quality and operational safety of a knitting machine that has been loaded with slider needles.
US07942019B2	Ejector pump in device for cooling/heating systems The present invention concerns a cooling or heating system including at least a compressor (10), a coolant tank/accumulator (4), a condenser (11), an inspection glass device with ejector pump (1, 2) for circulation and control of coolant, coolant and a vaporizer (13). The invention is characterized essentially in that the system comprises: a connection (8) to the ejector pump (1, 2), for intake of condensate from the condenser (11), an exit connection (9) from the ejector pump (1, 2), for connection to the vaporizer (13) and means (3) for visually controlling the ejector pump (1, 2). The invention also concerns a device (12) for controlling the coolant of a cooling or heating apparatus.
US07942015B2	Water sump structure A water sump structure (1) is provided. A channel, trough, trench or the like is formed as or provided with an impermeable member (7) for trapping water. One or more heat exchange pipes (6) for carrying a heat exchange fluid are located, in use, so as to pass through water trapped by the impermeable member thereby forming a heat exchange water sump structure.
US07942005B2	Combustion chamber in a turbomachine A turbomachine combustion chamber has primary and dilution air inlet orifices formed by die stamping to have edges that project into the inside of the combustion chamber, and stress relaxation and/or reduction means in the edges or in the vicinity of the edges of said orifices, said means comprising, for each orifice, one, two, or three slots formed in the edge or around a fraction of the edge of said orifice.
US07941996B2	Actuation system for a servo-assisted mechanical transmission with oil leakage recovery An actuation system for a servo-assisted transmission; the actuation system is provided with: a hydraulic circuit comprising a reservoir containing a control fluid, a hydraulic accumulator containing the pressurized control fluid, and a pump which draws from the reservoir and feeds the hydraulic accumulator; at least a hydraulic actuator comprising at least one actuation chamber and a mobile piston which slides within the actuation chamber; a solenoid valve for connecting the actuation chamber of the hydraulic actuator to the hydraulic accumulator and to the reservoir; and a recirculation circuit, which departs from at least one environment bordering with the actuation chamber of the hydraulic actuator and ends in the reservoir.
US07941991B2	Split crimper for heat sealing packaging material A split crimper for use in a crimping assembly for engaging and heat sealing overlapping layers of a packaging material includes a first crimper portion having a crimping surface and a second crimper portion that is secured to the first crimper portion to form a crimper. Portions of the first and second crimper portions cooperate to define an interior cavity, and a heating element is disposed completely within the interior cavity.
US07941986B2	Articulating work platform support system, work platform system, and methods of use thereof The invention includes a work platform and support system that includes a hub and joist configuration, wherein the hubs and joists are capable of articulation, or pivoting. One method of installation allows for sections of new work platform system to be extended from an existing suspended work platform system. The system is also capable of supporting, without failure, its own weight and at least four times the maximum intended load applied to it.
US07941985B2	Halo/spider, full-moment, column/beam connection in a building frame A column/beam connection in a building frame, including an elongate column having faces which join through corners, an elongate beam having an end, and a full-moment nodal connection connecting the end of the beam to the column solely through a pair of next-adjacent corners in the column, with the beam end, as so connected, being spaced from the column face which lies between the mentioned pair of corners. The connection per se features (a) plural standoffs joined to and extending, one each, outwardly from the column's corners at a selected, common elevation located along the length of the column, and (b) a halo collar joined through a gravity-seat-and-lock, full-moment interface connection to each of the standoffs, and, as so joined, spaced by the standoffs from the column faces which lie between the column corners.
US07941973B2	Synchronized actuation system for sliding doors A synchronized actuation system for sliding doors, of the type of those formed, in which the pulling grip (1) and the free grip (2) have flanges (12) and the belt (4) and free (2) and pulling (1) grips are joined by a connecting shoe (3). With this configuration it is possible to carry out assembly and maintenance operations vertically and therefore in situ.
US07941971B2	Irrigation system Disclosed is an irrigation device for use with a drip irrigation conduit for providing water to individual plants planted in rows. The irrigation device includes a water distribution element configured with at least one support configuration for supporting the drip irrigation conduit, and a plurality of water direction elements. Water emitted by the drip irrigation conduit is collected by said water distribution element and each of said plurality of water direction elements directs said water to a different delivery point that corresponds to the location of a plant. The water distribution element of the present invention is provided in at least three variations. In a first variation, the water distribution element of the present invention is deployed between the crop rows and is configured with at least one water flow trough and a plurality of spaced apart output channels extending from the water flow troughs at predefined intervals (matching the intervals between plants) used to direct water coming from the water flow trough to the individual plants. In a second variation, the water distribution element of the present invention is deployed over the crop row and is configured with a separate opening for each crop plant to which the water is directed. A third variation, of the water distribution element of the present invention is deployed substantially as a groundcover having a plurality of openings to provided growing space for the individual crop plants.
US07941968B1	Plant watering trellis apparatus The plant watering trellis apparatus provides both a trellis for plant support and a plant watering means. The collection tray is sized with a width about equal to the top width of the apparatus so that rain collection is also an option, as well as hand or automated filling from another source. Transparency of the vertical supply tubes allows a user to visually determine the water level within the apparatus. Legs are inserted into a given soil for apparatus support. The valves in the delivery tubes control drip and rate of drip from the delivery block orifices so that monitoring water supply to plants is needed only at the outset in determining best plant water supply. After setting, the apparatus can be conveniently left unattended. The delivery blocks are relatively heavy so the delivery tubes are downwardly extended. The planar apparatus is easily located and used.
US07941965B2	Tackle container with removable inserts having coaxially notched posts The invention is a tackle container that incorporates interchangeable and removable inserts. The inserts secure different kinds of fishing lures and baits. For example, the inserts hold segmented lures within notched upright posts. In this regard, the inserts may be suitably structured to hold spinner bait lures, buzz bait lures, or other fishing lures with segmented bodies. Moreover, the inserts are interchangeable to facilitate a wider variety of uses for the tackle container.
US07941962B2	Waterfowl decoy with stabilizing buoyancy attachment Provided is a waterfowl decoy that includes a suction bottom main body in combination with a removable keel. The main body includes extensions on the bottom that are within the cavity, and the keel includes corresponding slots to slideably engage the extensions. The keel also includes a hollow ballast section with an opening for insertion of desired ballast material. The keel is brought into contact with the bottom of the main body and the extensions are slid into the slots. This invention allows for quick, selectable attachment or removal of the keel in the field. The keel also includes a structure for the attachment and wrapping of an anchor cord.
US07941961B1	System for receiving spent cartridge cases from a firearm A cartridge catching system designed to attach to picatinny rail of a firearm to receive spent cartridge cases from the ejection port of firearm is provided. The cartridge catching system has a container body which is downwardly angled to deflect the spent cartridge cases towards the bottom of the container body. A connecting rod where one end of the connecting rod is fixed on picatinny rail of the firearm and other end is placed within an elongated hole is provided on a rod receiving assembly. The rod receiving assembly is mountable on top or within the container body to optimize the position of the container body depending on the type and size of firearm. A spring actuated ball is provided inside the elongated hole on the rod receiving assembly to fit onto the semicircular hole of the connecting rode to provide an easy ON/OFF mechanism for attaching/removing the cartridge catching system making it easy to empty the container body.
US07941951B2	Sign stand with rolling base A portable sign stand with wheels or rollers, an adjustable weighted base member, and a sign display member. The base member has one or more compartments so that liquid or solid ballast can be added to stabilize the sign stand in windy conditions. The upper and lower wall members of the otherwise hollow base member are joined together at one or more locations where the sign display member is connected to the base member. The base member can be made by blow molding techniques. Wheels are provided on one edge of the base member in order to allow the sign stand to be rolled and easily moved to different positions. Axle members secure the wheels to the base member. One or more resilient members can be used to connect the sign display member to the base member.
US07941941B2	Article of footwear incorporating foam-filled elements and methods for manufacturing the foam-filled elements An article of footwear may have an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure has a plurality of support elements, and each of the support elements include a shell and a core. The shell defines an interior void and is formed from a polymer material that extends around substantially all of the void. The core has a shape of the void and is located within the void, with at least a portion of the core being a polymer foam material. The polymer foam material of at least two of the support elements may have different densities.
US07941938B2	Article of footwear with lightweight sole assembly An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole assembly secured to the upper. The sole assembly includes a first portion having a lower ground engaging surface, an upper surface, and a recess formed in the upper surface. The upper surface of the first portion is in contact with the upper. A second portion is seated in the recess in the first portion and has an upper surface, with the upper surface of the second portion being in contact with the upper. The second portion comprises a foam material having a density less than 0.25 g/cm3.
US07941934B2	Method for identifying keys for controlling locks A system for controlling access to a secure area includes a lock and an electronic access device for controlling access to a secure area. The lock includes pins for locking and unlocking the lock. The access device communicates with the pins for electrically measuring movement of the pins. The access device stores an unlock pin code for the predetermined position of the pins for unlocking the lock. The electronic access device electrically measures pin movement by a key and determines a key code for the key from the pin movement. A control device electrically communicates with the electronic access device for identifying the key code and determining when the key code matches the unlock pin code.
US07941932B2	Compact ergonomic thread inspection tool An ergonomic, self contained hand-held thread inspection tool is power driven, which uses a mechanical clutch as a surrogate for torque to initiate automatic reversal and gauge withdrawal in case of jamming. The distal end carries the thread gauge attached to a motor-driven spindle. A thread depth collar sleeve, adjustable by manual turning, concentrically surrounds the thread gauge. When threaded into a blind hole or onto a protruding stud and operated, the distal end of the thread depth collar sleeve comes in contact with a part, pushing it against spring force. This movement is internally sensed, causing an indicator to flash, signaling “test OK”, while automatically reversing the spindle to withdraw the thread gauge. If during the forward excursion of the thread gauge a torque exceeding the pre-set torque limit is encountered, a buzzer is sounded signaling an over-torque problem and the spindle is simultaneously reversed for automatic gauge withdrawal.
US07941931B2	Wet shaving razor and protective cover assembly A protective cover for a razor cartridge. The cartridge is joined to a handle and is pivotal about a pivot axis with respect to the handle. The cover includes a front wall, a back wall opposed to the front wall, a side wall extending from the front wall to the back wall, a first end and an opposed second end. The second end has an opening. The back wall has an opening with first and second pivot inhibiting members extending away from the back wall and towards the front wall. The cover is slidable over the cartridge through the opening in the second end to cover the cartridge such that the first and second pivot inhibiting members engage the handle to inhibit the cartridge from pivoting about the pivot axis with respect to the handle.
US07941926B2	Apparatus for manufacturing hydro dynamic bearing device method An apparatus for manufacturing a hydro dynamic bearing device is provided for the finishing treatment of lubricating oil after lubricating the hydro dynamic bearing device. The hydro dynamic bearing is constructed of an axial member housed in a housing, a radial bearing part for supporting the axial member in a non-contact manner in a radial direction by a hydro dynamic pressure action of the lubricating oil generated in a radial bearing clearance, and a sealing part arranged in an opening part of the housing, and the apparatus has a laser for measuring an oil-level height of the lubricating oil in the housing.
US07941922B2	Method of manufacturing a lightweight valve A method for manufacturing a lightweight valve is provided. The lightweight valve includes a valve stem, a hollow valve cone and a valve disk closing the valve cone, the valve stem being provided with a hollow space at an end facing the valve disk, the valve disk also having a force transmission element extending through the hollow valve cone into the stem hollow space. The method includes producing a first one-piece component forming the valve disk with the force transmission element by casting, forming and/or a powder metallurgy method, producing a second component forming the valve stem and the valve cone and joining the first and second components together and connecting them by a material, non-positive and/or positive connection.
US07941917B2	Methods of assembling cable seals A method of sealing a cable penetration includes assembling a cable seal and inserting the cable seal into a cable penetration. Assembling the cable seal includes adhering at least a portion of a heat-shrinkable tubing to at least a portion of a cable outer jacket, and positioning a secondary elastic seal over the heat-shrinkable tubing. An example of a secondary elastic seal could be O-rings. A cap or other means provides the outer sealing surface.
US07941910B2	Method for removing winding conductors from a twisting machine and placing them in a rotor stator stack Method for removing winding conductors from a twisting machine and placing them in a rotor or stator stack. For a plurality of rectangular winding conductors each having a pair of legs separated by an amount equal to the distance between a predetermined number of rotor or stator slots in which they will be inserted, moving a plurality of fingers of a clamping assembly between the legs of a plurality of winding conductors in a twisting fixture to retain the winding conductors, moving the clamping assembly away from the twisting fixture to withdraw the winding conductors from the twisting fixture, providing relative movement of the clamping assembly and a rotor or stator to insert free ends of the winding conductors into a rotor or stator, and moving the fingers of a clamping assembly from between the legs of a plurality of winding conductors. A preferred embodiment of the method is disclosed.
US07941908B2	Method for scalable manufacturing of medical diagnostic ultrasound imaging systems A plurality of application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chips with different functions is provided. Each of the ASICs performs one or more functions along an ultrasound data path. The chips include communications protocols or processes for allowing scaling. For example, ASICs for backend processing include data exchange ports for communicating between other ASICs of the same type. As another example, receive beamformer ASICs cascade for beamformation. By providing ASICs implementing many or most of the ultrasound data path functions, with scalability, the same ASICs may be used for different system designs. A family of systems from high end to low-end using the same types of ASICs, but in different configurations, is provided.
US07941897B1	Vertical door conversion kit A vehicle door hinge for a passenger or driver side vehicle door. The hinge has a chassis mounting plate securely fastenable to the vehicle frame, a swingarm securely fastenable to the door, a bi-directional rotation mechanism operatively connected to the chassis mounting plate and to the swingarm allowing rotation of the swingarm in a horizontal plane and in a vertical plane, and a sag adjuster screw positioned to bear against a sag adjuster screw guide when the swingarm is rotated in the horizontal plane.
US07941896B2	Upright vacuum cleaner capable of adjusting height of suction port assembly An upright vacuum cleaner has a cleaner body; a suction port assembly hinged to the cleaner body with a drum brush mounted on a front lower surface thereof; and a height adjusting apparatus set to an active mode or an inactive mode. In the active mode, the height adjusting apparatus raises the rear portion of the suction port assembly from an initial height, with the drum brush spaced from a surface, to bring the drum brush into contact with the surface when the cleaner body tilts from an upright position towards the rear of the suction port assembly. In the inactive mode, the rear portion of the suction port assembly remains at the initial height when the cleaner body tilts from the upright position towards the rear of the suction port assembly.
US07941893B2	Vacuum cleaning tool and method for its operation A vacuum cleaning tool has a housing having a connecting socket for effecting flow communication to a vacuum device of a vacuum cleaning device. The housing has a suction opening through which a working air flow enters the housing. The housing has an outlet opening through which the working air flow exits from the housing. A cleaning tool is rotatably supported in the housing. An air turbine is rotatably supported in a turbine chamber of the housing and drives the cleaning tool in rotation. A control device controls the drive power for driving the cleaning tool based on a pressure existing in the vacuum cleaning tool.
US07941884B2	Method for operating a washing machine having a heating unit The invention in one embodiment relates to a method for operating a washing machine having a heating unit, wherein the heating unit comprises a carrier and at least one planar heating element disposed thereon. At least one first heating element is attached to the carrier in a planar manner, wherein the carrier has a recess extending in the longitudinal direction in the center region. The washing machine has a washing machine barrel and a drum therein, wherein the heating unit is displaced at the bottom in the washing machine barrel outside of the drum. A heating element is provided on the outside of the carrier in the region of the recess in the region along an apex, or along an apex of the recess, wherein only said heating element is operated in the region of the recess for creating steam in the washing machine.
US07941867B2	Protective device An energy absorbing device suitable for wearing by humans, or for use in a prosthetic device or robot is provided. The device including support structures which may conform to the contours of limbs, and have the capability of being removeably attached to the limbs. Plates are attached, either fixedly or slideably, to the support structures and adjacent ends of plates may be joined with a flexible link. As the limbs flex at a joint, the slideably attached plate slides to accommodate the rotational motion between the limbs at the joint.
US07945961B2	Display control device, image processing device and display control method There is disclosed a technique capable of improving operatability for registered users and capable of displaying an interface screen for guest users with security levels maintained. A display control device includes: an identification information obtaining unit that obtains identification information for identifying a user; a determination unit that determines, based on the identification information obtained by the identification information obtaining unit, whether the user belongs to a first group or a second group which is allowed to conduct operation concerning only processing items of a lower security level than a security level allowed for the first group; and a control unit that performs control so as to display, for the user determined as belonging to the second group by the determination unit, display objects corresponding to predetermined processing items of a lower security level than a security level of processing items to be displayed for the user determined as belonging to the first group.
US07945958B2	Constraint injection system for immunizing software programs against vulnerabilities and attacks A constraint is inserted into a program to address a vulnerability of the program to attacks. The constraint includes a segment of code that determines when the program has been asked to execute a “corner case” which does not occur in normal operations. The constraint code can access a library of detector and remediator functions to detect various attacks and remediate against them. Optionally, the detector can be employed without the remediator for analysis. The context of the program can be saved and restored if necessary to continue operating after remediation is performed. The constraints can include descriptors, along with machine instructions or byte code, which indicate how the constraints are to be used.
US07945953B1	Method to identify buffer overflows and RLIBC attacks A method and system detect buffer overflows and RLIBC attacks by determining if a critical call initiating function is a “potential threat”. In one embodiment, a critical call initiating function is considered a potential threat if the value of the return address of the critical call initiating function points to a location in memory between the location of the highest Thread Environment Block (TEB) or Process Environment Block (PEB) and the location of the lowest Thread Environment Block (TEB) or PEB. In another embodiment, a critical call initiating function making a call to a predefined critical operating system function is considered a potential threat if the value of the return address of the critical call initiating function points to the beginning of a new function with a zero offset.
US07945950B2	Generic interactive challenges in a distributed system A challenge mechanism in which a challenge is issued from one message processor to another. In generating the challenge, the message processor may select any one or more of a number of available interactive challenge types, where each type of challenge type might use different user-originated information. Upon receiving the challenge, the challengee message processor may identify the challenge type based on information provided in the challenge, and perform different actions depending on the challenge type. The challengee message processor then generates an appropriate challenge response, and issues that challenge response to the challenger message processor. The challenger message processor may then validate the challenge response.
US07945948B2	System, method and program for off-line user authentication Disclosed is an off-line user authentication system, which is designed to present a presentation pattern to a user subject to authentication, and apply a one-time-password derivation rule serving as a password to certain pattern elements included in the presentation pattern at specific positions so as to create a one-time password. An off-line authentication client pre-stores a plurality of pattern element sequences each adapted to form a presentation pattern, and a plurality of verification codes created by applying a one-time-password derivation rule to the respective presentation patterns and subjecting the obtained results to a one-way function algorism. A presentation pattern is created using one selected from the stored pattern element sequences, and presented to a user. A one-time password entered from the user is verified based on a corresponding verification code to perform user authentication. The present invention provides an off-line matrix authentication scheme with enhanced security.
US07945940B2	Security rating method Security rating method and a graphical tool for decision making especially for setting priorities which tool comprises at least one diagram (1) having a first scale (2) which reaches in a first direction along a first axis (3), at least a first (4) and a second (5) potential action fields the identified value of which (4a, 4b) is graphically represented on said first scale (2) in said diagram (1) whereby a second scale (6) is arranged along said first axis. Said second scale (6) reaches in an opposite direction to said first scale.
US07945930B2	Method and apparatus for controlling a video signal processing apparatus A method for controlling a recording function of a video apparatus improves recording quality by preventing certain display functions of the apparatus from adversely affecting the resultant recording. A problem may arise in certain video signal processing apparatuses when the user selects a recording function after selecting a particular user-activated display function because the user-activated display function may result in the recording of the video signal in an undesired format, for example a different aspect ratio, or zoom mode. According to an exemplary embodiment, the present invention overcomes this problem by providing a method that includes the steps of detecting activation of a recording function of a video apparatus, and turning off a user-activated display function of the video apparatus responsive to the detection.
US07945924B2	Detecting distribution of multimedia content A system and method is disclosed for detecting distribution of multimedia content. The volume level of data traffic is monitored for a plurality of users to select any users with high-bandwidth usage. The time of day and the day of the week may be considered when determining whether a user is a high-bandwidth user. Upon selecting a user as one with high-bandwidth usage, such user may be subject to packet inspections of data traffic streams. In some embodiments, content identification parameters or watermarks are added to one or more packets in a data traffic stream carrying multimedia content.
US07945920B2	Enforcing proper resolution for classes of shared objects in a virtual machine Disclosed techniques ensure that isolates that are attached to a shared object region will see appropriate class states. In response to an isolate's attempt to instantiate, in such a region, an object that is an instance of a particular class, a bootstrap class' identity is added to that region's bootstrap class list. In response to an isolate's attempt to attach to the region, each class that is both (a) in the region's associated bootstrap class list, and (b) not yet initialized for that isolate, is initialized for that isolate. Thus, those bootstrap classes are seen by that isolate as being in the “initialized” state. In response to an isolate's addition of a particular bootstrap class to the region's list of dependent bootstrap classes, the particular bootstrap class is initialized for each of the isolates attached to the region and for which the bootstrap class is not initialized yet.
US07945916B1	Shared persistent objects A system and method are disclosed for an interactive multimedia file (iMF), running on an interactive multimedia runtime (iMR), to store an object onto a computer, the method comprising creating a local instance of the object, storing the local instance into a memory location on the computer, monitoring changes to one or more data slots of the local instance, assigning a version identifier to the local instance, synchronizing the local instance with a main instance of the object, and interfacing the one or more data slots of the local instance with said iMF during execution.
US07945913B2	Method, system and computer program product for optimizing allocation of resources on partitions of a data processing system The inventive method includes creating a first virtual central processing unit (CPU) and a second virtual CPU, where at least one of the set of the first virtual CPU and the second virtual CPU spans across a first physical processing unit and a second physical processing unit. One or more resources from the first and second virtual CPUs are allocated to a first partition and a second partition. Whether one or more processes running on the first partition can utilize additional resources is determined. One or more resources from the first virtual CPU and resources from the second virtual CPU are reallocated to the first partition, where at least one of the resources was previously allocated to the second partition.
US07945912B1	Hierarchical queue-based locks In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a method of establishing a queue-based lock including inserting a first qnode into a local queue, where the first qnode is associated with a first thread, splicing the local queue into the global queue, obtaining a lock for the first thread when the first qnode is at the head of the global queue, and executing a critical section of the first thread after obtaining the lock.
US07945910B2	Dynamic registration of batch files by abstract selection criteria To detect files which are generated unnecessarily or no longer required, and for reliable file versioning, in a batch-processing-oriented environment, a dynamic batch processing system is proposed. The system includes a batch processing control component to process batch processing control instructions, which include the call of at least one program, and a database with files, each of which has a physical file name. The system also includes a component to provide program-related file definition information, which defines the files which are required for a program run by abstract selection criteria. In a file register, the physical file names of the files which are created for the program runs are registered in the form of register entries, which associate at least one selection attribute with each physical file name. A service component which communicates with the control component has access to the file register and the file definition component. The service component selects and/or creates register entries on the basis of file definition information which is associated with the program to be called.
US07945902B1	Detection of non-standard application programming interface usage via analysis of executable code A method for detection of non-portable application programming interface usage via executable code analysis includes identifying one or more conditions for inclusion of an object class within a set of acceptable object classes, wherein a reference to any object class of the set of acceptable object classes by an application is in compliance with a specified portability criterion. The method further includes analyzing an executable version of the application to identify object classes referenced by the application, and generating a portability verification report for the application, wherein the report indicates that the application violates the specified portability criterion if an object class referenced by the application does not meet at least one of the conditions for inclusion in the set of acceptable classes.
US07945900B2	Debugging tool for debugging multi-threaded programs A method includes running a debugging tool in regard to a program which is undergoing debugging. The program may support multi-threaded operation. The method further includes presenting an option to a user via the debugging tool with respect to a program instruction in a first thread of the program. The program instruction may be for putting an item of data into a queue. The method also includes, if the user exercises the option, identifying a program instruction in a second thread of the program. The second thread is different from the first thread. The identified program instruction in the second thread may be for getting the item of data from the queue. The method further includes stopping execution of the program at the identified program instruction in the second thread.
US07945891B2	Time business process validations within data context Validating executable data for interactions among a plurality of process artifacts at design time. A data context is created to include the plurality of process artifacts. The data context carries interaction rules among the plurality of process artifacts. The executable data from a data source is associated with the plurality of process artifacts in the created data context. A subset of the interaction rules is selected corresponding to at least one of the plurality of process artifacts. The associated executable data is validated when the associated executable data is in accordance with the selected subset of the interaction rules.
US07945890B2	Registry for electronic design automation of integrated circuits A method for registering constraints for EDA (Electronic Design Automation) of an IC (Integrated circuit) includes: associating a constraint with values for constraint identification that identify the constraint in an IC design; associating the constraint with values for constraint relationships that relate the constraint to at least one EDA application; saving the constraint identification values and the constraint relationship values in a constraint registry element; and providing an interface to a user for accessing values of the constraint registry element.
US07945882B2	Asynchronous circuit logical verification method, logical verification apparatus, and computer readable storage medium A verification method for verifying an asynchronous circuit includes producing a netlist based on circuit information at a register transfer level, extracting delay information and an asynchronous circuit section in which circuits operating with different clock signals are coupled to each other from the netlist, processing the delay information to extend a malfunction generating period in the asynchronous circuit section, and executing verification of the asynchronous circuit based on the delay information having been processed.
US07945878B2	Rules and directives for validating correct data used in the design of semiconductor products A method to validate data used in a design of a semiconductor product currently in a partially fabricated state is disclosed. The partially fabricated state having a plurality of layers up to and including a first conductive layer. The method generally includes the steps of (A) adding a second conductive layer from a user specification to an application set, the application set having a plurality of resources that define the semiconductor product, (B) validating a new resource in the user specification against the resources in the application set, (C) adding the new resource to the application set upon passing the validating and (D) propagating the new resource throughout a description of the semiconductor product, the description being stored in a computer-readable medium.
US07945876B2	Method and apparatus for automatic synthesis of an electronic circuit model Method and apparatus for synthesizing (constructing) an electronic circuit model in response to electromagnetic analysis data. The invention provides rapid automation of the synthesis of an electronic circuit model by incorporating one or more synthesized electronic model components that are selected from a larger plurality of synthesized (candidate) electronic components whose structure and electromagnetic characteristics are rapidly and automatically synthesized in response to the electromagnetic analysis data.
US07945875B2	Methodology for hierarchy separation at asynchronous clock domain boundaries for multi-voltage optimization using design compiler This invention transforms a circuit design at an asynchronous clock boundary using a flow involving register grouping, logic modification and level shifter and isolation cell insertion. The level shifter and isolation cell inserted are tested for proper location. The transformed circuit design is suitable for power consumption control by independent control of separate voltage domains.
US07945873B2	Mask pattern data generating method, information processing apparatus, photomask fabrication system, and image sensing apparatus A method of generating mask pattern data of a photomask used to form microlenses divides a pattern formation surface of a mask pattern to be used for the photomask into a plurality of grid cells, acquires data that represent a transmitted light distribution of the mask pattern to be used for the photomask, determines whether to place a shield on each of the plurality of grid cells by binarizing the plurality of grid cells in order of increasing or decreasing distance from a center of the pattern formation surface using an error diffusion method, to acquire the transmitted light distribution, and generates mask pattern data that represent an arrangement of the shields, based on the determination.
US07945868B2	Tunable integrated circuit design for nano-scale technologies The invention discloses a method for tuning nano-scale analog-circuit designs in order to reduce random-device mismatches and optimize said design, where nano-scale devices potentially have large-scale process variations. The method includes providing a tunable circuit topology, wherein each nano-scale device comprises a single component or comprises multiple parallel components. Each component is decomposed into multiple discrete sub-components, wherein each said sub-component either operates in parallel with other like components to effectively operate like one bigger component. The sub-components are subjected to a dynamic-programming process to adaptively select the sub-components to be kept operational, while configuring the nonselected sub-components to be nonoperational, based on the measurement of at least one operational parameter.
US07945867B2	Method for realizing an electric linkage in a semiconductor electronic device between a nanometric circuit architecture and standard electronic components A method for realizes electric connections in a semiconductor electronic device between a nanometric circuit architecture and standard electronic components. The method includes: providing a nanometric circuit architecture comprising a succession of conductive nanowires substantially parallel to each other and extended along a direction x; realizing, above the succession, an insulating layer; opening, in the insulating layer, a window of nanometric width b extended along a direction inclined by an angle α with respect to the direction x to substantially cross the whole succession of nanowires, with exposure of a succession of exposed portions of the nanowires, one for each nanowire; realizing, above the insulating layer, a plurality of conductive dies extended along a direction y substantially orthogonal to the direction x and addressed towards the standard electronic components, each of such dies overlapping said window onto a respective exposed portion of a nanowire with obtainment of a plurality of contacts realizing said electric connections.
US07945866B2	Methods, systems and computer program products for displaying video content with aging Methods of displaying video content include obtaining a video content record to be displayed and determining an associated aging characteristic associated with the video content record. A current age is determined for the obtained video content record and a modified video content record is generated for display based on the determined aging characteristic and the determined current age of the obtained video content record. The obtained video content record may be an animation, which may include audio data. The obtained video content record may also be a still image.
US07945858B1	System and method for controlling and operating an astronomical observatory A system for operating an astronomical observatory made up of astronomical hardware, utilizing a web browser operated by a user, and a web server connected to the observatory, wherein both the control to, and feedback from the observatory are displayed to the user in real time independent of personnel support at the observatory site. The user submits a request to the observatory via the web browser, which displays the status and results of the request. A web server, coupled to the various astronomical hardware, processes the request on behalf of the user and responds with the status and results of the request. The status and/or results are then displayed by the web browser to the user. Requests may be made by the user interactively, or in the form of a script. The system may be used over wide area networks, like the Internet, or any other type of network.
US07945856B2	System and method for enabling users to interact in a virtual space The present invention provides a highly scalable architecture for a three-dimensional graphical, multi-user, interactive virtual world system. In a preferred embodiment a plurality of users interact in the three-dimensional, computer-generated graphical space where each user executes a client process to view a virtual world from the perspective of that user. The virtual world shows avatars representing the other users who are neighbors of the user viewing the virtual word. In order that the view can be updated to reflect the motion of the remote user's avatars, motion information is transmitted to a central server process which provides positions updates to client processes for neighbors of the user at that client process. The client process also uses an environment database to determine which background objects to render as well as to limit the movement of the user's avatar.
US07945855B2	Smart space insertion A system and method for inserting space is described. A user may designate content to be inserted into a document and have the system insert space to accommodate the new content. The system and method permit some content to overlie other content as may be intended by a user.
US07945854B2	Systems and methods for the combination and display of social and textual content Techniques are presented for determining a corpus of content portions, each content portion associated with at least one element. A first set of feature values is determined for each content portion. Clusters of content portions are then determined based on the first set of feature values. The features values are optionally associated with topics. Structural links between the elements are determined based on a second set of feature values. A layout of the element is then determined based on the clusters and the structural links. Optionally the N-most dominant topics are determined and also used to inform the layout of the elements in a display.
US07945852B1	Strategies for annotating digital maps A strategy is described for annotating a digital map. According to one exemplary aspect, the user can link a single uploaded object to multiple locations within a map (or maps) without requiring separate uploading and storing operations. According to another exemplary aspect, the user can specify a range of zoom levels in which an object is made visible on the map. According to another exemplary aspect, the user can instruct map processing functionality (MPF) to automatically extract objects from a data source (such as an RSS data source) and annotate the map with the objects. Still further aspects are described.
US07945844B2	Robust DTV signals transmitted at two thirds the code rate of ordinary 8VSB DTV signals Redundant coding of 8VSB digital television signals using (12, 8) linear block codes reduces code rate by a third. The parity bits for the (12, 8) block coding of the bytes in a pair of (207, 187) Reed-Solomon codewords are transmitted in a 207-byte segment of data. The information bits contained in each pair of (207, 187) Reed-Solomon codewords are subsequently transmitted in 207-byte segments of data that can be usefully received by legacy digital television receivers. A preferred (12, 8) linear block coding is the equivalent of Gray coding followed by rearranged shortened (15, 11) Hamming coding followed by Gray decoding. Digital television transmitter apparatus capable of generating such redundantly coded signal is described. So is digital television receiver apparatus capable of receiving and decoding such redundantly coded signal to secure more robust reception.
US07945837B2	Optical recording medium, apparatus and method of recording/reproducing data thereon/therefrom, and computer-readable recording medium storing program to perform the method A recording medium on which a recording/reproducing unit block is recorded, an apparatus to record and/or reproduce data on/from the recording medium, and a method of recording/reproducing the data on/from the recording medium. The recording/reproducing unit block comprises invalid data used in disc certification, and an identifier to indicate that the invalid data is included in the recording/reproducing unit block, the invalid data being used during the disc certification on a portion of the recording medium or the entire recording medium.
US07945828B2	Integrated circuit arrangement and design method An integrated circuit (IC) arrangement (10) comprises an integrated circuit (100) having a digital circuit portion (120) with a plurality of digital outputs (122), each of the outputs being arranged to provide a test result in a test mode of the integrated circuit (100). The arrangement (10) further comprises space compaction logic (140) comprising a space compaction network (160) having a plurality of compaction domains (162), each domain being arranged to compact a plurality of test results into a further test result, and a spreading network (150) coupled between the plurality of digital outputs (122, 210) and the space compaction network (160), the spreading network being arranged to duplicate each test result from the digital outputs (122,210) to a number of compaction domains (162). This space compaction logic (140), which may be located on the IC 100 or external thereto such as on a test apparatus or on a test interface, reduces the risk of fault cancellation or fault aliasing compared to SCLs without spreading network.
US07945821B2	Time lag measuring device, distance measuring apparatus and distance measuring method In measuring a certain time lag between generations of two pulse signals, a time lag measuring device prevents errors in measurement results even with an error in two reference signals for measuring the time lag. The device measures a time lag between a start signal M1 and a stop signal M2 and includes a reference signal generating section 41 generating two reference signals S1, S2 having a phase difference π/2, and an amplitude detecting section 42 detects amplitudes A11, A12 and A21, A22 of the reference signals S1, S2 at generation timings for the start signal M1 and the stop signal M2, a phase difference detecting section 43 calculating a phase _ of the reference signals S according to each set of the amplitudes (A11, A12) and (A21, A22), and a correcting section 46 correcting the calculated phase using correction data for error correction in the reference signals S1, S2.
US07945820B2	Method and apparatus for elimination of faults of a data processing system A method for fault handling of a data processing unit is disclosed. The method includes automatic acquisition of input information and/or output information of a user at at least one user interface of the data processing unit; automatic detection of a fault message that indicates a fault of the data processing unit; transmission of the acquired fault message together with the input information and/or the output information to a fault handling center; and evaluation of the transmitted fault message in the fault handling center.
US07945815B2	System and method for managing memory errors in an information handling system A method for handling memory defects during the POST phase and memory calibration in single processor and multiprocessor information handling systems is disclosed whereby information regarding the location of a known memory defect is utilized to optimize the performance of an information handling system. Memory defects within system memory are identified and replaced during operation with error free memory space.
US07945811B2	Low power, high reliability specific compound functional units To prevent short path errors from occurring in systems having error detection and recovery mechanisms, functional elements are combined to form compound functional units comprising at least two evaluation stages, each evaluation stage including at least one functional element. At least one functional element includes error detection/recovery circuitry. The flow of input values to the first evaluation stage in the compound functional unit is controlled so that the input values are changed at most every second clock cycle.
US07945806B2	Data processing apparatus and method for controlling a transfer of payload data over a communication channel A data processing apparatus has initiator circuitry for initiating a transfer of payload data in a first clock cycle, and recipient circuitry for receiving the payload data in a later clock cycle. A communication channel carries the payload data along with associated transfer control information. Timing of receipt of the payload data by the recipient circuitry is controlled by the transfer control information. Timing easing circuitry located within the communication channel temporarily buffers the transfer control information before outputting it to the recipient circuitry. The timing easing circuitry is responsive to a specified timing easing value to determine a time for which the transfer control information is temporarily buffered. The number of clock cycles that elapses between the first clock cycle and the later clock cycle depends on the specified timing easing value. This enables a multi-cycle path to be provided to transfer the payload data.
US07945802B2	Modifying time progression rates in a virtual universe Described herein are processes and devices that intentionally modify time progression rates in a virtual universe. One of the devices described is a temporal variation device. The temporal variation device can determine an area, in a virtual universe, in which time progresses at a specific time progression rate. The temporal variation device can modify the time progression rate to be faster or slower in the area. By modifying the time progression rate in the area, rates at which action occur also change in a way that is correlated to the change in the time progression rate. The temporal variation device can maintain areas beyond the borders of the area at a time progression rate that is not modified. Therefore, the temporal variation device can create a relative time dilation between the determined area and other areas in the virtual universe outside of the determined area.
US07945800B2	Synchronization devices having input/output delay model tuning elements in signal paths to provide tuning capabilities to offset signal mismatch Apparatus for synchronizing signals. For memory devices, such as SDRAMs, implementing a synchronization device to synchronize one signal, such as an external clock signal with a second signal, such as a data signal, tuning elements may be provided at various points in the signal path of the synchronization device. The tuning elements are designed to be identical, such that a single design may be used to a signal mismatch that is produced in either direction, using a single design. The tuning elements may be implemented to provide uniformity in the access time through a range of conditions, such as drain voltages and temperatures.
US07945799B2	HVAC synchronization Systems and methods are described for synchronizing an HVAC control system. A method, includes: a synchronization sequence including: reading a base time from an internal clock at a first time and saving the base time; measuring an elapsed time interval, from the first time to a second time, by counting an external clock using a frequency counter; and then resetting the internal clock to the base time plus the elapsed time.
US07945796B2	System for controlling power supplies to an external apparatus via a connector based on user setting information According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes: an information processing apparatus main body receiving a supply of power from power supplies disposed at outside or inside; one or a plurality of connection connector(s) constituted to be able to attach/detach an external apparatus, and having at least one signal terminal transmitting/receiving signals between the information processing apparatus main body and the external apparatus and at least one power terminal supplying the power from the power supplies to the external apparatus; a power supply state changing portion having a switch provided between the power supply and the power terminal, and capable of changing the switch to either one of a connection state or a non-connection state; and a power supply state control portion having user setting information set by a user concerning a control method of the power supply state changing portion, and performing a control to change the switch to either one of the connection state or the non-connection state in accordance with the user setting information at a non-operation time of the information processing apparatus main body.
US07945791B2	Protected storage of a datum in an integrated circuit A method for protecting at least one first datum to be stored in an integrated circuit, including, upon storage of the first datum, performing a combination with at least one second physical datum coming from at least one network of physical parameters, and only storing the result of this combination, and in read mode, extracting the stored result and using the second physical datum to restore the first datum.
US07945790B2	Low-cost pseudo-random nonce value generation system and method Briefly, a low-cost system and method for pseudo-random nonce value generation is disclosed.
US07945786B2	Method and apparatus to re-create trust model after sleep state A processing system features random access memory (RAM), a processor, and a trusted platform module (TPM). When the processing system enters a sleep mode during which the RAM is to stay powered, the processing system may measuring a VMM and one or more secure VMs in the processing system. However, the processing system may not measure or encrypt all of system memory. Upon resuming from sleep, the processing system may verify the measurements, to ensure that the VMM and secure VMs have not been tampered with. Other steps may include sealing encryption keys to the TPM, while preserving the blobs in memory. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07945766B2	Conditional execution of floating point store instruction by simultaneously reading condition code and store data from multi-port register file A processor capable of executing conditional store instructions without being limited by the number of condition codes is provided. Condition data is stored in floating-point registers, and an operation unit executes a conditional floating-point store instruction of determining whether to store, in cache, store data.
US07945757B1	Conserving and shaping address space with arrays A system and method for using an array structure to abstract the addressing of device memory allows for larger amounts of device memory to be accessed compared with using conventional pointers to access a 32 bit memory space. Additionally, the memory organization may be changed for optimal performance based on the underlying memory subsystem and characteristics of the accesses without impacting the array structure.
US07945741B2	Reservation required transactions A computer readable medium is provided embodying instructions executable by a processor to perform a method for performing a transaction including a transaction head and a transaction tail, the method includes executing the transaction head, including executing at least one memory reserve instruction to reserve a transactional memory location that are accessed in the transaction and executing the transaction tail, wherein the transaction cannot be aborted due to a data race on that transactional memory location while executing the transaction tail, wherein data of memory write operations to the transactional memory location is committed without being buffered.
US07945740B2	Structure for a memory switching data processing system A design structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium for designing, manufacturing, and/or testing a memory switching data processing system is provided. The memory switching data processing system includes one or more central processing units (‘CPUs’); random access memory organized in at least two banks of memory modules; one or more memory buses providing communications paths for data among the CPUs and the memory modules; and a flexibly configurable memory bus switch comprising a first configuration adapting the first CPU to a first bank of memory modules and a second CPU to a second bank of memory modules and a second configuration adapting the first CPU to both the first bank of memory modules and the second bank of memory modules.
US07945730B2	Systems and methods for recovering from configuration data mismatches in a clustered environment Apparatus and methods are provided for recovering from mismatching configuration data in a clustered environment having a plurality of storage devices coupled to a plurality of storage controllers. If a clustered environment has a first storage device of the plurality of storage devices that has first configuration data that does not match second configuration data of a second storage device of the plurality of storage devices, then the mismatch may be resolved through operation of the clustered environment rather than through operator intervention. Comparison of relevant attributes of the first and second configuration data determines whether a relevant difference between the first and second configuration data is a physical status of at least one of the plurality of storage devices. If the relevant difference is the physical status of at least one of the plurality of storage devices, then the mismatch may be resolved between the first and second configuration data, and normal operation of the clustered environment may continue.
US07945726B2	Pre-allocation and hierarchical mapping of data blocks distributed from a first processor to a second processor for use in a file system In a data processing system, a first processor pre-allocates data blocks for use in a file system at a later time when a second processor needs data blocks for extending the file system. The second processor selectively maps the logical addresses of the pre-allocated blocks so that when the pre-allocated blocks are used in the file system, the layout of the file system on disk is improved to avoid block scatter and enhance I/O performance. The selected mapping can be done at a program layer between a conventional file system manager and a conventional logical volume layer so that there is no need to modify the data block mapping mechanism of the file system manager or the logical volume layer. The data blocks can be pre-allocated adaptively in accordance with the allocation history of the file system.
US07945722B2	Routing data units between different address domains Methods for routing data units and PCI Express switches are disclosed. A plurality of devices may be coupled to a corresponding plurality of physical interfaces, each physical interface having a respective configurable status and a respective address domain, wherein in a first status the interface is transparent, and in a second status the interface is non-transparent. The status of each of the plurality of physical interfaces may be set as transparent or non-transparent. Data units may be switched between the physical interfaces using mapped address input/output, switching data units including masking the address domain for the interfaces configured as non-transparent.
US07945719B2	Controller link for manageability engine An embodiment of the present invention is an efficient interconnecting bus. A first clock source generates a first clock signal at a first frequency on a link bus line synchronized with first data to be transmitted to a device. The device has a second clock source to generate a second clock signal at a second frequency synchronized with second data when the device transmits the second data. The first and second data each forms a packet being one of a posted, completion, and non-posted packets. The first and second frequencies are independent of each other and bounded within first and second frequency ranges, respectively. A queue structure stores packets used in a credit-based flow control policy.
US07945717B2	Method and apparatus for providing USB pass through connectivity Methods, systems, and devices for facilitating pass-through USB connectivity are provided. A computing device engages with an accessory device such that the computing device connects to a corresponding USB engine in the accessory device. A signal corresponding to an engagement of an external device to the accessory device is detected and a determination of whether to disconnect the computing device from the corresponding USB engine is made as a function of a set of logic operations upon detecting the signal. A USB connection between the computing device and the external device is established as a function of the set of logic operations such that the USB connection is only established if the computing device has been disconnected from the accessory device.
US07945714B2	Apparatus and method of tracing descriptors in host controller Apparatus and method of tracing descriptor in a host controller are provided. The host controller for controlling a device includes a first bus interface coupled to a system bus, a processor which determines whether data received from a system memory through the first bus interface are descriptor data, and a descriptor tracer which receives and stores descriptor data transmitted to the processor. Therefore, the host controller provides rapid and various functional checking and debugging.
US07945711B2	Appparatus and method for controlling power to USB device The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling power to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device. The present invention provides an apparatus for controlling power to a USB device, the USB device being used to connect a Personal Computer (PC) with a peripheral device, the power control apparatus including a plug-in port for connecting the peripheral device with the PC, a state detector for detecting whether the peripheral device is in a preparation completion state, a power supply unit for supplying power to the USB device, and a power control unit for controlling the power supply unit so that power is supplied to the USB device if it is determined that the peripheral device is in a plugged-in state, and if it is determined that the peripheral device is in a preparation completion state by the state detector. Accordingly, the present invention performs the supply of power only when the peripheral device is plugged into the USB device and its internal application program is in a preparation completion state, so that it can prevent power from being unnecessarily consumed.
US07945707B2	Electrical device configuration system and method A system (100) capable of configuring an electrical device (101) coupled to a computer (102), the system includes: (a) a computer communications component (111) of the electrical device configured to communicate with the computer; and (b) an installation component (120) of the electrical device capable of an initial configuration the electrical device. In this embodiment, the installation component is configured to automatically begin the initial configuration of the electrical device as soon as the installation component detects the electrical device is not configured and the computer communications component establishes a data connection between the electrical device and the computer. Furthermore, the initial configuration of the electrical device includes an initial configuration of either a dynamic or non-dynamic network connection between the electrical device and a network provider.
US07945706B2	Signal receiving circuit adapted for multiple digital video/audio transmission interface standards The invention provides a signal receiving circuit applied to multiple digital video/audio transmission interface standards. The signal receiving circuit includes at least an input interface for receiving an input signal, and at least an interface circuit. The input interface includes a set of shared input terminals, a set of first separate input terminals for receiving an input signal corresponding to a first transmission specification with the set of shared input terminals, and a set of second separate input terminals for receiving an input signal corresponding to a second transmission specification with the set of shared input terminals. The interface circuit includes a control circuit coupled to the input interface for supplying a control signal, and a processing module coupled to the input interface and the control circuit for processing the input signal according to the control signal to generate an output signal.
US07945701B2	Television with multiple interfaces A television includes multiple interfaces, a storage medium, an updating module, a processing module and a display module. The multiple interfaces are mounted on a housing of the television, for connecting to peripheral devices. The storage medium stores a table comprising logos of the multiple interfaces and names of the peripheral devices connected to the multiple interfaces. The updating module receives the names of the peripheral devices and updates the table with the names of the peripheral devices. The processing module reads the data of the table stored in the storage medium and converts the data of the table into image signals. The display module visually displays a menu based on the image signals. The menu shows the logos of the multiple interfaces and the names of the peripheral devices connected to the multiple interfaces.
US07945698B2	System and method for partial data compression and data transfer The present invention provides a system and method for data transfer. The system may include a client having software adapted to display data; a storage; and client data. Further, the system may include a server having compressor data and information regarding data file types that have been partially compressed by the compressor data. In the system, the client may be operably coupled to the server for data and file transfer purposes.
US07945692B2	Method and apparatus for increasing performance of HTTP over long-latency links The invention increases performance of HTTP over long-latency links by pre-fetching objects concurrently via aggregated and flow-controlled channels. An agent and gateway together assist a Web browser in fetching HTTP contents faster from Internet Web sites over long-latency data links. The gateway and the agent coordinate the fetching of selective embedded objects in such a way that an object is ready and available on a host platform before the resident browser requires it. The seemingly instantaneous availability of objects to a browser enables it to complete processing the object to request the next object without much wait. Without this instantaneous availability of an embedded object, a browser waits for its request and the corresponding response to traverse a long delay link.
US07945691B2	Data conveyance management Data conveyance management may be facilitated by a process performed at a data distribution device. The data distribution device may determine whether a message has been received indicating that data conveyance rules are to be modified and, if the message has been received, identify a rule template associated with the data conveyance rules, the identified rule template including at least one parameter. The data distribution device may also send a message specifying a user interface corresponding to the rule template and the parameter, determine whether a message including a specification of the parameter has been received, and, if the message has been received, create a rule by binding the template with the specified parameter.
US07945685B2	Controlled relay of media streams across network perimeters The invention provides an apparatus and method to establish media sessions for media streams crossing a network boundary. The system includes a media relay controlled by a media configurator control module. The media relay reserves media paths (that include ports in the network boundary), opens the media paths, closes the media paths, and provides information about the media paths. A media configurator is adapted to communicate with the media configurator control module and the media relay. The control module has an event handler handling multimedia session events, a local address resolver that determines if an address identifier of the media session belongs to a private address space and a control element used to establish the media path. The control element manages resources for the media relay. A state-refresh timer is used to maintain state consistency between all media relays controlled by a proxy engine and control elements.
US07945681B2	Clipboard data modifications system and method for controlling remote communications A first computer remotely controls, using a remote control application over a network (such as a WAN), a remote session on a second computer over a first network. The disclosed method (as implemented in a first application in the first computer) involves identifying clipboard data (associated with a copy, cut or paste operation) shared between a first and second computer during the remote session, temporarily storing the shared clipboard data, modifying, (via the first application in a unidirectional manner) the clipboard data associated with said environment, wherein the modified clipboard data is extracted by an interceptor associated with the second computer. The second computer, based on a look-up of clipboard values, executes a pre-defined action affecting the remote session, wherein the pre-defined action is different than the copy, cut, or paste operation. After executing the pre-defined action, the clipboard data is restored from the computer storage.
US07945675B2	System and method for delegation of data processing tasks based on device physical attributes and spatial behavior A method of a peer computing system for performing a data processing service for a remote peer computing system publishes a description of each of a plurality of data processing services which the peer computing system makes available to the remote peer system. The peer computing further publishes a description of at least one of the physical attributes of the peer computing system and the spatial behavior of the peer computing system. The spatial behavior is represented by at least one of a record of the location of the peer computing system with respect to time and a record of networks to which the peer computing system is coupled with respect to time. The peer computing system may receive a service request from the remote peer computing system, the service request may comprise one of: i) a request to perform one of the plurality of data processing services; and ii) a request to perform a new data processing service which utilized the physical and spatial attributes of the peer computing system in conjunction with instructions on how to perform the new data processing.
US07945669B2	Method and apparatus for provisioning storage resources A method and apparatus for automatically provisioning at least a portion of a computer system to meet a specification provided in a provisioning request. In one embodiment, the provisioning includes provisioning at least one resource from each of at least one host computer, at least one storage system, and at least one connectivity resource that connects the at least one host computer to the at least one storage system. In another embodiment, the provisioning includes selecting and configuring at least one logical volume of storage and configuring the computer system to provide access to the selected volume. In another aspect, a computer-readable provisioning transaction is created to provision the computer system, and a computer-readable undo transaction is created to undo it. In a further embodiment, an existing computer system is reverse engineered to create a specification that is modified to create the specification in the provisioning request.
US07945665B2	Centralized load distribution for an H.323 network According to some embodiments, centralized load distribution is proved for an H.323 network.
US07945664B2	System and method for accessing network services The present disclosure relates to a system and method for accessing network services. In one arrangement, the system and method pertain to obtaining an address of a network service from a local device via a direct connection, and facilitating designation of the network service address as a default destination such that a user browser can be redirected directly to the network service when an appropriate command is received.
US07945659B2	Technology administrative portal A system and method for determining and displaying return-on-investment (ROI) of components on a network is described. The system includes one or more processes that initiate and receive data streams directly or indirectly from components on the network or from other databases on the network. A dependency tree is created for each component relating each component to other components and to information characterizing the component. A portal is provided to export data feeds to other systems on the network and to generate reports and display usage information on each component on the network. Usage information may be grouped or summarized according to business function or by top level manager.
US07945658B1	Method for real-time visualization of BGP analysis and trouble-shooting The present invention comprises a multi-tier system. Major goals of the system are to 1) clearly visualize BGP dynamics and alert/report important deviation of BGP dynamics to avoid overwhelming the operators with too much information and 2) analyze the root cause of the problems by using a multi-tier approach, with a light-computational analysis and high-level classification for a real-time problem identification followed by a more rigorous off-line analysis for a further and more detailed trouble shooting. An example embodiment is provided that comprises four modules. The first module comprises a distributed family of collectors in charge of collecting real-time network information. The second module filters out non-relevant prefixes and extracts and profiles key features of the network information. The third module monitors BGP activity from both an Internet-AS and single-AS perspectives by displaying the data in real time and highlighting major shifts or divergence from historical baselines with comprehensive layouts. The forth module is run off-line to focus on a few relevant events that are selected through the first three modules. This is usually a time-consuming phase of the process due to the different temporal and/or spatial correlation that must be run across several sets of data. During this phase, the system can spend more time to better identify the real cause of the problem.
US07945656B1	Method for determining round trip times for devices with ICMP echo disable A method and apparatus for determining reachability of a device connected to a computer network by receiving from a requesting device at least one ICMP echo request, the at least one ICMP echo request having a destination address associated with a non-echoing device; in response to the received ICMP echo request, sending a ping to the non-echoing device; receiving from the non-echoing device a reply to the sent ping; issuing from a routing device a subsequent at least one ICMP echo request to the non-echoing device and determining that no response is received to the issued at least one ICMP echo request; receiving at least one subsequent ICMP echo request from a requesting device, the at least one subsequent having a destination address associated with the non-echoing device; and in response to the received reply to the additional ping, sending a proxy ICMP echo reply to the requesting device.
US07945653B2	Tagging digital media A method for tagging digital media is described. The method includes selecting a digital media and selecting region within the digital media. The method may further include associating a person or entity with the selected region and sending a notification of the association the person or entity or a different person or entity. The method may further include sending advertising with the notification.
US07945643B2	Rules for shared entities of a network-attached storage device A system comprises storage configurable, at least in part, into a plurality of shared entities. The storage comprises rules. Each rule is configurable to specify one or more of the shared entities to associate with a specified computer identity so that at least one computer identity is associatable with a different set of shared entities from at least one other computer identity.
US07945632B2	Correlating data indicating at least one subjective user state with data indicating at least one objective occurrence associated with a user A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: acquiring subjective user state data including data indicating at least one subjective user state associated with a user; acquiring objective occurrence data including data indicating at least one objective occurrence associated with the user; correlating the subjective user state data with the objective occurrence data based, at least in part, on a determination of at least one sequential pattern associated with the at least one subjective user state and the at least one objective occurrence; and presenting one or more results of the correlating. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
US07945630B2	Method and system for verifying a recipient of a communication A method and system for communicating a message in an electronic messaging environment is provided. A method employed by the system may include generating a personalized communication model related to a user, determining the validity of a token associated with an intended recipient of the message based on information in the personalized communication model, extracting entities from the message, determining whether the entities extracted match the intended recipient, and indicating to the user whether the token is valid and whether the entities match the intended recipient. The tokens correspond to email addresses, phone numbers, and addresses associated with intended recipients. The personalized communication model includes the names and tokens associated with those individuals with whom the user communicates. The personalized communication model is seeded with information including social, spatial, temporal and logical information related to the user. The personalized communication model is generated by a network processor.
US07945625B2	Automated moderation of discussion lists Within a network-based discussion environment, a moderation mechanism is implemented to encourage posts of high relevancy. The moderation mechanism is configurable so as to support distributed access control. In one case, the moderation mechanism is configured to support an allocation of a limited number of responses to a user based on the number of new threads the user has started.
US07945624B2	Wireless communications connection device A method and apparatus is provided for setting up a wireless conference call, wireless non-call conference, and sharing audio and/or video content. The method includes the steps of providing an audio mixer that receives an audio input from each of at least three audio interfaces, mixes, cleans, and amplifies and/or de-amplifies the audio signal from the audio inputs and provides an equalized audio output to each of the at least three audio interfaces; providing a first local wireless interface; providing a second local wireless interface; and, providing a third wireless interface, so as to permit simultaneous two-way (incoming and outgoing) communications between each participant during wireless conferencing, and so as to permit simultaneous one-way communications between an audio and/or video content source and each local participant during wireless sharing of audio and/or video content between the local participants.
US07945622B1	User-aware collaboration playback and recording Various embodiments include one or more of systems, methods, software, and data structures for user-aware time-shifted playback and recording of real-time collaborations, such as web conferences. Some embodiments include recording and presenting public and private collaboration data for time-shifted playback. Private collaboration data includes collaboration data intended for viewing by less than all collaboration participants. Further systems, methods, software, and data structures are disclosed.
US07945616B2	Digital content delivery and viewing system and method A media distribution system is provided whereby devices on a network are provided with native-mode, optimized content viewers adapted to receive and present digital content provided elsewhere on the network. An agent is downloaded to a device, where it gathers information regarding the device environment and uses that information to identify the appropriate application for that device. The appropriate application for a particular device is then downloaded to the device to enable the device to present the content to a user.
US07945603B2	System and method for efficiently storing information related to a telephone number Information related to telephone numbers is efficiently stored and retrieved by generating an index based on a portion of a telephone number for which information is to be stored or retrieved. For example, the portion of the telephone number can be a prefix of the telephone number. Information related to the telephone number is stored and retrieved in accordance with the generated index.
US07945583B2	Technique for data mining using a web service A technique for the deployment of data mining algorithms on a web service, such as IBM's WebSphere Application Server, is disclosed. Rather than having to deploy the data mining models with the data, the data can be transported to the web server as part of a message. Models can be cached on the web server and easily changed by operations executed by the client. This allows for efficient administration of the operational environment. Because a web services environment is inherently scalable, servers can be transparently enabled based on demand. Further, with web services communication is via data objects in memory which allows for ease of implementation and operational efficiency.
US07945576B2	Location recognition using informative feature vocabulary trees A location recognition technique that involves using a query image to identify a depicted location is presented. In addition to the query image, there is also a pre-constructed database of features which are associated with images of known locations. The technique matches features derived from the query image to the database features using a specialized vocabulary tree, which is referred to as an informative feature vocabulary tree. The informative feature vocabulary tree is specialized because it was generated using just those database features that have been deemed informative of known locations. The aforementioned matching features are used to identify a known location image that matches the query image. The location associated with that known location image is then deemed to be the location depicted in the query image.
US07945575B2	Method of transforming queries based upon E/R schema into multi-dimensional expression queries A method of transforming queries based upon an entity/relationship schema into multi-dimensional expression queries is provided. The method comprises matching an object referenced in an entity/relationship schema based report specification to a corresponding object in the entity/relationship schema, the corresponding object adorned with associated multidimensional metadata; adding the associated multi-dimensional metadata to the object referenced in the entity/relationship schema based report specification; translating the entity/relationship schema based report specification into a multi-dimensional expression query; and retrieving directly all data required to populate a report output of the entity/relationship schema report specification.
US07945571B2	Application of weights to online search request A machine-implemented search method comprises inputting a search query from a user, and before the query is executed, inputting from the user a weighting factor that has a specified relationship to the query. The method further includes initiating a search by causing the query to be applied according to the weighting factor, and returning a result of the search to the user. The weighting factor may represent, for example, a weight to be given to one of multiple information sources that are available to be searched in response to the query, such as an online search engine or a merchant online commerce web site. Alternatively, the weighting factor may represent a weight to be given to a term in the query.
US07945569B2	Method and apparatus for querying spatial data The disclosed embodiments relate to an apparatus for performing query operations. The apparatus comprises a base table having spatial objects, an index table having data entries that are associated with the spatial objects. A module that is adapted to perform the query operation is configured to convert a query window into values, create a scan range for each of the values with a begin range value, an end range value, and a stop condition, scan the data entries for each of the scan range to identify one of the end range value and the stop condition, and return a result based upon the data entries that are within the scan range for each of the values.
US07945568B1	System for browsing through a music catalog using correlation metrics of a knowledge base of mediasets A system and method to navigate through a media item catalog and generate recommendations using behavioral metrics such as correlation metrics (FIGS. 1,2) from a knowledge base (400) of mediasets (FIG. 4, 1-7). One implementation uses a knowledge base comprising a collection of mediasets. Various metrics (Metric 1-Metric m) among media items (m1 . . . ) are considered by analyzing how the media items are grouped to form the sets in the knowledge base (400). Such metrics preferably are stored in a matrix (100) that allows the system to dynamically build appropriate navigation lists (FIG. 3) from media items that a user selects (FIG. 5).
US07945562B2	Join predicate push-down optimizations Join predicate push down transformations push down a join predicate of an outer query into a view. Among the types of views for which join predicate push down is performed are a view with a GROUP BY or DISTINCT operator, an anti-joined or semi-joined view, and a view that contains one or more nested views. During optimization, join predicate push down may be used to generate many transformed queries for comparison. The number of query transformations performed for comparison is managed.
US07945556B1	Web log filtering Computer implemented methods and systems are provided for web log filtering. A uniform resource locator (URL) is identified for a resource requested by an identified device. The URL is stored unless the URL has at a reference to an advertisement or an extension that matches any of a list of extensions specified for storage exclusion. The stored URL is categorized based on either the stored URL or an included domain name, depending on whether the included domain name matches any of the list of domain names that are associated with multiple categories. A count is incremented in a web log category associated with the identified device based on the categorized stored URL.
US07945547B2	Communication apparatus and method for controlling communication According to one embodiment, a communication apparatus communicates with both a controller device and a control object device. The communication apparatus includes a first provide section that provides file configuration information conforming to a file system format acceptable to the controller device; a receive section that receives an access request to a file included in the provided file configuration information, from the controller device; a convert section that converts the access request to control command information conforming to a predetermined protocol acceptable to the control object device; and a second provide section that provides the control command information to the control object device.
US07945535B2	Automatic publishing of digital content In one embodiment, there is provided a method for a media storage device to manage digital content. The method comprises determining if there is digital content to be categorized into one or more galleries; automatically categorizing said digital content into the one or more galleries; and for digital content categorized into a gallery with an auto-publish flag, sending at least one of said digital content and a derivative form of said digital content to a server.
US07945532B2	System, and program product for rebasing an application System, and program product for rebasing an application. The application is analyzed to identify the database components that require remapping to a new database. These components are remapped to utilize the new database and/or a new interface layer that utilizes the new database. The components can be remapped by rewriting the component and/or redirecting the component. However, the configuration that is used for the data in memory is maintained, thereby reducing the number of components in the application that require modification.
US07945531B2	Interfaces for a productivity suite application and a hosted user interface User interfaces are defined by metadata for use with productivity suite applications in a wrapped window, a task pain, or some other suitable representation. Data can be bound to a data source in a one-way format such that changes from the data source propagate to property fields in the UI form. Data can also be bound to a data source in a two-way format such that changes from the property field of the UI propagate back to the data source. The data source can be a local cache such as for synchronization between a productivity suite application and a line of business (LOB) application (e.g., CRM applications). A rendering engine is arranged to process the UI and data bindings such that custom event handlers are defined in a code behind assembly format. Productivity suite items are accessible from the code behind assembly through a series of item interfaces.
US07945530B2	Real estate disclosure reporting method A real estate disclosure reporting method identifies a condition category, creates a disclosure form and lists items of disclosure on a disclosure form. The items of disclosure relate to the condition category. The reporting method also researches a particular property to determine known items of disclosure, indicates the known items of disclosure on the disclosure form and generates a report of the known items of disclosure.
US07945513B2	Method and system for providing minimum contract values in an annuity with lifetime benefit payments A data processing method determines a contract value of a deferred annuity product during the accumulation phase. The method includes receiving by a computer a request for a withdrawal during the accumulation phase, the amount of the withdrawal being no more than a lifetime benefit payment amount, determining by the computer whether the contract value, after deduction of withdrawal is below a minimum contract value, and if the contract value would be below the minimum contract value, providing an output signal by the computer that. The contract value is not reduced below the minimum contract value.
US07945511B2	Methods and systems for identity authentication The Greenlist tool provides payors desiring to pay a merchant a means to locate, validate and effect the transfer of assets to another party by routing transaction requests to a third party that functions as the transaction enabler. This task is performed without divulging confidential information about transactors while assigning liability for certain risk consequences to the lowest cost risk bearers: banks. Greenlist verifies identities before making financial transactions or before obtaining access to restricted information. The Greenlist can be completely trusted by risk-bearers. Liability for risk can be transferred to the registrars of the information contained within the registry. This liability transfer substantially reduces the payor's cost of bearing risks. Banks or third parties responsible for certifying that someone or some entity claiming to be an authorized party is not an impostor can now offer new levels of service at a substantially lower cost for a variety of transactions.
US07945505B2	Methods and systems for trading contracts and operating exchanges Methods and systems are provided for operating a contracts exchange without conventional counterparty risk measures used by existing futures exchanges such as collateral, margin accounts, position limits, price change limits and regular settlement times. Traders on the contracts exchange hold substantially, or exclusively, cash and/or liquid exchange-traded assets or liabilities. Traders maintain transparent balance sheets which can be made available to third parties. A trader holding assets or liabilities that are illiquid or approaching illiquidity should demonstrate diligence in divesting such holdings. The trader's holdings are marked to their fair market value using acceptable accounting standards. Traders may also be required to obtain and maintain surety guarantees.
US07945500B2	System and method for providing an insurance premium for price protection Systems and methods for providing an insurance premium in association with an insurance strike price for a commodity are disclosed. By paying the insurance premium a consumer may obtain price protection for a commodity purchase. In particular, in one embodiment a consumer may obtain the right to be reimbursed for any amount paid over the insurance strike price for the commodity.
US07945492B1	System and method for integrating trading operations including the generation, processing and tracking of and trade documents First and second components of the present invention, in combination, provide a customer interface for initiating a trade transaction and provides for the secure viewing of the status of the transaction. A third component assists in the automatic generation and verification of the voluminous and detailed documents required to support a trade transaction. The third component additionally tracks and assists in the management of the seller's manufacturing and shipment of the goods that form the basis of the trade transaction. A fourth component automatically generates a Letter of Credit from a Purchase Order and performs a reconciliation function on payments made pursuant to Letters of Credit or open Accounts.
US07945491B2	Integrated systems for electronic bill presentment and payment Systems and methods for integrating electronic bill presentment and payment among billers, consumers, banks and other financial institutions, and electronic payment facilitators are enabled for operation with a plurality of different web portals and other spaces including bill presenters each of which are able to support an interface for presentment and/or payment of bills.
US07945487B2	Method and apparatus for certified secondary market inventory management A certified secondary market inventory platform maintains a certified catalog of items for sale on a secondary market. Certified items are tracked by the platform and have a verified chain of custody between the manufacturer and the current owner. The certified catalog of items is presented anonymously, such that current owners of certified items are not revealed to potential buyers. Anonymity also extends to fulfillment, with shipment of a certified item to a buyer being performed without revealing the buyer and the current owner to each other. Verification of the chain of custody may, for example, include evidence such as a goods-received note corresponding to a shipment of the certified item from the manufacturer to the current owner, or a shipping notification from the manufacturer. A physical audit may also be conducted in association with publication of the certified catalog of items, as a pre-requisite for such publication.
US07945485B2	Service for providing item recommendations A service is disclosed for enabling web sites and other entities to provide behavior-based content to end users. The service can be implemented as a web service that is remotely accessible over the Internet. Web sites use the web service's interface to report events descriptive of item-related actions performed by end users (e.g., item views, item purchases, searches for items, etc.). The web service analyzes the reported event data on an aggregated basis to detect various types of associations, including associations between particular search queries and items. The detected associations are recorded in site-specific datasets, and are made available to the corresponding sites via the service's interface.
US07945471B2	Monitoring system communication system and method An electronic communication system and method that permits an environmental equipment system installer to install equipment without the need to run a data line such as a telephone line or other specialized data line thereby decreasing the cost and time required for installing the system. The electronic communication system comprises a first communication node to collect operating data and sensor data. A second communication node positioned proximate the first communication node may comprise a modern for connection to the Internet. A wireless or power line connection provides a node-to-node communication link.
US07945467B2	Method for discerning and communicating organization's culture/posture towards business environment through segmented questionnaires A method, apparatus and computer-usable medium for a policy guidance system comprising one or more Cartesian coordinate plots of a policy's adherence and compliance guidelines. One or more segmented questionnaires are created, comprising a range of weighted responses, that are electronically distributed to one or more predetermined reviewers such as, but not limited to, policy makers or enforcers. Responses to the questionnaire are aggregated, statistically analyzed and scored to derive quantitative values that are then graphically plotted as one or more coordinates in a Cartesian format. The resulting graphical depiction of the policy's guidance parameters is then presented such that it facilitates a policy viewer's comprehension of the possible implications of noncompliance.
US07945455B2	Pharmaceutical distribution systems and methods A method of distributing pharmaceutical items from a primary distributor to a secondary seller. A request for pharmaceutical items is received by the primary distributor from the secondary seller. Shelving information indicative of a sequential arrangement of pharmaceutical items along the secondary seller's shelving system is reviewed. A mobile cart having a plurality of compartments is provided, and a sequential order to the plurality of compartments is designated. Based upon the request, the shelving information, and the compartment order, a compartment assignment plan is generated that assigns the requested pharmaceutical items to respective compartments in an order corresponding with the sequential arrangement of the shelving system. The compartments are then loaded in accordance with the compartment assignment plan, and delivered to the secondary seller.
US07945451B2	Remote monitoring system for ambulatory patients The monitoring device incorporates a memory device that is programmed with a set of question hierearchies. Each question hierarchy corresponds to a symptom and is composed of a set of questions. The question hierarchies may contain a logical structure so that certain questions will not be asked, depending upon a patient's answer to a preceeding question. A question hiearchy is invoked by a symptom identifier transmitted to the monitoring device by a remote computer. The remote computer may transmit a plurality of symptom identifiers to the monitoring device to cause the monitoring device to ask questions related to a plurality of symptoms. The set of symptoms inquired about may vary based upon the chronic disease afflicting the patient.
US07945450B2	Method for monitoring radiology machines, operators and examinations The method of creating at least one standard protocol or pattern about the operator, the patient, the examination and/or the machine being used. Monitoring, creating and recording data about at least one of them during the actual performance of the examination. Next, compare this data to a standard protocol to produce certain results or findings about either the revenues and expenses surrounding the exam, the operators performance and skill levels during the exam, the productivity of the machine and operator, etc. Networking the data from more then one machine to a central computer and performing various analyzes, computations and/or calculations on the data from the various machines. The results will provide individual as well as combined totals for all of the machines in a department that download data to the computer.
US07945435B2	Search method, search system, and search program A non-sensitive building is extracted according to radio environment data indicating the current condition of the radio communication environment in the search target area and digital map data including attribute information concerning the buildings in the search target area, thereby acquiring attribute information corresponding to the non-sensitive building. The known use condition data on target radio communication system or the similar system and the digital map data are used to obtain an equation for estimating the affect given to the effect of benefits by the attribute information parameter. According to the extracted non-sensitive building attribute information and the obtained equation, the effect obtained by performing the non-sensitive area countermeasure to each of the non-sensitive buildings is estimated. The priority of performing the non-sensitive area countermeasure is decided in accordance with the effect scale.
US07945431B1	Translating mates in geometric models into joint blocks in block diagram models Methods and systems for translating models generated in one modeling environment into models that can be used in other modeling environments. In particular, information regarding a relationship between components of models in one modeling environment is translated into corresponding elements of models in other modeling environments. In some embodiments of the present invention, for example, mate information between rigid parts in geometric models may be translated into corresponding elements in other modeling environments. The mate information between parts in geometric models may be translated into information representing the degrees of freedom (DoFs) of the parts in the geometric models. The information on the DoFs of the parts in the geometric models may be utilized to build up corresponding elements in other modeling environments that represent the relationship between the parts of the geometric models.
US07945415B2	Detection of faults in an injector arrangement A fault detection method for detecting short circuit faults in an injector arrangement at engine start-up. The injector arrangement comprises one or more piezoelectric fuel injectors, which are connected in a drive circuit. In one aspect of the invention, the potential at a bias point in the drive circuit is determined and compared with a predicted voltage. A short circuit fault signal is generated if the potential at the bias point is not within a predetermined tolerance voltage of the predicted voltage. In another aspect of the invention, a first charge pulse is applied to the injectors to charge the injectors. A discharge current path is provided during a delay period following the first charge pulse by closing a discharge switch. A faulty injector will discharge through the discharge current path during the delay period. A second charge pulse is applied to the injectors following the delay period. Current flow is sensed during the second charge pulse, and a short circuit warning signal is generated if the current flow during the second charge pulse exceeds a predetermined threshold current.
US07945412B2	Methods and apparatuses for calibrating sensors Methods and apparatuses to perform calibration of imprecise sensors for power monitoring in a data-processing system are described. The system includes a load coupled to one or more sensors. An electronic load changes a first input signal through one or more sensors by a predetermined amount. A difference in an output signal from the one or more sensors in response to the changing is obtained. The output signal is measured and sampled. A distribution of samples of the output signal is determined. The estimated parameters of the distribution that most likely to explain actual data are determined. Next, a transfer function of the one or more sensors is determined based on the estimated parameters. The input signal through the load is accurately predicted using the transfer function of the one or more sensors to monitor the power usage by the load.
US07945409B2	Method for verifying position on an angioplasty balloon A monitoring system and data archive system for a stent crimping process. The information concerning the crimped stent is used in deciding whether the stent is acceptable for insertion into the body cavity of a human or animal.
US07945408B2	Time delay estimation A time differential is estimated between a plurality of signals by determining a filter response of a first electrical signal with a first filter array, determining a filter response of a second electrical signal with a second filter array, and determining, based at least on the filter response of the first electrical signal and the filter response of the second electrical signal, a time differential between the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal. A first optical signal is converted into the first electrical signal and a second optical signal is converted into the second electrical signal. The filter response of the first electrical signal and the filter response of the second electrical signal are sampled and the time differential between the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal is determined based at least on the sampled filter response of the first electrical signal and the sampled filter response of the second electrical signal.
US07945396B2	Molecular force field assignment method, molecular force field assignment apparatus and molecular force field assignment program A molecular force field assignment method for assigning a molecular force field to a molecule having a desired molecular structure, includes a step of specifying a combination according to whether or not an interatomic distance between a first and second atoms, obtained by analyzing a molecular structure with a molecular orbital method, exceeds a prescribed threshold value.
US07945382B2	Navigation apparatus and method A navigation apparatus and method increase the upper limit for the number of times map data may be written into a portable storage medium. A CPU reads an initial radius and an additional radius increment from a ROM and repeatedly adds the additional radius increment to the initial radius to obtain, with each addition, a new calculated radius centered on coordinates of a central geographic point of a map data extracting-region. The map data for each secondary grid unit within the map data extracting-region is sequentially read out from a CD-ROM. Then, when the map data within the incrementally enlarged map data extracting-region exceeds the maximum storage capacity of the SD memory card, the CPU deducts the last added increment of radius from the calculated radius to obtain a map region to be stored. The CPU sequentially reads out from the CD-ROM the map data for each grid unit within the map region to be stored and sequentially writes the grid units of map data into the SD memory card.
US07945377B1	Methods and systems for exhaust gas mixing A method of operating an engine system is described in which a back-pressure valve of a low pressure EGR system can be modulated at a lower frequency during an EGR operation, and at a higher frequency when additional exhaust gas sensing is requested. Back-pressure valve modulation can therefore be used to promote exhaust gas mixing while providing EGR. Exhaust gas constituents in the mixed exhaust gas can then be sensed with higher accuracy by downstream exhaust gas sensors.
US07945365B2	Method for influencing an automatic gearbox, taking into consideration the tractional resistance A method of influencing an automated transmission of a motor vehicle having a tractional resistance detection unit, the method comprising the steps of reading data, via the tractional resistance detection unit, containing at least information about a torque of a drivetrain, a rotational speed of the drive train, and an acceleration of the vehicle, determining the external tractional resistance of the vehicle based upon the read data, and influencing the shift program by at least one of activation, adaptation and variation of the shift program, on a basis one of an actual and a statistically prepared data about the external tractional resistance of the vehicle.
US07945357B2	Movable body system having linear motor Primary coils of a linear motor are arranged along a travel route. A movable body has a secondary side of the linear motor. The travel route is divided into a plurality of zones, and a zone controller is provided for each zone or controlling the coils of the linear motor in the zone. A coordinate of the movable body outputted from a linear scale of the coil is converted into a coordinate based on the travel route.
US07945354B2	Apparatuses and methods for displaying and receiving tactical and strategic flight guidance information Methods and apparatuses for displaying and receiving tactical and strategic flight guidance information are disclosed. A method in accordance with one aspect of the invention includes displaying at least one first indicator to an operator of the aircraft, with a first indicator corresponding to a first instruction input by the operator for directing a first aircraft behavior and implemented upon receiving an activation instruction from the operator. At least one second indicator corresponding to a second instruction for directing a second aircraft behavior at least proximately the same as the first aircraft behavior is displayed, with the at least one second instruction to be automatically implemented at a future time. The at least one second indicator is at least approximately the same as the at least one first indicator. Indicators can be hierarchically organized to simplify presentation and reduce pilot training time.
US07945350B2	Wind turbine acoustic emission control system and method A system and method for controlling noise generated from a wind turbine is disclosed. The method includes selectively adjusting the angle of pitch of the blade in response to an amount of noise generated being above a predetermined amount and maintaining the amount of noise generated at or below the predetermined amount of noise.
US07945348B2	Methods and systems for controlling a semiconductor fabrication process Software for controlling processes in a heterogeneous semiconductor manufacturing environment may include a wafer-centric database, a real-time scheduler using a neural network, and a graphical user interface displaying simulated operation of the system. These features may be employed alone or in combination to offer improved usability and computational efficiency for real time control and monitoring of a semiconductor manufacturing process. More generally, these techniques may be usefully employed in a variety of real time control systems, particularly systems requiring complex scheduling decisions or heterogeneous systems constructed of hardware from numerous independent vendors.
US07945346B2	Module identification method and system for path connectivity in modular systems A configurable self-identifying workpiece transport system is described for moving an associated workpiece relative to a plurality of associated workpiece functional units selectively performing operations on the associated workpiece. The transport system includes a plurality of transport modules and a control unit. The plurality of transport modules are disposed in selected positions relative to the associated workpiece functional units, and each of the plurality of transport modules stores identification data and functionality data specific to the transport module. The control unit includes an automatic identification system in communication with each of the plurality of transport modules for retrieving the identification data and the functionality data from each of the plurality of transport modules and generating an itinerary for moving the associated workpiece relative to the workpiece functional units. Each of the plurality of transport modules includes a local communication circuit adapted to selectively communicate with adjacent transport modules. In one embodiment, the control unit is distributed among the plurality of transport modules and in another embodiment, a global system bus is provided by a central control unit for communicating with each of the plurality of transport modules through the global bus. The local communication circuit includes photo optic devices and the global system bus uses a two wire interface.
US07945345B2	Semiconductor manufacturing apparatus A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus includes a first program on a controller and a second program on an interface board between the controller and controlled devices. Both of the programs update their own counters and exchange their counter values with each other, serving as bi-directional software watchdog timers (WDT). If a counter value of the first program on the controller sent to the second program on the interface board is determined to be abnormal by the second program, the second program on the interface board sends commands to the controlled devices to terminate output so that the apparatus is navigated to a safe mode. The first program similarly monitors the counter values of the second program for anomalies. This bi-directional software WDT can be implemented as add-on to software programs that already exist in the controller and the interface board, therefore, this implementation does not incur extra cost of hardware of the apparatus.
US07945343B2	Method of making an article of footwear A method of making an article of footwear is disclosed. The method includes the steps of designing an article of footwear via a website, converting a footwear representation into a set of two-dimensional portions, printing the two dimensional portions onto a sheet material, cutting and assembling the two dimensional portions into a finalized article of footwear. The method further includes a step of shipping the article of footwear to a pre-designated shipping address.
US07945330B2	Systems and methods for automatically optimizing stimulus parameters and electrode configurations for neuro-stimulators Methods and devices for automatically optimizing the stimulus parameters and/or the configuration of electrodes to provide neural stimulation to a patient. In one embodiment, a system includes an electrode array having an implantable support member configured to be implanted into a patient and a plurality of therapy electrodes carried by the support member. The system can also have a pulse system operatively coupled to the therapy electrodes to deliver a stimulus to the therapy electrodes, and a sensing device configured to be attached to a sensing location of the patient. The sensing device generates response signals in response to the stimulus. The system can also include a controller operatively, coupled to the pulse system and to the sensing device. The controller includes a computer operable medium that generates command signals that define the stimulus delivered by the pulse system, evaluates the response signals from the sensing device, and determines a desired configuration for the therapy electrodes and/or a desired stimulus to be delivered to the therapy electrodes.
US07945322B2	Tank filters placed in series with the lead wires or circuits of active medical devices to enhance MRI compatibility A TANK filter is provided for a lead wire of an active medical device (AMD). The TANK filter includes a capacitor in parallel with an inductor. The parallel capacitor and inductor are placed in series with the lead wire of the AMD, wherein values of capacitance and inductance are selected such that the TANK filter is resonant at a selected frequency. The Q of the inductor may be relatively maximized and the Q of the capacitor may be relatively minimized to reduce the overall Q of the TANK filter to attenuate current flow through the lead wire along a range of selected frequencies. In a preferred form, the TANK filter is integrated into a TIP and/or RING electrode for an active implantable medical device.
US07945321B2	Method and apparatus for skin absorption enhancement and transdermal drug delivery A system for enhancing absorption of a substance to be provided on a region of a patient's skin, includes a probe configured to provide the substance to the region of the patient's skin, the probe including a flexible tape with a plurality of cavities, and with an electrically conductive element, such as a conductive wire, provided at one end of each of the cavities. A substance holding material, such as gauze stripes, temporarily holds the substance to be provided on the region of the patient's skin, the substance holding material being provided in each of the cavities. A pulse generator generates a sequence of bursts of electrical pulses to the electrically conductive elements provided within the cavities, so as to provide the bursts of electrical pulses to the region of the patient's skin.
US07945319B2	Methods of delivering a drug using a medical device with a coating comprising a self-assembled molecular structure A method for local delivery of a drug is provided. The method comprises acts of: (a) implanting a medical device including a drug-containing coating in a patient for the delivery of the drug, wherein the coating comprises a drug and a polymer; and (b) applying an electric current for an interval of time to the topcoat to cause the polymer to transform from a crystalline structure to an amorphous structure so as to increase the rate of release of the drug during the time interval, wherein after the electric current is terminated, the crystallinity of the polymer returns back to essentially the same degree of crystallinity or a more crystalline structure than that of when the polymer was exposed to the current.
US07945313B2	Method and device for monitoring heart rhythm in a vehicle An heart rhythm monitoring device for a vehicle, which determines whether a driver has an arrhythmia includes a vehicle state determining portion that determines whether the vehicle is stopped; an electrode arranged on a steering wheel in a position where the driver grips the steering wheel; an electrocardiogram waveform obtaining portion that obtains a first electrocardiogram waveform from the electrode; and a signal processing and calculating portion that determines whether the heart rhythm of the driver is erratic based on the first electrocardiogram waveform. When the vehicle is in motion, the signal processing and calculating portion determines whether the heart rhythm of the driver is erratic based on the waveform component that is strong with respect to noise in the first electrocardiogram waveform.
US07945310B2	Surgical instrument path computation and display for endoluminal surgery An endoscopic surgical navigation system comprises a path correlation module that can compute the path taken by an endoscope scope or other medical instrument during an endoscopic medical procedure and various related attributes and parameters, and can compute and display a correlation between two paths.
US07945304B2	Ultrasound within MRI scanners for guidance of MRI pulse sequences A process and system acquiring both ultrasound and MRI data from a patient in an MRI scanner and using one to automatically guide or improve the other. The ultrasound data can track the motion of an organ such as a cardiac artery or the diaphragm and the resulting motion information can automatically guide MRI data acquisition to keep the imaging volume at the organ or interest, or can be used to accept or reject MRI data in the process of forming an MRI image, based on whether the organ of interest was within an acceptable range of positions. Conversely, the MRI unit can guide the ultrasound data acquisition so it is properly timed or otherwise controlled in accordance with MRI data acquisition.
US07945289B2	Implementing hardware/software reset using PC card W— disable line A wireless communication module for wirelessly communicating with other devices a control pin for controlling at least one function of the communication module, an input device operatively coupled to the control pin, wherein actuation of the input device toggles a signal on the control pin between one of two different states, and a hardware reset circuit configured to implement a hardware reset of the communication module. The control pin is operatively coupled to the hardware reset circuit to at least partially implement the hardware reset, the hardware reset being different from the at least one function.
US07945286B1	Communication device A communication device, such as a mobile phone, which implements a voice communication mode, a digital mirror mode, and an auto responding mode, wherein the image retrieved from the camera is displayed in an inverted manner when the digital mirror mode is implemented, and a predetermined message is sent to a caller device upon receiving a phone call from the caller device when the auto responding mode is implemented.
US07945281B1	Method and system for dynamically adjusting forward-link transmission power for sole sector serving one or more active mobile stations in cluster A method and system are disclosed for dynamically adjusting forward-link transmission power in a cellular wireless communication system. A base station controller (BSC) or other radio network entity determines that a given cell sector a given sector is serving at least one active mobile station while no other sector in a cluster of sectors associated with the given sector is also serving at least one active mobile station. In response, the BSC dynamically increases the pilot transmit power in the given sector to a level beyond the sector's normal (full) transmit power, in an effort to increase requested data transmission speed in the sector.
US07945262B2	Global location registers in roaming cellular telephony A global location register (GLR) provides a proxy for visitor location registers to the home location registers to avoid updating of the external network with location update notifications upon transfer of a roaming user between visitor location registers. The standard GLR is extended by being configured with multiple addresses, has a soft shutdown procedure, has a blacklist mechanism, a searching facility for finding lost roaming users, and has a mechanism for overcoming ambiguities in local identification numbers assigned by visitor location registers.
US07945258B2	Wireless device operable to manipulate high-speed shared control channel (HSSCCH) quality control through channel quality indication report manipulation A method to adapt channel quality indicator (CQI) reports from user equipment (UE) is provided. This involves first determining the presence of a high-speed shared control channel (HS-SCCH) signal. An estimated signal to noise ratio (SNR) is also determined. Next an SNR correction based on the presence or lack thereof of the HS-SCCH signal and the CRC checks for HS-SCCH and HS-DSCH signals are determined and applied to the estimated SNR. The CQI report is then generated based on the corrected estimated SNR. This CQI report which takes into account a corrected estimated SNR may then be used to adjust the HS-SCCH signal in an HSDPA telephony system.
US07945254B2	Real-time mobile conferencing solution A method of conferencing communication devices in a system having (i) a conference server, (ii) a voice interface unit (VIU), and (iii) at least one conference bridge, the method including, at a first communication device: (a) establishing a first connection between the VIU and the first communication device via the switching point, the switching point enabled to establish connections for the communication devices; (b) sending first validation data from the first communication device to the VIU for forwarding to the conference server for validating the first validation data, and, in response to the validating the first validation data: (b)(i) terminating the first connection; and (b)(ii) establishing a second connection between the at least one conference bridge and said first communication device, to establish a conferencing session.
US07945253B2	Method, system, and storage medium for providing comprehensive originator identification services A method for transmitting enhanced originator information over a communications network includes retrieving a service profile for a recipient terminal from a service profile database in response to initiation of a communication by an originator terminal to the recipient terminal. The service profile specifies a service plan and a terminal capability of the recipient terminal to retrieve the enhanced originator information from the originator terminal. The method also includes retrieving multiple information elements associated with the originator terminal from a network database based upon the service plan and the terminal capability of the recipient terminal, and transmitting a communication including the multiple information elements to the recipient terminal prior to establishing a communications session with the recipient terminal. The service plans are stored in a dual format that accommodates both graphically-enabled caller identification devices and caller identification devices that are not graphically enabled.
US07945249B2	Next generation social networking and content rating system and method A system and method are described herein that leverages an IP (and in particular IMS) mobile network and a fixed network to provide a next generation social networking experience to the users of mobile terminals.
US07945247B2	Device and method for using history menu on mobile terminal A device and a method for using a history menu on a mobile terminal that has a history data base for storing a history of executions of contents, which allows easy execution of recently used menu or content are provided. The method includes extracting, upon execution of content on the mobile terminal, content information pertaining to the executed content, storing the extracted content information in the history database, displaying, if a history key is input, content information stored in the history database and executing, upon selecting one of the displayed content information, content corresponding to the selected content information. The method allows display of a list of contents using a call key while enabling a user to execute content upon selection, thus making it easier for the user to re-execute recently used contents.
US07945235B2	Network-based subscriber calling restrictions Methods and systems are provided that enable communication with a wireless device. In one such method, a communication event that is intended for a wireless device is detected and a user account associated with the wireless device is identified. Information associated with the user account is identified and a determination is made as to whether the information permits the communication event to occur. If the determination is that the information does not permit the communication event to occur, the communication event is terminated. If the determination is that the information permits the communication event to occur, the communication event is enabled.
US07945226B2	Method and circuit for adaptive automatic gain control A method for adaptive automatic gain control and an automatic gain control circuit are provided. A predetermined waveform is injected into the automatic gain control circuit. A signal is sampled at at least one point in the automatic gain control circuit in which the sampled signal includes the injected predetermined waveform. A small-signal control characteristic is calculated using the sampled at least one signal. A determination is made as to whether the calculated small-signal control characteristic is valid. In the case of a valid determination, the calculated small-signal control characteristic is used to adjust the gain of the automatic gain control circuit.
US07945219B2	Frequency modulation circuit, transmitter, and communication apparatus A bandpass type delta sigma modulation section 15 performs delta sigma modulation on an inputted modulation signal such that quantization noise is reduced in a frequency band which requires low noise. An LPF 16 removes a noise component in a high frequency region from the signal on which the delta sigma modulation has been performed. A frequency modulation circuit 1 reduces noise in the frequency band which requires low noise with the bandpass type delta sigma modulation section 15 and the LPF 16, and reduces noise in the vicinity of a direct current component DC with a feedback comparison section 11 and a loop filter 12.
US07945214B2	Method of reducing overhead for multi-input, multi-output transmission system A method of transmitting data in a multi input, multi output (MIMO) system is disclosed. More specifically, the method includes selecting a primary antenna, based on satisfying at least one specified criteria, for transmitting a preamble, and transmitting the preamble via the primary antenna.
US07945212B2	Network overlay geo-location system with smart antennas and method of operation A system and method in a wireless communication system having plural base stations (10a, 10b, 10c) and a MSC (45) with a network overlay geo-location system.
US07945209B2	Blocking of communication channels A system may include a scanning module that is arranged and configured to scan communication channels for channel interference, a channel assessor module that is arranged and configured to determine a type of channel interference present on one or more of the communication channels, and a blocking module that is arranged and configured to selectively block one or more of the communication channels based on the type of channel interference.
US07945206B2	Data packet transmission scheduling in a mobile communication system A communication device has a first transceiver that operates in a first communication system in the presence of a second transceiver that operates in a second communication system that is unrelated to the first communication system. A scheduler of packets for transmission by the first transceiver uses information about when the second communication system will be transmitting a signal that will interfere with reception by the first transceiver, and schedules data for which re-transmission is not essential in those time slots in which an implicit NACK is expected due to the second transceiver's operation.
US07945204B1	Targeted satellite radio advertising using mobile network determined location A method and system are provided for determining a location of a satellite radio receiver and directing advertisements to the satellite radio receiver based on its current location. The current location of the satellite radio receiver is determined through communication with a wireless mobile device and a wireless communications network where the wireless mobile device is located in close proximity to the satellite radio receiver. Once a location is determined, a database of satellite radio advertisements is searched to identify advertisements directed towards a specific location, and these advertisements are transmitted to the satellite radio receiver across a satellite radio network.
US07945203B2	Waste-toner collecting device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus A waste-toner collecting device includes a cleaning unit that collects waste toner remaining on an image carrier; a conveying belt that conveys the waste toner collected by the cleaning unit in a first direction; and a conveying screw that conveys the waste toner conveyed by the conveying belt in a second direction. An end of the conveying screw on a side of the conveying belt is rotatably supported by an inner wall of a body of the waste-toner collecting device in a state where the end of the conveying screw is in contact with the inner wall.
US07945201B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes a transportation member rotating to transport a medium or developer; a blade member disposed to abut against the transportation member for removing an object adhering to a surface of the transportation member; and a retaining member disposed on an upstream side of the blade member in a direction that the transportation member rotates and abutting against the transportation member for retaining the object adhering to the surface of the transportation member.
US07945195B2	Developing device having developer regulating member, and image forming apparatus using developing device A developer regulating member capable of stably regulating the thickness of a developer even when used for a long time, while preventing the increase in the production cost, a developing device having the developer regulating member, an image forming apparatus having the developing device, a process cartridge, and a method of producing the developer regulating member. The average crystal particle diameter D [μm] of a plate-like member provided in a layer-thinning blade which functions as the developer regulating member and which abuts against a developing roller functioning as a developer carrier, and the curvature radius R [μm] of a bent portion satisfy the relationship of D≦60.53×R×10−3−12.61.
US07945193B2	Image forming apparatus and developing apparatus An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a developing device including a developer carrying member for supplying the developer to the image bearing member, a developer feeding member, provided rotatably in a developing container, first and second driving force receiving members, provided at opposite end portions of the developer carrying member, for driving the developer carrying member and the developer feeding member, respectively; a first and second drive inputting members, for inputting drive to the first and second driving force receiving members, respectively. Directions, toward and away from the image bearing member, of forces are applied to abutment members, which determine a gap between the image bearing member and the developer carrying member, at the time when the drives are inputted to the first driving force receiving member and the second driving force receiving member, respectively.
US07945187B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member, on which an electrostatic image is formed; a development unit which is provided with a developer bearing member for bearing and conveying a developer, so as to develop the electrostatic image; a storage place which can store therein the developer spattering from the development unit; a shielding member which is disposed in a region outside of a development region in the storage place; and a foreign material collecting member which is disposed in a region farther outside of the shielding member in the storage place.
US07945182B2	Systems and methods for controlling cleaning devices in image forming apparatus Systems and methods are provided for controlling cleaning devices in image forming apparatus electrostatic image forming apparatus. Such systems may include a charge receptor, movable in a process direction, defining a main surface. A toner application device applies toner to the charge receptor, and is configured to place a lubrication stripe including the toner on a portion of the main surface of the charge receptor at a selected time. An influence of a pre-clean corotron on the charge receptor is modified, during the designated rotations of the charge receptor, while the portion of the surface on which the lubrication stripe is formed, or will be formed, is passing the pre-clean corotron. The lubrication stripe is delivered to a secondary cleaning device including a blade engaging with the photoreceptor surface to lubricate the blade.
US07945177B2	Image forming apparatus with first and second settable resolution grades An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member and a toner image forming device forming a toner image on the image bearing member, using light toners, and dark toners which have a same hue as that of the light toners and are darker than the light toners. The apparatus forms images using first and second settable resolution grades.
US07945170B2	Method and system for optical transmission signal level configuration The invention relates to an optical transmission system comprising transmitter and receiver devices and comprising automatic optical signal level configuration means which provide the same fixed output signal level for a received signal level range, and the system comprising at least one automatic self-level unit in the transmitter device and at least one automatic self-level unit in the receiver device.
US07945167B2	Preventing mobile communications in a quiet zone using artificially imposed signal time delay Terminating or otherwise preventing communications in a predefined quiet zone by imposing a time delay. In one embodiment an existing call is terminated during a transition between two wireless access points by imposing a time delay on communications through one of the access points. The time delayed signal is interpreted as noise and causes a base station to drop the call if the noise causes the signal strength from the other access point to fall below a threshold. Within a quiet zone, a signal time delay prevents a client device from responding to a base station connection instruction, which causes the base station to believe that the client device is out of range of a quiet zone access point. The time delay may be imposed by an optical fiber spool between the quiet zone access point and the base station, or other delay mechanism. One embodiment is aboard a vessel.
US07945165B2	Optical signal synchronizer One embodiment of the invention provides an optical signal synchronizer having a plurality of optical channel synchronizers. Each optical channel synchronizer receives a respective input wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) signal and processes it to produce a corresponding output WDM signal, in which optical data packets corresponding to different carrier wavelengths are synchronized to each other regardless of the presence or absence of such synchronization in the input WDM signal. The optical signal synchronizer further has an optical multiplex synchronizer that receives the output WDM signals from the optical channel synchronizers and synchronizes them to each other and to an external reference clock without demultiplexing any of them into individual WDM components.
US07945156B2	Camera and lens assembly A camera which has a compact configuration, can be easily assembled and has excellent appearance, and an assembling method thereof are provided. An outer cover body of the camera is formed in a tubular shape. The outer cover body has: a lens attachment portion for attaching the lens unit; a lens opening portion through which a lens barrel of the lens unit attached to the lens attachment portion is inserted; and a hole through which the lens unit can pass, and the lens unit is housed inside the outer cover body and is attached to the lens attachment portion.
US07945155B2	Apparatus for capturing images, method of controlling exposure in the apparatus, and computer readable recording medium storing program A method of controlling exposure under low brightness conditions, comprising calculating an automatic exposure time such that an exposure time is substantially in inverse proportion to the brightness of a subject; when the automatic exposure time is smaller than a first exposure time value, setting a control exposure time as the automatic exposure time; when the automatic exposure time is greater than or equal to the first exposure time and smaller than or equal to a second exposure time, setting the control exposure time as the first exposure time; when the automatic exposure time is greater than the second exposure time, setting the control exposure time to be substantially in proportion to the automatic exposure time such that the control exposure time is smaller than the automatic exposure time by predetermined steps; and increasing sensitivity according to a difference between the automatic exposure time and the control exposure time.
US07945152B2	Focus adjustment method, focus adjustment apparatus, and control method thereof An apparatus comprises a face position detection section for detecting at least a position at which is present a person's face inside a frame using an image signal obtained from an image sensor for photoelectrically converting an object image captured by a photographing optical system, a focus control section for controlling the photographing optical system by referencing in-focus positions of the object image obtained inside focus detection areas for detecting focus states of the object image positioned in the frame, and a control section for controlling the focus control section so as to reference at least one or the other of an in-focus position obtained in a first focus detection area in which is present a person's face and an in-focus position obtained in a second focus detection area in which is expected to be present a body of a person determining from the position of the face of the person.
US07945144B2	Information storage medium and information recording/playback system There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data.
US07945124B2	Information storage medium storing graphic data and apparatus and method of processing the graphic data An information storage medium including graphic data and presentation information, and an apparatus and method of processing the graphic data are provided. The information storage medium includes the graphic data, page composition information which defines page composition of the graphic data, and the presentation information indicating when graphic screen data, which is composed with reference to the page composition information of the graphic data, is output to a display screen. Therefore, a graphic object is reusable in graphic data processing, and accordingly, a time taken to process the graphic data is reducible and memory area may be saved.
US07945115B2	Visual processing device, visual processing method, visual processing program, and semiconductor device A visual processing device that achieves gradation processing and further enhances a visual effect. The visual processing device 1 performs gradation processing for each image region of an input signal IS, and includes an image partitioning portion 2, a gradation transformation curve derivation portion 10, and a gradation processing portion 5. The image partitioning portion 2 and the gradation transformation curve derivation portion 10 use a brightness histogram Hm of a wide area image region Em to create a gradation transformation curve Cm of an image region Pm. The gradation processing portion 5 performs gradation processing of the image region Pm based on the derived gradation transformation curve Cm.
US07945113B2	Enhancement of image data based on plural image parameters A technology is provided whereby correction may be carried out appropriately for both a person's face and other portions of an image, when performing color correction for image data of a photographic image in which a person appears. A process such as the following is carried out during color correction of image data of a photographic image. First, the image data of the photographic image is analyzed, and a first region which is part of the photographic image and in which a person's face is present is determined. Then, on the basis of the portion corresponding to the first region of the image data, a first parameter relating to color is calculated. On the basis of part of the image data corresponding to a second region which is part of the photographic image but different from the first region, a second parameter relating to color is calculated. The color tone of the data is then corrected on the basis of the first and second parameters.
US07945110B2	Methods and apparatuses for enhancing image quality A method for enhancing image quality includes: performing a peaking operation on an image signal to generate a peaking signal; selecting a plurality of pixels from the peaking signal and the image signal; and deciding a luminance value for a target pixel of the image signal according to luminance values of the plurality of pixels.
US07945109B2	Image processing based on object information A CPU divides an image into plural regions and for each of the regions, generates a histogram and calculates an average brightness Y ave. The CPU determines a focus location on the image by using focus location information, sets a region at the determined location as an emphasis region, and sets the average brightness Y ave of the emphasis region as a brightness criterion Y std. The CPU uses the brightness criterion Y std to determine non-usable regions. By using the regions not excluded as non-usable regions, the CPU calculates an image quality adjustment average brightness Y′ ave, i.e. the average brightness of the entire image, with a weighting W in accordance with the locations of the regions reflected thereto, and executes a bright value correction by using the calculated image quality adjustment average brightness Y′ ave.
US07945107B2	System and method for providing gradient preservation for image processing The present invention provides gradient preservation of an input image. A method of providing gradient preservation of an input image, comprises the steps of: computing gradient fields of the input image; computing gradient fields of a remapped image, wherein the remapped image is the input image remapped; comparing a gradient of the remapped image to a predefined range of acceptable values, wherein the acceptable values depend on the input gradient; changing values of the gradient of the remapped image if the values of the gradient of the remapped image are not within the predefined range of acceptable values depending on the input gradient, resulting in x and y components of a modified gradient; and reconstructing the input image using the x and y components of the modified gradient.
US07945106B2	Method for simulating film grain by mosaicing pre-computer samples Film grain is simulated in an output image using pre-established blocks of film grain from a pool of pre-established blocks. Successive film grain blocks are selected by matching the average intensity of a block from the pool to the average intensity of a successive one of a set of M×N pixels in an incoming image. Once all of the successive pixel blocks from the image are matched to selected film grain blocks, the selected film grain blocks are “mosaiced”, that is composited into a larger image mapped to the incoming image.
US07945098B2	Method for characterizing the density and cross-section morphology of trees A method is provided for reliably determining anatomical properties of a tree having a plurality of growth rings spaced from each other in a radial direction. The method involves preparing a sample from a tree to be analyzed, and preparing an image of the sample at a resolution sufficient to analyze at least one of the earlywood and latewood portions of one or more rings. The image is used to determine at least one anatomical property of the sample based on the image, the anatomical property being selected from the group consisting of sample density, tracheid wall thickness, and tracheid exterior dimension.
US07945073B2	Vein authentication device Provided in this invention is a vein authentication device comprising: an interface on which a part of a living body; one or more light sources for emitting infrared light; an image pickup unit for picking up a blood vessel image of the part of the living body using infrared light emitted from the light sources; an image computing unit for processing the blood vessel image picked up by the image pickup unit; and a light shielding unit for shielding infrared light emitted from the light sources and preventing the infrared light from traveling in an image pickup direction of the image pickup unit, wherein the interface has an opening opened in the image pickup direction of the image pickup unit, and wherein the light sources irradiates the part of the living body with infrared light from an image pickup side of the part of the living body.
US07945072B2	Optical motion sensing process A motion sensing process senses a mouse moving relative to a surface by taking a reference image and a sample image of the surface. The process shifts the reference image to neighboring pixel positions arranged in certain patterns and compares the sample image with the reference image at its original pixel position at the shifted pixel positions. A motion vector describing a displacement of the object with respect to the surface is generated from such comparisons. In one embodiment, the pattern includes the original pixel position and neighboring pixel position arranged five rows and five columns with the total number of the pixel positions less than twenty five. In another embodiment, the process selects one of four elongated patterns based on the orientation of a predicted motion vector. In yet another specific embodiment, the process selects one of eight directional patterns based on the direction of the predicted motion vector.
US07945067B2	Audio system housed by an enclosure with a substantially waterproof seal Audio systems are housed by an enclosure with a substantially waterproof seal such that the audio systems may be mounted in outdoor locations such as decks, boat docks, and the like. The enclosure may include a panel that opens relative to a tub portion, such as by a hinged connection, and a substantially waterproof seal located there between. The audio systems may include one or more various features such as external speaker connections so that speakers may be located distantly from the enclosure. Other features may include internal amplification that may be stand-alone or integrated into an audio signal source such as a radio or compact disc player or combinational device such as an automobile head unit. Additional features may include a power supply that provides power for the amplification and/or audio source, an external cover with a substantially waterproof seal relative to the enclosure, filtered ventilation via an electric fan, and other related features.
US07945058B2	Noise reduction system A noise reduction system is used in a BTSC system to reduce noise of an audio signal. The noise reduction system has an audio spectral compressing unit that has a filter and a memory in the approach of the digital processing. The filter is arranged to filter an input signal according to a transfer function, a variable d, and several parameters b0/a0, a0/b0, b1/b0 and a1/a0. The memory is arranged to store the parameters.
US07945057B2	Procedure and device for linearizing the characteristic curve of a vibration signal transducer such as a microphone A procedure and device for linearizing the characteristic curve of a vibration signal transducer such as a microphone that includes collecting signals, transmitting the signals, extracting information from the signals, dephasing such information by 180 degrees compared to the initial signals and taking the algebraic sum of the initial signals and dephased information.
US07945047B2	Cryptographic key distribution system and method for digital video systems A system and method for distribution of cryptographic keys to data encryption and decryption devices used to protect digital video/multimedia data transmitted over a display link between a digital video/multimedia source and a display device are provided. The digital data, which may be in Digital Visual Interface (DVI) format, from a digital video/multimedia source, such as, for example, a Digital Versatile Disk (DVD) player, a set-top box, or a computer, is encrypted prior to transmission on the display link. Use of key management and storage that are external to the data encryption or decryption devices enables downloading of new keys from external key sources. Encrypted data encryption and decryption keys may be included in a cable signal received by the set-top box. The data encryption and decryption keys from an internal or external key source may be encoded in the DVD player, set-top box, or computer prior to being sent over a control bus to a display link receiver or a display device.
US07945040B2	Integrated disparate intelligent peripherals Integrating services provided by intelligent peripherals in a communications network, includes interacting, by a first intelligent peripheral of a first type, with a second intelligent peripheral of a second type which interacts with the first intelligent peripheral of the first type according to a script based on information received from a remote requesting party. The remote requesting party interacts, over the communications network, with the second intelligent peripheral of the second type according to the script. The first intelligent peripheral of the first type and the second intelligent peripheral of the second type are different from each other.
US07945036B1	Provisioning a phone without involving an administrator A phone is provisioned automatically when a user couples the phone to a network, with minimal (or preferably zero) involvement on part of an administrator to activate the phone. In several embodiments of the invention, when the user couples the phone to a network, a computer associated with the network automatically checks to see if the phone was previously provisioned. If not previously provisioned, the computer automatically records the existence of the phone in a memory of a telephone exchange that is to thereafter provide service to the phone. At this stage a phone number is not yet associated with the phone. In some embodiments, the just-described acts, namely checking and recording of existence are performed without any involvement on part of the administrator. The telephone exchange provides basic service to the new phone as soon as it detects existence of the phone (in its memory). Thereafter, in certain embodiments, the user uses that particular phone to identify himself/herself (and/or an extension number) and in response the computer stores the extension number in the telephone exchange's memory, thereby to enable the phone to receive calls at that extension number. Such automatic provisioning eliminates the need for an administrator to provision the phone.
US07945034B2	Process for determining characteristics of a telephone number After receiving a telephone number, various characteristics of the telephone number are determined. These include, the type of phone associated with the telephone number, the phone carrier of the telephone number, and geographic characteristics of the telephone number. This can be done, for instance, by analyzing the telephone connection or querying a database containing a plurality of telephone numbers and characteristics of each of the telephone numbers. The determination may be used to prevent fraudulent or restricted access to a website or system.
US07945033B2	Prepaid calling time processing: a method and apparatus for processing pre-paid calling time in a telephone communication system Methods and systems are provide for processing prepaid calling time to a subscriber by determining an identity of a subscriber of prepaid calling time upon origination of a call to which a subscriber of prepaid calling time is to be a party; determining an amount of prepaid calling time available to the subscriber; allowing a call to which the subscriber is to be a party to be connected if prepaid calling time is available to the subscriber; and deducting calling time from the available prepaid calling time of the subscriber as the connected call proceeds. The method also provides for purchasing pre-paid calling time by electronically transferring funds from an account of the subscriber to an account of a pre-paid call time provider, the amount of funds transferred equal, to the dollar amount of pre-paid calling time to be credited to the subscriber; and crediting to the subscriber an amount of pre-paid calling time corresponding to the dollar amount of the transferred funds.
US07945030B2	Accessing messages stored in one communication system by another communication system The present disclosure provides systems and methods for accessing messages in one communication system by another communication system. In some embodiments, a request to access data is received from a second communication system. The data is located at a first communication system. The first communication system is configured to communicate using a first standard communication protocol, while the second communication system is configured to communicate using a second standard communication protocol. The received request is converted to a command of the first standard communication protocol. Using the command, the data at the first communication system is accessed.
US07945029B1	Translation server for facilitating operations with multiple media messaging systems A telecommunications network includes multiple media messaging systems, such as voicemail platforms. A translation server stores messaging system data that associates each mailbox with a routing address (e.g., an IP address) that can be used to reach the media messaging system that hosts the mailbox. The translation server receives a translation request that includes an identification of a destination mailbox and a service code. The service code indicates that a routing address for a media messaging system is being requested. In response to the translation request, the translation server obtains from the messaging system data the routing address associated with the media messaging system that hosts the destination mailbox, and the translation server returns the routing address in a translation response. The routing address may then be used to send a call or to send a media message to the media messaging system that hosts the destination mailbox.
US07945020B2	Medical inspection apparatus The present invention provides a medical inspection apparatus which comprises a frame, an inspection module, and a motion control unit. The frame has a couch for positioning a patient, a flexible broad bandage, an opening on the flexible broad bandage, and a chamber formed inside the frame at a position corresponding to the opening. The inspection module is disposed in the chamber and is configured with at least one detector. The motion control unit is coupled to the inspection module for actuating the inspection module to perform a vertical movement and a rotating movement and for adjusting the relative position between the at least one detector.
US07945008B2	Systems and methods for lattice enumeration-aided detection Embodiments provide systems and methods for improved multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) detection comprising generating at least one list of candidate vectors by employing lattice enumeration which approximates hyperellipsoid detection search space and calculating a reliability of the candidate vectors. At least one advantage to embodiments is that improved detection occurs because detection can be performed in a search space defined by the eigenvectors (which define the general shape of an ellipsoid/hyperellipsoid, depending upon number of dimensions) and eigenvalues (which provide the appropriate scaling in each direction of the eigenvectors) of the effective channel.
US07945006B2	Data-driven method and apparatus for real-time mixing of multichannel signals in a media server An apparatus for mixing audio signals in a voice-over-IP teleconferencing environment comprises a preprocessor, a mixing controller, and a mixing processor. The preprocessor is divided into a media parameter estimator and a media preprocessor. The media parameter estimator estimates signal parameters such as signal-to-noise ratios, energy levels, and voice activity (i.e., the presence or absence of voice in the signal), which are used to control how different channels are mixed. The media preprocessor employs signal processing algorithms such as silence suppression, automatic gain control, and noise reduction, so that the quality of the incoming voice streams is optimized. Based on a function of the estimated signal parameters, the mixing controller specifies a particular mixing strategy and the mixing processor mixes the preprocessed voice streams according the strategy provided by the controller.
US07944997B2	GPS M-code receiver tracking system An m-code GPS receiver receives m-code GPS communication signals having a multimodal autocorrelation, using an m-code mode identifier unambiguously determining a mode value of one of the m-code modal peaks coherently aligned to a coherent unimodal detected envelope, based on sequential probability estimation in an m-code envelope tracking filter using filter residual estimation or with a coherent m-code and c/a-code tracking filter also based on filter residual estimation, for generating m-code phase errors, for unambiguous and precise m-code code phase tracking in closed feedback loops, for preferred use in navigation systems.
US07944994B2	Data converter and data conversion method, and transmitter circuit, communications device and electronic device using the same A data converter that converts an input signal to a signal to be inputted to an amplifier. Specifically, the data converter includes: an amplitude detection section that detects an amplitude level of the input signal; a region determination section that determines whether or not an input power to the amplifier is in a non-linear region of the amplifier based on the amplitude level of the input signal detected by the amplitude detection section; and a signal processing section that converts the input signal to a signal having a lower resolution than that of the input signal if the region determination section determines that the input power to the amplifier is in the non-linear region of the amplifier.
US07944990B2	System and method for transmitting and receiving data in a communication system A system and method for transmitting and receiving data in a communication system are provided, in which upon generation of data of communication services to be transmitted to a receiver, a transmitter classifies the data according to the service types of the communication services, inserts a guard interval between the classified data of the service types, and transmits the data with the guard interval to the receiver.
US07944984B1	I/Q calibration in the presence of phase offset An I/Q calibration system for a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) mode transceiver includes a signal generator that generates reference in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) signals. An I/Q mismatch compensation module generates compensated I and Q signals based on the reference I and Q signals and amplitude and phase correction signals. An I/Q mismatch calibration module generates the amplitude and phase correction signals. A phase stepper module varies a phase of the reference I and Q signals based on the amplitude and phase correction signals.
US07944972B2	Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus A video encoding apparatus comprises a frame memory/predictive image generator having a first predictive mode for generating a predictive image signal by selecting a combination from among a plurality combinations of a reference image number and a plurality of predictive parameters, and a second predictive mode for generating a predictive image signal according to a predictive parameter computed based on reference image numbers of reference images and an image-to-image distance, and a variable-length encoder to select one of the first and second prediction modes by the number of reference images, and encode orthogonal transformation coefficient information concerning a predictive error signal of a predictive image signal with respect to input video signal, mode information indicating an encoding mode, motion vector information and combination of selected reference image number with predictive parameter index information indicating combination of selected reference image information.
US07944970B2	Apparatus and method for displaying 3-dimensional graphics An apparatus and method for displaying topography around a position of a mobile object such as a vehicle in 3-dimensional graphics. The method includes predicting a candidate region for the mobile object's position at a display time after a predetermined period of time using current position and motion information of the mobile object; loading 3-dimensional graphic data corresponding to the predicted candidate region to memory; and rendering and displaying data corresponding to a region around a position of the mobile object at the display time among the 3-dimensional graphic data loaded to the memory.
US07944964B2	Apparatus and method for stable DEF using selective FBF A decision feedback equalizing apparatus selectively using a feedback filter and a method thereof are provided. The apparatus includes: an equalizing unit including a feed forward filter (FFF) for correcting a distorted transmission channel by receiving a match-filtered signal and a feedback filter (FBF) for reducing inter symbol interference ISI of the corrected transmission channel for driving only the FFF in a blind mode and driving the FFF and the FBF in a decision directed mode; a diverge/converge determining unit for determining whether the decision feedback equalizing apparatus is diverged or converged using a unit square error obtained through a least unit square algorithm; and a filter controlling unit for controlling the equalizing unit in a blind mode if the decision feedback equalizing apparatus is determined as divergence, and for controlling the equalizing unit in a decision directed mode if the decision feedback equalizing apparatus is determined as convergence.
US07944952B2	Asynchronous data pipe for automatically managing asynchronous data transfers between an application and a bus structure An asynchronous data pipe (ADP) automatically generates transactions necessary to complete asynchronous data transfer operations for an application over a bus structure. The ADP includes a register file which is programmed and initiated by the application. The register file includes the bus speed, transaction label, transaction code, destination node identifier, destination offset address, length of each data packet, packet counter, packet counter bump field, control field and a status field. During a data transfer operation, the ADP generates the transactions necessary to complete the operation over the appropriate range of addresses, using the information in the register file as a template. The ADP increments the value in the destination offset address field for each transaction according to the length of each data packet, unless the incrementing feature has been disabled and the transactions are to take place at a fixed address. The packet counter represents the number of transactions remaining to be generated. The packet counter value is decremented after each packet of data is transferred. The application can increment the packet counter value by writing to the packet counter bump field. A multiplexer is included within a system having multiple ADPs for multiplexing the information from the ADPs onto the bus structure. A demultiplexer is included within a system having multiple ADPs for routing information from the bus structure to the appropriate ADP.
US07944946B2	Virtual memory protocol segmentation offloading Methods and systems for a more efficient transmission of network traffic are provided. According to one embodiment, a method is provided for performing segmentation offloading, such as TCP segmentation offloading (TSO). An interface performs direct virtual memory addressing of a user memory space of a system memory on behalf of a network processor to fetch payload data originated by a user process running on a host processor. Then, the network processor segments the payload data across one or more packets.
US07944944B2	Abnormal case handling for acknowledged mode transmission and unacknowledged mode transmission Whenever the Receiver of this invention receives an AMD PDU or a UMD PDU with its “Length Indicator” having an invalid or a reserved value, the Receiver discards such a PDU and treats it as never received. The Receiver may report its receiving status accordingly if a report is required. This invention avoids invoking unnecessary RLC reset procedures and reduces the chance of losing HFN synchronization during AM or UM data transmissions.
US07944931B2	Balanced bandwidth utilization A memory subsystem includes Data Store 0 and Data Store 1. Each data store is partitioned into N buffers, N>1. An increment of memory is formed by a buffer pair, with each buffer of the buffer pair being in a different data store. Two buffer pair formats are used in forming memory increments. A first format selects a first buffer from Data Store 0 and a second buffer from Data Store 1, while a second format selects a first buffer from Data Store 1 and a second buffer from Data Store 0. A controller selects a buffer pair for storing data based upon the configuration of data in a delivery mechanism, such as switch cell.
US07944898B2	Wireless communication method and apparatus A wireless communication method and apparatus are provided. The wireless communication method includes receiving a packet including information of a device connected to a wireless network, the wireless network uses a first channel and a second channel supporting different transmission capabilities, and storing the information of the device included in the packet.
US07944892B2	Time coordinated base station and antenna array for integer cycle and impulse modulation systems An improved antenna and coordination arrangement for use at a base station that will eliminate over the air collisions while doubling the effective data rate of each base station in a network is disclosed. The result will be large area networks which all share exactly the same radio spectrum without mutual interference and little effort required to expand a single base station system to a grid of cooperative base stations forming a coverage area of ubiquitous coverage and multiplied data capacity. Specifically, this disclosure describes an improved antenna arrangement and synchronization system for use when multiple radio base stations, each using a deterministic over the air MAC layer, are located within overlapping coverage areas.
US07944889B2	System and method for rate shifting for wireless VoIP A method of rate shifting specially suited for the voice traffic, which differentiates poor channel conditions from a heavily loaded channel of a WLAN and adapts to the network traffic condition and channel condition promptly with low rate of false shifting. Determining when to rate shift is based on a combination of the received signal strength indication and the retry rate.
US07944888B2	Method and apparatus to facilitate handover A method and apparatus for handing over a mobile node from a source access point to a target access point is provided herein. During operation the source access point will create handover messages on behalf of the mobile node. When the source access point detects that handover is taking place, the source access point will transmit the appropriate handover message to the mobile node's anchor node. Because the source access point may not have the necessary security credentials to create messages on behalf of the mobile node, in an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the messages are created by the mobile node and stored at the source access point until needed.
US07944884B2	Voice and data communication services using orthogonal sub-channels A method for using orthogonal sub-channels (OSCs) in a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU). A capability report is received from the WTRU, including an indication whether the WTRU supports OSCs. A determination is made whether to use OSCs for the WTRU and the result of the determination is signaled to the WTRU. If OSCs are used with the WTRU, the signaling includes an OSC assignment for the WTRU. In one embodiment, two resources are assigned to the WTRU and each resource is assigned to a different OSC.
US07944871B2	Communication relay apparatus and communication relay method A communication relay apparatus wherein the error rate characteristic of a relay destination is improved to raise the throughput, while reducing the given interference power to prevent the reduction of the throughput of the whole communication system. In the apparatus, a signal addressed to a base station is received (ST1010), and a decoding process and other processes are performed (ST1020). A bit error determination is performed (ST1030), and if there is no bit error, a reproduction/relay process (ST1050) is performed. If there is any bit error, a threshold-based determination of reception quality is performed for each of subcarriers (ST1120-1130). If the reception quality is greater than a threshold value, the corresponding subcarrier is outputted (ST1140); otherwise, the corresponding subcarrier is not relayed (ST1150). A signal, which has been subjected to either process, is transmitted (ST1060).
US07944870B2	Methods and systems for temporary additional telephone numbers A temporary phone number system completes telephone calls only for non-expired telephone numbers. A user terminal makes a phone call to a subscriber terminal through a network having server. The subscriber terminal is associated with an IP address located at the server. A dynamic database of telephone numbers that ring the subscriber terminal resides at the IP address on the server. At least one number in the database expires at a selected time so that the call is completed only if the number input into the user terminal is not expired. Methods and computer-readable media containing instructions for performing the methods of the temporary phone number system are described.
US07944868B2	Method and system for dynamic power management in wireless local area networks A method and system for improving spatial reuse in a wireless local area network (WLAN) by per-client dynamic power management. Each access point of the WLAN associates each of its clients with a minimum power level. A central controller of the WLAN generates a schedule for transmission at different power levels, and each access point varies its transmission power level based on the schedule. An access point transmits data packets, at the scheduled transmission power level, to clients associated with a minimum power level that is less than the scheduled power level.
US07944865B2	Wireless LAN system and control method and control program of wireless LAN system A wireless LAN system uses a single wireless telephone line. When a telephone apparatus outside the network originates a call to the LAN, the system allows establishment of wireless telephone communication between that telephone apparatus and a slave communication device. Each transmission/reception device is controlled to switch between a first state in normal times in which a transmission/reception device of a master communication device is turned on and transmission/reception device of respective slave communication devices are turned off and a second state in which the transmission/reception device of the master communication device is turned off and only the transmission/reception device of any one of the slave communication devices is turned on.
US07944854B2	IP security within multi-topology routing A method for IP Security within Multi-Topology Routing is disclosed. Disclosed methods may also include IKE extensions. A route eligible for IPSec protection is injected into a topology routing table. Network traffic can then be protected in accordance with a security session, such as an IPSec session, between a first network node and a second network node and forwarded through a selected topology to take advantage of the service-differentiation capabilities of MTR.
US07944843B2	Path based network management method and apparatus for data communication networks Network analysis in a network management system for a data network is improved by mapping the communication paths established in the network. Queries are sent by the network management system to each network element in the network. Queries are triggered by events within the network, for example, after notification by a network element that a communication path is being set up. Each query sent by the network management system requests certain connection and topology information from the network elements. Using this information, the network management system constructs the overall network topology and performs a path analysis to map completely each communication path through the network. When the communication path mapping is complete, various types of analyses are performed using the communication path information. These analyses include but are not limited to network capacity analysis, network performance analysis, and network fault analysis. Through the use of a network analysis engine module communicating with the network elements, the present network management system can interpret multiple networking protocols and different routing protocols.
US07944840B2	Method for facilitating latency measurements using intermediate network devices between endpoint devices connected by a computer network Network latency measurements of RTP traffic are measured using an intermediate network device positioned between endpoints that do not necessarily support RTCP. During an active RTP stream between two endpoints, the intermediate device detects whether the endpoints are already providing their own RTCP packets and responding to RTCP packets from the other endpoint. If not, the intermediate device generates RTCP packets on behalf of the non-responsive or non-providing endpoint(s), acting as a proxy for the endpoint(s), so the packets appear to one endpoint as if they were generated by the other endpoint. Thus, if at least one endpoint supports RTCP, a single intermediate device is sufficient to generate the RTCP packets that allow the latency calculation to be performed.
US07944836B2	Adaptive method and apparatus for adjusting network traffic volume reporting An adaptive method and apparatus for accurate network traffic volume limit reporting including receiving a network traffic volume limit for each subscriber based on the subscriber's level of service and reporting the network traffic volume on a more frequent basis for subscribers who are approaching their network volume limit.
US07944834B2	Policing virtual connections Traffic flow is monitored in a plurality of links. Based on the monitoring, a manner in which traffic is allocated to the links is determined, and at least one policer is assigned according to the manner in which traffic is allocated to the links.
US07944833B2	End-to-end QoS interoperation apparatus and method in heterogeneous network environment An end-to-end quality-of-service (QoS) interoperation apparatus and method in a heterogeneous network environment are provided. A Next Steps In Signaling (NSIS) Application Programming Interface (NAPI) block handles an NSIS API at the request of an upper layer. An NSIS entity handles an NSIS protocol stack at the request of the NAPI block. An Internet Protocol Bearer Service (IP BS) manager manages an IP BS. A translation block translates parameters of a 3GPP_CLASS object and a UMTS QoS class predefined in an NSIS message according to a predetermined mapping configuration. A memory stores a software application including a Universal Mobile Telecommunication System Bearer Service (UMTS BS) manager for managing a UMTS BS. A processor combined with the memory, controls the software application.
US07944829B2	Mechanism for managing access to resources in a heterogeneous data redirection device A system and method for policing of access to resources in a heterogeneous data redirection device is disclosed. The invention utilizes Random Early Detection to determine whether or not a given packet should be dropped or accepted into the resource. The invention uses a combination of different metrics each of which utilizes a different version of RED. Schemes can include a Per-Flow Weighted RED metric, a Global RED metric and a Fair Share Pool metric, where shared resource allocation is dependent dynamically upon the number of users at the time a packet requests access. These metrics can be combined in variety of ways to yield a final drop or accept decision for an incoming packet so that it does not access resources.
US07944813B1	Method and system for establishing a connection between network elements A method and system for establishing or handling a connection between a first and a second network element connected to different networks such as GPRS/UMTS and IP-based networks. The connection is established by at least one third network element such as a SGSN or GGSN arranged in one of the networks. The third network element is adapted to send, when receiving information on an establishment of a connection, a request to a fourth network element which may be a Call State Control Function (CSCF), a Policy Control Function (PCF), or a Call Processing Server (CPS). The request requests permission for establishing a requested type of connection, or requests a check of a connection parameter, and specifies the first and/or second network element and/or the connection or connection type to be established. The fourth network element returns a response specifying a permission for establishing a connection or connection type, or specifying a connection parameter.
US07944805B2	Method of and apparatus for recording data on write-once disc and write-once disc therefor A method of recording, and an apparatus to record, data on a write-once disc, and the write-once disc used with the method and apparatus. The write-once disc includes a plurality of update areas in which to record a predetermined type of updated information, at least one main access information area (AIA) in which to record main access information (AI), the main AI indicating a final update area in which finally updated information is recorded, among the plurality of update areas, and at least one sub AIA in which to record sub AI, the sub AI indicating a location of the finally updated information recorded in the final update area.
US07944801B2	Information recording and/or reproducing apparatus having two photodetectors to control the light intensity of two light sources with different wavelengths An apparatus for effecting at least one of recording and reproducing information. A first light source has a light intensity and emits a light beam having an emission wavelength. A second light source has another light intensity and emits a light beam having an emission wavelength different from that of the first light source. An optical system guides a light beam emitted from the first light source to a recording medium and guides a light beam reflected from the recording medium to a first photodetector, which generates an output. Another optical system guides a light beam emitted from the second light source to the recording medium and guides another light beam reflected from the recording medium to the second photodetector. A separating optical element guides the light beam emitted from the first light source to the second photodetector, which generates an output. A control circuit receives the output generated by the second photodetector, and controls the light intensity of the first light source based on the output of the second photodetector.
US07944799B2	Optical information apparatus with gap control system An optical information apparatus according to the present invention includes: an optical system that includes a solid immersion lens (SIL) 11 and that produces near-field light to be incident on an optical disc 10; a first actuator for displacing the SIL 11; a second actuator 29 for varying the distance between the optical disc 10 and the first actuator 12 by moving the first actuator 12; a gap detecting section 18 for outputting a gap signal 19 representing the magnitude of the gap 17 between the SIL 11 and the optical disc 10; and a gap control system for controlling the first actuator 12 in response to the gap signal 19 such that the gap is maintained at a predetermined setting. The gap control system works so as to control the second actuator 29 in accordance with a signal representing the magnitude of displacement of the SIL 11 caused by the first actuator 12.
US07944796B2	Recording apparatus and information processing apparatus equipped with the same A recording apparatus includes a first light source irradiating first laser light, a second light source irradiating second laser light, an optical spatial modulating unit applying information to the first laser light, and an objective lens collecting the first laser light and the second laser light at different positions on the same optical axis. A hologram recording operation uses a first optical path and a second optical path. The information light is conducted to the objective lens along the first optical path. The reference light is conducted to the objective lens along the second optical path. At the same time, an address/servo control operation is carried out by employing a third optical path along which the second laser light is conducted to the objective lens. The DVD recording operation uses the second optical path. The CD recording operation uses the third optical path.
US07944786B2	Optical disc apparatus and recording power determining method thereof A method of determining a recording power used to record information to an optical disc, includes carrying out test recording which records predetermined data to a predetermined area of the optical disc to determine the recording power, and recording predetermined data with a power equal to or more than the determined recording power to an area adjacent to the predetermined area.
US07944784B2	Land/groove track and pickup head movement direction detection A detector is scanned across an optical storage medium having groove tracks and land tracks, each track having a wobble structure, to detect light reflected from the optical storage medium. A wobble signal and a tracking error signal are generated based on an output of the detector, and the wobble signal is sampled according to the tracking error signal. A determination about whether the detector is at the groove track or the land track is made based on the tracking error signal and a comparison of sampled values of the wobble signal.
US07944773B2	Synchronous command-based write recovery time auto-precharge control Methods of operating a memory device and memory devices are provided. For example, a method of operating a memory array is provided that includes a synchronous path and an asynchronous path. A Write-with-Autoprecharge signal is provided to the synchronous path, and various bank address signals are provided to the asynchronous path. In another embodiment, the initiation of the bank address signals may be provided asynchronously to the assertion of the Write-with-Autoprecharge signal.
US07944769B1	System for power-on detection A system for detecting power-on of a circuit block within an integrated circuit (IC). The system can include a latch including a latch output and an inverted latch output. The latch can be coupled to, and powered by, a power supply providing power to the circuit block within the IC. The system further can include an exclusive OR circuit. The exclusive OR circuit can include an input stage coupled to the latch output and the inverted latch output. The exclusive OR circuit generates an output signal indicating whether the circuit block is in a power-on state.
US07944763B2	Semiconductor memory device for preventing mal-operation induced by misrecognizing addresses/data as commands and operating method thereof A semiconductor memory device and an operating method thereof prevent the mal-operation of the semiconductor memory device induced by misrecognizing addresses or data as commands. The semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of input pads, a data information path, a command path, a transfer block configured to transmit signals coupled through the input pads to the data information path and the command path, a command decoding block configured to decode signals transmitted through the command path to verify an inputting of a command, and a transmission control block configured to generate a control signal for controlling the signal transmission from the transfer block to the command path according to the verified result of the command decoding block.
US07944753B2	Electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) cell and methods for forming and reading the same In a method of reading data in an EEPROM cell, a bit line voltage for reading is applied to the EEPROM cell including a memory transistor and a selection transistor. A first voltage is applied to a sense line of the memory transistor. A second voltage greater than the first voltage is applied to a word line of the selection transistor. A current passing through the EEPROM cell is compared with a predetermined reference current to read the data stored in the EEPROM cell. An on-cell current of the EEPROM cell may be increased in an erased state and the data in the cell may be readily discriminated.
US07944750B1	Multi-programmable non-volatile memory cell A non-volatile memory device and method for manufacture and programing which does not require a control gate for the programing or erasure of the device. The memory device is comprised of two wells with the opposite conductivity type of the semiconductor body. In one of the wells is a source and drain well of the same conductivity type as of the body. A oxide is formed on the surface of the body on which a floating gate is formed. Specific voltages are applied to the source, drain, first well and second well region to program, erase and read the memory device.
US07944737B2	Magnetic memory cell based on a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) with independent storage and read layers Embodiments of the invention magnetic memory device, comprising: a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) which includes a first free layer optimized for reading; and a second free layer separate from the MTJ and optimized for writing.
US07944734B2	Integrating nonvolatile memory capability within SRAM devices A nonvolatile static random access memory (SRAM) device includes a pair of cross-coupled, complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) inverters configured as a storage cell for a bit of data and a pair of magnetic spin transfer devices coupled to opposing sides of the storage cell. The magnetic spin transfer devices are configured to retain the storage cell data therein following removal of power to the SRAM device, and are further configured to initialize the storage cell with the retained data upon application of power to the SRAM device.
US07944732B2	Integrated capacitor with alternating layered segments A capacitor in an integrated circuit (“IC”) has a first node plate link formed in a first metal layer of the IC electrically connected to and forming a portion of a first node of the capacitor extending along a first axis (y) and a second node plate link formed in a second metal layer of the IC extending along the axis and connected to the first node plate with a via. A third node plate link formed in the first metal layer is electrically connected to and forming a portion of a second node of the capacitor and extends along a second axis (x) of the node plate array transverse to the first node plate link, proximate to an end of the first node plate link and overlying a portion of the second node plate link.
US07944731B2	Resistive sense memory array with partial block update capability Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a method and apparatus for carrying out a partial block update operation upon a resistive sense memory (RSM) array, such as formed from STRAM or RRAM cells. The RSM array is arranged into multi-cell blocks (sectors), each block having a physical block address (PBA). A first set of user data is written to a selected block at a first PBA. A partial block update operation is performed by writing a second set of user data to a second block at a second PBA, the second set of user data updating a portion of the first set of user data in the first PBA. The first and second blocks are thereafter read to retrieve the second set of user data and a remaining portion of the first set of user data.
US07944728B2	Programming a memory cell with a diode in series by applying reverse bias A method of programming a memory cell comprises applying a reverse bias to the memory cell using a temporary resistor in series with the memory cell. The memory cell comprises a diode and a resistivity switching material element in series. The state of the resistivity switching material element changes from a first initial state to a second state different from the first state.
US07944712B2	Plasma display device A PDP (plasma display panel) is attached to an electrically conductive board with a heat dissipation sheet sandwiched therebetween. A first driving circuit board is fixed on the electrically conductive board by a plurality of electrically conductive supports. On one surface, which faces the electrically conductive board, of the first driving circuit board, one or a plurality of electronic components are mounted, while a second driving circuit board is fixed. A plurality of support terminals of the second driving circuit board are connected to the first driving circuit board, and the first driving circuit board is attached to the electrically conductive board by the electrically conductive supports. Thus, one surface of the second driving circuit board is in contact with the electrically conductive board. One or a plurality of surface mount components are mounted on the other surface of the second driving circuit board that faces the first driving circuit board.
US07944703B2	Flash memory device assembly using adhesive A flash memory device includes one or two panels that are attached solely by a thermal bond adhesive to either a frame or integrated circuits (e.g., flash memory devices) disposed on a PCBA. The frame is disposed around the PCBA and supports peripheral edges of the panels. The thermal bond adhesive is either heat-activated or heat-cured, and is applied to either the memory devices, the frame or the panels, and then compressed between the panels and flash memory devices/frame using a fixture. The fixture is then passed through an oven to activate/cure the adhesive. An optional insulating layer is disposed between the panels and the ICs. An optional conforming coating layer is formed over the ICs for preventing oxidation of integrated circuit leads or soldering area, covering or protecting extreme temperature exposure either cold or hot, and waterproofing for certain military or industrial applications.
US07944702B2	Press-push flash drive apparatus with metal tubular casing and snap-coupled plastic sleeve A press-push type computer peripheral “flash drive” device includes an elongated (e.g., metal) tubular casing containing a PCBA having a plug connector. A plastic housing assembly includes front and rear cap portions mounted over the open ends of the tubular casing, and a fixed plastic sleeve portion disposed in the tubular casing. The PCBA is secured to a plastic sliding rack structure that is disposed in the tubular casing and includes an actuating button protruding through a slot formed in a wall of the tubular casing. When the actuating button is manually pushed and slid along the slot, a portion of the sliding rack structure slides against the plastic sleeve portion in deploying and retracting the USB connector out of the device.
US07944697B2	Electronic equipment Electronic equipment installed outdoors to house an internal unit is provided, meeting the waterproof standard and having an easily replaceable structure of the internal unit. The electronic equipment has an enclosure having a cover and a case with an opening and an air vent, and an internal unit in which an electronic component is mounted. The internal unit has a heat sink and radiation fins for releasing heat generated by the electronic component. The fins are inserted into the opening. The heat sink has a draining portion formed below the fins in a direction perpendicular to an extending direction of the radiation fins, a groove for waterproofing around the fins except an upper portion thereof, and two protrusions for fitting above the fins. The case has a rib for waterproofing around the opening except an upper portion thereof, and two holes for fitting above the opening.
US07944696B2	Electronic apparatus An electronic apparatus includes a chassis and a heat sink. The heat sink forms one side wall of the chassis. The heat sink has inner and outer wall surfaces corresponding to inner and outer surfaces of the chassis. The heat sink has a guide portion guiding a drop of water initially adhered to the heat sink along the outer wall surface of the heat sink.
US07944695B2	Motor controller A motor controller which is inexpensive and has high cooling performance by using an extrusion heat sink (1), reducing the number of parts, and reducing the man-hours of assembling is provided. In a motor controller including an extrusion heat sink (1), and a power semiconductor module (4) including a plurality of external electrode terminals which closely contact the extrusion heat sink (1), and a printed circuit board having the plurality of external electrode terminals connected thereto, die-casting frames (2) in which a pedestal (2a) for attaching a motor controller and bosses (2b) for attaching a printed circuit board are molded are provided at both ends of the extrusion heat sink (1).
US07944690B2	Housing, electronic equipment, and housing disassembly method A housing, comprises: a first housing part, one side of which is an opening, including a hook member having a hook at its tip and projected from an inner surface thereof; and a second housing part, one side of which is an opening, having an engagement recess to be engaged with the hook, wherein the openings of the first housing part and the second housing part are closed by engaging the engagement recess and the hook to make a closed space inside, the hook member has a recess to which a release member is insertable from an outer surface of the first housing part, an engagement state of the hook and the engagement recess is released by bending the hook member by the release member inserted into the recess of the engagement recess.
US07944689B2	Cosmetic computer This laptop apparatus is built not only with a computer but also with a cosmetic compact. It is complete with makeup and can be matched with any skin type. The compact is mounted at the top of the laptop for easy and quick access. What's so great about this laptop is that it makes traveling a breeze and is fashion forward. Not only can you surf the net, catch up with work, but you can look great doing it.
US07944684B2	Notebook computer with document holding function A notebook computer that has a document holding function includes an upper cover and a base. The upper cover includes a screen and an image pickup device. The base includes a keyboard and a touchpad. A touchpad chassis is disposed under the touchpad and connected with a bottom surface of the touchpad. A fixing recess is formed in an edge surface of the touchpad chassis for holding the document. A rotatable frame is disposed under the touchpad for overturning the touchpad chassis. As such, a shooting angle is defined between the image pickup device and the document held in the fixing recess.
US07944683B2	Image display apparatus An image display apparatus includes a display panel that displays an image, a support unit that supports a rear surface of the display panel, and an exterior member that covers the support unit. The support unit includes a first plate-like member and a second plate-like member having a concave-convex shape, wherein the first plate-like member is fixed to the display panel at a plurality of first fixing portions with bonding members, convex portions of the second plate- like member are fixed to the first plate-like member at a plurality of second fixing portions, and concave portions of the second plate-like member are fixed to a support member at a plurality of third fixing portions.
US07944676B2	Systems and methods for collecting use of force information An apparatus records a use of force. The apparatus includes a weapon that initiates application of the force against a target, being a person or animal, to stop undesired behavior by the target. The apparatus further includes a processing circuit that provides, after an operation of the weapon, indicia of a prompt. The prompt elicits a spoken reply from an operator of the apparatus. The reply describes the use of force, and records indicia of the reply received from a provided input device. A method of operation of an electronic weapon includes applying a force wherein applying comprises passing a current through tissue of a target to produce contractions in skeletal muscles of the target to impede locomotion by the target; and recording a description of the application, the description in accordance with operator input.
US07944672B1	Control device for an actuator A control device applicable to an actuator and including a voltage detection unit and a limit switch control unit. The control device is inbuilt inside the actuator without any additional control circuit for the control of the limit switches and the detection of the input voltage range. The limit switches are used to limit the travel of an actuating member of the actuator so as to avoid collision of the mechanism. The voltage detection unit serves to detect the input voltage range to control the operation of the actuator. Accordingly, the mechanism or the motor is protected from damage due to excessively low or high input voltage. The limit switches are freely adjustable in position and protected from high current. Therefore, the contacts of the limit switches are not liable to damage and the lifetime of the limit switches is prolonged. The control device further has electronic brake effect.
US07944670B2	Surge protection circuit for passing DC and RF signals A surge protection circuit may include a tuned circuit board with traces designed to provide a surge protected and RF isolated DC path while propagating RF signals through the PCB dielectric with microstrip lines. The surge protection circuit utilizes high impedance RF decoupling devices such as quarterwave traces or inductors which isolate the multistage DC protection scheme which may include a gas discharge tube, serial surge impeding devices such as inductors and/or resistors, a decoupled air/spark gap device and a Zener diode junction.
US07944667B2	Thermal security for hybrid vehicle recharging cable plugs device and method A system is provided for interrupting current in an electrical cable having an end plug. The system comprises a sensor coupled to the plug and having an output indicative of the temperature of the plug, and a current interrupting device coupled to the sensor for interrupting current in the cable when the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature.
US07944664B2	Safety device for a semiconductor switch A safety device for a semiconductor switch controlling a secondary line provided with a fuse on the input side of the switch device that includes component to create a short circuit in the secondary line, so as to cut off the fuse, and means of activating this component following detection of an overcurrent in the secondary line.
US07944663B2	Over-current protection circuit An over-current protection circuit for use with a constant voltage circuit that converts an input voltage to a predetermined output voltage and that outputs the predetermined output voltage. The over-current protection circuit includes an output current detecting circuit configured to output an output current detecting voltage proportional to an output current outputted from the constant voltage circuit; an output current control circuit configured to control the output current outputted from the constant voltage circuit according to the output current detecting voltage outputted from the output current detecting circuit; an output voltage detecting circuit configured to output at least an output voltage detecting voltage according to the output voltage of the constant voltage circuit; and a conversion rate altering circuit configured to alter a conversion rate of the output current to the output current detecting voltage of the output current detecting circuit according to the output voltage detecting voltage outputted from the output voltage detecting circuit.
US07944654B2	Multiple-pole circuit breaker with shared current sensor for arcing fault detection A multi-pole circuit breaker for a power distribution system having multiple line conductors carrying AC currents that are out of phase with each other, and a common neutral conductor, comprises first and second current sensors, a ground fault detection circuit, and an arcing fault detection circuit. The first current sensor is adapted to be coupled to both of the line conductors and to the neutral conductor and produces a first output signal indicative of the resultant of the electrical currents flowing in the line and neutral conductors. The ground fault detection circuit receives the first output signal and produces a trip signal in response to the detection of a ground fault. The second current sensor comprises a coil wound on a toroidal core and is adapted to be coupled to both of the line conductors in a manner that the electrical currents in the line conductors flow in opposite directions inside the toroidal core, thus inducing in the coil a second output signal that is a function of the difference of the electrical currents in the line conductors. The arcing fault detection circuit receives the second output signal and includes a processor programmed to analyze the second output signal and produce a trip signal in response to the detection of an arcing fault.
US07944653B2	Self fault-detection circuit for ground fault circuit interrupter A self fault-detection circuit for a ground fault circuit interrupter comprising: (i) a Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV) fault detection unit for detecting a fault condition of the MOV, and sending a first trigger signal if a fault condition of the MOV is detected, (ii) a trip circuit fault detection unit for detecting a fault condition of a trip circuit, and sending a second trigger signal if a fault condition of the trip circuit is detected; and (iii) a fault reaction unit for receiving at least one of the first trigger signal and the second trigger signal, and responding to the first and second trigger signals with an action, when at least one of the first and the second trigger signals is received by the fault reaction unit, the fault reaction unit indicates that at least one fault condition exists in the ground fault circuit interrupter.
US07944650B2	Magnetoresistive element including layered film touching periphery of spacer layer An MR element includes an MR stack including a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, and a spacer layer disposed between the first and the second ferromagnetic layer. The MR stack has an outer surface, and the spacer layer has a periphery located in the outer surface of the MR stack. The magnetoresistive element further includes a layered film that touches the periphery of the spacer layer. The spacer layer includes a semiconductor layer formed using an oxide semiconductor as a material. The layered film includes a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer stacked in this order. The first layer is formed of the same material as the semiconductor layer, and touches the periphery of the spacer layer. The second layer is a metal layer that forms a Schottky barrier at the interface between the first layer and the second layer. The third layer is an insulating layer.
US07944649B2	Magnetically preloaded anti-rotation guide for a transducer A transducer positioning apparatus is provided that supports a read/write head on a data storage machine and biases the head against rotation. The transducer positioning apparatus may comprise a base that includes a linear drive motor and a support frame to which the read/write head is secured. The support frame is reciprocally driven by the linear drive motor relative to the base. A magnetic coupling is provided between the base and the support frame that resists movement of the frame other than the reciprocal movement of the support frame relative to the base. A method is also disclosed for magnetically biasing a movable head of a transducer against rotation.
US07944648B2	Head slider and storage medium driving device According to one embodiment, a head slider, includes: a slider body; an insulating nonmagnetic film configured to be laminated on an air outflow side end face of the slider body; a magnetoresistive effect film configured to be buried in the nonmagnetic film; first and second wiring patterns configured to be buried in the nonmagnetic film and connected to the magnetoresistive effect film; a third wiring pattern configured to be buried in the nonmagnetic film and connected to the first and second wiring pattern in parallel to the magnetoresistive effect film; and a switch element configured to be buried in the nonmagnetic film and change conductivity of the third wiring pattern between conduction and non-conduction.
US07944632B2	Lens module and camera module having same An exemplary lens module includes a barrel and a plurality of deformable lenses received in the barrel. The barrel includes an inner wall. The inner wall has a plurality of circular retaining portions. The plurality of deformable lenses is deformed and retained in the plurality of circular retaining portions. Diameters of the lenses are greater than an inner diameter of the barrel. The lenses each has a curved surface.
US07944629B2	Camera lens assembly Disclosed is a camera lens assembly that enables a lens assembly mounted in a digital camera, a mobile communication terminal or the like to be supported in an initial position and to be movable in the direction of an optical axis when the lens assembly is driven. The camera lens assembly includes a lens assembly, a housing for receiving the lens assembly, a driving part retained in the housing for driving the lens assembly in the direction of the optical axis, and one or more resilient supporting parts coupled with the lens assembly for supporting the lens assembly in the housing, wherein the supporting part is elastically deformed when the lens assembly moves in the direction of the optical axis, and wherein the resilient supporting part restores the lens assembly to its initial position.
US07944612B2	Illumination systems Described are illumination systems whereby light spectra from multiple LEDs of various colors can be combined and polarized with minimal components, while substantially reducing the losses for the combining and polarizing. The described systems and methods use polarizing beam splitters (PBSs) with retarder stack filters to combine color and split polarization for mixed light beams in one step, and to ultimately align the polarizations of the several colored light beams.
US07944610B2	Methods and apparatus providing improved visual capabilities of optical instruments An apparatus for forming an image has one or more lenses in an optical path, at least one angular-sensitive light transmission filter in the optical path, in which transmission varies with change in angular orientation of the filter with reference to the direction of light in the optical path, and a mechanism for adjusting the angle of the light transmission filter.
US07944607B2	Method and device for high resolution acousto-optic programmable filtering in the infrared region The subject matter of the invention is a method of high-resolution acousto-optic programmable filtering in the infrared region of an incident optical wave. To that end it proposes the use of a birefringent acousto-optic crystal whereof the propagation speed of acoustic waves is slow, such as compounds of mercury, which acousto-optic crystal comprises, on one of its faces, a piezoelectric transducer designed to generate a transverse acoustic wave with wave vector whereof the energy propagates according to the same axis but in the opposite direction to the energy of the incident optical wave, knowing that the optical wave resulting from the acousto-optic interaction between the incident optical wave and the acoustic wave with wave vector is diffracted perpendicularly or almost perpendicularly to the direction of the incident optical wave.
US07944604B2	Interferometric modulator in transmission mode A transmissive micromechanical device includes a substrate, an optical stack over the substrate and a moveable membrane over the optical stack. The moveable membrane may include a partially reflective mirror and be configured to move from a first position to a second position. When the movable membrane is in the first position the transmissive micromechanical device is configured to pass light of a predetermined color and when the movable membrane is in the second position, the micromechanical device is configured to block substantially all of light incident on the substrate.
US07944591B2	Media interaction device drive system Various methods and apparatus relating to a media interaction device drive system having at least one reduced dimension are disclosed.
US07944587B2	Image data generation device, image data generation processing program and thermal transfer recording device An image data generation device is provided with: an image data acquisition unit for acquiring image data; a division unit for spatially dividing the acquired data by a plurality of matrices; a priority order setting element for setting the priority order for performing gradation conversion of picture elements that make up the image data that corresponds to each of the matrices, and sets the priority order so that the priority order becomes lower going from picture elements located in the center of the matrix toward picture elements located on the outside edges of the matrix; a gradation conversion member for performing gradation conversion of the picture elements according to the priority order; and an image data generation unit for generating image data for printing based on a dot pattern that is formed by the picture elements after the gradation conversion.
US07944586B2	Page expansion and printing method A page expansion and printing procedure requires a first page description into a first memory buffer, the first page description having a bi-level black layer and a contone CMYK layer; decompressing the bi-level black layer and the contone CMYK layer in parallel; half-toning the contone CMYK layer to bi-level CMYK; compositing the bi-level black layer over the bi-level CMYK layer to form a printable image; and transmitting the printable image to a second memory buffer for printing by the pagewidth printer. The step of transmitting the printable image to a second memory buffer is performed simultaneously with receiving a subsequent page description in the first memory buffer.
US07944580B2	Handheld printer A handheld printer that provides an appropriate application of ink to a print medium without a bulky and complex mechanical system for positioning a print head with respect to the print medium. A handheld printer according to the present teachings includes a navigation subsystem that tracks a motion of the handheld printer with respect to a printing surface and a print head controller that causes a print head to fire ink drops onto the printing surface in response to the motion and in response to an image contained in an image buffer.
US07944571B2	Image forming device with carbon copy function Tray information for bth copy is read from a RAM. Next, print data is read from the RAM, and format data corresponding to a macro ID for the bth copy is read from the RAM. Then, image data is generated by combining the print data and the format data. Finally, based on the image data, an image is formed on a recording medium that was supplied from a tray designated by the tray information for the bth copy.
US07944567B2	Semiconductor light emitting element, light source using the semiconductor light emitting element, and optical tomography imaging apparatus A semiconductor light emitting element is equipped with a layered structure including an active layer, and electrode layers at the upper and lower surfaces thereof. At least one of the upper and lower electrode layers is divided into at least two electrodes, which are separated in the wave guiding direction of light. The active layer is structured to have different gain wavelengths along the wave guiding direction, to emit light having different spectra from each region corresponding to each of the at least two electrodes. The spectral distribution of output light is enabled to be varied by individually varying the current injected by each of the at least two divided electrodes.
US07944564B2	Device and method for acquiring information on objective substance to be detected by detecting a change of wavelength characteristics on the optical transmittance An information-acquiring device for acquiring information on an objective substance to be detected, which is provided with a sensing element that has a surface capable of fixing the objective substance to be detected thereon, and makes applied light change its wavelength characteristics in response to the fixed state of the objective substance to be detected onto the surface, a light source, and light-receiving means for receiving light emitted from the light source through the sensing element, has the light-receiving means and the light source arranged on the same substrate so that the light which has been emitted from the light source and has been transmitted through the sensing element can be led to the light-receiving means, and has means for varying the wavelength regions of each light incident on each of a plurality of the light-receiving means installed in an optical path from the light source to the light-receiving means.
US07944558B2	Method and system for physicochemical analysis using a laser pulsed ablation A method for physicochemical analysis of a material during its ablation with a pulsed laser. The method uses the ratio of intensity levels of two emission lines of a tracer element derived from plasma generated by the laser beam to characterize the plasma excitation temperature. The method determines concentration of an element to be measured in the plasma using standard measurements indicating correspondence between a concentration of the element to measured and a variation of intensity of an emission line and different ratios between intensity levels of two emission lines of the tracer element, the ratios representing the plasma temperature.
US07944552B2	Method for displaying result of measurement of eccentricity A method for displaying a result of measurement of eccentricity in an optical system is provided where an amount of eccentricity for each lens element's surface in a lens system can be displayed and where the amount of eccentricity displayed can be a magnified amount of eccentricity. Additionally a sectional view of the lens system can be displayed using scaling factor.
US07944551B2	Systems and methods for a wavelet transform viewer Techniques for the display of a signal with a wavelet transform of that signal in a wavelet transform viewer are disclosed, according to embodiments. According to embodiments, the wavelet transform viewer can display a plot of physiological signals such as a photoplethysmograph (PPG) signal. A portion of the plot of the signal can be selected. A wavelet transform the selected portion of the signal can be calculated and a wavelet plot of the tranformed signal can be displayed simultaneously with that signal. A plot of the selected portion of the signal can also be simultaneously displayed with both the plot of the signal and the wavelet plot.
US07944545B2	High contrast lithographic masks A structure and a method for an equi-brightness optimization. The method may include projecting a plurality of bright patterns having a plurality of bright points and a plurality of dark patterns having a plurality of dark points on a substrate, generating a plurality of joint eigenvectors of the plurality of bright points and a plurality of dark points, selecting a predetermined number of joint eigenvectors to project the plurality of bright patterns, generating a plurality of natural sampling points from the plurality of bright points, wherein the plurality of natural sampling points has a substantially equal intensity, and obtaining a representation of an aperture from the plurality of natural sampling points, wherein an image of the representation of the aperture has a substantially uniform intensity.
US07944536B2	Reflective bilateral liquid crystal device and electronic apparatus A liquid crystal device includes a first substrate and a second substrate that face each other, a liquid crystal layer that is interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, light reflecting films that are selectively provided on the side facing the liquid crystal layer of the first substrate and reflect light entering from the second substrate, light reflecting films that are selectively provided on the side facing the liquid crystal layer of the second substrate, corresponding to the regions of the first substrate where the light reflecting films are not provided and reflect light entering from the first substrate, transmissive electrodes that are selectively provided in the regions of the side facing the liquid crystal layer of the first substrate where the light reflecting films are not provided, and transmissive electrodes that are selectively provided in the regions of the side facing the liquid crystal layer of the second substrate where the light reflecting films are not provided.
US07944533B2	Multi-domain liquid crystal display The present invention achieves the multi-domain configuration by providing an insulation film region at least one location in each pixel on one substrate of a pair of substrates of an active matrix multi-domain vertically aligned liquid crystal display for differentiating electrical potential to be applied to a certain zone of the liquid crystal from that to the liquid crystal at the other area when a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal, thereby causing different electrical potential gradients in at least two directions.
US07944527B2	Liquid crystal display device with particular LED arrangement in backlight unit A LCD device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a LCD panel including liquid crystal, and a backlight unit including a light emitting diode (LED) array including a plurality of LEDs, the plurality of LEDs having a peripheral LED disposed at a peripheral end of the LED array, and a light guide plate disposed below the LCD panel, each LED having a light emission surface to emit light to a light incidence surface of the light guide plate. The emission surface of the peripheral LED completely covers a peripheral end of the light incidence surface, the peripheral end of the light incidence surface being an area adjacent to a lateral surface of the light guide plate.
US07944521B2	Display apparatus and electronic apparatus with the same A display apparatus includes a liquid crystal display panel, a front side viscoelastic layer, a front side hard layer, a back side viscoelastic layer, a back side hard layer, a backlight unit, a driving circuit board, and a metal plate. The front side viscoelastic layer that is viscoelastic covers a display surface of the liquid crystal display panel. The front side hard layer has a higher modulus of elasticity than the front side viscoelastic layer. The back side viscoelastic layer that is viscoelastic covers a back surface of the liquid crystal display panel. The back side hard layer has a higher modulus of elasticity than the back side viscoelastic layer. The back side viscoelastic layer has a thickness Tb of not less than about 20 μm, and the front side viscoelastic layer has a thickness Ta and satisfies: Ta/Tb>1 (Tb≠0). Thus, the display apparatus is resistant to breakage caused by a load placed on a display surface of the liquid crystal display panel and an impact when dropped, thereby attaining mechanical durability.
US07944512B2	Receiver and receiving method A receiver selecting a channel to be received based on a channel list enumerating receivable channels includes: a memory capable of storing the channel list; a first tuner configured to perform a quick scan to scan a partial frequency band out of a predetermined frequency band to obtain first service information including information of a service corresponding to the channel received by the quick scan; a channel list generation module configured to generate the channel list based on the first service information obtained by the first tuner and store the channel list in the memory; a second tuner configured to perform, in parallel with the quick scan by the first tuner, a full scan to scan the entire predetermined frequency band to obtain second service information including information of a service corresponding to the channel received by the full scan; and a channel list updating module configured to update the channel list stored in the memory based on the second service information after the full scan by the second tuner is completed.
US07944511B2	Front-end module and television set A front-end module for receiving analog and digital broadcast signals is provided. The front-end module includes frequency conversion means, digital satellite demodulation means, intermediate frequency conversion means, analog demodulation means, digital terrestrial demodulation means, filtering means, and a grounding arrangement common to a digital and an analog circuit sections.
US07944504B2	Apparatus for interpolating scanning lines A scanning line interpolating apparatus has a scanning line interpolating unit for converting an inputted interlaced scanning picture to a progressive scanning picture by using motion compensation, a motion vector search device that searches for a motion vector for use in the motion compensation, and a control unit for controlling the precision with which the motion vector is searched for. The control unit is adapted to determine the search precision on the basis of a pixel structure of a display device for displaying the progressive scanning picture.
US07944503B1	Interlaced-to-progressive video processing An edge direction vector determination, which can be used for video interlaced-to-progressive conversion by motion-adaptive interpolation, has a coarse edge vector determination over a large search window followed by a fine edge vector determination over a small window plus confidence level assessment for field interpolation.
US07944485B2	Method, apparatus and system for dynamic range estimation of imaged scenes A method, apparatus, and system for dynamic range estimation of imaged scenes for automatic exposure control. For a given exposure time setting, certain areas of a scene may be brighter than what a camera can capture. In cameras, including those experiencing substantial lens vignetting, a gain stage may be used to extend dynamic range and extract auto-exposure data from the extended dynamic range. Alternatively, dynamic range can be extended using pre-capture image information taken under reduced exposure conditions.
US07944480B2	Method for the transfer of data flow of digital images and digital detection unit A data stream of full digital images having a first predetermined number of picture elements is transferred via an interface to an image recording unit. The image recording unit stores digital images with a second number of picture elements, which is lower than a first. The full digital images generated with the first number of picture elements are divided into two part digital images, each having a number of picture elements used for storing image information. The image information stored in the two part images together contains the total information content of the original full image. A part image of a full digital image is associated with a first data stream and another part image is associated with a second data stream. The data streams are transferred via the interface to the image recording unit and are stored separately from one another.
US07944479B2	Image-capture apparatus, camera control unit, video camera system, and method of transmitting warning information An image-capture apparatus having an intercom connecting unit, capable of voice communication with an external camera control unit (CCU) is provided. The apparatus includes a control unit, a warning-sound signal generator, a receiving unit, a voice synthesizer and a transmitting unit. The control unit outputs a warning-command signal when determining that a control-information signal value indicating a state of the apparatus varies from a predetermined standard. The warning-sound signal generator outputs a warning-sound signal corresponding to the warning-command signal. The receiving unit receives a multiplexed signal from the CCU and extracts an intercom-voice signal at the multiplexed signal. The voice synthesizer combines the intercom-voice signal extracted at the receiving unit with the warning-sound signal from the warning-sound signal generator to generate a voice-synthesized signal. The transmitting unit multiplexes the warning-command signal, the control-information signal, and the intercom-voice signal of the image-capture apparatus and transmits a multiplexed signal to the CCU.
US07944469B2	System and method for using self-learning rules to enable adaptive security monitoring Rules “learn” what is typical or expected for a certain attribute of device data for a given location, premises, time period, etc. Using a rule for a standard deviation the variance between newly collected data and the data stored in a fact table is either ignored or an alert (or some action) is generated. Data in the fact table is sampled for a specific time, or time period. Newly collected data may be used to update the fact table or discarded.
US07944460B2	Device and method for marking a cassette for laboratory samples A device (1) suitable for marking a laboratory sample cassette (2) has a platen (6) with an aperture (7) and a cassette (2) is positioned so that a marking surface (3) of the cassette is aligned with the aperture (7). The device (1) also has a plurality of wires (9) with each wire (9) connected to a solenoid (11). An end (10) of each of the wires (9) is heated by a ceramic guide (12a) and selected ones of the heated wires (9) are oscillated once in a first direction (25) by their respective solenoids (11) to and from the aperture (7) to mark the marking surface (3). All the wires are then moved in a second direction transversely relative to the first direction (25) and selected wires are then oscillated once to mark the marking surface (3). This process is repeated until the required marking of the cassette marking surface (3) is completed.
US07944459B2	Light-emitting device, driving circuit, driving method, electronic apparatus, and image forming apparatus A light-emitting device includes a plurality of light-emitting elements, each emitting light with a light amount according to a driving signal, a storage unit that stores first gray-scale data for assigning a gray-scale value of each of the plurality of light-emitting elements, a data processing unit that generates second gray-scale data from the first gray-scale data stored in the storage unit for each light-emitting element such that, as the gray-scale value assigned by the first gray-scale data is large, a gray-scale value assigned by the second gray-scale data is made small, and a driving unit that causes the individual light-emitting elements to emit light in a first period upon supply of a driving signal according to the first gray-scale data stored in the storage unit, and causes the individual light-emitting elements to emit light in a second period different from the first period upon supply of a driving signal according to the second gray-scale data generated by the data processing unit.
US07944458B2	Digital-analog converter, data driver, and flat panel display device using the same A digital-analog converter (DAC) including: a gray scale generator for generating gray scale voltages corresponding to digital data input through charge sharing between a plurality of data lines and a plurality of dummy data lines; a switching signal generator for providing operation control signals for a plurality of switches of the gray scale generator; and a reference voltage generator for generating reference voltages and for providing the reference voltages to the gray scale generator. According to the present invention, the digital-analog converter uses capacitance components existing in the respective data lines and the dummy data lines as a sampling capacitor and a holding capacitor to generate desired gray scale voltages through charge sharing between the data lines and the dummy data lines, thereby reducing area and power consumption over an existing R-string type of DAC.
US07944453B1	Extrapolation texture filtering for nonresident mipmaps A multi-threaded graphics processor is configured to use to extrapolate low resolution mipmaps stored in physical memory to produce extrapolated texture values while high resolution mipmaps are retrieved from a high latency storage resource. The extrapolated texture values provide an improved image that appears sharper compared with using the low resolution mipmap level texture data in place of the temporarily unavailable high resolution mipmap level texture data.
US07944446B2	Device and method for displaying delay analysis results, and computer product Fluctuations of cumulative delay value and delay dispersion in a path of a circuit are displayed graphically. Cumulative delay values of circuit elements in the path are obtained from delay analysis results of the circuit and dispersion is obtained from a probability density distribution of the delay of the circuit elements. Corresponding to the location of the circuit element in the path, the former and the latter are plotted on a coordinate plane.
US07944443B1	Sliding patch deformer Points can be manipulated through multiple operations with respect to a guide surface using only a single projection operation. A point is projected from its native coordinate system, such as an object space or world space coordinate system, into the parametric space of an unposed guide surface. The projected point is manipulated in the parametric space according to one or more desired operations. The guide surface can be posed to further implement other operations. The guide surface can then be evaluated at the modified parametric space point to determine a corresponding point in the native coordinate system for further manipulation and/or rendering. The manipulation of the point in the parametric space of the guide surface can be expressed through one or more animation variables. The values of multiple animation variables can be used to determine a single operation on the point in parametric space.
US07944439B2	Display device A display device includes first and second voltage generation circuits each including a voltage circuit for outputting an internal voltage on the basis of a plurality of clocks, a sampling circuit for sampling an output signal from the voltage circuit, a monitoring circuit for comparing an output signal from the first sampling circuit with a predetermined voltage range and outputting a result, and a power supply generation circuit for generating a power supply voltage to be input to the voltage circuit on the basis of an output signal supplied from the monitoring circuit. The voltage circuit in the first voltage generation circuit is controlled on the basis of a level of the power supply voltage, and the voltage circuit in the second voltage generation circuit is controlled on the basis of periods of the clocks.
US07944434B2	Mouse with gain weight means A mouse with gain weight means comprising a case, a cursor control unit, a plurality of keys, a housing, and a balancing weight component. The case has a circuit board disposed inside of the case and a plurality of balancing weight notches in the bottom of the case. The cursor control unit 2 is disposed in the circuit board and extends to the outside of the bottom of the case. Disposed on the case are the keys and the housing. The balancing weight component includes a plurality of balancing weight lumps installed in the balancing notches. The mouse of the present invention has the balancing weight lumps installed in the bottom of the case to make the mouse easier for the user to handle.
US07944432B2	Data input device, data input method, data input program and recording medium wherein such data input program is recorded This invention is directed to the provision of a data input device that is operated by a novel method of inputting the force applied on a force sensor as polar coordinate data and subjecting the data to input processing which utilizes the r value and the θ value.A portable telephone 1 detects the force applied on a force sensor 51 of an input unit 50 as rectangular coordinate data and converts the detected rectangular coordinate data into polar coordinate data. Then, with reference to an allocating table that has recorded characters and ranges of θ values to which the individual characters are allocated, the character allocated to the obtained θ value is selected. Then, when the r value larger than a prescribed threshold is input, the entry of the selected parameter is determined.
US07944427B2	Liquid crystal display and driving method thereof A liquid crystal display for supplying a discharge voltage for preventing a delay to reduce a delay of a scanning pulse, and a driving method thereof are disclosed. In the liquid crystal display, a liquid crystal display panel has a plurality of gate lines. A timing controller supplies a gate output enable signal which controls a supply of a scanning pulse. A discharging part generates a discharge voltage in response to the gate output enable signal. And a gate driver supplies the discharge voltage together with a scanning pulse to the gate lines in response to the gate output enable signal.
US07944422B2	Liquid crystal display meter apparatus The present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display (LCD) meter apparatus having a small influence of a residual image of a pointer. The LCD meter apparatus for displaying a dial plate and a pointer includes a moving-speed calculating device for calculating the moving-speed of the pointer; and an image density changing device for reducing the image density of the pointer responding to the moving-speed of the pointer calculated with the moving-speed calculating device. The image density of the pointer becomes thinner as the moving speed of the pointer becomes faster so that an erasing time of the image becomes shorter or a residual image remains shorter. Both residual and latest images are displayed thinly, the plurality of the images including the residual images do not give a noticeable appearance so that the LCD meter apparatus provides a clear view.
US07944418B2	Data driving circuits capable of displaying images with uniform brightness and driving methods of organic light emitting displays using the same A data driving circuit for a light emitting display may include a gamma voltage generator that generates gradation voltages, a current sink that receives a predetermined current from a pixel via a data line during a first partial period of one complete period for driving the pixel, a voltage generator that generates an incrementally increasing compare voltage during the first partial period, a comparator that compares a compensation voltage generated based on the predetermined current with the compare voltage and generates a logic signal based on a result of the compare, an adjusting unit that generates compensation data based on the logic signal, and a digital-analog converter that generates a composite data using the compensation data and externally supplied data and selects, as a data signal for the pixel, one of the plurality of gradation voltages based on a bit value of the composite data.
US07944417B2	Display device and method of displaying image A display device includes a controller detecting a black line, in which all light emitting diodes in one line are non-luminescence, counting a number of times (S) that display data indicating the black line is sent to the display panel in serial, halting a scanning operation to the display data indicating the black line, applying the time period for halting the scanning operation to another time period for displaying display data, which are next to the display data indicating the black line and which is not the display data indicating the black line, whereby the another time period for displaying display data is set to “S+1” times longer than a stipulated time period, and sending a control signal to a column driver, which controls the column driver to set a drive current or voltage applied from a power source to a 1/(S+1) of the stipulated value for the “S+1” time period.
US07944416B2	Image display apparatus and method for driving the same An image display apparatus includes a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes a light emitting device; a drive transistor that has a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode. One of the source and drain electrodes are electrically connected to one end of the light emitting device. Each pixel also includes a first switching transistor that electrically connects the gate electrode and the one electrode according to a scan signal, and a capacitor that has first and second electrodes. The first electrode is electrically connected to the gate electrode. The apparatus also includes a data line connected to the second electrode; a data line drive circuit that supplies a brightness potential and a reference potential for the brightness potential to the data line.
US07944409B2	Plasma display apparatus and method of driving the same A plasma display apparatus and a method of driving the same are disclosed. The plasma display apparatus includes a plasma display panel in which a plurality of scan electrodes, sustain electrodes, and address electrodes are formed on substrates to form a discharge cell and electrode driving parts for driving the scan electrodes, the sustain electrodes, and the address electrodes. The plurality of scan electrodes are divided into a plurality of scan electrode groups and the driving parts are controlled such that a voltage different from a scan bias voltage is applied for a predetermined time in the address period of one or more scan electrode groups among the plurality of scan electrode groups.
US07944403B2	RF reception system and integrated circuit with programmable impedance matching network and methods for use therewith An integrated circuit includes an on-chip antenna interface, coupled to an off-chip antenna interface having at least one off-chip impedance matching component, that forms a programmable impedance matching network with the at least one off-chip impedance matching component. The programmable impedance matching network is programmable based on a control signal. An RF receiver, coupled to the programmable impedance matching network, that generates inbound data in response to a received signal from the programmable impedance matching network.
US07944388B1	Quantization splitting multiple description encoder An improved (N:K) multiple description binning encoder that employs binning yet permits recovery of the input signal when fewer than K of the descriptions are available. In creating the encoder, a first choice is made of the number of descriptions that the encoder is to create and the minimum number of descriptions below which full recovery of the input signal is not possible. A second choice is made as to the number of descriptions that are to be broken up, to form descriptions that have two portions each. Once the first choice is made, appropriate quantization and binning scheme are selected by employing conventional techniques, and in response to the second choice, the chosen number of descriptions are each quantization split into coarse and fine quantization arrangements.
US07944383B2	Data processing device comprising ADC unit A device (100) for processing data, the device (100) comprising a plurality of signal paths (130, 140, 150) each receiving an identical analog input signal (104), at least one signal conditioning unit (101 to 103) in at least one of the plurality of signal paths (130, 140, 150), wherein each signal conditioning unit (101 to 103) is adapted for generating a respective analog intermediate signal (105 to 107) by manipulating a property, particularly an amplitude, of the analog input signal (104), and a plurality of analog to digital converting units (108 to 110) each of which being assigned to a corresponding one of the plurality of signal paths (130, 140, 150) and being supplied with the analog input signal (104) or a respective analog intermediate signal (105 to 107), wherein each of the plurality of analog to digital converting units (108 to 110) is adapted for generating a respective digital intermediate signal (111 to 113) based on the respective analog intermediate signal (105 to 107) or based on the analog input signal (104); a digital signal processing unit (114) supplied with the plurality of digital intermediate signals (111 to 113) and adapted for generating a digital output signal (115) by processing the digital intermediate signals (111 to 113).
US07944378B1	Circuits and methods for calibrating analog and digital circuits In one embodiment the present invention includes a circuit for calibrating analog and digital circuits. The circuit includes an analog input stage, a discrete time processing stage, a DAC, and a calibration circuit. The analog input stage includes an input resistance and the DAC includes a capacitance. The input resistance and the capacitance set a time constant for the circuit. A reference signal is applied to the input of the analog input stage, and the calibration circuit generates a control signal to adjust the time constant. As the time constant is changed, a digitized signal at the output of the discrete time processing stage also changes. When the digitized signal crosses a threshold set by a digital reference signal, the time constant is calibrated.
US07944364B1	Protected power cord Shielded power and power extension cords are protected from fire and other hazards caused by deterioration which may be due to age and/or excessive heat, or to physical damage which may be caused by kinking or crushing. At least one shield, which may surround multiple conductors or a single conductor is grounded through a fuse and made to function as a sensor in a fault detection circuit that opens the fuse and causes a relay to discontinue cord power transmission when a fault current passes from an ungrounded conductor to the shield. The relay circuit also refuses to fully close its contacts that transfer power to the cable in the event of receptacle wiring error and functions as a buzzer to indicate such an error.
US07944358B2	Traffic and population counting device system and method A traffic and population counting device system and method is provided. The traffic and population counting device may be executable by a computing device and may include an entry selector configured to be selected to indicate that a shopper has entered a shopping zone and to keep a running count of a number of shoppers who enter the shopping zone. An exit selector may be configured to be selected to indicate that a shopper has exited a shopping zone and to keep a running count of a number of shoppers who exit the shopping zone. Further, a display may be configured to display a running population count of shoppers within the shopping zone. The running population count may be determined by a running difference between the running count of the number of shoppers who enter the shopping zone and the running count of the number of shoppers who exit the shopping zone.
US07944356B2	Method and system to determine physical parameters as between an RFID tag and a reader A method and system to determine physical parameters as between an RFID tag and a reader. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising generating an antenna feed signal, and transmitting a first electromagnetic wave to a radio frequency device (by coupling the antenna feed signal to a reading antenna), receiving a backscattered electromagnetic wave from the radio frequency device to create a received signal, calculating a combined signal based on the antenna feed signal and received signal, and determining relative velocity between the radio frequency device and the reading antenna based on the combined signal.
US07944350B2	Method and system for providing tracking services to locate an asset The present invention is directed to a method of asset location. Location data is received from a cellular transmitter associated with a selected asset, which location data includes data representative of a cellular receiver with which direct communication with the cellular transmitter is made. The location data is then communicated to a tracking service system, which tracking service system includes a database representative of geographic locations associated with a plurality of cellular receivers. The database is then queried with received location data so as to generate geographic tracking data associated with a location of the cellular receiver, the geographic tracking data including display data adapted to generate a map image including a representative of a location of the selected asset. The geographic tracking data is then communicated to an associated security agency so as to allow for viewing of an image generated in accordance with the display data and at least one of tracking and interception of the selected asset.
US07944343B2	System and method for providing information in a vehicle A system for providing information to a vehicle occupant includes a haptic control element which is provided in the vehicle and is configured to generate a haptic signal. An electronic control unit is operatively connected to the haptic control element and activates the haptic control element in order to indicate with a haptic signal that information is available for retrieval.
US07944342B2	Prescription compliance device and method of using device A prescription compliance device which aids patients in complying with instructions given by a physician for taking prescription medication. The device reminds a patient when the next dose of medication is to be taken and indicates whether a specified dose has been taken. The device includes a microcontroller, a display, a program memory for storing pre-programmed medication-taking regimens for single and multiple medications, a real time clock, a selector for selecting one of the regimens and for programming the device as to the time and day on which a first dose of medication is to be taken, a display which alternately displays the current time and a time at which a next dose of medication is to be taken and an alarm which alerts the patient at times when a dose of medication is to be taken. The selector includes an event switch which is activated by the patient after taking a dose of medication so as to record the taking of medication and to cause the microcontroller to effect the display of the next time at which a dose of medication is to be taken. A memory may also be included to record the times at which a patient takes doses of medication. The device also includes a remote programming feature via a wireless link.
US07944341B2	Network system using DC power bus and auto power control method There is disclosed a home network system using a DC power bus. The network system with a network server and more than one device being connected comprises a main power supply means for converting an AC power into a DC power to supply the DC power to the more than one device; and a DC power bus for providing a supply path of the DC power converted by the main power supply means. Since the DC power is supplied to each device via a power outlet located on the DC power bus, it is possible to supply the power necessary to each device of various kinds included in the network system more efficiently using the main power supply means and the DC power bus. Further, it is possible to prevent the DC power from being supplied to the area to which the power does not need to be supplied, by switching on/off a power breaker within the main power supply means automatically with regards to operation states of the devices located in each area at home, which results in preventing unnecessary power consumption.
US07944329B2	Acoustic wave filter device with branched ground wiring sandwiching the IDT area An acoustic wave filter device has a balance-unbalance conversion function and has an increased out-of-band attenuation. The acoustic wave filter device includes a 5-IDT-type longitudinally coupled resonator-type acoustic wave filter unit including IDTs that are connected between an unbalanced terminal and first and second balanced terminals, and the IDTs and are connected to the first and second balanced terminals, respectively, that is arranged between the unbalanced terminal and the first and second balanced terminals. A second ground wiring that connects the end portions of the unbalanced-side IDT on the side connected to the ground potential to a ground terminal is separated from a first ground wiring. The second ground wiring includes first and second branched wiring portions, and the first and second branched wiring portions are arranged so as to sandwich an area in which the IDTs are provided.
US07944326B2	EMC filter An EMC active filter capable to maintain a low earth leakage current at all times, thus being compatible with RCD devices. The filter of the invention has an especially simple inductor's structure, where typically the power conductors pass straight through the filter, without windings, and most of the components can be implemented in a modular shunt circuit. Preferably the filter is realized by connecting the shunt module by an IDC device to the phase conductors, or directly to the line and load terminal, thus avoiding cutting and splicing high-current cables. The particular protection circuit of the filter prevents in-rush current at power on, and limits earth leakage current even in case of a fault in the line.
US07944322B2	Method and system for flip chip configurable RF front end with an off-chip balun Methods and systems for a flip chip configurable RF front end with an off-chip balun may include bonding a balun package to a single integrated circuit (IC) comprising an integrated transmitter and a receiver. The balun package may comprise one or more layers and may be electrically coupled to the IC. The balun package may comprise various devices such as, for example, inductors, capacitors, resistors, and/or switches, which may be on an exterior surface and/or inner layers of the balun package. Accordingly, the balun package and/or the IC may be configured for receiving RF signals and/or transmitting RF signals. The balun package and/or the IC may also be configured for single-ended RF input, single-ended RF output, differential RF input, and/or differential RF output. An off-chip amplifier may be used to amplify signals on the single transmit line in the single-ended RF output mode of operation.
US07944320B2	Electromagnetic bandgap structure and printed circuit board including multi-via An electromagnetic bandgap structure and a printed circuit board that intercepts to transfer a signal having a predetermined frequency band are disclosed. In particularly, the electromagnetic bandgap structure includes a first metal layer and a second metal layer; a metal plate, placed between the first metal layer and a second metal layer; a multi-via, penetrating the first metal layer, passing through the same planar surface as an outer metal layer and turning toward the first metal layer to connect the metal plate and the first metal layer; and a dielectric layer, stacked in between the first metal layer and the metal plate, between the metal plate and the second metal layer and between the first metal layer and the outer metal layer. With the present invention, a bandgap frequency can be decreased without increasing the size of the metal plate.
US07944313B1	Calibrating control loops Systems and techniques to calibrate a control loop include, in at least one implementation, a system including the control loop configured to generate a clock signal and lock the clock signal to timing marks detected on a machine readable medium, a repetitive error correction module configured to receive a predicted phase and a corrected phase error for the clock signal, generate a predicted repetitive phase disturbance using the predicted phase and the corrected phase error for the clock signal, and calibrate a phase error to compensate for variations in repetitive phase errors in the clock signal using the predicted repetitive phase disturbance; and a servo track generator configured to generate servo tracks using the clock signal.
US07944312B2	Active free-running frequency circuit for phase-locked loop applications This disclosure relates to a Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) device and a method for providing a stable free-running voltage signal to a voltage controlled oscillator.
US07944311B1	Feedback biasing for cascode amplifiers A system for a power transmitter may be provided. The system may include a first amplifier stage having at least a first transistor and a second transistor that are connected in a first cascode configuration; a second amplifier stage having at least a third transistor and a fourth transistor that are connected in a second cascode configuration, where the first transistor receives a system input of the power transmitter, where the second transistor is connected to the third transistor, and where the fourth transistor provides a system output of the power transmitter; and a feedback network that connects a first gate or base of the fourth transistor with a second gate or base of the second transistor.
US07944297B2	Class D amplifier A class D amplifier including a PWM circuit, a buffer amplifying circuit, a low-pass filter, and two current sources is provided. The PWM circuit transfers an analog signal into a PWM signal. The buffer amplifying circuit amplifies the PWM signal and generates an amplified signal. The low-pass filter will filter high frequency components out from the amplified signal and then transmit the filtered signal to a loading of the class D amplifier. The two current sources provide currents flowing into and out from a feedback node in the PWM circuit, respectively. The charging and discharging provided by the two current sources can generate a triangular signal for the PWM circuit.
US07944292B1	Method and apparatus to remove the DC component of a feedback signal A feedback circuit disposed across input and output terminals of an amplifier is adapted so as not inject DC current back into the input terminal of the amplifier. The feedback circuit includes, in part, first and second current sources, a transistor, and a resistive load. The first current source supplies current to one of the terminals of the transistor in communication with an input terminal of the amplifier. The second current source receives this current and diverts it to a voltage supply. The transistor is maintained in the active region of operation. The resistive load has a first terminal in communication with an output terminal of the amplifier and a second terminal in communication with the transistor. The DC voltages at the two terminals of the resistive load are substantially equal so as to inhibit DC current flow therethrough.
US07944290B2	Trans-impedance amplifier Systems and apparatus for converting an input current signal into two or more output voltage signals on an integrated circuit. In one aspect, an integrated circuit includes a first trans-impedance amplifier that includes a first cascode amplifier; and a second trans-impedance amplifier that includes a second cascode amplifier, the second cascode amplifier and the first cascode amplifier sharing an input transistive element; where the first cascode amplifier is coupled to one or more first switches that disable the first trans-impedance amplifier, the second cascode amplifier is coupled to one or more second switches that disable the second trans-impedance amplifier, and control logic coupled to the one or more first switches and the one or more second switches disables at least one of the first trans-impedance amplifier or the second trans-impedance amplifier.
US07944287B2	Low-noise, wide offset range, programmable input offset amplifier front end and method A programmable offset amplifier includes first (M1) and second (M2) input transistors having differentially connected sources and gates coupled to first (Vin+) and second (Vin−) input voltages. A tail current (Itail1) is shared between the first and second input transistors. First (M3) and second (M4) load devices are coupled between a reference voltage and drains of the first and second input transistors, respectively. An output stage (13) has a first input (+) coupled to the drain of the second input transistor and a second input (−) coupled to the drain of the first input transistor. Programmable voltage changes are produced on input elements of programmable input offset circuitry to cause changes in offset voltages associated with electrodes of the input transistors which are reflected back to the amplifier input to provide a large programmable input-referred offset voltage.
US07944279B1	Charge pump stage of radio-frequency identification transponder A charge pump stage of an RFID transponder includes an RF node, a capacitor bank, a plurality of current-biased rectifier stages, a DC bus, a programmable current source and a control circuit. The RF node provides an RF signal. The capacitor bank has a selectable capacitance and is electrically coupled to the RF node. The plurality of current-biased rectifier stages receives the RF signal from the RF node. The plurality of current-biased rectifier stages provides a DC output. The DC bus receives the DC output from the plurality of rectifier stages and provides a supply voltage. The programmable current source provides a plurality of current bias signals for each of the plurality of current-biased rectifier stages. The control circuit is in electrical communication with the capacitor bank and the programmable current source. The control circuit selects the selectable capacitance of the capacitor bank and programs the current source.
US07944278B2	Circuit for generating negative voltage and semiconductor memory apparatus using the same A circuit for generating negative voltage of a semiconductor memory apparatus includes a first detecting unit configured to generate a first detecting signal by detecting a first negative voltage level, a first negative voltage generating unit configured to generate the first negative voltage in response to the first detecting signal, a second detecting unit configured to generate a second detecting signal by detecting the second negative voltage level, a timing controlling unit configured to output the second detecting signal as an enable signal when a power up signal is enabled and the first detecting signal is disabled, and a second negative voltage generating unit configured to generate the second negative voltage in response to the enable signal.
US07944274B2	Semiconductor switch A challenge in outputting a voltage near the midpoint potential in a semiconductor switch which operates based on a low voltage power supply is to avoid a decrease in operation speed and a deterioration in accuracy of the output voltage which would be caused due to an increase in ON-resistance or occurrence of current leakage. Thus, a structure including a gray level generation circuit, an analog switch circuit and a backgate voltage control circuit is provided wherein the backgate voltage of each of an N-channel MOS transistor and a P-channel MOS transistor of the analog switch circuit to which the voltage of the gray level generation circuit is input is supplied from the backgate voltage control circuit which has an equal structure as that of the gray level generation circuit.
US07944271B2	Temperature and supply independent CMOS current source An improved current source may provide an improvement over a typical ΔVgs-type current source. The improved current source may comprise two branches. A first branch may be configured to generate a PTC (proportional to absolute temperature) current based on a ΔVgs developed across a resistor. A second branch may be configured to generate an NTC (inversely proportional to absolute temperature) current. The PTC current and NTC current may be combined to obtain a third current having a magnitude that is the sum of the respective magnitudes of the PTC current and the NTC current, and a temperature coefficient that is a combination of the respective temperature coefficients of the PTC current and NTC current. The current source may be configured to generate the NTC current and PTC current to be substantially insensitive to variations in the supply voltage.
US07944268B2	Switch circuit, variable capacitor circuit and IC of the same A first terminal T1 is connected to the drain (or the source) of a MOS-FET (Q11), whose back gate is separated, through a capacitor C11. The MOS-FET (Q11) is connected at the source (or the drain) thereof to a second terminal T2. The back gate is connected to the source (or the drain). A control voltage VG is supplied to the gate of the MOS-FET (Q11), and a voltage having a polarity reversed from that of this control voltage VG is supplied to the drain through a resistance element R12.
US07944265B2	Clock generator, method for generating clock signal and fractional phase lock loop thereof A clock generator includes a delta sigma modulator, a counter and a first phase lock loop. The delta sigma modulator sequentially generates a plurality of variable parameters according to a predetermined value and a first input clock signal. The counter, which is connected to the delta sigma modulator, is used to generate an output clock signal in accordance with a counting value and a second input clock signal. The counting value is relevant to the variable parameters. The first phase lock loop, which is connected to the output of the counter, is used to generate an objective clock signal in accordance with the output clock signal.
US07944255B2	CMOS bias circuit A CMOS bias circuit includes a starter circuits and a started circuit part which supplies a current to the outside. The starter circuits has a connection node (first terminal) between it and the started circuit part. The starter circuits includes a first MOS transistor connected at its drain to the first terminal, a first current supply circuit which supplies a starter current to the started circuit via the first MOS transistor, and a circuit which supplies a second current in a direction that interrupts a current flowing through the first MOS transistor to a node between the first MOS transistor and the first current supply circuit in accordance with a potential at the first terminal. The starter circuits has a function of preventing a current flowing between the drain and source of the first MOS transistor in the opposite direction by increasing or decreasing a gate bias of the first MOS transistor in accordance with a value of the second current.
US07944254B2	Switching circuit A switching circuit includes a first switching module, a second switching module, a first relay module, a second relay module, and a processing module. The first switching module includes a switch and a first transistor. The base of the first transistor functions as a first reset terminal. The second switching module includes a second transistor. An output terminal of the second relay module functions as a second reset terminal. Two input terminals of the processing module are connected to the first and second reset terminals respectively. The processing module resets a system with a first type or a second type according to voltages of the first and second reset terminals.
US07944249B2	Photoreceiving circuit A buffer circuit includes a first transistor (T1) having a base connected to a first power supply, the emitter (E1) and collector (C1) connected as input and output nodes, a second transistor (T2) having a base connected to the first power supply, a first constant current circuit using a difference between outgoing current from E1 and an input current at the current signal input node as a constant current, and determining outgoing current from the emitter of T2 equal to the constant current; and a first mirror circuit equalizing first and second collector currents with a third transistor (T3) with C1 and a fourth transistor (T4) with a collector connected to a collector of T2, a first operating point voltage is provided to the current signal output node between T3 and T1, and a second operating point voltage based on the first operating point voltage between T4 and T2.
US07944245B2	Pulse filtering module circuit, system, and method A filtering module filters out high frequency signals, primarily noise, from an input data stream. The filtering module includes an input module, a phase detecting module, and a threshold module. The input module performs either a charging or a discharging across a capacitor on a basis of an RC time constant. The phase detecting module is coupled to the input module to keep identical phase at a first node and an output node. The threshold module is coupled to the phase detecting module for providing an output signal based on a threshold voltage and the charging or the discharging across the capacitor.
US07944244B2	Multi-functional logic gate device and programmable integrated circuit device using the same Provided is a logic gate device capable of performing multiple logic operations by using a single logic gate circuit. The multi-functional logic gate device includes a pull-up switching unit having input switches of a first group being respectively connected to multiple input terminals and selection switches of the first group connected to either a selection terminal or a logically inverted selection terminal, the pull-up switching unit electrically connecting the input switches of the first group in series or in parallel between a power source and an output terminal according to logic levels of the selection terminal and the inverted selection terminal. The multi-function logic gate includes a pull-down switching unit having input switches of a second group being respectively connected to multiple input terminals and selection switches of the second group connected to either the selection terminal or the inverted selection terminal, the pull-down switching unit electrically connecting the input switches of the second group in parallel or in series between the output terminal and a ground terminal according to the logic levels of the selection terminal and the inverted selection terminal. The connection of the input switches of the second group is complementarily opposite to the connection of the input switches of the first group.
US07944236B2	High-bandwidth interconnect network for an integrated circuit A bus structure providing pipelined busing of data between logic circuits and special-purpose circuits of an integrated circuit, the bus structure including a network of pipelined conductors, and connectors selectively joining the pipelined conductors between the special-purpose circuits, other pipelined connectors, and the logic circuits.
US07944235B1	High-speed serial interface circuitry for programmable logic device integrated circuits High-speed serial interface (“HSSI”) transceiver circuitry (e.g., on a programmable logic device (“PLD”) integrated circuit) includes input buffer circuitry with adaptive equalization capability. The transceiver circuitry also includes an output driver, which may include pre-emphasis capability (preferably controllably settable). Selectively usable loop-back circuitry is provided for allowing the output signal of the input buffer to be applied substantially directly to the output driver. The loop-back circuitry may include a loop-back driver, which may be turned on substantially only when needed for loop-back operations.
US07944232B2	Output circuit having variable output voltage swing level An output circuit having a variable swing level of a terminated output data signal is disclosed. The output circuit includes a control circuit configured to generate a first control signal and a second control signal in response to a voltage swing level selection signal and an output enable signal. The output circuit further includes an output driving circuit configured to, in response to the first and second control signals, perform on-die termination in an input mode and configured to control swing level of a signal output from the output circuit in an output mode.
US07944221B2	System and method for automatically discovering total transistor resistance in a hybrid power over ethernet architecture A system and method for automatically discovering total transistor resistance in a hybrid power over Ethernet (PoE) architecture. A critical factor for a PoE system is the total resistance of the power FET. Typical PoE systems consist of a single power FET that may be integrated with the controller or external to the controller. In a hybrid architecture the PoE system consists of both an internal power FET and an external power FET. The external power FET can be used to customize a design to meet a particular application or need. The total resistance in the hybrid architecture can be automatically determined using voltage and current measurements of the internal and external power FETs.
US07944219B2	Amperometric electrochemical sensor Apparatus (2) for driving an amperometric electrochemical sensor, which apparatus (2) comprises a microelectrode (30), drive means (36) for the microelectrode, and signal processing means (3), the apparatus (2) being such that the drive means (36) supplies successive pulsed chronoamperometric different conditions to the microelectrode (30), the microelectrode (30) produces a sequence of different voltages consequent upon receiving the chronoamperometric different conditions and correlates the received chronoamperometric different conditions with their respective measurement circuits, and the signal processing means (3) interrogates only the current corresponding to a particular voltage in the sequence of different voltages and thereby produces a single sensor output corresponding to each separate voltage in the sequence of different voltages whereby interrogation of the amperometric electrochemical sensor is facilitated.
US07944216B2	Capacitance sensor A capacitance sensor, having at least one electrode is disclosed. A frequency spread signal generation circuit is coupled to the at least one electrode to apply a frequency spread signal based on a spread sequence. A periodic signal with a frequency is coupled to the at least one electrode. A frequency controller is coupled to the frequency spread signal generation circuit to vary the frequency of the periodic signal. A receiver circuit is coupled to the at least one or a further electrode to receive a version of the frequency spread signal which depends on a capacitance applied to the at least one electrode. An evaluation circuit is coupled to the receiver circuit to determine a capacitance value based on the received, dependent version of the frequency spread signal.
US07944210B2	Magnetic resonance rf transmission arrangement and method with commonly fed labeling and excitation antennas A radio-frequency transmission device for a magnetic resonance system to generate magnetic resonance exposures of an examination region of an examination subject, has: a first radio-frequency transmission antenna that emits radio-frequency signals in the examination region, a radio-frequency amplifier that supplies the first radio-frequency transmission antenna, with radio-frequency signals with a predetermined radio-frequency transmission power, and a second radio-frequency transmission antenna fashioned to label a medium flowing in the examination region and/or examination regions via emission of labeling radio-frequency signals, such that the medium can be identified in the generated magnetic resonance exposures of the examination region. The second radio-frequency transmission antenna is coupled with the radio-frequency amplifier to supply the first radio-frequency transmission antenna, such that it likewise supplies the second radio-frequency transmission antenna with radio-frequency signals with a predetermined radio-frequency transmission power for the emission of radio-frequency labeling signals.
US07944207B2	Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and method A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus is configured to divide an object to be examined into a plurality of regions in a predetermined direction, set images of slice positions for each of the regions so that the slice positions are continuous in each region, obtain an image of each of the regions while moving the object stepwise, and acquire a plurality of image data having three types of categories for the region, the slice position and the imaging sequence. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus selectively sets one of the three types of categories and rearranges and displays a plurality of images having the set category in the lengthwise direction or the lateral direction according to the two other categories that have not been selectively set.
US07944204B2	Identification of points of interest in a region of the surface of a part and application to the optimization of the path and of the angular position of eddy current probes Identification of points of interest in a region of the surface of a part, by bringing a surface reference into intimate contact with the region is disclosed. The surface reference includes a thin film sufficiently flexible to conform to the region and tracks made of electrically conductive material. The passage of an eddy current probe over a track delivers a significant signal representative of the track. This representative signal corresponds to a point of interest thus identified in the region. Thus, it possible to optimize the path and the angular position of an eddy current probe scanning a region of a part to be tested.
US07944203B2	Corrosion evaluation device and corrosion evaluation method A corrosion evaluation device for performing a quantitative evaluation of corrosion by measuring a quantity of decrease in the thickness of a magnetic material which is covered by a non magnetic material or a magnetic material which is not covered by a non magnetic material which includes: a magnetic field generating device for generating such a magnetic field that includes the magnetic material in a magnetic path, a Giant Magnet-Resistive effect (GMR) sensor provided with a GMR sensor for detecting a magnetic flux leakage with regard to the magnetic material and converts a change in the magnetic flux into an electrical signal, a thickness reduction calculation portion for calculating a quantity of decrease in the thickness of the magnetic material based on the electrical signal. The corrosion evaluation device precisely performs a quantitative evaluation of corrosion even when the magnetic material, which is to be evaluated, is covered by a non magnetic material.
US07944198B1	Multimeter A multimeter includes a switching circuit. The switching circuit includes a micro control unit (MCU), a first normally-open switch, a second normally-open switch, and an electronic switch. The first and second normally-open switches connect to the MCU. The MCU connects to the electronic switch. The electronic switch connects to a power control terminal of the multimeter. The MCU are operable to detect whether the first and second normally-open switches are both closed and accordingly control the electronic switch to turn on or off. The electronic switch outputs a control signal to the power control terminal of the multimeter to control the multimeter to power on or off.
US07944196B2	RF detector with crest factor measurement An RF detector configured to provide two outputs, one being a function of the true RMS power level of an RF input signal, and the other being a function of the instantaneous/peak power of the RF input signal, normalized to the average power level. The RF detector includes a variable gain detection subsystem including a single detector or detector array that provides a representation of the power level of the RF input signal. The detector or detector array is common to both the RMS power detection channel and the instantaneous/peak power detection channel of the RF detector. A method of RF detection includes providing representations of the RF input signal at different gain levels, selecting one or more of the representations, and averaging the selected signals. The gain levels of the selected representations is adjusted to provide information about the average power level of the RF input signal.
US07944191B2	Switching regulator with automatic multi mode conversion Methods and apparatus are disclosed for efficient switching regulators that adapt automatically to, and operate with, input voltages that are above, below, or equal to the output voltage. The disclosed switching regulators demonstrate advantages of both buck and boost converters at high efficiency.
US07944181B2	Battery pack A system and method for battery protection. In some aspects, a battery pack includes a housing, a cell supported by the housing, a circuit supported by a flexible circuit board. The circuit is operable to control a function of the battery pack.
US07944179B2	Method for charging a storage element of an autonomous system The charging method comprises limiting, according to the temperature, of the power supplied to the storage element to a charging setpoint power. The energy required to charge the storage element is determined and the period during which the power resource will be available is estimated. A theoretical mean power is calculated by means of these two items of information. The progressions of the temperature and of a maximum acceptable power are estimated. A maximum energy able to be delivered by the generator is calculated from the maximum acceptable power. The value of the charging setpoint power is defined by comparison of the required energy with the maximum energy and by comparison of the mean power with the maximum acceptable power.
US07944173B2	Lithium-based battery pack for a high current draw, hand held power tool A method for conducting an operation including a power tool battery pack. The battery pack can include a housing, a first cell supported by the housing and having a voltage, and a second cell supported by the housing and having a voltage. The battery pack also can be connectable to a power tool and be operable to supply power to operate the power tool. The method can include discharging one of the first cell and the second cell until the voltage of the one of the first cell and the second cell is substantially equal to the voltage of the other of the first cell and the second cell.
US07944172B2	Power storage device and semiconductor device provided with the power storage device An object is to provide a power storage device provided with a battery that is a power storage means, for safe and accurate supply of electric power in a short period of time for drive power supply voltage without checking remaining capacity of the battery or changing batteries with deterioration over time of the battery for drive power supply voltage. The power storage device is provided with a battery that is a power storage means as a power supply for supplying electric power and a counter circuit for counting charging time of the power storage means. An electromagnetic wave with electric field intensity, magnetic field intensity, and power flux density per unit time which are transmitted from a power feeder are controlled, and the power storage means is efficiently charged using the electromagnetic wave in a short period of time.
US07944169B2	Solar-panel apparatus for a vehicle The positive and negative pole of the DC-battery 2-1 is allowed to connect the solar panel 2-11 and the solar panel 2-14 when the key position of the ignition switch 2-15 is in positions of “on” and “acc”. The positive and negative pole of the DC-battery 2-1 is not connected to the solar panel 2-11 and the solar panel 2-14 when the key position of the ignition switch 2-15 is in the position of “lock” and “start”. To attain such a configuration, lead wire connects the ignition switch 2-15 utilizing relay 2-4-a and fuse box 2-4-b. When the position of the ignition key is in “on” and “acc”, positive pole of the solar panels 2-11 and the solar panel 2-14 are connected to the positive pole of the DC battery 2-1 via the relay 2-4-b. Relays 3-4, 3-15, 3-16, 4-4, 4-15, and 4-16 are similar to the relay 2-4-b.
US07944157B2	Dual ring dedicated drive control system for medium voltage variable frequency drives The present invention provides a motor drive system that is substantially more robust than those of the prior art. Generally, the motor drive system provides a redundant communication topology with the drives, thereby greatly reducing the chance of failure by a fault in the drive-to-drive communication link. Specifically, the motor drive system includes a plurality of motor drives joined by a communication media. Each motor drive has a motor control circuit configured to control the speed of an electric motor and a media access control unit having two communication modules. Each communications module includes a transmitter and a receiver joined to the communications media. A set of routing switches in the media access control unit joins the communication modules to connect the motor drives in an independent primary and a secondary ring communicating data for controlling the motor drives.
US07944152B2	Two-stage balancer for multi-lamp backlight A two-stage balancer for a multi-lamp backlight is electrically connected to a driving unit through a driving transformer. The two-stage balancer includes a plurality of first balancing transformers, second balancing transformers, and lighting units. Each of the first balancing transformers is electrically connected to the corresponding second balancing transformers to form a two-stage structure. In addition, a primary winding and a secondary winding of the second balancing transformer is electrically connected in series to one lighting unit, respectively, to form a circuit loop. Further, each of the circuit loops is electrically connected in parallel. Whereby the two-stage balancer provides much better current balance between the parallel circuit loops, and outputs a sinusoid-like driving current to increase lighting efficacy and further maintain uniform brightness of the multi-lamp backlight.
US07944149B2	Starting an electronic ballast A ballast including an H-bridge type inverter for driving a lamp and a filter circuit that includes a buck inductor is disclosed. The buck inductor is a primary winding of a transformer, and a secondary winding of the transformer provides power to a controller of the ballast. The controller operates the inverter in various pre-ignition modes of operation such that prior to ignition, the open circuit voltage (OCV) (i.e., voltage across the lamp) and buck inductor current are controlled to transfer sufficient power from the primary of the transformer to the secondary winding of the transformer to power the controller. No switches of the inverter are turned on while there is a non-zero current through the filter circuit.
US07944146B2	Photocathode lighting device, method for manufacturing the same and exposure apparatus using photocathode lighting device The photocathode lighting device of planar light emission including: a light source unit emitting a first light; a cathode plate contacted face-to-face with the light source unit; a metal mask layer adhered to the cathode plate and including a repetitive plurality of apertures; a photocathode formed on a surface of the metal mask layer, receiving the first light, and emitting an electron; an anode plate facing the cathode plate and spaced apart from the cathode plate; and a phosphor formed in a lower part of the anode plate and emitting a second light when the emitted electron collides with the phosphor.
US07944145B2	Character display module A character display module comprises a character organic light emitting diode panel, a printed circuit which is electrically connected to the character organic light emitting diode panel, a drive controller which is disposed on the printed circuit board to drive and control the character organic light emitting diode panel, and a frame which is used to position the character organic light emitting diode panel on the printed circuit board. Therefore, such an arrangement provides a lighter, thinner, high quality, cost-saving and energy-saving character display module.
US07944144B2	Organic electroluminescence device with sealing glass portions and sealing resin portions and method for producing organic electroluminescence device An organic electroluminescence device, includes: an element substrate; a light emitting unit formed on the element substrate; a sealing substrate; and a sealing portion surrounding at least the light emitting unit and disposed between the element substrate and the sealing substrate, the sealing portion having sealing glass portions and sealing resin portions.
US07944143B2	Organic light-emitting display device with frit seal and reinforcing structure bonded to frame Disclosed is an organic light-emitting display device in which a substrate and an encapsulation substrate are joined by a frit and a reinforcing structure. The first substrate has a pixel region in which an organic light-emitting diode is formed, and a non-pixel region formed outside the pixel region. The second substrate is attached the first substrate by the frit. A bracket is joined with substrates by the reinforcing structure. A curable material is applied to inside the frame, moves between the first and second substrates, and then cured to form the reinforcing structure.
US07944140B2	Organic light emitting display and method of manufacturing the same An organic light emitting display and a method of manufacturing the same. The light emitting display includes a substrate having a pixel region and a non-pixel region; an organic light emitting diode (OLED) in the pixel region and including a first electrode, an organic thin layer, and a second electrode; a driving circuit unit in the non-pixel region and for driving the OLED; a shielding layer in the non-pixel region and on the driving circuit unit, the shielding layer being electrically coupled to a ground power source; and an insulating layer interposed between the driving circuit unit and the shielding layer. The shielding layer effectively protects the driving circuit unit in the non-pixel region form electrostatic discharge (ESD). Also, the light emitting display may include a guard ring at an edge portion of the non-pixel region and electrically coupled to the shielding layer to further protect the driving circuit from ESD.
US07944127B2	Piezoelectric ceramic composition and piezoelectric part A piezoelectric ceramic composition contains main components represented by a general formula of [(Pb1-x-yCaxSry){Ti1-z(Zn1/2W1/2)z}O3], and x, y, and z satisfy 0≦x≦0.2 (preferably 0≦x≦0.15), 0≦y≦0.2 (preferably 0≦y≦0.1), 0.1≦x+y≦0.2, and 0.04≦z≦0.1. It is also preferable that the piezoelectric ceramic composition contains 0.05 weight part to 1.0 weight part of a Mn component calculated in terms of MnCO3 with respect to 100 weight parts of the main component. A piezoelectric part includes a piezoelectric ceramic element that is formed by the piezoelectric ceramic composition. It is thereby possible to realize a piezoelectric ceramic composition that can be fired at low temperature, that has a high Curie point Tc resistant to a reflow heating treatment on a lead-free solder, and that exhibits satisfactory piezoelectricity, and a piezoelectric part using this piezoelectric ceramic composition.
US07944125B2	Surface acoustic wave device A surface acoustic wave device causing less wear of a dicing blade and causing less drop in a dicing speed is manufactured from a mother laminate with high yield and high precision. The surface acoustic wave device is manufactured by dicing a piezoelectric wafer. The surface acoustic wave device includes a piezoelectric substrate resulting from dicing the piezoelectric wafer, IDT electrodes and pad electrodes located on a top surface of the piezoelectric substrate. A support layer having an opening opened to the IDT electrodes is provided. An outline edge of the support layer is inside an outline edge of the top surface of the piezoelectric substrate. A cover made of an insulating material is disposed on the support layer to close the opening of the support layer. In plan view, the outline edge of the cover is aligned with the outline edge of the piezoelectric substrate.
US07944123B2	Apparatus and method for harvesting energy for wireless fluid stream sensors A method for harvesting energy for wireless fluid stream sensors is provided that includes locating a wireless fluid stream sensor in a fluid stream. The wireless fluid stream sensor includes a flexible membrane and a rod. Energy is harvested based on strain induced in the flexible membrane due to movement of the rod. The wireless fluid stream sensor may be powered with the harvested energy. The energy may be harvested with piezoelectric elements that are coupled to the flexible membrane or with piezoelectric elements or other type of energy-harvesting components that are located remotely from the wireless fluid stream sensor.
US07944119B2	Vibratory actuator and drive unit including the same Damage of a piezoelectric element due to deformation of a piezoelectric element beyond an elastic limit is prevented.An ultrasonic actuator (2) includes an actuator body (4), a case (5), and a support unit (6). The support unit (6) includes two support rubbers (61) and a connection rubber (63), provided between the case (5) and the actuator body (4), for applying compression force to the actuator body (4) in advance at non-node portions of the vibrations of the actuator body (4) from both sides in the vibration direction of longitudinal vibration. The connection rubber (63) includes center portions (64a), end portions (64b), and reduced-material portions (67) having a lower stiffness than those of the center portions (64a) and the end portions (64b). When the support unit (6) is placed between the case (5) and the actuator body (4), at least the connection rubber (63) is compression-deformed at the reduced-material portions (67).
US07944118B2	System and methodology for generating electricity using at least one heat engine and thermoacoustic element to apply cyclic pressure gradients to piezoelectric material A system for generating electrical power supply signals includes at least one heat engine that undergoes heating/cooling cycles and corresponding temperature variations. A thermoacoustic element is thermally coupled to the chamber. The temperature variations of the heat engine induce thermoacoustic oscillations of the thermoacoustic element which form a pressure wave. At least one piezoelectric transducer is deformed by the pressure wave. A power converter can be used to transform the electric signals generated in response to deformation of the at least one piezoelectric transducer to a desired electrical power supply signal. The heat engine preferably uses a geothermal source of cold and an ambient source of hot (typically used in the summer months), or vice-versa (typically used in the winter months).
US07944113B2	Hysteretic MEMS thermal device and method of manufacture A MEMS hysteretic thermal actuator may have a plurality of beams disposed over a heating element formed on the surface of the substrate. The plurality of beams may be coupled to a passive beam which is not disposed over the heating element. One of the plurality of beams may be formed in a first plane parallel to the substrate, whereas another of the plurality of beams may be formed in a second plane closer to the surface of the substrate. When the heating element is activated, it heats the plurality of beams such that they move the passive beam in a trajectory that is neither parallel to nor perpendicular to the surface of the substrate. When the beams are cooled, they may move in a different trajectory, approaching the substrate before moving laterally across it to their initial positions. By providing one electrical contact on the distal end of the passive beam and another stationary electrical contact on the substrate surface, the MEMS hysteretic actuator may form a reliable electrical switch that is relatively simple to manufacture and operate.
US07944107B2	Synchronous permanent magnet machine A synchronous permanent magnet machine for at least two rotation speeds has a single stator and at least two rotors. For each rotation speed there is provided a separate rotor with a different numbers of poles. The armature windings on the stator extend across all of the rotors and the windings are subjected to a rotating field with the same frequency.
US07944106B2	Apparatus for cooling and lubricating an off-axis motor/generator in a transmission having two motor/generators The present invention provides a hybrid transmission with two motor/generators, one being “on-axis” and sharing an axis of rotation with an input and output shaft of the transmission, and another being “off-axis” with a distinct axis of rotation from that of the first motor/generator. The transmission is adapted for cooling and lubricating the off-axis motor/generator, and includes a case at least partially defining a manifold. A transmission cover is mounted to the case such that the off-axis motor/generator is retained therebetween. The transmission cover at least partially defines an oil passage. The manifold is adapted to transfer oil onto a bearing device so that the bearing device is lubricated. Oil is also transferred through the oil passage and onto a torque transfer device such that the torque transfer device is lubricated.
US07944088B2	Battery backup device A battery backup device is provided. The battery backup device includes a first connector; a second connector; a data line which transmits data provided from an external source via the first connector to the second connector; a storage unit which is connected to the data line and selectively stores the data; and a charging unit which receives and becomes charged with a first power supply voltage provided from the external source via the first connector, selectively adjusts a voltage level of the first power supply voltage, and outputs a second power supply voltage to the second connector.
US07944084B2	Peripheral module and peripheral system for an automation system There is described a peripheral module which in addition to the connection terminals for the process data supply has connection terminals for the supply of voltage. Furthermore, the peripheral module has a changeover switching device to disconnect the peripheral module from an upstream load group. The peripheral module can assume the function of a supply group or a power module when a supply voltage is applied to the terminals. In a peripheral system made of several peripheral modules the voltage within a load group is supplied via an internal self-constructing voltage bus.
US07944073B2	Power generator and turbine unit A power generator includes at least one underwater turbine unit providing a housing having a flow channel therethrough and at least one turbine means mounted in the flow channel for rotation in response to water flow through the flow channel. The turbine unit provides a turbine unit part releasably mountable in the turbine unit. The turbine unit part includes at least one of the at least one turbine means and a pump means. The turbine unit part is releasably mountable through an aperture in a side wall of the housing.
US07944069B2	Wind power generation system, arrangement of permanent magnets, and electrical power-mechanical force converter A wind power generation system 10 comprising a frame, an impeller 12 rotatably supported by the frame, plural permanent magnets 31 aligned at equal intervals from the rotation center, and coils 32 aligned annularly on the frame. The relative motion of the permanent magnets 31 and the coils 32 in close vicinity generates electric powers by the inverse action of a linear motor. The coils 32 are mounted on the ring provided on the frame, and the permanent magnets 31 are provided on the lower end of the longitudinal blades 26 of the impeller.
US07944060B2	Device package structure, device packaging method, droplet ejection head, connector, and semiconductor device A device package structure includes: a base body having a conductive connection portion and a level difference portion; a device arranged on the base body, having a connection terminal electrically connected to the conductive connection portion via the level difference portion on the base body; and a connector electrically connecting the connection terminal and the conductive connection portion, having substantially the same height as a height of the level difference portion.
US07944055B2	Spin-on antireflective coating for integration of patternable dielectric materials and interconnect structures The present invention provides a method of fabricating an interconnect structure in which a patternable low-k material replaces the need for utilizing a separate photoresist and a dielectric material. Specifically, this invention relates to a simplified method of fabricating single-damascene and dual-damascene low-k interconnect structures with at least one patternable low-k dielectric and at least one inorganic antireflective coating. In general terms, a method is provided that includes providing at least one patternable low-k material on a surface of an inorganic antireflective coating that is located atop a substrate. The inorganic ARC is liquid deposited and comprises a polymer that has at least one monomer unit comprising the formula M-R1 wherein M is at least one of Si, Ge, B, Sn, Fe, Ta, Ti, Ni, Hf and La and R1 is a chromophore. At least one interconnect pattern is formed within the at least one patternable low-k material and thereafter the at least one patternable low-k material is cured. The inventive method can be used to form dual-damascene interconnect structures as well as single-damascene interconnect structures.
US07944053B2	Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same A first insulating film is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A first interconnection is formed in a trench formed in the first insulating film. A first barrier film is formed between the first interconnection and first insulating film. A second insulating film is formed on the upper surface of the first interconnection, and in a first hollow portion between the side surface of the first barrier film and the first insulating film. The second insulating film is formed from the upper surface of the first interconnection to a depth higher than the bottom surface of the first interconnection. The first hollow portion is formed below the bottom surface of the second insulating film.
US07944049B2	Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof A semiconductor device comprises a package substrate, a semiconductor chip, a plurality of bump electrodes and one or more dummy chips. The semiconductor chip is mounted on one surface of the package substrate. The bump electrodes are the other surface of the package substrate and electrically connected to the semiconductor chip through a wiring structure. Each of the dummy chips is mounted on a predetermined region close to a corner portion of the semiconductor chip on the one surface of the package substrate.In the semiconductor chip, the dummy chips are formed of material having the same or similar coefficient of thermal expansion as that of the semiconductor chip. Therefore the stress caused by a difference between coefficients of thermal expansion is suppressed so as to improve connection reliability.
US07944048B2	Chip scale package for power devices and method for making the same A chip scale package is disclosed that includes a semiconductor die further comprising an array of power buses electrically coupled to a high power integrated circuit, and a plurality of Under Bump Metallization (UBM) multi-layer power buses disposed parallel to one another and spanning substantially across the entire length of the semiconductor die. The plurality of multi-layer UBM power buses, electrically coupled to the array of power buses, further includes a thick metal layer configured in a geometric shape that have interconnection balls completely posited thereupon.
US07944038B2	Semiconductor package having an antenna on the molding compound thereof The present invention relates to a semiconductor package having an antenna. The semiconductor package includes a substrate, a chip, a molding compound and an antenna. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface. The chip is disposed on the first surface of the substrate, and electrically connected to the substrate. The molding compound encapsulates the whole or a part of the chip. The antenna is disposed on the molding compound, and electrically connected to the chip. The antenna is disposed on the molding compound that has a relatively large area, so that the antenna will not occupy the space for the substrate.
US07944035B2	Double sided semiconduction device with edge contact and package therefor A semiconductor die has devices such as MOSgated devices, diodes and the like formed into the top and bottom surfaces of the die. One terminal of each of the devices terminal in the interior center of the die and a common contact is made to the interior center of the die at one edge of the die. Various packages for the die having a reduced foot print on a support substrate are disclosed.
US07944017B2	Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the same An n type impurity region is continuously formed on the bottom portion of a channel region below a source region, a gate region and a drain region. The n type impurity region has an impurity concentration higher than the channel region and a back gate region, and is less influenced by the diffusion of p type impurities from the gate region and the back gate region. Moreover, by continuously forming the impurity region from a portion below the source region to a portion below the drain region, the resistance value of a current path in the impurity region is substantially uniformed. Therefore, the IDSS is stabilized, the forward transfer admittance gm and the voltage gain Gv are improved, and the noise voltage Vno is decreased. Furthermore, the IDSS variation within a single wafer is suppressed.
US07944010B2	Electromagnetic wave detecting element The present invention is to provide an electromagnetic wave detecting element that can suppress a decrease in utilization efficiency of electromagnetic waves at sensor portions. An upper electrode of each of plural sensor portions, that are provided in correspondence with intersection portions of plural scan lines and plural signal lines disposed to intersect one another, is electrically connected to any other adjacent upper electrode. At each group of sensor portions whose upper electrodes are electrically connected, a common electrode line and the upper electrode of any sensor portion belonging to that group of sensor portions are connected by a contact pad via a contact hole formed in an insulating film and at a connection place of a number that is less than a number of sensor portions belonging to that group of sensor portions.
US07944009B2	Magnetoresistive device having specular sidewall layers A multilayered magnetoresistive device includes a specular layer positioned on at least one sidewall and a copper layer positioned between the specular layer and the sidewall.
US07944000B2	Semiconductor resistor, method of manufacturing the same, and current generating device using the same A method for manufacturing a semiconductor resistor includes forming a well region in a semiconductor substrate, with the well region serving as a resistive region, forming a pair of contact regions spaced apart from each other in the well region, and forming a diffusion region in an intermediate portion between the pair of contact regions on a surface of the well region. The diffusion region is configured to adjust resistance and temperature dependence of the semiconductor resistor.
US07943998B2	Nonvolatile memory devices having stacked structures and methods of fabricating the same A memory device includes a first active region on a substrate and first and second source/drain regions on the substrate abutting respective first and second sidewalls of the first active region. A first gate structure is disposed on the first active region between the first and second source/drain regions. A second active region is disposed on the first gate structure between and abutting the first and second source/drain regions. A second gate structure is disposed on the second active region overlying the first gate structure.
US07943990B2	Power semiconductor device with interconnected gate trenches A power semiconductor device which includes a plurality of gate trenches and a perimeter trench intersecting the gate trenches.
US07943987B2	Semiconductor component with a drift zone and a drift control zone A semiconductor component has a drift zone and a drift control zone, a drift control zone dielectric, which is arranged in sections between the drift zone and the drift control zone, and has a first and a second connection zone, which are doped complementarily with respect to one another and which form a pn junction between the drift control zone and a section of the drift zone.
US07943970B2	Method of detecting bio-molecules using the same field effect transistor on the gate sensing surface Provided is a method of detecting the presence of a target bio-molecule or a concentration of the bio-molecule using a field effect transistor. The method includes: contacting a first sample having a first target bio-molecule with a reference electrode of a field effect transistor; measuring a first electric signal change of the field effect transistor; contacting a second sample with a sensing surface of the same field effect transistor; measuring a second electric signal change of the field effect transistor; and comparing the first electric signal with the second electric signal.
US07943969B2	Transistor with a plurality of layers with different Ge concentrations A transistor and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The transistor includes a SiGe epitaxial layer formed in a recess region of a substrate at both side of a gate electrode and a SiGe capping layer formed on the SiGe epitaxial layer. The transistor further includes a SiGe seed layer formed under the SiGe epitaxial layer and a silicon capping layer formed on the SiGe capping layer.
US07943968B1	Charge transfer semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof A charge coupled device is manufactured by using a crystalline silicon film that is formed by growing a crystal in parallel with a substrate by utilizing the nickel element with an amorphous silicon film used as a starting film. The crystal growth direction is made coincident with the charge transfer direction. As a result, the charge coupled device is given high charge transfer efficiency.
US07943967B2	Semiconductor device and associated layouts including diffusion contact placement restriction based on relation to linear conductive segments A semiconductor device includes a substrate portion having a plurality of diffusion regions defined therein. The plurality of diffusion regions are separated from each other by one or more non-active regions of the substrate portion. The plurality of diffusion regions are defined in a non-symmetrical manner relative to a virtual line defined to bisect the substrate portion. The semiconductor device includes a gate electrode level region formed above the substrate portion to include a number of conductive features defined to extend in only a first parallel direction. Each of the number of conductive features within the gate electrode level region is fabricated from a respective originating rectangular-shaped layout feature. The number of conductive features within the gate electrode level region includes conductive features defined along at least four different virtual lines of extent in the first parallel direction across the gate electrode level region.
US07943961B2	Strain bars in stressed layers of MOS devices A semiconductor structure includes an active region; a gate strip overlying the active region; and a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) device. A portion of the gate strip forms a gate of the MOS device. A portion of the active region forms a source/drain region of the MOS device. The semiconductor structure further includes a stressor region over the MOS device; and a stressor-free region inside the stressor region and outside the region over the active region.

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